JP2005047695A - Conveyance apparatus for sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sorting and conveyance unit capable of conveying exposed photographic paper while switching a conveyance state between a staggered arrangement and a parallel arrangement. <P>SOLUTION: This conveyance apparatus comprises a sorting unit U4 which permits a pair of chucker CH to chuck the photographic paper P exposed by an exposure unit and delivered from a front roller unit U3 and which delivers the photographic paper P to a sorting path, and a controller which performs sorting so that the photographic paper P may be sorted so as to have a staggered arrangement if the length of the photographic paper P is smaller than its prescribed value and the front ends of the photographic paper P may be in parallel to each other if the length of the photographic paper P is at least the prescribed value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photosensitive material transport apparatus including a sorting unit that feeds a sheet-like photosensitive material exposed by an exposure unit to a plurality of rows of sorting paths.

  The following configurations exist as a sorter unit that sorts the sheet-like photosensitive material exposed as described above into a plurality of rows of sort paths. That is, after the photographic paper (photosensitive material of the present invention) cut to the print size is exposed on the exposure table, the two-line path is sent out by the sorting means provided with the sorting box, and the feeding roller at the position of the aligning means The leading edge of each photographic paper is aligned with the crimping rotor and the crimping rotor, and then the photographic paper with the leading edge aligned is delivered to the development processing unit in parallel by driving the feed roller. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Although the premise is different from that of the present invention, there are the following constitutions for sorting the photosensitive material before exposure. That is, the cut photographic paper (photosensitive material of the present invention) cut to the print size is distributed to a pair of vertically oriented exposure transfer lines (distribution path of the present invention) by the distribution device, and each of them in a parallel conveyance state. The cut photographic paper is configured to be exposed by the exposure head. In this conventional technology, the sorting device moves in the transport direction (Y direction / vertical direction) of the cut photographic paper and the width direction (X direction / horizontal direction) of the cut photographic paper with the cut photographic paper sandwiched therebetween. A free chucker is provided, and the cut photographic paper is fed to the pair of exposure conveyance lines by alternately operating the chuckers (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-7-120904 (paragraph numbers [0028] to [0036]) JP 2001-33885 A (paragraph numbers [0017] to [0023], FIGS. 6 to 9)

  Considering the exposure speed of image information on the photosensitive material, in the case of performing digital exposure, the exposure speed is increasing due to the advancement of technology, and exposure is performed while the photosensitive material is conveyed in parallel as in Patent Document 2 described above. By using a technique for performing the above, it is possible to extremely increase the number of processed photosensitive materials per unit time. However, when a photosensitive material such as silver salt photographic paper that requires a development process after exposure, a fixed time is required for the development process, so that it is difficult to shorten the development process time. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, the importance of a technique for performing development processing after distributing an exposed photosensitive material to a plurality of distribution paths is recognized.

  As in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, in order to consider a technique for distributing a photosensitive material after exposure to a pair of distribution paths by alternately operating a pair of chuckers, the front ends of the photosensitive materials sent to the distribution path are not aligned. The photosensitive material is fed in a so-called staggered arrangement, and the photosensitive material is fed in a parallel state in which the leading ends of the photosensitive materials fed into the distribution path are aligned as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620. Further, when the photosensitive material is sent in a staggered arrangement with respect to the distribution path, the photosensitive material after exposure is alternately sandwiched by chuckers and is sent to the respective distribution paths. This is effective for distributing a photosensitive material having a relatively small size such as a service size. The chucker can be operated at the shortest distance, and the processing capability can be increased. Further, when the photosensitive material is sent in a parallel state with respect to the distribution path, the photosensitive material after exposure is held by holding it with one chucker, and the photosensitive material after holding the photosensitive material with the other chucker, This is an operation mode in which the preceding photosensitive material and the subsequent photosensitive material are sent to the corresponding distribution path, and this operation mode is effective for distributing a photosensitive material having a relatively large size such as a panoramic size. However, it is less efficient than a staggered arrangement.

  As described above, although there are effective surfaces in the zigzag form and the parallel form as the form for distributing the photosensitive material, the conventional sorting unit is assumed only in one operation form as shown in Patent Document 2. In view of efficiently transporting photosensitive materials of different sizes, there is room for improvement.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a photosensitive material transport device that can sort photosensitive materials in either a staggered pattern or a parallel pattern in a sorting unit.

  A feature of the present invention is that in the photosensitive material transport device including a sorting unit that feeds the sheet-like photosensitive material exposed by the exposure unit to a plurality of rows of sorting paths, the sorting unit is provided by the exposure unit. It comprises a plurality of chuckers that sandwich the photosensitive material and send it to the sorting path, and a control means for controlling these chuckers, and the control means has a preset length in the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material. If the value is less than the set value, the staggered state where the leading edge of the photosensitive material distributed later with respect to one other sorting path is delayed from the leading edge of the photosensitive material previously allocated with respect to one sorting path. If the length of the photosensitive material in the transport direction is equal to or greater than the set value, the leading edge of the photosensitive material that has been sorted first with respect to one sorting path is used. If, in the point you have set the control mode to perform sorting in juxtaposition with the leading end of the photosensitive material distribution after is disposed in matching position relative to the other one of the distribution routes.

  With this configuration, if the length of the photosensitive material in the transport direction is less than the set value, the sorting unit performs sorting in a staggered state, and the length of the photosensitive material in the transport direction is greater than or equal to the set value. In some cases, sorting is performed in a parallel state. In other words, when the photosensitive material that has been distributed to the distribution path first, such as a small-sized photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material that is distributed later are in a positional relationship that does not interfere with each other in a staggered state where efficient distribution is possible. When sorting is used, and the photosensitive material that has been sorted to the sorting path, such as a large size, and the photosensitive material that is sorted later tend to interfere with each other, sorting in parallel is adopted. . As a result, an optimal and efficient transfer device corresponding to the print size can be rationally configured without requiring the operator to manually switch the distribution mode.

  In the present invention, the distribution unit includes a front roller unit having a plurality of pressure rollers so as to send the photosensitive material exposed by the exposure unit to the distribution unit, and a plurality of distribution paths to form the plurality of distribution paths. Between the front roller unit and the rear roller unit, and the set value is set to approximately ½ of the distance in the conveying direction between the front roller unit and the rear roller unit. May be.

  With this configuration, it is possible to perform a sorting operation in which a photosensitive material shorter than 1/2 of the distance in the conveyance direction between the front roller unit and the rear roller unit is directly fed to the sorting path after the exposure. As a result, sorting in a staggered state is realized, and a photosensitive material longer than 1/2 of this distance cannot directly feed the photosensitive material after exposure to the sorting path, and the first photosensitive material and the second photosensitive material. Sorting in a parallel state is performed because it is necessary to feed materials to the sorting path in parallel. As a result, the distribution mode can be switched based on a reasonable standard.

  In the present invention, the pressure roller on the conveyance end side of the front roller unit is configured to be switchable between a pressure-bonded state and an open state, and the chucking material of the sorting unit is a photosensitive material fed from the front roller unit. After the pressure bonding, there may be provided switching means for switching the pressure roller on the conveyance end side to an open state.

  With this configuration, when the photosensitive material sandwiched by the chucker is operated at a high speed in the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material, the front roller is used even when the photosensitive material sandwiched by the chucker is moved in the width direction of the photosensitive material. The pressure roller on the conveyance end side of the unit is not hindered, and a quick sorting operation is realized. As a result, the sorting operation at high speed became possible.

  The present invention comprises a sensor for detecting the front end position of the photosensitive material at a discharge position for discharging the photosensitive material from the front roller unit, and the control means, when the photosensitive material is sent out from the discharge position, One chucker is placed in a standby position near the discharge position, and the photosensitive material is sandwiched by the standby chucker on the basis of the timing at which the photosensitive material is detected by the sensor, and the pressure roller at the conveyance end position is provided. Control to switch to the open state may be performed, and then the operation order may be set to start the operation of the chucker.

  With this configuration, the chucker is actuated based on the timing at which the tip position of the photosensitive material is detected by the sensor, and the pressure roller is switched to the open state, so that the photosensitive material is securely clamped by the chucker and pressed against this photosensitive material. The restraint from the roller can be released, and thereafter, the photosensitive material sandwiched by the chucker can be distributed in any direction. As a result, reliable and high-speed sorting is realized by setting the operation order based on the detection result of the sensor.

  According to the present invention, when the width of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit is a size that can be distributed, the control means sequentially distributes the photosensitive material from the exposure unit with the chucker and sends it to the distribution path. In the mode, the distribution unit is controlled, and when the width of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit is a size that cannot be distributed, both ends in the width direction of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit are sandwiched by the chucker, The sorting unit may be controlled in a single conveyance mode in which each chucker is moved at a constant speed.

  With this configuration, switching between the sorting mode and the single transport mode is performed based on the width of the photosensitive material, so that the sortable ones are sorted reliably, and those that cannot be sorted like large-format photosensitive materials, By holding both ends of the photosensitive material with chuckers, the conveyance of the photosensitive material in a state where the sagging of the photosensitive material is suppressed is realized. As a result, it is possible to carry in an optimum form based on the dimension of the photosensitive material in the width direction.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the image information of a developed photographic film F (hereinafter referred to as film F) is converted into a digital signal, the digital signal is processed, and the entire system is processed. In addition to the operation part A that performs basic control, exposure processing and development processing were performed on a silver salt photographic paper P (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper P) as a photosensitive material, and drying processing was performed. A photographic processing system that can be referred to as a digital minilab is configured by including a print unit B to be sent out later.

  [Operating Section] The operating section A includes a film scanner 2 that captures the information of the frame image of the film F into the desk section 1 by converting it into a digital signal by photoelectric conversion, a display 3 that displays various information, image processing, and various types of information. A processing device 4 composed of a general-purpose computer is arranged so as to realize processing, and a keyboard 5 and a mouse 6 for inputting information are provided on the upper surface of the desk unit 1. Media drive corresponding to the structure of the storage means so as to acquire information from a disk-type storage means such as CD, MO, FD or the like at the upper position of the processing device 4 or to acquire information from a semiconductor-type storage means 7 and a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, etc. (not shown) for storing information therein.

  The film scanner 2 has a light source section having a light emitting diode, a halogen lamp, etc. in the lower part, a zoom lens in the middle part, and image information from the zoom lens in the upper part as R (red) and G (green). , B (blue), and a line CCD type photoelectric conversion unit that separates and captures the three primary colors. In the film scanner 2, when scanning the film F, the film carrier 8 suitable for the size of the film F is mounted on the upper surface of the light source unit and scanning is started, so that the film F is scanned in the sub-scanning direction ( In synchronism with the operation of conveying in the longitudinal direction), the photoelectric conversion unit performs processing for capturing the image information of the film F as a digital signal along the main scanning direction, and the captured image information is stored in the processing device. 4 and stored in the semiconductor memory or hard disk.

  The processing device 4 includes an interface that implements various processes by operating the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6 according to information displayed on the display 3, and further, image information captured by the scanner 2 as described above, or Software that performs processing for saving image information from a storage medium loaded via the media drive 7 to the semiconductor memory or hard disk, and if necessary, correction processing is performed with the image information displayed on the display 3. Software for performing printing processing in the printing unit B by transmitting image information and processing information such as print size and number of prints to the printing unit B is installed.

  [Printing Section] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing section B includes an exposure block Ex, a developing block De as a developing processing section, and a drying block Dr, which are housed in a housing 10. A belt transport mechanism 11 that transports the photographic paper P that is fed horizontally from the top of the housing 10 after processing is provided outside the housing 10, and the photographic paper P sent from the belt transport mechanism 11 is ordered. A sorter 13 having a plurality of trays 12 is provided for sorting and stacking, and a rack 14 for receiving a large size photographic paper P is provided at a position below the belt transport mechanism 11.

  The development block De includes a plurality of development processing tanks 15 including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilization tank, and a transport mechanism that supplies the photographic paper P to each of the development processing tanks 15. Although the drying block Dr is not shown in the drawing, a transport mechanism for transporting the photographic paper P sent out from the development block De and air heated by a heater are supplied to the photographic paper P transported by the transport mechanism. Has a blower. The present invention is characterized by the structure of the transport path for transporting the photographic paper P exposed in the exposure block Ex. The structure will be described below.

  [Outline of transport path of photographic paper] The exposure block Ex has a storage space for two photographic paper magazines M, M at the bottom, and roll-shaped photographic paper stored in one of these photographic paper magazines M, M. P is cut into a print size by the supply unit U1 and conveyed upward, and image information is exposed while conveying the photographic paper P from the supply unit U1 upward in the exposure unit U2, and the image information is exposed upward from the exposure unit U2. The photographic paper P to be sent is sent by converting the transport direction to the horizontal direction in the front roller unit U3, and further sent in the horizontal direction by the sorting unit U4, and then delivered from the rear roller unit U5 to the developing block De. It is configured as follows.

  [Supply Unit] The supply unit U1 pulls out the roll-shaped photographic paper P stored in one of the two photographic paper magazines M, M by a plurality of rollers 16, cuts it into a print size by a cutter 17, and cuts in this way. Necessary information is printed by the print head 18 on the back side of the printed paper P, and then fed to the exposure unit U2 by a feeder 19 that pinches and conveys the printed paper P. Although not shown in the drawings, the feeder 19 includes a chuck portion that can be switched between a state in which the photographic paper P is crimped and a state in which the photographic paper P is separated, and the photographic paper P on which information is printed on the back side by the print head 18. When the photographic paper P thus conveyed is transferred to the exposure unit U2, the chuck portion is opened and then moved downward to transfer the photographic paper P in a single row. Similarly, the print head 18 reciprocates so that the photographic paper P on which information is printed on the back side is sandwiched by the chuck portion.

  [Exposure Unit] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the exposure unit U2 includes a pressure-type receiving roller 20 that receives the photographic paper P from the feeder 19 (with a structure that switches between a pressure-bonded state and an open state). And an exposure transport roller composed of a metal driving roller 21 and a driven roller 22 that can be switched between a press-bonded state and a separated open state that are pressed against the drive roller 21. A laser scanning type exposure engine 23 is provided which exposes image information in the main scanning direction (horizontal direction) to the photographic paper P which is disposed at a position and conveyed upward (sub scanning direction) by the exposure conveying roller. It is configured.

  The exposure engine 23 adjusts the amount of light from the laser light sources of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue) housed in the casing by an acousto-optic modulation means, and then the vertical axis A structure is used in which it is sent to the exposure position while being scanned in the main scanning direction by being reflected by the mirror surface of a polygon mirror that is rotated by a core.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the exposure unit U2 includes a stepping motor that rotationally drives the driving roller 21 at a set speed, and a pressure-bonding state in which the driven roller 22 is pressure-bonded to the driving roller 21 side, and the driven roller 22 Is provided with a rotary cam type operation mechanism for switching to an open state in which the motor is separated from the drive roller 21. Of the exposure transport rollers, those arranged on the upstream side (lower side in the drawing) in the transport direction are set to an open state when receiving the photographic paper P from the receiving roller 20, and are set in the open state. The leading end of P is received, and after this acceptance, the state is switched to the pressure-bonding state. Among the exposure transport rollers, those arranged on the downstream side (upper side in the drawing) in the transport direction are photographic paper from the upstream exposure transport roller. When receiving P, it is set to the open state, accepts the leading edge of the photographic paper P, switches to the crimped state after this acceptance, and further switches to the open state when exposure to the photographic paper P is completed. Operates on.

  [Front roller unit] The front roller unit U3 includes a guide body G arranged along the curved conveyance path so as to convert the conveyance direction of the photographic paper P sent from the exposure path into a horizontal direction. Three conveyance rollers Ra for conveying the photographic paper P to the curved conveyance path are provided.

  The guide body G includes a fixed guide 30 disposed below the curved conveyance path, a guide position approaching the fixed guide 30 and an open position spaced apart from the fixed guide 30 across the curved conveyance path. And a movable guide 31 that can be switched between. When the movable guide 31 is set to the open position, an interval is set between the movable guide 31 and the fixed guide 30 so that the photographic paper P can freely move in the transport direction. The distance is set such that P is slightly movable in the thickness direction. As a result, when the movable guide 31 is switched from the open position to the guide position, the photographic printing paper P is configured to minimize the amount of protrusion in the feeding direction from the front roller unit U3. In the drawing, when the movable guide 31 is set to the open position, the movable guide 31 is largely separated from the fixed guide 30. However, this is exaggerated, and a small interval is actually formed.

  The plurality of transport rollers Ra are referred to as a first transport roller Ra1, a second transport roller Ra2, and a third transport roller Ra3 from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. The first, second, and third transport rollers Each of the rollers Ra1, Ra2, and Ra3 is separated from the driving roller 32 disposed on the fixed guide 30 side, a pressure-bonding position (a state of pressure-bonding to the photographic paper P), and the driving roller 32. A driven roller 33 (an example of a pressure roller) that can be switched to any of the open positions (separated from the photographic paper P) and a stepping motor type conveyance motor 34 that rotationally drives the drive roller 32 are provided. The driving force from the conveying motor 34 is transmitted to the three driving rollers 32 through a belt type driving mechanism.

  The driven rollers 33 of the first and second transport rollers Ra1 and Ra2 are supported by a frame (not shown) that can swing around the support shaft 36, and each frame can be moved by swinging the frame. A first electromagnetic solenoid SL1 is provided to switch the driven roller 33 simultaneously between a pressure-bonding position and an open position. In addition, a second electromagnetic solenoid SL2 is provided for switching the driven roller 33 of the third transport roller Ra3 between a crimping position and an open position. The movable guide 31 is supported so as to be swingable around the support shaft 36, and the movable guide 31 is mechanically linked so as to swing in conjunction with the switching operation of the driven roller 33 of the first transport roller Ra1. ing.

  In the exposure unit U2, the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P is set corresponding to the size of the photographic paper P. In the front roller unit U3, printing is performed at a slightly lower speed than the speed at which the photographic paper P is conveyed in the exposure path. The conveyance speed in the front roller unit U3 is set so as to convey the paper P.

  Both the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 have a structure in which a roller portion made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin is externally fixed to a metal shaft body, and the front roller unit U3 is used. A non-contact type position sensor S such as a reflection type is provided at the end of the photographic paper P on the discharge side so as to detect the front end position of the photographic paper P.

  [Distribution Unit] The distribution unit U4 has a guide rail in the transport direction of the photographic paper P as shown in FIGS. A transport frame 41 supported so as to be reciprocally movable with respect to the transport rail 40, a shift rail 42 provided with a guide direction set to the transport frame 41 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper P, and the shift A shift member 43 supported so as to be reciprocally movable with respect to the rail 42, and a chucker CH provided to be switchable between a state in which the photographic paper P is sandwiched by the shift member 43 and a separated state in which the passage of the photographic paper P is allowed. It is configured with.

  The conveying frame 41 is reciprocated by a driving force from an endless belt 46 that is operated by a driving force from a stepping motor type conveying motor 45, and the shift member 43 is operated by a driving force from a stepping motor type shift motor 47. The reciprocating operation is performed by the driving force from the endless belt 48. Further, the chucker CH is a drive type first chuck roller 49 supported in a fixed position with respect to the shift member 43, and a state in which the chucker CH is pressure-bonded to the first chuck roller 49 from above (the printing paper P is attached). A second chuck roller 50 that can be switched between a state in which the second chuck roller is pressed and a state in which the second chuck roller 50 is separated upward, and an electromagnetic solenoid or an electric motor that switches the second chuck roller 50 between the pressure member and the separated state with respect to the shift member 43. A chuck operating unit 51 formed of a motor and a discharge motor 52 that drives and rotates the first chuck roller 49 are provided. The first and second chuck rollers 49 and 50 are each formed by integrally forming a flexible roller material made of rubber or resin on metal support shafts 49A and 50A, which are not shown in the drawings. However, the support shaft 49A of the second chuck roller 49 is provided with a spring that urges the second chuck roller 49 toward the first chuck roller 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, both ends of the shift member 43 are swingable with respect to the support shaft 50 </ b> A with the second chuck roller 50 straddling the axial direction of the support shaft 50 </ b> A on the upper surface side of the shift member 43. A swing frame 54 supported by the swing frame 54, a lever 55 formed integrally with the swing frame 54, and a spring 56 for maintaining the tip of the lever 55 in an upward direction. The idler roller 58 is supported with respect to 54 via a plate-like spring material 57. In addition, a guide roller 59 that is loosely supported by the shift member 43 is provided at a position facing the idler roller 58 below the idler roller 58.

  The rear roller unit U5 includes a guide plate 60 as a contact member that comes into contact with the front end side of the lever 55 when the photographic paper is delivered from the chucker CH to the rear roller unit U5. . The guide plate 60 has an inclined contact surface 60A that becomes a lower level toward the side closer to the rear roller unit, and when the chucker CH reaches a delivery position H where the photographic paper P is delivered to the rear roller unit U5. A pressing surface 60B that swings the lever 55 the most is formed on the bottom side. In this way, when the chucker CH reaches the delivery position H, the photographic paper P sandwiched between the chucker CH is bent downward by the lever 55, the idler roller 58, and the guide plate 60 described above. Posture setting means is configured.

  In this sorting unit U4, when the size of the photographic paper P sent out from the front roller unit U3 is small, the photographic paper P is sandwiched by one chucker CH, and two rows formed in the rear roller unit U5. It is sent to one of the sorting paths Y and Y (see FIGS. 13 and 14), and the next photographic paper P is sandwiched by the other chucker CH and sent to the other of the two rows of sorting paths Y and Y. While operating in the sorting mode and when the size of the photographic paper P sent out from the front roller unit U3 is large, the leading end of the photographic paper P is sandwiched between a pair of chuckers CH and fed into the rear roller unit U5. The operation is performed in the single conveyance mode (these operation modes will be described later), and the lever 55 is operated by the guide plate 60 in any mode. The width of the guide plate 60 (the dimension in the width direction of the photographic paper P) is formed wide so that the idle roller 58 contacts and presses the photographic paper P, and is further positioned below the sorting unit U4. The table portion T is coated with a resin on its upper surface or soft such as a non-woven fabric so that the photographic paper P will not be damaged when the photographic paper P is curved downward and comes into contact with the photographic paper P. It is finished to a smooth surface by stretching a simple material.

  [Rear Roller Unit] The rear roller unit U5 includes an intermediate transport unit U5a and an insertion transport unit U5b as shown in FIGS.

  The intermediate transport unit U5a guides a driving roller 65 driven by a stepping motor type intermediate transport motor 64, four sets of pressure rollers 66 that are pressure-bonded to the drive roller 65, and the photographic paper P obliquely downward. The pressure roller 66 is supported by a pair of movable frames 68 divided into two in the width direction of the photographic paper P, and is supported on the frame side of the housing 10. A compression spring 70 is provided between the frame 69 and the movable frame 68, and the pressure roller 66 and the driving roller 65 are pressure-bonded by an urging force from the compression spring 70.

  The insertion transport unit U5b transports the photographic paper P sent from the intermediate transport unit U5a obliquely downward, and transfers it to the introduction roller 28 provided in the development processing tank 15 of the development block De 3 along the transport direction. The two conveying rollers Rc are sequentially arranged at a predetermined interval, and these conveying rollers Rc are first, second and second pressure-bonding types arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction. 3 transport rollers Rc1, Rc2, and Rc3. Further, a pair of upper and lower guide plates 80 for guiding the photographic paper P conveyed by the first, second, and third conveying rollers Rc1, Rc2, and Rc3 are provided, and the conveying rollers Rc1, Rc2, and Rc3 are rotated at a set speed. A drive mechanism is provided. This set speed is set slightly lower than the conveying speed of the photographic paper P by the introduction roller 28 of the development block De.

  Each of the first and second transport rollers Rc1 and Rc2 includes a drive roller 81 disposed on the lower side of the transport path, and a driven roller 82 disposed on the upper side of the transport path so as to be pressure-bonded to the drive rollers 81. The third transport roller Rc3 includes a drive roller 83 disposed on the upper side of the transport path and a driven roller 84 disposed on the lower side of the transport path. The drive rollers 81, 81, 83 constituting the first, second, third transport rollers Rc1, Rc2, Rc3 are the drive shafts 81A, 81A, 83A, and a roller 81B made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin. 81B and 83B, and the driven rollers 82 constituting the first and second transport rollers Rc1 and Rc2 each include a roller 82B made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin with respect to the support shaft 82A. It is configured. In particular, the driven roller 84 constituting the third transport roller Rc3 includes a roller 84B made of a metal material such as aluminum with respect to the support shaft 84A.

  Among these transport rollers Rc1, Rc2, and Rc3, an input gear 86 is provided at one end of the drive shaft 81A of the drive roller 81 that constitutes the first transport roller Rc1, and the intermediate transport unit U5a is connected to the input gear 86. A gear type transmission mechanism 87 is formed so that the rotational driving force from the driving roller 65 can be transmitted. Further, a pulley 88 is provided at the other end of the drive shaft 81A, a pulley 89 is provided at the drive shaft 81A of the drive roller 81 constituting the second transport roller Rc2, and the drive roller 83 constituting the third transport roller Rc3. A drive shaft 83A includes a gear 90, a pulley 92 that rotates integrally with a gear 91 that meshes with the gear 90, and an endless belt 93 is wound around these pulleys 88, 89, and 92, whereby all the drive rollers 81 are provided. , 81 and 83 can be driven synchronously at a constant speed. The drive mechanism is constituted by a gear-type transmission mechanism 87 that transmits rotational power to the input gear 86, pulleys 88, 89, and 92, and an endless belt 93 wound around these.

  A one-way clutch 95 is provided between the driving shaft 81A constituting the driving roller 81 of the first conveying roller Rc1 and the roller 81B, the driving shaft 81A constituting the driving roller 81 of the second conveying roller Rc2, and the pulley 89 is provided with a one-way clutch 95. In each one-way clutch 95, when the photographic paper P is fed at a speed higher than the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P in the insertion unit U5b, the one-way clutch 95 is allowed to rotate so as to allow the introduction of the photographic paper P. The direction is set. In the insertion unit U5b, the first and second transport rollers Rc1 and Rc2 perform transport in a state where an appropriate pressure is applied to the photographic paper P, and the third transport roller Rc3 and the photographic paper P Is set to be weaker than the pressure-conveying force applied to the first and second conveying rollers Rc1 and Rc2, and is set to be weaker than the pressure-conveying force applied to the photographic paper P from the introduction roller 28 of the developing block De. It is.

  In this insertion unit U5b, the base side of the photographic paper P is fed in an attitude in which the base side of the photographic paper P is directed upward (position where the photosensitive surface is directed downward), so that the base side of the photographic paper P is moved to the drive roller 83 constituting the third transport roller Rc3. The photosensitive surface of the photographic printing paper P comes into contact with the driven roller 84 constituting the third transport roller Rc3. In particular, as described above, the conveyance speed of the introduction roller 28 of the developing block De is higher than the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P in the insertion unit U5b, and the pressure-conveying conveyance force that acts on the photographic paper P from the third conveyance roller Rc3. Since the pressure-carrying conveyance force applied to the photographic paper P from the introduction roller 28 of the developing block De is set to be weak, the driving is performed when the photographic paper P from the insertion unit U5 is transferred to the developing block De side. Although the base side of the printing paper P slips with respect to the pressure bonding surface made of the flexible material of the roller 83, the photosensitive surface of the printing paper P contacts the smooth pressure bonding surface made of the metal material of the driven roller 84, In addition, since the driven roller 84 can rotate at a speed corresponding to the moving speed of the photographic paper, the relative speed between the driven roller 84 and the photographic paper is set to be very small. It is not even damage the photosensitive surface of the drawing paper P.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a control device 75 having a microprocessor is provided as a control mechanism for controlling the transport system of the photographic paper P. The control device 75 includes a signal system to which a signal from the position sensor S is input, the size of the photographic paper P to be exposed in the exposure path, the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P in the exposure path, and the leading edge of the photographic paper P. The signal system for inputting the position information from the exposure unit U2 is formed, the first and second solenoids SL2 and SL2 of the front roller unit U3, the output signal system for controlling the transport motor 34, and the distribution unit U4 An output signal system for controlling the transport motor 45, the shift motor 47, the chuck operating unit 51, and the discharge motor 52, and an output signal system for the intermediate transport motor 64 of the rear roller unit U5 are formed. Further, based on the size of the photographic paper P A program Q for controlling the front roller unit U3 and the sorting unit U4 is set, and the control mode by this program is described below. To.

  The program Q includes basic control means Q1, mode selection means Q2, operation selection means Q3, and switching means Q4. The basic control means Q1 is set in the rear roller unit U5 by sandwiching the photographic paper P by the chucker CH when the photographic paper P having a relatively small size is fed from the feed position X of the front roller unit U3. The operation in the distribution mode that distributes and distributes to the two distribution paths Y and Y, and when the relatively large size of the photographic paper P is sent out from the delivery path X, the tip of the photographic paper P is moved by the pair of chuckers CH. The operation in the single conveyance mode, which is nipped and sent to the rear roller unit U5, is realized. The mode selection means Q2 selects one of the sorting mode and the single transport mode based on the size of the photographic paper P. When the mode selection unit Q2 selects the sort mode, the operation selection unit Q3 sequentially selects the sort paths Y and Y when the length of the photographic paper P in the transport direction is less than a set value. When the length of the photographic paper P in the transport direction is equal to or longer than the set value, the leading end of the photographic paper P sent out first from the front roller unit U3 is sequentially performed. Either of the two operation modes is automatically selected so as to perform a parallel operation of feeding to the sorting paths Y and Y in a state where the leading edge of the photographic paper P sent out later is matched. The switching means Q4 opens the driven roller 33 (an example of a pressure roller) in the front roller unit U3 after the chucker CH pinches the photographic paper P from the front roller unit U3 in a state where the sorting mode is selected. Set to. The set value is set to about ½ of the distance D between the rear end position of the front roller unit U3 and the front end position of the rear roller unit U5. In the sorting mode, the chucker CH is set to photographic paper P. Is set at a higher speed than the speed at which the photographic paper P is conveyed in the front roller unit U3.

  More specifically, the control device 75 includes a dimension in the conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as a length) of the photographic paper P sent out from the front roller unit U3 and a dimension in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction (hereinafter, referred to as a length). When the photographic paper P is sent out from the front roller unit U3, it is determined that the width of the photographic paper P can be distributed (determination by the mode selection means Q2). Further, based on the length of the photographic paper P, one of sequential operation and parallel operation is selected (selection by the operation selection means Q3).

  FIG. 13 shows a distribution form of the photographic paper P when performing sequential operation (distribution in a staggered state). When performing this operation, the feeding path X of the front roller unit U3 and this Based on the detection signal from the position sensor S, the second chuck roller 50 of one chucker CH is set in an open state at a position close to the feeding portion of the front roller unit U3, and the front roller unit U3 At the timing when it is determined that the photographic paper P has been fed out by an amount that can be chucked, the second chuck roller 50 is switched to the pressure-bonded state by the driving force from the chuck actuating portion 51 to clamp the photographic paper P (a). After this clamping, the first and second solenoids SL1 and SL2 are driven to switch all the driven rollers 33 constituting the front roller unit U3 to the open position (actuated by the switching means Q4), and the chucker The CH is moved in the transport direction and simultaneously shifted to one side so as to be set in one of the two rows of distribution paths Y (b), and after moving the chucker CH to the delivery position H, the discharge motor 52 Is driven, the photographic paper P is transferred to one sorting path Y of the intermediate transport unit U5b (c).

  When the next photographic paper P is sent out from the front roller unit U3, the other chucker CH is placed on the feed path X of the front roller unit U3 and at a position close to the feed portion of the front roller unit U3. After the second chuck roller 50 is set in an open state and is in a standby state, the photographic paper P fed out from the front roller unit U3 is sandwiched by the chucker CH as in the above (c), and then the front roller unit U3. Are switched to the open position (actuated by the switching means Q4), the chucker CH is actuated to the other sorting path Y (d), and the photographic paper P sandwiched between the other chucker CH Is transferred to the other distribution route Y (e). By repeating this operation, as shown in the figure, the operation of delivering the photographic paper P in a zigzag state to the sorting paths Y and Y of the rear roller unit U5 is performed.

  Further, in the case of performing the parallel operation, as shown in FIG. 14, the first chucker CH of the one chucker CH is located in the delivery path X of the front roller unit U3 and at a position close to the delivery portion of the front roller unit U3. 2 When the chuck roller 50 is set in the open state and is in a standby state, the chucking is performed at the timing when it is determined based on the detection signal from the position sensor S that the photographic paper P has been fed from the front roller unit U4 by an amount that can be chucked. The second chuck roller 50 is switched to the pressure-bonded state by the driving force from the operation unit 51 to sandwich the photographic paper P (a). After this clamping, the first and second solenoids SL1 and SL2 are driven to switch all the driven rollers 33 constituting the front roller unit U3 to the open position (actuated by the switching means Q4), and the chucker The CH is moved in the transport direction (b), and after the rear end of the photographic paper P is pulled out from the front roller unit U3, the chucker CH is shifted to one side so that one of the two distribution paths Y is shifted. Temporarily stop at a position deviated from (c).

  Next, the photographic paper P delivered from the front roller unit U3 is sandwiched by the other chucker CH by the same operation as described above (c), and this chucker CH is pulled out in the extending direction of the delivery path X, and this chucker CH After reaching the position (position in the transport direction) where the leading edge of the photographic paper P sandwiched between and the leading edge of the photographic paper P sent out first coincides (d), the respective chuckers CH are assigned to the sorting paths Y, Y At the same time as shifting to the corresponding position, the respective chuckers CH are moved to the delivery position H by moving in the transport direction, and then the discharge motor 52 of each chucker CH is driven to drive each photographic paper. P and P are transferred to the distribution paths Y and Y of the intermediate transport unit U5b (e). In this operation, the relative distance in the width direction of the photographic paper P between the position at which the chucker CH that previously held the photographic paper P is stopped and the delivery path X is equal to the interval between the sorting paths Y and Y. Even when each chucker CH is operated in the width direction of the photographic paper P after the positions are determined and the positions of the leading ends of the photographic paper P sandwiched between the respective chuckers CH are matched, the respective chuckers CH are equal. It is intended to move by an equal amount at speed.

  As described above, when the photographic paper P is delivered from the chucker CH to the intermediate conveyance unit U5b, the drive roller 65 is driven at a speed equal to the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P delivered from the chucker CH to receive the photographic paper P. The intermediate conveyance motor 64 is controlled so that the driving force from the intermediate conveyance motor 64 is transmitted to the insertion unit U5b, and a transmission system is formed to drive the insertion unit U5b. When the paper P is sent out, the driving state is continued until the photographic paper P is sent out from the insertion unit U5b. In this distribution unit U4, it is also possible to set the control mode so that the intermediate conveyance motor 64 is maintained in the drive state when the photographic paper P distribution operation continues.

  Further, the control device 75 performs the following control when the photographic paper P having such a large width that it cannot be sorted is sent out from the front roller unit U3. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, at the position corresponding to the width of the photographic paper P sent out from the front roller unit U3, the second chuck of each chucker CH, CH with respect to the position close to the front roller unit U3. When the photographic paper P is sent out from the front roller unit U3 with the roller 50 opened, the respective chuckers CH and CH are conveyed at a speed slightly lower than the speed at which the photographic paper P is sent out. The two ends of the photographic paper P in the width direction are held by the chuck rollers 59 while being operated in the direction (a).

  After the clamping, the chuckers CH and CH are driven synchronously (b), so that the intermediate portion of the photographic paper P sandwiched between the chuckers CH and CH is curved in a direction to hang down by its own weight. Before each chucker CH, CH reaches the delivery position H, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the lever 55 provided in each chucker CH, CH is an introduction surface of the guide plate 60. The entire photographic paper P is curved in such a manner that the idle roller 58 is gradually pressed downward by contacting the pressing surface 60B from 60A and the rear end side of the photographic paper P is pushed downward. Then, after each chucker CH, CH reaches the delivery position H, the respective discharge motors 52 are driven to deliver the photographic paper P to the intermediate transport unit U5b (d). At the time of delivery, the idle roller 58 rotates freely while being pressed against the photographic paper P, thereby realizing smooth delivery.

  In this way, the lever 55 provided in the chucker CH is brought into contact with the guide plate 60, whereby the idle roller 58 is swung to apply the pressing force in the direction in which the printing paper P is bent. The same applies to the case where the photographic paper P is fed to the rear roller unit U5 depending on the mode. However, it is effective for a large size to contact the photographic paper P with the idle roller 58 to bend it. That is, in this printing unit, a long photographic paper P is stored in a roll shape with respect to the photographic paper magazine M, and the photographic paper P exposed by the exposure unit U2 is distributed. When transported in the horizontal direction by the unit U4, the photosensitive surface of the photographic paper P is directed downward. Therefore, when the front end of the photographic paper P is sandwiched and transported by a pair of chuckers CH, CH, the photographic paper P has its own weight. Although the slack direction coincides with the direction in which the photographic paper P is bent by the curl of the photographic paper P, the strength of the curl of the photographic paper P is the outer peripheral portion of the photographic paper P stored in the photographic paper magazine M. Since the strength differs between the winding core and the photographic paper P, the photographic paper P does not always sag downward. Therefore, the idle roller 58 is pressed to positively curve the photographic paper P downward. Even if the roll is weak, the photographic paper P Without also curved bulges form towards, and is intended to Okurikomeru the printing paper P with respect to the rear roller unit U5 in a fixed posture. Further, when the idle roller 58 presses the photographic paper P, the spring material 57 is flexibly elastically deformed according to the degree of winding of the photographic paper P, so that an excessive pressure is applied to the photographic paper P. They are not allowed to do.

  In particular, when the photographic paper P having such a large size is transported by the sorting unit 4, the photographic paper is also at the timing when the leading end of the photographic paper P reaches a position where it can be sandwiched between chuckers CH and CH. In such a case, the movement speed of each chucker CH, CH is set to the front roller unit so that no tension is applied to the printing paper P from the sorting unit U4. In U3, the speed is set lower than the speed at which the photographic paper P is conveyed. Incidentally, when an external tension is applied to the photographic paper P that continues to be exposed, the accuracy of exposure to the photographic paper P is reduced due to fluctuations in the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P, and the image This leads to inconvenience that lowers the quality.

  Thus, in the present invention, when sorting the photographic paper P, the control device determines whether the length of the photographic paper P is less than the set value or greater than the set value. And the switching operation mode is switched based on the determination result. Further, when the photographic paper P is shorter than the reference value, the sorting is performed in the staggered state, so that the operator does not perform the operation of setting the control mode. Regardless of this, a distribution form that realizes efficient distribution is automatically selected. Further, by setting approximately 1/2 of the distance D between the front roller unit U3 and the rear roller unit U5 to the set value for determining the switching of the distribution mode, it is based on the structural dimensional relationship. Switching of the efficient sorting operation can be performed. When sorting, the chucker CH can be moved at a high speed by setting the driven roller 33 (pressure roller) of the front roller unit U3 to the open state. Since more efficient sorting is realized, the size of the photographic paper P that cannot be sorted by the chucker CH can be transported in the single transport mode, so that the large size of the photographic paper P can also be transported. is there.

[Another Embodiment] It is also possible to configure the distribution unit so that three or more chucker CHs are provided and distributed to three or more distribution paths. When sorting the photographic paper, it is not necessary to transport the photographic paper horizontally, and it is possible to set the transport direction so as to transport it in the vertical direction.

Perspective view of photo processing system Vertical section of the print section Vertical side view showing exposure unit, front roller unit, and chucker Side view showing transport path from exposure unit to rear roller unit Top view of sorting unit Vertical side view showing the chucker when delivering photographic paper to the rear roller unit A perspective view showing a chucker and a guide plate Top view of chucker Vertical side view of the rear roller unit Perspective view of rear roller unit Rear view of rear roller unit Block diagram of control system Schematic diagram showing the operation mode of the chucker during sorting in the staggered state Schematic diagram showing the operation mode of the chucker when sorting in the parallel state Schematic diagram showing the operation mode of the chucker in the single transfer mode

Explanation of symbols

33 pressure roller 75 control means D distance P photosensitive material Y sorting path S sensor CH chucker U2 exposure unit U3 front roller unit U4 sorting unit U5 rear roller unit Q4 switching means

Claims (5)

A photosensitive material transport apparatus comprising a sorting unit that feeds sheet-like photosensitive material exposed by an exposure unit to a plurality of rows of sorting paths,
The sorting unit is configured to include a plurality of chuckers that sandwich the photosensitive material from the exposure unit and send it to the sorting path, and a control unit that controls these chuckers.
When the length in the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material is less than a preset set value, the control means determines the other one from the leading edge of the photosensitive material previously distributed to one distribution path. When sorting is performed in a zigzag state where the leading edge of the photosensitive material distributed later with respect to the distribution path is delayed, and the length in the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material is equal to or larger than the set value, one distribution path The control mode is set so that sorting is performed in a parallel state in which the leading edge of the photosensitive material that has been sorted first and the leading edge of the photosensitive material that has been sorted later with respect to another sorting path are aligned. A photosensitive material transfer device.   The distribution unit includes a front roller unit having a plurality of pressure rollers to send the photosensitive material exposed by the exposure unit to the distribution unit, and a plurality of pressure rollers to form the plurality of distribution paths. And the set value is set to approximately ½ of the distance in the conveying direction between the front roller unit and the rear roller unit. 2. A photosensitive material conveying apparatus according to item 1.   The pressure roller on the conveyance end side of the front roller unit is configured to be switchable between a pressure-bonded state and an open state, and after the chucking unit of the sorting unit pressure-bonds the photosensitive material sent out from the front roller unit, 3. A photosensitive material conveying apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising switching means for switching the pressure roller on the conveying end side to an open state.   A sensor for detecting the front end position of the photosensitive material is provided at a discharge position for discharging the photosensitive material from the front roller unit, and the control means is configured to detect the discharge position when the photosensitive material is fed from the discharge position. One chucker is placed in a standby position in the vicinity, and the photosensitive material is sandwiched by the standby chucker based on the timing at which the photosensitive material is detected by the sensor, and the pressure roller at the conveyance end position is switched to the open state. 4. The photosensitive material conveying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control sequence is performed, and thereafter the operation order is set so as to start the operation of the chucker.   When the width of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit is a size that can be distributed, the control means sequentially holds the photosensitive material from the exposure unit with the chucker and sends the distribution material to the distribution path in the distribution mode. When the width of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit is a size that cannot be assigned, the both ends of the width direction of the photosensitive material from the exposure unit are sandwiched by the chucker, and each chucker is The photosensitive material conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution unit is controlled in a single conveying mode in which the moving unit is moved at a constant speed.

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