JP2005099118A - Photosensitive material conveyance unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fabricate a unit having smooth opening and closing operation and capable of keeping open posture good in opening. <P>SOLUTION: A hinge H is supported in the vicinity of a swing shaft X at one end of a sorting unit U4 in such a way that the unit can freely change over from processing posture to open posture, and the hinge H is equipped with a helical compression spring 73 and a damper mechanism which applies resistance force to the swing actuation of the hinge H. The damper mechanism is equipped with a rotary resistance applying means 75 to which torque is transmitted from a first gear G1 and a second gear G2. In the helical compression spring 73, energizing force is set which is sufficient to keep the unit in open posture even when the gravitational center position is remotest from the swing shaft X. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a photosensitive material transport unit supported so as to be switchable between a processing posture and an open posture by swinging around an axis, and more particularly to a damper mechanism that controls opening and closing of the unit.

  Although not related to the photosensitive material transport unit described above, there is a damper mechanism configured as shown in Patent Document 1 as a damper mechanism for controlling opening and closing. That is, a lift member is provided so as to be rotatable around a support shaft with respect to a base member on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus, and the lift member is provided with a document pressing plate, and between the base member and the lift member. A spring device is disposed, and a rotary damper that rotates in a gear manner when the lift member rotates with respect to the base member is provided. In the structure shown in Patent Document 1, when the original pressure plate is lifted, an urging force is applied upward from the spring device, and when the original pressure plate is pressed down, the rotary pressure is applied to the original pressure plate by the rotary damper device. It starts to descend slowly from the opening / closing angle of the valve, and is configured to prevent a sudden descent (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-15237 (paragraph numbers [0016] to [0025], FIGS. 1 to 6)

  For example, when considering a photographic printing apparatus that performs exposure processing on a photographic paper as a photosensitive material, and then transports the photographic paper to a development processing tank, the photographic printing apparatus transports the photographic paper in various ways. It has a unit. In addition, it is desirable that the transport unit has a structure in which the photographic paper is jammed or is largely opened during maintenance, and a structure in which the entire unit is rotated around the axis is also desired.

  Equipped with a chucker that is movable in the unit to sort the photographic paper as a transport unit that transports the photographic paper, and a line exposure type exposure head that is movable relative to the unit to expose the photographic paper Considering this, the position of the center of gravity of the unit varies depending on the position of the chucker and exposure head. Considering that the unit in which the position of the center of gravity fluctuates can be opened and closed by swinging around the axis, when the damper mechanism having the structure shown in Patent Document 1 is provided, a sudden opening operation is performed. Although a good aspect of being restrained appears, it was considered that the unit could not be maintained in an open posture depending on the relationship between the biasing force of the spring and the position of the center of gravity.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally constitute a photosensitive material transport unit that can be opened and closed and that can maintain a good open posture when opened.

  A feature of the present invention is that the photosensitive material transport unit is supported so as to be switched between a processing posture and an open posture by swinging around an axis, and the photosensitive material transport unit develops and transports the sheet-shaped photosensitive material. At the part where the photosensitive material is fed in the horizontal direction in the conveyance path to be sent to the unit, the photosensitive material is supported so as to be swingable openable and closable around the horizontal axis, and the position of the center of gravity fluctuates in the perspective direction based on the axis A processing mechanism; an urging mechanism that urges the photosensitive material conveyance unit toward the opened posture; and a damper mechanism that controls swinging opening and closing of the photosensitive material conveyance unit. A first gear arranged coaxially with the shaft core and rotating integrally with the photosensitive material transport unit, and a gear ratio is set so as to obtain a rotation amount larger than the rotation amount of the first gear when the first gear rotates. The photosensitive material transport unit swings around the axis by providing a second gear that meshes with the first gear in a state where the first gear is engaged and a resistance applying means that applies a resistance force to the rotation of the second gear. The urging mechanism lifts and swings the oscillating end of the photosensitive material transport unit in a state where the position of the center of gravity is farthest from the axis. A biasing force sufficient to maintain the photosensitive material transport unit in the open posture when the swing operation is performed in the posture is set.

  With this configuration, when the photosensitive material transport unit is operated in the open posture around the axis, the biasing mechanism is applied to the swing of the photosensitive material transport unit in the open posture direction. Simultaneously with the opening operation of the first gear and the second gear, a resistance force is applied from the resistance applying means to the rotational operation increased by the gear ratio set for the first gear and the second gear. Even if the applying means gives a large resistance force and the center of gravity of the unit is close to the shaft center, even if the center of gravity of the unit is at the position farthest from the shaft core, the rapid swing is suppressed. The photosensitive material transport unit can be maintained in the open position by the biasing force of the biasing mechanism. As a result, a photosensitive material transport unit is configured that can easily and smoothly switch from the processing posture to the open posture and can stably hold the photosensitive material transport unit in the open posture regardless of the position of the center of gravity of the unit.

  In the present invention, the processing mechanism of the photosensitive material transport unit may include a chucker that performs an operation of sandwiching a photosensitive material fed through a single-line transport path and feeding it to a plurality of sorting paths.

  With this configuration, the photosensitive material transport unit can be smoothly operated in the open posture and stably held in the open posture regardless of the position of the chucker in the perspective direction with respect to the axis. It became a thing.

  In the present invention, the photosensitive material transport unit is supported in an openable / closable manner by an open / close support portion disposed at a position straddling a path for transporting the photosensitive material, and the damper mechanism is provided in each of the open / close support portions. May be.

  With this configuration, for example, a single shaft member is disposed at a position across the unit, and the photosensitive material transport unit is supported so as to be swingable and openable around the axis of the shaft member. Not only does it hinder the conveyance of the photosensitive material, but also the urging force is applied from the respective urging mechanisms of the damper mechanisms provided in the respective opening / closing support portions, so that the urging force balanced in the direction along the axis acts on the unit. It becomes possible.

  In the present invention, the biasing mechanism includes a shaft member formed on a swinging portion that swings integrally with the photosensitive material transport unit, and a shaft member formed on a fixed portion that supports the swinging portion so as to be swingable. And a compression coil spring that applies a biasing force in a direction in which these shaft members are separated from each other, and when the photosensitive material transport unit is set to the processing posture, the shaft member formed in the swinging portion. When the shaft member formed on the fixed portion approaches the virtual straight line connecting the shaft core and the shaft core, the torque acting on the swinging portion from the compression coil spring is reduced, and the photosensitive material transport unit is opened. When operated to the posture side, the shaft member formed on the fixed portion displaces to the side away from the virtual straight line connecting the shaft member formed on the swinging portion and the shaft core. Swing from compression coil spring The relative positions of the respective shaft members are set so as to increase the torque acting on the photosensitive member, and when the photosensitive material transport unit is set to the processing posture, the processing posture is maintained by the attractive force of a permanent magnet. May be.

  With this configuration, when the photosensitive material transport unit is set to the processing posture, the torque for swinging the unit from the compression coil spring to the open posture is reduced, so that the processing posture can be maintained by the attractive force of the permanent magnet. When the material transport unit is operated toward the open position, the torque that swings the photosensitive material transport unit from the compression coil spring toward the open position increases, so that the unit can be opened with a light operating force. It is possible to maintain an open posture.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, an exposure block Ex for exposing a silver salt photographic paper P (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper P) as a photosensitive material, and development processing of the photographic paper P thus exposed are performed. A development block De as a development processing device and a drying block Dr for drying the photographic paper P after development processing are housed in the housing 10, and outside the housing 10 from the top of the housing 10 after processing. A photographic printing apparatus is configured in which the photographic paper P sent out in the horizontal direction is sent from the belt transport mechanism 11 to a sorter (not shown), and sorted and collected in units of orders. This photographic printing device is called a digital minilab, and although not shown in the drawings, image information captured by photoelectrically converting a frame image of a photographic film with a film scanner, or image information taken with a digital camera Is transmitted to the photographic printing apparatus, the exposure block Ex can expose the photographic paper P based on the image information.

  The exposure block Ex cuts the roll-shaped photographic paper P stored in one of the two photographic paper magazines M, M into a print size by the supply unit U1 and conveys it upward, and the photographic paper P from the supply unit U1. In the exposure unit U2, the image information is exposed while transporting the transport path in the vertical posture from below to above, and the transport direction of the photographic paper P sent upward from the exposure unit U2 is set to the horizontal direction in the front roller unit U3. After being converted to, the sorting unit U4 (an example of a photosensitive material transport unit) feeds in the horizontal direction, and thereafter, it is transferred from the rear roller unit U5 to the developing block De. The upper cover 8 of the exposure block Ex is supported by a hinge 9 so as to be freely opened and closed around a horizontal axis.

  [Supply Unit] As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit U1 draws roll-shaped photographic paper P stored in one of the two photographic paper magazines M, M by a plurality of supply rollers 16, and the cutter 17 prints the print size. The printing head 18 prints necessary information on the back side of the photographic paper P thus cut, and then feeds the photographic paper P to the exposure unit U2 by a feeder 19 that pinches and conveys the photographic paper P. ing. 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] The exposure unit U2 includes a receiving roller 20 composed of a pair of rollers that can be switched between a pressure-bonding state and a separation state for receiving the printing paper P from the feeder 19, and a metal driving roller 21; An exposure transport roller composed of 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 is disposed at a vertical position across the exposure position, and the exposure transport roller moves upward (sub-scanning). A laser scanning type exposure engine 23 that exposes image information in the main scanning direction (horizontal direction) to the photographic paper P conveyed in the direction).

  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] As shown in FIG. 2, the front roller unit U3 functions to change the transport direction to the horizontal direction by sending the photographic paper P sent from the exposure path to the curved transport path. is there. That is, the front roller unit U3 includes a fixed guide 30 disposed on the lower side of the curved conveyance path, and a movable disposed on the upper side of the curved conveyance path so as to be swingable around the support shaft 31A. And a drive roller 32 disposed on the fixed guide 30 side along the curved conveyance path, and a driven roller 33 disposed on the movable guide 31 side along the curved conveyance path. ing. Although not shown in the drawing, a drive mechanism for opening and closing the movable guide 31 is provided, the movable guide 31 and the driven roller 33 are configured to open and close in cooperation with each other, and a drive system that drives and rotates the drive roller 32. It has.

  With this configuration, when receiving the photographic paper P from the exposure unit U2, the movable guide 31 and the driven roller 33 are opened, and after the photographic paper P is introduced in this open state, the movable guide 31 and the driven roller. 33 is set in a closed posture, and the bending between the fixed guide 30 and the movable guide 31 in a state in which the photographic paper P is pressure-bonded by the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33 and the conveying force is applied to the photographic paper P. The photographic printing paper P is guided to the conveyance path.

  [Distribution Unit] The distribution unit U4 as the photosensitive material transport unit is a distribution operation unit that distributes the photographic paper P to the two distribution paths Y4 and Y4 by the operation of the two chuckers CH as shown in FIGS. S and an intermediate roller portion T to which the photographic paper P from the sorting operation portion S is delivered, and these are supported by the swing frame 35. In other words, the sorting operation unit S includes a transport rail 40 in which a guide direction is set in the transport direction of the photographic paper P, a transport frame 41 supported so as to be reciprocally movable with respect to the transport rail 40, and the transport frame 41. A shift rail 42 having a guide direction set in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the photographic paper P, a shift member 43 supported so as to be reciprocally movable with respect to the shift rail 42, and the photographic paper on the shift member 43 A chucker CH is provided that can be switched between a state in which P is sandwiched and a separated state in which passage of the photographic paper P is allowed.

  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 (not shown) composed of a motor and a motor 51 for driving and rotating the first chuck roller 49 are provided.

  In the sorting unit U4, the home positions of the two chuckers CH and CH are set at the moving end on the intermediate roller portion T side (the right side in FIG. 2 and the swing axis X side to be described later). When it is completed normally, it is located at the home position of the two chuckers CH and CH.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 9, the intermediate roller portion T includes a driving roller 55 driven by a stepping motor type intermediate conveyance motor 54, and four pressure-bonding units to the driving roller 55. The pressure roller 56 and a guide plate 57 for guiding the photographic paper P obliquely downward are provided. The drive roller 55 is supported by a support plate 35A formed integrally with the swing frame 35, and the intermediate transport motor 54 is supported by the support plate 35.

  A pair of shafts 59 are provided for the connecting frame 58 that connects the upper ends of the support plates 35A, and the shafts 59 can swing around the shafts 59 and can be displaced in the axial direction of the shafts 59. A movable frame 60 is supported on the movable frame 60, and a pair of the pressure rollers 56 are supported in parallel to each movable frame 60. Further, by providing a compression spring 61 in a state of being externally fitted to the shaft body 59, a pair of pressure rollers 56 supported by the movable frame 60 are pressure-bonded to the drive rollers 55, and each movable frame 60 is driven. A guide body 62 having an end on the protruding side close to the outer peripheral portion of the roller 55 is provided.

  The drive roller 55 is formed of rubber or resin with respect to the metal support shaft 55A, and the press roller 56 is formed of rubber or resin with respect to the metal support shaft 56A. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the swing frame 35 swings through hinge portions H and H as opening / closing support portions provided at both end positions in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the photographic paper P. It is freely supported by the frame F of the housing 10. The swing axis X of each hinge part H, H is set to a horizontal posture along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the photographic paper P. The swing axis X is set in a posture that is parallel to the axis of the hinge 9 on the developing block De side of the upper cover 8 of the exposure block Ex.

  More specifically, the hinge portion H is capable of swinging around a swing shaft 67 between a fixed bracket 65 fixed to the frame F side and a swing bracket 66 fixed to the swing frame 35 side. It has a connected structure. The axis of the swing shaft 67 coincides with the swing axis X. The hinge portion H includes a spring receiver 69 supported by a fixed bracket 65 via a shaft member 68, and a swing bracket. An elastic member 72 is provided between the elastic member 72 and a spring receiver 71 provided via a shaft member 70, and a compression coil spring 73 is provided as an urging mechanism in a state of being externally fitted to the elastic member 72. 73 is provided with a cover 74 on the exposed side. Further, a damper mechanism D for controlling the opening / closing operation of the fixed bracket 65 and the swing bracket 66 is provided.

  The damper mechanism D is connected to the swing shaft 67 fixed to the swing bracket 66 so as to swing integrally with the swing bracket 66, and to the fixed bracket 65. The rotary-type resistance applying means 75 provided in a fixed manner and the second gear G2 connected and fixed to the resistance applying shaft 75A of the resistance applying means 75 in a state of being engaged with the first gear G1. . Further, when the swing bracket 66 swings, the first gear G1 and the second gear G2 are set so that the rotation amount of the resistance applying shaft 75A of the resistance applying means 75 is larger than the swing amount of the swing bracket 66. The gear ratio is set. The resistance applying means 75 has a structure in which a relatively strong resistance acts on the resistance applying shaft 75A from the fluid enclosed in the casing when the resistance applying shaft 75A rotates.

  The pair of hinge portions H, H are disposed at a position straddling the rear roller unit U5 so that the photographic paper P can be conveyed to a space between the hinge portions H, H. By providing the pair of hinge portions H, H, the sorting unit U4 has a processing posture shown by a solid line in FIG. 4 and a posture swinging about 70 degrees from a horizontal posture as shown by a virtual line in FIG. It is configured to be switchable to an open posture. Further, the chucker CH is an example of a processing mechanism that operates in the perspective direction with respect to the swing axis X of the hinge portion H. In a state where the chucker CH is at a position farthest from the swing axis X (the center of gravity) When the sorting unit U4 is set to the open posture, the compression coil spring can obtain a biasing force sufficient to maintain the open posture. 73 biasing forces are set.

  Further, when the distribution unit U4 is in the processing posture, the torque acting on the swing bracket 66 side from the compression coil spring 73 provided in the hinge portion H becomes the smallest, and the distribution unit U4 is opened from this processing posture. When operated to the side, the positional relationship between the pair of shaft members 68 and 70 is set so that the torque acting on the side of the swing bracket 66 from the compression coil spring 73 increases with this operation. When the distribution unit U4 is set to the processing posture, a permanent magnet 77A and an iron piece 77B are provided between the swing frame 35 and the frame F of the housing 10 so as to maintain this posture. The fixing means 77 is provided.

  That is, when the distribution unit U4 is set to the processing posture, the urging force of the compression coil spring 73 is maximized, but the position of the swing axis X of the swing shaft 67 and the axis of the shaft member 70 are the same. The torque acting on the swing bracket 66 side from the compression coil spring 73 is reduced by utilizing the approach of the shaft member 68 to the virtual straight line connecting the positions (the shaft member 68 is on the virtual straight line). On the contrary, when the sorting unit U4 is operated to the open side, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 73 decreases, but the swinging shaft 67 Torque acting on the swing bracket 66 side from the compression coil spring 73 by utilizing the fact that the shaft member 68 is separated from a virtual straight line connecting the position of the swing axis X and the position of the shaft core of the shaft member 70. Is increasing.

  With this configuration, when the distribution unit U4 is in the processing posture, the torque acting on the swing frame 35 from the compression coil spring 73 is small, and the vibration is caused by the attractive force between the permanent magnet 77A and the iron piece 77B constituting the fixing means 77. The minute unit U4 is maintained in the processing posture. Even when the chucker CH stops at the position farthest from the swing axis X for some reason during processing, when switching the sorting unit U4 to the open posture, the swing end of the sorting unit U4 is By simply performing an artificial lifting operation, the distribution unit U4 can be swung in the opening direction. When the rocking unit U4 is swung, the torque acting on the rocking frame 35 from the compression coil spring 73 increases as the rocking unit U4 is swung. The sorting unit U4 can be swung by a light and light operation, and at the same time, a resistance force from the damper mechanism D acts during the swinging operation, thereby suppressing the phenomenon that the swinging frame 35 is actuated suddenly. When the distribution unit U4 reaches the open posture by the dynamic operation, the open posture is maintained by the urging force from the compression coil spring 73.Thereafter, when the swing frame 35 is closed in the direction of the processing posture, the swinging frame 35 is brought into the processing posture without causing any inconvenience such as a sudden drop of the swing frame 35 by the action of the urging force from the compression coil spring 73. In this processing posture, as described above, the processing posture is maintained by the action of the attractive force between the permanent magnet 77A and the iron piece 77B, so that no special locking operation is required. In particular, since the biasing force of the compression coil spring 73 is set large so that the sorting unit U4 can be maintained in the open posture even at the position where the chucker CH is farthest from the swing axis X, the chucker CH is located on the swing axis X. A large biasing force acts on the open side at a position close to the side (home position), but the sorting unit U4 does not jump up due to the resistance force from the damper mechanism D acting. .

  In this distribution 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 formed in the intermediate roller portion T. The operation in the sorting mode is performed so that the sheet is fed to one of the two rows of sorting paths Y and Y, 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. 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 intermediate roller portion T. It is configured to operate.

  [Rear roller unit] The rear roller unit U5 conveys the photographic paper P sent from the intermediate roller portion T obliquely downward, and delivers it to the introduction roller 28 provided in the development processing tank 15 of the development block De. The three conveying rollers are sequentially arranged along the line at a predetermined interval.

  Specifically, guide plates 80 and 80 are arranged at the upper and lower positions of the conveyance path of the photographic paper P, and two sets of the driving roller 81 and the driven roller 82 are provided at the upstream and intermediate positions in the conveyance direction of the photographic paper P. The transport roller composed of the driving roller 83 and the driven roller 84 is disposed at a downstream position in the transport direction. The drive rollers 81, 81, 83 are constituted by drive shafts 81A, 81A, 83A and rollers 81B, 81B, 83B made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin, and the driven rollers 82 are each a support shaft 82A. In contrast, a roller 82B made of a flexible material such as rubber or resin is provided. 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.

  An input gear 86 is provided at one end portion of the drive shaft 81A of the drive roller 81 at the upstream position, and a gear-type gear so that the rotational drive force from the drive roller 55 of the intermediate roller portion T is transmitted to the input gear 86. A transmission mechanism 87 is formed. 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 at an intermediate position adjacent thereto, and a gear 90 is provided at the drive shaft 83A of the drive roller 83 at the downstream position. And a pulley 92 that rotates integrally with the gear 91 that meshes with the gear 90. By winding an endless belt 93 around these pulleys 88, 89, and 92, all the drive rollers 81, 81, and 83 are It is configured to be driven synchronously at high speed.

  A one-way clutch 95 is provided between the drive shaft 81A constituting the drive roller 81 at the upstream position and the roller 81B, and one direction is provided between the drive shaft 81A constituting the drive roller 81 at the intermediate position and the pulley 89. A clutch 95 is provided. For 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, the rotation allowable direction of the one-way clutch 95 is set so as to allow the introduction of the photographic paper P. is there. The rear roller unit U5 conveys the printing paper P in a state where an appropriate pressure-bonding force is applied, and also applies the pressure-feeding conveying force applied to the printing paper P from the most upstream conveying roller. The pressure is set to be weaker than the pressure-feeding / conveying force of the other rollers, and is set to be weaker than the pressure-feeding / feeding force applied to the photographic paper P from the introduction roller 28 of the developing block De.

  In the rear roller unit U5, since the base side of the photographic paper P is fed in an upward direction (photosensitive surface is directed downward), the base of the photographic paper P is fed to the two drive rollers 83 at the upstream position and the intermediate position. The photosensitive surface of the photographic paper P comes into contact with the driven roller 84 of the transport roller at the most downstream position. 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 rear roller unit U5, and the pressure conveyance force is set as described above. When the photographic paper P from the roller unit U5 is transferred to the development block De side, the base side of the photographic paper P slips with respect to the pressure-bonding surface made of the flexible material of the driving roller 83. The photosensitive surface of the photographic paper P is in contact with a smooth pressure-bonded surface made of a metal material of the driven roller 84, and the driven roller 84 can rotate at a speed corresponding to the moving speed of the photographic paper. The relative speed with respect to the photographic paper is made very small so that the photosensitive surface of the photographic paper P is not damaged.

  In the rear roller unit U5, the driving force from the intermediate conveyance motor 54 is transmitted through the gear-type transmission mechanism 87. As described above, when the sorting unit U4 is operated to the open posture, The transmission mechanism 87 of the type separates at the gear occlusion portion, thereby allowing the operation to the open posture.

  In this way, in the present invention, when the sorting unit U4 is opened, the sorting unit U4 can be maintained in the opened posture regardless of the position of the chucker CH (the center of gravity of the unit). During the opening operation, the damper mechanism D exerts a resistance force on the swinging operation, so that the unit is suddenly operated in the opening direction by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 73, and the operation is light and smooth. Is realized. Further, since the damper mechanism D is disposed at the end position in the direction along the swing axis X, not only can a space for transporting the photographic paper P be secured, but also the swing axis X when the unit swings. The urging force and the resistance force that are balanced in the direction along the direction are applied. In particular, in the processing posture, the unit is maintained in the processing posture by a magnetic force, so that the operation becomes easier as compared with a device provided with a lock mechanism or the like.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

  As a photosensitive material transport unit, equipped with a line exposure type exposure head, such as a fluorescent type or a liquid crystal shutter type, which is movable in a direction away from the swing axis X so as to expose a photosensitive material such as photographic paper It is also possible to provide an urging mechanism such as a compression coil spring 73 and a damper mechanism D as in the present invention.

Vertical section of the print section Sectional view showing the part of the sorting unit Top view of sorting unit Side view showing opening / closing mode of sorting unit Diagram showing a transport system that sends photographic paper from the sorting unit to the rear roller unit Exploded perspective view of hinge part Cross-sectional view of hinge part in processing posture and open posture The perspective view which shows the conveyance system which sends a printing paper from a distribution unit to a rear roller unit Sectional view showing a transport system that feeds photographic paper from the sorting unit to the rear roller unit

Explanation of symbols

67 Shaft member 69 Shaft member 73 Energizing mechanism 75 Resistance applying means 77A Permanent magnet CH Chucker H Opening / closing support part P Photosensitive material G1 First gear G2 First gear X Axle core

Claims (4)

A photosensitive material transport unit supported so as to be switchable between a processing posture and an open posture by swinging around an axis;
The photosensitive material transport unit is supported so as to be swingable openable and closable around an axial core in a horizontal posture at a site where the photosensitive material is fed in a horizontal direction in a transport path for feeding the sheet-shaped photosensitive material to the development transport unit. A processing mechanism in which the position of the center of gravity fluctuates in the perspective direction with respect to the axis, a biasing mechanism that biases the photosensitive material transport unit toward the open position, and swinging opening and closing of the photosensitive material transport unit. And a damper mechanism for controlling,
The damper mechanism is arranged so as to be coaxial with the shaft core and rotates integrally with the photosensitive material transport unit. When the first gear rotates, the damper mechanism obtains a rotation amount larger than the rotation amount of the first gear. The photosensitive material is transported around the axis by including a second gear that meshes with the first gear in a state where a gear ratio is set, and resistance applying means that applies a resistance force to the rotation of the second gear. It is configured to apply a resistance force from the resistance applying means to the swinging operation of the unit,
The biasing mechanism opens the photosensitive material transport unit when the swinging end of the photosensitive material transport unit is lifted and swinged to the open position in a state where the center of gravity is at a position farthest from the axis. A photosensitive material transport unit in which an urging force sufficient to maintain the photosensitive material is set.   2. The photosensitive material transport according to claim 1, wherein the processing mechanism of the photosensitive material transport unit includes a chucker that performs an operation of sandwiching a photosensitive material sent through a single-line transport path and feeding the photosensitive material into a plurality of distribution paths. unit.   The photosensitive material transport unit is supported to be opened and closed by an opening / closing support portion disposed at a position across a path for transporting the photosensitive material, and the damper mechanism is provided in each of the opening / closing support portions. 3. The photosensitive material conveying unit according to 2.   The biasing mechanism includes a shaft member formed on a swinging portion that swings integrally with the photosensitive material transport unit, a shaft member formed on a fixed portion that supports the swinging portion in a swingable manner, A compression coil spring that applies an urging force in a direction in which the shaft member is separated, and when the photosensitive material transport unit is set to the processing posture, the shaft member formed on the swing portion and the shaft core As the shaft member formed on the fixed portion approaches the virtual straight line connecting the two, the torque acting on the swinging portion from the compression coil spring is reduced, and the photosensitive material transport unit is moved to the open posture side. When operated, the shaft member formed on the fixed portion is displaced away from the imaginary straight line connecting the shaft member formed on the swinging portion and the shaft core. Acts on the rocking part The relative positions of the respective shaft members are set so as to increase the torque, and when the photosensitive material transport unit is set in the processing position, the processing position is maintained by the attractive force of a permanent magnet. Item 4. The photosensitive material conveyance unit according to any one of Items 1 to 3.

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