JP2005099355A - Heat development apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat development apparatus in which jam in conveyance and image defects are not caused even if dew condensation occurs in the apparatus and a user does not notice that. <P>SOLUTION: The heat development apparatus for heat developing a heat developable photosensitive material or a heat developable recording material including a photosensitive and thermosensitive recording material by applying light or heat comprises at least an image exposure section, a heat development section and a conveyance guide, wherein a dew condensation sensor is set in the image exposure section and/or the conveyance guide, and when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation, the image exposure section is prevented from performing exposure recording and that and/or a countermeasure to prevention of dew condensation is displayed on a control panel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat development apparatus, and more particularly to a heat development apparatus free from film jams and image defects.

  In recent years, in the medical field, reduction of waste processing liquid has been strongly desired from the viewpoint of environmental protection and space saving. Therefore, there is a technology relating to photosensitive photothermographic materials for medical diagnosis and photographic technology that can be efficiently exposed by a laser imager and can form a clear black image having high resolution and sharpness. is necessary. These photosensitive photothermographic materials can eliminate the use of solution processing chemicals and supply customers with a simpler heat development processing system that does not damage the environment.

  There are similar requirements in the field of general image forming materials, but medical images require fine depiction, so they require high image quality with excellent sharpness and graininess, and are cooled from the viewpoint of ease of diagnosis. There is a feature that a black tone image is preferred. At present, various hard copy systems using pigments and dyes such as inkjet printers and electrophotography are distributed as general image forming systems. However, there is no satisfactory output system for medical images.

  On the other hand, in recent years, a recording apparatus using a dry system that does not require wet processing has attracted attention. In such a recording apparatus, a photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material (photosensitive heat-sensitive recording material) or a heat-developable photosensitive material film is used. Hereinafter, this material is referred to as “heat-developable recording material” or “heat-developable photosensitive material”. In the recording apparatus using the dry system, a latent image is formed by irradiating (scanning) the heat-developable recording material with a laser beam in the exposure unit, and then the heat-developable recording material is brought into contact with the heating unit in the heat developing unit. Thermal development is carried out, followed by slow cooling and cooling, and the heat-developable recording material on which the image is formed is discharged out of the apparatus. Such a dry system can solve the problem of waste liquid treatment as compared with wet treatment.

  Thermal image forming systems using organic silver salts as described above are disclosed in, for example, the specifications of US Pat. Nos. 3,152,904 and 3,457,075 and B.I. “Thermally Processed Silver Systems” by Shely (Imaging Processes and Materials), 8th edition, Sturge V. (Walworth), A. Shepp, 2nd page, 1996). In particular, heat-developable recording materials generally contain a catalytically active amount of a photocatalyst (eg, silver halide), a reducing agent, a reducible silver salt (eg, an organic silver salt), and a color to control the color tone of silver if necessary. And a photosensitive layer dispersed in a binder matrix. The heat-developable recording material is heated to a high temperature (for example, 80 ° C. or higher) after image exposure, and blackened by a redox reaction between silver halide or a reducible silver salt (functioning as an oxidizing agent) and a reducing agent. Form a silver image. The oxidation-reduction reaction is promoted by the catalytic action of the latent image of silver halide generated by exposure. Therefore, a black silver image is formed in the exposure area. Fuji Medical Dry Imager FM-DPL has been put on the market as a thermal development apparatus using a thermal development recording material, as disclosed in many documents including US Pat. No. 2,910,377 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 43-4924.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration diagram of such a heat development apparatus.
Reference numeral 200 denotes a heat development recording apparatus. This heat development recording apparatus 200 uses a heat development recording material that does not require wet development processing, exposes the heat development recording material by scanning exposure with a light beam composed of laser light, and latently exposes the latent image. After forming an image, it is a device that heat develops to obtain a visible image, and then slowly cools and cools to room temperature.
Accordingly, the heat development recording apparatus 200 basically includes a heat development recording material supply section A, an image exposure section (laser recording apparatus) B, a heat development section C, and a gradual increase in the order of conveyance of the heat development recording material. A cooling unit D and a cooling unit E are provided, and conveyance means for conveying the heat-developable recording material provided at key points of each department, and a power source / control unit F that drives and controls each unit are provided. Yes. The power supply / control unit F is provided with a CPU, which can perform various controls.
In this thermal development recording apparatus 200, the power supply / control unit F is at the bottom, the thermal development recording material supply unit A is at the top, and the image exposure unit B, the thermal development unit C, the slow cooling unit D, and the cooling unit E are at the top. The image exposure part B and the heat development part C are arranged adjacent to each other.
According to this configuration, the exposure process and the heat development process can be performed within a short transport distance, the transport path length of the heat development recording material can be minimized, and the output time of one sheet can be shortened. In addition, both the exposure process and the thermal development process can be simultaneously performed on one thermal development recording material.

  As the heat-developable recording material, a heat-developable photosensitive material or a photosensitive heat-sensitive recording material can be used. The heat-developable recording material is a recording material that records (exposes) an image with a light beam (for example, a laser beam) and then develops the color by heat development. The photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording material is a recording material that records an image with a light beam and then develops the color by heat development or records the image simultaneously with the heat mode (heat) of a laser beam.

  The heat-developable recording material supply unit A is a part that takes out the heat-developable recording material one by one and supplies it to the image exposure unit B located downstream in the conveyance direction of the heat-developable recording material, and includes three loading units 10a and 10b. 10c, a pair of supply rollers 13a, 13b, and 13c disposed in each loading unit, a conveyance roller 14a, and a conveyance guide (not shown). Further, magazines 15a, 15b, and 15c containing different heat development recording materials (for example, B4 size, half-cut size, etc.) are inserted into the loading sections 10a, 10b, and 10c having a three-stage configuration. Thus, any one of the sizes and directions loaded in each stage can be selectively used.

  The heat-developable recording material is processed into a sheet shape, and is usually a laminated body (bundle) of a predetermined unit such as 100 sheets, and is packaged by a bag or a belt. Each package is housed in a magazine and loaded in each stage of the heat-developable recording material supply unit A.

  The image exposure unit B scans and exposes the light beam L in the main scanning direction to the heat development recording material conveyed by the conveyance guide 14b from the heat development recording material supply unit A, and is substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. By transporting in the sub-scanning direction (that is, the transport direction), a desired image is recorded on the heat-developable recording material to form a latent image.

  The heat development section C heats a heat-treated heat-developable recording material of a type to which heat treatment is applied, and has a configuration necessary for processing the heat-developable recording material 3 as shown in FIG. A plurality of plate heaters 51a, 51b, 51c arranged in the transfer direction of the heat-developable recording material as a heating body are curved, and these plate heaters 51a, 51b, 51c are arranged in a series of arcs.

  That is, as shown in the figure, the heat developing portion C including the plate heaters 51a, 51b, 51c is provided with a concave surface, and the heat development recording material 3 is brought into contact with the concave surface of the plate heater. Slide it while moving it relatively. At this time, a supply roller 53 and a plurality of pressing rollers 55 for heat transfer from each plate heater to the heat-developable recording material 3 are provided as means for transferring the heat-developable recording material 3. The pressing roller 55 contacts the peripheral surface of the drum 52 and is driven to rotate following the rotation of the drum 52. As these pressing rollers 55, a metal roller, a resin roller, a rubber roller, or the like can be used. With this configuration, the heat-developable recording material 3 to be conveyed is conveyed while being pressed against the plate heaters 51a, 51b, 51c, so that the heat-developable recording material 3 can be prevented from buckling. A discharge roller 57 for transferring the heat development recording material is disposed at the end of the conveyance path of the heat development recording material 3 in the heat development section C.

The heat-developable recording material 3 delivered from the heat-developing part C is gradually cooled with care so that no wrinkles are generated by the slow-cooling part D and no curling occurs.
In the slow cooling part D, a plurality of slow cooling roller pairs 59 are arranged to give a desired constant curvature R to the transport path of the heat-developable recording material 3. This means that the heat-developable recording material 3 is conveyed with a certain curvature R until it is cooled below the glass transition point of the material. In this way, the heat-developable recording material is intentionally given a curvature. Further, before the glass transition point is cooled, the excessive curl is not attached, and when it is below the glass transition point, no new curl is attached and the amount of curl does not vary.
Further, the temperature of the slow cooling roller itself and the internal atmosphere of the slow cooling part D are adjusted. Such temperature adjustment makes it possible to make the conditions immediately after starting up the heat treatment apparatus and after sufficiently running as much as possible to reduce the concentration fluctuation.

  The heat-developable recording material 3 cooled to the glass transition point or lower by the slow cooling part D is conveyed to the cooling part E by the carry-out roller pair 59 provided near the outlet of the slow cooling part D.

  The cooling section E has a cooling plate 61, which is further cooled and lowered to a temperature at which no burn is caused even if the heat-developable recording material 3 is held by hand. Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the discharge tray 16 by the discharge roller pair 63.

According to this medical image forming system using heat-developable recording material, it is possible to realize a high-speed, high-volume processing and clean environment as a new product of dry laser imager that prints images of various medical diagnostic imaging devices such as CT and MRI. We were able to contribute to the improvement of efficiency and the working environment by drying film prints.
Its main feature is ultra-high-speed processing, and the film transport mechanism realizes ultra-high-speed processing of the first film output time of about 65 seconds and half-cut size of about 180 sheets / hour. Only 10 minutes from the condition, it was possible to print quickly even in an emergency. Ease of use can also be equipped with up to 3 trays, making it possible to meet various film size requirements of various diagnostic imaging devices from six-cut size to half-cut size, easy-to-understand color liquid crystal display, film supply, etc. The animation display of the operation procedure is adopted so that anyone can use it easily, with peace of mind. In addition, as a consideration for the environment, it aims at a clean environment, and heat development, which has traditionally been considered essential for organic solvents Odor to be worried about at the time of image recording, interpretation diagnosis, storage by use of dry image recording film manufactured using "water-based coating technology" by the present applicant who applies photosensitive material with water It has become possible to realize a comfortable work environment without causing any problems.

However, there has been a problem of condensation in such a heat development apparatus.
For example, if the room temperature is rapidly heated from a cold room temperature of about −10 ° C., the room temperature rapidly rises, and condensation may occur in the apparatus at this time. In the past, when the device was condensed, if the user noticed condensation, the device was left for a certain period of time until the condensation disappeared, or the air inside the device was dehumidified with a dehumidifying material.
However, if the user is not aware of this even if there is condensation on the device, the device will be used, and if this happens, there will be condensation on the transport guide and photothermographic material. In some cases, the photothermographic material adheres to the conveyance guide to cause a conveyance jam, or a part of the emulsion on the surface of the photothermographic material adheres to the conveyance guide to cause an image defect. In addition, if there is condensation in the image exposure portion, the lens system is cloudy, so that a sufficient amount of laser light does not reach the photothermographic material, and therefore an underexposed image may be formed.
As countermeasures against this, there are some cases in the patent literature that prevent condensation (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2701858 Japanese Patent No. 2988639

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a recording paper passage including a recording paper supply unit and an image recording formation unit is surrounded by an enclosure, and the air in the enclosed chamber surrounded by the enclosure is cooled by a cooling and dehumidifying means. It is intended to dehydrate and dehumidify the moisture contained in the air. Further, a storage chamber for storing heat-generating components such as a power supply device and a circuit board is provided separately from the enclosure chamber, and outside air is supplied to the storage chamber. An air supply fan for taking in and an exhaust fan for releasing air substantially equal to the air taken in by the air supply fan from the housing chamber to the outside are provided side by side.

  However, although the invention described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a cooling and dehumidifying means so as not to cause condensation, no countermeasure is taken as a countermeasure when condensation occurs for some reason.

On the other hand, there are some documents about countermeasures when condensation occurs.
For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, the reel is rotated when dew condensation is detected when the cassette holder is stored, and loading is performed when rotation is detected, and loading is not performed when rotation is not detected. Control.
However, this relates to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, and is not helpful in the field of a heat developing apparatus having no magnetic recording cassette.
Other documents are almost the same, not in the field of thermal development apparatus, and are not a reference for specific measures.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and even if condensation occurs in the heat developing apparatus and the user does not notice this, the apparatus itself detects the condensation and alerts the user. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal development apparatus that does not cause a conveyance jam or an image defect.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of the heat development apparatus according to claim 1 is a heat development apparatus for applying heat or heat to a heat development recording material including a heat development photosensitive material or a light and heat sensitive recording material and performing heat development. In a thermal development apparatus having at least an image exposure unit, a thermal development unit, and a conveyance guide, a dew condensation sensor is installed in the image exposure unit and / or the conveyance guide.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the thermal development apparatus according to the first aspect, a dew condensation sensor is installed in the scanning exposure unit of the image exposure unit.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the thermal development apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image exposure unit does not perform exposure recording when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the thermal development apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the thermal development apparatus further includes an operation panel, and when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation, It is characterized by displaying that fact and / or dew condensation prevention measures.
The invention according to claim 5 is the thermal development apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising condensation prediction means for predicting the possibility of condensation from the current temperature and humidity. In the case where the dehumidifier is provided in the apparatus or in the vicinity of the apparatus, an operation start command for the dehumidifier is given when the dew condensation prediction means predicts dew condensation.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the thermal development apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the thermal development apparatus further comprises a dew condensation canceling prediction means for predicting a time during which the dew condensation is eliminated from the current temperature and humidity, and the dew condensation release prediction The time estimated by the means is displayed on the display panel.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the thermal development apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the scanning exposure unit of the image exposure unit has a sealed structure that suppresses humidity fluctuations.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the heat development apparatus according to the seventh aspect, a humidity control material or a drying material is provided in the sealed structure.

  With the above configuration, even if condensation occurs in the device and the user is not aware of this, the device itself detects condensation, stocks exposure records, instructs the user how to prevent condensation, Since the user is alerted, the user can take the instructed action without feeling uneasy about stopping the apparatus, and can prevent the occurrence of a conveyance jam or an image defect.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a heat development apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heat development apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 100 denotes a heat development recording apparatus. This heat development recording apparatus 100 uses a heat development recording material that does not require wet development processing, exposes the heat development recording material by scanning exposure with a light beam composed of laser light, and latently exposes the latent image. After forming an image, it is a device that heat develops to obtain a visible image, and then slowly cools and cools to room temperature.
Accordingly, the heat development recording apparatus 100 basically includes a heat development recording material supply unit A, an image exposure unit (laser recording device) B, a heat development unit C, and a gradual increase in the order of conveyance of the heat development recording material. A cooling unit D and a cooling unit E are provided, and conveyance means for conveying the heat-developable recording material provided at key points of each department, and a power source / control unit F that drives and controls each unit are provided. Yes. The power supply / control unit F is provided with a CPU, which can perform various controls.
The configuration itself of the heat development recording material supply unit A, the image exposure unit (laser recording device) B, the heat development unit C, the slow cooling unit D, and the cooling unit E is basically the same as that of the conventional heat development device 200 described in FIG. Since they are the same, redundant description is omitted here.
1 differs from the conventional heat development apparatus 200 of FIG. 12 in that a dew condensation sensor 201 is installed in the conveyance guide 14b and a dew condensation sensor 202 is installed in the scanning exposure unit 19 in FIG. This detection value is sent to the CPU in the control unit F, and various countermeasures for condensation are taken.

Therefore, the image exposure unit B will be specifically described.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sub-scanning conveying unit and a scanning exposure unit for conveying a sheet-like heat-developable recording material in the laser recording apparatus 100.
The recording unit B, which is the laser recording apparatus 100, is a part that exposes the heat-developable recording material by light beam scanning exposure, and has a sub-scanning mechanism that has a flapping prevention mechanism that conveys the heat-developing material while preventing flapping from the conveyance surface. A transport unit (sub-scanning unit) 17 and a scanning exposure unit (laser irradiation unit) 19 are provided. The scanning exposure unit 19 scans (main scans) the laser while controlling the output of the laser according to separately prepared image data. At this time, the heat-developable recording material is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the sub-scanning conveyance unit 17.

The sub-scanning conveying unit 17 has two drive rollers 21 and 22 whose axis lines are arranged substantially in parallel with the scan line across the main scan line of the laser beam L to be irradiated, and these drive rollers 21 and 22. And a guide plate 23 that supports the heat-developable recording material 3. The guide plate 23 bends the heat-developable recording material 3 inserted between the drive rollers 21 and 22 along a part of the peripheral surface of the drive roller outside the drive rollers arranged in parallel. The slope portions 25 and 26 and a pressing portion 29 having a substantially horizontal surface that receives and receives the elastic repulsion force due to the bending of the heat-developable recording material between the drive rollers are provided.
The heat-developable recording material 3 enters so as to slide down the slope portion 25 and becomes a conveyance path that passes through the pressing portion 29 that is a substantially horizontal plane. The conveyance force is applied corresponding to the guide plate 23. A drive roller 21 is provided.

  The slope portion 25 is an inclined surface that is bent and connected at a boundary portion with the pressing portion 29, and an intersection angle φ between the slope portion 25 and the pressing portion 29 is set in a range of 0 ° to 45 °. Has been. The slope portion 26 on the downstream side of the conveyance is formed in the same manner, and an inclined surface having the above-mentioned intersecting angle φ is provided with respect to the pressing portion 29. The inclined surface bent at an intersection angle φ larger than 0 ° may be provided at least on the upstream side in the transport direction.

  The driving roller 21 receives the driving force of driving means such as a motor (not shown) via transmission means such as a gear and a belt, and rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. A driving roller 22 having the same configuration as the driving roller 21 is provided for discharging the heat-developable recording material 3 at the boundary position between the slope portion 26 and the pressing portion 29.

  Here, the drive roller 21 will be described as an example. The drive roller 21 is disposed so as to face the bent portion 31 that is a boundary portion between the pressing portion 29 and the slope portion 25. The arrangement position of the drive roller 21 with respect to the guide plate 23 passes through a bent portion (angle change point) 31 of the guide plate 23 and passes through the bent portion (angle change point) 31 as shown in a side view schematically shown in FIG. A straight line M that bisects the interior angle (180 ° −φ) of the drive roller 21 is preferably passed through the center of the drive roller 21. There are no particular restrictions on the relationship between the diameter of the drive roller 21 and the length of the guide plate 23.

Further, the drive roller 21 is disposed such that a predetermined gap G is formed between the peripheral surface and the guide plate 23. This gap G is preferably the same or ten times as thick as the thickness t of the heat-developable recording material 3 (t ≦ G ≦ 10t).
When the guide plate 23 is used as a heat development processing unit, the surface of the guide plate 23 is covered with fibers, and the heat application from the heated guide plate 23 to the heat development recording material 3 can be adjusted to an optimum value. In this case, the gap formed by the peripheral surface of the driving roller 21 and the tip of the fiber may be apparently zero because the recording material is conveyed while tilting the tip of the fiber (see FIG. 2).

In the configuration of the sub-scanning conveyance unit 17, when the heat-developable recording material 3 enters from the tip of the slope portion 25, the tip of the heat-developable recording material 3 enters between the guide plate 23 and the driving roller 21. At this time, since the pressing portion 29 and the slope portion 25 of the guide plate 23 are bent at a predetermined angle φ, the heat-developable recording material 3 is bent when it moves from the slope portion 25 to the pressing portion 29, and this bending is caused. As a result, an elastic repulsion force is generated in the heat development recording material itself. Due to this elastic repulsive force, a predetermined frictional force is generated between the heat-developable recording material 3 and the drive roller 21, and the conveyance drive force is reliably transmitted from the drive roller 21 to the heat-developable recording material 3. Is transported. The friction coefficient of the drive rollers 21 and 22 is larger than the friction coefficient of the recording material contact surface of the guide plate 23.
The inclination angle Φ of the slope portion 25 (26) depends on the rigidity of the heat-developable recording material 3. For example, the imaging plate (IP) used in FCR9000 (trade name, sold by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) and the aluminum plate which is a photosensitive lithographic printing plate have high rigidity, so the inclination angle Φ is small and thermal development is performed. Since the recording material (using a film base) and the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (using resin-coated paper) have low rigidity, the inclination angle Φ is large. The inclination angle Φ depends on the rigidity of the heat-developable recording material 3. When the heat-developable recording material 3 is a film base having a thickness of 175 μm, for example, the inclination angle Φ may be 10 ° to 30 °, and the gap G may be 1t to 5t.

Even when the heat development recording material 3 is discharged from the guide plate 23 by the slope portion 26 and the driving roller 22, a predetermined frictional force is generated between the driving roller 22 and the elastic repulsive force due to the bending of the heat development recording material 3. Occurs, and it is reliably conveyed.
In the pressing portion 29, the heat-developable recording material 3 is pressed against the pressing portion 29 by the elastic repulsive force of the heat-developable recording material 3, and flutters from the conveying surface of the heat-developable recording material 3, that is, in the vertical direction. Fluttering is suppressed. By irradiating the heat-developable recording material 3 between the drive rollers with a laser beam, good recording without exposure position deviation can be performed.

On the other hand, the scanning exposure unit 19 deflects the laser light L modulated in accordance with the image signal in the main scanning direction and enters the predetermined recording position X, and corresponds to the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the heat-developable recording material. A laser light source 35 that emits laser light (wavelength 350 nm to 900 nm), a recording control device 37 that drives the laser light source 35, a cylindrical lens 39, a polygon mirror 41 that is an optical polarizer, and fθ. A lens 43 and a cylindrical mirror 45 for falling are provided.
The scanning exposure unit 19 includes other known light beam scanning exposures such as a collimator lens, a beam expander, a surface tilt correction optical system, and an optical path adjustment mirror that shape the light beam emitted from the laser light source 35. Various optical system members arranged in the apparatus are arranged as necessary. The recording beam diameter of the laser beam on the heat-developable recording material 3 is set to φ50 to φ200 μm. In particular, the recording beam diameter in the sub-scanning direction is preferably small in order to reduce the interference area.

  Here, image recording is performed by pulse width modulation as an exposure method. The recording control device 37 drives the laser light source 35 with pulse width modulation according to the recorded image, and emits a light beam with pulse width modulation according to the recorded image. The laser light L emitted from the laser light source 35 is deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 41, adjusted so as to form an image at the recording position X by the fθ lens 43, and the optical path is selected by the cylindrical mirror 45 for recording. The light is incident on X at a predetermined incident angle θi. That is, an incident angle having an inclination of 4 ° to 15 ° from the normal of the heat-developable recording material 3 to the sub-scanning direction in a plane parallel to the normal direction of the heat-developable recording material 3 and the sub-scanning direction (conveyance direction). The laser beam L is irradiated toward the heat-developable recording material 3 at θi.

However, when dew condensation occurs in the apparatus, the internal polygon mirror 41 and the fθ lens 43 become cloudy, and sufficient laser light L is not irradiated onto the photothermographic material 3, causing image defects.
Therefore, the exposure sensor 202 is installed in the scanning exposure unit 19 to detect the humidity in the scanning exposure unit 19 and to take exposure measures described later.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the layer structure of the photothermographic material.
First, the structure of the photothermographic material 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the photothermographic material is composed of a 176 μm thick base film made of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) material or the like, an emulsion layer Em having a thickness of 20 μm, and a protective layer PC having a thickness of 4 μm on the surface of the felony layer Em. In addition, the back surface of the base film is coated with a back coat layer BC and an antihalation layer AH with a total thickness of 3 μm. The total thickness of the photothermographic material 3 is set in the range of 150 to 250 μm.

  The refractive index is 1.52 for the protective layer PC, 1.54 for the emulsion layer Em, 1.66 for the base film (PET), 1.52 for the backcoat layer BC and the antihalation layer AH. About 5 to 1.7. The light transmittance of the unrecorded photothermographic material 3 with respect to the wavelength of the laser beam to be exposed is 50% or less, preferably 30% or less.

  When laser light is incident from the protective layer PC side of the photothermographic material 3, the laser light travels while refracting the optical path at the interface, and the interface between the lowermost back coat layer BC and the air below the antihalation layer AH. The reflected light is returned to the protective layer PC again. At this time, if the distance Lm between the laser beam incident position P1 and the reflected light emitting position P2 on the surface of the photothermographic material is larger than the beam diameter of the laser beam, the problem of interference can be avoided.

However, when dew condensation occurs in the apparatus, the back coat layer BC of the photothermographic material 3 is also affected by the dew condensation, and the transport guide is also dewed. Therefore, there is an adhesive force between the back coat layer BC and the transport guide. As a result, the conveyance was not performed smoothly, and a conveyance jam occurred.
Also, the protective layer PC side of the photothermographic material 3 slipped by the transport roller due to condensation, and the protective layer PC was damaged and the lower EM layer was exposed, causing image defects.

Therefore, a dew condensation sensor 201 and a dew condensation sensor 202 are installed in the conveyance guide 14b and the scanning exposure unit 19 in FIG.
As the dew condensation sensor used in the present invention, there are three types of methods: an electric resistance type, a quartz crystal type, and an optical type. A typical electrical resistance type is a carbon-based conductive paste on an alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ) substrate, and a pair of electrodes are baked in a comb shape and a moisture sensitive film is applied. Is. The moisture sensitive film is obtained by uniformly dispersing carbon particles in a resin obtained by copolymerizing a hydrophilic acrylic monomer and a crosslinkable monomer. When this resin is dry, it shrinks and the distance between the carbon particles is small, so the resistance of the sensor is several kΩ. At the time of condensation, the resin expands conversely, the distance between the carbon particles increases, and the sensor resistance becomes a high resistance of 100 kΩ or more. This sensor is easy to use because its resistance changes suddenly at a humidity near 100%, and is widely used for detecting condensation in a VTR cylinder.

As an electrical resistance type dew condensation sensor, another sensor using a moisture sensitive film of zinc phosphate (Zn ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ ) has been developed. This, Zn 2 ₊ in the adsorbed water _in, ^(PO _{4) 3} ^- utilizes an ion conduction by elution of ions, during condensation its impedance decreases.

  The crystal resonator type dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation from the impedance change with the surface of the crystal resonator as the dew condensation surface. In this method, dew and frost can be distinguished, so that it can be used as a frost sensor. That is, in the case of dew or frost, the resonance frequency of the crystal unit decreases with an increase in mass, but the amount of increase in the series resistance at resonance is large because dew is more viscous than frost. From this, condensation and frost are discriminated.

  The optical dew condensation sensor utilizes the fact that light is easily scattered by dew condensation, and there are a reflection type and a transmission type. Both are composed of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode, a light receiving element such as a phototransistor, and a dew condensation surface. The feature is that the detection target surface can be used directly as the dew condensation surface. This method can also be used as a frost sensor.

FIG. 5 is an example of the processing flow of the dew condensation countermeasures taken by the present invention.
In FIG. 5, the dew condensation sensors 201 and 202 sequentially transmit the dew condensation information to the control unit F in step 1. Condensation refers to a state where the humidity has reached 100%, and dew condensation refers to a state where the humidity has reached 98%. First, when the control unit F determines that condensation is present, the control unit F pauses exposure recording for the image exposure unit B (step 2), and displays, for example, “condensation error” on the display panel (step 3).

6A and 6B are external perspective views of the heat-developable recording apparatus 100 according to the present invention. FIG. 6A is an overall view and FIG. 6B is a display example of a display panel.
In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 216 denotes a display panel, 217 denotes a door of the heat development recording apparatus 100, 15a to 15 denote magazines in which different heat development recording materials (for example, B4 size, half cut size, etc.) are accommodated, and 220 denotes later. It is a dehumidifier.
In the case where “condensation error” is displayed in the previous step 3, this is performed on the display panel 216. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, (i) “Condensation error” is displayed and the user is instructed to take the next countermeasure. For example, when the transport guide is condensed (step 4), a message such as “Countermeasure: Please open the door” is displayed to open the door and dry the interior (step 5). Needless to say, it is effective to open the door even for condensation in other parts, and is not limited to the conveyance guide.
If the dew condensation part is the image exposure part B, the image exposure part may be turned on (step 6), and the image exposure part body may be warmed to remove dew condensation.

  Next, the CPU in the control unit F, as will be described later, from the detection values of the two separately installed temperature sensors (temperature sensors outside and inside the apparatus) and humidity sensors (condensation sensors) and their temporal transitions, as described below. When the condensation is removed (step 7), the predicted result is also displayed using the display panel 216. For example, as shown in (b) of Fig. (B), "Condensation is removed. It can be used in 5 minutes" is displayed (step 8).

  In this case, it is particularly important to accurately inform the user of the available time. If it is normal, the user knows how many minutes it can be used after the power is turned on, and even if it does not understand, it should be possible to use it without being late so it will not cause stress However, in the case of removing condensation, it is difficult to know how long to wait, which is a great stress for the user. Therefore, if it is displayed in this way, the operator will not feel stress even if the waiting time is long, but conversely, even if the waiting time is as short as 30 seconds, the operator will feel stress if it is not informed. .

FIG. 7 is a graph of dew point temperature versus temperature (room temperature), and the parameter is relative humidity.
According to FIG. 7, it can be seen that, for example, when the temperature of the component (in the apparatus in this case) is lower than 25 ° C. at room temperature of 25 ° C. and humidity of 100%, dew condensation occurs when the temperature is 25 ° C. or higher. Further, it can be seen that when the temperature of the apparatus is 24 ° C. at a room temperature of 25 ° C., no condensation occurs if the humidity is 95% or less. Further, it can be seen that when the temperature of the component is 14 ° C. at room temperature of 25 ° C., condensation occurs even if the humidity is 40%.
From this it can be seen that condensation is determined by the relationship with the temperature of the object in a certain temperature and humidity environment.

Therefore, when the diagram of FIG. 7 is used, the prediction of the time for which condensation is removed can be predicted as shown in FIG. 8 as an example.
In the figure, the vertical axis represents temperature and the horizontal axis represents time. The current temperature (for example, t1) is measured by a temperature sensor that measures the room provided outside the apparatus, and the humidity at the time t1 is detected by a humidity sensor (a condensation sensor can also be used). From the temperature and humidity at t1, the current dew point temperature TR1 can be determined by using the diagram of FIG.
The dew point temperature TR2 at the time point t2 can be determined from the room temperature and humidity at the time point t2 after the next fixed time. Although the direction of change can be calculated from these two dew point temperatures, more precisely, the dew point temperature TR3 at the time t3 after a certain time is preferably used. From these three dew point temperatures, a change curve such as a dotted line in the figure can be calculated.
On the other hand, the device temperature TS1 at the present t1 is obtained from the in-device temperature sensor installed in the device. Since the device temperature TS1 is lower than the dew point temperature TR1, it can be seen that the device is in the dew condensation state.
Next, a change curve such as a solid line in the figure can be calculated from the apparatus temperature TS2 at time t2 after a certain time and further from the apparatus temperature TS3 at time t3.
Therefore, if the intersection point between the dotted dew point temperature change curve and the solid line apparatus temperature change curve is obtained by simple calculation, the intersection temperature TC is the point where the apparatus temperature and the dew point temperature are equal, and after that time tc, the apparatus temperature As the temperature exceeds the dew point temperature, no condensation will occur.
In this way, the condensation removal time point tc can be obtained.

Returning to the flow of FIG. 5, if tc obtained in this way is 5 minutes, “Consumable in 5 minutes” is displayed in step 8, and if dew condensation is removed in step 9, then in step 2 The exposure recording that has been paused is started (step 10), and the display on the display panel so far is reset (step 11). If the condensation is not removed in step 9, the process returns to step 7.
If there is a next image recording, the process returns to step 1.
In this way, even if the user does not notice that condensation has occurred in the thermal development device, the device itself detects condensation, pauses image exposure, and alerts the user. As a result, it is possible to obtain a thermal development apparatus that does not cause a conveyance jam or an image defect.
The above is an example of the processing flow of the countermeasure against condensation, and various other modifications are possible.

FIG. 9 shows this modification.
The process flow of FIG. 9 is for predicting the possibility of condensation based on the current temperature and humidity. When the condensation is predicted, an operation start command for the dehumidifier is given.
In the figure, it is asked whether or not to end the image exposure in step 21, and if not, the CPU of the control unit F obtains detection values of the temperature and humidity sensors (step 22). Condensation prediction is calculated from the detected values of the temperature and humidity sensors (step 23).

Condensation can be predicted, for example, as shown in FIG.
In the figure, the vertical axis represents temperature and the horizontal axis represents time. The current temperature (for example, t1) is measured by a temperature sensor that measures the room provided outside the apparatus, and the humidity at the time t1 is detected by a humidity sensor (a condensation sensor can also be used). From the temperature and humidity at t1, the current dew point temperature TR1 can be determined by using the diagram of FIG.
The dew point temperature TR2 at the time point t2 can be determined from the room temperature and humidity at the time point t2 after the next fixed time. Furthermore, a dew point temperature TR3 at a time point t3 after a certain time is obtained, and a change curve like a dotted line in the figure can be calculated from these three dew point temperatures.
On the other hand, the device temperature TS1 at the present t1 is obtained from the in-device temperature sensor installed in the device. Since the device temperature TS1 is higher than the dew point temperature TR1, there is no dew condensation.
Next, a change curve such as a solid line in the figure can be calculated from the apparatus temperature TS2 at time t2 after a certain time and further from the apparatus temperature TS3 at time t3.
Therefore, if the intersection point between the dotted dew point temperature change curve and the solid line device temperature change curve is obtained by simple calculation, the intersection temperature TC is the point where the apparatus temperature and the dew point temperature are equal, and condensation occurs from that point tc. become. In this way, if both curves intersect, condensation occurs. If they do not intersect, condensation does not occur.
In this way, the condensation time point tc can be predicted in step 23.

Returning to the flow of FIG. 9, if “condensation is possible” in step 23, the dehumidifier 220 (FIG. 6) is dehumidified in step 25, and the process returns to step 21. If there is no possibility of dew condensation in step 23, if the dehumidifier 220 is operating, the operation of the dehumidifier 220 is terminated (step 27), and the process returns to step 21, and if the dehumidifier 220 is not operated. Return to step 21 as it is.
In this way, it is possible to perform a heat development / exposure operation without condensation without any operation by the user.
Although the dehumidifier 220 is placed separately from the heat development recording apparatus 100 in FIG. 6, it may be provided inside the heat development recording apparatus 100.

11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing the sealed structure of the scanning exposure unit 19 of the image exposure unit B. FIG. 11A shows a closed state and FIG. 11B shows an opened state.
11 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, and a duplicate description is omitted. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 2 is that the scanning exposure unit 19 is surrounded by a sealed structure, only the exit portion of the scanning light emitted from the cylindrical mirror 45 is opened, and normally closed by a shutter, and is opened only during image exposure. This is the point.

In the figure, 211 is a shutter, 212 is a magnetic rod coupled to the shutter 211, 213 is an electromagnetic plunger, 214 is a tension spring coupled to the shutter 211, and 215 is a fixing member for fixing one end of the tension spring.
In FIG. 2A, if the electromagnetic plunger 213 is not energized, the magnetic rod 212 is not attracted, so it is pulled by the tension spring 214, the shutter 214 closes the exit portion, and the scanning exposure unit 19 is closed. Even if the outside of the scanning exposure unit 19 is in a dew condensation state, the inside is protected from the dew condensation.
In FIG. 2B, when the electromagnetic plunger 213 is energized, the magnetic rod 212 is attracted to the electromagnetic plunger 213 side, the shutter 214 moves from the exit portion, and the sealed structure of the scanning exposure unit 19 is in an open state only at the exit portion. Thus, the scanning light can be emitted from here by the operation of the scanning exposure unit 19. Even if the outside is in a dew condensation state, the inside is thus protected from the dew condensation, so that an immediate scanning exposure is possible.

  If a humidity control material such as silica gel or a desiccant is provided in the sealed structure, even if a small amount of moisture enters the structure, it is captured by the structure, which is more effective.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even if condensation occurs in the apparatus and the user does not notice it, the apparatus itself detects condensation and stops exposure recording, or the user can take measures to prevent condensation. Since the law has been instructed and the attention has been drawn, the user must take the instructed measures without feeling uneasy about the stoppage of the device, so that no jamming or image defects will occur. Can do.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the heat development apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the sub-scanning conveyance part and scanning exposure part in an image recording part. It is a partial enlarged view which shows typically the arrangement position with respect to the guide plate of a drive roller. It is explanatory drawing which shows the layer structure of a heat development recording material. It is an example of the processing flow of the condensation countermeasures taken by this invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the heat development apparatus according to the present invention, in which (a) is an overall view and (b) shows a display example of the display panel 216. It is a graph of dew point temperature versus temperature (room temperature). It is a diagram explaining the prediction method of the time when dew condensation is removed. It is another example of the processing flow of the dew condensation countermeasures taken by this invention. It is a diagram explaining the prediction method of a dew condensation possibility. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the sealing structure of a scanning exposure part, (a) is the time of closing, (b) has shown the time of opening. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the conventional heat development apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A Thermal development recording material supply part B Image exposure part C Thermal development part D Slow cooling part E Cooling part F Power supply / control part 17, 71, 81, 87, 91 Sub-scanning conveyance part (sub-scanning means)
19 Scanning exposure unit (laser irradiation means)
21, 22 Driving roller 23 Guide plate 25, 26 Slope portion 29 Pressing portion 35 Laser light source 37 Recording control device 41 Polygon mirror 43 fθ lens 45 Cylindrical mirror 71 Cooling plate 72 Conveying roller 73 Driving motor 74 Gear 75 Discharging roller 100 The present invention Heat developing recording apparatus 201, 202 Condensation sensor 211 Shutter 212 Magnetic rod 213 Electromagnetic plunger 214 Tension spring 215 Fixing member 216 Display panel 217 Door 220 Dehumidifier

Claims (8)

A heat development apparatus for performing heat development by applying light or heat to a heat-developable photosensitive material or a heat-developable recording material including a light-sensitive thermosensitive recording material, and comprising at least an image exposure unit, a heat development unit, and a conveyance guide In the device
A heat developing apparatus, wherein a dew condensation sensor is installed in the image exposure unit and / or the conveyance guide.   2. The heat developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dew condensation sensor is installed in a scanning exposure unit of the image exposure unit.   3. The thermal development apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation, the image exposure unit does not perform exposure recording.   The heat development apparatus further includes an operation panel, and when the dew condensation sensor detects dew condensation, the fact of the operation panel and / or a countermeasure for preventing dew condensation are displayed. The thermal development apparatus according to item 1.   In the case where the heat development apparatus includes a dew condensation prediction unit that predicts the possibility of dew condensation from the current temperature and humidity, and a dehumidifier is provided in or near the apparatus, and the dew condensation prediction unit predicts dew condensation The heat development apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation start command for the dehumidifier is given.   The heat development apparatus includes a dew condensation canceling prediction unit that predicts a time at which dew condensation is eliminated from a current temperature and humidity, and displays the time predicted by the dew condensation release prediction unit on the display panel. Item 5. The thermal development apparatus according to Item 4.   The thermal developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning exposure unit of the image exposure unit has a sealed structure that suppresses fluctuations in humidity.   The heat developing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a humidity adjusting material or a drying material is provided in the sealed structure.

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