JP2826668B2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for processing a photosensitive material, and more particularly to a developing device for processing a colored photosensitive film used for producing a color proof.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in the field of printing plate making, photographic originals (negative color film, reversal color film paper, etc.)
, A halftone dot film of, for example, three or four colors is created from the continuous tone image, and a printing plate such as a PS plate is created from the film. Therefore, before making a printing plate,
At present, color separation and image synthesis are performed using a large amount of films. Many mistakes such as mistakes in characters and layout occur during this complicated operation. Furthermore, it is necessary to respond to a sudden change from the orderer, and it is necessary to check in advance whether the printed matter is finished with the desired color tone and layout. To confirm these, a proof print or various other systems called proofs are used to make a formal printing plate.

For example, a halftone film using a CRT, one using a silver salt such as a color photosensitive material, one using a non-silver salt photosensitive material such as diazo, one using an electrophotographic method, one using a dry toner to form an image, etc. An image is created by the method and a completed printed matter is estimated. However, these calibration systems generally require a long time to make a single calibration and have problems such as large equipment, high material cost, poor workability, and the like. It is not at present. In recent years, a proof system using a photopolymer photosensitive material has been used as a method for obtaining proofs, and the same pigment as printing ink has been used as a color image, and a multicolor image that is quite similar to a printed material has been obtained. .
Fig. 10 (a) shows a method for creating such a proof.
As shown in FIG. 10 (b), each colored photosensitive sheet of Y, M, C, and BK is overlapped with a separation positive film corresponding to each color as shown in FIG. An image sheet of each color as shown in (c) is obtained. The developing device 70 includes a developing tank 81 and a washing tank 86 as shown in FIG.
And a drying unit 90, which have independent functions. Then, the image sheet is placed on the supply table 71 of the apparatus 70, and the sheet is guided by the guide plate 76 by each pair of conveying rollers 74,
In the rinsing tank, the processing liquid is bathed by a shower pipe 88 and subjected to forced development and forced rinsing by a developing brush 87A and a rinsing brush 87B. In a drying unit 90, a squeeze roller pair 93 and a water absorbing roller pair 94 are conveyed. The hot air is dried by the heater fan 92 while being conveyed by the roller pair 95, and collected by the receiving table 93 in the front direction. Next, these operations for superimposing the image receiving sheet and the first color developed image sheet by the transfer rollers 33 and 34 of the transfer device shown in FIG. 4 per image receiving sheet
To create a multicolor image. However, this alone results in an inverted image. In this case, the image is transferred once more to form a normal image.

At the time of image transfer, as shown in FIGS. 11 (c) and 11 (d), in order to prevent wrinkles, unevenness and color shift, each sheet is placed on a reinforcing plate 21 such as an aluminum plate which is larger than the sheet, and
Image registration is performed after registration with 23 and the pin bar 23A or the like to align the image.

In addition to the transfer roller pairs 33 and 34, an insertion table 31 is provided in front of the roller pairs 33 and 34, and a receiving table 32 is provided rearward.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), in the drying device 70 in the developing device for such a colored photosensitive film, water droplets on the surface are almost wiped off by a squeeze roller pair 93 at the entrance, and the water is absorbed. While remaining moisture on the film surface is absorbed by the water absorbing roller 94 by the roller pair, the film is conveyed through the hot air drying chamber, dried and collected. However, conventional water-absorbing rollers have the same surface with the same roughness and the same water-absorbing performance. Even if water is efficiently absorbed in the front stage, the water absorbing efficiency of the slightly remaining water becomes very poor as it goes to the rear stage. Therefore, even if it is combined with hot air drying, the drying time becomes too long, and the length of the drying chamber must be increased, so that the space of the entire developing device becomes large.

The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the present invention, and enables efficient and uniform drying of a film at a relatively low temperature and quickly, and does not cause excessive expansion and contraction of the film, and consumes less heat energy. An object of the present invention is to provide a drying device and a developing device for a colored photosensitive film including the drying device.

[Means for solving the problem]

This object is achieved by any of the following technical means (1) to (3).

(1) In a developing device having at least a developing tank and a drying chamber for processing a photosensitive material, a transport roller pair located on the upstream side in a transport direction of the photosensitive material in the drying chamber is formed to have a low density and a water absorbing ability. A large roller pair, a conveying roller pair located on the downstream side are sequentially arranged such that the density is small and the roller pair has a small water absorbing ability,
A developing device for transporting a photosensitive material.

(2) The developing device according to (1), wherein a squeeze roller pair is provided at an entrance of the drying chamber.

(3) The developing device according to (1) or (2), wherein the photosensitive material is a colored photosensitive film.

〔Example〕

(Regarding Film) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of one embodiment of a colored photosensitive film used in a color proof forming apparatus incorporating the colored photosensitive film developing device of the present invention. That is, a heat softening layer having a thickness of 30 μm is provided on a transparent PET base having a thickness of 75 μm, and a colored photosensitive layer having a thickness of 1 to 2 μm is further provided thereon.

The colored photosensitive layer is easily peeled off from the heat-softening layer by heating. The colored photosensitive layer is composed of a photopolymer composed of a pigment, a photoreceptor, and a binder. When the colored photosensitive layer is exposed to light, the colored photosensitive layer changes into a structure that is easily dissolved in a developer. This film has four types of colored films. And those colors are, for example, those of Y, M, C, BK. The original to be printed is a black-and-white positive film separated into four colors.

As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the positive film of each original is overlaid and exposed in close contact with each colored photosensitive film of the corresponding color.

(Transfer Method) Each of the exposed colored photosensitive films is developed in a developing section, washed with water and dried to obtain each colored image shown in FIG. 2 (b).
Then, each of the developed colored photosensitive films is correctly positioned on the same image receiving paper at the transfer portion, and is transferred by heating and pressing repeatedly four times. Support for colored photosensitive film (PE
As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the T base is easily peeled off between the heat-softening layer and the photosensitive layer, and is removed together with the heat-softening layer after the heat and pressure transfer. Then, as shown in FIG.
The transfer of the color proof is completed.

Here, one exposure time is 30 to 40 seconds, and the development time is 10
Approximately 60 seconds including 20 seconds drying. The transfer is performed between transfer rollers heated and pressed, but the surface temperature of the transfer roller is 50 ° C.
100100 ° C., and the time for one transfer is about 60 seconds.
Four transfers require a net 4 minutes. When the transfer is completed four times in this way, the creation of the color proof is completed.

(Color Proof Making Apparatus) FIG. 4 is a side sectional view, FIG. 5 is a front sectional view, and FIG. 9 (a), (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of the sheet positioning portion, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the sheet positioning portion, and FIG. A description will be given with reference to a cross-sectional view of the peeling plate operating portion and a plan view of the peeling plate operating portion in FIG. 9B.

Except for the exposure device, the color proof creation device incorporating the developing device of the present embodiment is composed of a developing unit 170 and a transfer unit 100. It has casters 101D and installation feet 101C.

(Apparatus-Developing Unit) The developing unit 170 is provided with an insertion table 171 for the exposed colored photosensitive film F and a sensor 172 for the film, and is driven through a drive transmission device such as a film transport motor 173 and a pulley 173A. Transport roller pairs 174 are arranged at a pitch shorter than the minimum film length, and the roller pairs are connected by transport guides 176 and 178. An insertion port 179 into the processing tank 180 is arranged below the pair of transport rollers at the last stage. The processing tank 180 is composed of a developing tank 181 and a washing tank 186, and a hot air drying chamber 190 is connected after this. Developing tank 181
Is provided with a developing rack 182, a pair of conveying rollers 183A are disposed at appropriate intervals, and a conveying guide is provided between each pair of rollers.
Linked by 184. The developing brush roller 187A is provided at one location. The developing tank 181 is filled with the developing solution such that the liquid level is below the transfer roller pair 185, and the developing solution is supplied to the developing solution via a heat exchange tank 181B having a heater 181C by a developing solution circulating pump 181A. Temperature control and homogenization are performed.

The brush roller is completely immersed below the surface of the processing liquid.

A washing tank 186 is provided next to the developing tank 181 via a transfer roller pair 185, and a transfer roller pair 187C is provided in the washing tank 186.
In addition, a washing brush roller 187B is provided, and spray nozzles 188 are provided above and below the transport path of the brush roller 187B. Next to the washing tank 186, a warm air drying chamber 190 is provided via a transfer roller pair 189, and a squeeze roller pair 195 is provided at the entrance, and a water absorption roller pair 194A having a low water absorption density is further downstream thereof, and further downstream thereof. A pair of water-absorbing rollers 194B having a small water-absorbing density is sequentially provided on the side. A transport guide 194C is provided between the rollers, and a heater 191 and a fan motor 192 for blowing air are provided above and below the transport guide 194C. In addition, a film basket 193 for collecting a colored photosensitive film for development is attached to the front of the outer main body of the warm air drying chamber 190.

Here, as the surface material of the water-absorbing roller pair 194A having a coarse density, an artificial leather or non-woven fabric FTB called Clarino by a trade name is suitable. Also fine density water absorption roller pair 194B
As the surface material of, urethane foam or POR obtained by sintering urethane is suitable.

And the initial stage of drying, i.e., when the film is being transported upstream, the water absorption speed is increased by the water-absorbing roller pair 194A having a high density, and the water absorption process is performed with a large water absorption capacity. As the paper is transported, the water is absorbed by the fine water absorption roller pair 194B, which is efficient to absorb the fine water droplets, and the water on the film surface is removed. As a result, drying can be performed quickly as a whole, and a relatively low drying temperature can be achieved, thereby realizing a compact hot air drying chamber 190 that consumes less heat energy without excessively expanding and contracting the film. did it.

In this embodiment, two pairs of water-absorbing rollers are arranged at the front stage, and a pair of coarse-density water-absorbing rollers 154A are arranged at the rear stage, and two pairs of fine-water-absorbing roller pairs 154B are arranged at the rear stage. It is not limited to this embodiment.

Further, a pump 181D for replenishing the developing solution to the developing tank 181 is provided, and timely replenishment is performed with respect to the power reduction of the developing solution.

The operation of the developing unit 170 is such that the colored photosensitive film F loaded on the insertion table 171 is sent to a developing tank 181 by a pair of conveying rollers 174 on a conveying guide 176 according to a command from a film sensor 172, and a developing rack 182 is formed. Transport roller pair
In order to further enhance the developing effect while being immersed and conveyed by the conveying guide 183A, the brush roller 187A is completely liquefied to prevent the air from being drawn into the developing solution to promote oxidation and aging of the developing solution. Rotate while immersed, finish the development while rubbing the film surface, transfer it to the washing tank 186 by the transport roller pair 185 at the crossover part, where the washing efficiency is improved by the washing shower with the spray nozzle 188 and the forced washing of the brush roller 187B. It is dried in the raised hot air drying room 190 and collected on the basket 193.

The description of the formulation of the developer used in this embodiment is omitted.

Developing time is about 60 seconds in total in the developing tank for 25 seconds, washing with water for 10 seconds, and drying for 20 seconds when the size of the colored photosensitive sheet used is about A1 plate.
No more than a second. The developer temperature is 25
It is controlled at ~ 35 ° C.

(Apparatus-Transfer Unit) Next, the transfer unit 100 will be described. Ball bearings 103A attached to the body frames 101 arranged on both sides,
A transfer drum 102 is provided via a bearing 103 having a built-in bearing 103B, and the transfer drum 102 is connected to a drum drive motor 10 via chain wheels 104, 105 and a chain 106.
Driven by 7 A heating heater 128 is provided at the shaft center portion while being held by a mounting bracket 127.
Therefore, the entire drum is easily controlled to a uniform temperature (50 to 100 ° C.) by the heater 128 for heating. A plurality of pressing rollers 108 are arranged at a predetermined interval around the outer periphery of the drum 102, and the bearings of the rollers 108 are fixed to the drum 102 of the main body frame 101 such that the roller 108 comes into contact with the transfer drum 102 by a roller pressing spring 109. It is provided so as to be slidable in the radial direction. The spring 109 urges the bearing to move the bearing in the crimping direction. Further, this pressing roller is opposed to the spring 109 by pull-up spacers 111 provided on the outer peripheral portions on both sides of the transfer drum 102.
It is possible to break contact with 2.

Further, a pressing roller (heating press roller) 132 that presses the transfer drum 102 having a uniform temperature and can further heat the transfer drum 102 to a temperature required for transfer is provided with a silicon rubber 132 on the iron core roller 132A.
The roller is provided as a roller coated with B, and the shaft portions at both ends are received by a bearing 133 having a built-in ball bearing 133A and a bearing top 133B. This bearing 133 is attached to the body frame 10
It is attached so as to slide inside the slide guide 139 attached to 1. The sliding direction depends on the radial direction of the transfer drum. Also the bearing
133 is directly connected to the movable portion 142B of the pressurizing air cylinder 142, and the pressurizing air cylinder fixing portion 142A is fixed to the main body frame 101 with the cylinder mounting bracket 141. In addition, a heater 138 is provided stationary on the axis of the heating press roller, and is fixed on a mounting bracket 137 provided on a sliding bearing 133.

(Apparatus-Positioning) Next, an image sheet (developed colored photosensitive film) F
And superposition position determining section for image receiving sheet (image receiving paper) P
110 will be described. One surface of the transfer drum 102 is shaved to provide a flat portion, and the heat insulating plate 119 is fixed with the heat insulating plate fixing screw 121. If necessary, the adhesive film 126 having a weak adhesive force for maintaining the flatness of the transfer paper. Fix the end of the screw 1
22 and the transfer drum surface is wound substantially one round, and the other end is also fixed. Then, the surface of the transfer drum is slightly adhered. An image receiving paper pressing plate 113B is fixed to a movable plate 113A of a hinge 113 mounted on the heat insulating plate 119, and a pin bar 112 is mounted on the pressing plate 113B. A peeling plate rotating shaft 115A is provided on a bearing 117 provided on the holding plate 113B. The peeling plate 115 is fixed to the shaft 115A, and a torque spring 115B is applied thereto. ) The pressing plate 113B is urged to be on the same flat plate or parallel to the pressing plate 113B. A cam follower lever 125 is attached to an end of the peeling plate rotation shaft 115A. A peeling plate opening / closing cam 123 is fixed to a predetermined position of the main body frame 101 with a screw 124.

Then, the transfer drum 102 rotates, the release plate 115 is flipped up by the lever 125 touching the opening / closing cam 123, and the colored photosensitive film is
The peeling roller 153 which is lifted upward from the pin 2 and has its end waiting near the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum 102
It is made to be pinched. And the opening / closing cam 123
When the lever 125 passes through the position, the peeling plate 115 is returned by the torque spring 115B.

The peeling roller 153 is driven by a drive motor 151 via a drive transmission wheel and a chain 152 together with a plurality of transport roller pairs 154, and the rollers are connected by a transport guide 155. A film collecting unit 156 is provided at the end of the transport guide 155.

An outer cover 101A is provided on the outer side of the main body frame 101 of the transfer unit 100 and the developing unit 170 configured as described above, and an operation panel and the like are provided to facilitate and simplify the operation and to consider completeness. Have been.

(How to Transfer, Function) Next, the function of the transfer unit 100 will be described. The colored photosensitive film F that has been developed by the developing unit 170 or another developing machine
When the image receiving paper P is loaded on the transfer drum 102, first, the image receiving paper P is closed and pressed under the image receiving paper pressing plate 113B of the overlapping position setting unit 110, and is locked by the lock fitting 116. And fix it. 1 more drum
As in the case of the image transfer, the image receiving paper is pressed and fixed by a pressing roller to the drum in close contact with the drum, and then the pin of the pin bar 112 provided on the pressing plate 113B is attached to the end of the developed colored photosensitive film F by the pin. A plurality of reference holes formed in correspondence with the pin bars 112 are fitted, and a transfer operation is started. At the time of loading, pull-up spacers 111 provided on both sides of the transfer drum 102 apply pressure rollers (press rollers for heating) 1.
32 and the pressing roller 108A in the vicinity thereof float up from the transfer drum, but when started, the first pressing roller 108A separates from the pull-up spacer 111 and the transfer drum 1
02 starts to contact the drum surface, and the heating wrestling roller also starts pressing by the operation of the pressurizing air cylinder 142. Before this, both the transfer drum 102 and the heating press roller are heated to the surface temperatures of 60 ° C. and 110 ° C. respectively by heaters 128 and 138 built in the center. Then, the film F is heated by a heating roller and a transfer drum.
Is transferred to the image receiving paper P from. At this time, the colored photosensitive layer of the film F is easily peeled because the heat softening layer is heated. Therefore, FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b)
When the cam follower lever 125 is flipped up by the peeling plate opening / closing cam 123 as shown in FIG. 5, the PET base including the heat-softening layer, which is the support of the film F, starts peeling, and is bitten by the peeling roller 153. The PET base is conveyed through the conveyance rollers 154 and the conveyance guide 155 while being transferred to the image receiving paper, and is taken out to the film collection unit 156. On the other hand, the image transferred on the receiving paper P is
The transfer is further strengthened by the heating and pressurization of 102 and the transfer is performed, and the superposition positioning unit 110 comes to the loading / unloading position and stops at the original position. Here, the first transfer (for example, transfer of Y) is completed. Therefore, the image receiving paper is left as it is, the reference hole of the second developed colored photosensitive film is fitted to the pin of the pin bar 112, and the operation is performed again. Then, similarly to the first time, another color image is transferred (for example, M color transfer). Is completed.
Then, a third transfer film (for example, a film of C color) is loaded on the pin bar at the loading position as before, and the transfer is performed. Finally, the fourth transfer film (for example, the BL film) is loaded on the pin bar 112. And transferred onto the image receiving sheet.

In this way, the color proof is completed, the image receiving paper holding plate lock fitting 116 is removed, the image receiving paper holding plate is opened, and the transferred image receiving paper, that is, the color proof is removed and collected.

〔The invention's effect〕

The hot-air drying chamber used in the developing device of the present invention enables quick drying at a relatively low drying temperature, thereby achieving uniform and high-quality drying without excessive expansion and contraction of the film. Thus, a compact hot air drying chamber that consumes less heat energy can be realized, and a highly efficient developing device for a colored photosensitive film can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural view of one embodiment of a colored photosensitive film used in the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view showing the exposure action of the film. FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the developed film. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a transfer operation. FIG. 3 (b) is a perspective view showing a color proof created after four transfers. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a color proof creating apparatus including the developing device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view thereof. FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a heating press roller portion. 7 (a), (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of a sheet positioning portion. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a sheet positioning unit. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a peeling plate operating portion. FIG. 9 (b) is a plan view of a peeling plate operating portion. FIGS. 10 (a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing the layer structure, exposure and development of a conventional colored photosensitive sheet, respectively. FIG. 11 (a) is a front view showing a conventional developing device for a colored photosensitive sheet. FIG. 11 (b) is a front view of a transfer device showing a conventional means for superimposing a colored photosensitive sheet and an image receiving sheet. FIG. 11 (c) is a perspective view of a reinforcing plate with a cover sheet. FIG. 11 (d) is an overlapping sectional view of the reinforcing plate with a cover sheet and each sheet. 33,34… Pressure roller pair, 36,37… Temporary adhesive roller pair 100… Transfer part, 101… Main frame 102… Transfer drum, 103,133… Bearing 104,105… Chain wheel 106… Chain, 107 Drive motor 108 Pressing roller 108A Temporary bonding roller 109 Roller press spring 110 Positioning part 111 for overlapping position Pull-up spacer 112 Pin bar 113 Hinge 113B Image receiving Paper presser plate, 115 Peeling plate 115A Peeling plate rotating shaft, 115B Torque spring 119 ... Heat insulating plate, 123 ... Peeling plate opening / closing cam 125 ... Cam follower lever 126 ... Adhesive film, 128, 138 ... Heater 132 Pressure roller (press roller for heating) 139 Slide guide 142 Air cylinder 153 for pressurizing Peeling roller 170 Developing unit 180 Processing tank 181 Developing tank 190 Temperature Air drying room 191 …… Heating heater 192 …… Blow fan fan 193 ...... retrieval basket 194A, 194B ...... water rollers 194C ...... conveying guide 195 ...... squeeze roller

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device having at least a developing tank and a drying chamber for processing a photosensitive material, wherein a pair of transport rollers located at an upstream side in a transport direction of the photosensitive material in the drying chamber has a coarse density and absorbs water. A roller pair having a large capacity and a transport roller pair located on the downstream side are sequentially arranged so as to be a roller pair having a small density and a small water absorption capacity,
A developing device for transporting a photosensitive material. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a squeeze roller pair is provided at an entrance of said drying chamber. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive material is a colored photosensitive film.