JP3383480B2 - Solvent supply method for image formation - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having an application section for applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material by allowing the image recording material to pass therethrough. The present invention relates to a method for supplying a forming solvent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image recording apparatus, one described below is known. That is, the photosensitive material (image recording material) is imagewise exposed, and after the exposure, water (transfer aid) as an image forming solvent is applied to the photosensitive material in order to improve the thermal development transfer efficiency. The light-sensitive material coated with water is superposed on the image receiving material (image recording material) and wound around the outer periphery of the heating drum, and thermal development transfer is performed.

The coating section includes a coating plate and a guide plate facing the coating plate. The coating dish is filled with water, and the photosensitive material passes between the coating dish and the guide plate, whereby the image forming solvent is coated on the photosensitive material.

The supply of water will be described below. Water is supplied from the bottle to the coating plate. The water in the bottle is pumped out, purified through a filter, and the purified water is fed into the coating dish via a channel formed in the thickness of the guide plate.

The coating plate heater is attached to the guide plate to heat the guide plate. As a result, the water is heated while passing through the water channel, and is also heated inside the coating dish after leaving the water channel. Further, the guide plate is provided with a sensor that detects the temperature of the portion near the water channel (coating part temperature), and the coating part heater is controlled based on the detected temperature.

Next, according to the flow chart shown in FIG.
explain. When the power of the image recording apparatus is turned on, the heater of the coating section is operated (step 300) to heat the guide plate.

When the guide plate is heated and the coating portion temperature is 40 °
When the temperature reaches C (step 302), the drainage electromagnetic valve is closed (step 304), and in this state, the water supply pump operates for 120 seconds (sec) (step 306). As a result, the application dish is filled with a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent. The temperature in the vicinity of the waterway of the guide plate is 40 ° C ± 2
When the temperature is ° C (step 308), a ready state in which the printing operation (image recording operation) is awaited can be obtained in a state where the application dish is filled with a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent.

After that, there is a print operation (step 3).
10), as long as the coating portion temperature is 40 ° C. ± 2 ° C. (step 312), the exposed photosensitive material passes through the coating portion (step 314) and water is coated on the photosensitive material.

After the photosensitive material has passed, the water supply pump is
It is operated for a second (step 316), and water in the coating dish is replenished to maintain a predetermined amount.

Thereafter, the next printer operation is awaited. If the printing operation is within 20 minutes (min), step 31
0, 312, 314, 316 are executed.

There is no print operation for 20 minutes (step 3
At the time of 18), the drainage electromagnetic valve is opened (320) and the application dish is emptied. There is a reset operation (step 322)
Then, steps 302, 304, 306, and 308 are executed to return to the state of waiting for the print operation. This is to replace water in order to prevent water stains and the like due to water remaining for a long time without passing through the photosensitive material.

Now, in order to keep the image forming solvent fresh,
It is necessary to frequently replace the water in the application part, and then, it is necessary to supply a predetermined amount of water at a predetermined temperature each time (the reset operation is performed more frequently). However, according to the reset operation, it takes time to return to the state of waiting for the print operation. It is not preferable to increase the frequency of reset operations.

According to the present invention, the image forming solvent filled in the coating section can be replaced for each image recording operation to constantly apply a fresh image forming solvent to the image recording material.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for supplying an image forming solvent which does not delay the image recording process by supplying a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent at a predetermined temperature in a short time.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming solvent supplying method, wherein the image forming solvent is provided with an application portion for applying the image forming solvent to the image recording material. In a recording apparatus, in an image forming solvent supply method for supplying an image forming solvent to a coating section, the coating section is heated, and at the time of starting the image recording apparatus, a supply pump is operated to supply an image forming solvent from a supply container. After supplying the image forming solvent to the coating section, stop the supply pump, open the drain valve and return the image forming solvent to the supply container without the image forming solvent in the coating section, and wait for the image recording operation. When the image recording operation is performed, after each image recording operation, the drain valve is closed and the supply pump is operated to fill the coating portion with the image forming solvent, and after the image recording material passes through the coating portion. Drain valve Open the image forming solvent in the coating unit to return to the state where there is no image forming solvent in the coating unit and draining the supply container, characterized in that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming solvent supply method according to the first aspect, wherein a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent is applied to the coating portion after a predetermined time has passed after the drain valve was closed. The method is characterized by including a detection step of detecting whether or not it is filled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method for supplying an image forming solvent according to the second aspect, wherein the detecting step is performed when the image recording apparatus is started up and / or when an image recording operation is performed. And

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming solvent supply method according to the first aspect, wherein the motor for driving the supply pump is a stepping motor, and the image forming solvent is supplied to the coating section. After the solvent is filtered with a filter, when the image recording apparatus is started up, or after the filter is replaced or the supply container is replaced, the supply solvent is operated until the image forming solvent reaches the supply pump from the supply container. During this period, the excitation frequency of the motor is lowered to drive the motor at a low speed, and then the excitation frequency is increased to drive the motor at a high speed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for supplying an image forming solvent according to the first aspect, when the temperature of the coating portion is not at a predetermined temperature, the image recording material stands by before the coating portion. However, when the temperature of the coating section is at a predetermined temperature, the image recording material passes through the coating section.

[0019]

According to the above construction, in the image recording apparatus, the image recording material passes through the coating portion and the image forming solvent is coated on the image recording material. For example, the photosensitive material is exposed, the photosensitive material after exposure is coated with an image forming solvent, and after coating,
The photosensitive material and the image receiving material are superposed and transferred by thermal development, an image is recorded on the image receiving material, and an image recording process is performed.

When the image recording apparatus is started up, the supply pump is operated to supply the image forming solvent from the supply container to the coating section. The coating section is heated, and the supplied image forming solvent is heated to raise the temperature.

After that, the supply pump is stopped and the drain valve is opened so that the image forming solvent is not present in the coating section, and the state where the image recording operation is awaited is obtained. The image forming solvent stands by in a temperature rising state in the supply container.

After that, if there is an image recording operation, the supply pump is operated with the drain valve closed for each image recording operation, and the pre-heated image forming solvent is supplied to the coating section. To be done. Then, for example, when the temperature of the coating portion is not at the predetermined temperature, the image recording material stands by before the coating portion, and when the temperature of the coating portion is at the predetermined temperature, image recording is performed. Material passes through the applicator. The drain valve is opened after the image recording material has passed to the coating section, and the image forming solvent in the coating section is drained to the supply container, and the state in which there is no image forming solvent in the coating section is restored.

This makes it possible to replace the image forming solvent filled in the coating section for each image recording operation and always apply a fresh image forming solvent to the image recording material. At the same time, since the image forming solvent whose temperature has been raised in advance is filled in the coating section, it is easy to obtain the predetermined temperature by heating the image forming solvent in the coating section, and the predetermined amount of the image can be obtained at the predetermined temperature. The image forming process is not delayed by supplying the forming solvent in a short time.

When the image forming apparatus is started up, the filter is replaced, and after the supply container is replaced, there is no image forming solvent in the flow path between the supply pump and the supply pump is operated in this state. However, the load is large until the image forming solvent reaches the pump. If the image forming solvent reaches the supply pump, the load is small thereafter.

Therefore, when the motor for driving the pump is composed of a stepping motor as described in claim 4,
Until the image forming solvent reaches the supply pump from the supply container, the excitation frequency of the motor is lowered to drive the motor at a low speed, and then the excitation frequency is increased to drive the motor at a high speed. It is possible to supply a predetermined supply amount in a short time even if the size is small without increasing the size.

This is effective in supplying a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent at a predetermined temperature in a short time so as not to delay the image recording process, in that the supply pump can be driven by a small motor. Is. Cost is also reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is detected that the application portion is not filled with the predetermined amount of the image forming solvent even when a predetermined time has passed after the drain valve was closed when the supply pump should be operated. , For example, an alarm is displayed, and an abnormality in the liquid supply system or the liquid discharge system between the supply container and the coating unit,
For example, abnormalities such as improper connection of pipes and setting of a filter or failure of a drain valve or a supply pump become apparent. Therefore, it can be dealt with quickly.

As for the detection timing, as described in claim 3, when the image recording apparatus is started up, before the image forming solvent is supplied, during the image recording operation, the image recording material passes through the coating section. Before, and at the appropriate times.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image forming solvent supply method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 10 includes
It is equipped with a box-shaped machine stand 12, and inside the machine stand 12, a photosensitive material magazine 1
4 is provided. The photosensitive material 16 is wound into a roll and stored in the photosensitive material magazine 14. Photosensitive material 16
Comprises a photosensitive silver halide, a binder, a dye-providing substance, and a reducing agent on a support. Photosensitive material 16
Is exposed (exposure) when the
The photosensitive material 16 is placed in the photosensitive material magazine 1 so that the surface faces upward.
It is wound up in 4.

The width direction of the photosensitive material 16 is, for example,
It is 135 mm. Although not shown in detail in the drawings, the photosensitive material magazine 14 is a rectangular prism including a body having a length corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the photosensitive material 16 and a pair of end walls fixed to both ends of the body. It is configured in a shape. Sensitive Material Magazine 14
Are inclined with respect to the width direction of the photosensitive material so that the peripheral surface is inclined with respect to both the vertical surface and the horizontal surface. The photosensitive material outlet 20 for pulling out the photosensitive material 16 from the photosensitive material magazine 14 is formed at the uppermost corner portion of the four corner portions when the photosensitive material magazine 14 is tilted as viewed in the width direction of the photosensitive material. To be done.

A nip roller 22 as a pull-out roller is arranged near the outside of the photosensitive material pull-out port 20 of the photosensitive material magazine 14. The nip roller 22 is driven to rotate,
The photosensitive material 16 passes through the photosensitive material outlet 20 and is drawn obliquely upward by a predetermined length.

Incidentally, the photosensitive material 1 by the nip roller 22
The pulling and conveying speed of 6 is, for example, 35 mm / sec.

A cutter 24 is arranged on the side of the nip roller 22 in the direction in which the photosensitive material is pulled out. The cutter 24 can cut the photosensitive material 16 pulled out by the nip roller 22 into a predetermined length. As the cutter 24, for example, a cutter having a fixed blade and a rotary blade, which is capable of cutting the photosensitive material 16 by moving the rotary blade vertically with a wire or the like in the conveying direction and engaging with the fixed blade can be used. After the cutting operation of the cutter 24, the nip roller 22 reverses and is rewound to such an extent that the tip of the photosensitive material 16 is slightly nipped by the nip roller 22. The cutting operation of the cutter 24 and the rewinding operation of the photosensitive material of the nip roller 22 are
It is performed independently by a drive system other than the operation of pulling out the photosensitive material of the nip roller 22.

Following the cutter 24, the conveying rollers 26, 2
8, the guide plate 30 is arranged, the conveying rollers 26, 28 are rotationally driven, and the photosensitive material 16 is cut into a predetermined length.
Are conveyed to the exposure unit 18 located above the photosensitive material magazine 14.

The transport speed of the photosensitive material 16 by the transport rollers 26 and 28 is, for example, 50 mm / sec.

The exposure unit 18 is located between the transport rollers 32 and 34, and the space between the transport rollers 32 and 34 is defined as the exposure unit (exposure point) 18, and the space between the transport rollers 32 and 34 is the photosensitive material 1.
6 passes horizontally.

The speed at which the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed by the conveying rollers 32 and 34 is, for example, 50 mm / sec.

A mounting table 36 for mounting the original G is provided on the upper surface of the machine table 12. A rectangular hole is formed in the mounting table 36, and a transparent glass plate 38 is fitted into the hole. ing. On the mounting table 36, the rear side of the machine base 12 (see the machine base 12 in FIG. 5).
A pressing cover 40 that has a rotation axis along the front side (that is, the front side of the image recording apparatus 10 is indicated by an arrow B) and that can open and close on the transparent glass plate 38 is attached. An exposure device 42 is provided between the transparent glass plate 38 and the exposure unit 18. The exposure device 42 includes a lamp unit 44, a mirror unit 46, a filter unit 48, a mirror unit 50, and a sixth reflection mirror 52 in order toward the exposure unit 18. Lamp unit 44
Includes a rod-shaped halogen lamp 54 as a light source and a first mirror 56, and the mirror unit 46 includes a second mirror 58.
And a third mirror 60, and the mirror unit 50 includes a fourth mirror 62 and a fifth mirror 64. The filter unit 48 includes three types (C, M, Y) of color adjustment filters 66, a lens 68, and a diaphragm mechanism 70, and is provided between the third mirror 60 of the mirror unit 46 and the fourth mirror 62 of the mirror unit 50. It is located in.

The exposure is performed as follows. That is, when the lamp unit 44 and the mirror unit 60 move along the document G, and when the photosensitive material 16 passes through the exposure section 18 at the same timing, light is slit from the halogen lamp 54 to the document G on the mounting table 36. The reflected light from the document G is irradiated in a circular shape and is reflected by the first mirror 56 of the lamp unit 44 and the second mirror 58 of the mirror unit 46.
Then, the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material 16 is scanned and exposed through an optical path formed in order by the third mirror 60, the filter unit 48, the fourth mirror 62, the fifth mirror 64 of the mirror unit 50, and the sixth mirror 52.

When the exposure is performed with the magnification changed from the same magnification, the filter unit 48 and the mirror unit 50 move according to the magnification.

Further, the filter unit 48 is provided with a document G.
Image formation and color correction of reflected light from (the third mirror of the mirror unit) are performed.

A switchback unit 72 is connected to the exposure unit 18. The photosensitive material 16 that has been scanned and exposed and passes through the exposure unit 18 is once fed to the switchback unit 72. After the scanning exposure is completed, the transport roller 32,
34 is reversed, and the photosensitive material 16 passes through the exposure section 18 again. A switching point 74 is provided below the transport rollers 32 and 34, and the photosensitive material 16 is fed to the coating section 76 without returning to the side of the photosensitive material magazine 14 by the switching operation of the switching point 74.

The coating section 76 includes the exposure section 18 and the photosensitive material magazine 1.
4 and is provided with an application dish 78. The coating plate 78 is filled with water as an image forming solvent. A guide plate 80 is attached to the upper side of the coating dish 78. A supply roller 82 is provided on the upstream side of the coating section 76 in the photosensitive material transporting direction, and a pair of squeeze rollers 84 are disposed on the downstream side of the photosensitive material transporting direction. The photosensitive material 16 is fed into the coating plate 78 by the supply roller 82 and passes between the guide plate 80 and the coating plate 78. Water is applied to the photosensitive material 16 during this passage. The photosensitive material 16 coated with water is nipped and conveyed by the squeeze roller 84, and excess water of the coated water is removed and discharged to the outside of the coating tray 78. According to the image forming solvent, the thermal development transfer efficiency is improved in the subsequent thermal development transfer.

On the other hand, a receiving material magazine 88 is arranged next to the photosensitive material magazine 14. In the receiving material magazine 88, the image receiving material 90 is wound and stored in a roll shape. The size of the image receiving material 90 in the width direction is smaller than the photosensitive material 16 (for example, 127 mm). Image receiving material 9
A dye fixing material having a mordant is applied to the image forming surface of No. 0. The image receiving material 90 is wound into the receiving material magazine 88 so that the image forming surface becomes the surface facing the photosensitive material 16 side when superposed with the photosensitive material 16 described later.

Similarly to the photosensitive material magazine 14, the receiving material magazine 88 is also made into a quadrangular prism and is tilted obliquely when viewed from the width direction of the image receiving material 90, and the image receiving material is drawn at the uppermost corner. An outlet 92 is provided. Similar to the case of the photosensitive material 16, the image receiving material 90 passes through the image receiving material outlet 92, is pulled out by the nip roller 94 to a predetermined length, and is cut by the cutter 96. However, the cut length of the image receiving material 90 is shorter than the cut length of the photosensitive material 16.

Following the cutter 96, conveying rollers 98, 1
00, the guide plate 102 are arranged, and the transport rollers 98, 1
00 is rotationally driven, and the image receiving material 90 cut into a predetermined length is conveyed to the heat development transfer portion 104 located above the material receiving magazine 88.

The heat development transfer section 104 includes a heating drum 106.
And an endless pressure contact belt 108, and a laminating roller 110.

The heating drum 106 has a halogen lamp 108 inside. The halogen lamp 108 heats the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 106.

The heating drum 106 is a thin aluminum pipe, the outer peripheral surface is fluorine-coated, the inner peripheral surface is black heat-resistant coated, the wall thickness is 3 mm, the outer diameter is 130 mm, and the effective width in the axial direction. Can be 158 mm.

The endless pressure welding belt 108 is used for the heating drum 10.
6 is extended in a substantially half-circumferential region (approximately a half region on the upper side), and is arranged at a predetermined interval on the outer periphery of the heating drum 106 so as to be pressed against the heating drum 106 in a circumscribed state in the substantially half-circumferential region. It is wound around the four winding rollers 112 in an inscribed state. The winding roller 112 is rotationally driven and the endless pressure contact belt 108 travels, whereby the rotation is transmitted to the heating drum 106 pressed against the endless pressure contact belt 108.

The peripheral velocity of the heating drum 106 can be, for example, 35 mm / sec. Endless pressure welding belt 1
As 08, it is possible to form the woven fabric material by covering it with rubber and to set the widthwise dimension to 224 mm. A rubber roller can be used as the winding roller 112.

The winding roller 112 can be made of stainless steel. Laminating roller 1
10 is located corresponding to the coating unit 76, and is the heating drum 10.
It is pressed against the outer circumference of 6 and driven to rotate.

Photosensitive material 16 discharged from coating plate 78
Is fed between the bonding roller 110 and the heating drum 106, and the image receiving material 90 is heated by the heating drum 106.
And the photosensitive material 16 are fed. According to the running of the endless pressure contact belt 108, the rotation of the heating drum 106 following it (the direction of arrow A), and the rotation of the bonding roller 112, the photosensitive material 16 is placed on the outer side and the image receiving material 90 is placed on the inner side. The outer circumference of the heating drum 106 is sequentially overlapped and wound. That is, the photosensitive material 1
6. The image receiving material 90 is nipped and conveyed between the heating drum 106 and the endless pressure contact belt 108, and the photosensitive material 16
The image receiving material 90 and the image receiving material 90 are in close contact with each other.
0 is closely attached to the outer circumference of the heating drum 106. Photosensitive material 1
6. In a state where all the portions of the image receiving material 90 are wound around the heating drum 106, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90
However, it is located over the extended region of the endless pressure welding belt 108 (almost half the circumference of the heating drum). In that state, the heating drum 106 is stopped, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90 are heated in the stopped state. As a result, the movable dye of the photosensitive material 16 is released, and at the same time, this dye is transferred to the image receiving material 90.
An image is obtained on the image receiving material 90 by being transferred to the dye fixing layer of. That is, thermal development transfer is performed.

When the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90 are fed between the laminating roller 110 and the heating drum 106, the image receiving material 90 is moved to the heating drum 106 and the photosensitive material 16 at a timing when the photosensitive material 16 precedes by a predetermined length. Sent in between. As described above, the image receiving material 90 is smaller in both widthwise dimension and longitudinal dimension than the photosensitive material 16, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90 are overlapped with each other in the periphery of the photosensitive material 16. All the four sides are in a state of being projected from the peripheral portion of the image receiving material 90. The protruding peripheral portion of the photosensitive material 16 is heated by the heating drum 106.
Is closely attached to the outer periphery of.

The squeeze roller 84 and the transport roller 1
The transport speed of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90 by 00 is
Photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 9 by laminating roller 110
It is set to be slightly (for example, about 2%) slower than the transport speed of 0. Thereby, the photosensitive material 16,
Back tension acts on the image receiving material 90 when the image receiving material 90 is fed to the laminating roller 110.

A guide roller 124 is provided on the heating drum rotating direction side of the endless pressure contact belt 108.
24 is pressed against the outer circumference of the heating drum 106 and is driven to rotate. With the rotation of the heating drum 106 after the thermal development transfer, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 90 are nipped and conveyed between the heating drum 106 and the guide roller 124.

As the guide roller 124, a silicon rubber rubber roller can be used. A sensitive material peeling claw 126 is provided on the heating roller rotation side of the guide roller 124. The sensitive material peeling claw 126 includes a claw shaft 128 parallel to the axial direction of the heating drum 106, and is rotatable around the axis of the claw shaft 128 so as to be brought into contact with and separated from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106.

Before the leading edge of the photosensitive material 16 that moves with the rotation of the heating drum 106 reaches the position corresponding to the sensitive material peeling claw 126, the sensitive material peeling claw 126 contacts the outer periphery of the heating drum 106. The sensitive material peeling claw 126 is engaged with the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 and the leading portion is peeled from the heating drum 106. Before the image receiving material 90 reaches the sensitive material peeling claw 126, the sensitive material peeling claw 126 separates from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106. The photosensitive material 16 is peeled from the image receiving material 90, and the image receiving material 90 that moves with the rotation of the heating drum 106 can pass between the photosensitive material peeling claw 126 and the outer periphery of the heating drum 106.

When the sensitive material peeling claw 126 is separated from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106, the photosensitive material 16 is nipped between the guide roller 124 and the pinch roller 136, and the photosensitive material 16 is
It is bent around the guide roller 124 and is conveyed so as to positively peel it from the image receiving material 90.

Following the guide roller 124 and the pinch roller 136, a guide plate 142, a photosensitive material discharge roller 144, a backup roller 146, and a guide roller 148 are arranged. The sensitive material discharge rollers 144 are a pair of so-called corrugation rollers that mesh with each other, and the backup roller 146 is in contact with one of the sensitive material discharge rollers 144. The photosensitive material discharge roller 144 is rotationally driven, and the separated photosensitive material 16 is accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 150.

The rotation peripheral speed of the photosensitive material discharge roller 144 is set to be 1 to 3% faster than the rotation peripheral speed of the heating drum 106, whereby the photosensitive material 16 is slackened to the guide plate 142. Sticking is prevented.

A peeling roller 152 and a material receiving peeling claw 154 are sequentially arranged on the side of the photosensitive material peeling claw 126 in the rotating direction of the heating drum. The peeling roller 152 is pressed against the outer circumference of the heating drum 106 and is driven to rotate. Also, the sensitive material peeling nail 12
A comb roller 151 is provided between the peeling roller 152 and the peeling roller 152 so as to face the outer periphery of the heating drum 106.

The peeling roller 152 is a rubber roller made of silicon rubber. The receiving material peeling claw 154 is the heating drum 1.
A claw shaft 156 parallel to the shaft of the claw 06 is provided, and the claw shaft 156 can be rotated around the axis of the claw shaft 156 to be brought into contact with or separated from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106. Before the image receiving material 90 that moves according to the rotation of the heating drum 106 reaches the position corresponding to the material receiving peeling claw 154, the material receiving peeling claw 154 contacts the outer periphery of the heating drum 106, and the material receiving peeling claw 154 is released. The image receiving material 90 is separated from the heating drum 106 by engaging with the tip of the image receiving material 90. The image receiving material 90 is bent and conveyed around the peeling roller 152.

Following the peeling roller 152 and the peeling claw 154, the guide plates 164 and 166, the receiving material discharging roller 167,
168 and 170 and guide rollers 172 and 174 are arranged, and the peeling roller 152 and the material receiving peeling claw 154 guide and convey the image receiving material 90 peeled from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106. The image receiving material 90 separated from the outer periphery of the heating drum 106 is discharged to the tray 176 by rotating the receiving material discharging rollers 167, 168, 170.

The winding roller 112, the laminating roller 110, the photosensitive material discharging roller 144, the guide roller 124, the peeling roller 152, the squeeze roller 84, and the receiving material discharging rollers 167, 168, 170 are all common drum motors ( It is possible to drive the rotation by (not shown).

Further, the heating drum 10 for the sensitive material peeling claw 126.
6, the timing of contact and separation with respect to the outer circumference, the material receiving peeling claw 154
The timing of the contact and separation of the heating drum 106 with respect to the outer periphery of the heating drum 106 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
This is possible with a cam mechanism using a cam portion 114 provided so as to rotate integrally with 6.

Here, the coating section 76 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, a rail 200 is provided below the application dish 78.
Is provided. The rail 200 extends along the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 from the storage portion 202 in which the coating plate 78 is stored toward the front side of the machine base 12, and is formed in a concave shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction. A pair of rails 200 are provided apart from each other, and a pair of guide protrusions 204 are provided on the lower surface of the bottom of the coating dish 78 corresponding to each rail. The guide protrusion 204 is the rail 200
The guide plate 78 is guided to slide in the longitudinal direction of the rail 200 by being fitted in the concave portion of the rail 200, whereby the coating plate 78 can be attached to and detached from the accommodating portion 202. By opening the front door 206 (shown in FIG. 8) on the front side of the machine base 12, the application dish 78 can be removed and attached. The coating plate 78 is provided with a grip portion 79 for attachment / detachment operation on the detaching side.

The bottom surface of the coating plate 78 is formed in an arc shape whose center is low when viewed in the photosensitive material conveying direction (direction of arrow C), and the bottom surface of the coating plate 78 is formed in the arc shape. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of rows of ribs 77 are formed. The rib 77 is inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16. As a result, the frictional resistance when the photosensitive material 16 passes is reduced, and it is possible to prevent a certain position of the photosensitive material 16 from being scratched.

The guide plate 80 is attached to a pair of support plates 208, 210 facing each other in the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 so as to be sandwiched between them. The guide plate 80 and the support plates 208 and 210 form a guide member. Support plate 2
The lower edges of 08 and 210 and the bottom surface of the guide plate 80 are
It is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the upper surface of the bottom of the coating plate 78.

As shown in FIG. 2, the central portion of the guide plate 80 in the direction of conveyance of the photosensitive material is thickened, and two parallel plates are provided between the support plates 208 and 210 in the thickened thickness. A hollow passage 212 is formed. The two hollow passages 212 are
One end (the end on the front side of the machine base 12) communicates with the mouth portions 214 and 216, respectively, and the other end (the end on the rear side of the machine base 12) communicates with each other, and the one mouth portion 214 to the other mouth portion A U-shaped liquid path is formed across 216. One mouth 214 is L
It is shaped like a letter and is opened upward, and the other mouth 216 is opened in the same direction so that it can communicate with the inside of the coating dish 78.

At the ends of the support plates 208 and 210 on the upstream side in the photosensitive material conveying direction, the roller shaft 22 of the supply roller 82 is provided.
8 is penetrated. The roller shaft 228 is pivotally supported on the machine base 12 side. As a result, the guide member is rotatable about the roller shaft 228, and the guide plate 80 is moved closer to and separated from the upper surface of the bottom portion of the coating dish 78. The squeeze roller 8 is provided at the end of the support plates 208 and 210 on the upstream side in the photosensitive material conveying direction.
4 is hung and is pivotally supported.

When the guide plate 80 is close to the coating plate 78, the photosensitive material 16 is provided between the guide plate 80 and the coating plate 78.
A gap is formed through which

When the guide plate 80 rotated in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 4 from the proximity state is separated from the coating plate 78, the entire guide member including the guide plate 80 covers the coating plate 78.
The coating plate 78 can be attached and detached.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water supply pump (supply pump) 230 and a water filter (filter) 232 are provided above the application unit 76, and a bottle (supply container) is provided below the application unit 76. ) 234 is provided. The inlet 236 of the water supply pump 230 is connected to the inside of the bottle 234, the outlet 238 of the water supply pump 230 is connected to the filter 232, and the filter 232 and the socket 226 of the guide member are connected. The water in the bottle 234 is sucked out by the water supply pump 230. The sucked water is purified through the water filter 232, and the purified water passes through the hollow passage 212 of the guide plate 80 into a U shape and is supplied from the mouth 216 into the coating dish 78. In FIG. 2, the water system is shown by dotted lines for both the water supply system and the drainage system. Further, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the direction of water flow is indicated by arrow D. In addition,
The water supply pump 230 is a stepping motor (motor) 2
It is driven by 31.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the second drain port (second drain port) is formed in the roller groove 236 into which the lower roller of the squeeze roller 84 is inserted in the coating plate 78.
One end of the 238 is connected to the overflow ditch 240 around the coating dish 78, and the first drain port (first
One end of the drainage port) 242 is connected and formed.

The other ends of the drainage ports 238 and 242 are arranged apart from each other along the photosensitive material conveying direction, and are directed toward the mounting direction side of the coating plate 78 (the rear side of the machine base 12 and the side opposite to the arrow B). It is open. Corresponding to both drainage ports 238 and 242, a receiving case (receiving member) 244 is provided on the storage section 202 side. The receiving case 244 has a rectangular box shape elongated in the photosensitive material conveyance direction, and has a first drain port 242 corresponding to the first drain port 242.
Receiving port 248 and a second receiving port 246 corresponding to the second drain port 238. Both receiving ports 246, 248 are open so that both draining ports 238, 242 project toward the removal direction side of the application dish 78.

When the coating plate 78 moves from the removal position to the mounting position in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the first drain port 24
The second and second drain ports 238 are respectively inserted and connected in the first receiving port 248 and the second receiving port 246. When the coating plate 78 moves from the mounting position to the removing position in the direction of the arrow B, the first drain port 242 and the second drain port 238.
However, the connection is released by being removed from the inside of the first receiving port 248 and the second receiving port 246, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the receiving case 244, there are two first drainage paths (first drainage paths) 250 and second drainage paths (second drainage paths) 252. Two drainage paths are formed, one end of the first drainage path 250 communicates with the first receiving port 246, and the other end of the second drainage path 252 is the second.
Of the drainage paths 250 and 252 are joined to each other at their other ends to form a merged port 254. The merging port 254 is opened downward, and is located immediately above the bottle port 256 of the bottle 234. A drainage electromagnetic valve (drainage valve) 258 is provided in the middle of the second drainage path 252.
For example, when the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is on, the second drainage path 252 is opened, and when the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is off, the second drainage path 252 is blocked.

With respect to the water supplied into the coating dish 78, in order to keep the filling amount of the water in the coating dish 78 constant, excess water overflows into the overflow groove 240, and the overflowed water is 1 from the drain port 242 of 1
Returning to the bottle 234 via the drainage route 250. Further, by opening the electromagnetic valve 258, the water in the coating dish 78 can be forcibly drained to empty the coating dish 78. The water that is forcibly discharged returns from the second drain port 238 to the bottle 234 via the second drain path 252.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide plate 80
A heater 260 such as a ceramic heater is attached to the upper surface of the thickened portion. The heater 260 is
A pair are provided to face each other while being separated in the width direction of the photosensitive material.
A temperature detection sensor 262 is attached between the heaters 260. The heater 260 can heat the guide plate 80 to heat the water passing through the hollow passage 212 and the water in the coating dish 78. Temperature detection sensor 26
2 detects the temperature of the portion of the guide plate 80 in the vicinity of the hollow passage 212 (application portion temperature). The heater 260 is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 262, and the coating plate 7
The water in 8 can be temperature-controlled (for example, 40 ° C. ± 2 ° C.).

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a water presence / absence sensor 298 is provided in the coating dish 78. The water presence / absence sensor 298 can detect whether or not the application dish 78 is filled with a predetermined amount of water (the amount of water required for application) (with water) (without water).

Next, the supply of water to the coating sections 78 and 80 will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the image recording apparatus 10 is turned on, the coating portion heater 260 is operated (step 400) to heat the guide plate 80.

When the image recording apparatus 10 is started up, when the guide plate 80 is heated and the coating portion temperature reaches 40 ° C. (step 402), the water supply pump 230 is activated (ON).
(Step 404). The effect of raising the temperature of the water by the circulation supply described later will be obtained.

Next, 12 seconds (sec) after the operation of the water supply pump 230, the electromagnetic drain valve 258 is closed (step 406). The water supply pump 230 prevents dirt from remaining in the coating plate 78 due to the replacement of the filter 232.
At the beginning of the operation of, the water is immediately returned to the bottle 234 so that the water is not retained in the application dish 78.

Next, after the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is closed, it is judged whether or not there is water based on the water presence / absence sensor 298 while the water supply pump 230 is operating for 18 seconds (step 408). 18 seconds is a time sufficient to supply a predetermined amount of water to the coating parts 78 and 80.

When the presence / absence of water is detected by the water presence / absence sensor 298, 108 seconds after the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is closed, the water supply pump 230 is stopped (step 410).
With the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 closed, the water supply pump 230 operates to cause an overflow in the coating dish 78, the water returns to the bottle 234, and the water is circulated and supplied. The circulating supply of water raises the temperature of the water, for example, 1
Water at 0 ° C is warmed to 27 ° C. By closing the drainage electromagnetic valve 258, water is retained in the coating dish 78 in a predetermined amount, which is preferable in terms of the temperature raising effect.

Next, the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is opened (step 412). As a result, the water in the coating dish 78 is drained to the bottle 234 and the interior of the coating dish 78 becomes empty. That is, a state of waiting for the print operation can be obtained. Water is
In the bottle 234, it stands by in a heated state.

When the water sensor 298 detects the absence of water, an alarm is displayed (step 414). As a result, an abnormality in the water supply system or the drainage system between the bottle 234 and the coating units 78, 80, for example, the connection of the pipe or the filter 2
32 set lacks properness, drainage electromagnetic valve 258
The abnormality such as the occurrence of a failure of the supply pump 230 or the supply pump 230 becomes clear. Therefore, it can be dealt with quickly.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, if there is a printing operation (image recording operation) (step 416), the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is closed (step 418) for each printing operation, and the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is turned on. The supply pump 230 is operated in the closed state (step 420). While the supply pump 230 is operating for 18 seconds, the water presence sensor 2
Based on 98, it is judged whether there is water or not (step 422). When the water presence sensor 298 detects the presence of water, the following steps are executed. That is, in step 424, it is determined whether the coating portion temperature is 40 ° C. ± 2 ° C. The photosensitive material 16 is pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 and conveyed by the printing operation, exposed by the exposure section 18, and reaches before the coating section 76. About 20 seconds from the start of printing operation
Reaches just before the coating section 76. Water presence sensor 298
18 is detected after the water supply pump 230 is activated.
Since the second time has elapsed, the photosensitive material 16 is applied to the coating portion 7
When reaching before 6 is faster than when water is detected by the water presence sensor 298, the process waits as it is. Even if the water presence / absence sensor 298 detects the presence of water, if the temperature of the coating portion is not at the predetermined temperature, the photosensitive material 16 is applied to the coating portions 78,
(Step 426), the photosensitive material 16 passes through the coating parts 78 and 80 when the coating part temperature is at a predetermined temperature (step 428).

Next, it is judged whether or not the print operation is continuous printing (step 430). When the printing operation is continuous printing, that is, when a single printing operation is performed, a plurality of photosensitive materials are continuously applied to the coating portions 78 and 8.
When passing 0, one photosensitive material 16 is applied to the coating portion 7
After passing 8, 80, feed pump 230 is activated for 5 seconds (step 431). As a result, the coating plate 78
Water is replenished and maintained at a predetermined amount. Then, steps 422, 424, and 42 are performed corresponding to the next photosensitive material 16.
8, 430 are executed.

The last photosensitive material 16 in continuous printing
When the liquid has passed through the coating units 16 and 18 and continuous printing is not performed thereafter, the drainage electromagnetic valve 258 is opened, the water in the coating unit 78 is drained to the bottle 234, and the water in the coating unit 78 is discharged. It returns to the non-existent state (step 430).

Then, the next print operation is awaited. When the water presence sensor 298 detects the absence of water, the photosensitive material 1
6 stands by in front of the coating parts 78, 80 (step 43
2) Then, similarly to when the image recording apparatus 10 is started up,
An alarm is displayed (step 434). The alarm display reveals an abnormality in the water supply system and the drainage system between the bottle 234 and the coating units 78 and 80, and can promptly cope with the abnormality, as in the startup of the image recording apparatus 10. Is the same.

According to the image forming solvent supply method, fresh water can be constantly applied to the photosensitive material 16 by replacing the water filled in the coating dish 78 for each printing operation. At the same time, since the water whose temperature has been raised in advance is supplied to the application parts 78 and 80, it is easy to obtain a predetermined temperature by heating the water in the application parts 78 and 80. Is supplied in a short time so that the printing process is not delayed.

When the image recording apparatus 10 is started up, after the filter 232 is replaced and the bottle 234 is replaced, there is no water in the flow path between the water supply pump 230 and the bottle 234, and the water supply pump 230 is kept in this state. When operated, the load is large until the water reaches the water supply pump 230. If the water reaches the water supply pump 230, the load is small thereafter.

Therefore, when the motor 231 for driving the water supply pump 230 is composed of a stepping motor, until the water reaches the water supply pump 230 from the bottle 234,
It is preferable to lower the excitation frequency of the motor 231 to drive the motor 234 at a low speed, and then increase the excitation frequency to drive the motor 231 at a high speed. According to this, the motor 231 can supply a predetermined supply amount in a short time even if the motor 231 is small and small. Cost is also reduced.

The filter 232 is replaced and the bottle 23
The exchange of No. 4 is performed by opening the front door 206. Front door 2
The filter 23 is detected by detecting the closed state of 06.
It is possible to detect after the replacement of No. 2 and after the replacement of the bottle 234, and based on that, the excitation frequency of the motor 231 can be controlled.

This is effective in supplying a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent at a predetermined temperature in a short time so as not to delay the printing process, in that the water supply pump 231 can be driven by a small motor. Is.

It is needless to say that the numerical values in the above embodiment, such as the operating time of the water supply pump 230 and the temperature of the coating portion, are not limited to those in the embodiment.

[0101]

As described above, according to the image forming solvent supply method of the present invention, the image forming solvent filled in the coating section is replaced every time an image recording operation is performed, so that the image forming solvent is always fresh. Can be applied to the image recording material, and at the same time, a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent can be supplied at a predetermined temperature in a short time so as not to delay the image recording process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image recording apparatus to which an embodiment of an image forming solvent coating apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a water supply system of an image forming solvent coating apparatus according to the present embodiment,
It is a figure which shows the system of a drainage system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a solvent coating device for image formation of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing an attaching / detaching operation of the plate member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to the image forming solvent supply method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the image forming solvent supply method of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a conventional image forming solvent supply method.

[Explanation of symbols]

16 Photosensitive material (image recording material) 76 Application part (application part) 78 Coating Plate (Coating Section) 80 Guide plate (Coating part) 90 Image receiving materials (image recording materials) 230 supply pump 231 Stepping motor (motor) 232 filter 234 bottles (supply container) 258 Drainage electromagnetic valve (drainage valve) 262 Temperature detection sensor 298 Water presence sensor

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus comprising an application section for passing an image recording material to apply an image forming solvent to the image recording material, wherein an image forming solvent supplying method supplies an image forming solvent to the application section. When the image recording apparatus is started up, the application unit is heated, and the supply pump is operated to supply the image forming solvent from the supply container for the image forming solvent to the application unit, and then the supply pump is stopped and the liquid is discharged. Open the valve and return the image forming solvent to the supply container in a state where there is no image forming solvent in the coating section, and wait for the image recording operation, and when there is the image recording operation, for each image recording operation,
Close the drain valve and operate the supply pump to fill the coating section with the image forming solvent.After passing the image recording material to the coating section, open the drain valve to store the image forming solvent in the coating section in the supply container. A method for supplying an image forming solvent, characterized in that the liquid is drained to restore the state where the image forming solvent is not present in the coating section. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection step of detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of the image forming solvent is filled in the coating section after a predetermined time has passed after closing the drain valve. Solvent supply method. 3. The image forming solvent supply method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting step is performed at the time of starting up the image recording apparatus and / or at the time of image recording operation. 4. A motor for driving the supply pump is constituted by a stepping motor, and the image forming solvent supplied to the coating section is filtered by a filter, when the image recording apparatus is started up, or after the filter is replaced, or After replacing the supply container, when operating the supply pump, the excitation frequency of the motor is lowered to drive the motor at a low speed until the image forming solvent reaches the supply pump from the supply container. The method for supplying a solvent for image formation according to claim 1, wherein the motor is raised to drive the motor at high speed. 5. The image recording material stands by in front of the coating section when the temperature of the coating section is not at a predetermined temperature, and when the temperature of the coating section is at the predetermined temperature, the image recording material is coated at the coating section. The method for supplying a solvent for image formation according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is passed.