JP3630890B2 - Development processing method and development processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

【００８４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、リスフィルムに変形が残留しないようにしつつ、該リスフィルムの乾燥処理の高速化を図ることができる、という効果が得られる。
【００８５】
特に、請求項３記載の発明によれば、リスフィルムは片面から熱が供給され反対面が温風で乾燥されるので、乾燥処理を効率的に行うことができる、という効果が得られる。
【００８６】
また、請求項４記載の発明によれば、リスフィルムに急激な温度変化が生じることを防止し、該リスフィルムに変形が発生することを防止できる、という効果が得られる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】第１実施形態の現像処理装置の全体構成図である。
【図２】第２実施形態の現像処理装置の全体構成図である。
【図３】第２実施形態の現像処理装置における冷却部の構成図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ 現像処理装置
４２ 水塗布部（塗布手段）
６０ 処理シート
６６ 熱現像部
６８Ａ〜６８Ｅ 熱板（加熱手段）
８２ 貼合せローラ（貼り合わせ手段）
９０Ｃ ローラ
１００ ファン
１０６ 乾燥用加熱平板
１０８ ファン
１８０ 冷却部
１８０Ａ、１８０Ｂ、１８０Ｃ 冷却用加熱平板
Ｆ フィルム（ハロゲン化銀感光材料）[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a development processing method and a development processing apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a silver halide photosensitive material to which an image is exposed and coated with an image forming solvent, and an agent for forming an image on the silver halide photosensitive material. And processing the silver halide photosensitive material by heating the bonded silver halide photosensitive material and the processed sheet to a temperature suitable for development processing by a predetermined heating means. The present invention relates to a development processing method and a development processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a photosensitive material called a lith film has been used for printing newspapers and magazines. This lith film represents a black point or a white point in each pixel, and expresses shading (performs so-called halftone processing) by the density of black points in a predetermined area in the lith film.
[0003]
By using a lith film capable of expressing light and shade in this way, an original representing the density of the cyan color component, an original representing the density of the magenta color component, and the shade of the yellow color component for the target color image. A total of four originals are created by exposure / development processing. A technique for creating a printed matter on which the target color image is recorded by printing these four originals by using inks of colors corresponding to the four originals is known.
[0004]
By the way, in the above technique, in order to create a document representing the shade of a predetermined color, the development, fixing, and water washing processes (so-called wet processing) are performed on the lith film on which the shade image of the predetermined color is exposed. I was going.
[0005]
However, such a development process is complicated. Further, since a liquid containing a chemical such as a processing liquid is used, its management is troublesome, and the development processing apparatus is deteriorated prematurely due to contamination of the development processing apparatus.
[0006]
Therefore, the applicant of the present application has proposed a development processing apparatus capable of developing the photosensitive material such as the lith film on which an image is formed without performing the wet processing as described above. In this development processing apparatus, two types of materials are used: a photothermographic material having a property developed by heating, and a processing material containing a chemical agent that forms an image on the photothermographic material. The developed photothermographic material and the processing material are bonded and heated for a predetermined time, and the photothermographic material is peeled off from the processing material and dried (by performing a so-called dry process), thereby developing the photothermographic material. Processing is in progress.
[0007]
In such a development processing apparatus, an image forming solvent such as water is added to at least one of the photothermographic material and the processing material before the lamination in order to bond the sheet-like photothermographic material and the processing material evenly. It is applied. For this reason, the development processing apparatus is provided with a drying section for drying the photothermographic material after completion of the development processing. In this drying section, the photothermographic material is dried by blowing warm air of a predetermined temperature onto the photothermographic material.
[0008]
By the way, with regard to the drying process, generally, the higher the drying temperature, the faster the drying process proceeds and the drying process time is shortened. For this reason, it is conceivable to set the drying temperature higher in order to increase the speed of the drying process.
[0009]
However, polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET), polyethylene naphthalate (hereinafter referred to as PEN), etc., which are actually used as the base member of the photothermographic material, have predetermined temperatures (glass transition temperature Tg) corresponding to each. Beyond this, there is a characteristic that deformation remains.
[0010]
Therefore, for example, the temperature of warm air for drying a photothermographic material using PET as a base member is set to about 40 to 50 ° C. so as not to exceed the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) of PET. It was.
[0011]
Thus, conventionally, since the drying temperature of the photothermographic material is set under the restriction that the glass transition temperature Tg of the base member of the photothermographic material is not exceeded, the drying process can be speeded up. It was difficult.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a development processing method and a development processing apparatus capable of speeding up the drying process of the photosensitive material while preventing deformation of the photosensitive material. The purpose is to provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the development processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image is exposed and a solvent for image formation is applied. Squirrel film And the Squirrel film And a processing sheet containing a drug that forms an image on top of each other. Squirrel film And the treatment sheet by a predetermined heating means Squirrel film By heating to a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member of Squirrel film A development processing method for carrying out the development processing, wherein the development processing is completed and separated from the processing sheet Squirrel film The Squirrel film By conveying linearly along the surface of the drying heating flat plate set to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member and substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means, Squirrel film It is characterized by drying.
[0014]
Further, in the development processing apparatus according to claim 2, the image is exposed. Squirrel film The image forming solvent was applied to the coating means by applying the image forming solvent to the coating means, and the coating means. Squirrel film And the Squirrel film A pasting means for pasting a processing sheet containing a medicine for forming an image thereon, and the pasting means for pasting Squirrel film And the processing sheet, Squirrel film Heating means for heating to a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member, and heated by the heating means Squirrel film And a separation means for separating the processing sheet and the heating means, set to a temperature substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means, and separated by the separation means Squirrel film Drying the heating flat plate and the pasted together Squirrel film And the processing sheet is conveyed along the surface of the heating means and separated by the separation means. Squirrel film Transporting means for transporting the substrate linearly along the surface of the drying heating flat plate.
[0015]
Further, the development processing apparatus according to claim 3 is separated by the separation means in the development processing apparatus according to claim 2. Squirrel film The separation is performed so as to face the drying heating plate with the conveyance path of Squirrel film A fan for blowing warm air is provided in the main body.
[0016]
Further, the development processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the development processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the drying processing plate is Squirrel film On the downstream side of the transport direction, Squirrel film And a cooling heating plate set at a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the base member of Squirrel film Is conveyed linearly along the surface of the heating flat plate for cooling.
[0017]
In the development processing method according to claim 1, the image is exposed and an image forming solvent is applied. Squirrel film And the Squirrel film A processing sheet containing a drug that forms an image is bonded to the top. And these pasted together Squirrel film And the processing sheet by a predetermined heating means Squirrel film The base member is heated to a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member. the above Squirrel film Has the property of being developed by heating, Squirrel film Is developed and the exposed image is formed on its surface. In this way Squirrel film The developing process is executed.
[0018]
At the same time, in the development processing method according to claim 1, the development processing is completed and separated from the processing sheet. Squirrel film In a straight line along the surface of the drying heating plate, Squirrel film Dry. Here, the heating flat plate for drying is Squirrel film It is set to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member and substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means, that is, higher than a temperature lower than the conventional glass transition temperature.
[0019]
Thus, along the surface of the heating plate for drying set to a higher temperature than before Squirrel film Transport the Squirrel film The drying process can be speeded up. On the other hand, along the surface of the drying heating plate Squirrel film When transporting Squirrel film Is conveyed linearly, Squirrel film However, the force to deform is not applied. This Squirrel film Although the temperature of is higher than the glass transition temperature, Squirrel film There is no deformation that remains.
[0020]
Therefore, Squirrel film While preventing deformation from remaining on the Squirrel film The drying process can be speeded up.
[0021]
The development processing apparatus according to claim 2 can be used as the development processing apparatus for executing the development processing method as described above. In the development processing apparatus according to claim 2, the image is exposed. Squirrel film The image forming solvent was applied to the substrate by the applying means, and the image forming solvent was applied by the bonding means. Squirrel film And the processing sheet.
[0022]
And the pasted together Squirrel film And a process sheet is conveyed along the surface of a heating means by a conveyance means. This bonded Squirrel film And the treated sheet is heated Squirrel film Temperature of Squirrel film To a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member of the base member, and a chemical contained in the processing sheet acts together with this. Squirrel film Developed and the exposed image is Squirrel film Formed on the surface. In addition, as a heating means, for example, a flat plate having a predetermined surface as a heating surface may be used, or a drum may be heated by the outer peripheral surface thereof.
[0023]
Developed in this way Squirrel film Is separated from the treatment sheet by the separating means, and is conveyed linearly by the conveying means along the surface of the drying heating flat plate provided adjacent to the heating means. This heating plate for drying is Squirrel film It is set to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member and substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means, that is, a temperature higher than the set temperature set lower than the conventional glass transition temperature.
[0024]
Thus, along the surface of the heating plate for drying set to a higher temperature than before Squirrel film Transport the Squirrel film Is dried, and the drying process is faster than in the past. On the other hand, along the surface of the drying heating plate Squirrel film When transporting Squirrel film Is conveyed linearly, Squirrel film However, the force to deform is not applied. This Squirrel film Although the temperature of is higher than the glass transition temperature, Squirrel film There is no deformation that remains.
[0025]
Therefore, Squirrel film While preventing deformation from remaining on the Squirrel film The drying process can be speeded up.
[0026]
Here, the effect of speeding up the drying process will be described. As an example, the conventional drying with hot air of 30 ° C. is compared with the drying with a heating flat plate at 80 ° C. in the development processing apparatus of the present invention. The vapor pressure of water is 4245 mmHg at 30 ° C, and 47377 mmHg at 80 ° C (exhibition is scientific chronology). Thus, since the vapor pressure of water at 80 ° C. is about 10 times the vapor pressure of water at 30 ° C., the absolute amount of water vapor contained in the air at 80 ° C. under the condition that the relative humidity is the same. The amount of absolute water vapor contained in air at 30 ° C. is about 10 times. That is, the drying ability at 80 ° C. can be said to be about 10 times the drying ability at 30 ° C. In other words, heating from 30 ° C. to 80 ° C. speeds up the drying process by about 10 times.
[0027]
Next, in the development processing apparatus according to claim 3, the separation is performed by the separation unit. Squirrel film The separation is performed so as to face the drying heating plate with the conveyance path of Squirrel film A fan for blowing warm air is provided. Hot air from this fan is transported through the transport path Squirrel film So that Squirrel film One side is heated by a heating plate for drying, and the other side is dried by hot air from a fan. in this way Squirrel film Since hot air compensates for a decrease in the surface temperature by heating from the back surface, the drying process can be performed efficiently.
[0028]
In order to perform the drying process more efficiently, the temperature of the hot air from the fan is Squirrel film It is desirable to set the temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member and substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means.
[0029]
Further, as in the development processing apparatus according to claim 4, for the heating flat plate for drying. Squirrel film On the downstream side of the transport direction, Squirrel film Provided with a heating flat plate for cooling set to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the base member of Squirrel film By linearly conveying along the surface of the cooling heating plate, Squirrel film After being heated by the drying heating flat plate, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the temperature is suddenly lowered due to air cooling. That is, Squirrel film To prevent sudden temperature changes, Squirrel film Can be prevented from being deformed.
[0030]
The present invention Is , Sheet-like lith film having characteristics developed by heating Less than In addition, a silver halide light-sensitive material for forming a color image having the property of being developed by heating can also be applied.
[0031]
The silver halide light-sensitive material for color image formation includes at least a light-sensitive silver halide, a binder, and a color material having a function of releasing or diffusing a diffusible dye in an image form on a support, and has a photosensitive wavelength. There are photosensitive materials having at least three types of photosensitive layers having different hues after development of the region and the coloring material. Further, on the support, at least a photosensitive silver halide, a binder, and a dye-donating coupler, and at least three kinds of photosensitive layers having different photosensitive wavelength regions and different hues of dyes formed from the dye-donating coupler. A photosensitive material having the above can also be applied.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0033]
FIG. 1 shows an internal configuration of a development processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The development processing apparatus 10 performs, for example, development processing of a lith film that forms a black and white image (binary image) used for printing newspapers, magazines, and the like.
[0034]
In the following, an example will be described in which the development processing device 10 performs development processing on a lith film that has already been exposed to a cyan component grayscale image of a color image to be printed. The lith film as the development processing target is hereinafter referred to as film F.
[0035]
Film F corresponds to the silver halide light-sensitive material of the present invention, and is a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion having a silver chloride content of at least 70 mol%, a hydrophilic binder, and a basic substance that is hardly soluble in water. Contains metal compounds. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used as the support.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 12 of the development processing apparatus 10 is formed in a box shape. An exposure device 11 that exposes and discharges an image on the film F is disposed on the right side (arrow R direction side) of the development processing device 10. A slit-like insertion port 14 for inserting an undeveloped film F is provided on the right side surface of the main body 12, and a discharge port 16 for discharging the developed film F is provided on the upper part. A tray 18 for receiving the film F discharged from the discharge port 16 to the outside of the main body 12 is formed on the upper portion of the main body 12.
[0037]
A door (not shown) is provided on the left side of the main body 12 on the arrow L direction side, and the inside can be exposed by opening and closing. On the other hand, on the right side inside the main body 12, there is provided an insertion buffer unit 24 that can temporarily wait for the film F inserted from the insertion port. In the insertion buffer unit 24, a conveyance roller 26, a branch guide 28, and a conveyance roller 30 are arranged in this order. The transport roller 26 is rotated by a motor 32, and the transport roller 30 is rotated by a motor 34.
[0038]
The branch guide 28 is switched between a horizontal state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a vertical state indicated by an imaginary line by a solenoid 36. When the branch guide 28 is switched to a vertical state, the branch guide 28 is conveyed to the conveying roller 26 as indicated by an imaginary line. The film F can be loosened between the rollers 30. An insertion sensor 38 that detects the film F is provided between the insertion port 14 and the transport roller 26.
[0039]
Such an insertion buffer unit 24 can absorb a speed difference between the processing speed (for example, 30 mm / sec) of the development processing apparatus 10 and the processing speed (for example, 100 mm / sec) of the exposure apparatus 11.
[0040]
On the downstream side in the transport direction of the film F with respect to the transport roller 30, a photosensitive material carry-in section 40 and a water application section 42 as application means for applying water applied as an image forming solvent are installed. This water is not limited to so-called pure water, but includes water in a widely used meaning. Further, a mixed solvent of water and a low boiling point solvent such as methanol, DMF, acetone, diisobutyl ketone, or the like may be used. Further, it may be a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development stopper, a hydrophilic thermal solvent, an antiseptic, an antifungal agent and the like.
[0041]
The photosensitive material carry-in unit 40 is provided with a plurality of conveyance rollers 44 for conveying the film F conveyed from the insertion buffer unit 24 to the water application unit 42. The light-sensitive material carry-in unit 40 is provided with a standby sensor 46 that detects the film F in the middle part of the film transport path.
[0042]
An application tank 48 is disposed in one water application unit 42. The application tank 48 is formed in a dish shape, and is filled with water as an image forming solvent. The application tank 48 is provided with an arcuate guide 51 for immersing the film F in water.
[0043]
Above the coating tank 48, a squeeze roller 50, which is composed of rollers 50A and 50B arranged horizontally, removes excess water adhering to the film F and transports it upward. The rotation center of the roller 50A and the rotation center of the roller 50B are on the same horizontal plane, and the squeeze roller 50 conveys the film F directly above. The water application unit 42 includes a replenishment tank and a pump (both not shown) for replenishing the application tank 48 with water.
[0044]
Inside the main body 12, a processing sheet unwinding part 52 is provided on the left side, and a processing sheet winding part 54 is provided above the processing sheet unwinding part 52. Of these, a supply shaft 58 rotated by a motor 56 is detachably provided at the processing sheet unwinding portion 52, and a long processing sheet 60 is wound around the supply shaft 58 in a roll shape. In addition, the processing sheet 60 in the first embodiment has a layer containing a complex-forming compound for the metal ions constituting the basic metal compound, a physical development nucleus, and a silver halide solvent on the support.
[0045]
One processing sheet winding unit 54 is detachably provided with a winding shaft 64 rotated by a motor 62 so that the processing sheet 60 fed from the supply shaft 58 is wound around the winding shaft 64. It has become. The supply shaft 58 and the winding shaft 64 can be detached from the main body 12 by opening a door (not shown) provided on the left side surface of the main body 12.
[0046]
A heat developing unit 66 as a heating unit is provided in the approximate center of the main body 12. In the heat developing section 66, a plurality of heat plates 68A to 68E are arranged in an arc shape. These hot plates 68A to 68E incorporate a flat heater and temperature sensor (not shown), and the hot plates 68A to 68E are heated by the heater so as to have a temperature suitable for the development processing of the film F.
[0047]
Below the lowermost heating plate 68A, a roller 70 is disposed on the right side of the film F conveyance path indicated by a one-dot chain line. Further, on the side of the uppermost hot plate 68E, a drying heating flat plate 106 for heating and drying the film F is disposed along the transport path of the film F. On the right side, a roller 72 is disposed below the film F conveyance path. The drying heating flat plate 106 will be described in detail later.
[0048]
An endless belt 74 that is in contact with the back surface of the film F is wound around the roller 70, the heating plates 68 </ b> A to 68 </ b> E, the drying heating flat plate 106, and the roller 72. It has been. The rollers 70, 72, 76, and 78 are connected to each other by a timing belt (or chain or the like) (not shown) and are rotated by a motor 80.
[0049]
Below the roller 70, a laminating roller 82 composed of a roller 82A and a roller 82B is disposed. The roller 82B is rotated by a motor 84, and the roller 82A is urged toward the roller 82B by a spring (not shown).
[0050]
By the way, the contact point between the roller 70 and the roller 90A and the lower end portion of the heating surface (left surface in FIG. 1) of the hot plate 68A are arranged so as to be located on a tangent line passing through the contact point P1 between the roller 82A and the roller 82B. Has been. By arranging in this way, the film F and the processing sheet 60 bonded by the bonding roller 82 are surely and evenly in contact with the heating surface of the first hot plate 68A via the rollers 70 and 90A. Thus, the bonded film F and the processing sheet 60 can be heated uniformly.
[0051]
A roller 86 around which the processing sheet 60 is wound is disposed below the supply shaft 58, and the processing sheet 60 sent out from the supply shaft 58 is wound around the roller 86 and then passed through the laminating roller 82 described above. And conveyed along the hot plates 68A to 68E.
[0052]
An urging device 88 for urging the bonded film F and processing sheet 60 toward the hot plates 68A to 68E is provided at a position facing the hot plates 68A to 68E. The urging device 88 includes rollers 90A, 90B, and 90C, and an endless belt 92 that is wound around the rollers 90A, 90B, and 90C and urges the processing sheet 60 toward the outer peripheral surfaces of the hot plates 68A to 68E. It has. The rollers 90 </ b> A, 90 </ b> B, and 90 </ b> C are connected to each other by a timing belt (or a chain or the like) (not shown) and rotated by a motor 94. In the urging device 88 having such a configuration, the film F and the processing sheet 60 are urged toward the hot plates 68A to 68E by the tension between the rollers 90A to 90C of the endless belt 92.
[0053]
A processing sheet drying unit 96 is provided on the upper side of the urging device 88. The processing sheet drying section 96 is provided with drying heating flat plates 98A and 98B for heating and drying the processing sheet 60 along the conveyance path of the processing sheet 60, and the drying heating flat plates 98A and 98B. In the middle, there is provided a fan 100 that incorporates a heater (not shown) and blows hot air on the processing sheet 60. A sandwiching roller 102 that conveys the processing sheet 60 so as to be in contact with or close to the drying heating flat plates 98A and 98B is provided downstream of the drying heating flat plate 98B in the conveyance direction.
[0054]
On the other hand, a film drying unit 104 is provided on the downstream side of the heat developing unit 66 in the transport direction of the film F. In the film drying unit 104, the above-described drying heating flat plate 106 is provided along the transport path of the film F, and a fan 108 that incorporates a heater (not shown) and blows hot air on the film F is provided on the film F. It is provided so as to face the drying heating plate 106 with the conveyance path as a boundary.
[0055]
The heating surface (the upper surface in FIG. 1) of the heating plate 106 for drying is formed flat, and is disposed on the same plane as the heating surface of the hot plate 68E. As described above, the film drying unit 104 is configured to convey the film F linearly along the flat heating surface of the drying heating flat plate 106. That is, in the film drying unit 104, it is considered that no force such as pressing force or bending force is applied to the film F being conveyed. The heating surface of the drying heating flat plate 106 is set to about 80 ° C., which is higher than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) of PET, which is the support constituting the film F. As described above, the temperature of the heating surface of the drying heating flat plate 106 is set higher than the glass transition temperature Tg of PET, but the film F to be conveyed is subjected to external force such as pressing force and bending force. Therefore, the film F is not deformed.
[0056]
A substantially U-shaped conveyance guide 112 is installed on the downstream side of the film drying unit 104 in the conveyance direction of the film F, and the film F heated and dried by the film drying unit 104 is conveyed via the conveyance guide 112 to a conveyance roller. 114 and the conveying roller 116 are discharged from the discharge port 16 to the outside of the main body 12.
[0057]
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
In the development processing apparatus 10 configured as described above, when the exposed film F discharged from the exposure apparatus 11 is inserted into the insertion port 14, the film F is detected by the insertion sensor 38, and the speed in accordance with the insertion speed of the film F is detected. Thus, the transport roller 26 is rotated to transport the film F to the inside.
[0058]
Since the processing speed of the film F in the development processing apparatus 10 (after the conveyance roller 30) is slower than the insertion speed of the film F, when the leading edge of the film F is sandwiched between the conveyance rollers 30, the branch guide 28 is an imaginary line. It switches to the perpendicular | vertical state shown, and the center part and the rear-end part of the film F hang down, for example, as shown by the imaginary line of FIG.
[0059]
The film F transported by the transport roller 30 is transported to the water application unit 42 by the transport roller 44 of the photosensitive material carry-in unit 40. In this water application part 42, the film F is immersed in the water stored in the application tank 48, and then excess water is removed by the squeeze roller 50 and conveyed directly above.
[0060]
When the leading edge of the film F is detected by the standby sensor 46 and a predetermined time has elapsed, the endless belt 74, the endless belt 92, and the processing sheet 60 are conveyed at the same speed as the conveying speed of the film F, and the film F coated with water The processing sheet 60 is bonded by the bonding roller 82 and conveyed to the heat developing unit 66.
[0061]
In the heat developing unit 66, the bonded film F and the processing sheet 60 are urged toward the heating plates 68A to 68E by the urging device 88 and conveyed while being in contact with the heating surfaces of the heating plates 68A to 68E. . Thereby, the film F is heated, the temperature rises, and reaches a temperature suitable for development processing. As the temperature of the film F rises as described above, the complex-forming compound, the physical development nucleus and the silver halide solvent contained in the processing sheet 60 act on the film F, whereby the color image to be printed on the film F is obtained. A gray-scale image of the cyan component is formed.
[0062]
In addition, since water adheres to the film F and the endless belt 92 presses the processing sheet 60 against the film F, it is considered that the film F and the processing sheet 60 are uniformly heat-developed in close contact with each other. ing.
[0063]
After the density image of the cyan component is formed on the film F as described above, the processing sheet 60 is peeled off from the film F by the roller 90C as a separating unit. The peeled processing sheet 60 is conveyed by the processing sheet drying unit 96 while being in contact with the drying heating flat plates 98A and 98B, and is dried by blowing hot air from the fan 100. Then, the dried processing sheet 60 is wound around the winding shaft 64.
[0064]
On the other hand, the film F peeled off from the processing sheet 60 is conveyed linearly along the surface of the drying heating flat plate 106 set at about 80 ° C. in the film drying unit 104. This heating temperature is set to be higher than the glass transition temperature Tg of PET that is the support constituting the film F, that is, considerably higher than the heating temperature for conventional drying, so that the drying speed is increased. In the first embodiment in which the heating temperature is set to 80 ° C., as compared with the conventional case where the heating temperature is set to 30 ° C., the effect of increasing the speed by about 10 times can be obtained as described above.
[0065]
In addition, warm air from the fan 108 blows to the upward facing surface (the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the drying heating flat plate 106) of the film F conveyed along the surface of the drying heating flat plate 106. It is done. Thus, since both surfaces of the film F are heat-dried, it can be dried very efficiently.
[0066]
On the other hand, when the film F is transported along the surface of the drying heating flat plate 106, the film F is transported linearly, so that a force for deforming the film F does not act. Thereby, although the temperature of the film F becomes higher than the glass transition temperature Tg of PET as a support, no deformation that remains in the film F occurs.
[0067]
Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to increase the speed of the drying process of the film F while preventing the film F from being deformed.
[0068]
The film F that has been subjected to such a high-speed drying process is discharged from the discharge port 16 onto the tray 18 via the transport guide 112, the transport roller 114, and the transport roller 116.
[0069]
As described above, the development processing for the film F on which the light and shade image of the cyan component of the target color image is exposed is completed.
[0070]
Thereafter, in the same manner, each of the film in which the gray image of the magenta color component is exposed for the target color image, the film in which the gray image of the yellow color component is exposed, and the film in which the black gray image is exposed in order. Development processing is executed to create a total of four originals for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Then, these four originals are overprinted using the corresponding color inks. As a result, a printed matter in which the target color image is recorded is created.
[0071]
In the first embodiment, water as an image forming solvent is applied to the film F. However, the film F may be applied to the processing sheet 60, or may be applied to both the film F and the processing sheet 60. You may do it.
[0072]
[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This second embodiment corresponds to the invention described in claim 4, and prevents the temperature of the film F from changing suddenly after drying in the development processing apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. An example is shown in which a cooling unit 180 is provided on the downstream side of the drying heating flat plate 106.
[0073]
First, the configuration of the development processing apparatus 10S of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, in the development processing apparatus 10 </ b> S of the second embodiment, the cooling unit 180 is installed on the downstream side of the drying heating plate 106 in the film F conveyance direction, that is, on the downstream side adjacent to the roller 72. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, the cooling unit 180 includes a cooling heating plate 180A having a heating surface (upper surface in FIG. 3) set to 70 ° C., a cooling heating plate 180B having a heating surface set to 60 ° C., and The heating surface is composed of a total of three hot plates, ie, the heating plate 180C for cooling set to 40 ° C., and the heating plates 180A, 180B, and 180C for cooling are arranged in order along the conveying direction of the film F. .
[0074]
The heating surfaces of the cooling heating plates 180A, 180B, and 180C are located on the same plane as the heating surface of the drying heating plate 106. Thereby, it is considered that no external force such as pressing force or bending force is applied to the conveyed film F.
[0075]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a conveyance roller 113 for conveying the film F toward the discharge port 16 through a substantially U-shaped conveyance guide 112 is installed on the downstream side of the cooling unit 180. .
[0076]
Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. Since the development process and the drying process after development are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted, and only the cooling process after drying will be described.
[0077]
The film F is linearly transported along the surface of the drying heating flat plate 106 in the film drying unit 104, and is dried by blowing warm air from the fan 108 onto the upper surface in FIG. The film F which has been dried and brought to a high temperature state of about 80 ° C. is further conveyed to the cooling unit 180. In the cooling section 180, the film F is linear while contacting the surfaces of a heating flat plate 180A for cooling at about 70 ° C, a heating flat plate 180B for cooling at about 60 ° C, and a heating flat plate 180C for cooling at about 40 ° C. To be transported. Thereby, the temperature of the film F that has reached a high temperature of about 80 ° C. in the film drying unit 104 gradually decreases in the cooling unit 180.
[0078]
In this way, the film F higher than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) of PET as the support is gradually cooled to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) in the cooling unit 180. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the film F that has reached a high temperature state of about 80 ° C. in the film drying unit 104 is air-cooled and the temperature rapidly decreases. That is, it is possible to prevent a rapid temperature change from occurring in the film F and to prevent the film F from being deformed.
[0079]
When the film F is cooled in the cooling unit 180 (when the film F is transported along the heating surfaces of the cooling heating flat plates 180A, 180B, and 180C), the high-temperature film F is linearly transported, and from the outside Needless to say, since no force is applied, no deformation that remains in the film F occurs.
[0080]
The film F gradually cooled in the cooling unit 180 as described above is transported to the substantially U-shaped transport guide 112 by the transport roller 113, and thereafter transported toward the discharge port 16 by the transport rollers 114 and 116. . When the film F reaches the conveyance guide 112, since the film F has already been cooled to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) of PET, when the film F moves in the conveyance guide 112 Even if the film F is deformed into a substantially U shape, the deformation does not remain.
[0081]
According to the second embodiment described above, the film F higher than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) of PET is gradually cooled to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature Tg (about 70 ° C.) in the cooling unit 180. By doing this, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the film F that has reached a high temperature state of about 80 ° C. in the film drying unit 104 is air-cooled and the temperature rapidly decreases. That is, it is possible to prevent a rapid temperature change from occurring in the film F and to prevent the film F from being deformed.
[0082]
In the development processing apparatuses of the first and second embodiments, the film F in which the support is composed of PET is used as the silver halide photosensitive material of the present invention, and then the glass transition temperature Tg ( Although an example of heating and drying at a temperature higher than about 70 ° C. has been shown, the support of the silver halide photosensitive material is not limited to PET, and various substances as shown in the following table can be used. , And may be heat-dried at a temperature higher than the corresponding glass transition temperature Tg.
[0083]
[Table 1]

[0084]
【The invention's effect】
As explained above, according to the present invention, Squirrel film While preventing deformation from remaining on the Squirrel film The effect of speeding up the drying process can be obtained.
[0085]
In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, Squirrel film Since heat is supplied from one side and the opposite side is dried with warm air, the effect that the drying process can be performed efficiently is obtained.
[0086]
According to the invention of claim 4, Squirrel film To prevent sudden temperature changes, Squirrel film It is possible to prevent the deformation from occurring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a development processing apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a development processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a cooling unit in a development processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Development processing equipment
42 Water application part (application means)
60 treatment sheet
66 Thermal development section
68A-68E Hot plate (heating means)
82 Laminating roller (bonding means)
90C roller
100 fans
106 Heating flat plate for drying
108 fans
180 Cooling section
180A, 180B, 180C Heating flat plate for cooling
F film (silver halide photosensitive material)

Claims (4)

A lith film sheet having the property image is image forming solvent is exposed is developed by heating that is applied, a processing sheet comprising an agent which forms an image on the lith film, and laminated, combined Ri該貼A development processing method for developing the lith film by heating the lith film and the processing sheet to a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member of the lith film by a predetermined heating means Because
The processing sheet and separated lith film processing is completed, by conveying linearly along the temperature almost the surface of the set drying heated platen to the same temperature of the heating means, the lith film A development processing method characterized by drying. Application means for applying an image forming solvent to the lith film on which the image has been exposed;
A laminating means for laminating a lith film coated with an image forming solvent by the application means and a treatment sheet containing a drug that forms an image on the lith film ,
A heating means for heating the lith film and the processing sheet bonded by the bonding means to a predetermined temperature suitable for development processing higher than the glass transition temperature of the base member of the lith film ;
A separating means for separating the squirrel film heated by the heating means and the processing sheet;
A drying heating plate that is provided adjacent to the heating means, is set to a temperature substantially the same as the temperature of the heating means, and dries the squirrel film separated by the separation means;
Conveying means for conveying the bonded squirrel film and treated sheet along the surface of the heating means, and conveying the squirrel film separated by the separating means linearly along the surface of the heating flat plate for drying;
A development processing apparatus. 3. A fan for blowing warm air to the separated squirrel film is provided so as to face the drying heating flat plate with a conveyance path of the squirrel film separated by the separating means as a boundary. The development processing apparatus according to the description. A cooling heating flat plate set at a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the base member of the squirrel film is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the squirrel film with respect to the heating flat plate for drying, and the squirrel film is cooled by the transport means. The development processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the development processing apparatus transports linearly along the surface of the heating flat plate.

Images