JPH01129254A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size and weight of a device and to execute clean development without having unequal development densities by bringing a photosensitive material and color developing paper into pressurized contact with each other by means of rollers and a stage and providing notches to either of the rollers or stage. CONSTITUTION:The rollers 52, 52' which are the pressurizing means for bringing the photosensitive material 59 and the color developing paper 61 into pressurized contact with each other are movable for the purpose of scanning the photosensitive material 59 and the color developing paper 61. Either of the rollers or the stage is partly notched to prevent the contact pressure between the rollers 52, 52' and the stage 7 from rising higher in both end parts in the direction orthogonal with the rolling direction of the rollers than in the other parts. The shape and pressurizing force of the pressurizing means can, therefore, be fairly reduced and the need for using powerful spring members and increasing the mechanical strength of the respective parts is consequently eliminated. Furthermore, the parts where the contact pressure between the rollers and the stage rises abnormally high are eliminated. The clean development without having the unequal development densities is thereby executed with the small size at the low cost.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The developing device of the present invention will be explained according to the following items.

A. Industrial field of application B1 Summary of the invention C9 Prior art a. - Background of boat fishing An example of a conventional pressure printer [Figs.
] b-1, First example [Fig. 15] b-2, Second example C Fig. 16] D9 Problems to be solved by the invention [Fig. 15 to 1
[Fig. 7] E3 Means for solving the problem F, embodiment [Figs. 1 to 14] F-1, First embodiment [Figs. 1 to 8] a, base part, stage [Fig. 1 to 4, 6, and 7] b, feed roller, FOT, etc. [Fig. 1 to 4] C1 movable frame, guide shaft, feed roller [Fig. 1 to 4, Figure 6] d, Transfer belt, sensor [Figures 1 to 4, Figure 6] e, Moving block [Figures 1 to 7] e-1, carriage, eaves piece e-2, roller support Arm, pressure roller [Figures 1, 2, 4 to 7] e-2-a, structure e-2-b, support to carriage e-3, pressure roller to stage Pressure contact and movement f, photosensitive film, developer paper, etc. [Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 8] g, Print g-1, Operation g-2, Pressure roller and stage Pressure distribution, etc. at the contact part [Fig. 7, Fig. 8 (F-2), second embodiment [Fig. 9, Fig. 10 (Fig. F-3]) Third embodiment [Figures 11, 12, Figures] F-4, Fourth embodiment [Figures 13, 14] G0 Effects of the invention (A, industrial application field) The present invention is novel The present invention relates to a developing device. Specifically, a photosensitive material comprising a dye precursor that forms a color when combined with a specified developing substance or a color forming substance that itself has color forming properties is encapsulated in microscopic capsules of an exposure-curing type or an exposure-softening type, and a prescribed color developing paper. This invention relates to a developing device that develops a predetermined image on the color developer paper by pressing the light-sensitive material and the color developer paper into contact with each other using a pressure means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new developing device which can be constructed in a small size and at low cost, and which can perform development with uniform developer density at high speed.

(B. Summary of the Invention) The developing device of the present invention is a developing device that develops a predetermined image on the color developer paper by pressing a photosensitive material and a color developer paper into contact with each other at a predetermined pressure using a pressure means. A roller is provided that moves in a direction intersecting the running direction of the developer paper, etc. while rolling while being in pressure contact with the stage with the developer paper in between, and a notch is provided in at least one of the roller and the stage. The contact pressure between the stage and the roller should not be abnormally high at both ends of the roller in the direction perpendicular to the working direction. It is possible to make this type of developing device compact and low-cost, and at the same time, it is possible to perform clean development without uneven development density, and it is also possible to perform development at high speed. This is what I did.

(C, Prior Art) (a, - Boat Fishing Background) Today, there are various types of developing systems for developing a predetermined image on a predetermined color developing paper. There are systems in which a predetermined image is developed on the color developer paper by pressing a material and a predetermined color developer paper against each other, and such a development system is used in a pressure printer or a pressure fixing type copying machine. ing.

For example, the above-mentioned pressure-type printer encloses a dye precursor material that develops color by combining with a predetermined developing material in a tiny capsule that exhibits pressure-resistant and non-destructive properties when exposed to a predetermined light. A positive photographic film is produced by using a photosensitive film coated with a dye precursor of At the same time, the photosensitive film in this state is overlapped with developer paper coated with a predetermined developing substance and pressurized to destroy the unexposed capsules and the dye precursors in the capsules are transferred to the developer paper. As a result, a predetermined image appears on the color developing paper.

(b. An example of a conventional pressure printer) [Figures 15 and 16] Figures 15 and 16 schematically show different examples a and b of a conventional pressure printer, C is a long photosensitive film, and d is a sheet-type developer paper.

(b-1, 1st example) [Figure 15] In Figure 15, e and f are approximately cylindrical pressure rollers with a length slightly longer than the width of the color developing paper d, and the lower side The pressure roller e is rotatably supported by a support frame (not shown) and rotated by a motor, and the upper pressure roller f
is rotatably supported by a pressure frame (not shown) which is pressed downward by a strong elastic member and is in pressure contact with a lower pressure roller, and the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d are After being exposed to a predetermined amount of light, they are superimposed on each other and are supplied between pressure rollers e and f.

When the lower pressure roller f rotates, the upper pressure roller e that is in pressure contact with it also rotates, so that the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d are moved while being pressed against each other, and due to this pressure contact, , the unexposed capsule of the dye precursor in the photosensitive film C is destroyed and the dye precursor encapsulated therein is transferred to the developer paper d, whereby the dye precursor is developed on the developer paper and developed. A predetermined image will be printed on colored paper.

(b-2, 2nd example) [Figure 16] Also, in Figure 16, g is a stage, h is a spherical ball contact i rotatably supported at the lower end, and the ball contact i is a stage. The presser moves six times back and forth over a distance slightly longer than the width of the developing paper d while being in pressure contact with the upper surface of the color developing paper d.

Therefore, the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d are supplied onto the stage g in a superimposed state and are run intermittently at a constant pitch.
While the color developer paper d is stopped, the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d move between both ends of their movement range, and as a result, the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d form a line-shaped area (hereinafter referred to as " (referred to as "press area") are sequentially pressed and a predetermined image is printed on the color developing paper d.

(D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) [Figures 15 to 17] According to printer a shown in Figure 15, the printing speed is fast because the printing operation can be performed continuously without any breaks. There are advantages.

However, the two upper and lower pressure rollers e and f require extremely large pressure in order to press the entire band-shaped pressure contact area extending in the width direction of the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d at once9 For example, the pressure roller e , f is a size corresponding to A4 size color developing paper, the pressing force by the pressure roller e% f is 1.000g to 1,500g.
Kg is required, and the support frame supporting the upper pressure roller f is provided with an extremely large pressure source capable of applying such a strong pressure, such as a compression spring with a strong spring constant. .

Therefore, a printer a using such a pressure roller e% f requires extremely high mechanical strength in each part, and also uses a motor with a large output or directs the rotational force of the motor to the lower side. Since it is necessary to use a chain or the like for the transmission mechanism that transmits the information to the pressure roller e, the shape and weight are large compared to the size of the image to be printed, and
There are problems in that the cost is high and assembly and maintenance are difficult.

Furthermore, according to the printer b shown in FIG. 16, since the pressurizer, which is the pressurizing means, moves to scan the photosensitive film C and the color developing paper d, the advantage is that the pressurizing force can be very small. be.

However, since the printing operation is performed by alternating the movement of the presser and the running of the photosensitive film C and developer paper d, there is a problem that the printing speed is slow.

Furthermore, since the contact pressure between the ball contact i of the pressurizer and the stage g is not uniform, there is a problem in that the developed color density becomes uneven. That is, j in FIG. 16(B) indicates an example of the pressure distribution curve at the contact portion between the ball contact i and the upper surface of the stage g.As can be clearly seen from this pressure distribution curve j, the ball contact i
The contact pressure between the stage g and the upper surface of the stage g is highest at the center and decreases toward both ends.

Therefore, the pressure in the pressing area of the photosensitive film C and the developing paper d is highest at the center in the width direction and decreases toward both ends, so the amount of capsule destruction of the dye precursor on the photosensitive film C in the pressing area The amount of the dye precursor encapsulated in the capsule transferred to the developing paper d becomes smaller toward both ends, and the developing color density on the developing paper d follows the concentration distribution curve shown in FIG. 16(C), k,・
As shown in..., the center is the darkest and it gets thinner towards the ends. For this reason, if the running pitch of the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d is set to the same pitch as the contact width W between the ball contact i and the color developer paper d, striped density unevenness will appear.

Therefore, if the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d are run at a pitch such that the scanning trajectories of the pressure rollers overlap by about half in the width direction, the density distribution curve of FIG.
As shown in .

However, when the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d are run at such a fine pitch, the printing time is approximately doubled, resulting in a problem that the printing speed becomes extremely slow.

Therefore, in order to reduce the pressing force and widen the pressure contact area between the photosensitive film C and the color developer paper d in one scan, a roller l having a substantially disk shape as shown in FIG. 17 is used. We have considered a method in which the photosensitive film C and the developer paper d are held in pressure contact with the stage g and rolled, so that the photosensitive film C and the developer paper d are brought into pressure contact with each other.

According to such a disc-shaped roller L, it is possible to apply pressure to a considerably wider area in one scan, compared to the pressure applied by the ball contact i.

However, in such a roller L, the pressure distribution m at the contact portion with the stage g is lowest at the center in the width direction, increases toward both ends, and becomes abnormally high at both ends, so that the color developer paper d In order to eliminate such unevenness, the running pitch of the photosensitive film C and the developing paper d must be set such that the scanning locus of the roller L overlaps most of them in the width direction. As a result, there is a problem that the developing efficiency deteriorates.

(E. Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the developing device of the present invention provides a method in which a predetermined photosensitive material and a color developer paper are sandwiched between the color developer paper and the color developer paper, which are pressed against the stage. A roller is provided that rolls in a direction crossing the running direction, and the photosensitive material and the developing paper are brought into pressure contact by the roller and the stage, and a notch is provided in at least one of the roller and the stage, so that the roller and the stage can be brought into contact with each other. This is to prevent the contact pressure between the rollers from becoming abnormally high at both ends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rollers.

Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, since the roller, which is the pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developer paper into pressure contact with each other, moves in a scanning manner with respect to the photosensitive material and the color developer paper, the pressure means is The shape and pressure means of the pressure means can be considerably reduced, and this type of developing device can be made small, lightweight, and low cost, and the contact between the roller and the stage can be reduced considerably. Since there is no part where the pressure is abnormally high in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the roller, it is possible to perform clean development without uneven development density. In addition, since the amount of overlapping of the scanning locus of the roller is very small, the development speed can be considerably increased.

(F. Embodiment) [FIGS. 1 to 14] Details of the developing device of the present invention will be described below according to the illustrated embodiments.

(F-1, First Example) [Figures 1 to 8] Figures 1 to 8 show a first example in which the developing device of the present invention is applied to a printer that uses a long photosensitive film as a photosensitive material.
Example 1 is shown.

(a, base part, stage) [Figures 1 to 4, 6
FIG. 7] 2 is a base portion of the printer 1, and includes a bottom plate 3 having a rectangular plate shape, and left and right sides of the bottom plate 3 (the left side in FIG. 3 is the left side, and the right side is the right side. The lower side in the figure is the front side, and the upper side is the rear side.

In the following description, when directions are indicated, this direction will be used. ) side walls 4 erected upward from both ends;
．． 4', an axial crosspiece 5 that connects the front end of the side wall 4.4' at an approximately midpoint in the vertical direction, and a back plate 6 that connects the rear end of the side wall 4.4'.

A stage 7 is used to press the photosensitive film and developer paper against each other by sandwiching the photosensitive film and the developer paper between the stage and a pressure roller, which will be described later.

The stage 7 is made of a metal having relatively high hardness, is elongated in the left-right direction, and has a substantially oval cross-sectional shape that is long in the vertical direction when perpendicular to the elongated direction. 4.4' is fixed to the approximately middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper end portion.

Therefore, the upper surface 8 of the stage 7 is formed so that its central portion forms an arcuate surface that is highest when viewed from the left and right directions. Incidentally, the radius of curvature of this circular arc surface may be around 10 m1.

(b, feed roller, FOT, etc.) [Figures 1 to 4] Reference numerals 9 and 10 are feed rollers for running the photosensitive film and developer paper, which will be described later, and their axial directions extend along the left-right direction. are arranged in front and behind the stage 7 with a slight distance from the stage 7, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the side walls 4.4', and are driven at a predetermined timing by a driving means (not shown). It is designed to be rotated clockwise in FIG. 4.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a locking element for locking a movable frame, which will be described later, which is rotatably supported by the base part 2, and whose left and right ends are rotatably supported by the crosspiece 5, and , lock claws 11a and l at the upper end of both left and right ends.
la is formed.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a light source (hereinafter referred to as rFOTJ) consisting of a bundle of many optical fibers for exposing a photosensitive film to be described later in a pattern according to a predetermined image signal.
7) FOT 12 is shown only in FIG. ), and is fixed to the base portion 2 with its light emitting surface 12a facing rearward.

(C, movable frame, guide shaft, feed roller) [Figures 1 to 4, and 6] 13 is a movable frame, and the side wall 4.4' of the base portion 2
Two side plates 14.14' having approximately the same size and facing in parallel and spaced apart in the left-right direction; and these side plates 14.14.
' Consists of connecting plates 15, 16, etc. connected between the upper ends of the
The lower end of the rear end of the side plate 14.14' is rotatably supported on the upper end of the rear end of the side wall 4.4' of the base part 2 by a support shaft 17.17.

A locked pin 18.18 is protruded from the corner of the inner surface of the side plate 14.14' where the front end edge and the lower +4 edge intersect, and the movable frame 13 supports the movable block which will be described later. The pressure roller is on the upper surface 8 of the stay shift.
The locking claws 11a, 11a of the locking element 11 are engaged with the locked pin 18.18 from above, thereby being locked against the base part 2.

Reference numeral 19.19 denotes a guide shaft having a cylindrical shape elongated in the left-right direction, and is arranged above the stage 7 at a predetermined distance from each other in the front-rear direction.
It is fixed at 14'.

20 and 21 are the aforementioned feed rollers 9 and 10 (hereinafter referred to as
(referred to as "drive-side feed rollers"), and the support arms 22, 22, . It is rotatably supported by the moving end and is placed at a position corresponding to the drive-side feed roller 9.10 from the road, making it a movable frame! 3 is locked with respect to the base NS2, the driving side feed roller 9 is moved by the elastic force of the elastic means (not shown) provided on the support arms 22, 22, .
．． It is designed to be hit by 10.

(d, transfer belt, sensor) [Figures 1 to 4, and 6] 23 is a motor, and the side plate 1 on the left side of the movable frame 13
The drive pulley 25 is supported by a mounting plate 24 protruding leftward from the rotary shaft 23a, and is oriented so that its axis extends along the up-down direction.

Further, 26 is a driven pulley, and a support plate 27 protruding from the right side plate 14' of the movable frame 13 toward the right side.
It is rotatably supported by a support shaft 28 fixed to.

Incidentally, the driving pulley 25 and the driven pulley 26 are arranged at a slightly higher position than the guide shaft 19, 19.

An endless transfer belt 29 is stretched between the driving pulley 25 and the driven pulley 26.

A carriage of a moving block, which will be described later, is connected to the transfer belt 29, and the motor 23 rotates clockwise in FIG. To move the moving block 8 shifts to the left, rotate it counterclockwise (
Hereinafter, this will be referred to as "reversal." ).

30 and 31 are sensors for detecting that a moving block, which will be described later, has reached the end of its moving range;
A pair of light emitting elements 32.32 facing each other with a predetermined interval.
and light receiving elements 33 and 33, and these light emitting elements 3
2.32 and the light-receiving elements 33.33 are supported by support pieces 34.34 fixed to both left and right ends of the connecting plate 15 so as to face each other while being separated from each other in the front-rear direction.

(e, Moving block) [Figures 1 to 7 35 is a moving block, which includes a carriage supported on the guide shaft 19, 19 so as to be movable in the left and right direction, and a carriage supported rotatably on the carriage. It consists of two roller support arms, two pressure rollers rotatably supported by the roller support arms, and a compression spring for constantly biasing the roller support arms downward.

(e-1, carriage, eaves piece) 36 is a carriage.

37 is the main part of the carriage 36, and the main part 37 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, and has a block shape with a thickness about half the height of the movable frame 13.
The front and rear ends of the upper surface are slightly higher than the remaining parts, and two spring placement holes 38 and 38 are formed at the center in the front and back direction and are spaced apart from each other in the left and right direction. ing.

Reference numeral 39.39 denotes an arm support piece that protrudes downward from a position on the lower surface of the main portion 37 that sandwiches the spring arrangement hole 38.38 from both the front and rear sides, and the arm support piece 39.3
These arm support pieces 3 are located approximately in the middle in the left-right direction of 9.
A support hole 40.40 is formed passing through 9.39 in its thickness direction, that is, in the front-back direction.

Reference numeral 41.41.41 denotes an insertion hole that passes through the main portion 37 in the left-right direction at a position approximately in the middle in the height direction, and this insertion hole 41.41.41 extends across the spring placement hole 38.38. ing.

Reference numerals 42 and 42' designate eaves pieces that have a rectangular shape that is long in the left and right direction when viewed from above, and more than half of these eaves pieces 42 and 42' in the width direction extend from the top surface of the main portion 37 of the carriage 36 back and forth. It is fixed to the carriage 36 in a protruding position, and a protrusion 43.43 is provided on the lower surface of the carriage 36.
The front eave piece 42 is also integrally formed with a light shielding part 42a projecting upward from its front edge.

44, 44, . . . are support shafts protruding from two positions spaced apart in the left-right direction on both the front and rear surfaces of the main portion 37 of the carriage, and these four support shafts 44, 44, . Guided rollers 45, 45, . . . are rotatably supported, and the outer peripheral surfaces of these guided rollers 45, 45, .
a1... is formed.

Then, the carriage 36 is guided by its guided roller 45.4.
5,... engaging grooves 45a, 45a,...
is rotatably engaged with a guide shaft 19.19 provided on the movable frame 13 from below, and its eaves piece 42.4
The protrusion 43.43 formed on the guide shaft 19.19
By facing from above with a slight distance,
It is supported by guide shafts 19 and 19 so as to be movable in the left and right directions, and a connecting piece 46 fixed to the upper surface of the main part 37 is connected to the eight feed belts 29.

Therefore, the carriage 36 is moved in the left-right direction as the transfer belt 29 runs.

In addition, when the movable frame 13 is locked with respect to the base part 2, the carriage 36 is urged upward by a reaction force generated when a pressure roller, which will be described later, comes into pressure contact with the stage 7, and thereby the guided roller 45.
45, . . . come into elastic contact with the guide shafts 19, 19 from below to define the position of the carriage 36 in the vertical direction.

(e-2, roller support arm, pressure roller) [Figure 1,
2, 4 to 7] (e-2-a, structure) 47 and 48 are roller support arms.

Reference numerals 47a and 48a are the main parts of the roller support arms 47 and 48, and support pieces 47b, 47b, and 48b are opposed to each other in parallel from both front and rear ends thereof.

48b is provided to protrude downward, and these support pieces 4
7b, 47b, 48b, 48b are formed with insertion holes 49, 49, .
0,50 are formed.

Further, the support portion 51 protrudes rightward from the rear half of the right side of the main portion 47a of the left roller support arm 47, and also extends from the front side of the left side of the main portion 48a of the right roller support arm 48. Support portion 51 protruding from the road half to the left
are formed integrally with each other, and insertion holes 51a, 51a are formed through these support portions 51, 51 in the front-rear direction. In addition, the tip surfaces 51b, 5 of these support portions 51.51
1b is an arcuate surface extending in the vertical direction.

52 and 52' are pressure rollers, and these pressure rollers 5
2.52' is about a quarter of the width of the stage 7,
For example, while forming a disk shape with a thickness of about 4 mm,
It is formed of a metal with high hardness, and its outer peripheral surface 52
a, 52'a, the entire area in the width direction is the pressure roller 5.
2.52' is formed on a surface extending parallel to the axis.

Further, 53.53 is a support shaft that is press-fitted into the insertion holes 49.49, . . . formed in the support pieces 47b, 47b, 48b, 48b of the roller support arm 47.48, and ' are support holes 52b, 5 formed in the center of the roller support arms 47, 48, located between the support pieces 47b and 47b and between 48b and 48b.
The support shaft 53 is rotatably inserted through 2'b.

Therefore, the pressure roller 52, 52' is attached to the roller support arm 4.
7.48 is rotatably supported, and part of it is support pieces 47b, 47b.

48b, projecting downward from the lower ends of 48b.

(e-2-b, Support to Carriage) The two roller support arms 47 and 48 have their supporting parts 51 and 51 overlapped in the front-rear direction, and most of them except for their lower ends are attached to the carriage. The insertion holes 51a and 51a formed in the support portion 51.51 are located between the two arm support pieces 39 and 39 provided in the arm support piece 39. 40
A support shaft 54 is rotatably inserted through the support shaft 54, and thereby is rotatably supported by the lower end of the carriage 36.

Reference numeral 55.55 is a spring bearing shaft having a substantially cylindrical shape, and flanges 55a, 55a are formed near the upper end thereof, and a direction perpendicular to the axial direction is formed at a position slightly downward from the flanges 55a, 55a. The insertion holes 55b, 55b penetrated through the
is formed.

The spring bearing shaft 55.55 is inserted into the spring arrangement hole 38.38 formed in the main part 37 of the carriage 36 with a slight margin around the spring arrangement hole 38.38, and is inserted into the insertion hole 55b, 55b. Insertion hole 4 formed in main part 37
1.41.41 is supported by the carriage 36 by being inserted therethrough with a support pin 56 press-fitted, and
The flanges 55a, 55a of this spring bearing shaft 55.55 and the main part 47a of the roller support arm 47.48.

A compression spring 57.57 is compressed between the recess 50.50 formed in the upper end surface of 48a.

Therefore, due to the elastic force of the compression springs 57, 57, the left roller support arm 47 is biased with a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6, and the right roller support arm 48 is biased in the clockwise direction. The rotational force will be energized.

In addition, the main parts 47a and 48a of the roller support arms 47 and 48
A portion of a stopper (not shown) is protruded from the mutually opposing surfaces of the main portion 47a when the pressure roller 52, 52' is not pressed relatively upward.
, 48a come into contact with a portion of this stopper, so that rotation of the roller support arms 47, 48 due to the rotational force is prevented at a certain point.

(e-3, Pressure contact and movement of pressure roller to stage) The movable frame 13 is locked to the base portion 2 by moving the movable frame 13 from the state where the pressure roller 52, 52' is in contact with the upper surface 8 of the stage 7. It is done when pushed down slightly.

Therefore, the pressure roller 52, 52' is compressed by the compression spring 57.
．． The resilient force of the roller 57 presses the carriage 36 against the stage 7, and the reaction force of this pressure urges the carriage 36 upward, so that the guided roller 4
5.45 will come into elastic contact with the guide shaft 19.19 from below.

As described above, when the transfer belt 29 runs, the carriage 36 is moved in the left-right direction, so the pressure rollers 52, 52' roll while being in pressure contact with the stage 7 and are moved along the stage 7. It turns out.

Note that the pressure roller 52.52' comes into contact with the stage 7 when the center portion in the width direction of the outer peripheral surfaces 52a, 52'a of the pressure roller 52.52' faces the top 8a of the upper surface 8 of the stage 7. It is done in

When the moving block 35 comes to a position close to the left side plate 14 of the movable frame 13 (hereinafter referred to as "one end position in the moving range"), the light shielding part 42a of the front eaves piece 42 blocks the light emitted from the left sensor 3o. The block 35 enters between the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 to block the light emitted from the light emitting element 32 toward the light receiving element 33, and the block 35 is positioned close to the right side plate 14' of the movable frame 13. (hereinafter referred to as the "other end position in the movement range"), the light shielding part 42a enters between the light emitting element 32 and the light receiving element 33 of the right sensor 31, and the light emitting element 32 moves to the light receiving element. 3
The light irradiated toward the moving block 35 is blocked, thereby detecting that the moving block 35 has reached one end position or the other end position in the moving range.

When the printing operation starts, the motor 23 alternately and intermittently repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation, so that the moving block 35 intermittently moves between both ends of its movement range.

(f, photosensitive film, developer paper, etc.) [Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 8. The film cassette (shown only in FIG. 4) is mounted on the rear end of the lower end of the base part 2 with its axis extending along the left-right direction and with the film outlet 58a facing upward. has been done.

After the photosensitive film 59 is pulled out from the film cassette 58, it is wound around a film guide 60 (shown only in FIG. 4) and extends forward from there, between the feed rollers 10 and 21. 9 and 20
It is made to be wound onto a take-up spool (not shown) by passing between A portion between the portion sandwiched between and 21 and the portion sandwiched between feed rollers 9 and 20 is in contact with the upper surface 8 of the stage 7.

The photosensitive film 59 is made by coating one surface 59a (hereinafter referred to as the "exposed surface") of a suitable film base material with a countless number of photosensitive dye precursors, and the dye precursor is It is a hardening type, that is, it combines with a specific developing substance in a microscopic capsule that becomes pressure-resistant and non-destructive when irradiated with ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength to develop a specific color. It is made by encapsulating a dye precursor.

61, 61, . . . are color developer papers on which images are printed, and are formed into a substantially rectangular sheet shape having a width slightly larger than the width of the photosensitive film 59, and one side of the paper 61, 61, . . .
A developing substance that combines with the dye precursor of the dye precursor to develop a predetermined color is applied to 1a (hereinafter referred to as the "development surface").

62 is a paper feed tray in which a large number of the developer papers 61, 61, . . . are stored, and 63 is a paper feed roller (these are shown only in FIG. 61, 61, . . . are fed one by one between the feed rollers 10 and 21 at a predetermined timing.

64 is a paper discharge guide plate.

When the moving block 35 reaches both ends of its moving range, the pressure rollers 52 and 52' are located away from the side edges of the photosensitive film 59 and the color developing paper 61 in the width direction.

(g. Print) Therefore, the printing operation by the printer 1 configured as described above is performed as follows, for example.

(g-1, operation) When the print operation start command is issued, the movement block 35
is moved to one end or the other end of its movement range and is kept on standby at that position, and the photosensitive film 59 is moved at a constant pitch by the feed rollers 10.21 and 9.20, and its exposed surface 59a is F.O.T.
12, each predetermined line is exposed to light to form a print film of one image.

Further, at a predetermined timing after or before the formation of the photographic film is completed, one sheet of color developer paper 61 is sent out with its leading edge positioned slightly ahead of the leading edge of the photographic film, and the photosensitive film 59 is fed out. and is superimposed on the stage 7 and supplied onto the stage 7.

Then, when the leading edge of the portion of the photosensitive film 59 that has become the printing film reaches the top 8a of the upper surface 8 of the stage 7, or just before that, the motor 23 rotates to move the eight shift block 35 eight times. Therefore, the pressure roller 52.5
2' is rolled in the left-right direction while being pressed against the stage 7 with the developer paper 51 and the photosensitive film 59 in between, that is, the developer paper 61 and the photosensitive film 59 are scanned in the width direction. Developing paper 61 and photosensitive film 59
A predetermined area W (hereinafter referred to as the "pressing area") extending in a band shape in the width direction of the pressure roller 52, 52' and the stage 7
They are brought into pressure contact with each other.

Note that when the moving block 35 reaches one end or the other end of the moving range, the motor 23 stops rotating, and
The color developer paper 6.1 and the photosensitive film 59 have a predetermined pitch,
That is, the pitch is slightly narrower than the width of the pressure contact area W,
After this running is completed, the motor 23 is rotated, and the running of the developing paper 61 and the photosensitive film 59 and the rotation of the motor 23 are alternately performed.

Thus, the pressure rollers 52 and 52' are pressed against the photosensitive film 59.
And each time the developer paper 61 is scanned once in the width direction, the unexposed dye precursor capsules are destroyed by the FOT 12 in the pressed area of the portion of the photosensitive film 59 that is to be used as a printing film, and the dye precursor is released. It is transferred to the developing surface 61a of the developer paper 61 and develops color, and as a result, a part of the predetermined image is printed on the developer paper 61. By repeating such printing, one image is created. This will appear on the color developing paper 61.

(g-2, Pressure distribution at the contact area between the pressure roller and the stage, etc.) [Figures 7 and 8] Generally, when a flat surface is pressed against a flat surface, pressure is concentrated at both ends of the narrow flat surface. do.

However, in the printer 1, the pressure roller 52
．． Although the outer circumferential surfaces 52a and 52'a of the pressure roller 52' are flat in the width direction, the upper surface 8 of the stage 7 is formed into an arcuate surface with the highest central portion in the width direction. The pressing force of the outer peripheral surfaces 52a and 52'a of the stage 7 against the upper surface 8 of the stage 7 becomes smaller toward both ends in the width direction.

Therefore, the contact pressure at the contact portion between the pressure roller 52, 52' and the stage 7 becomes like the pressure distribution 65 shown in FIG. Since there is no place where the pressure is abnormally concentrated compared to the area shown in FIG. As a result, the dye precursor capsules of the photosensitive film 59 are destroyed and the dye precursor is transferred to the color developing paper 6.
The transfer to No. 1 is performed in a substantially uniform amount over the entire pressure contact area.

Therefore, the color developer density in the pressure contact area of the color developer paper 61 is approximately uniform over the entire width direction as shown in the density distribution curves 66, 66, . . . shown in FIG. The photosensitive film 59 and the color developing paper 61 are placed at a spot p such that the scanning loci of ' are partially overlapped in the width direction.
By running the printer over the top, the entire predetermined image can be printed without uneven density.

Note that since the pressure rollers 52 and 52' are moved so as to scan the photosensitive film 59 and the color developer paper 61 in the width direction thereof, the pressure applied to the stage 7 is, for example, 1 for the entire pressure contact area.
If a pressing force of g to 1,500 g is required for OOO, a strength of about 2 to 3 kg will suffice.

Furthermore, in this embodiment two pressure rollers 52, 52'
Since the same point is pressurized one after another, it is possible to further reduce the pressurizing force, and the capsules that were not completely destroyed in the -th pressurization are completely destroyed in the second pressurization. As a result, density unevenness can be almost completely eliminated. Furthermore, since the pressure applied to one part can be reduced, damage to the photosensitive material or color developing paper can be reduced. That is, it is possible to eliminate these collapses, undulations, scratches on the edges, etc.

(F-2, Second Embodiment) [Figures 9 and 10] Figures 9 and 10 show the second embodiment 6 of the developing device of the present invention.
7.

The developing device 67 shown in this second embodiment differs from the printer 1 only in the contact structure between the stage and the pressure roller. Therefore, only the stage and pressure roller are shown in the drawings. Incidentally, these points also apply to the third and fourth embodiments described later.

Reference numeral 68 denotes a stage substantially similar to the stage 7 shown in the first embodiment, and its upper surface 68a is formed into an arcuate surface with the center portion in the width direction being the highest.

69 is a pressure roller having a substantially disc shape, and its outer peripheral surface 6
9a is formed to have a gentle circular arc shape with the center portion in the width direction being closest to the axis of the pressure roller 69, and the radius of curvature R1 of the circular arc surface is equal to the arc of the upper surface 68a of the stage 68. It is slightly larger than the radius of curvature R2.

For example, let R1 be 15 mm% and Rx be 10 mm.

Therefore, the pressing force of the pressure roller 69 against the stage 68 decreases toward both ends in the width direction of the pressure roller 69, so that the pressure distribution is approximately uniform over the entire area, as shown by a curve 70. Become.

(F-3, Third Embodiment) [Figures 11 and 12] Figures 11 and 12 show a third embodiment 71 of the developing device of the present invention.

72 is a stage, the upper surface 72a of which is formed into a substantially horizontal plane.

Further, reference numeral 73 denotes a pressure roller having a substantially disk shape, and its outer circumferential surface 73a is formed into a gently arcuate surface where the center in the width direction is farthest from the axis of the pressure roller 73.

Therefore, the pressing force of the pressure roller 73 against the stage 72 decreases toward both ends in the width direction of the pressure roller 73, so that the pressure distribution is approximately uniform over the entire area, as shown by a curve 74. Become.

(F-4, Fourth Embodiment) [FIGS. 13 and 14] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment 75 of the developing device of the present invention.

76 is a stage, the upper surface 76a of which is formed into a substantially horizontal plane.

77 is a pressure roller having a substantially disk shape, and its outer peripheral surface 7
) a is formed on a surface substantially parallel to the axis of the pressure roller rough 7, and grooves 78 and 78 extending in an annular shape are formed in a portion near the outer peripheral edge of the side surface 7 b177b, and these grooves 78 .78 has a depth of more than one-third of the thickness of the pressure roller 77, and the inner surfaces 78a, 78a of the side farther from the axis of the pressure roller 77 are the side surfaces 7 of the pressure roller 77.
It is inclined so as to be displaced toward the outer circumferential surface 77a as it approaches 7b and 77b.

Therefore, the rigidity of the outer peripheral portion 79 of the pressure roller 77 other than the central portion in the axial direction in the direction perpendicular to the axis becomes small, and this rigidity decreases toward both ends in the axial direction.

Therefore, when the pressure roller 77 is pressed against the stage 76, the entire width of the portion of the outer peripheral surface 77a of the pressure roller 77 facing the stage 76 comes into close contact with the upper surface 76a of the stage 76. , since the rigidity of the portion other than the central portion that is in close contact with the stage 76 is small, the pressing force of the pressure roller 77 against the stage 76 becomes smaller toward both ends of the pressure roller 77 in the width direction. As shown by a curve 80, the pressure distribution is approximately uniform over the entire area.

According to such a pressure roller 77, it is possible to press the stage 76 over the entire outer peripheral surface in the width direction, so that the pressurizable area of the photosensitive film and color developer paper is increased relative to the thickness of the pressure roller 77. be able to.

(G. Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the developing device of the present invention allows the photosensitive material and the developing paper to run on the stage while being in contact with each other, and also to move in a direction intersecting the running direction. A developing device that rolls a roller that presses the photosensitive material and developer paper against the stage, and the contact pressure between the roller and the stage is applied at both ends in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the roller. It is characterized by having at least a portion of the roller and the stage cut out so that it is not higher than the other portion. Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, since the roller, which is the pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developer paper into pressure contact, scans the photosensitive material and the color developer paper, the pressure means The shape and the pressure force required for the pressure means can be made considerably small, and therefore there is no need to use a resilient member with a strong resilient force or to increase the mechanical strength of each part. Therefore, the structure of this type of developing device can be simplified, and it can be made small, lightweight, and low cost, and can be easily assembled and maintained.

Furthermore, by cutting out a part of at least one of the roller and the stage, there is no part where the contact pressure between the roller and the stage is abnormally high in the direction perpendicular to the roller running direction, so there is no unevenness in the developer density. Therefore, clean development can be performed.

Further, the pressure applied by the roller is applied to a substantially band-shaped area having a predetermined width, and the amount of overlapping of the scanning locus of the roller is extremely small, so that the development speed can be considerably increased.

In addition, since only a small amount of pressure is required to press the photosensitive material and developer paper against each other, it becomes easier to adjust the contact condition and contact pressure between the roller and the stage, and the photosensitive material and developer paper are less likely to wrinkle. It has the advantage of being

Incidentally, in the present invention, "partially cut out" refers not only to a typical notch such as the groove 78 shown in the fourth embodiment, but also to a typical notch such as the groove 78 shown in the fourth embodiment. In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, a part of the stage is made into a curved surface.
As shown in the example, if a part of the roller is made into a curved surface, it means that a part is cut out when viewed from a plane.
It is used as a broader concept.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the roller contact surface of the stage is formed into an arcuate surface having the highest center in the width direction, and the outer circumferential surface of the roller is formed so that the center in the width direction is aligned with the axis. However, by doing so, the position of the roller relative to the stage in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the roller is restricted.
The rollers can be moved stably, and the photosensitive material and color developing paper can be prevented from shifting in position.

Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the contact pressure between the roller and the stage is made uniform by reducing the rigidity of both ends in the axial direction of the outer peripheral part of the roller. For example, since the photosensitive material and the developer paper can be brought into pressure contact with the entire opposing portion between the roller and the stage, the area that can be pressed against the photosensitive material and the developer paper can be made larger compared to the size of the roller. , development efficiency can be increased.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, two rollers are arranged in the direction of movement, but if this is done, one roller can be arranged in the direction of movement.
Since the same location on the photosensitive material or developing paper can be pressed twice by simply moving the roller twice, the pressing effect by the roller can be further enhanced.

However, when carrying out the present invention, the number of pressure rollers may be one, or three or more may be arranged in the moving direction.

In the present invention, the form of the notch formed in at least one of the roller and the stage is not limited to the forms shown in the above embodiments, and the contact pressure between the roller and the stage is Any form may be used as long as it can prevent abnormally high height at both ends in the thickness direction. may be formed.

Further, in the present invention, the moving direction of the roller is not limited to the direction perpendicular to the running direction of the photosensitive material and color developing paper, but may be a direction oblique to the above running direction.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention is applied by exposing a photosensitive film coated with a photosensitive dye precursor to form a printing film, and by overlapping this printing film with a color developer paper and applying pressure. Although the application is shown to be applied to a printer in which an image is developed on the developer paper, the present invention is not limited to such an example of application, and can be applied to a developer paper provided with both a photosensitive dye precursor and a developing substance. That is, in a developing device that develops a predetermined image using a developing paper integrated with a photosensitive material developing material, or in a copying machine that uses photosensitive printing toner, etc., for fixing the toner under pressure on the copying paper. The present invention can be applied to various developing devices such as a developing device. That is, these developing devices also fall under the category of developing devices when they are run while bringing the photosensitive material and the color developing paper into contact with each other on a stage.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 8 show a first embodiment in which the developing device of the present invention is applied to a pressure-type printer. The figure is a front view,
Fig. 3 is a plan view, Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view with a part cut away and showing the main parts exploded, and Fig. 6. is an enlarged sectional view along the VT-VT line in Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of the main parts showing only the stage and roller, and Fig. 8 shows the relative scanning locus of the roller with respect to the color developer paper. Figures 9 and 10, conceptually showing color density, show a second embodiment of the developing device of the present invention. Figure 9 is a side view of the main parts, and Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the roller. A perspective view, FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 show a third embodiment of the developing device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side view of the main part, FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the roller, and FIG. 13. and FIG. 14 show a fourth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a side view of the main part showing the roller in a cut state, FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the roller, and FIG. The figure is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional pressure-type developing device.
The figure shows another example of a conventional pressure-type developing device (
A) is a schematic perspective view, (B) is an enlarged side view of the main part, and (C) and (D) are different examples of the relative scanning locus of the presser with respect to the color developer paper in color developer density. The figure shown in FIG. 17 is a side view of the main part showing an example of a draft of the developing device. Explanation of symbols 1... Developing device, 7... Stage, 52.52
'・Terawaru roller, 59...Photosensitive material, 61...Developer paper, 6F...
- Developing device, 68... Stage, 69... Roller, 71... Developing device, 72... Stage,
73...Roller, 75...Developing device, 76...
・Stage, 77...Roller 61. ) Fig. 9 Side view of main part (9J30 case) Fig. 11 Enlarged perspective view (vSsJn large case) Side view of main part (4th example) Fig. 13 Enlarged perspective view (4th large case) ) Fig. 14 Fig. 16 (B) Fig. 8 concentration diagram (conventional example) Fig. 16 (D) Main part A-law surface diagram (conventional example) Fig. 17

Claims (1)

[Claims] A developing device in which a photosensitive material and a developer paper are run on a stage while being in contact with each other, and a roller that moves in a direction intersecting the running direction is rolled with the photosensitive material and developer paper sandwiched between them and in pressure contact with the stage. The roller and the stage are characterized in that a part of at least one of the roller and the stage is cut out so that the contact pressure between the roller and the stage is not higher at both ends in a direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of the roller than at other parts. developing device with