JPH01159650A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate an irregularity in development density by forming fine ruggedness to the roller contact surface of a stage or the outer peripheral surface of a roller. CONSTITUTION:A photosensitive material 2 and a developing material 6 are pressed by a pressing means against each other under specific pressure to develop an image in the developing material 6, and the pressing means consists of the stage 16 and pressure rollers 68 and 68' which move crossing the traveling direction of the developing material 6, etc., while rolling in press contact with the stage 16 across the mutually superposed photosensitive material 2 and developing material 6. The fine ruggedness 17 and 18 are provided to the roller contact surface 16a of the stage or outer peripheral surfaces 68a and 68'a of the roller to concentrate the press-contacting force at the contact part between the stage and roller on many points in the contact part. Consequently, development by the developing device of this kind is carried out under considerably small pressure without any irregularity in development density.

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 B9 Summary of the invention C0 Prior art a. - Background of boat fishing An example of a conventional pressure printer [Fig. 14] D1 Problems to be solved by the invention C Figs. 14 and 15
] E9 Means for solving the problem F, Example [Figs. 1 to 13] F-1, First example [Figs. Figures 1, 3 to 6] a-1, photosensitive film a-2, developer paper, printer [Figures 1 to 7] b-1, base section [Figures 2 to 4] ] b-26 stage [Fig. 1 to 6] b-3, feed roller, FOT, etc. [Fig. 2 to 5] b-4゜Movable frame, guide shaft, driven roller [Fig. 2 to [Fig. 6] b-5, Transfer belt, sensor [Fig. 2 to 6] b-6, Moving block [Fig. 1 to 7] b-6-a, Carriage, eaves piece b-s- b, Roller support arm, pressure roller [Figures 1 to 7] b-6-c, Pressure roller to stayer and movement b-7, Print b-7-a, Print b-7- b. Concentration of pressing force between the pressure roller and the steerer [Fig. 1] C. Modification of the stage [Fig. 8, 9] F-2. Second embodiment [Fig. 10, [Figure 11] F-3, Third Example [Figure 12] F-4, Fourth Example [Figure 13] G8 Effects of the Invention (A, Industrial Application Field) The present invention is novel. It 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 substance. This invention relates to a developing device that develops an image on the color developing material by sandwiching the material between two pressure members that are brought into pressure contact with each other. This type of developing device can be configured to be compact and low-cost by scanning the material, and the pressure contact force at the contact portion between the two pressure members is concentrated at a large number of points. The object of the present invention is to provide a new developing device that can perform clean development without causing unevenness in developing density.

(B. Summary of the Invention) The developing device of the present invention is a developing device that develops an image on the color developing material by bringing a photosensitive material and a color developing material into pressure contact with each other at a predetermined pressure using a pressure means. pressure means,
Consisting of a stage, and a pressure roller that moves in a direction intersecting the running direction of the color developer material, etc. while rolling while being in pressure contact with the stage with the photosensitive material and color developer material stacked on each other in between, By providing minute irregularities on the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer peripheral surface of the roller, the pressure contact force at the contact area between the stage and the roller is concentrated at a number of points within the contact area. This allows development to be carried out neatly using a device at a fairly low pressure without causing unevenness in the developed density.

(C, Prior Art) (a, - Boat Fishing Background) There are various types of developing systems for developing images on color developing paper. There is a method in which an image is made to appear on the color developing material by bringing the materials into pressure contact with each other,
Such a developing system is used in pressure printers, pressure fixing copying machines, and the like.

For example, pressure-type printers are made by enclosing a dye precursor material that develops color by combining with a predetermined developing material within a microscopic capsule that becomes pressure-resistant and non-destructive when exposed to a predetermined light. A photosensitive film coated with a dye precursor is used as a photosensitive material, and a printing film is formed by exposing the exposed surface of the photosensitive film to, for example, ultraviolet light in accordance with each resolved pixel of a predetermined image. At the same time, by placing the photosensitive film in this state on developer paper coated with a predetermined developing substance and applying pressure, the unexposed capsules are destroyed and the dye precursors in the capsules are transferred to the developer paper. As a result, an image appears on the developer paper.

(b. An example of a conventional pressure printer) [Fig. 14] Fig. 14 schematically shows another example a of a conventional pressure printer.

In the figure, b is a long photosensitive film, and C is a paper-type developer paper.

d and e are approximately cylindrical pressure rollers having a length slightly longer than the width of the developing paper C, and the lower pressure roller e is rotatably supported by a support frame (not shown) and rotated by a motor. , the upper pressure roller d is rotatably supported by a pressure frame (not shown) which is pressed downward by a strong elastic member, and is in pressure contact with the lower pressure roller e, and the photosensitive film b After the photosensitive film b has been exposed to a predetermined amount of light, the developing paper C and the color developing paper C are superimposed on each other and are fed between pressure rollers d and e.

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

(D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) [FIGS. 14 and 15] According to the printer a described above, there is an advantage that the printing speed is high because the printing operation can be performed continuously without any breaks.

However, the two upper and lower pressure rollers d%e require extremely large pressure in order to press the entire band-shaped pressure contact area extending in the width direction of the photosensitive film b and color developing paper C at once. If %e is of a size corresponding to A4 size developer paper, the pressing force by the pressure roller d%e is 1,000Kg to 1,500K.
g is necessary, and the support frame supporting the upper pressure roller d is provided with a very large pressure source capable of applying such a strong pressure, such as a compression spring with a very high spring constant.

Therefore, printer a using such pressure rollers d and e requires extremely high mechanical strength in each part, and also requires the use of a motor with a large output, or the rotation of the motor is controlled by 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 the cost is high, as well as requiring assembly and maintenance. The problem is that it becomes difficult.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the pressurizing means for bringing the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper C into pressure contact is arranged between a stage f, which is a stationary member, and a substantially circular disc that rolls in a state in which it is in pressure contact with the stage f. The photosensitive film b and developing paper C, which are superimposed on each other, are sandwiched between the stage f and the pressure roller g, and the pressure roller g is moved so as to have a constant width. We considered developing one image by performing development on each band-shaped pressure contact area and alternately repeating the movement of the pressure roller g and the feeding of the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper C. .

According to such a printer h, since the pressure roller g, which is a pressure means, moves to scan the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper C, its pressure is lower than the pressure required for the printer a. It can be quite small, and since the pressure roller g and the stage f come into pressure contact in an area having a certain width, that is, the same width as the outer peripheral surface i of the pressure roller g, the development speed becomes extremely slow. There is no such thing.

However, since the entire area of the outer peripheral surface l of the pressure roller g in the width direction is in surface contact with the stage f, the individual dye precursors in the portion of the photosensitive film b sandwiched between the stage f and the pressure roller g are It is said that it is difficult to concentrate the pressure on the body and therefore some of the unexposed dye precursors, i.e. the dye precursors whose capsules should be destroyed, may remain without their capsules being destroyed. There's a problem. In particular, if the exposed dye precursor is present in a larger amount in the area sandwiched between the stage f and the pressure roller g than the unexposed dye precursor, the exposed dye precursor, that is, the cured dye precursor The dye precursor having capsules is disturbed so that the distance between the stage f and the pressure roller g is not less than a certain size, so that many of the capsules of the dye precursor that are not exposed to light are left undestructed. Sometimes it happens.

In this way, if the capsule of the dye precursor that should be destroyed remains undestructed, the pixels containing the dye precursor will not develop the expected color, resulting in uneven development density. In extreme cases, an image may appear with some parts missing.

Therefore, in order to prevent uneven development due to such causes, the pressure contact force between the stage f and the pressure roller g should be increased (
Alternatively, it may be possible to reduce the width of the pressure roller g or to have the pressure roller g scan most of the pressure area multiple times, but increasing the pressure force would increase the size of the device. As a result, various problems similar to those of the printer a shown in FIG. 14 will occur, and if the width of the pressure roller g is made small, the developing speed will become slow. come.

(E. Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the developing device of the present invention is provided with a stage and a roller that rolls in pressure contact with the stage. Development is carried out by sandwiching the photosensitive material and color developing material that are stacked on top of each other and moving them in a direction that intersects the running direction of these photosensitive materials, etc., and at the same time, a film is applied to either the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer circumferential surface of the roller. It has minute irregularities.

Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, the roller, which is a pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developing material into pressure contact with each other, moves the photosensitive material and the color developing material so as to scan them. The shape of the pressurizing means and the pressurizing force required for the pressurizing means can be made considerably small, thereby making this type of developing device small and lightweight, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. It can be made into a structure. Moreover, since minute irregularities are provided on the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer peripheral surface of the roller, the pressure contact force at the contact portion between the stage and the roller is concentrated at each point of contact with the stage or roller. This ensures that the capsules of individual dye precursors in the photosensitive material are destroyed and that the dye precursors are transferred to the color developing material, making it possible to perform clean development without uneven development density. Since the pressing force between the roller and the stage can be concentrated at dispersed points, the width of contact between the roller and the stage can be widened by the same pressing force, which considerably increases the developing speed of this type of developing device. be able to.

(F. Embodiment) [FIGS. 1 to 13] 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 9] Figures 1 to 9 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.

First, an example of a photosensitive film and a developing paper will be explained, then the printer 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be explained, and finally, a modified example of the stage shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be explained. do.

(a, photosensitive film, developer paper) [Figures 1, 3 to 6] (a-1, photosensitive film) 2 is a long photosensitive film.

The photosensitive film 2 is made of a predetermined film base material 3 (see FIG. 1), for example, one side 2a (hereinafter referred to as "exposure") of a synthetic resin film that is transparent and has low elasticity against heat and tensile force. 4. Photosensitive and pressure-sensitive dye precursor on the surface (referred to as "surface")
4,... (see Figure 1).

The dye precursors 4.4, . A predetermined dye precursor substance, that is, a substance that forms a predetermined color by combining with a developing substance provided on a color developing paper, which will be described later, is enclosed in a minute capsule, for example, several tens of microns to 100 microns in size. At the same time, the capsule has multiple different colors, for example, red,
A dye precursor 4.4 in which a dye precursor having a dye that develops a color of either blue or green is encapsulated, and the exposure surface 2a has these dye precursors of different colors;
... are mixed and attached in countless numbers.

Furthermore, the photo-curing properties of these capsules differ depending on the pigment of the encapsulated dye precursor, and each capsule is cured only when irradiated with ultraviolet light of a predetermined wavelength. Therefore, for example, even if ultraviolet light of a wavelength that cures a capsule containing a dye precursor that produces a red color is irradiated to a capsule containing a dye precursor that produces a blue or green color, these capsules It does not harden.

The photosensitive film 2 is wound into a roll and housed in a film cassette 5 having a substantially cylindrical shape. 5a is a film outlet.

(a-2, developer paper) 6.6, . . . are developer papers on which images are developed.

The developer paper 6.6, . (see figure), that is, a substance that combines with the dye precursors 4.4, . . . to develop a predetermined color is coated.

When the exposed photosensitive film 2 is placed on the developing paper 6 with its developing surface 6a and exposed surface 2a facing each other and pressurized, some of the dye precursors provided on the photosensitive film 2 are removed. The uncured capsules are destroyed and the dye precursor encapsulated therein is transferred to the development surface 6a of the color developer paper 6, whereby the transferred dye precursor and the developer material 7 are separated. They combine to form a predetermined color.

8 is a paper feed tray in which a large number of developer papers 6.6, . . . are stored, and 9 is a paper feed roller, and the developer paper 6.6, . , are supplied one by one onto a stage which will be described later.

゛(b, Printer) [Figs. 1 to 7] (b-1゜Base part) [Figs. 2 to 4] 10 is the base part of the printer 1, and the bottom plate 11 and the left and right sides of the bottom plate (The left side in Figure 3 is the left side, and the right side is the right side. Also, the lower side in the figure is the front side, and the upper side is the rear side.Furthermore,
The upper side in FIG. 2 is the upper side, and the lower side is the lower side. In the following description, when directions are indicated, this direction will be used. ) side walls 12 erected upward from both ends;
．． 12' and the side wall 12.1.A shaft-shaped crosspiece 13 and the side wall 12.1 connect approximately the middle part in the vertical direction of the front end of the side wall 12.12'.
2' and a rear plate 14 connecting the rear end portions of the two.

The film cassette 5 is attached to the rear end of the lower end of the base portion 10 with its axial direction extending along the left-right direction and the film outlet 5a facing upward.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a locking element for locking a movable frame, which will be described later, which is rotatably supported by the base part 10, and whose left and right ends are rotatably supported by the crosspiece 13, and , lock claws 15 at the upper ends of both left and right ends.
a, 15a (only the right side is shown in the drawing) are formed. - (b-2, stage) [Figures 1 to 6] 16 is a stage, which holds the photosensitive film 2 and developer paper 6 between it and a pressure roller, which will be described later. 6 are pressed against each other.

The stage 16 is made of a metal with relatively high hardness, is elongated in the left-right direction, and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with both ends thereof being the upper ends of the side walls 12 and 12'. It is fixed at approximately the middle part in the front-rear direction.

The upper surface 16a of the stage 16 is a flat surface facing directly upward, and both ends thereof in the width direction are chamfered diagonally.

A large number of minute grooves 17, 17, . , are arranged in a state extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stage 16 with a pitch p of 100 μm or slightly larger, for example, about 200 μm, and
The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is approximately V-shaped and has a depth approximately twice the pitch p.

Note that this pitch P may be 100 μm or less, or may be 200 μm or more if high resolution is not required.

Therefore, the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 has the above-mentioned grooves 17.17.
, . . . A protrusion 1 whose cross section has a substantially inverted 7-shape in the portion between each
8.18, . . . are arranged in the width direction.

Incidentally, such grooves 17, 17, . . . are formed by, for example, laser processing.

19.19, 19', 19' are paper guides fixed to both front and rear sides 16b, 16c of the stage 16, and these vapor guides 19.19, 19', 19'
is for regulating the position of the photosensitive film 2 and the developing paper 6, 6, . 19. The distance between 19 and the paper guides 19' and 19' on the right side is the developer paper 6.
．． The width is approximately the same as that of 6,....

(b-3, feed roller, FOT, etc.) [Figures 2 to 5] Reference numeral 20 is a feed roller for running the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 6, and it is located at a slightly distant position behind the stage 16. The tension roller 21 is located at a position slightly below the top surface 16a of the stage 16, and 21 is a tension roller located slightly in front of the stage 16 and slightly below the top surface 16a of the stage 16. The rollers 20.21 are rotatably supported at both ends by the side walls 12.12', and a paper feed motor 22 consisting of a step motor or the like is supported on the bottom plate 11 of the base portion 1o.
and the fourth at a predetermined timing by the reduction mechanism 23 and
It is designed to be rotated clockwise in the figure. Then, the tension roller 21 is the feed roller 20.
rotates slightly slower, thereby causing the photosensitive film 2
The developer paper 6 is placed under some tension between these rollers 2o and 21.

25 is a paper discharge guide plate, and 26 is a film guide.

27 is a light source (hereinafter referred to as rFOTJ) for exposing the photosensitive film 2 in a pattern according to a predetermined image signal.
It is made by bundling a large number of optical fibers. The light output end face of the optical fiber is FOT
On the light emitting surface 27a of No. 27, they are arranged in the left and right direction almost seamlessly to form an exposure line, and three such exposure lines are arranged vertically, and from each optical fiber located on the same exposure line, Ultraviolet light of the same wavelength is emitted, but the wavelength is different for each exposure line. The diameter of the beam emitted from the optical fiber is a diameter corresponding to the size of pixels resolved at a predetermined resolution, for example, the dye precursor 4.4,...
It is the size of three pieces.

Further, the FOT 27 is fixed to the base portion 10 with its light emitting surface 27a facing substantially backward, and the photosensitive film 27
is in contact with the light emitting surface 27a of the FOT 27 at a position between the film cassette 5 and the film guide 26.

When the photosensitive film 2 is intermittently run at the same pitch as the exposure line pitch and ultraviolet light is irradiated from the FOT 27 according to a pattern for each line of a predetermined image, the photosensitive film 2 is A certain area of the exposure surface 2a is exposed in a pattern according to a predetermined image, and this exposed area becomes a printing film.

(b-4, movable frame, guide shaft, driven roller) [Figures 2 to 6] 28 is a movable frame, and the side wall 12 of the base portion 1o.
12', two side plates 29 and 29' facing each other in parallel and spaced from each other in the left-right direction, and these side plates 29
．． It consists of connecting plates 30, 31, etc. that connect the upper ends of the side plates 29, 29', and the lower end of the rear end of the side plates 29, 29' is the support shaft 32, 29'.
32 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) is rotatably supported at the upper end of the rear end of the side wall 12, 12' of the base portion 10.

Note that a locked pin 33.33 (only one is shown in FIG. 4) is provided inwardly to protrude from the corner where the front end edge and the lower end edge of the side plate 29.29' intersect, and the movable frame 28
is a state in which the pressure roller of the moving block supported by this block, which will be described later, is in contact with the upper surface 16a of the stage 16,
The locking claws 15a, 15a of the locking member 15 are engaged with the locked pins 33, 33 from above, thereby locking the base portion 10.

Reference numerals 34 and 34' denote a stopper fixed approximately at the center of the inner surface of the side plate 29 and 29', and is used to define the range of movement of the moving flock, which will be described later.

Reference numerals 35 and 35 denote guide shafts having a cylindrical shape elongated in the left-right direction, and are arranged above the stage 16 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and both ends thereof are fixed to side plates 29 and 29'.

Reference numerals 36 and 37 are driven rollers that form pairs with the above-described feed roller 20 and tension roller 21, respectively, and support arms 38, 38, . The support arm is rotatably supported by the rotating end of the support arm, and is arranged at a position corresponding to the road force on each of the rollers 20 and 21, and when the movable frame 28 is locked to the base part 10, 38.38
,... torsion spring 39.39,...
It comes into elastic contact with each roller 20, 21 by the elastic force of .

After being pulled out from the film cassette 5, the photosensitive film 2 is wound around the film guide 26 and extends forward from there, between the feed roller 20 and the driven roller 36 and between the tension roller 21 and the driven roller 37 The film is wound on a take-up spool (not shown) through the film cassette 5 and the film guide 26.
It comes into contact with the light emitting surface 27a of the OT 27, and also the feed roller 2
The paper guides 19, 19, 19', and 19' of the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 are located between the portion sandwiched between the tension roller 21 and the driven roller 36, and the portion sandwiched between the tension roller 21 and the driven roller 37. The part between the two is being touched.

Furthermore, when the printing operation starts, the developer paper 6, 6, . It has become.

(b-5, transfer belt, sensor) [Figures 2 to 6] 40 is a motor, and the side plate 2 on the left side of the movable frame 28
It is supported by a mounting plate 41 protruding from 9 toward the left side,
The axial direction is along the vertical direction, and a drive pulley 42 is fixed to the rotating shaft 40a.

Further, 43 is a driven pulley, and a support plate 44 protrudes from the right side plate 29' of the movable frame 28 toward the right side.
It is rotatably supported by a support shaft 45 fixed to.

Incidentally, the driving pulley 42 and the driven pulley 43 are arranged at a slightly higher position than the guide shaft 35, 35.

An endless transfer belt 46 is stretched between the driving pulley 42 and the driven pulley 43.

A carriage of a moving block, which will be described later, is connected to the transfer belt 46, and the motor 40 rotates clockwise in FIG. 3 (hereinafter referred to as "normal rotation") when moving the moving block to the right. ), and to move the moving block to the left, rotate it counterclockwise (
Hereinafter, this will be referred to as "reversal." ).

47 and 48 are sensors for detecting that the moving block, which will be described later, has reached the end of its moving range;
A pair of light emitting elements 49.49 facing each other with a predetermined interval
and light receiving elements 5o, 5o, and these light emitting elements 4
The light receiving element 9.49 and the light receiving element 50.50 are supported by supporting pieces 51.51 fixed to both left and right ends of the connecting plate 30, facing each other while being separated from each other in the front-rear direction.

(b-6, 8 moving block) [Figures 1 to 7] 52 is a moving block, which includes a carriage supported movably in the left and right direction on the guide shaft 35.35, and a carriage rotatably supported on the guide shaft 35.35. It consists of two supported 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.

(b-6-a, carriage, eaves piece) 53 is a carriage.

54 is a main part of the carriage 53, and the main part 54 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, and has a block shape with a thickness half the height of the movable frame 28.
The front and rear ends of the upper surface are slightly higher than the remaining parts, and two spring placement holes 55, 55 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 56.56 denotes an arm support piece that protrudes downward from a position on the lower surface of the main portion 54 that sandwiches the spring arrangement hole 55.55 from both front and rear sides.
Support holes 56a, 56a are formed in approximately the middle portion of the arm support pieces 56, 56 in the left-right direction in the thickness direction thereof, that is, in the front-rear direction.

Reference numeral 57.57.57 is an insertion hole that passes through the main portion 54 in the horizontal direction at approximately the middle in the height direction, and this insertion hole 57.57.57 extends across the spring placement hole 55.55. There is.

Reference numerals 58 and 58' 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 58 and 58' in the width direction extend from the upper surface of the main portion 54 of the carriage 53 to the front ( front eave piece 58) or rear (rear eave piece 58')
), and is fixed to the carriage 53 in a state protruding from the carriage 53, and has protrusions 59 and 59 formed on its lower surface, and the front eaves piece 58 has a light shielding part protruding upward from its front edge. The portion 58a is integrally formed.

60.60, . . . 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 54 of the carriage 53, and these four support shafts 60.60, .
・Guided rollers 61, 61, . . . are rotatably supported, and these guided rollers 61, 61, .
A deep engagement groove 61a having a V-shaped cross section on the outer peripheral surface of the
61a1... is formed.

Then, the carriage 5i is guided by its guided roller 61.6.
The engagement grooves 61a, 61a, . . . of 1, . The formed protrusion 59.59 faces the guide shaft 35.35 from above with a slight interval, so that it is supported by the guide shaft 35.35 so as to be movable in the left and right direction,
Further, the connecting piece 62 fixed to the upper surface of the main portion 54 is connected to the 8
It is connected to a feed belt 46.

Therefore, the carriage 53 is moved eight times in the left and right direction by the movement of the transfer belt 46.

Note that when the movable frame 28 is locked with respect to the base portion 10, a pressure roller (described later) is placed on the stage 16.
The reaction force generated by the carriage 5
3 is urged upward, thereby causing the guided roller 6 to
1.61, ... engagement grooves 6fa, 8fa, ...
is elastically contacted by the guide shafts 35 and 35 from below to define the position of the carriage 53 in the vertical direction.

(b-6-b, Roller support arm, pressure roller) [Figures 1 to 7] 63 and 64 are roller support arms.

Reference numerals 63a and 64a are the main parts of the roller support arms 63 and 64, and support pieces 63b, 63b, and 64b are opposed to each other in parallel from both front and rear ends thereof.

64b is provided to protrude downward, and these support pieces 6
3b, 63b, 64b, 64b are formed with insertion holes 65, 65, .
6.66 is formed.

Also, the main part of the left roller support arm 63.

The support portion 67 protrudes rightward from the rear half of the right side of the roller support arm 64, and the support portion 67 protrudes leftward from the front half of the left side of the main portion 64a of the right roller support arm 64. The support portions 67, 67 are integrally formed, and an insertion hole 67a passes through the support portions 67, 67 in the front-rear direction.
67a is formed. In addition, these support parts 67.6
The tip surfaces 67b, 67b of 7 are arcuate surfaces extending in the vertical direction.

68 and 68' are pressure rollers, and these pressure rollers 6
8.68' has a disk shape with a thickness of about one-fourth of the width of the stage 16, for example, about 4 mm, and is made of a metal with high hardness.
8a, 68'a are formed so that the entire width thereof extends parallel to the axis of the pressure roller 68, 68'.

Moreover, 69.69 is a support shaft press-fitted into the insertion hole 65.65 formed in the support piece 63b, 63b, 64b, 64b of the roller support arm 63.64, and the pressure roller 68.68 ' are support holes 68b and 6 formed in the center of the roller support arms 63 and 64, located between the support pieces 63b and 63b and between the support pieces 64b and 64b.
The support shafts 69, 69 are rotatably inserted through the shafts 8'b.

Therefore, the pressure roller 68, 68' is
3.64, and part of it is supported by support pieces 63b, 63b.

64b, protruding downward from the lower ends of 64b.

The two roller support arms 63 and 64 have their support portions 67 and 67 overlapped in the front and back direction, and most of the roller support arms 63 and 64, except for their lower ends, are connected to the two arm support pieces 56 provided on the carriage 53. 56 and formed in the support portion 67.67, the insertion holes 67a, 67a
The support hole 56 formed in the arm support piece 56.
The support shaft 70 is rotatably inserted through 56a and 56a, and is thereby rotatably supported by the lower end of the carriage 53.

Reference numeral 71.71 is a spring bearing shaft having a substantially cylindrical shape, and flanges 71a, 71a 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 71a, 71a. The insertion holes 71b, 71b penetrated through the
is formed.

The spring bearing shaft 71.71 is inserted into the spring arrangement hole 55.55 formed in the main portion 54 of the carriage 53 with a slight margin around the spring arrangement hole 55. An insertion hole 57 formed in the portion 54.
It is supported by the carriage 53 by inserting the support pin 72 press-fitted into the spring bearing shaft 71. The compression spring 73
．． 73 has been reduced.

Therefore, due to the elastic force of the compression springs 73, 73, the left roller support arm 63 is biased with a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6, and the right roller support arm 64 is biased in the clockwise direction. The rotational force will be energized.

In addition, the main parts 63a and 64a of the roller support arms 63 and 64
A portion of a stopper (not shown) is protruded from the opposing surfaces of the main parts 63a, 64a when the pressure rollers 68, 68' are not pressed upward.
The opposing surface of the roller support arm 63, 64 comes into contact with a portion of the stopper, so that the rotation of the roller support arms 63, 64 due to the rotational force is stopped at a certain point.

(b-6-c, Pressure contact and movement of pressure roller to stage) Locking of the movable frame 28 to the base portion 10 is performed from a state in which the pressure roller 68, 68' is in contact with the upper surface 16a of the stage 16, to the movable frame 28. This is done when 28 is pushed down a little.

Therefore, the pressure roller 68, 68' is compressed by the compression spring 73.
, 73 presses against the upper surface 16a of the stage 16, and the reaction force of this press urges the carriage 53 upward, so that the guided rollers 61, 61 The engagement grooves 61a, 61a,
... will come into elastic contact with the guide shafts 35, 35 from below.

As described above, when the transfer belt 46 runs, the carriage 53 is moved in the left-right direction, so the pressure rollers 68, 68' roll while being in pressure contact with the upper surface 18a of the stage 16, and roll along the stage 16. It will be moved.

When the moving block 52 comes to a position where it contacts the stopper 34 provided on the left side plate 29 of the movable frame 28 (hereinafter referred to as "the position at one end of the moving range"), the light shielding piece 58 on the front side The part 58a is the left sensor 47
A movable block 52 is provided on the right side plate 29' of the movable frame 28, and is inserted between the light emitting element 49 and the light receiving element 50 to block the light emitted from the light emitting element 49 toward the light receiving element 50. The position where it abuts against the stopper 34' (
Hereinafter, this will be referred to as "the position of the other end in the movement range." ), the light blocking portion 58a enters between the light emitting element 49 and the light receiving element 50 of the right sensor 48 and blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 49 toward the light receiving element 50. Thereby, it is detected that the moving block 52 has reached one end position or the other end position in the movement range.

When the printing operation starts, the motor 40 alternately and intermittently repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation, and as a result, the moving block 52 intermittently moves between both ends of its movement range.

Further, when the moving block 52 reaches the positions of both ends of its moving range, the pressure rollers 68 and 68' are removed from the side edges in the width direction of the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 6, and the left and right ends of the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 are moved. Located above the department.

(b-7, Print) Therefore, the printing operation by the printer 1 configured as described above is performed as follows, for example.

(b-7-a, print) When a print operation start command is issued, the movement block 52
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 2 is run at a constant pitch by the tension roller 21, the driven roller 37, the feed roller 20, and the driven roller 36, and , the exposed surface 2a is exposed by the FOT 27 for each predetermined line to form a print film of one image.

Further, at a predetermined timing after or before the formation of this photographic film is completed, a sheet of color developer paper 6 is fed out with its leading edge positioned slightly ahead of the leading edge of the photographic film, and the photosensitive film 6 is fed out. and is superimposed on the stage 16.

When the leading edge of the portion of the photosensitive film 2 that has become the printing film reaches approximately the center in the width direction of the upper surface 16a of the stage 16, this is detected by a sensor (not shown), and a start signal is output to start the motor. 40 rotates to engage the moving block 52. Therefore, the pressure rollers 68 and 68' are rolled in the left and right direction while being pressed against the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 with the developer paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 in between.
As a result, a predetermined area (hereinafter referred to as a "pressing area") extending in the width direction of the color developing paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 is scanned in the width direction by the pressure roller 68.6.
8' and the upper surface lea of the stage 16 are pressed against each other.

It should be noted that when the moving block 52 reaches one end or the other end of the moving range, there is an output from the sensor 47 or 48, which causes the motor 40 to stop rotating.
The color developer paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 are fed for a certain period of time, whereby the color developer paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 are run at a predetermined pitch, that is, a pitch slightly narrower than the width of the pressure area.
When this traveling is completed, the motor 40 will be rotated again. When the moving block 52 reaches the other end or one end of the moving range, there is an output from the sensor 48 or 47, and the developing paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 are fed by a predetermined pitch, and then the moving block 52 moves again. be done. Printing progresses by alternately running the developing paper 6 and photosensitive film 2 and moving the moving block 52.

Therefore, each time the pressure rollers 68 and 68' scan the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 6 once in the width direction, the FOT 27 in the pressure contact area of the portion of the photosensitive film 2 that is used as a printing film prevents the exposed light from being exposed. dye precursor 4.4,
The capsules of ... are destroyed and the dye precursor is transferred to the developing surface 6a of the color developing paper 6 and develops color, thereby
A part of the image will be printed on the color developer paper 6, and one image will be made to appear on the color developer paper 6 by repeating such printing.

Since the pressure rollers 68 and 68' are moved to scan the photosensitive film 2 and the developer paper 6 in the width direction thereof, the pressure applied to the stage 16 is, for example, applied to the photosensitive film 2 and the developer paper 6. 1,0 for the entire pressure welding area
Even if a pressing force of 0.00 kg to 1.500 kg is required, a strength of about 2 to 3 kg will suffice.

(b-7-b, Concentration of pressure contact force between pressure roller and stage, etc.) [Figure 1] Pressure contact force at the contact area between pressure roller 68, 68' and stage 16 is pressure roller 68.68'
is concentrated at a large number of points dispersed in a direction corresponding to the width direction of the photosensitive film 2, thereby causing light-curing of the individual dye precursors 4.4, . . . provided on the photosensitive film 2. The destruction of what has not yet been done will definitely be done.

That is, as described above, the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 has grooves 17.17, . . . and protrusions 18.18, . The surfaces 68a and 68' are formed with concave and convex surfaces arranged at a constant pitch in the direction along the width of the jaws, and the outer circumferential surfaces 68a and 68'a of the pressure rollers 68 and 68' are shaped like these pressure rollers. 68.68', so that when the pressure rollers 68, 6B' come into pressure contact with the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 with a predetermined pressure, the pressure rollers 68.6
The pressure contact force at the contact portion between 8' and the stage 16 is concentrated at a number of point-like positions corresponding to the ridgeline portions of the protrusions 18, 18, .

Therefore, even if the pressing force between the pressure roller 68.68' and the stage 16 is the same, the pressure roller 68.68'
The pressure applied to the individual dye precursors 4.4, . . . is several times stronger than when the stage 16 and 4.4, ... capsules can be reliably destroyed.

In addition, when the pressure roller 68, 68' and the stage 16 are in surface contact, the stage 16 of the pressure roller 68, 68'
or the outer peripheral surfaces 68a, 68'a of the pressure rollers 68, 68' or the stage 16.
If the surface precision of the upper surface 16a is not very high, the contact between these contact parts will be uneven, and therefore, the pressure contact between the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 6 will be uneven in the pressure contact area. However, in the present invention, the pressure contact force between the pressure roller 68, 68' and the stage 16 is concentrated at each contact point distributed in the width direction, so that the above-mentioned causes can be avoided. There is no possibility of uneven pressure contact caused by this.

As a result, it is possible to uniformly apply pressure to the area of pressure contact between the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 6 in the entire width direction, so that it is possible to perform clean development without causing unevenness in the development density.

In this embodiment, since the two pressure rollers 68 and 68' sequentially press the same location, it is possible to further reduce the pressure force required by the pressure rollers.
In addition, since the capsules that were not completely destroyed by the -th pressurization will be completely destroyed by the second pressurization, this, combined with the pressure concentration effect due to the unevenness provided on the stage 16, will eliminate density unevenness. It can be completely eliminated. Furthermore, since the pressure applied to one part can be reduced, damage to the photosensitive film or color developing paper can be reduced. That is, it is possible to eliminate these collapses, undulations, damage to the ends, etc.

(c. Modified example of stage) [FIGS. 8 and 9] A modified example 16A of the stage 16 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The difference between the stage 16A shown in this modification and the stage 16 is that its upper surface is divided into a mounting surface on which color developer paper, etc. is placed, and a standby surface located on both sides of the surface, and a color developer paper is placed between these surfaces. The point is that a step corresponding to the thickness of , etc. is provided so that the above-mentioned placement surface is located at a lower position than the standby surface.

74 is the upper surface of the stage 1f5A, and the upper surface 74 includes a mounting surface 74a having a length corresponding to the width of the color developing paper 6 excluding both ends, and a standby surface located on both sides of the mounting surface 74a. 74b and 74b', and these mounting surfaces 7
There is a step 74c1 between 4a and the standby surfaces 74b and 74b'.
74c is formed, and the mounting surface 74a is the standby surface 74b,
74b'. The height of this step 74c is approximately equivalent to the thickness of the color developing paper 6 and the photosensitive film 2 when they are layered.

Incidentally, the mounting surface 74a is formed into an uneven surface consisting of the grooves 17, 17, . . . and the protrusions 18, 18, .

Therefore, when the moving block 52 reaches both ends of its moving range, the pressure rollers 68 and 68' are removed from the side edges of the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 6 and positioned on the standby surfaces 74b and 74b'' of the stage 16A. From this state, the photosensitive film 2 and developer paper 6 are placed on top of the photosensitive film 2 and developer paper 6 again; Since they are located on the placing surface 74a, there is no large step between the stacked photosensitive film 2 and colored paper 6 and the standby surfaces 74b and 74b'.
8' does not catch the side edges of the photosensitive film 2 or color developing paper 6 and damage them or generate noise.

(F-2, Second Embodiment) [Figures 10 and 11] Figures 10 and 11 show a second embodiment 75 of the developing device of the present invention.

The developing device 75 shown in this second embodiment differs from the printer 1 only in the form of the unevenness provided on the stage. Therefore, only the stage, pressure roller, photosensitive film, etc. are shown in the drawings, and only the above-mentioned differences will be explained, and the same reference numerals used in the first embodiment will be used in each part of the drawings. Explanation will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals. Incidentally, the use of such symbols and omission of explanations are the same in the third and fourth embodiments.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a stage, which is elongated in the left-right direction and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the elongated direction.

Then, there is a minute hole 77 at 76a on the top surface, a hole 7,...
・ are formed, and these holes 77, 77, . . .
They are randomly arranged at intervals of about 100 μm to 200 μm from each other.

Incidentally, such holes 77, 77, . . . are formed by etching, for example.

Therefore, the upper surface 76a of the stage 76 has the above-mentioned hole 77.7.
7,... and the part 7 other than these holes 77.77,...
8.78, . . . are formed on the uneven surface.

Therefore, when the pressure roller 68 comes into pressure contact with the upper surface 76a of the stage 76, the pressure contact force at the contact portion between the stage 76 and the pressure roller 68 is equal to the hole 77, 77, .
. . is not formed, that is, holes 77, 77, .
Since the dye precursors 4.4, . . . on the photosensitive film 20 sandwiched between the stage 76 and the pressure roller 68 are concentrated at each convex point, the dye precursors 4.4, . . . are not cured by exposure. You can reliably destroy things individually.

(F-3, Third Embodiment) [Fig. 12] Fig. 12 shows a third embodiment 79 of the developing device of the present invention. still,
The developing device 9 shown in this third embodiment differs from the printer 1 shown in the first embodiment only in that the stage is of a cylindrical rotating type.

80 is a stage, and the stage 80 has a cylindrical shape, and includes a pressure receiving part 80a that is slightly longer than the width of the color developing paper 6, and shaft parts aob and ao protruding from the center of both end surfaces of the pressure receiving part 80a.
The shaft portions 80b, 80b are rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) fixed to the side walls 12, 12' of the base portion 10, and the entire outer circumferential surface of the pressure receiving portion 80a is
Like the upper surface 16a of the stage 16 shown in the first embodiment, it is formed into an uneven surface consisting of grooves 17, 17, . . . and protrusions 18, 18, .

Note that when the moving block 52 reaches both ends of the moving range, the pressure rollers 68, 68' will come off the pressure receiving portion 80a.

And, this stage 80 is a pressure roller 68.68'
During pressurization, a locking means (not shown) locks the film against rotation, and when feeding the photosensitive film 2 and developing paper 6, the locking means is released.

Therefore, in the developing device 79 according to the third embodiment, when the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 6 are fed, the stage 8
0 rotates, there is no friction between the outer peripheral surface of the stage 80 and the photosensitive film 2 or developer paper 6, and uneven feeding caused by friction between the photosensitive film 2 or developer paper 6 and the stage 80 is avoided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent uneven development caused by the uneven feeding.

(F-4, Fourth Embodiment) [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows a fourth embodiment 81 of the developing device of the present invention. The developing device 81 shown in the fourth embodiment is different from the printer 1 shown in the first embodiment in that the stage is cylindrical, and the stage 81 shown in the N3 embodiment is different from the printer 1 shown in the first embodiment.
The shape of the unevenness is different from that of 0.

That is, 82 is a substantially cylindrical stage consisting of a pressure receiving part 82a and a shaft part 82b182b, and is rotatably supported by the base part 10, and the entire outer peripheral surface of the pressure receiving part 82a is
Similar to the mounting surface of the stage 76 shown in the second embodiment, it is an uneven surface in which a large number of holes 77, 77, . . . are formed.

Therefore, even with such a stage 82, it is possible to reliably destroy the dye precursors 4.4, .
When the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 6 are fed, the stage 82 is rotated together with them, so that uneven feeding of the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 6 can be prevented.

(G. Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the developing device of the present invention includes a stage and a roller that rolls in pressure contact with the stage, and a photosensitive material is transferred between the stage and the roller. This developing device performs development by applying pressure to a color developing material, and is characterized in that fine irregularities are provided on either the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer circumferential surface of the roller.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the roller, which is the pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developer material into pressure contact, moves to scan the photosensitive material and the color developer material, the shape of the pressure means and The pressurizing force required for the pressurizing means can be considerably reduced, and as a result, this type of developing device can be made small, lightweight, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. .

Moreover, since minute irregularities are provided on the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer peripheral surface of the roller, the pressure contact force at the contact portion between the stage and the roller is concentrated at each contact point between the stage and the roller. This allows for clean development with no unevenness in development density or color development, as well as
Since the pressure contact force between the roller and the stage can be concentrated as described above, the contact width between the roller and the stage can be widened by the same pressure force, so that the development speed of this type of developing device can be increased. Can be done.

In each of the above embodiments, the photosensitive film and color developer paper were stacked in this order from the stage side, and unevenness was formed on the roller contact surface of the stage. The material and the photosensitive material may be stacked in this order from the stage side, or minute irregularities may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller. The object of the present invention of concentrating force at multiple points can be fully achieved.

Further, in the above embodiment, two rollers were arranged in the direction of movement, but by doing so, it is possible to apply pressure to the same location on the photosensitive material or color developing material twice by moving the roller once. Therefore, the pressure 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.

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.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the present invention is applied by exposing a photosensitive film coated with a photosensitive dye precursor to form a printing film, and by overlaying this printing film with developer paper and applying pressure, an image is formed. Although the present invention is not limited to such an example of application, it is possible to use a developing paper provided with both a photosensitive dye precursor and a developing substance. That is, various types of development, such as a developing device that uses a developing paper integrated with a photosensitive material developing material, or a developing device that uses photosensitive printing toner or the like and fixes the toner under pressure on the copying paper in a copying machine. It can be applied to the device. That is, these developing devices also fall under the category of developing devices that perform development by pressurizing a photosensitive material and a color developing material.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 9 show a first embodiment in which the developing device of the present invention is applied to a pressure-type printer. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing the stage, rollers, etc., and FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line rV-■ in FIG. 2, FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line Vl-Vl, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the roller and roller support, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show modified examples of the stage.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view with a part cut away, FIG. 9 is a front view, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second embodiment of the developing device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the stage, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the main part showing the third embodiment of the developing device of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the stage. FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional pressure printer; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of main parts showing an example of a prototype of the developing device. FIG. Explanation of symbols 1...Developing device, 2...Photosensitive material, 6...Developing material, 16...Stage, 16a...Roller contact surface (of stage), 17.18...Irregularities , 68.68'...roller, 68a, 68'a... (roller) outer peripheral surface, 16A
...Stage, 74a... Roller contact surface (of stage), 75...
・Developing device, 76...Stage, 76a...Roller contact surface (of stage), 77.78...Irregularities, 79...Developing device, 80... Stage, 80a...
...Roller contact surface (of the stage), 81...Developing device, 82...Stage, 82a...Roller contact surface (of the stage) 9vA

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A developing device comprising a stage and a roller that rolls in pressure contact with the stage, and performs development by pressurizing a photosensitive material and a color developing material between the stage and the roller, A developing device characterized in that fine irregularities are provided on either the roller contact surface of the stage or the outer peripheral surface of the roller.