JPH01163744A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize the developing device, and also, to reduce its cost, and to facilitate its assembly and maintenance by supporting plural rollers for pressing a photosensitive film and developing paper by one moving body by shifting each position. CONSTITUTION:Pressure rollers 58, 58' are supported by a supporting arm 53 of a moving block 39, etc., positioned at a small interval and also, in a shifted state, and the shift quantity is set to a prescribed value against width (w) of outside peripheral surfaces 58a, 58'a. In this state, a photosensitive film 63 on which an image is formed is superposed on developing paper 65 and supplied onto a stage 7. As a result, a block 39 moves, and the rollers 58, 58' scan in the right and left directions in a state that the film 63 and the paper 65 are pressed against the upper face 7a of the stage 7, and brought to press- contacting so that the respective scanning loci 69, 69' are overlapped partially. When the block 39 advances to the other end, a sensor provides an output and the film 63 and the paper 65 advance by a prescribed pitch, and the block 39 moves. Such an operation is repeated, and the image is transferred onto the paper 65.

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 B0 Summary of the invention C1 Prior art a. General background An example of a conventional pressure printer [Figure 15] D1 Problems to be solved by the invention [Figures 15 and 16
[Fig.] E1 Means F for solving the problem, embodiment [Fig. 1 to 14] F-1, First embodiment [Fig. 1 to 8 Core a, base part, stage [Fig. 1 to 6] b, feed roller, FOT, etc. [Fig. 2 to 5] C0 movable frame, guide shaft, driven roller [Fig. 2 to 6] d, fJ feeding belt, sensor [Fig. 2 to 6] e, moving block [Fig. 1 to 8] e-1, carriage, eaves piece e-2, roller support arm, pressure roller [Fig. 1, 2, 4 Figures to Figures 6] e-2-a, structure e-2-b, support to the carriage e-3, pressing and moving the pressure roller to the stage f, photosensitive film, color developing paper, etc. [Figure 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 8 (g), print (h), pressure required for pressure roller, development speed, etc. F-2, Second embodiment [Figs. 9 to 13] a. Stage [Figures 9, 11, and 13] b. Arm support section, roller support arm [Figures 9 to 12] b-1. Structure b-2. Arm support section of roller support arm Support C0 Pressure roller to stage d, Development [Fig. 13 (F-3), Third embodiment [Fig. The present invention relates to a novel 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. The developing device relates to a developing device that makes a predetermined image appear on the color developing material by pressing the materials into contact with each other using a pressure means. By causing one of the pressure members to scan the photosensitive material and the color developing material, this type of developing device can be made compact, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. By devising the configuration of the members, the speed of development can be increased even though the pressure member performs the development while scanning, and/or damage caused by local stress to the photosensitive material or color developing material can be prevented or the density of the developed material can be increased. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel developing device that is capable of improving the image quality and the like.

(B. Summary of the Invention) The developing device of the present invention is a developing device that develops a predetermined 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, A pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developing material into pressure contact is composed of a stage and a relatively small roller that moves in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the photosensitive material etc. while in pressure contact with the stage, and the roller A plurality of rollers are arranged at different positions in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material, etc., and as a result, this type of developing device can be made compact, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. Even though the development is performed while scanning, it is possible to speed up the development and/or prevent damage caused by local stress on the photosensitive material or color developing material, and improve the density of the developed material. It is something.

(C, Prior Art) (a, General Background) There are various developing systems for developing images on color developing paper, one of which uses a photosensitive material having a color forming element and a color developing material. There are systems in which an image is developed on the developing materials by pressing them against each other, and such developing systems are 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. By overlapping the photosensitive film with developer paper coated with a prescribed 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, a predetermined image appears on the color developing paper.

(b. An example of a conventional pressure printer) [Fig. 15] Fig. 15 schematically shows an 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 The developer paper C and the color developer paper C are supplied between pressure rollers d and e in a superimposed state behind the exposed light-sensitive film b.

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. A predetermined image will be printed on colored paper C.

(D. Problems to be Solved by the Invention) [Figures 15 and 16] According to the printer a described above, the printing operation can be performed continuously without any break, so the printing speed is fast, and the upper and lower The two pressure rollers d and e are the photosensitive film b
Since the entire approximately band-shaped pressure contact area extending in the width direction of the color developer paper C is pressurized at once, the pressure from the pressure rollers d and e is less likely to be locally concentrated on the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper C. There are advantages such as being able to suppress the occurrence of elongation, wavyness, etc. in the photosensitive film (b) and color developing paper (C) to a comparatively small level.

However, on the other hand, the pressure roller d%e requires extremely large pressure. For example, pressure rollers d, e
If the size corresponds to A4 size developing paper, the pressure applied by the pressure roller d%e is 1,000 kg.
1,500 kg is required, and the support frame supporting the upper pressure roller d is equipped with an extremely large pressure source capable of applying such strong pressure, such as a compression spring with an extremely high spring constant. It will be done.

Therefore, printer a using such a pressure roller d1e requires very high mechanical strength in each part, and also uses a motor with a large output or controls the rotation of the motor to the lower side. It is necessary to use a chain or the like for the transmission mechanism that transmits the information to the pressure roller e, and the shape and weight are large compared to the size of the image to be printed.
There are problems in that the cost is high and assembly and maintenance are difficult.

Therefore, a printer f as shown in FIG. 16 was considered. That is, the pressure means for bringing the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper C into pressure contact is provided by a stage g, which is a stationary member, and a substantially disc-shaped pressure roller that rolls while being in pressure contact with the upper surface of the stage g. The photosensitive film b and the color developing paper C, which are stacked on each other, are placed on a stage g and a pressure roller i.
By moving the pressure roller i while locally pinching the photosensitive film b, development is performed for each band-shaped area extending in the width direction of the photosensitive film b, etc., and each time the development is completed, the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper C are removed. The pressure roller i is fed by a predetermined pitch in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the pressure roller i, that is, by a length less than or equal to the width W of the outer circumferential surface j of the pressure roller i to develop the next area. We considered developing one image by alternately repeating the movement of i and the feeding of photosensitive film b, etc.

According to such a printer f, since the pressure roller i, which is the pressure means, moves to scan the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper C, the pressure is applied to the outer circumferential surface j of the pressure roller i.
The contact area where the and the upper surface of the stage g come into contact, that is, the line-shaped portion having the same length as the width W of the outer circumferential surface j of the pressure roller i. The pressure path required for the pressure rollers d and e of the printer a is only several hundredths of that required.

However, according to such a printer f, the roller i
develops while scanning the photosensitive film b and the developer paper C in the width direction, so it takes time to develop, and the pressing force from the pressure roller i and the stage g is applied to the photosensitive film b and the developer paper C. Since it is applied locally, there is a significant difference in stress between the area where this pressure is applied and the other areas, causing wavy waves or local shearing of the photosensitive film or color developer paper. The problem is that they are used to receiving damage.

Furthermore, even if fatal damage such as shearing does not occur, if the above-mentioned waviness occurs in the photosensitive film b or developer paper C, the amount of feed of the photosensitive film b or developer paper C may become uneven, or the photosensitive film A positional shift may occur between the color developer paper C and the developer paper C, which tends to cause unevenness in the developed density.

However, if the width W of the pressure roller i is increased, the width that can be developed in one scan becomes larger, so the development speed can be increased, and the pressure force of the pressure roller i can be spread out in a timely manner. Since this is added, the incidence of waviness and elongation in the photosensitive film b can be somewhat lowered.

However, as the width of pressure roller i increases,
The pressure required for the pressure roller i increases, and the mechanical strength of each part usually needs to be a power of the pressure ratio. You will end up facing a problem.

(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 performed by sandwiching the stacked photosensitive material and developing material and moving them in a direction that intersects the feeding direction of the photosensitive materials, etc., and also positions the rollers in one moving body in the feeding direction of the photosensitive materials, etc. A plurality of them are provided at different intervals.

Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, development is performed while the roller serving as the pressure means scans the photosensitive material and the color developing material, so that the pressure required for the roller can be considerably reduced. As a result, this type of developing device can be constructed to be small, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. Moreover, since a plurality of rollers are provided with their positions shifted in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material and color developing material, the pressure of each roller is relatively small relative to the width of the area that is pressurized in one scan. By selecting the width of the outer circumferential surface of each roller, the arrangement of the rollers, or the ratio of these to the feed rate of the photosensitive material, development can be carried out under conditions where the pressure on the individual rollers does not increase. It is possible to improve the speed and/or reduce the pressure on each roller without reducing the development speed, and it is also possible to prevent damage to the photosensitive material and color developing material, and to prevent uneven development.

(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 6] 2 is the base part of the printer 1, which includes a bottom plate 3 and the bottom plate 3.
(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 Figure 2 is the upper side, and the lower side is the right side. In the following description, directions will be referred to in this direction. ) The side wall 4.4' that stands upward from both sides and the front end of the side wall 4.4' A shaft-shaped crosspiece 5 and a side wall 4 that connect approximately the middle part in the vertical direction
．． 4' and a back plate 6 connected between the rear ends of the two.

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 with relatively high hardness, and is elongated in the left-right direction, and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the elongated direction that is elongated in the vertical direction, with both ends of the stage 7 extending from the side wall 4. 4' is fixed to the approximately middle portion in the front-rear direction of the upper end portion.

8. 8, 8', and 8' are paper guides fixed to both the front and rear sides of the stage 7, and the paper guide 8 on the left side
．． 8 and the right paper guides 8', 8' is approximately the same as the width of the developing paper, which will be described later.

(b, feed roller, FOT, etc.) [Figures 2 to 5] Reference numeral 9 denotes a feed roller for running the photosensitive film and color developing paper, which will be described later, and is located at a slightly distant position behind the stage 7. A tension roller 10 is disposed at a position slightly below the top surface 7a of the stage 7, and a tension roller 10 is disposed at a position slightly ahead of the stage 7 and slightly below the top surface 7a of the stage 7. .10 is rotatably supported at both ends by the side walls 4-4', and also includes a paper feed motor 11 and a speed reduction mechanism 12 and 13, which are supported on the bottom plate 3 of the base section 2 and are comprised of a step motor or the like.
It is rotated clockwise in FIG. 4 at a predetermined timing. Then, the feed roller 9 rotates slightly slower than the tension roller 10,
As a result, the photosensitive film and developer paper, which will be described later, are placed under some tension between these rollers 9 and 10.

Reference numeral 14 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 14a, 1 at the upper ends of both left and right ends.
4a is formed.

Numeral 15 is a light source (hereinafter referred to as rFOTJ) formed by bundling a large number of optical fibers for exposing a photosensitive film to be described later in a pattern according to a predetermined image signal.This FOT 15 is shown only in FIG. 4. ), and is fixed to the base portion 2 with its light emitting surface 15a facing substantially rearward. (C, movable frame, guide shaft, driven roller) [FIG. 2 to FIG.
and two side plates 17.17' that have approximately the same size and are spaced apart in the left-right direction and opposed in parallel; and these side plates 17.17.
The lower end of the rear end of the side plate 17.17' is connected to the support shaft 19.19.
(Only the one on the right side is shown in FIG. 4) is rotatably supported at the upper end of the rear end of the side wall 4.4' of the base portion 2.

Reference numeral 20.20' denotes a stopper fixed approximately at the center of the side plate 17.17', and is used to define the movement range of the movable block, which will be described later.

Furthermore, a locked pin 21.21 (again, only the one on the right side is shown in FIG. 4) is provided to protrude inward from the corner where the front end edge of the side plate 17.17' and the lower #6 edge intersect. The movable frame 16 supports the locking claw 14a of the locking member 14 on the locked bin 21.21 with the pressure roller of the moving block, which will be described later, in contact with the soil surface 7a of the stage 7. 14a is locked to the base portion 2 by being engaged from above.

22. 22 is a guide shaft having a cylindrical shape elongated in the left-right direction, and is located above the stage 7 and extends a predetermined distance from each other in the front-rear direction. 17 and 17', and both ends thereof are fixed to side plates 17 and 17'.

Reference numerals 23 and 24 are driven rollers that form a pair with the above-mentioned feed roller 9 and tension roller 10, respectively, and support arms 25, 25, . The movable frame 16 is rotatably supported at the rotating end of the base portion 2, and is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the rollers 9 and 10 from the road force.
When locked against the support arms 25.25,...
The springs 26, 26, .

(d, transfer belt, sensor) [Figures 2 to 6] 27 is a motor, and the side plate 1 on the left side of the movable frame 16
It is supported by a mounting plate 28 protruding toward the left side from 7 with its axial direction along the vertical direction, and its rotating shaft 27a
A drive pulley 29 is fixed to.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a driven pulley, which is rotatably supported by a support shaft 32 fixed to a support plate 31 projecting rightward from the right side plate 17' of the movable frame 16.

Incidentally, the driving pulley 29 and the driven pulley 30 are arranged at a slightly higher position than the guide shaft 22.22.

An endless transfer belt 33 is stretched between the driving pulley 29 and the driven pulley 30.

A carriage of a moving block, which will be described later, is connected to the transfer belt 33, and the motor 27 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 referred to as "reversal").

34 and 35 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 36.36 facing each other with a predetermined interval
and light receiving elements 37 and 37, and these light emitting elements 3
6.36 and the light receiving elements 37.37 are supported by support pieces 38.38 fixed to both left and right ends of the connecting plate 18, while facing each other and being separated from each other in the front-rear direction.

(e, Moving block) [Figures 1 to 8] 39 is a moving block, which includes a carriage supported movably in the left and right direction on the guide shaft 22, 22, and a carriage rotatably supported by 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) 40 is a carriage.

41 is the main part of the carriage 40, and the main part 41 has a substantially square shape when viewed from above, and has a block shape with a thickness half the height of the movable frame 16.
Both the front and rear ends of the upper surface are slightly higher than the remaining parts.

Reference numerals 42 and 42' denote arm support pieces that project downward from positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction across the center of the lower surface of the main part 41, and between these arm support pieces 42 and 42', 4
3 serves as an arm arrangement portion for arranging two roller support arms to be described later, and these two arm support pieces 42 and 42' extend parallel to each other in the left and right direction, and are shown in FIG. As you can see, the front arm support piece 4
The right side two-thirds portion 42a of No. 2 is formed thicker so that its rear end surface slightly protrudes rearward than the remaining portion, and the left side two-thirds portion 42' of the rear arm support piece 42'. a
is formed thicker so that its front side protrudes slightly forward than the rest of the part, so that the arm placement part 43 formed between these two arm support pieces 42 and 42' is flat. Looking at the shape, approximately the left third part 4
3a and a one-third portion 43b of the right side road have a substantially crank shape slightly shifted in the front-rear direction.

A support hole 44, 44 is formed that penetrates the arm support piece 42, 42' approximately in the center in the left-right direction in its thickness direction, that is, in the front-rear direction.

Reference numeral 45.45 denotes spring arrangement holes formed in the main part 41 at positions corresponding to the left end 43a and right end 43b of the arm arrangement part 43 from above, passing through the main part 41 in the height direction. , substantially cylindrical spring bearing shafts 46 , 46 are inserted into these spring arrangement holes 45 , 45 with some margin around them, and these spring bearing shafts 46 .
．． Pins 47 and 47 (shown only in FIG. 6) supported by the main portion 41 are inserted into the insertion holes 46 a, 46 a, which pass through the upper end portion of the pin 46 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. It is supported by the carriage 40 by being rotated.

Incidentally, flanges 46b, 46b are formed at positions slightly downward from the insertion holes 46a, 46a of the spring bearing shafts 46,46.

Reference numerals 48 and 48' 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 48 and 48' in the width direction extend from the top surface of the main portion 41 of the carriage 40 to the front ( It is fixed to the carriage 40 in such a way that it protrudes toward the front (in the case of the front eave piece 48) or the rear (in the case of the rear eave piece 48'), and has a protrusion 49.4 on its lower surface.
9 is formed. Further, the front eaves piece 48 is integrally formed with a light shielding part 48a projecting upward from its front edge.

50.50, . . . 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 41 of the carriage 40, and these four support shafts 50.50, .
・Guided rollers 51.51, . . . are rotatably supported, and these guided rollers 51.51, .
A deep engagement groove 51a having a 7-shaped cross section on the outer peripheral surface of the
51a1... are formed.

Then, the carriage 40 is guided by the guided roller 51.5.
The engagement grooves 51a, 51a, . . . of 1, . The protrusions 49.49 facing the guide shaft 22.22 from above with a slight distance therebetween allow the guide shaft 22.
2. fJ left and right at 22! l'J] The connecting piece 52 is freely supported and is fixed to the upper surface of the main part 41.
is connected to the transfer belt 33.

Therefore, the carriage 40 is moved in the left and right direction as the transfer belt 33 runs.

In addition, when the movable frame 16 is locked with respect to the base part 2, the carriage 40 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 51.
51, . . . come into elastic contact with the guide shafts 22, 22 from below to define the position of the carriage 40 in the vertical direction.

(e-2, roller support arm, pressure roller) [Figure 1,
2, 4 to 6] (e-2-a, structure) 53 and 54 are roller support arms.

53a and 54a are the main parts of the roller support arms 53 and 54, which are the arm arrangement part 43 of the carriage 40 when viewed from above.
Both left and right sides 43a.

Support pieces 53b, 53b, 54b have approximately the same size as 43b, and are opposed to each other in parallel from both front and rear ends thereof.
, 54b are provided to protrude downward, and these support pieces 53b, 53b, 54b.

The insertion hole 5 that penetrates the lower end of 54b in the front and back direction
5.55, . . . are formed, and main portions 53a, 54
A shallow circular recess 56.56 is formed on the upper surface of a.

Also, the rear path 3 on the right side of the left roller support arm 53
A support portion 57 protrudes toward the right from the 1/2 part,
Also, the front passage 3 on the left side of the right roller support arm 54 is
Support parts 57 protruding leftward from the 1/2 part are each integrally formed, and these support parts 57.57
Insertion holes 57a, 57a are formed to penetrate through the front and back directions. In addition, the tip surface 57b of these support portions 57.57
, 57b are circular arc surfaces extending in the vertical direction.

58 and 58' are pressure rollers, and these pressure rollers 5
8.58' has a width W of its outer circumferential surface 58a158'a that is about one-fourth of the width of the stage 7, for example,
It has a disc shape with a thickness of about 4 mm and is made of a metal with high hardness, and has an outer peripheral surface 58 a b 5
8'a, the entire area in the width direction is the pressure roller 58
．． 58' is formed on a surface extending parallel to the axis.

Further, 59.59 is a support shaft press-fitted into support holes 55.55, . . . formed in the support pieces 53b, 53b, 54b, 54b of the roller support arm 53.54, and ' is an insertion hole 58b formed at the center of the roller support arms 53, 54, located between the support pieces 53b and 53b and between 54b and 54b.

The support shafts 59 and 59 are rotatably inserted through 58'b.

Therefore, the pressure rollers 58, 58' are
3.54, and part of it is supported by support pieces 53b, 53b.

54b, projecting downward from the lower ends of 54b.

(e-2-b, Support for the Carriage) The two roller support arms 53 and 54 have their support parts 57 and 54 facing each other from the front and back directions, and most of the roller support arms 53 and 54, except for their lower ends, are attached to the carriage 40. Insertion holes 57a and 57 formed in the support portions 57 and 57 are respectively located between the two arm support pieces 42 and 42' provided in the arm placement portion 43, that is, on the left and right sides 43a and 43b of the arm placement portion 43.
A support shaft 60 is rotatably inserted into a support hole 44.44 formed in the arm support piece 42, 42', and is thereby rotatably supported at the lower end of the carriage 40. Ru.

Therefore, the pressure roller 58 supported by the left roller support arm 53 and the pressure roller 58' supported by the right roller support arm 54 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and shifted in the front-rear direction. The amount of displacement in the front-rear direction is determined by the outer peripheral surfaces 58a, 58 of these pressure rollers 58, 58'.
The interval is half the width W of 8'a.

Thus, the two pressure rollers 58 and 58' are lined up in the front-rear direction, that is, in the degree direction perpendicular to the rolling direction of these pressure rollers, with half of the width thereof overlapping each other when viewed from the left and right directions. It is located in Further, a compression spring 61.61 is compressed between the flanges 46b, 46b of the spring bearing shaft 46.46 and a recess 56.56 formed on the upper surface of the main portion 53a, 54a of the roller support arm 53.54. ing.

Therefore, due to the elastic force of the compression springs 61 and 61, the left roller support arm 53 is biased with a rotational force in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6, and the right roller support arm 54 is biased in the clockwise direction. The rotational force will be energized.

Note that when the pressure rollers 58, 58' supported by the roller support arms 53, 54 are not pressed upward, the opposing surfaces of the main parts 53a, 54a are attached to the arm support pieces 42.54. 42' thick section 4
By coming into contact with the side end surface in 2a142'a, the rotation 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 16 is locked to the base portion 2 by moving the movable frame 16 further from the state where the pressure roller 58, 58' is in contact with the upper surface 7a of the stage 7. This is done when the is pushed down a little.

Therefore, the pressure roller 58, 58' is compressed by the compression spring 61.
．． The resilient force of the guide rollers 51, 51, . The engagement grooves 51a, 51a,
... will come into elastic contact with the guide shafts 22, 22 from below.

As described above, when the conveyor belt 33 runs, the carriage 40 is moved in the left-right direction, so the pressure rollers 58, 58' roll while being in pressure contact with the upper surface 7a of the stay shift.

Note that the moving block 39 is attached to the left side plate 17 of the movable frame 16.
The position (hereinafter referred to as “
"The position at one end of the range of movement." ), the light shielding part 48a of the front eave piece 48 is between the light emitting element 36 and the light receiving element 37 of the left sensor 34.
The moving block 39 blocks the light irradiated toward the light receiving element 37 from the movable frame 16.
The position at which the stopper 20' comes into contact with the stopper 20' (hereinafter referred to as
This is referred to as "the position at the other end of the movement range." ),
The light shielding part 48a is the light emitting element 36 of the sensor 35 on the right side.
and the light-receiving element 37 to block the light emitted from the light-emitting element 36 to the light-receiving element 37, thereby moving the moving block 39 to one end position or the other end position in the movement range. The arrival will be detected.

When the printing operation starts, the motor 27 alternately and intermittently repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation, and as a result, the moving block 39 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] 62 is a long photosensitive film 63 which is stored in a rolled state. is a film cassette (shown only in FIG. 4), whose axial direction extends along the left-right direction, and which is attached to the rear end of the lower end of the base portion 2 with the film outlet 62a facing upward. It is installed.

After the photosensitive film 63 is pulled out from the film cassette 62, it is wound around a film guide 64 (shown only in FIG. 4), and extends forward from there. The film is passed between the tension roller 10 and the driven roller 24 to be wound onto a winding spool (not shown).
It contacts the light emitting surface 15a of the FOT 15 at a position between the film cassette 62 and the film guide 64, and is also sandwiched between the feed roller 9 and the driven roller 23 and the tension roller 10 and the driven roller 24. The portion between the upper surface 7a of the stage 7 and the portion between the left and right paper guides 8.8 and 8', 8' is in contact with the upper surface 7a of the stage 7.

The photosensitive film 63 is made by coating one side 63a (hereinafter referred to as the "exposed surface") of a suitable film base material with a countless number of photosensitive dye precursors, and the dye precursors are cured by exposure. A dye precursor substance that combines with a specific developing substance to develop a specific color is enclosed within a mold, that is, a microscopic capsule that becomes pressure-resistant and non-destructive when irradiated with ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength. It is made up of

65, 65, . . . are color developing papers on which images are printed, and are formed into approximately rectangular single sheets, and one surface 65a (hereinafter referred to as "developing surface") is coated with the dye precursor. A developing substance is applied that combines with a pigment precursor in the body to develop a predetermined color.

66 is a paper feed tray in which a large number of the developer papers 65, 65, . . . are stored, and 67 is a paper feed roller (these are shown only in FIG. 65, 65, . . . are fed one by one between the feed roller 9 and the driven roller 23 at a predetermined timing.

68 is a paper discharge guide plate.

Note that when the moving block 39 comes to both ends of its moving range, the pressure rollers 58 and 58' move the photosensitive film 6.
3 and the side edges in the width direction of the color developer paper 65, and are located on the left and right ends of the upper surface 7a of the stage 7.

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

When the print operation start command is issued, the movement block 39
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 63 is run at a constant pitch by the tension roller 10, driven roller 24, feed roller 9, and driven roller 23, and , the exposed surface 63a is exposed by the FOT 15 for each predetermined line to form a print film of one image.

Further, at a predetermined timing after or before the formation of the photographic film is completed, a sheet of color developer paper 65 is sent out with its leading edge positioned slightly ahead of the leading edge of the photographic film, and the photosensitive film 63 is fed out. and is superimposed on the stage 7 and supplied onto the stage 7.

When the leading edge of the portion of the photosensitive film 63 that has become the printing film reaches the center of the upper surface 7a of the stage 7 in the width direction, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) and a start signal is sent. is output and motor 2
7 rotates to move the moving block 39. Therefore, the pressure rollers 58, 58' are rolled in the left-right direction while being pressed against the upper surface 7a of the stay shifter with the developing paper 65 and photosensitive film 63 in between. That is, the color developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are scanned in the width direction.

Since the pressure rollers 58 and 58' are positioned so that their ends in the width direction are lined up when viewed from the movement direction, when the moving block 39 moves between both ends of the movement range, the pressure rollers 58 and 58' are The rollers 58 and 58' are arranged such that the left roller 58 has a scanning trajectory 69 (indicated by the downward diagonal line in FIG. 1) and the right roller 58 has a scanning trajectory 69' (
It is also shown with a diagonal line downward to the right. ) is scanned in the width direction of the photosensitive film 63 and the color developer paper 65 in such a manner that the photosensitive film 63 and the color developer paper 65 are spaced between the two ends of the pressure rollers 58 and 58'. Width W.

A strip-shaped region 70 extending with the same width as (see FIG. 1).

Hereinafter, this will be referred to as the "pressure contact area." ) is the pressure roller 58.58
' and the upper surface 7a of the stage 7.

When the moving block 39 reaches one end or the other end of the moving range, the sensor 34 or 35 outputs an output, which causes the carriage feed motor 27 to stop, and the paper feed motor 11 to rotate at a constant speed. The developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are fed by the predetermined feed amount S.
That is, it is run for a length corresponding to two-thirds of the width Wl of the pressure contact area 70, and when this run is completed,
The motor 27 is rotated and the moving block 39 is moved to the other end or one end of the moving range, thereby moving the developing paper 65
In the photosensitive film 63, the pressure area 70b located behind the pressure area 70a that was pressed during the previous scan is pressed.

Incidentally, since the feed amount S of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 is an amount corresponding to two-thirds of the width Wl of the pressure contact area 70, 70, . . . , the area 70 to be pressed in the next scan will be This overlaps wI/3 in the width direction with the region 70 that was pressed before, and as a result, each portion of the color developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 is pressed twice.

When the moving block 39 reaches the other end or one end of the moving range, there is an output from the sensor 35 or 34, and the developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are first fed by a predetermined pitch S, and then the 8 moving block 39 is moved again. is moved 8 times. The running of the color developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 and the eight movements of the moving block 39 are performed alternately as described above, whereby the color developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are successively pressed in each pressure contact area. .

Thus, the pressure rollers 58 and 58' are pressed against the photosensitive film 63.
Each time the developer paper 65 is scanned once in the width direction, the unexposed dye precursor capsules are destroyed by the FOT 15 in the pressed area of the portion of the photosensitive film 63 that is to be used as a printing film, and the dye precursor is released. It is transferred to the developing surface 65a of the developer paper 65 and develops color, and as a result, a part of the predetermined image is printed on the developer paper 65. By repeating such printing, one image is created. This will appear on the color developing paper 65.

(h, pressure and development speed required for the pressure roller, etc.) According to such a printer 1, the size of the pressure roller 58, 58', especially the outer peripheral surfaces 58a, 58
By appropriately selecting the width W of 'a', the pressure required for these pressure rollers 58, 58' can be considerably reduced, or the developing speed can be considerably increased.

For example, the outer peripheral surfaces 58a, 58 of the pressure rollers 58, 58'
The width W of 'a is approximately half the width W of the outer peripheral surface j of the pressure roller i of the printer f shown in FIG. 15, and the amount of deviation is W.
In this case, although the size of the pressing area that can be pressed in one scan does not change, the pressure required for each pressing roller 58, 58' can be reduced to approximately half. That is, by doing this, the pressure required for each pressure roller can be considerably reduced without slowing down the development speed, and this also allows the pressure to be locally concentrated on the photosensitive film 63 and the color developing paper 65. Since the pressure is lowered by tJ, it is possible to almost certainly prevent damage such as undulations and shearing to the photosensitive film 63 and color developer paper 65, and furthermore, this allows for clean development with no unevenness in development density. is guaranteed.

Further, if the width W of each outer circumferential surface of the pressure rollers 58, 58' is the width W of the outer circumferential surface j of the pressure roller i of the printer f, and the deviation amount is W, then Since the width of the pressure contact area 70 that can be pressurized by one scan is approximately doubled,
The developing speed can be considerably increased, and even with this method, the pressure required for each pressure roller does not change, so the pressure applied to the photosensitive film 63 and the color developer paper 65 does not increase, and furthermore, the pressure required for each pressure roller does not change. , the two pressure rollers 58 and 58' press the photosensitive film 63 and the color developer paper 65 with their respective scanning trajectories partially overlapping, so the pressure is spread out over time. As a result, although the applied pressure does not change, local elongation, etc. that occurs in the photosensitive film 63 etc. due to the applied pressure can be suppressed considerably.

Furthermore, the outer circumferential surfaces 58a, 58' of the pressure rollers 58, 58'
If the width W of a is made the same as the width W of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure roller i, and the amount of deviation thereof is made W, and the feeding amount S of the photosensitive film 63 and the color developing paper 65 is made the same as W, the development can be performed. The speed is the same as pressure printer f, but the development density is higher, and if the same development density is sufficient, the required pressure can be approximately halved.

(F-2, Second Embodiment) [Figures 9 to 13] Figures 9 to 13 show the second embodiment 7 of the developing device of the present invention.
1.

The developing device 71 shown in this second embodiment differs from the printer 1 only in the arrangement and support structure of the stage and pressure roller. Therefore, only essential parts are shown in the drawings, and descriptions of parts that are not different from the printer 1 will be omitted by assigning the same reference numerals as used in the first embodiment to each part in the drawings.

(a, Stage) [Figures 9, 11, and 13 The core 2 is a stage. The stage 72 has a cylindrical shape, extends horizontally in the left-right direction, and has both ends rotatably supported by the side walls 4.4' of the base portion 2.
While the movable block is moving, it is locked by a locking means (not shown), and when the developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are being fed, the lock is released and the block is rotated as the photosensitive film 63 and the like travel. There is.

(b, arm support section, roller support arm) [Figs. 9 to 12] (b-1, structure) 73 extends approximately downward from the lower surface of the main portion 41 of the carriage 40, excluding both front and rear ends. It is a protruding arm support part, and its lower surface is approximately V-shaped when viewed from the left and right directions.
In addition, arm arrangement portions 74 and 74' in the shape of a recess having a substantially mouth shape when viewed from the left and right are formed at a position near the front end of the left road half and a position near the rear end of the right road half, and these arm arrangement portions 74 and 74' are oriented so that they form a substantially square shape when viewed from the left and right directions, that is, the left arm arrangement part 74 is oriented diagonally so that it is displaced backward as it goes toward the lower end, and the right arm arrangement part 74' is directed toward the lower end. It is formed in a diagonal direction that moves forward as it goes.

The left arm placement portion 7 of the arm support portion 73
Support holes 75 and 75 are formed at positions opposite to each other across the upper end of the part closer to the right end of 4, and support holes 75 and 75 are formed at positions opposite to each other across the upper end of the part closer to the left end of the right arm arrangement part 74'. Holes 75' and 75' are formed, and support shafts 76.76' are formed in these support holes 75.75 and 75' and 75'.
is supported at both ends.

F 7 and 78 are roller support arms, which have a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from above, and have grooves that extend in the left-right direction and are open at the lower end surface and both left and right ends, so that the arms are parallel to each other in the front and back. Support pieces 77a, 77a and 78a, 78a are formed opposite to each other, and grooves 79 and 79 extending in the width direction are formed at ends near each other on the upper surface thereof.
A support hole 80.
80 and support holes 80', 80' are formed coaxially, and the support pieces 77a177a, 77b
, 77b are formed with support holes 81,81, . is supported.

(b-2, Support of Roller Support Arms to Arm Support Parts) The roller support arms 77 and 78 have their lower ends attached to the arm arrangement parts 74 and 74'.
The support shaft 76.76' is positioned so as to protrude downward from 4.74' and have some clearance in the front-rear direction, and the support shaft 76.76' has some clearance in the groove 79.79 formed on the upper surface. Both ends of an alignment shaft 82.82', which is rotatably supported by the support shaft 76.76' with its substantially intermediate portion penetrating the support shaft 76.76' in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, are located in the support hole. 80.8
0 and the support holes 80', 80', and are supported by the arm support part 73.

Accordingly, the roller support arms 77.78 are aligned with the alignment shafts 82.
The carriage 40 is able to change its posture in the thickness direction with 82' as the center of rotation, and is biased by the elastic force of the compression subrigs 61 and 61 to rotate the rotation end in a direction substantially downward. The two pressure rollers 58 and 58', which are supported by the roller support arms 77 and 78, are in a substantially V-shape when viewed from the left and right directions (see FIGS. 10 and 11). In the figure, they are shown facing each other parallel to the front-rear direction.)

(c. Pressing the pressure roller against the stage) Then, the movable frame 16 supporting the carriage 40 is moved to the base portion 2.
When the pressure rollers 58 and 58' are locked against the stage 72, the pressure rollers 58 and 58' are brought into pressure contact with the outer circumferential surface 72a of the stage 72. In other words, the contact of the pressure rollers 58 and 58' against the stage 72 is adjusted so that the pressure is applied toward the axis of the pressure rollers 58 and 58'.

Also, when the stage 72 is viewed from the axial direction, that is, from the left and right directions, the distance i between the contact portions of the two pressure rollers 58 and 58' that are in contact with the outer circumferential surface 72a of the stage 72 (see FIG. 9). (Hereinafter, this distance l will be referred to as the "distance between rollers.")
is the same distance as the width W of these pressure rollers 58, 58'.

(d. Development) [Fig. 13] Development by such a developing device 71 is performed as follows.

In addition, the feeding amount S of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 at one time is
(See FIG. 13) is equal to the distance between the rollers.

Therefore, the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are placed on the stage 7.
When the moving block 39 moves between the two ends of its moving range from the state where it is located on the color developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63, the two pressure rollers 58 and 58' scan the developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 in the width direction. As shown in Figure 13 (A),
Two pressing areas 83 and 83' of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63, which are spaced apart by the inter-roller distance @It in the feeding direction, are pressurized.

Note that the pressure contact areas 83, 83, . . . , 83 shown in FIG.
', 83', . . . , the areas 83, 83, 83, 83, 83, 83, 83, 83, .
', . . . are areas pressed by the right pressure roller 58'.

When the moving block 39 reaches one end or the other end of the moving range, the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are moved by the feed distance S, and after this movement is completed, the moving block 39 is moved again.
9 is moved towards the other end or one end, thereby causing the first
As shown in FIG. 3(B), the pressure contact area 83a of the color developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 that was pressed during the previous scan
, 83'a, and pressure contact areas 83b located on the rear side of each of them.
83'b will be pressed.

Furthermore, when the moving block 39 is moved to one end or the other end from this state, as shown in FIG. While scanning the pressing area 83'C immediately behind area 83'b, the left pressure roller 58 scans the pressing area 83'a that the right pressing roller 58' scanned two times before.

Therefore, in this embodiment, two pressure rollers 5
8.58' The pressure area scanned by one of the pressure rollers is overlapped by the other pressure roller, so the developer paper 65
And the photosensitive film 63 is pressurized twice at the same location. Therefore, capsules that have not been exposed and are to be destroyed are destroyed by one pressurization and the remaining capsules or their destruction is Even if there are capsules that are not sufficiently developed, they will be almost completely destroyed by the second pressurization, so that development will be performed without uneven development.

Moreover, the above two pressurizations are not performed by stopping the feeding of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 and reciprocating the moving block 39 from side to side once, but by one scanning of the 8th shift block 39. This is done while feeding the developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 each time.
There is no such thing as slowing down the development speed.

(F-3, Third Embodiment) [Fig. 14] Fig. 14 shows a third embodiment 84 of the developing device of the present invention.

The developing device 84 shown in this third embodiment differs from the printer 1 shown in the first embodiment only in that the carriage supports four pressure rollers.

(a, Pressure roller) 85.85' and 86.86' are pressure rollers supported by the carriage 40 so as to be able to roll in the left and right direction,
These all have the same width. Of these four pressure rollers 85.85' and 86.86', 85 and 85' and 86 and 86' are respectively positioned with a phase interval in the left-right direction and without deviation in the thickness direction. Also, the front pressure roller 85.85' and the rear pressure roller 86.86' are located parallel to each other.
′ and the distance ρ, (hereinafter referred to as “inter-roller distance”).

) is twice the width W of the outer peripheral surfaces 85a, 85'a, 86a, 86'a.

Further, the feed amount S of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 at one time is equal to the distance between the rollers jZl.

(b. Development) Development by such a developing device 84 is performed as follows.

With the developing paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 positioned on the stage 7, when the moving block 39 moves between both ends of its moving range, the four pressure rollers 85.8
5' and 86.86' are developer paper 65 and photosensitive film 6
3 is scanned in the width direction thereof, as shown in FIG. .87' is pressed, and these pressure areas 87 and 87' are each pressed by two pressure rollers 8.
It will be pressurized twice by 5 and 85' and 86 and 86'.

Then, when the moving block 39 comes to one end or the other end of the moving range, the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are moved by the same amount as the feed amount S, that is, the distance between the rollers ℃1,
After this travel is completed, the moving block 39 is moved again to the other end or one end of its moving range. This results in
As shown in FIG. 6(B), the pressed area 87a18 of the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 that was pressed during the previous scan
Two pressing areas 87b and 87'b spaced apart from 7'a to the rear side by roller open circuit sat ir are pressurized.

Further, from this state, the developer paper 65 and the photosensitive film 63 are moved by a feed distance S, and the moving block 39 is moved to one end or the other end of its moving range. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Two pressure contact areas 87c and 87'c separated from 87'b to the rear by roller open circuit 11!1tj2+ are pressurized, and in this scan, the front pressure roller 85.85
The pressing area 87c pressed by ' is the pressing area 87'a which was pressed by the rear pressing roller 86, 86' in the scan before the previous one.

(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. A developing device that performs development by applying pressure to a color developing material, characterized in that a plurality of rollers whose positions are shifted from each other in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material and the color developing material are supported on one moving body. .

Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, development is performed while the roller serving as the pressure means moves to scan the photosensitive material and the color developing material, so the pressure force required on the roller can be considerably reduced. As a result, this type of developing device can be constructed to be small, low cost, and easy to assemble and maintain.

Moreover, since a plurality of rollers are provided with their positions shifted in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material and color developing material, the pressure of each roller can be made relatively small relative to the width of the area that is pressed in one scan. As a result, by selecting the width of the outer peripheral surface of each roller, the arrangement of the rollers, or the ratio of these to the feed rate of the photosensitive material, etc., the development speed can be adjusted without increasing the pressure on each roller. It is possible to improve and/or reduce the pressure of each roller under conditions that do not reduce the development speed, and it is also possible to prevent damage to the photosensitive material and color developing material, and to prevent uneven development.

Incidentally, the relationship among the distance between the rollers, the width of the outer peripheral surface of the rollers, and the feeding amount of the photosensitive material or color developing material may be appropriately selected depending on the purpose to be achieved by the developing device. For example, if you want to eliminate density unevenness, obtain a higher developed density, or reduce the pressure, you can scan the same area multiple times, or if you want to improve the development speed. , the above 8 values may be selected so as not to scan the same location overlappingly.

In carrying out the present invention, three or more rollers may be provided spaced apart from each other or shifted in position in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material or color developing material.

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, and may be a direction oblique to the running direction.

Furthermore, 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 overlaying this printing film with developer paper and applying pressure. Although the above-mentioned image is applied to a printer in which images are developed on the developer paper, the present invention is not limited to such an example of application, and can be applied to a printer in which both a photosensitive dye precursor and a developing substance are provided. A developing device that develops an image using paper, that is, a developing paper integrated with a photosensitive material developing material, or a copying machine that uses photosensitive toner for printing, etc., for fixing the toner under pressure on the copying paper. It 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 that run a photosensitive material and a color developing material while bringing them 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 printer, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the printing operation in order from (A) to (B). Plan view, Figure 2 is the front view, Figure 3 is the plan view, Figure 4 is the second view.
An enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in the figure, FIG. 5 is a partially cut perspective view of the main part, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the roller support arm and pressure roller exploded, and FIGS. 9 to 13 The figures show a second embodiment of the developing device of the present invention, in which FIG. 9 is a side view of the main parts, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Figure 10, Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts, and Figure 13 is a schematic plan view showing the printing operation in order from (A) to (C). Figure, 14th
The figures are schematic plan views showing a third embodiment of the developing device of the present invention, showing the printing operation in order from (A) to (C), and Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventional pressure printer. FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a draft of the developing device. Explanation of symbols 1...Developing device, 7...Stage, 40...
58.58'...roller, 63...photosensitive material, 65...color developing material, 71...
・Developing device, 72...stage, 84...developing device, 85.85', 86.86'...roller Applicant
Sony Corporation 7 - Stage 40 - Moving body 40 - #Moving body 58.58'...Roller sectional view 2(-)夾7fJI) Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] A developing device includes 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 a plurality of rollers whose positions are shifted from each other in the feeding direction are supported by one moving body.