JPH01186957A - Device for applying image forming solvent - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the heating efficiency by bringing a temperature raising member into contact with an image forming solvent to directly raise the temperature of the solvent and detecting the temperature of the solvent and operating the temperature raising member based on the detection signal to perform such control that the solvent is kept at a prescribed temperature. CONSTITUTION:A coating member 26 is directly abutted with a heat developable photosensitive material 16 to coat it with the image forming solvent. When the temperature of the solvent is raised to coat a sufficient quantity of the solvent, a temperature raising member 50 is brought into contact with the solvent to directly raise the temperature of the solvent. Therefore, the temperature of the solvent raises in a short time. The raised temperature of the solvent is directly detected by a detecting means 53 arranged in a tank 72, and a control means 80 operates/stops the temperature raising member 50 based on this detection signal to keep the solvent at a prescribed temperature. Therefore, the temperature control free from time lag is possible. Thus, the heating efficiency is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image recording method for obtaining an image on an image-receiving material by transferring an image recorded on a heat-developable photosensitive material to the image-receiving material in the presence of an image-forming solvent. The present invention relates to an image forming solvent coating device used in a recording device.

[Prior Art] As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 75247/1983, an image recording device for obtaining a color image using a heat-developable photosensitive material exposes an image to the heat-developable photosensitive material and then sends the image to a heat developing section.
There is known a method in which an image-receiving material is closely attached to a photosensitive material after heat development, and an image is transferred to image-receiving paper through a transfer process.

Before this photosensitive material or image-receiving material is sent to a transfer section, a transfer aid (image forming solvent) such as water is applied in advance to improve transfer efficiency.

For this reason, in the apparatus shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-75247, water is applied using a roller impregnated with water. This water is accumulated in the main tank, and the roller is arranged so that a part of the outer periphery of the roller is immersed in the water surface in the main tank. When applying water,
By rotating the roller, water is brought out on the outer periphery of the roller, and this roller directly contacts the photosensitive material or image-receiving material to apply the water.

Here, the temperature of the water in the main tank is raised by a heat source such as a heater in order to increase the amount of coating, so that even if the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material or image-receiving material is increased, a sufficient amount of water is always coated. It is now possible to do so. Therefore, the time required for processing is shortened.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, a heat source such as a heater for raising the temperature of water in the main tank has been fixed to the bottom outer periphery of the main tank made of metal such as aluminum. Therefore, when heating water, heat transfer takes place through this main tank.
There was a problem of poor heating efficiency. For this reason, a considerable amount of time was required after the heater was activated until the temperature of the water in the main tank was substantially raised (in other words, there was a time lag before the temperature was raised). In addition, the temperature sensor used to determine the heating state was configured to detect the temperature of the heater itself, so even if the heater is stopped based on the temperature sensor's detection signal, the water in the main tank will still remain at the specified level. In some cases, the temperature was not reached.

Furthermore, since the outer shape of the main tank to which the heater is fixed is a curved surface, it is difficult to manufacture and install a heater shaped to fit the curved surface, and the cost is high.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention has high heating efficiency when raising the temperature of the image forming solvent filled in the tank, which allows the temperature to be raised in a short time, and has a simple structure that allows for easy manufacturing and installation. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image forming solvent coating device that can facilitate the process and reduce costs.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image-forming solvent coating device according to the present invention obtains an image on the image-receiving material by transferring the image recorded on the heat-developable photosensitive material to the image-receiving material in a heat-developable transfer section. An image-forming solvent coating device used in an image recording device to apply an image-forming solvent to a heat-developable photosensitive material or an image-receiving material, comprising: a tank filled with the image-forming solvent; and a tank filled with the image-forming solvent. a coating member that is partially immersed in the image-forming solvent and directly contacts the photothermographic material or image-receiving material to apply the image-forming solvent; a temperature-raising member that directly raises the temperature of the image-forming solvent with which parts thereof come into contact with each other; a detection means that is arranged in the tank and detects the temperature of the image-forming solvent; control means for operating and maintaining the temperature at a predetermined temperature.

[Function] In the image-forming solvent coating apparatus having the above configuration, the coating member directly contacts the heat-developable photosensitive material or the image-receiving material to apply the image-forming solvent.

Here, when raising the temperature of the image forming solvent so that a sufficient amount of the image forming solvent is coated, the temperature raising member contacts the image forming solvent and directly raises the temperature. For this reason, heating efficiency is improved compared to the case where heat is transferred through a tank, and the temperature of the image forming solvent is increased in a short time. The temperature of the image forming solvent that has been heated up is directly detected by a detection means placed in the tank, and based on this detection signal, the control means operates and stops the temperature raising member to maintain the image forming solvent at a predetermined temperature. do. Therefore, temperature control without time lag is possible.

In addition, since the temperature raising member can have a simple shape and structure that is not restricted by the curved shape of the tank, manufacturing and installation are easy and costs can be reduced.

The image recording apparatus applied to the present invention includes a heat developing section that heat-develops the exposed heat-developable photosensitive material, and a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material that are overlapped and heated to form an image on the image-receiving material. The transfer section for transferring the image may be provided separately, or the heat development section and the transfer section may be provided at the same location, that is, the exposed heat-developable photosensitive material and the image-receiving material may be overlapped. A thermal development and transfer section may be provided that heats the image and performs thermal development and thermal transfer at the same time.

Further, in the image recording device applied to the present invention, for example,
U.S. Patent No. 4430415, U.S. Patent No. 4483914,
4500626, 4503137, JP 59-154445, JP 59-165054,
JP-A-59-180548, JP-A-59-21844
No. 3, JP 60-120356, Patent Application 1982-20
No. 9563, Patent Application No. 79709, Patent Application No. 1988-
169585, Japanese Patent Application No. 60-244873, and the like can be used.

In the present invention, the image-forming solvent is a solvent required for image formation, such as water, a low-boiling organic solvent (
(alcohols, ketones, amides, etc.) or those obtained by adding various additives such as surfactants, development accelerators, and development stoppers to these solvents.

[Example code] An image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows an image recording apparatus 10 to which an image forming solvent coating apparatus according to a '1st embodiment of the present invention is applied. The image recording device 10 has a magazine 1 housed in a machine base 12.
A photothermographic material 16 in the form of 4-herol is accommodated.

This photosensitive material 16 is pulled out from its outer periphery and cut into a cutter 18.
After being cut to a predetermined length, it is wound around the outer periphery of the rotating drum 20. This rotating drum 20
An exposure head 22 is disposed corresponding to the outer periphery of the rotary drum 2Q, and rotates the rotating drum 2Q in six directions of arrows to expose an image onto the wound photosensitive material 16.

After exposure, the photosensitive material 16 is rotated in the reverse direction of the rotating drum 20.
After being stripped from the rotating drum 20 by a scraper 24 and applied with water as an image forming solvent in a water applying section 26 which is an image forming solvent coating device, it is transferred to a thermal development transfer section 28 whose interior is a heating section. is sent.

On the other hand, the uppermost layer of the plurality of image receiving materials 32 accommodated in the tray 30 is sent to the thermal development transfer section 28 .

In the thermal development transfer section 28, conveyance rollers 34 are in close contact with each other.
36 is provided at the inlet portion, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 32 are connected to each other.
After the sheets are brought into close contact with each other, they are sent to the conveyance rollers 38 and 40 at the exit section.

A conveyance roller 5'42.44 is provided in the intermediate part, and the closely adhered photosensitive material 1 is sent out from the conveyance roller 34.36.
6 and the image-receiving material 32 to the transport rollers 38, 40. Each conveyance roller is configured to receive rotational force by transmitting the driving force of a motor (not shown).

Each conveyance roller has a heater 46 arranged on the opposite side of the conveyance path for the photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 32, and is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heating element constituted by an energized heating element.

A peeling means 48 is disposed downstream of the heat development transfer section 28, and a peeling means 48 is arranged downstream of the heat development transfer section 28, and removes the photosensitive material 16 sent out from the heat development transfer section 28.
The image receiving material 32 is separated and sent to a waste photosensitive material storage box 59 and an image receiving material 32 to a drying device 52. After the image-receiving material 32 is dried in a drying device 52, it is delivered onto a take-out tray 54 formed at the top of the machine stand 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of conveyance rollers 56 and 58 are arranged in the water application section 26 to sandwich the photosensitive material 16 being conveyed, and a pair of conveyance rollers 56 and 58 are similarly arranged downstream of these conveyance rollers 56 and 58. Rollers 60 and 62 are arranged to nip and convey the photosensitive material 16.

These rollers are rotated by the driving force of a motor (not shown) and send out the photosensitive material 16 in the direction of arrow B to the thermal development transfer section 28.

Moreover, between these conveyance rollers, the photosensitive material 1 to be conveyed is
Guide plates 51Δ, 51B are provided corresponding to the guide plates 6, and guide the photosensitive material 16 from between the conveyance rollers 56 and 58 to between the conveyance rollers 60 and 62.

The photosensitive material 1 is placed between the conveyance roller 58 and the conveyance roller 62.
6 as a coating member corresponding to the center part of the back side (emulsion side).
A coating roller 64 of C is arranged. The application roller 64 has its rotating shaft 65 supported by the machine stand 12 . A motor (both not shown) is connected to this rotating shaft 65 via a shaft coupling, and the application roller 64 is moved in the direction of arrow C (direction along the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material 16) by the driving force of this motor. It is designed to be rotated.

The application roller 64 is arranged so that a portion thereof is immersed in the main tank 72. The main tank 72 is a synthetic resin molded product with high heat insulation properties, and is filled with water 70, which is an image forming solvent. The applicator roller 64 touches the main tank 7 with its circumferential surface during rotation.
Water 70 in 2 is brought out. The water 70 taken out by the applicator roller 64 forms a bead 7OA with the photosensitive material 16 when the applicator roller 64 comes into contact with the photosensitive material 16, and in this state, the water 70 is not allowed to transport the photosensitive material 16. Accordingly, water is applied to the back surface of the photosensitive material 16.

A supply pipe 74 for supplying the water 70 and a discharge pipe 76 for discharging the water 70 from the main tank 72 are attached to the main tank 72 filled with water 70 . One end of the supply pipe 74 and the discharge pipe 76 are respectively connected to a reserve tank in a reserve tank housing section 77 (see FIG. 3) provided at the bottom of the machine base 12.

The main tank 72 contains water 7 that is filled into the main tank 72.
An overflow vibe 78 is attached for discharging the surplus of zero. Opening 7 of this overflow vibe 78
8A is arranged at a predetermined height from the bottom surface 72A of the main tank 72, and when the water 70 supplied from the supply pipe 74 reaches above this opening 78A, the water 70 is transferred to the outside of the main tank 72 ( The amount of water (water surface height) in the main tank 72 can be kept constant. This overflow vibe 7
8 is also connected to the reserve tank in the reserve tank housing section 77.

A heater 50 as a temperature increasing member is fixed inside the main tank 72 in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG.
The temperature is set to rise to . This heater 50 is a self-temperature control type heater (PTC heater) having positive resistance temperature characteristics and is waterproof, and is designed to directly contact and heat the water 70 filled in the main tank 72. There is.

In this case, the Curie point of the heater 50 used is approximately 50°C. This heater 50 has a control circuit 80
It is connected to the.

Further, a temperature sensor 53 is arranged near the heater 50 inside the main tank 72, so that the temperature of the water 70 can be directly detected. This temperature sensor 53 is also connected to the control circuit 80.

The control circuit 80 operates the heater 50 to open the main tank 72.
At the same time, the temperature sensor 5
The temperature of the water 70 filled in the main tank 72 is controlled to a predetermined temperature (3) by controlling the heater 50 ON/OFF based on the detection signal of 3.
5 to 40°C).

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The photosensitive material 16 pulled out from the magazine 14 is cutter 1
8 and then wrapped around the outer circumference of the rotating drum 20, the rotating drum 20 rotates at high speed and the exposure head 2
2, the image is exposed.

After exposure, the photosensitive material 16 is peeled off by a scraper 24, coated with water at a water coating section 26, and sent to a thermal development transfer section 28.

Part of the image receiving material 32 in the tray 30 is sent from its uppermost layer to the thermal development transfer section 28 and brought into close contact with the photosensitive material 16.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 32 after being brought into close contact with each other are sent to the transport rollers 42.44 through the transport rollers 34.36. Furthermore, it is sent out from between the transport rollers 42, 40 and through the transport rollers 38, 40. In this way, since the plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers are heated by the heater 46,
The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 32 are immediately brought to a predetermined temperature, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material 16 is thermally developed and thermally transferred to the image receiving material 32.

After the transfer, the photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 32 are separated by a peeling means 48, and the photo-sensitive material 16 is transferred to a waste photo-sensitive material storage box 59, and the image-receiving material 32 is transferred by a reversing roller 56 to an approximately right angle direction (upward in FIG. 3). It is turned over and taken out via the drying device 52 to a take-out tray 54.

Next, in the procedure of applying water to the photosensitive material in the water application section 26, first, when the photosensitive material 16 is generally fed, the conveying roller 56
．． 58 and guide it between the guide plates 51A and 51B. The photosensitive material 16 is a guide plate) 51A,
51B, while being in contact with the outer periphery of the application roller 64, and further sandwiched between the conveyance rollers 60 and 62.

Here, when the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed and its leading end passes the application roller 64 by a predetermined amount, the application roller 64 rotates in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The beads 7OA are attached and taken out to form a bead 7OA between the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material 16, and this is applied to the photosensitive material 16.

When the photosensitive material 16 passes the coating roller 64 and its rear end reaches a predetermined amount in front of the coating roller 66, the coating roller 6
4 is stopped, so that a predetermined amount of excess moisture is not applied from the rear end of the photosensitive material 16.

The application roller 64 is moved in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1 (photosensitive material 1
The rotation is not limited to the direction along the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material 16), but may also be rotated in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material 16, and even in this case, the same effect can be obtained.

When the rear end of the photosensitive material 16 passes through the coating roller 64 and is transported to the next process (image transfer processing in the thermal development transfer section 28) by the transport rollers 60, 62, the bead 70A is transferred to the main tank 72 by its own weight. be returned to.

Here, if the amount of water applied decreases due to reasons such as low outside temperature, the heater 5 is turned on to maintain a sufficient amount of water applied.
0 is activated to raise the temperature of the water 70 filled in the main tank 72.

In this case, the control circuit 80 operates the heater 50 to raise the temperature of the water 70 in the main tank 72. Since the heater 50 directly raises the temperature of the water 70 by contacting it, the heating efficiency is improved compared to the case where heat transfer is performed through the side wall of the tank.
0, the temperature rises in a short time. The temperature of the heated water 70 is directly detected by the temperature sensor 53 disposed in the main tank 72, and based on this detection signal, the control circuit 80 controls the heater 50 to turn on and off. temperature is maintained at a predetermined temperature (35 to 40°C).

Therefore, temperature control without time lag is possible.

Further, since the heater 50 can have a simple shape and structure that is not restricted by the curved shape of the main tank 72, manufacturing and installation are easy and costs can be reduced.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described. Note that parts that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their explanations are omitted.

FIG. 4 shows a water applicator 90 according to a second embodiment. A heater 92 is arranged in the water application section 90. The heater 92 is a waterproof heater such as a so-called ceramic heater.
It is designed to be directly immersed in water 70 in a main tank 72. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the heating efficiency is improved and the temperature of the water 70 can be raised in a short time, and there is no need to specially process the main tank 72 to fix the heater, resulting in cost reduction. It also becomes easier to install.

FIG. 5 shows a water applicator 94 according to a third embodiment. A pipe 98 is fixed to the main tank 96 of the water application section 94 in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of heating resistors 100 are inserted into the pipe 98. In this case as well, heat transfer is performed without passing through the side wall of the main tank 96, improving heating efficiency and making it possible to raise the temperature of the water 70 in a short time.

Note that the heat generating resistor 100 is not limited to a plurality of heat generating resistors, but may be configured as a single heat generating resistor.

FIG. 6 shows a water applicator 102 according to a fourth embodiment. An opening is formed at the bottom of the main tank 104 of the water application section 102, and a gasket 10 for preventing water leakage is also formed.
A heater 108 is fixedly attached via 6. In this embodiment as well, the heater 108 can directly contact the water 70 in the main tank 104 to heat it and raise the temperature in a short time.

In this case, the arm portion 1 is connected to the heater 110 as shown in FIG.
12 may be provided and directly fitted into an opening formed at the bottom of the main tank 104.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a similar effect can be obtained by attaching the heater 116 to the metal plate 114 that is in direct contact with the water 70.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the image forming solvent coating apparatus according to the present invention transfers an image recorded on a heat-developable photosensitive material to an image-receiving material in a heat-developable transfer section, thereby obtaining an image on an image-receiving material. An image-forming solvent coating device used in a recording device to apply an image-forming solvent to a heat-developable photosensitive material or an image-receiving material, the device comprising: a tank filled with the image-forming solvent; and a tank filled with the image-forming solvent; a coating member that is partially immersed in the image-forming solvent and directly contacts the photothermographic material or image-receiving material to apply the image-forming solvent; a temperature-raising member that directly raises the temperature of the image-forming solvent with which the image-forming solvent comes into contact; a detection means that is arranged in the tank and detects the temperature of the image-forming solvent; Since it is equipped with a control means for operating and maintaining the temperature at a predetermined temperature, and a control means for raising the temperature of the image forming solvent filled in the tank, the heating efficiency is high and the temperature can be raised in a short time. At the same time, it has an excellent effect of being simple in structure, easy to manufacture and install, and reducing costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a water application part according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the water application part according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A sectional view showing an image recording device,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the water application part according to the second embodiment;
The figure is a sectional view showing the water application part according to the third embodiment, FIG.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views showing the water application section according to the fourth embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Image recording device, 16... Photosensitive material, 26... Water application part, 50... Heater, 53... Temperature sensor, 64... Application roller, 70... Water, 70A・ ・ ・Bead, 72... ・Main tank, 80... Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Used in an image recording device that obtains an image on an image-receiving material by transferring an image recorded on a heat-developable photosensitive material to an image-receiving material in a heat-developable transfer section; The image forming solvent coating apparatus includes a tank filled with the image forming solvent, a part of which is immersed in the image forming solvent filled in the tank, and a photothermographic material or an image receiving material. an application member that directly contacts the material to apply the image forming solvent; a heating member that at least partially contacts the image forming solvent filled in the tank and directly raises the temperature of the image forming solvent; The image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising a detection means arranged in a tank to detect the temperature of the image forming solvent, and a control means for operating the temperature raising member and maintaining it at a predetermined temperature based on a detection signal from the detection means. Solvent coating equipment for image formation.