JPH01260450A - Vessel for storing sheetlike photosensitive member used for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the mounting of a photosensitive member by disposing the contour forming member of a photosensitive member having a cross section shape corresponding to a path extending from an exposing part to a fixing part on a part of a photosensitive member containing vessel, and also, displacing this contour forming member from the supporting position of a photosensitive member to its non-supporting position by a part of a fixing unit, etc. CONSTITUTION:With respect to the storing vessel 10 of a photosensitive member (f), the contour forming member 50 of the photosensitive member (f) provided with a cross section shape corresponding to the running path of the photosensitive member (f) extending from exposing parts 2, 3 to fixing parts 5, 6 is provided on a part of the transfer-out side of its photosensitive member (f). In this state, the contour forming member 50 is abutted against at least one of exposing and fixing process units 2, 3, 5 and 6 so that it can be displaced from a supporting position of the photosensitive member (f) to its non-supporting position, and so that the sheet-like photosensitive member (f) can be bridged correctly along its running path as soon as the containing vessel 10 is installed in a device 1. In such a way, the sheet-like photosensitive member can be mounted easily and exactly without exposing it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in a pressure transfer type image forming apparatus.

(Prior art) For example, U.S. Pat. Publication No. 58-88739, JP-A-59-303
The image forming method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 57 and the like has the advantage that the post-exposure process is simpler than silver salt photography, and it is superior in gradation expressiveness than electrophotography.

However, on the other hand, this type of image forming method requires a film-like photosensitive member that has been subjected to image exposure processing to be passed between rollers together with a transfer sheet for pressure transfer. Microcapsules containing a photocuring (softening) substance and a coloring agent that harden (soften) when exposed to light are uniformly coated on the surface, and if the surface is touched by a hand or part of the image forming device. The microcapsules may break or fall off, causing defects in the image, and like ordinary photosensitive paper, it is sensitive to external light, so this kind of thin and It is extremely difficult for the user to properly span a wide photosensitive member from the image exposure section to the transfer section without exposing it to light.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to easily and accurately mount this type of sheet-like photosensitive member without exposing it to light. Our goal is to provide a new storage container that allows for

(Means for Solving the Problems) That is, the present invention provides a storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members to achieve the above-mentioned problems. A photosensitive member storage container in which both ends of a sheet-like photosensitive member coated with a substance are wound and housed is provided with a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the travel path of the photosensitive member from the exposure section to the fixing section on a part of the photosensitive member feeding side. disposing a contouring member for the photosensitive member, the contouring member being able to displace the photosensitive member from a supported position to a non-supported position by contacting at least one of the exposure and fixing process units; The sheet-like photosensitive member can be correctly suspended along its travel path at the same time as the storage container is installed in the housing.

(Example) Therefore, the illustrated embodiment will be explained below.

First, an example of an image forming apparatus to which the storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

This image forming device M1 contains microcapsules containing cyan, magenta, and yellow dye precursors (liquids) as photosensitive materials, and is dispersed and coated with microcapsules that harden when exposed to light energy of each wavelength of red, green, and blue. A photosensitive film f is used, and the photosensitive film f wound around the supply roller 11 in the cassette 1o is fed to the exposure table 2, where the original d is
A latent image corresponding to the original image is formed by the light of the exposure lamp 4 guided from the surface through the condensing lens unit 3 onto the film f, and then the film is fed between the upper and lower rollers 5 and 6 in the pressure development unit. On the other hand, the transfer sheet S accommodated in the paper feed cassette 7 is guided between these rollers 5 and 6, and by pressing them together, the photosensitive film f that has not been cured during the exposure process is removed.
The upper capsule is destroyed and the dye precursor inside is transferred onto the transfer sheet S. Thereafter, the photosensitive film f is wound up by the take-up roller 12 in the cassette 1, and the transfer sheet S is transferred to the heat fixing unit. The paper is configured such that the paper passes through the interior of the paper 8 to accelerate the coloring reaction and undergo gloss treatment, and then is discharged onto a tray (not shown).

By the way, FIG. 1 shows the above-mentioned cassette 10, that is, a film cassette 10 constituting an embodiment of the present invention. Roller 11 and take-up roller]
The 14 and 15 portions of each of the two bearings are integrally joined. These half-shell bodies 13.13 are integrally formed from a black resin material, and a partition wall 16 is provided at the center of the interior, and one space partitioned by this partition wall 16 is roughly divided by a light-shielding plate 18. By joining the amphibious shells 13.13 so that the opaque plates 8.18 face each other, the opaque plates 18.1
8 and partition walls 16 and 16 is a storage chamber for the supply roller 11 ] 7 .

In the assembled state as described above, the photosensitive film f fed out from the supply roller 11 is placed on the partition wall 16.
The light shielding plate 18 is pulled out from the upper half shell 13 through the slit formed between the light shielding plate 18 and the light shielding plate 18, and is stretched over the surface of a guide member 500, which will be described later, through the outside of the light shielding plate 18.
It is then routed along the light shielding plate 18 of the lower half shell 13 to the winding roller 12. For this reason, rollers made of thin metal rods with which the photosensitive film f comes into contact are provided at the slit 19 portion of the upper half shell 13 that forms the path of the photosensitive film f, and at the portion along the light shielding plate 18 of the lower half shell 13. 20.20 are rotatably supported, and these rollers 20.20 are electrically connected to a casing (not shown) of the image forming apparatus via a contact piece 21 provided on one side wall of each half-shell 13.13. The photosensitive film f is configured to be electrically conductive to prevent the photosensitive film f from being charged.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a cover plate attached to one side of the cassette 10, and a handle 23 for attaching and detaching the cassette 10 is provided on the front surface of the cover plate. A winding dial 2 whose tip engages with a spoke 12a at the end of the shaft of the winding roller 12 to wind the photosensitive film f.
4 is provided.

Further, on the other side of this cassette 10, a flat "crest"-shaped rotation stopper member 25 made of a resin material, cardboard, etc. has curved locking pieces 26.26 at both ends of each roller 11.12. The cassette 10 is inserted between spokes 11a and 12a provided at the shaft end of the cassette 10
The rollers 11 and 12 are prevented from moving blindly during storage or transportation, and when the cassette 10 is installed in the image forming apparatus 1, the rotation stopper 25 is stopped as shown in FIG. The outer protrusion 27 abuts against the side wall 9 of the mounting M1, and the deflection of the member 25 at this time causes the locking piece 26.26 to disengage from the shaft end and release both rollers 11.12.

On the other hand, the reference numeral 50 in the figure is a contour forming member for passing the photosensitive film f over the exposure table 2 and the rollers 5 and 6 of the pressure development unit.
A thick plate or a thin resin material having approximately the same width as is used to connect between the imaging lens unit 3 and the exposure table 2, between the upper and lower rollers 5.6 of the pressure fixing unit, and between the upper roller 5 and the transfer sheet guide member. The left and right legs 51.51 are bent inward from the tips of the left and right legs 51. It is installed in upward and downward multi-grooves 28 and 28 provided at both the upper and lower ends so that it can be inserted and removed from one side thereof.

This contouring member 50 also has an inward fold line 53.51 in the center of its legs 51.51 so that it can be folded into a Σ-shape.
53, and in order to maintain the distance between the two legs 51 and 51, a connecting piece 54 bridging the inner surface of the legs 51 and 51 is provided.
A shape-retaining piece 55 is attached to one end so that it can be raised and lowered freely,
By standing up this shape-retaining piece 55 and fitting the convex portion 56 at the tip into the slit 58 provided in the top plate 57 of the contour-forming member 50, the contour-forming member 50 is held in an expanded state, and at the same time image formation is performed. When attaching it to the bag M1, the contour forming member 50 is pushed out toward the front side of the cassette 10 by bringing the surface of the shape retaining piece 55 into contact with the end of the exposure table 2 or the end of the pressure developing roller 5. It is already configured.

The cassette 1o configured in this way has a supply roller 11
The contour forming member 50 attached to the side end surface is folded inward from the center of the leg 51.51 (FIG. 2(a)), and the detent member 25% is locked to the shaft ends of both rollers 11.12 ( 6th
(a), it is stored in a paper box or the like (not shown).

In order to attach the cassette 10 to the image forming bag M1 from this stored state, first, the folded contour forming member 50 is stretched to raise the inner shape retaining piece 55, and the protrusion 56 into the slit 58 of the top plate 57 (FIG. 2(b)).

As a result, the photosensitive film f that has been wound around the supply roller 11 is pulled out together with the developed contour forming member 5o. Then, push the cassette 10 into a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 1 from the front side. As a result, the contour forming member 5 on the side of the cassette 10
0 enters the apparatus 1 so as to take in the exposure table 2 and one of the pressure fixing rollers 5, and in this state, the cassette 10t
As you push it in roughly, the shape-retaining piece 55 finally touches the exposure table 2.
Alternatively, the cassette 10 comes into contact with the edge of the pressure fixing roller 5 to prevent the contour forming member 50 from entering, and as a result, the cassette 10 is placed in contact with the contour forming member 5 (with the contour forming member 5 (1) protruding toward the front). Attach the M (Fig. 2) to the specified position in the
C)). Therefore, the last protruding contouring member 50
When the film is pulled out by holding one end of the film, the photosensitive film f located on the surface thereof is correctly suspended over the exposure table 2 and the pressure fixing roller 5 along the travel path.

On the other hand, when the cassette 10 is completely installed in this way, the two rollers 11.1 on the other side of the cassette 10
Rotation stopper member 25 that was locking 2 without rotating it
The protrusion 27 provided at the center of the roller contacts the inner surface of the side wall 9 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the roller bends inward using the inner edge of the shaft as a fulcrum (FIG. 6(b)). Therefore, the anti-rotation pieces 26, 26 bent and formed at both ends are pulled out from between the spokes lla and 12a at the ends of the roller shaft, and are pulled out from between the spokes lla and 12a of the roller shaft ends.
1. Release the restraint in step 12 and make it possible to form an image.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the contour forming member, and this thin contour forming member 60 made of tree waste or the like is attached to the end surface of the cassette 10 on the side where the photosensitive film f is fed out, in this embodiment, The legs 61 and 61 are configured to be stored inside the roller 11 through a slit 298 provided on the side end face thereof (FIG. 1(a)). A locking pawl 62 provided at the tip of the leg 61 is provided on both sides of the end face of the cassette 10 so as to be slidably engaged with the groove 28, 28 in the lateral direction (see FIG. )) This contour forming member 60 is provided with a small piece 65 that comes into contact with the pressure fixing roller 5 etc. at one end, and when the cassette 10 is pushed in from the front side of the cassette M1, the pressure fixing roller 5 disposed there The end portions act to prevent the contour forming member 60 from entering and push the cassette 10 forward (FIG. 3(c)).

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the contour forming member is made up and down freely, and the film f is suspended from the exposure section and the pressure fixing section at the end surface of the cassette ○ on the feeding side of the photosensitive film f. A plurality of contour forming members 70.70 each having a shape such that a contour forming member 70.70 is always biased in one direction by a spring 71.71 is disposed in an upright state, and each of its top plates 72.72 supports a photosensitive film f. In this embodiment, when the cassette 0 is loaded from the front side of the cassette M1, the contour forming member 70.70 in contact with the pressure fixing roller 5 gradually collapses ((b) in the same figure) and comes into a state of non-contact with the photosensitive film f (((c) in the same figure).
)), when the cassette 10 is removed, the pressure fixing roller 5
The contour forming members 7o, 70, which are released from the pressure, stand up and again act to support the photosensitive film f in that state (FIG. 2(d)).

On the other hand, FIGS. 7 to 10 show embodiments of the roller rotation stopping mechanism.

The rotation stopper 25 shown in FIG. 7 has a wall surface (in the embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, when the cassette 10 is fully installed, the outer protrusion 2 rests against the inner surface of the side wall 9 of the device 1.
7 is a rotation stopper member 25 with two legs 28.28 as a fulcrum.
In order to bend the main body into a bow, the locking pieces 26 and 26 at both ends are
can be completely removed from the shaft end of the rollers 11,12.

In contrast, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has two rods 36.
36 is rotatably pivoted at the center, and a spring 37 urges one half to expand and the other half to close, forming a pin-shaped rotation stopper member 35. rod 36.3
A high-friction material 38, such as rubber, fixed at the 6 ends is brought into contact with the shaft end circumferential surfaces of both rollers 11,] 2 to prevent them from rotating during storage, and the cassette 10 is installed in the device 1. In this case, the ends of the rods 36 and 36 on the closing side are forcibly opened by the protrusions 39 implanted on the inner surface of the side wall 9 of the device, and the ends of the rods on the expansion side are separated from the peripheral surface of the shaft end of the rollers 11 and 12. This is how it was done.

In the embodiment roughly shown in FIG.
．． 43 by roller 1], each flange llb, 1 of 12
The outer surface of the cassette 2b is brought into pressure contact with the inner surface of the cassette [O] to prevent it from rotating during storage ((a) in the same figure).
Both rollers] 1.12 are pressed by the shaft ends of drive shafts 44, 44 protruding from the inner surface, and the flanges 11b, 12b are released from contact with the inner surface of the cassette 1o, so that rotational driving force can be transmitted. (Figure (b)).

Figure 10.11 shows the take-up roller 12 in this embodiment.
This figure shows the engagement and disengagement mechanism between the cassette 10 and the cassette 10.
Figure 0 shows a ratchet gear 12 at the shaft end of the winding roller 12.
While c7a is integrally formed, the bearing of the cassette 1o]5
A rotation stopping pawl 45 is provided on a part of the winding roller 12, which engages with the ratchet teeth at the original end of the shaft when the winding roller 12 is pressed in the axial direction. Turn the take-up dial 24 (FIG. 1.5) provided on the cassette 1 to hold the take-up roller 12 with the anti-rotation pawl 45 while keeping the photosensitive film f under tension.
07a is installed, the shaft end of the winding roller 12 is brought into contact with the drive shaft 44 to release the engagement between the clutch gear 12c and the rotation stopper pawl 45.
In FIG. 1, a crown-shaped ratchet gear 12d is provided at the shaft end of the winding roller 12, and is configured to be engaged with and disengaged from a rotation stopper 46 provided on the inner surface of the bearing 15 of the cassette 10.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, a contour forming member for the photosensitive member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the path from the exposure section to the fixing section is disposed in a part of the container housing the photosensitive member. Therefore, an extremely thin and wide sheet-like photosensitive member can be easily hung without causing wrinkles or the like.

Furthermore, since this contour forming member is moved from a position where the photosensitive member is supported to a position where it is not supported by a part of the fixing unit, etc., loading the storage container and suspending the photosensitive member can be performed at the same time in one operation. This makes the work of replacing this type of photosensitive member extremely easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) to (C) are explanatory diagrams showing various states during storage and installation, and FIGS. 3(a) to ( C) and Figures 4(a) to (
d) is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention shown in each state during storage and mounting, FIG. 5 is a side view of the handle, and FIGS. 6(a) and (b) are rotation preventing members. Figures 7 (aXb) to 11 (aXb) showing each state of
12 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention shown in each state, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the apparatus of the present invention is applied. 1... Image forming device 2... Exposure table 5.6.
... Pressure fixing roller 1o ... Film cassette 11 ... Supply roller 12 ... Winding roller] 3 ... Half-shell body 25.35 ... Rotation stopper member 28 ... ... Groove 44 ... Drive shaft 50.
6o, 70--- Photosensitive film contour forming member 55... Shape retaining piece f... Photosensitive film Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 (cL) (b) Figure 7 (cL) (b) Figure 8 ((1)
(1) Figure 9 (0L) Factor 10 (α) (b) Figure 11 (α) (b) Building ◇

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. For a photosensitive member storage container in which both ends of a sheet-like photosensitive member coated with a photosensitive substance for controlling the transfer of coloring material are wound around a pivotally supported supply roller and a take-up roller. , a photosensitive member contour forming member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the travel path of the photosensitive member from the exposure section to the fixing section is disposed on a part of the photosensitive member feeding side, and the contour forming member is exposed. and a fixing process unit so that the photosensitive member can be displaced from a supporting position to a non-supporting position by contacting at least one of the fixing process units. 2. A sheet-like photosensitive member used in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contour forming member can be discharged to one side of the storage container by at least one of the exposure and fixing process units. storage container. 3. The storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members used in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contour forming member is capable of being laid down by at least one of the exposure and fixing process units. 4. The storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members used in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outline forming member is foldably attached to a part of the photosensitive member feeding side of the storage container. 5. Claim 1, wherein the contour forming member can be stored in a part of the photosensitive member feeding side of the storage container.
A storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in the image forming apparatus described above. 6. A photosensitive member contour forming member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the travel path of the photosensitive member from the exposure section to the fixing section is disposed in a part of the photosensitive member storage container, and a coloring material is applied to the contour forming member. A sheet-like photosensitive member coated with a photosensitive material for controlling the transfer of the photosensitive material is wound along a supply roller and a take-up roller, both ends of which are pivotally supported in the storage container, and the photosensitive material is transferred to the image forming apparatus. A storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in an image forming apparatus, which is provided with a rotation stopper that deforms to release the restraint of both rollers by contacting a part of the apparatus when the storage container is loaded. 7. At both ends of one surface of a flexible rotation stopper member, a locking piece that locks onto a portion of both rollers to restrain their rotation is provided, and an image is provided at the center of the other surface. 7. A storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a protrusion that comes into contact with a part of the forming apparatus. 8. A sheet-shaped sheet for use in an image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a spring-like rotation stopper that is deformed by a part of the apparatus to release the locking of both rollers when the storage container is loaded into the image forming apparatus. A storage container for photosensitive materials.