JPH01296250A - Heat development transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely and stably peel a photosensitive material and an image receiving material after heat development transfer by providing a pair of prescribed endless peeling belts to the down stream part of an endless press contact belt. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive material 16 subjected to exposing and coating with water and the image receiving material 49 are superposed on each other and are pinched and transported between the the endless press contact belts 70 and 76. These materials are subjected to heat development by a heating drum 40 and the dye images are transferred to the material 48. The materials 16, 48 are in succession transported. The endless peeling belts 88A, 88B engage with both end parts in the transverse direction of the material 16 to strip the material 48 upon arriving at peeling parts 96A, 96B. The separated material is curved and moved downward. The material 48 is separated from the material 16 and is then stacked in a tray. The belt 70 is formed broader than the material 48 and narrower then the material 16 and the belts 88A, 88B are narrow and engage only with both ends of the material 16 and, therefore, the peeling and separating of the materials 16, 48 are surely and stably executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention involves heat-pressing a photosensitive material and an image-receiving material in a superimposed state to perform thermal development and transfer, thereby forming an image on the image-receiving material. The present invention relates to a thermal development transfer device.

[Prior Art] A thermal development transfer device is known in which a photosensitive material to which an image has been exposed and an image-receiving material are overlapped and heated, whereby the image is transferred to the image-receiving material to obtain an image.

- Some thermal development transfer devices of this type are equipped with a heating drum and an endless pressure belt that is pressed against the outer periphery of the heating drum. After exposure, the photosensitive material is conveyed while being overlapped with the image-receiving material between a heating drum and an endless pressure belt, and at this time it is heated and the photo-sensitive material is developed, and the image is transferred to the image-receiving material. It is now possible to do so.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, as described above, the photosensitive material and the image-receiving material that have been sandwiched and conveyed between the heating drum and the endless pressure belt and have undergone thermal development transfer processing are peeled off from the outer periphery of the heating drum and are separated from each other. need to be separated.

In this regard, in conventional thermal development transfer devices, a peeling claw is provided near the heating drum on the downstream side in the direction of nipping and conveying each material, and the peeling claw is moved to engage with the photosensitive material or image-receiving material. Since the material is peeled off from the film and separated from each other, it is necessary to synchronize (timing) the conveyance of the photosensitive material or image-receiving material and the operation of the peeling claw. Therefore, there is a drawback that complicated control is required to carry out a series of processes in which the materials are piled up, sandwiched and conveyed, and then peeled off from the outer periphery of the heating drum and separated from each other.

Furthermore, since the peeling claw mechanically engages with the photosensitive material or image-receiving material to separate or peel them, even if its own operation is reliable, it may make mistakes in separation or peeling. However, it was difficult to reliably and stably separate or peel it. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the peeling nail may damage the photosensitive material or the image-receiving material.

The present invention takes the above-mentioned facts into account, and provides a thermal development transfer device capable of reliably and stably peeling off the photosensitive material and image receiving material after thermal development transfer from the outer periphery of the heating drum and separating them from each other. It is a purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A heat development and transfer device according to the present invention is a heat development and transfer device that superimposes a photosensitive material and an image-receiving material and heats and presses them to perform thermal development and transfer, and includes a heating drum, A first endless belt is wound around a part of the outer periphery of the heating drum. a second endless belt that pinches and generally feeds a photosensitive material and an image-receiving material in an overlapping state in an opposing gap; a third endless belt whose outer periphery is partially crimped to each other only at both ends in the direction; We are prepared.

[Function] The thermal development transfer device having the above configuration includes a first endless belt wound around the heating drum, and a second endless belt whose outer periphery is a crimped portion where a part of the outer periphery of the belt is crimped to each other. The photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are sandwiched and conveyed in an overlapping state in the opposing gap.

When the photosensitive material is conveyed with the image-receiving material pressed and pressed between the first endless belt and the second endless belt, the photosensitive material is heated and developed by a heating drum around which the first endless belt is wound. The image is transferred as the image is transferred, thereby forming an image on the image-receiving material.

In this case, the photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are reliably overlapped by the endless belts, and the clamping force is sufficient to apply a predetermined pressure, so the materials do not shift during conveyance and high-quality images can be obtained. It will be done.

When the photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are sandwiched and conveyed and reach the downstream portions of the first endless belt and the second endless belt in the material 1 general feeding direction (that is, the downstream portion of the crimping section), both ends in the width direction of the second endless belt A portion of the outer periphery of the belt is bent and guided from the crimping part by a third endless belt which serves as a peeling part. Therefore, by making the widthwise dimension of the photosensitive material located on the outside wider than the widthwise dimension of the image-receiving material located on the inside, the third endless belt engages only with the photosensitive material and removes the image-receiving material. Can be separated.

In this way, by setting the width dimension of each material to a predetermined value, it is possible to reliably and stably peel it off from the outer periphery of the heating drum and separate it from each other, eliminating the need for peeling claws or complicated controls, and furthermore, The ingredients don't get damaged at all.

The photosensitive material used in the present invention basically has a photosensitive silver halide, a binder, a dye-donating compound, and a reducing agent (the dye-donating compound may also serve as a reducing agent) on a support. Furthermore, organic silver salts and other additives may be contained as necessary.

The above-mentioned photosensitive material may be one that gives a negative image upon exposure, or one that gives a positive image.

There are two methods for producing a positive image: a direct positive emulsion as a silver halide emulsion (a method using a nucleating agent, and a method using a light fogging method).
A method using a dye-donating compound that emits a positively diffusible dye image can be adopted.

In the present invention, this diffusible dye is transferred to an image receiving material having a dye fixing layer, and this transfer is performed simultaneously with thermal development.

There are various methods for transferring diffusible dyes, such as transferring to a dye fixing layer using an aqueous solvent such as water, transferring to a dye fixing layer using a high boiling point organic solvent, and transferring to a dye fixing layer using a hydrophilic thermal solvent. There have been proposed methods for transferring the dye to a dye fixing layer having a dye-receiving polymer by utilizing the thermal diffusivity or sublimation of the diffusible dye, and the present invention may be applied to any of these methods.

Listed below are documents specifically describing photosensitive materials and image-receiving materials that can be used in the present invention. U.S. Patent No. 4.463,
No. 079, No. 4.474.867, No. 4.478
．． No. 927, No. 4,507.380, No. 4.50
No. 0.626, No. 4.483.914, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1983
-149046, 58-149047, 59-
No. 152440, No. 59-154445, No. 59-1
No. 65054, No. 59-180548, No. 59-16
No. 8439, No. 59-174832, No. 59-174
No. 833, No. 59-174834, No. 59-1748
No. 35, No. 62-65038, No. 61-23245, European Patent Publication No. 210.66OA2, No. 220.74
6A2 etc.

[Example] FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus 10 to which a thermal development transfer device according to the present invention is applied.

A photosensitive material magazine 14 is arranged on the machine stand 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, and a photosensitive material 16 is wound up into a roll and stored therein. The photosensitive material 16 has a photosensitive silver halide, a binder, a dye-donating substance, and a reducing agent on a support.

A cutter 18 is arranged near the photosensitive material magazine 14, and is adapted to cut the photosensitive material 16 pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 into a predetermined length. The cut photosensitive material 16 is transported to the exposure section 2o.

An exposure device 22 is provided directly above the exposure section 20.

The exposure device 22 includes a light source 14, a plurality of mirrors 26a, 2
6b and the lens unit 28 are arranged, and furthermore, a mounting plate 30 is provided on the upper part of the machine stand 12 above these parts. The light source 14 and the plurality of mirrors 26a are movable along the mounting plate 30, and scan and expose the image of the original film 32 placed on the mounting plate 30 onto the photosensitive material 16 located in the exposure section 20. It is supposed to be done.

A reversing roller 34 is disposed on the side of the exposure section 20, and a water application section 36 is also disposed on the side of the reversing roller 34. Photosensitive material 1 with an image exposed in the exposure section 20
6 is reversed and conveyed by a reversing roller 34, and is coated with water as an image forming solvent by a water coating section 36.

A heat development transfer section 38, which is a heat development transfer device, is disposed on the side of the water application section 36.
6 is now sent.

On the other hand, a receiving material magazine 46 is arranged on the machine base 12 on the opposite side of the photosensitive material magazine 14, and an image receiving material 48 is wound up into a roll and stored therein. The image-receiving material 48 has a narrower width than the light-sensitive material 16, and a dye fixing material containing a mordant is coated on the image forming surface.

A cutter 50 is also arranged near this receiving material magazine 46, and the image receiving material 4 pulled out from the receiving material magazine 46 is cutter 50.
8 to a predetermined length. The cut image receiving material 48 is conveyed to the thermal development transfer section 38.

A heating drum 40 is arranged in the thermal development transfer section 38 . The heating drum 40 has an axial dimension wider than the width of the photosensitive material 16, and has a Teflon coating on its surface. In addition, the heating drum 40
A halogen lamp 44 is disposed inside, and the surface of the heating drum 40 is heated to about 90° C. by this.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an endless pressure belt 70, which is a first endless belt, is wound around a part of the outer circumference of the heating drum 40 in an endless manner between rollers 72 and 74.

The endless pressure belt 70 is formed to be narrower than the width of the photosensitive material 16 and wider than the width of the image receiving material 48 .

A part of the outer periphery of an endless pressure belt 76, which is a second endless belt, is crimped at the portion where the endless pressure belt 70 is wound around the heating drum 40. The endless pressure belt 76 is connected to a roller 78 located above the heating drum 40 and a roller 78 located above the heating drum 40.
It is endlessly wound around a roller 80 located at the bottom of 0 and rollers 82 and 84 located at the sides. Between the roller 78 and the roller 80 of the endless pressure belt 76, the part of the endless pressure belt 70 wound around the heating drum 40 is pressed to the outer periphery of the endless pressure belt 76, and
The exposed photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 48 are sandwiched and conveyed in an overlapping state in the opposing gap between the pressure bonding parts 86 and thermally developed by the heating drum 40.

Furthermore, the endless pressure bonding belt 76 is formed to have a width equivalent to the axial dimension of the heating drum 40, that is, to be wider than the endless pressure bonding belt 70 and the photosensitive material 16.

The photosensitive material 16 is transferred to the thermal development transfer section 38 (endless pressure belt 70
When heated while superimposed on the image-receiving material 48 at the crimping portion 86) between the image-receiving material 480 and the endless crimping belt 76, it releases a mobile dye, and at the same time this dye is transferred to the dye-fixing layer of the image-receiving material 480. Images are now available.

Parts of the outer periphery of endless peeling belts 88A and 88B, which are third endless belts, are crimped at both ends in the width direction of the downstream portion of the endless crimping belt 76 in the nipping and conveying direction, that is, the portion wound around the roller 80. has been done. Endless peeling bell) 88
A and 88B are rollers 90 located above the crimping section 86;
, is wound endlessly around a roller 92 located on the side and a roller 94 located below. They are crimped to form peeling portions 96A and 96B. The endless peeling belts 88A and 88B are formed to have a narrow width, so that a part of their outer periphery is crimped only to both widthwise ends of the endless crimping belt 76 without engaging the endless crimping belt 70. Therefore, by the endless crimping belt 70 and the endless crimping belt 76 (the crimping part 8
6) The photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 48 that are sandwiched and conveyed are
Endless peeling bell) 88 in these peeling parts 96A and 96B
A and 88B engage only with the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 48
It is bent and guided downward from the crimp part 86.

These endless crimping belts 70, 76 and endless peeling belts 88A, 88B are made of aromatic polyamide fibers (e.g.
Kevlar or Nomex: both du Po
It has a structure in which a heat-resistant material such as NT Co., Ltd. (registered trademark) is coated with carbon-containing silicone rubber, and has electrical conductivity.

Therefore, generation of static electricity due to friction between the heating drum 40 or each endless belt and the photosensitive material 16 or image receiving material 48 is prevented.

The photosensitive material 16 bent and moved downward is sent to a waste photosensitive material storage box 60 provided below the heating drum 40. On the other hand, the image receiving material 48 separated from the photosensitive material 16 is accumulated on a tray 66.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the photosensitive material 16 pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 is cut by the cutter 18 and conveyed to the exposure section 20, the exposure device 22 is activated and an image of the original film 32 placed on the mounting plate 30 is generated. is located in the exposure area 20 of the photosensitive material 16
is scanned and exposed.

The exposed photosensitive material 16 is reversed and conveyed by a reversing roller 34, and after being coated with water as an image forming solvent by a water application section 36, it is conveyed to a thermal development transfer section 38.

On the other hand, the image receiving material 48 is also pulled out from the receiving material magazine 46 and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 50, and then sent to the thermal development transfer section 38, overlapping with the photosensitive material 16.

In the thermal development transfer section 38, the exposed photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 48 are sandwiched and conveyed in an overlapping state in the opposing gap between the endless pressure belt 70 and the endless pressure belt 76 (the pressure bonding section 86). Thermal development is performed by the heating drum 40. Further, when the photosensitive material 16 is heated while being overlapped with the image-receiving material 48 at the pressure-bonding section 86, it releases mobile dye, and this dye is transferred to the dye-fixed layer of the image-receiving material 48 to obtain an image.

In this case, the photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 48 are reliably overlapped and the clamping force is sufficient to apply a predetermined pressure, so the materials do not shift during transportation.
Good quality images can be obtained.

In addition, since each endless pressure belt has conductivity, the heating drum 40 and the endless pressure belt 70 or the photosensitive material 1
6 and the image-receiving material 48, and the image obtained on the image-receiving material 48 will not be fogged.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 48 are sandwiched and conveyed to the pressure bonding section 8.
When reaching the terminal end of 6, that is, the peeling parts 96A and 96B,
Endless peeling bells 88A and 88B engage only at both ends of the photosensitive material 16 in the width direction to separate it from the image receiving material 48, and bend and guide the photosensitive material 16 downward from the pressure bonding portion 86.

The separated photosensitive material 16 is sent to a waste photosensitive material storage box 60 provided below the heating drum 40. On the other hand, the image receiving material 48 separated from the photosensitive material 16 is placed on a tray 66.
accumulated on top.

As described above, the endless pressure belt 70 is wider than the image receiving material 48 and narrower than the photosensitive material 16, and the endless peeling belts 88A and 88B engage only at both widthwise ends of the narrow photosensitive material 160. Therefore, the photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 48 can be reliably and stably peeled from the outer periphery of the heating drum and separated from each other while being conveyed, eliminating the need for peeling claws or complicated controls, and further eliminating the need for damaging each material. Not at all.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the heat development transfer device according to the present invention is capable of reliably and stably peeling off the photosensitive material and image receiving material after heat development transfer from the outer periphery of the heating drum and separating them from each other. It has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal development transfer section according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the heat development transfer section, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the dimensional relationship of the endless belt in the heat development transfer section.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus to which a thermal development transfer section is applied. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Image recording device, 16... Photosensitive material, 38... Heat development transfer section, 40... Heating drum, 48... Image receiving material, 70... Endless pressure bonding belt, 76... Endless crimping belt, 86...Crimp part, 88A, 88B...Endless peeling belt, 96A, 96B
...Peeling part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A thermal development and transfer device that superimposes a photosensitive material and an image-receiving material, heat-presses them, and performs thermal development and transfer, the device including a heating drum and a first endless device wrapped around a part of the outer periphery of the heating drum. A part of the outer periphery of the belt and the first endless belt that is wrapped around the heating drum is a crimping part that is crimped to each other, and the photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are sandwiched and conveyed in an overlapping state in the opposing gap of this crimping part. a second endless belt, and a downstream portion of the second endless belt in the nipping and conveying direction;
A third endless belt is provided with a peeling part whose outer periphery is partially pressed against each other only at both ends in the width direction of the endless belt, and engages the photosensitive material or image-receiving material in the opposing gap of the peeling part and bends and moves it from the pressure-bonding part. A thermal development transfer device comprising a belt.