JPH02210441A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deterioration of an image quality by providing an image recording control means, which controls the starting and stopping of image recording on receiving a signal from a water level sensor. CONSTITUTION:When the liquid level is below the water level detected by a floating sensor 178, image recording is stopped at the image recording controlling part 190, and the starting of image recording is made possible on receiving the liquid level detecting signal from the floating sensor 178. Because of this, in a normal state the water level is kept constant by overflowing, but if the water supplied is scarce or not at all due to some reason, the recording procedure is not effected by the stopping of the image recording, and energizing of a heater 180 is also stopped. Thus generation of fire from over heating can be prevented without generating any lowering in the swelling amount in the recording material, and the image deterioration at the time of image formation can be suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that forms an image by coating an image-forming solvent on an image-wise exposed image-recording material.

[Conventional technology]

Examples of image recording materials include photothermographic materials. For information on this heat-developable photosensitive material and its process, please refer to Basics of Photographic Engineering Non-Silver Salt Photographic Cotton (published by Corona Publishing, 1982).
Pages 242-255 of , published in April 1978, Video Information 4
0 pages, Neblett's Han+jbook of
Photography and Reprograp
hy) 17th edition (7th CD,) Van Nostrant Reinhold Company (Van No5t
Rand Reinhold Company) 32-
It is described on page 33.

Furthermore, many methods have been proposed for obtaining color images by heat development.

For example, releasing a mobile dye in an image-like manner by heating,
A method of transferring this mobile dye to a dye fixing material with a mordant using a solvent such as water, a method of transferring it to a dye fixing material using a high boiling point organic solvent, and a method of transferring the dye to a dye fixing material using a hydrophilic heat solvent built into the dye fixing material. Methods have been proposed in which the mobile dye is heat-diffusible or sublimable and is transferred to a dye-receiving material such as a support. (U.S. Patent Nos. 4.463.079, 4.474867, C1178,927, 4507.380, JP 58-149046, JP 58-149047)
No. 59-152440, No. 59-154445, No. 59-165054, No. 59-180548,
No. 59i68439, No. 59-174832, No. 5
No. 9174833, No. 59-174834, No. 59-
No. 174835, etc.) As an apparatus for carrying out this type of image forming method, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5! As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. J-75247, after a color image is exposed on a photothermographic material using an exposure head in an exposure section, an image forming solvent such as water is applied to the photothermographic material. An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which the image receiving material is brought into close contact with the heat-developable photosensitive material after heat development, and then sent to the transfer section, where the image is thermally transferred to the image receiving material.

Then, as a coating device for applying the image forming solvent, for example, the recording material is conveyed while being immersed in the image forming solvent stored in a water tank, the recording material is held between a pair of squeeze rollers, and the recording material is swollen. There is a structure that scrapes off excess image forming method from the image forming apparatus.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Swelling of the image forming solvent into the recording material is for promoting image transfer and good color development. Since the amount of swelling of the recording material greatly depends on the temperature of the image forming solvent, conventionally a heater is installed in the water tank.
is provided to control the temperature of the image forming solvent to a desired temperature, stabilize the amount of swelling to the recording material, and then suck it.

Because the imaging solvent is constantly evaporating from the water tank,
The solvent water level in the water tank is lowered, and the distance that the recording material moves in the image forming solvent circle is shortened, resulting in a decrease in the amount of swelling.

On the other hand, if the image recording operation continues, in other words, if the recording material is repeatedly immersed, the image forming solvent will gradually decrease, resulting in a decrease in the amount of swelling of the image forming solvent, similar to the case of double series. .

Conventionally, therefore, an overflow receiving section is provided, and the image forming solvent is continuously or (intermittently supplied) overflowed from the water tank, and the water level of the image forming solvent is maintained at the height of the partition between the receiving section and the water tank. was stabilized.

However, problems with the image forming solvent replenishment pump,
Overflow cannot be reached due to water leakage from piping or water tank, insufficient amount of image forming solvent remaining in the replenishment tank, etc., and the amount of swelling of the image forming solvent to the recording material decreases due to insufficient liquid volume in the water tank. However, the image quality deteriorates. Furthermore, if the amount of liquid is extremely insufficient, or in some cases almost non-existent, it may become impossible to control the amount of liquid by the heater, causing the heater to remain on all the time, leading to a risk of a fire.

An object of the present invention is to solve this problem, and to provide an image recording apparatus that can prevent image quality from deteriorating due to a decrease in the amount of image forming solvent in the water tank.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to form an image by transporting an image-wise exposed image recording material while immersing it in an image-forming solvent controlled at a desired temperature by a heater. The image recording apparatus includes a water level sensor disposed at a preset liquid level position of the image forming solvent in the water tank, and controls start or stop of image recording in response to a signal from the water level sensor. This is achieved by an image forming solvent coating apparatus having an image recording control means.

That is, the image recording control means enables image recording only when the water level sensor detects that the liquid level has reached a predetermined water level, and disables image recording when the predetermined water level is not detected. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of swelling due to insufficient amount of image forming solvent in the container, and also to prevent a fire from occurring due to overheating of the heater.

Here, in the present invention, stopping image recording means not only stopping the conveyance of the image recording material and the process of forming an image on the recording material by exposure, but also various controls necessary for image formation, such as a heater. This means stopping temperature control by

In addition, examples of the above-mentioned image forming solvent include 'f water,
This water is not limited to so-called pure water, but also includes water in the widely customary sense, and also includes pure water, methanol,
A mixed solvent with a low boiling point solvent such as DMF, acetone, and diisobutyl ketone may also be used. Alternatively, a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development stopper, a hydrophilic heat solvent, etc. may be used.

[Embodiment]

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive material is of a type that requires a heat development step and in which an image is transferred to an image-receiving material having an image-receiving layer in the presence of an image-forming solvent such as water.

1'l in the housing 12 constituting the image recording device.
! , a photosensitive material supply section 13 containing a photosensitive material, and a document S.
an image reading section 15 that reads image information carried on the photosensitive material A; an exposure section 16 that forms a latent image on the photosensitive material A;
a water application section 17 that applies water to the image receiving paper C; an image receiving paper supply section 41 that stores the image receiving paper C; a superimposing section 19 that superimposes the image receiving paper C on the photosensitive material A; a photosensitive material A and the image receiving paper C;
A heat development transfer section 21 that performs heat treatment on the photosensitive material A and a peeling section 23 that peels off the image receiving paper C from the photosensitive material A are provided, respectively.

A transparent original supporting glass plate 14 on which a single original S is placed is arranged on the upper surface of the housing 12, and the image reading section 15 is arranged below this original supporting glass plate 14.

That is, the image reading unit 15 includes the light source 18, mirror 20a, and imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30 that integrally scans the entire surface of the document supporting glass plate 14, and the light source 18, etc. in the same direction by a scanning distance A. Mirror 20 moving to
b, 2DC and fixed mirrors 20d, 20e, 2Of, which are surrounded by a partition wall 22 and optically isolated from other parts. However, in this case, the image reading unit 15 reflected by the fixed mirror 2Of is attached to the partition wall 22.
The exposed portion 1 of the photosensitive material A is located in the portion through which the optical axis 32 of the photosensitive material A passes.
An exposure opening 34 according to No. 6 is defined, and a cyanator device 35 and a negative control device 36 are arranged in the exposure opening i34.

Further, a standard white plate 302 is provided near the original support glass plate 14 so as to be exposed to the light source 18 .

On the other hand, the photosensitive material supply section 13 is provided on the left side of the housing 12 and is kept light-tight. A removable photosensitive material magazine 54 wound with photosensitive material A is loaded into the photosensitive material supply section 13.

The photosensitive material supply 'B13 has roller pairs 56a to 56d for conveying the photosensitive material A from the magazine 54 to the exposure section 16. In this case, a cutter 58 for cutting the photosensitive material A into predetermined lengths is provided between the roller pair 56a56b.

Further, an exposure table 60 disposed between the roller pair 56C56d
faces the exposure opening 34 defined at the bottom of the partition wall 22 surrounding the image reading section 15 .

A transport path consisting of a pair of rollers 56e and a guide plate is provided in front of the exposure section 16 (hereinafter, "front" refers to the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the photosensitive material, etc.).

The exposure section 16 performs imagewise exposure on the photosensitive material A to form a latent image, and the photosensitive material A on which the latent image is formed is conveyed to the water application section 17 via the conveyance path.

The water application section 17 is for facilitating the transfer of the latent image formed on the photosensitive material A, and the water application section 17 will be described later in FIG.
Squeeze roller pair 176, guide plate 172 and water tank 17
It consists of 4 etc. Then, fill the water tank 174 with water,
The photosensitive material is immersed in the water and transported.

The photosensitive material A coated with water is squeezed by a pair of squeeze rollers 176.
It is conveyed to the overlapping section 19 by.

On the other hand, on the right side of the Uji jig 12, there is provided a receiving paper supply section 41 that supplies the receiving paper C.
3 is loaded. The image receiving paper C in the magnifying gun 43 is fed out by a pair of rollers 56h, and cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 44 disposed in front of the pair of rollers 56h.

The cut image-receiving paper C is conveyed to the overlapping section 19 by a pair of rollers 56.

In front of the overlapping part 19, the overlapping photosensitive material IJ
A heat development transfer section 21 is provided which heats the photosensitive material A and the image receiving paper C, develops the latent image on the photosensitive material A, and transfers the latent image onto the image receiving paper C.

The heat development transfer section 21 is surrounded by a heat-insulating partition wall 62, and is wound around a hollow cylindrical heating tram 74 containing a halogen lamp 72 and the outer peripheral surface of this heating drum 74 at an angle of about 270 degrees. The endless belt 84 is supported by four belt support rollers 76, 77, and 7880, and the photosensitive material A and the image receiving paper C are heated in a superimposed state. By this heating, the latent image on the photosensitive material A is developed and transferred onto the image receiving paper C to develop color.

A peeling section 23 is provided within the partition wall 62, and the peeling section 23 includes a first peeling claw 232 for peeling the photosensitive material A from the image receiving paper C, and a first peeling claw 232 for peeling the image receiving paper C from the heating tram 74. It consists of two peeling claws 234 and a roller 56j that discharges the image receiving paper C to the outside of the partition wall 62.

In front of one side of the heat development transfer section 21, there is a waste tray 18 for discarding the heated photosensitive material A peeled from the image receiving paper C by a peeling claw 232, and a roller for feeding the photosensitive material into the waste tray 118. A pair 56k is provided. The waste tray 118 is provided below the heat development transfer section 2j. In addition, in the other front of the heat development transfer section 21, there is a take-out tray 120 for storing the heated image-receiving paper C, and a pair of rollers 56β, 56m for conveying the heated image-receiving paper C to the take-out tray 120.
56n is provided, and the image-receiving paper C on which the image has been transferred is led out to the take-out tray 120.

Further, a color density detection unit 124 for detecting the color density of the image on the image receiving paper C is arranged between the pair of rollers 56m and 56n. The color density detection unit 124 includes an illumination device 126 that illuminates the image surface of the image receiving paper C, and a color photo sensor 1.28 that receives reflected light from the image receiving paper C due to this illumination.
It consists of

The apparatus further includes a color density control unit (1) connected to the imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30 and the photo sensor 128 and disposed at a suitable location within the housing 12.
50, the color density control unit, /) 150, the photosensitive material supply section 13, the image reading section 15, the drive system of the image reading section 15 (
(not shown), image receiving paper supply section 41, cuckoo 44.58,
A system control device (not shown) is provided which is connected to the shutter control device 36, the water application section 17, the heat development transfer section 21, and the peeling section 23 to control the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the water application section 17.

The water application section 17 includes a container 174 that is a water tank containing water, an upper guide member 172 that guides the photosensitive material A into the water,
A roller pair 56f that conveys the photosensitive material along between the guide member 172 and the first bottom 174a of the container 174, and a squeeze roller pair 176 that scrapes off excess water from the photosensitive material IIA that has been swollen after being coated with water. configured.

The container 174 has the above-mentioned first bottom 174a and second bottom 174.
It is composed of b.

The first bottom portion 174a has a smooth cylindrical partial surface shape, bulges downward in the direction of gravity, and its axis is perpendicular to the direction of conveyance to the photosensitive material. The guide member 172 is connected to this first bottom portion 17.
It has a curved surface shape that maintains a constant predetermined interval to form a transport path from 4a to the photosensitive material. The photosensitive material conveyed from the roller pair 56f is guided to the first bottom portion 174a, and is directed toward the squeeze roller pair 176.

A portion of the container 174 below the pair of squeeze rollers 176 is a second bottom portion 174b, which serves as a receptacle for water scraped below the lower roller of the pair of squeeze rollers 176.

A first bottom portion 174 is provided at a central portion of the first bottom portion 174a.
A supply pipe 168 for supplying water is attached to the tank 160a, and a pump 164 supplies water from a tank 166 to the water supply port 160a as needed. This water supply port 1
There is a heater 180 adjacent to the water heater 60a, and water is heated to a predetermined temperature and then supplied into the first bottom portion 174a.

The first bottom portion 174a and the second bottom portion 174b are connected by a bypass pipe 160, and the water level at both bottom portions is the same.

On the other hand, in the second bottom part 474b, on the opposite side of the first bottom part 174a, there is a partition 165a having the same height as the boundary part 175 between the first bottom part 174a and the second bottom part 174b, and an overflow pipe attached to this partition 165a is located on the opposite side of the first bottom part 174a. Since the excess water is discharged to the partition 165, the water level of the water tank 174 is adjusted to the partition 165.
It cannot exceed a.

This overflow pipe 165 enters a tank 166, and the excess water is reused.

At this time, it is even more effective to use a filter or the like to remove dirt from the excess water.

An i-ma discharge pipe 169 is connected from the bypass pipe 160 to an overflow pipe 165 through a solenoid valve 167, and drains water from the container 174.

A float sensor is provided in the second bottom portion 174b to detect a liquid level slightly below the set overflow liquid level.
Il 1178 is arranged to detect the liquid level and output water level information to the image recording control section 190 in the control device.

When the liquid level is below the water level detected by the float sensor 178, the image recording control unit 190 stops recording the image;
Image recording can be started upon receiving the liquid level detection signal from the float sensor Il1178.

By doing the above, under normal conditions the water level is kept constant due to overflow as described above, but if for some reason water is not replenished or is not refilled, image recording is stopped and the recording operation is not performed. Therefore, the power supply to the heater 180 is also stopped, so that the swelling amount of the recording material does not decrease, and it is possible to prevent a fire from occurring due to overheating.

Note that the image recording device operation unit may display that the liquid level is below the water level detected by the float sensor 178; for example, even though replenishment by the pump 164 has started, a predetermined period of time has elapsed. However, if the water does not reach a predetermined level, it is possible to display an indication that there is a failure in the piping or pump, or that there is insufficient water in the replenishment tank 166. In this case the pump is preferably stopped.

Further, when draining water from the water tank 174 for cleaning or the like, if the liquid level is detected by the float sensor 178 after a certain period of time, a display to that effect may be displayed.

Further, the water level sensor may be any other type than the float sensor as long as it can detect the water level; for example, an optical sensor may be used to detect the water surface position, a thermocouple may be used to detect the water surface position based on changes in electrical resistance, etc.

It is also possible to provide a plurality of such sensors, which enables more reliable detection of the water surface and also allows determination of the horizontality of the installation position of the image recording device.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the squeeze roller 176 may be formed of, for example, metal, resin, or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a water level sensor, when the image forming solvent is not replenished to the water tank, the image recording operation can be stopped and the recording material can be In addition to preventing a decrease in the amount of swelling, it is possible to prevent a fire from occurring due to the heater, and it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality during image formation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coating section. Reference numeral 10 in the figure Image recording device 13 Photosensitive material recording section 15 Image reading section 18 Light source 21 Heat development transfer section 30 F-shaped lens 7 32 Optical axis 12 Haununk 14 Document support glass plate 17 Water coating section 19 Overlapping section 23 Peeling Part unit assembly 36 Printer control device 41 Receiving paper supply unit 43 Receiving paper magazine 4
4.58 Cutter 54 Sensitive material magazine 56
a to 56n roller pair 60 exposure table 72 halogen lamp 74 heating drum 76, 77, 78.
80 Belt support roller 84 Endless belt
118-[Discarded] Ray 120 Take-out tray 124 Color density detection unit 126 Illumination device 12
B Color photo sensor 150 Color density control unit 160 Bypass pipe 160a Water supply port 16
4 Pump 165a Partition 165
Overflow pipe 166 Tank 167 Solenoid valve 168
Supply pipe 169 Discharge pipe 172 Guide plate 174 Container 174a First bottom part
174b Second bottom part 176 Squeeze roller 180 Heater 178 Float sensor
232.234 Peeling claw 190 Image recording control section
302 White plate photosensitive material C image receiving paper

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image recording apparatus that forms an image by transporting an image-wise exposed image-recording material while immersing it in an image-forming solvent controlled at a desired temperature by a heater, wherein the image-forming solvent is preset in the water tank. An image recording apparatus comprising: a water level sensor disposed at a liquid level position; and an image recording control means for controlling start or stop of image recording in response to a signal from the water level sensor.