JPH02310558A - Heat developing and transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To check the occurrence of a void in a leading edge part where a heat development photosensitive material and an image receiving material are stuck together by using a rubber roller as a stuck roller and setting the rubber hardness thereof at 70-90 deg.. CONSTITUTION:A gear 310 is coaxially fixed to one belt supporting roller 78 and driving power is transmitted to the gear 310 by meshing with a gear 316 fixed to the driving shaft 314 of a motor 312. By driving the belt supporting roller 78, an endless belt 84, a heating drum 74 and the stuck roller 85 are driven to be rotated. As for the roller 85, both ends of a shaft 318 thereof are energized to the heating drum 74 with springs 320 respectively and silicone rubber is usually used as the material thereof. It is desirable that the rubber hardness is 70-90 deg., more desirably, 80-90 deg.. Thus, development and transfer are performed without causing air foams to enter between the endless belt 84 and the heating drum 74, thereby obtaining an image without void.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is directed to superimposing a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material using a laminating roller that contacts the circumferential surface of a heating drum.
The present invention relates to a thermal development and transfer device that performs thermal development and transfer by winding two materials around the outer periphery of a rotating heating drum using a pressing means.

[Conventional technology]

Examples of the above-mentioned image recording materials include heat-developable photosensitive materials. For information on this heat-developable photosensitive material and its process, please see pages 242 to 255 of Basic Non-Silver Salt Photography of Photographic Engineering (Published by Corona Publishing, 1982), page 40 of Eizo Seiho, published in April 1978, and Neblett's Handbook of Photo. Graphy (Neblett's Handbook
of Photography and Reprog
raphy) 7th Edition (7thEd,) 77 Strand Line Hold Cumber 1-- (Van No
5trand Reinhold Company), pages 32-33.

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, a method of transferring this mobile dye to a dye fixing material using a hydrophilic thermal solvent incorporated in the dye fixing material A method in which the mobile dye is heat-diffusible or sublimable and is transferred to a dye-receiving material such as a support has been proposed. (U.S. Patent No. 4.463.079, U.S. Patent No. 4.474°867
No. 4.478.927, No. 4.507.38
No. 0, JP-A-58-149046, JP-A No. 58-1490
No. 47, No. 59-152440, No. 59-15444
No. 5, No. 59-165054, No. 59-180548
No. 59-168439, No. 59-174832, No. 59-174833, No. 59-174834,
59-174835, etc.) As an apparatus for carrying out this type of image forming method, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-75247, an exposure head is used in an exposure section to produce a thermally developable photosensitive image. After exposing a color image to the material, an image forming solvent such as water is applied to the photothermographic material, and the material is sent to a heat development section.
An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which an image-receiving material is brought into close contact with a heat-developable photosensitive material after heat development, and the image is sent to a transfer section, where the image is thermally transferred to the image-receiving material.

Here, the above-mentioned image forming solvent includes, for example, water, and this water is not limited to so-called pure water, but includes water in the widely customary sense, and furthermore, pure water, methanol, D
A mixed solvent with a low boiling point solvent such as MF, acetone, or diisobutyl ketone may be used. Alternatively, a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development stopper, a hydrophilic heat solvent, etc. may be used.

Then, the heat-developable photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are overlapped,
A thermal development transfer device that simultaneously performs development and transfer has also been proposed.

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 photothermographic material is sandwiched and conveyed between a heating drum and an endless pressure belt while being overlapped with the image-receiving material. At this time, it is heated and developed, and the image is transferred to the image-receiving material. be done.

The thermal development transfer device is provided with a bonding roller that comes into contact with the circumferential surface of the heating drum on the material nipping start side of the endless pressure belt in order to overlap the photothermographic material and the image-receiving material. With this laminating roller,
The heat-developable photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are overlapped before being conveyed while being sandwiched between the endless pressure belt and the heating drum.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] 4 Among the heat-developable photosensitive material and the image-receiving material that are superimposed on each other by the above-mentioned bonding roller, the leading end of the material on the bonding roller side is slightly held and conveyed by the light.

Here, if the pressing with the bonding roller is insufficient, air bubbles are likely to form between the two materials, especially at the leading ends of the two materials, and the leading ends are held and conveyed between the endless pressure belt and the heating drum. In this case, there is a problem that transfer is not performed in the areas where air bubbles are present, and blank areas are formed in the final image on the image-receiving material.

An object of the present invention is to solve this problem, and to provide a heat development transfer device that can suppress the occurrence of white spots at the leading end of the bonding of a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to overlap a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material by a laminating roller that contacts the peripheral surface of a heating drum, and to heat the two materials by rotating them. A thermal development and transfer device that performs thermal development and transfer by wrapping around the outer periphery of a drum using a pressing means, characterized in that the bonding roller is a rubber roller and the rubber hardness is 70° to 90°. This is accomplished by a development transfer device.

In other words, by setting the rubber hardness of the bonding roller to 70° to 90°, the deformation of the bonding roller when pressed against the outer periphery of the heating drum is reduced, and the area of action between the heating drum and the bonding roller is accordingly reduced. becomes small, and therefore, the pressing force is concentrated on the bonding surfaces of the photothermographic material and the image-receiving material, resulting in a large force, and the bonding is performed reliably.

Note that the parts of the bonding roller other than the shaft may be made of rubber, or the roller surface may be covered with rubber.

[Embodiment]

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

In the description of the embodiments, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the structure and operation of the entire image recording apparatus to which the thermal development transfer device is applied will be explained, and then the main parts will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a thermal development transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the case is shown in which a type that performs thermal development transfer in the presence of an image forming solvent such as water is used.

Inside the housing 12 constituting the image recording device, there is a photosensitive material supply section 13 that stores the photosensitive material A, an image reading section 15 that reads image information carried on the document S, and a 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 photosensitive material A, an image receiving paper supply section 41 that stores the image receiving paper C, and an image receiving paper C that is placed over the photosensitive material A. A superimposing section 19 for combining, a heat development transfer section 21 that performs heat treatment on the photosensitive material A and the image receiving paper C, and a peeling section 23 that separates the image receiving paper C from the photosensitive material A are provided, respectively.

A transparent document support glass plate 14 on which a document S is placed is arranged on the upper surface of the housing 12, and the image reading section 15 is arranged below this document support 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 further scans the light source 18, etc. in the same direction by 2 of the scanning distance. Mirror 2 moving to
0b, 20c and fixed mirrors 20d, 20e, 2Of
These are surrounded by a partition wall 22 and optically isolated from other parts. However, in this case, the image reading unit 1 reflected by the fixed mirror 2Of is attached to the partition wall 22.
An exposure opening 34 related to the exposure section 16 of the photosensitive material A is defined in a portion through which the optical axis 32 of the photosensitive material A passes, and a shutter device 35 and a shutter control device 36 are arranged in the exposure opening 34. .

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. This photosensitive material supply section 13 is loaded with a removable photosensitive material magazine 54 in which photosensitive material A is wound.

The photosensitive material supply section 13 has roller pairs 56a to 56d for conveying the photosensitive material A from the magazine 54 to the exposure section 16. In this case, roller pair 56a.

A cutter 58 for cutting the photosensitive material A into predetermined lengths is provided between the cutters 56b. Also, a pair of rollers 56c.

The exposure table 60 disposed between 56d and 56d is connected to the exposure opening 3 defined at the bottom of the partition wall 22 surrounding the image reading section 15.
4.

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.) is provided with a conveyance path consisting of a pair of rollers 56e and a guide plate.

The exposure section 16 performs imagewise exposure on the photosensitive material HA 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. The water tank 174 is filled with water, and the roller pair 56f is used to move the water between the guide plate 172 and the water tank 174. The photosensitive material A is conveyed while being immersed in the water, excess water is scraped off by a pair of squeeze rollers 176, and the pair of squeeze rollers 176 further conveys the photosensitive material A to the overlapping section 19.

On the other hand, on the right side of the housing 12, a receiving paper supply section 41 for supplying the receiving paper C is provided. The image receiving paper supply section 4
1 is a receiving paper magazine 43 that stores rolled receiving paper C;
is loaded. The image receiving paper C in the magazine 43 is transferred to the roller pair 5.
6h, 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 56i.

In front of the overlapping part 19, the overlapping photosensitive materials A
A heating and developing edge transfer section 21 is provided which heats the image receiving paper C, develops the latent image on the photosensitive material A, and transfers it onto the image receiving paper C.

The heat development transfer section 21 is surrounded by a heat insulating partition wall 62, and is wrapped around a hollow cylindrical heating drum 74 containing a halogen lamp 72 at an angle of about 270° around the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 74. 4 belt support rollers 76.7? , 78°80, and the overlapping photosensitive material conveyed to the heat development transfer section 21, the image receiving paper C is pressed into contact with the circumferential surface of the heating drum 740 and bonded together. roller 84
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 the mobile dye is transferred to the image receiving paper C according to the latent image.
It is released onto the surface and transferred to develop color.

The surface of the heating drum 740 is coated with Teflon, and is further heated to about 90° C. by a halogen lamp 72. .

Moreover, the endless belt 84 is made of aromatic polyamide fiber (
For example, a heat-resistant material such as Kevlar or Nomex (both registered trademarks of Denibon) is coated with carbon-containing silicone rubber, and has conductivity to prevent static electricity.

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 drum 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 118 for discarding the heated photosensitive material A peeled from the image receiving paper C by a peeling claw 232, and a pair of rollers for throwing the photosensitive material A into the waste tray 118. 56k is provided. The waste tray 118 is provided below the heat development transfer section 21 . In addition, in the other front of the heat development transfer section 21, there is a take-out tray 120 that accommodates the heated image receiving paper C and a pair of rollers 561 that conveys it to the take-out tray 120! , 56m
, 56n are provided, and the image-receiving paper C on which the image has been transferred is delivered 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 photosensor 128 that receives reflected light from the image receiving paper C due to this illumination.

The apparatus further includes a color density control unit (1) connected to the imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30 and the photosensor 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), receiver paper supply section 41 cutter 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 and controls the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the thermal development transfer section 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A gear 310 is coaxially fixed to one belt support roller 78, and this gear 310 meshes with a gear 316 fixed to a drive shaft 314 of a motor 312 to transmit driving force. By driving the belt support roller 78, the endless belt 84, heating drum 74, and bonding roller 85 are rotationally driven.

The bonding roller 85 has both ends of a shaft 318 urged against the heating drum 74 by springs 320, respectively.
Silicone rubber is usually used as the material, and the rubber hardness is preferably between 70 and 906, preferably 80.
A preferred angle is between 90° and 90°.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the evaluation of white spots at the leading edge of the image receiving paper C with respect to the rubber hardness of the bonding roller 85.

The evaluation of white spots at the leading edge of image receiving paper C is divided into five levels based on the observer's visual evaluation. Exclusions indicate larger portions.

For rubber hardness of 40° and 60°, even when the nip pressure by the spring 320 is increased to 15 kg, some improvement in white spots is observed compared to when the nip pressure is low, but it is not completely eliminated.

However, when the rubber hardness is 80°, even if the nip pressure of the spring 320 is as low as 6.5 kg, it is possible to obtain a rating of 1 and no white spots.

This is because when the bonding roller 85 is pressurized by the spring 320, the deformation of the roller at the part pressed against the heating drum 74 becomes smaller, and the pressure per unit area becomes higher due to fewer pressure-applied parts, resulting in a low nip pressure. A sufficient effect can also be obtained.

Therefore, by setting the rubber hardness to 80[deg.], even if the nip pressure fluctuates, for example, this effect can be avoided.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by setting the rubber hardness of the bonding roller to 70° to 90°, the end portions of the image receiving paper and the photosensitive material can be bonded between the bonding roller and the heating drum. This is performed reliably, and development and transfer is performed without bubbles between the endless belt and the heating drum, so it is possible to obtain an image without white spots.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a heat development transfer unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the heat development transfer unit. FIG. 3 is an evaluation of white spots with respect to rubber hardness. This is a graph representing Code in the figure: lO-・Image recording device 12・Housing 13
Photosensitive material recording section 14 Document support glass plate 15/image reading section 17 Water application section 18 - light source
19 Overlapping section 21/heat development transfer section 23 Peeling section 30 Imaging lens/filter unit assembly 32 Optical axis 36 Shutter control device 41 Receiving paper supply section 43 Receiving paper magazine 44, 58 Cutter 54 Sensitive material magazine 56a to 56n Roller pair 60 Exposure stage 72
Halogen lamp 74 Heating drums 76, 77
, 78.80 Belt support roller 84 Endless belt 118-[1) Ray 120 Take-out tray 124 Color density detection unit 126 Illumination device 12
8 Color photo sensor 150 Color density control unit 31 - Gear 312 Motor 314 Drive shaft 316 Gear 318 Shaft 32
0 Spring A Photosensitive material C Receiving paper (3 others) Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A heat development transfer method in which a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material are overlapped by a bonding roller that contacts the peripheral surface of a heating drum, and the two materials are wrapped around the outer periphery of a rotating heating drum by a pressing means to perform thermal development and transfer. 1. A thermal development transfer device, characterized in that the bonding roller is a rubber roller, and the rubber hardness is 70° to 90°.