JPH025056A - Application device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent squeezing rollers from being contaminated by partitioning a water tank to a first tank and a second tank and providing a guide member which abuts on the upper part of the soaked squeezing roller being above the surface of water and which guides solvent scraped from a recording material to the first tank and a means which supplies new liquid to the second tank. CONSTITUTION:The water tank 174 is partitioned to the first tank 174a for soaking a photosensitive material A in the water and the second tank 174b for soaking a part of the circumferential surface of the lower squeezing roller 176 by a partition wall 175. The guide member 177 is provided on the upper part of the partition wall 175. Then, the guide member 177 guides excessive water scraped from the photosensitive material A to the first tank 174a and simultaneously prevents the excessive water from flowing into the second tank 174b. Besides, a supplying pipe 160 for supplying water to the second tank 174b is fitted and a pump 164 is fitted in the intermediate part of the pipe 160. Then, an auxiliary water tank 166 is disposed to one end of the pipe 160. Thus, the squeezing rollers 176 are always washed by clean image forming solvent and prevented from being contaminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coating device for coating a sheet-like recording material with an image forming solvent.

[Conventional technology]

Heat-developable photosensitive materials are well-known as image recording materials, and for information on heat-developable photosensitive materials and their processes, see, for example, Basic Non-Silver Salt Photography Edition of Photographic Engineering (published by Corona Publishing, 1982), 24.
Pages 2 to 255, video information published in April 1978, page 40,
Neblett Handbook of Photography (
Neblett' 5Handbook of Pho
tography and reprography)
7th Ed, Van Nostrand
Reinhold Company (Van No5trand
Reinhold Company) 32-33
It is written on the page.

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

A method in which a mobile dye is released in an image-like manner by heating, and this mobile dye is transferred to a dye-fixing material (image-receiving material) with a mordant using a solvent such as water, or a method in which a high-boiling point organic solvent is used to transfer the mobile dye to a dye-fixing material. A method in which the dye is transferred to a dye fixing material using a hydrophilic hot solvent built into the dye fixing material, and a method in which the mobile dye is heat diffusible or sublimable and is transferred to a dye receiving material such as a support have been proposed. ing.

As an apparatus for carrying out this type of image forming method, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 75247, an exposure head is used in an exposure section to expose a color image onto a heat-developable photosensitive material. Afterwards, an image-forming solvent such as water is applied to the heat-developable photosensitive material using a roller, and this is sent to a heat development section.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 transfer is performed. An image recording apparatus that thermally transfers an image onto an image-receiving material has been proposed.

Another coating device for applying the image forming solvent is, for example, conveying the photothermographic material while immersing it in the image forming solvent contained in a water tank, and transferring the photothermographic material between a pair of squeeze rollers. A conceivable structure is such that the excess image forming solvent is scraped off from the swollen heat-developable photosensitive material.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

When the image recording apparatus records images over a long period of time, there is a problem in that the circumferential surface of the squeeze roller becomes dirty, and this dirt adheres to the photothermographic material and adversely affects the image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a coating device configured to prevent contamination of the squeeze roller.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The above object of the present invention is to convey a sheet-like recording material while being immersed in an image forming solvent in a water tank, and to sandwich the recording material between a pair of squeeze rollers. The coating device scrapes excess image forming solvent from the recording material, the water tank immersing a first tank containing the image forming solvent for dipping the recording material and a partial peripheral surface of the force squeeze roller. a second tank for accommodating an image-forming solvent, and a guide member that contacts above the water surface of the immersed squeeze roller and guides the image-forming solvent scraped from the recording material to the first tank; ,
This is achieved by a coating device comprising means for supplying a new solution of image forming solvent to the second tank.

That is, since the partial peripheral surface of one of the squeeze rollers is immersed in the image forming solvent in the second tank, it is constantly washed with the image forming solvent, and excess image forming solvent scraped off from the swollen recording material is removed. does not flow into the second tank in which the squeeze roller is immersed, but flows into the first layer, so it does not contaminate the image forming solvent in which the squeeze roller is immersed.

Since a fresh solution of the image forming solvent is supplied into the second tank, the image forming solvent in the second tank is maintained in a clean state.

Incidentally, examples of the recording material used in the present invention include the following.

For example, there are so-called photothermographic materials in which an image obtained by thermal development is transferred to an image-receiving material by heating. This photosensitive material is one in which a mobile dye is released imagewise by heating, and the mobile dye is transferred to an image receiving material (dye fixing material) having a mordant using a solvent such as water; Transfer to the image-receiving material is performed using a high-boiling organic solvent, transfer is performed to the image-receiving material using a hydrophilic thermal solvent built into the image-receiving material, or the mobile dye is heat-diffusible or sublimable and the support is There are known methods that transfer to dye-receiving materials such as bodies, and specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,079, U.S. Pat.
Same No. 4.478,927, Same No. 4,507,380, Same No. 4.500.626, Same No. 4.483,914
No., JP-A-58-149046, JP-A No. 58-14904
No. 7, No. 59-152440, No. 59-154445
No. 59-165054, No. 5! lt-18054
No. 8, No. 59-168439, No. 59174832, No. 59-174833, No. 59-174834,
It is disclosed in No. 59-174835.

Further, the image forming solvent includes, for example, water, and this water is not limited to so-called pure water, but includes water in the widely conventional sense. In addition, pure water, methanol, DMF,
A mixed solvent with a low boiling point solvent such as acetone or diisobutyl ketone may be used. Furthermore, a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development stopper, a hydrophilic heat solvent, etc. may also be used.

[Embodiment]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in this embodiment,
As the recording material, a photosensitive material of a type that requires a heat development step and in which an image is transferred and formed on an image-receiving material having an image-receiving layer 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 houses a photosensitive material, an image reading section 15 that reads image information carried on the document S, and a latent image on the photosensitive material. An exposure section 16 for forming the photosensitive material, a water application section 17 for applying water to the photosensitive material, an image receiving paper supply section 41 that stores the image receiving paper C, and an overlapping section 19 for superimposing the image receiving paper C on the photosensitive material A. , a heat development transfer section 21 that heat-processes 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.

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 that integrally scans the entire surface of the document support glass plate 14, the mirror 20a1, and the imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30, and the light source 18, etc., in the same direction by 2 of the scanning distance. moving mirror 2
0b, 2Qc and fixed mirrors 20d, 20e2Qf, 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.
An exposure opening 34 related to the exposure section 16 for the photosensitive material) I3I is defined in a portion through which the optical axis 32 of Ru.

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 includes roller pairs 56a to 56. which transport the photosensitive material A from the magazine 54 to the exposure section 16. It has d. In this case, roller pair 56a.

A cutter 58 for cutting the photosensitive material A into predetermined lengths is provided between the cutters 55b. 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 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 is composed of a pair of rollers 56f1, a pair of squeeze rollers 176, a guide plate 172, and a water tank 174. Then, the water tank 174 is filled with water, and the photosensitive material is transported while being immersed in the water.

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 housing 12, a receiving paper supply section 41 for supplying the receiving paper C is provided. The image receiving paper supply section 41
A receiving paper magazine 43 containing wound receiving paper C is loaded. The image receiving paper C in the magazine 43 is transferred to the roller pair 56.
h, 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 561.

In front of the overlapping part 19, the overlapping photosensitive materials A
A heating development 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 wound around a hollow cylindrical heating drum 74 containing a halogen lamp 72 at an angle of about 270 degrees around the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 74. 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 23°2 for peeling the photosensitive material A from the image receiving paper C, and a first peeling claw 23°2 for peeling the image receiving paper C from the heating drum 74. and a roller 56 for discharging 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 peeled from the image receiving paper C by a peeling claw 232, and a pair of rollers for supplying the photosensitive material into the waste tray 118. 56k is provided. The waste tray 118 is provided below the heat development transfer section 21 .

Further, in front of the other side 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 56L 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 125 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 I2.
50, the color density control unit 150, the photosensitive material supply section I3, the image reading section 15, the drive system of the image reading section 15 (not shown), the receiving paper supply section 41, the cutter 44.58, the Nyak control device 36, Water application section 17, heat development transfer section 2
1. A system control device (not shown) is provided which is connected to the peeling section 23 and controls the entire device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the coating section 17.

The water application unit 17 includes a water tank 174 containing water, a guide plate 172 that guides the photosensitive material A into the water, a pair of rollers 56 that transports the photosensitive material A along the guide plate 172, and a roller pair 56 that conveys the photosensitive material A along the guide plate 172. It consists of a pair of squeeze rollers 176 that scrape off excess water from the swollen photosensitive material A. The water tank 174 is
The partition wall 175 defines a first tank 174a for immersing the photosensitive material A in water, and a second tank 174b for immersing a partial surface of the squeeze roller 176 below. A guide member 177 made of plastic film or the like is provided on the upper part of the partition wall 175, and the guide member 177 is in elastic contact with the squeeze roller 176 located below over the entire axial direction. The excess water that has been scraped off is guided to the first tank 174a, and this water is prevented from flowing into the second tank 174b.

This guide member 177 seals between the lower squeeze roller 176 and the partition wall 175.

A supply pipe 160 for supplying water into the second tank 174b is attached to the second tank 174b, and a pump 164 is attached to the middle part of the supply pipe 160. Further, an auxiliary water tank 1 is provided at one end of this supply pipe 160.
66 is installed, and therefore, by driving this pump 164, water can be supplied from the auxiliary water tank 166 into the second tank 174b as needed.

Further, an overflow pipe 165 is attached to the second tank 174b for discharging excess water contained in the second tank 174. This overflow pipe 165
The opening 165a is arranged at a predetermined height from the bottom of the second tank 174b, and when the water supplied from the supply pipe 160 reaches above this opening 165a, the water is transferred to the second tank 174b. By discharging the water to the outside of the second tank 174b, the amount of water (the height of the water surface) in the second tank 174b can be kept constant. The opening 165b on the opposite side of the overflow pipe 165 is attached to a waste liquid tank 167, and the water discharged from the second tank 174b is stored in the waste liquid tank 167.

Since a predetermined portion of the circumferential surface of the lower squeeze roller 176 is immersed in the water in the second tank 174b, the circumferential surface is cleaned by rotating. Since water is repeatedly supplied and discharged from the second tank 174b, the water is always maintained in a clean state. Further, a guide member 177 provided on the partition wall 175 directs the water scraped from the photosensitive material A to the first tank 174.
Since the water is guided into the second tank 174b, this water will not flow into the second tank 174b, and the water in the second tank 174b will not be contaminated.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, a supply pipe, a discharge pipe, an overflow pipe, etc. are attached to the first tank 174a, and the water in the first tank 174a is also exchanged as necessary.

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

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be an apparatus for applying an image forming solvent to an image-receiving material.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the water tank containing the image forming solvent is divided into two tanks, the first tank containing the image forming solvent to be applied to the recording material, and the second tank containing a portion of the circumference of the squeeze roller. A guide member containing an image forming solvent for dipping the surface and further abutting the squeeze roller causes the image forming solvent scraped from the recording material to flow into the first tank, while the second tank contains the image forming solvent. Since fresh liquid is supplied, the squeeze roller is always washed with a clean image forming solvent and no dirt adheres to it.

Therefore, image recording can be performed without adversely affecting the image on the recording material.

[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 numbers in the figure: 10 Image recording device 12 Housing 13
Photosensitive material supply 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 Gloss control device 41 Receiving paper supply section 43 Receiving paper magazine 4458 Cutter 54 Photosensitive material Magazines 56a to 56n Roller pair 60 Exposure table 72 Halogen lamp 74 Heating drum 76.77.7
8.80 Belt support roller 84 Endless belt 118 Waste tray 120 Take-out tray 124 Color density detection unit 126 Lighting device 128
Color photo sensor 150 Color density control unit 160 Supply pipe 164 Pump 165 Overflow pipe 166 Auxiliary water tank 167 Waste liquid tank 172
Guide plate 174 Water tank 175 Partition wall 176 Squeeze roller 177 Guide member 232.234
Peeling claw 302 white plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] A coating device that transports a sheet-like recording material while immersing it in an image-forming solvent in a water tank, and scrapes excess image-forming solvent from the recording material by sandwiching the recording material between a pair of squeeze rollers, the coating device comprising: The water tank is defined by a first tank containing an image forming solvent for immersing the recording material, and a second tank containing an image forming solvent for immersing a partial peripheral surface of the one squeeze roller. a guide member that comes into contact with the squeeze roller above the water surface and guides the image forming solvent scraped from the recording material to the first tank;
A coating device comprising a means for supplying a new solution of an image forming solvent to a tank.