JPH0264641A - Containing vessel for sheet-like photosensitive member used for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply and correctly extend a sheet-like photosensitive member without being exposed by providing an outline forming member of the photosensitive member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a path extending from an exposing part to a fixing part on a part of a vessel for containing the photosensitive member. CONSTITUTION:An outline forming member 50 is formed to a shape which has longer width than a photosensitive film (f) and can be allowed to pass through between an image forming lens unit 3 and an exposing base 2, between the upper and the lower rolls 5, 6 of a pressure fixing unit, and between the upper roll 5 and a transfer sheet guide member, and attached so that it can be inserted and detached from its one side into and from each groove 28, 28 provided on both the upper and the lower ends of the end face of a supply roll 11 side. In such a state, when a cassette 10 is pushed into a prescribed position of an image forming device 1 from this side, and drawn out by holding one end of the outline forming member 50, the photosensitive film (f) is extended over a running path correctly along the exposing base 2 and the pressure fixing roller 5 as it is. In such a way, the sheet-like photosensitive member (f) can be installed easily and exactly without being exposed.

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.

[Conventional technology]

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,446 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 88,739/1989 discloses a method of forming an image by controlling the transferability of a transfer material by utilizing the photocuring or photosoftening properties of a photosensitive material. Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-3035
The image forming method disclosed in Publication No. 7 and the like has the advantage that the post-exposure process is simpler than silver salt photography, and it has superior gradation expressiveness compared to electrophotography.

However, on the other hand, this type of image forming method requires that a film-like photosensitive member subjected to image exposure processing be passed between rollers together with a transfer sheet for pressure transfer. Microcapsules containing a photocurable (softening) substance and a coloring agent that harden (soften) when exposed to light are uniformly coated on the surface, and if a hand or part of the image forming device touches it, The microcapsules may be damaged or fall off, causing defects in the image, and like general photosensitive paper, they are sensitive to external light. 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.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a new storage container that can easily and accurately mount this type of sheet-like photosensitive member without exposing it to light. There is a particular thing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In other words, the present invention is a storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member to achieve the above-mentioned problems, and is a storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member in which a supply roller and a take-up roller that are pivotally supported are coated with a photosensitive substance for controlling the transfer of a coloring material. A photosensitive member contour forming member having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the travel path of the photosensitive member from an exposure section to a fixing section is provided on a part of the photosensitive member feeding side of a storage container for storing a photosensitive member in which both ends are wound. The sheet-like photosensitive member can be correctly suspended along the path at the same time as the storage container is installed in the apparatus.

Further, the contour forming member is made expandable and retractable by at least one of the exposure and fixing process units, so that 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 apparatus. It has been made possible.

〔Example〕

The first section numeral 50 is a contour forming member for suspending the photosensitive film f between the exposure table 2 and the rollers 5 and 6 of the pressure developing unit. By thick plate or thin resin material,
It is formed in such a shape that it can be passed between the imaging lens Uni-Soto 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 pieces 52.52 bent inward from the tips of the left and right pJS50.50 are placed in the upward and downward valley grooves 28.52 provided on both the upper and lower ends of the supply roller 11 side end surface of the cassette body 10 within 28.2 days. It is attached so that it can be inserted and removed from the side. In this state, cassette 1
0 into the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 1 from the front side.

As a result, the contour forming member 50 on the side of the cassette 10-
It enters the apparatus 1 so as to take in the exposure table 2 and one of the pressure fixing rollers 5. As a result, the contour forming member 50 has a width longer than the photosensitive film f, so that even when the cassette 10 is mounted at a predetermined position in the apparatus 1, a hole is formed. Therefore, when one end of the contour forming member 50 having the last hole is pulled out, the photosensitive film f located on the surface thereof is correctly suspended along the traveling path along the exposure table 2 and the pressure fixing roller 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the contour forming part is made expandable and retractable, and the photosensitive film f feeding side of the cassette 10 has a
A bellows-shaped contour forming member 60 having a plurality of folds and having a shape that allows the film f to be passed between the exposure section and the pressure fixing section is arranged so as to be constantly extended in one direction by a spring member 61. The contour forming member 60 is configured to support the photosensitive film f. In this embodiment, as the cassette 10 is loaded from the front side of the apparatus 1, the contour forming member 60 that is in contact with the pressure fixing roller 5 is sequentially folded, and is brought into a non-contact state with the photosensitive film f (see FIG. )) When the cassette 10 is removed, the contour forming member 60, which has been released from the pressure from the pressure fixing roller 5, stretches and acts to support the photosensitive film f again in that state.

〔Effect of the invention〕

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 that accommodates the photosensitive member. A thin and wide sheet-like photosensitive member can be easily hung without causing wrinkles or the like.

In addition, loading the storage container and suspending the photosensitive member can be performed simultaneously in one operation, making it easy to replace this type of photosensitive member.

Moreover, this contour forming member is made to be able to expand and contract from the supporting position of the photosensitive member to the non-supporting position and from the non-supporting position to the supporting position using a part of the fixing unit, etc. The hanging work can be done simultaneously with one operation, and there is no need to pull out the protruding contour forming member at the end, so the photosensitive member is supported again when it is removed, making it extremely easy to attach and detach each time. It has the effect of being able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) to 1(C) are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention shown in each state when the device is in use. FIGS. 2(a) to (C) are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention shown in various states when installed, and the third section is a diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus to which the apparatus of the present invention is applied. be. 1... Image forming device 2... Exposure stand<a) (b) CC) Fig. 6... Pressure fixing roller 0... Film cassette... Supply roller 12... Winding roller 28... ...Groove f...Photosensitive film 62...Contour forming member mounting plate 63...The receiver is a plate

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) 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, and the photosensitive member is placed in a storage container for storing the photosensitive member. A contour forming member for the photosensitive 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 feeding side, and the contour forming member forms the contour of the photosensitive member. A storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in an image forming apparatus, characterized by supporting the sheet-like photosensitive member. (2) A storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outline forming member is folded with an end thereof abutting against an exposure unit or a fixing process unit.