JPH0367253B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an exposure and development apparatus that performs exposure and development of a thermal transfer type photosensitive material (hereinafter simply referred to as photosensitive material) on the same drum.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, image forming processing methods for photosensitive materials using silver halide have been changed from conventional wet processing using developers, etc.
By changing to dry processing using heating, etc.,
Methods have been developed that allow rapid image acquisition. The exposure and development device for thermal transfer photosensitive materials used to realize this method consists of an exposure device and a development device that are separate units, and when the exposure device completes exposure, the photosensitive material is transported to the development device. After that, it was common to use heat development.

However, in such an exposure and development device, not only does it take time to complete development because the photosensitive material is transported from the exposure device to the development device, but also a transportation device is required, making it difficult to make the device compact. There was also the risk that clear images could not be obtained because the images were easily exposed to external light during transportation.

[Purpose and structure of the invention]

This invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem, and the exposure and development of the photosensitive material is completed while the photosensitive material and transfer sheet are held on the circumferential surface of a rotating drum and rotated, thereby removing the developing material from the exposure device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an exposure and development device that eliminates the need for conveyance to the device, shortens processing time, downsizes the device, prevents unwanted exposure due to external light, etc., and can always obtain stable and clear images. The purpose is

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a roll-shaped thermal transfer type photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material 1 is housed in a master magazine 2 made of a heat insulating material. Since the photosensitive material 1 is photosensitive, the interior of the original magazine 2 is kept in a light-shielded state and maintained at a relatively low temperature.

3 indicates a roll-shaped transfer sheet. Since the transfer sheet 3 does not have photosensitivity, there is no need for light shielding. The sensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 are transported by a feeding roller 4,
5, the transfer sheets 3 are superimposed on the lower side and the photosensitive material 1 is on the upper side, and then conveyed to the rotating drum 10. The conveyance speed of the feed rollers 4 and 5 is controlled so as to substantially match the circumferential speed of the rotary drum 10 during rotation. Also, feed rollers 4 and 5
is provided with an encoder (not shown) for measuring the feeding length of the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3. 6 is a cutter for cutting.

The rotary drum 10 rotates while holding the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 conveyed by the feed rollers 4 and 5 on its peripheral surface, and has a hollow shape.
It has a convex portion 11 on the circumferential surface. Furthermore, a suction duct 13 is connected to the central shaft 12 of the rotating drum 10, and an air suction port 14 is provided therein, while the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 are attached to the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 10 by air suction force. A large number of suction drum holes 15 are drilled to bring the drum into close contact with the peripheral surface. The rotating drum 10 is driven by a motor 16 via a timing belt 17 and a pulley 18.

A rotary body 19 that rotates integrally with the rotary drum is attached to the central shaft 12 of the rotary drum 10, and a detection piece 20 for detecting the rotational position of the rotary drum 10 is protruded from the rotary body 19. On the other hand, two drum position detection sensors 21 and 22 are arranged at positions where the detection piece 20 can be detected. After sending the exposed and developed photosensitive material to the next process, the first drum position detection sensor 21 detects the detection piece 20 when the convex portion 11 on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum reaches the top dead center. The second drum position detection sensor 22 outputs a stop signal for the rotating drum 10, and the second drum position detection sensor 22 detects the detection piece 20 when the protrusion 11 reaches between the two guide rollers 23a and 23b after exposure and development. It detects this and outputs a stop signal for the air pump to release the suction force. Furthermore, a detector 24 is provided above the rotating drum 10 to detect the leading edges of the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 conveyed by the feed rollers 4 and 5 and to output a start signal for the rotating drum 10.

Further, in addition to the guide rollers 23a and 23b, a guide roller 23c is installed on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 10, and a movable guide 25 and a fixed guide 26 are covered along the circumferential surface. The movable guide 25 is provided with a movable guide 25 from when the rotary drum 10 is started, that is, from the start of winding the photosensitive material and the transfer sheet until the photosensitive material and the transfer sheet are held in complete contact with the drum circumferential surface by the suction action of the air pump. As shown by the solid line, it rotates in the direction approaching the rotating drum 10 to guide the photosensitive material and transfer sheet, and after they are completely in contact with each other, it rotates to the position shown by the dashed line and waits away until the next wrapping. It is structured as follows.

An exit guide 2 is provided below the movable guide 25.
7 and a guide roller 28 are installed to convey the exposed and developed photosensitive material to a peeling section for the next step.

Reference numeral 30 indicates an exposure optical system 40 and a developing thermal head seat. The head seat 30 is movable in the same direction as the central axis of the rotary drum 10 by rotation of the head feed screw 31. In addition, the end of the head seat 30 on the rotating drum side is connected to the guide plate 3.
2, and the intermediate portion is supported by a side shaft 33. Guide shaft 33
is for guiding the head when the head seat 30 moves.

The rotation of the head feed screw 31 is controlled by a pulse motor (not shown) via a belt 34 and a pulley 35.

The exposure optical system 40 includes laser tubes 41a, 4
1b, 41c, total reflection mirror 42,
A beam expander 45 that receives and expands the light beam that has passed through the half mirrors 43a, 43b and the total reflection mirror 44 fixedly arranged on the movement axis of the head seat 30, a collimator 46 that converts the light beam expanded by the beam expander 45 into a parallel light beam, and an exposure area. a slit 47 that controls the area of the luminous flux according to the point area of the beam, a beam condenser 48 that reduces the luminous flux;
It is composed of an angle changing mirror 49 and an objective lens 50, which move together with the head seat 30 in the axial direction of the rotating drum 10. Objective lens 50
The light flux that has passed through the photosensitive material 1 is irradiated onto the photosensitive material 1 through the exposure section 51 to perform exposure.

The laser tubes 41a, 41b, and 41c have oscillation wavelengths that are optimal for the red, green, and blue coloring wavelength ranges of the sensitive material 1, respectively. In addition, the laser tube 41
Between the total reflection mirror 42 and the half mirrors 43a, 43b, there are modulators 52a, 52 for intensity modulating the light from the laser tube.
Drift controllers 53a, 53b, and 53c for performing drift compensation are inserted, respectively.

The thermal head 60 heats and develops the exposed portion of the photosensitive material 1.
The head seat 3 is placed so that the tip of the head is at the same height as the exposure section 51 at a position a predetermined distance apart from the exposure section 51.
Fixed to 0. Therefore, when the head seat 30 moves from the right end to the left end (in FIG. 2) of the head feed screw 31, the thermal head 60 follows the exposure section 51 with a predetermined delay time. In addition, at the left end of the guide shaft 33,
Head seat 3 has been moved after completing exposure and development
A detection sensor 36 is installed to detect zero and return the exposure to the starting position.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 are overlapped and conveyed in close contact with each other by feed rollers 4 and 5 so that the photosensitive material 1 is on top and the transfer sheet 3 is on the bottom. Rotating drum 1
0, the convex portion 11 is stopped at the top dead center due to the previous operation. Further, the head seat 30 is moved to the initial exposure position of the photosensitive material 1, that is, to the right side of the head feed screw 31 (in FIG. 2) and is on standby.

Conveyance by the feed rollers 4 and 5 progresses, and the detector 2
4 detects the leading edge of the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3, the motor 16 is started and the rotating drum 10 is rotated to the first position.
Start rotating clockwise as shown in the diagram. At the same time, the movable guide 25 rotates in the direction approaching the rotating drum 10 as shown by the solid line, and the air pump starts operating.
Air suction is performed via the suction duct 13.

As the rotary drum 10 rotates, the sensitive material and the transfer sheet are gradually wound around the circumferential surface with their ends abutting the convex portions 11. In this case, unless the photosensitive material and transfer sheet are wrapped around the entire circumference of the rotating drum 10, the air adsorption force that brings the photosensitive material into close contact will not occur, so the guide roller 2
3a, 23b, movable guide 25, fixed guide 2
6. Guidance by side rollers 23c is required.

The feeding length of the photosensitive material and transfer sheet by the feeding rollers 4 and 5 is measured by an encoder.
When the feed length after passing through the cutter 6 reaches a length obtained by subtracting the width of the convex portion 11 from the outer peripheral length of the drum, the cutter 6 operates to cut the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3.

When the rotating drum 10 completes one revolution and the winding of the photosensitive material, etc. is completed, the air suction force becomes sufficient, and the state of adhesion to the rotating drum 10 continues thereafter. At this point, the movable guide 25 rotates to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1 and stands by.

When the winding of the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 around the rotating drum 10 is completed, the feed screw 31 of the head seat 30 is rotated in a predetermined direction by the drive of the pulse motor, and the head seat 30 is moved to the left in FIG. Start moving. At the same time, light beams are emitted from the laser tubes 41a, 41b, 41c, and the exposure optical system 40 and the exposure section 5
Exposure of the photosensitive material 1 is started through the photosensitive material 1. This exposure process is efficiently performed over the entire surface of the photosensitive material 1 by a combination of the rotation of the rotary drum 10 and the movement of the head seat 30. On the other hand, the head seat 30 has a thermal head 60 located a predetermined distance apart from the exposure section 51.
is fixed, the thermal head 60 follows the exposure section 51 with a certain delay time when the head seat 30 moves, and as a result, the exposed portion of the photosensitive material 1 is placed in the thermal head 60. The images are then thermally developed one after another and transferred onto a transfer sheet.

After the exposure is completed and then the thermal development is completed, when the head seat 30 reaches the detection sensor 36, the pulse motor rotates in the reverse direction and the head seat 30 moves to the right in FIG. 2, that is, to the initial exposure position. Prepare for the next exposure and development work.

After exposure and development, when the second drum position detection sensor 22 and detection piece 20 detect that the protrusion 11 is located between the guide rollers 23a and 23b, the air pump stops and the air suction force is reduced. is released. When the photosensitive material 1 and the transfer sheet 3 whose adsorption force has been released pass the guide roller 23b, their leading ends separate from the drum surface due to their own restoring force, are guided downward along the exit guide 27, and then pass the guide roller 23b. 28, it is transported to the next step, a peeling section. After the conveyance is completed, when the first drum position detection sensor 21 and the detection piece 20 detect that the convex portion 11 is located at the top dead center, the motor 16 is stopped and the rotation of the rotary drum 10 is stopped. below,
The above operation will be repeated.

In the above embodiment, separate photosensitive material 1 and transfer sheet 3 are used, but they may be configured as one sheet from the beginning, and in this case, the mechanism related to transfer sheet 3 is omitted. can. Further, the winding around the rotating drum 10, the close contact, the ejection mechanism, the head seat, the configuration of the exposure optical system, etc. are not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the exposure and development device according to the present invention includes a rotating drum that rotates while holding the transfer sheet on the inner surface and a thermal transfer type photosensitive material on the outer surface, and the photosensitive material that rotates together with the rotating drum. an exposure device that exposes the photosensitive material while moving it in the axial direction of a rotating drum, and a thermal head that follows the exposure device and heats and develops the exposed portion of the photosensitive material on the same rotating drum. Therefore, by simply moving the head seat across the photosensitive material, exposure and development can be carried out efficiently on the same drum, and processing time can be shortened. Furthermore, since there is no need to transport the photosensitive material from the exposure process to the development process, the risk of inadvertent exposure of the photosensitive material to external sources during the process is eliminated.
It not only provides images of good quality, but also achieves various excellent effects such as miniaturization of the entire device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show one embodiment of the invention, with FIG. 1 being a side view and FIG. 2 being a plan view. 1...Sensitive material, 3...Transfer sheet, 10...Rotating drum, 60...Thermal head.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotating drum that rotates while holding the transfer sheet on its circumference so that the transfer sheet is on the inside and the thermal transfer type photosensitive material is on the outside, and the photosensitive material that rotates together with the rotating drum is exposed while being moved in the axial direction of the rotating drum. What is claimed is: 1. An exposure and development device comprising: an exposure device; and a thermal head that follows the exposure device to heat and develop a portion of a photosensitive material that has been exposed by the exposure device on the same rotating drum.