JPH04274426A - Heat developing transferring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a heat developing transferring device by which an excellent image is obtained without causing the unevenness of development and transfer by holding and carrying a heatdevelopable photosensitive material where the image is exposed and an image receiving material in a state where they uniformly and tightly contact and are superposed. CONSTITUTION:An endless press-contact belt 36 which press-contacts with the outer periphery of a heating drum 34 is constituted by coating a woven fabric material with a rubber material. The rubber material is silicone rubber containing carbon and the friction coefficient of its surface is set to 0.4-0.7. Thus, the heatdevelopable photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 32 are held and carried in a state where they uniformly and tightly contact and are superposed. Therefore, the excellent image is obtained without causing wrinkle(what is called knick) and the unevenness of development and transfer.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal development transfer device.
In particular, the present invention relates to a thermal development transfer device which heats a photothermographic material exposed to an image on an image-receiving material and heats it while wrapping it around the outer periphery of a drum, thereby thermally developing the photothermographic material and transferring the image to the image-receiving material.

0002

[Prior Art] An image is exposed onto a heat-developable photosensitive material, and the heat-developable photosensitive material is superimposed on an image-receiving material and heated, whereby the heat-developable photosensitive material is thermally developed and the image is transferred to the image-receiving material. 2. Description of the Related Art Heat development transfer devices for obtaining images are known.

In this type of thermal development transfer device, a heating drum and an endless pressure belt that is in pressure contact with the outer periphery of the heating drum are arranged. The heating drum is made of aluminum material, and a halogen lamp is placed inside it. As a result, the surface of the heating drum is heated to approximately 90°C. On the other hand, the endless pressure belt is wound around a plurality of winding rollers, and the endless outer side between the pair of winding rollers is pressed against the outer periphery of the heating drum.

The image-exposed photothermographic material is superimposed on the image-receiving material by a superimposing roller disposed near the endless pressure belt, and then fed between the heating drum and the endless pressure belt. As the belt rotates, it is tightly wrapped around the outer periphery of the belt and conveyed while being held and pressed against the endless pressure belt. Each material is sandwiched and conveyed for a predetermined period of time in an overlapping state between a heated heating drum and an endless pressure belt, whereby the photothermographic material is thermally developed and exposed to light. The image is transferred to an image-receiving material.

[0005]

By the way, when a photothermographic material and an image-receiving material are overlapped and conveyed while being held and pressed between a heating drum and an endless pressure belt, wrinkles (wrinkles) occur during this conveyance. When so-called "knicks" occur, uneven development and transfer occurs when an image recorded on a photothermographic material is transferred to an image-receiving material, making it impossible to obtain a good image. Therefore, the heating drum and the endless pressure belt need to be configured to be able to convey the photothermographic material and the image-receiving material while keeping them in close contact and overlapping. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the heating drum is heated to a high temperature of about 82°C, so not only the heating drum but also the endless pressure belt that presses against the outer circumference of the heating drum must be flame retardant (heat resistant). be.

In this case, if the endless press-contact belt is simply made of a highly flame-retardant material to ensure flame retardancy, the heat-developable photosensitive material and the image-receiving material are held and pressed between the heating drum and conveyed. In some cases, it was not possible to sufficiently prevent the occurrence of scratches when

The present invention takes the above-mentioned facts into consideration, and allows the image-exposed photothermographic material and the image-receiving material to be conveyed while being sandwiched in a uniformly overlapping state, thereby preventing uneven development and transfer. The object of the present invention is to obtain a thermal development transfer device that can obtain good images without any problems.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A heat development transfer device according to the present invention includes a drum and an endless pressure belt that comes into pressure contact with a part of the outer periphery of the drum. As the drum rotates, the material is tightly wrapped around the outer periphery of the drum, and the material is heated while being conveyed while being held and pressed between the endless pressure belt, thereby thermally developing the photothermographic material and transferring an image to the image receiving material. In a thermal development transfer device for transferring, the endless pressure belt has a structure in which a woven fabric material is covered with a rubber material, and the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the rubber material is
is set to 0.4 to 0.7.

[0009]

[Operation] In the thermal development transfer device having the above structure, the photothermographic material on which the image has been exposed is overlapped with the image-receiving material, and in this state is conveyed while being held and pressed between the drum and the endless pressure belt. During this conveyance, the photothermographic material is heated by the drum to be thermally developed and an image is transferred to the image-receiving material.

In this case, the endless pressure belt has a structure in which a woven cloth material is covered with a rubber material, and the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the rubber material is
is set to 0.4 to 0.7, so that the photothermographic material and the image-receiving material can be conveyed in a state in which they are closely overlapped.

[0011] Therefore, wrinkles do not occur,
During thermal development and image transfer, good images can be obtained without uneven development and transfer.

0012

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an image recording apparatus 10 to which a thermal development transfer device according to the present invention is applied.

A magazine 14 is disposed on the machine base 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, and a roll-shaped photothermographic material 16 is housed within the magazine 14. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the widthwise dimension of the photothermographic material 16 is 254 mm.

The photothermographic material 16 is pulled out from its outer periphery, cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 18, and then wound around the outer periphery of a rotating drum 20 in the direction of arrow A. An exposure head 22 is disposed corresponding to the outer periphery of the rotating drum 20, and the rotating drum 20 is rotated at high speed to expose an image onto the wound photothermographic material 16. In this case, the heat-developable photosensitive material 16
The widthwise dimension of the exposed image (area C in Figure 2) is 230
mm.

After exposure, the photothermographic material 16 is peeled off from the rotating drum 20 by a scraper 24 by rotating the rotating drum 20 in a reverse direction (in the direction of arrow B), and water as an image forming solvent is applied at a water coating section 26. Afterwards, it is sent to a thermal development transfer section 28, which is a thermal development transfer device.

A heating drum 34 and an endless pressure belt 36 are arranged in the thermal development transfer section 28 .

The heating drum 34 is made of aluminum and is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the outer diameter is 140 mm and the axial length is 300 m.
m, and the central portion of the outer circumferential surface in the axial direction is further covered with silicone rubber 50. The width covered by the silicone rubber 50 is 234 mm, which is approximately the same as the widthwise dimension of the exposed image on the photothermographic material 16. This silicone rubber 50 has electrical conductivity, has a friction coefficient μ of 0.5 to 0.6 or more, a rubber hardness of 40 to 90 degrees, and a thickness t of 0.2 to 3 mm (preferably 0.5 to 0.6). (approximately 6 mm).

A halogen lamp 38 is installed inside the heating drum 34.
The outer periphery of the heating drum 34 is heated to about 82° C. by the halogen lamp 38.

The endless press-contact belt 36 is constructed by covering a woven cloth material with a rubber material, and has a widthwise dimension of 300 mm. The woven material is made of aromatic polyamide fibers (for example, Kevlar or Nomex: both are du
The belt is sewn with heat-resistant fibers such as Pont Co., Ltd. (registered trademark), and furthermore, monofilament fibers are used in the width direction of the belt to improve the rigidity in the belt width direction. Further, the rubber material for the coating is silicone rubber containing carbon and has electrical conductivity. Further, the friction coefficient μ of the surface of this rubber material is set to 0.4 to 0.7.

This endless pressure welding belt 36 has an outer diameter of 20 m.
m tension rollers 37, 39, 41, and 43, and its endless outer side is pressed against the outer periphery of the heating drum 34.

The photothermographic material 16 coated with water is supplied between the heating drum 34 and the endless pressure belt 36.
The material is pinched and conveyed over approximately 2/3 of the circumference of the heating drum 34 to be thermally developed.

Tension roller 3 of endless pressure belt 36
A superimposing roller 60 is placed near the portion where the heating drum 7 is wrapped around the heating drum 34 so as to be pressed against and in contact with the outer periphery of the heating drum 34 . This overlapping roller 60 has an outer diameter of 25 m.
It is said to be a rubber roller of m.

On the other hand, a tray 30 disposed below the thermal development transfer section 28 has predetermined dimensions (width dimension of 297 mm,
A plurality of image-receiving materials 32 each having a length dimension of 210 mm in total length for A4 size and 420 mm in total length for A3 size are stored. The image receiving material 32 is sequentially taken out one by one by a supply roller 44 disposed on the side of the tray 30 and sent to the thermal development transfer section 28.

Image receiving material 32 sent to thermal development transfer section 28
is performed by the overlapping roller 60 disposed in contact with the outer periphery of the heating drum 34 (overlapping roller 60
and the outer circumferential surface of the heating drum 34 ), and is superimposed on the photothermographic material 16 and supplied between the heating drum 34 and the endless pressure belt 36 .

A pair of peeling claws 48 are arranged on the sides of the thermal development transfer section 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the peeling claw 48
is disposed corresponding to the outside of the range covered by the silicone rubber 50 on the outer circumferential surface of the heating drum 34, and its tip slightly contacts the outer circumferential surface of the heating drum 34. The peeling claw 48 moves together with the heating drum 34 and engages with the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 located inside, thereby peeling the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 together with the image-receiving material 32 from the outer periphery of the heating drum 34. .

A pair of separation rollers 50 are disposed below the peeling claw 48 and correspond only to both ends of the image receiving material 32 in the width direction.
is wrapped around it. The conveyance belt 52 wound around the separation roller 50 engages only at both ends of the image receiving material 32 in the width direction, separates the image receiving material 32 from the photothermographic material 16, bends it, and conveys it.

The separated heat-developable photosensitive material 16 is sent to a waste photosensitive material storage box 59, while the image receiving material 32 is dried by a heater 54 and then transferred to a take-out tray formed at the top of the machine base 12. 56.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. The photothermographic material 16 pulled out from the magazine 14 is cut into a cutter 18
When the photothermographic material 16 is cut and wound around the outer periphery of the rotary drum 20, the rotary drum 20 rotates at high speed, and the exposure head 22 exposes an image to the center of the width of the photothermographic material 16. After exposure, the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 is peeled off with a scraper 24 and coated with water in a water-applying section 26 to be transferred to a heat-developable transfer section 2.
Sent to 8.

On the other hand, the image-receiving material 32 in the tray 30 is taken out one by one by the supply roller 44, and is further superimposed on the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 by the overlapping roller 60 disposed in the heat-developable transfer section 28, and heated. drum 3
4 and the endless pressure belt 36 (the part wrapped around the tension roller 37). In this case, the image range of the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 34 has a friction coefficient μ of 0.5 to 0.6.
The photothermographic material 16 and the image-receiving material 32 are coated with the large silicone rubber 50, and when the photothermographic material 16 and the image-receiving material 32 are sandwiched by the superimposing roller 60, they can be overlapped uniformly without slipping, and wrinkles do not occur. .

The heat-developable photosensitive material 16 and the image-receiving material 32 sent to the heat-developable transfer section 28 are placed in a superimposed state between a heating drum 34 heated to about 82° C. by a halogen lamp 38 and an endless pressure belt. The photothermographic material 16 is sandwiched and conveyed over approximately 2/3 of the circumference of the heating drum 34 to be thermally developed, and the image recorded on the photothermographic material 16 is transferred to the image-receiving material 32.

In this case, both materials are overlapped by the roller 60.
The friction coefficient μ of the rubber material surface of the endless pressure belt 36 is set to 0.4 to 0.7, so that the photothermographic material 16 and the image-receiving material are overlapped uniformly without wrinkles. 32 can be conveyed in a state where they are closely stacked and overlapped. Therefore, wrinkles do not occur, and when the materials are heated in a superimposed state and thereby thermally developed and an image is transferred, a good image can be obtained without uneven development and transfer.

Table 1 shows the wrinkles (side wrinkles) that occur on the image-receiving material 32 when the present applicant has experimentally changed the friction coefficient μ of the rubber material surface of the endless pressure belt 36. The occurrence situation is shown.

[0034]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, the friction coefficient μ of the rubber material surface of the endless pressure welding belt 36 is 0.18 to 0.75.
When it is set within a certain range, the occurrence of wrinkles (side wrinkles) on the image-receiving material 32 is reduced to an acceptable level.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the endless pressure belt 36 is constructed by covering a woven fabric material with a rubber material.
In order to ensure prescribed flame retardancy (heat resistance) and strength (durability), it is essential to cover with a rubber material having a certain (minimum required) thickness. That is, if the rubber material is made too thin and the coefficient of friction is set too small, the strength of the endless pressure welding belt 36 will drop significantly. In this case, according to the applicant's experiments, when the rubber material was made thinner and the friction coefficient μ was set to 0.4 or less, a satisfactory strength of the endless pressure welding belt 36 could not be obtained.

Therefore, in order to ensure the strength (durability) of the endless pressure welding belt 36 by forming the rubber material to the minimum required thickness and to keep it within the range where the wrinkles do not occur, the thickness of the endless pressure welding belt 36 is The friction coefficient μ of the rubber material surface is 0.4~
A range of 0.7 is most preferred.

After the image is transferred to the image receiving material 32,
A peeling claw 48 engages the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 that moves with the heating drum 34 and is located inside, thereby peeling the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 together with the image-receiving material 32 from the outer periphery of the heating drum 34 . The image receiving material 32 peeled off from the outer periphery of the heating drum 34 is transferred to the conveyor belt 5 wrapped around the separation roller 50.
2 from the heat-developable photosensitive material 16, and the heater 5
4 and is taken out to the takeout tray 56. On the other hand, the heat-developable photosensitive material 16 is sent to a waste photosensitive material storage box 59.

[0039]

As explained above, the thermal development transfer device according to the present invention can sandwich and transport the image-exposed photothermographic material and the image-receiving material in a uniformly overlapping state. This has the effect that a good image can be obtained without causing development transfer unevenness.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an image recording apparatus to which a thermal development transfer device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the dimensional relationship between a heating drum, an endless pressure belt, a heat-developable photosensitive material, and an image-receiving material of the heat-developable transfer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Image recording device 16 Heat-developable photosensitive material 28 Heat development transfer section 32 Image receiving material 34 Heating drum 36 Endless pressure welding belt

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A drum, and an endless pressure belt that presses against a part of the outer periphery of the drum, and a heat-developable photosensitive material and an image-receiving material to which an image has been exposed are brought into close contact with the outer periphery as the drum rotates. In a thermal development transfer device that thermally develops a photothermographic material and transfers an image to an image-receiving material by heating the photothermographic material while being conveyed in a sandwiched and pressure-contact state between the endless pressure-contact belt and the endless pressure-contact belt, the endless pressure-contact belt is 1. A thermal development transfer device characterized in that a woven fabric material is covered with a rubber material, and the friction coefficient μ of the surface of the rubber material is set to 0.4 to 0.7.