JPH0446431B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electrophotographic apparatus to prevent unnecessary adhesion of a developer to an electrophotographic film.

<Prior Art> Unlike optical photographic devices that use a photographic film made of a silver salt photosensitive material, an electrophotographic device uses an electrophotographic photosensitive material that becomes photosensitized only by being charged.

First, a typical example of an electrophotographic apparatus will be described. The electrophotographic apparatus includes a process head 1 as shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view and in FIG. 2 in a cross-sectional plane. The process head 1 is an integrated type that incorporates processing chambers for performing each process of charging, exposure, development, drying, and fixing.
A charging exposure chamber 3, a developing chamber 4, a drying chamber 5, and a fixing chamber 6, each having an opening frame of a size corresponding to a, are arranged adjacent to each other at one frame interval of the electrophotographic film 2. Charge film 2 in exposure chamber 3
The electrophotographic film 2 is sequentially subjected to each process by simultaneously pressing the holding plate 7 against the opening frame of each processing chamber while feeding the frame from the side to the fixing chamber 6 side. Presser plate 7
By bringing the electrophotographic film 2 into close contact with the process head 1, the electrophotographic film 2 is placed at a predetermined position in the optical system to prevent out-of-focus, and leakage of the developer from the developing chamber 4 is also prevented. It has the function of

As a specific example of the above-mentioned process head 1, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-100479 may be used, and furthermore, a suitable camera/processor/reader device using this process head 1 is disclosed in the patent application. Examples include the device described in 1981-138122 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-28640). A more detailed explanation will be given of the process head 1 when used in this camera processor/reader device.

The charging exposure chamber 3 includes a corona wire 8, a corona electrode 9, a mask electrode 10 for charging the electrophotographic film 2, and a lens 11 for forming an image of image information on the charged electrophotographic film 2 and exposing the electrophotographic film 2 to light. and forms an electrostatic latent image on the frame 2a of the electrophotographic film 2 pressed against the opening frame 3a of the charging exposure chamber 3. In addition, in order to prevent out-of-focus due to thermal deformation of the film when used in the reader mode, a cooling gas such as air is introduced into the charging exposure chamber 3 via a cooling gas introduction pipe 12, and the image information is The structure is such that the electrophotographic film 2 can be cooled during imaging. It goes without saying that this cooling gas introduction tube 12 is unnecessary unless the film is thermally deformed by the irradiated light when used in the reader mode.

The developing chamber 4 is connected to a supply pipe 13 for guiding a developer in which toner is dispersed and a discharge pipe (not shown) for discharging the developer. A developing solution is applied to the pressed frame 2a of the electrophotographic film 2 to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner, and a gas such as air is introduced into the developing chamber 4 through the supply pipe 15. Drain and remove excess developer that adheres to the film surface.

The drying chamber 5 is connected to a supply pipe 16 that guides a gas such as air, and this gas is blown onto the frame 2a of the electrophotographic film 2 pressed against the opening frame 5a of the drying chamber 5 by a presser plate 7 for development. Allow the liquid to dry.

The fixing chamber 6 is provided with a flash lamp 17 such as a xenon lamp, which melts and adheres toner carried by electrostatic charge to the frames of the electrophotographic film 2 to semi-permanently preserve image information on the film surface.

In addition, the process head 1 includes a blip sensor 1.
8 is provided, and this blip sensor 18 detects blip marks 2b provided on the electrophotographic film 2 by means of printing or the like, and the electrophotographic film 2 is automatically moved frame by frame from the charging exposure chamber side.
At the time of stopping, the presser plate 7 is automatically pressed to sequentially execute the charging/exposure, developing, drying, and fixing processes.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As described above, in the developing chamber 4, a developer is applied to the electrophotographic film 2 pressed against the opening frame 4a,
The excess developer adhering to the film surface is squeezed out, ie by blowing gas, but at this time, the developer seeps out between the film surface and the aperture frame 4a.
This developer may remain attached to the aperture frame even after the film surface is separated from the aperture frame 4a. In this way, the developing chamber wall, opening frame 4a
It is not possible to completely remove the residual developer that adheres to the surface. If a new film is brought into close contact with the developing chamber in this state, residual developer will adhere from the opening frame 4a that is in contact with the film.

On the other hand, in the actual usage of an electrophotographic device, it is rare to work continuously and photograph all of the electrophotographic film, and it is rare to photograph a part of the electrophotographic film and leave the remaining part unexposed. It is often stored by winding it up into shapes. however,
When the last frame of a continuous photographic process moves from development to drying, the unphotographed portion of the electrophotographic film following this last frame is pressed against the opening frame 4a of the developing chamber 4 and becomes stained by the developer. However, there was a problem in that the electrophotographic film deteriorated due to the developer while it was being wound up and stored.

Furthermore, if another frame is projected onto the screen in reader mode immediately after processing in camera mode is completed, the frame located in the developing chamber will be similarly contaminated with residual developer.

For this reason, in order to prevent the developer from adhering to and remaining on the opening frame of the developing chamber, conventional methods have been used, for example, in
As disclosed in No. 90948, the opening frame is coated with a liquid-repellent material such as fluororesin, and as disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 58-32300 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 59-138869). Although it has been proposed to have a smooth opening frame, these methods have not been able to produce sufficient effects depending on the conditions of use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control method for an electrophotographic apparatus that effectively prevents developer from adhering to an electrophotographic film that is not being developed from an opening frame of a developing chamber. With the goal.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a developing chamber that applies a developer to electrophotographic film frames that have been charged and exposed, and a drying chamber that dries the developer that has adhered to the frames. developing the electrophotographic film by simultaneously pressing it against the opening frame of the developing chamber and the opening frame of the drying chamber with a presser plate while transporting the electrophotographic film frame by frame from the developing chamber side to the drying chamber side; In an electrophotographic apparatus that sequentially performs drying, after the development of the last frame of a continuous photographic operation is completed, the pressure on the electrophotographic film by the presser plate is released, and the last frame is separated from the opening frame of the drying chamber. It is characterized by being dried in a dry state.

<Function> When the pressure on the electrophotographic film by the holding plate is released and the last frame of the continuous shooting process is dried without pressing it against the opening frame of the drying chamber, the unphotographed portion following this last frame will be developed. Since it is not pressed against the opening frame of the chamber, it is possible to avoid the developer from adhering to the unphotographed portion, thereby preventing deterioration of the electrophotographic film.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is implemented in the electrophotographic apparatus described based on FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

When photographing a large number of frames in succession to record a large number of documents, etc. on the electrophotographic film 2, the first few frames are taken by the operator at the point marked with ☆, as shown in Figure 3a. After the photographing switch installed on the control panel is pressed, each process automatically proceeds in sequence as follows. First, to explain the first frame, the opening frame 3a of the charging exposure chamber 3
The first frame pressed by the presser plate 7 is charged and exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. After the pressure from the holding plate 7 is released, the electrophotographic film 2 is moved frame by frame, and the first frame is moved to the front of the developing chamber 4. Next, this first frame is pressed against the opening frame 4a of the developing chamber 4 by the presser plate 7, and the toner developing device Dev, and further the squeeze sq.
and after the pressure by this presser plate 7 is released,
The frame is forwarded and moved to the front of the drying chamber 5. Next, this first frame is pressed against the opening frame 5a of the drying chamber 5 by the press plate 7 to dry the developer, and after the press by the press plate 7 is released,
The frame is advanced and moved to the front of the fixing chamber 6. Next, this first frame is pressed against the opening frame 6a of the drying chamber 6 by the presser plate 7 and fixed F ₁ x is performed.
After the pressure by the holding plate 7 is released, the frame is fed to the outside of the process head 1. The development, drying, and fixing processes for the first frame are performed in synchronization with the shooting switch operations for the second, third, and fourth frames. However, each process proceeds in the same way as for the first piece (except for the last piece).

The above-mentioned continuous photographing operation progresses, and in the process of the last frame (Nth frame) of this operation, control as shown in FIG. 3B is performed. As shown by the mark △ in the figure, when the development of the Nth frame is completed, a release signal is sent to continuously release the pressure from the presser plate 7, and this signal controls the electrophotographic apparatus. After this point, the presser plate 7 is held in the pressed release state. Therefore, the Nth frame is dried without being pressed against the opening frame 4a of the drying chamber 4, but is separated from the opening frame 4a, and furthermore, after the fixing F ₁ x, each frame is dried with the pressure released. The process is underway. For this reason, the unphotographed portion following the Nth frame of the electrophotographic film 2, that is, the (N+1)th and subsequent frames, is pressed against the opening frame 4a of the developing chamber 4 as the process progresses for each frame before the Nth frame. The opening frame 4a will not be contaminated by the developer attached to it. In addition, the electrophotographic apparatus is controlled so that only squeeze sq is performed in the developing chamber 4 by the above-mentioned release signal, and the aperture frame 4 is
The developer attached to a is dried quickly.

The above-mentioned release signal is transmitted, for example, by an operator operating a photographing end switch provided on the operation panel of an electrophotographic device, but operations such as continuously photographing a certain number of documents are generally omitted. Since it is assumed that the shooting is carried out at fixed time intervals, if the photographing switch is not operated for a certain period of time, it may be assumed that the prescribed photographing operation has been completed and a release signal is automatically sent. Various embodiments are possible.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the developer from adhering to the unphotographed portions of the electrophotographic film, thereby eliminating the deterioration of the electrophotographic film during winding and storage. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that the image information photographed on the electrophotographic film is preserved, and it is also guaranteed that unphotographed portions can be used as necessary, resulting in a great economical effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a sectional plan view, respectively, showing a typical example of a process head provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, and FIGS. 3a and 3b are views of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a control explanatory diagram. In the drawing, 1 is a process head, 2 is an electrophotographic film, 2a is a frame, 4 is a developing chamber, 4a is an opening frame of the developing chamber, 5 is a drying chamber, 5a is an opening frame of the drying chamber, 7
is the presser plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A developing chamber for applying a developing solution to electrophotographic film frames that have been charged and exposed, and a drying chamber for drying the developing solution adhering to the frames are provided adjacent to each other, and the electrophotographic film is transported from the developing chamber side to the drying chamber. In an electrophotographic device that sequentially develops and dries the frame by simultaneously pressing it against the opening frame of the developing chamber and the opening frame of the drying chamber with a presser plate while feeding the frame to the side, the development of the last frame in the continuous shooting process is completed. After that, the pressing of the electrophotographic film by the presser plate is released, and the last frame is dried in a state separated from the opening frame of the drying chamber.