JPH09132277A - Heat-sensitive recording sheet package - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly hold a heat-sensitive sheet under a specified humidity environment by a method wherein a humidity-adjusting agent is fixed on a packaging body with a take-out port for the heat-sensitive recording sheet, in which an accumulated body of the heat-sensitive recording sheets is housed. SOLUTION: For a heat-sensitive sheet A, generally an accumulated body of a specified unit such as 100 sheets is packaged with a bag body, etc., and is used as a package 10. In this case, for the package 10, a case 82 for which a take-out port 80 for the sheets is formed at one part of the upper surface, is used as a packaging body, and a humidity adjusting agent 86 is affixed and fixed on the upper surface of the case 82. Then, the package 10, when not being used, is housed in a moistureproof bag 88 while being sealed, and at the time of usage, the case 82 is taken out from the moistureproof bag 88, and is housed in a magazine together with the case 82 to feed the heat-sensitive sheets A to a recording device. By this method, not only at the time of not being used, but even after being housed in the magazine, the heat-sensitive sheets A are kept at a specified humidity by the humidity adjusting agent 86, and a sensitivity variation of the sheets A due to a variation of humidity is prevented from generating.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a thermal recording sheet package containing a thermal recording sheet used for thermal image recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal head having a large number of heating elements is pressed against a heat-sensitive film to selectively heat the heat-generating elements according to an image signal to visualize the image on the heat-sensitive film. There has been proposed a thermal image recording apparatus, that is, a thermal printer, which performs a thermal transfer recording method for recording an image.

In such a thermal image recording apparatus, image recording on a thermal film is conventionally performed as follows. The heat-sensitive film wound into a roll is loaded into the heat-sensitive recording device as it is, and the film is pulled out in the heat-sensitive recording device. Then, the drawn out heat-sensitive film is conveyed to the image recording unit by a conveyor mechanism such as a belt conveyor and a nip roller. In the image recording section, sub-scanning is performed by mechanically conveying the heat-sensitive film in one direction, and each heating element of the thermal head arranged in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the heat-sensitive film is selectively imagewise. The main scanning is performed by causing the heat to be generated, and thereby a thermal transfer image is developed on the heat-sensitive film. Next, the heat-sensitive film after the image recording is cut by a cutter, then conveyed and accumulated on a tray.

On the other hand, as a digital radiography system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, an image recording apparatus for recording medical images such as CT and MR, conventionally, after photographing or recording on a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, Although a wet system that obtains reproduced images by wet processing has been used, in recent years, a recording apparatus that uses a dry system that does not perform wet processing has attracted attention. One of them is thermal recording using a thermal recording sheet. A device is mentioned. However, since a high image quality is required for medical images, the heat-sensitive film has a high sensitivity in order to improve the image quality of the film, and a change in humidity due to a change in humidity is a serious problem.

When the sheet of the high-sensitivity heat-sensitive film having humidity dependency is handled in the same manner as usual, the heat-sensitive film absorbs and desorbs moisture over time, so that the sensitivity of the heat-sensitive film changes, It becomes difficult to stably record a high quality image. For example, if the thermal film is cut, transferred to a magazine, used for a small number, and not used for about a week, the sensitivity will fluctuate due to humidity fluctuations. There is a problem that the densities of the film output in 1) and the film output in 1 week may be considerably different.

Therefore, in order to avoid the above-mentioned inconvenience, it is necessary to handle the heat-sensitive film in a moisturized state under predetermined conditions as much as possible.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is possible to suitably hold the heat-sensitive sheet in a predetermined humidity environment, and further to provide the heat-sensitive sheet. It can be easily supplied to the thermal image recording device without touching it directly with the hand, and even after the supply to the device, the thermal sheet is kept in a predetermined humidity environment to stably perform high-quality image recording. It is to provide a thermal recording sheet package that enables the above.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a package for accommodating a laminate of heat-sensitive recording sheets and having an outlet for the heat-sensitive recording sheets, and fixed to the package. There is provided a heat-sensitive recording sheet package having a humidity control agent.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The thermal recording sheet package of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an example of a thermal image recording apparatus using the thermal recording sheet package of the present invention. A thermal image recording device 12 (hereinafter referred to as recording device 12) shown in FIG. 1 records a thermal image on a thermal recording sheet of B4 size or the like (hereinafter referred to as thermal sheet A) by a thermal head 66. And a thermal recording sheet package of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a package)
Loading unit 1 into which a magazine 24 containing 10 is loaded
4, the supply / conveyance unit 16, the recording / conveyance unit 18, the recording unit 20 in which the thermal head 66 is arranged, and the discharge unit 22.

The heat-sensitive sheet A used in such a recording apparatus comprises a film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a support and a heat-sensitive recording layer formed on the surface thereof, and usually 100 sheets or the like. A predetermined unit of a laminated body (bundle) is packaged by a bag body, a band, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the package 10 of the present invention. The package 10 of the illustrated example is a case 82 in which a sheet outlet 80 is formed in a part of the upper surface of a case made of a resin such as polypropylene or cardboard as a packaging body, and a predetermined number of heat-sensitive sheets are provided in the case 82. The bundle of A is accommodated with the recording surface facing down, and the case 82
A humidity control agent 86 is attached and fixed to the upper surface of the. The humidity control agent 86 may be fixed by wrapping it in a dust-free material, if necessary. When the package 10 is not used, it is hermetically stored in a moisture-proof bag 88, and when used, the case 82 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag 88, and as shown in FIG. When 24 is loaded in the loading unit 14 of the recording device 12, it is supplied to the recording device 12.

The humidity control agent 86 has a property of absorbing moisture when the humidity is high and humidifying it when the humidity is low to keep the humidity of the environment constant. The humidity control agent 86 is made of an inorganic powder such as sodium aluminate silicate. As such a humidity conditioner 86, various commercially available products can be used.
For example, a humidifier commercially available under the trade name of SHC Paper from Tokushu Paper Manufacturing is preferably used.

According to the package 10 of the present invention as described above, the heat-sensitive sheet A is attached to the case 82 not only when it is not stored in the moisture-proof bag 88 but also when it is stored in the magazine 24. Since the humidity is maintained at a predetermined humidity by the humidity control agent 86, the sensitivity of the heat-sensitive sheet A does not change due to changes in humidity, and high-quality image recording can be stably performed. Further, since the case 82 is stored in the magazine 24, it is easy to store the heat sensitive sheet A and the humidity control agent 86 in the magazine 24, and the operator does not touch the heat sensitive sheet A directly. It can be stored, and it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the recording of the thermal image due to the adhesion of oil or the like on the hands.

The humidity held by the humidity control agent 82 is not particularly limited and may be appropriately determined according to the characteristics of the heat-sensitive sheet A. Further, in the case of the SHC paper, since the holding humidity can be adjusted by exposing it to the desired humidity and acclimatizing it, the holding humidity may be appropriately set according to the characteristics of the heat-sensitive sheet A.

In the illustrated package 10, the humidity control agent 86 is used.
Is attached to the upper surface of the case 82, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the humidity control agent 86 may be attached to the inner surface.
However, since the humidity control agent 86 generally controls the humidity from a region close to itself, the humidity control agent 86 is arranged in a region separated from the heat sensitive sheet A such as the upper surface of the case 82 and directly touches the heat sensitive sheet A. It is preferable to have no constitution because all the heat sensitive sheets A accommodated in the package 10 can be kept under uniform humidity.

Further, although the package 10 in the illustrated example has the case 82, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case 8 can be used as in the package 90 shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the moisture-proof bag 92 may not be provided, and the humidity control agent 86 may be attached and fixed to the inner surface using the moisture-proof bag 92 as a package, and the moisture-proof bag 92 and the moisture-proof bag 92 may be housed in the magazine 24. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), a portion other than the humidity control agent 86 of the moisture-proof bag 92 is cut off at the time of use to form an outlet of the heat-sensitive sheet A, and the magazine together with the moisture-proof bag 92. 24, or as shown in FIG. 4 (c), a moisture-proof bag 9
An opening (window) for the heat-sensitive sheet A is formed in 2 and is closed with a sealing material 94 made of an adhesive tape or the like, and the sealing material 94 is peeled off at the time of use so that the moisture-proof bag 92 is accommodated in the magazine 24. Good. Further, the package of the present invention is
It may be stored in a moisture-proof box instead of the moisture-proof bag, and may be used as a package as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

The package 10 of the illustrated example is taken out from the moisture-proof bag 88 at the time of use and accommodated in the loading section 14 of the recording apparatus 12 in a removable / removable magazine 24, and the magazine 24 is loaded in the loading section 14. Is supplied to the recording device 12. Note that the case 82 is not included in FIG.
As described above, in the package 90 of the mode shown in FIG. 6, the humidity control agent 86 is housed in the magazine 24 together with the moisture-proof bag 88 attached to the inner surface. FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the magazine 24. The magazine 24 is composed of a lower case 24A, which is a housing whose upper surface is opened, and an upper case 24B, which is fixed to the lower case 24A by completely closing the open surface of the main body. An openable / closable lid 26 is formed at a portion of the upper case 24B corresponding to the outlet 80 of the case 82.

The lower case 24A and the upper case 24B are detachable, and when they are combined, they are fixed by a known means such as a magnet. Further, a sponge 25 such as urethane foam is arranged over the entire circumference at the joint between the lower case 24A and the upper case 24B and at the joint between the lid 26 and the upper case 24B and the lower case 24A. The airtightness inside the magazine 24 is maintained when the sheet is closed, and the heat sensitive sheet A is kept at a predetermined humidity. For the package 10, the upper case 24B is removed from the lower case 24A,
After being housed in the lower case 24A together with the case 82, it is housed in the magazine 24 by fixing the upper case 24B.

The magazine 24 is the package 10 of the present invention.
And is loaded in the loading unit 14 of the recording device 12.
The loading section 14 has an insertion opening 30, a guide plate 32, guide rolls 34, 34, and a stop member 36 formed in a housing 28 of the recording apparatus 12, and the magazine 24 is placed with the lid 26 side first. Is inserted into the recording device 12 through the insertion opening 30,
While being guided by the guide plate 32 and the guide roll 34, the guide plate 32 and the guide roll 34 are pushed to a position where they come into contact with the stop member 36.
The recording device 12 is loaded at a predetermined position.

The supply / conveyance means 16 takes out the thermosensitive sheet A from the magazine 24 loaded in the loading section 14 and conveys it to the recording / conveying section 18 downstream in the conveying direction. The suction cup sucks the thermosensitive sheet A by suction. It has a single-wafer mechanism using 40, a transport means 42 and a transport guide 44. The conveying means 42 includes a conveying roller 46, a pulley 47a coaxial with the conveying roller, a pulley 47b connected to a rotary drive source,
In addition, the tension pulley 47c, the endless belt 48 stretched around these three pulleys, and the transport roller 46
The nip roller 50 is pressed by the nip roller 50, and the leading end of the heat sensitive sheet A separated by the suction cup 40 is nipped by the transport roller 46 and the nip roller 50, and the heat sensitive sheet A is transported downstream.

When a recording start instruction is issued in the recording device 12, the lid 26 is opened by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown), and as shown in FIG. One sheet of heat sensitive sheet A is taken out from the take-out port 80) of the sheet and the leading end of the heat sensitive sheet A is fed to the conveying means 42 (conveying roller 46 and nip roller 50) as shown in FIG. When the heat-sensitive sheet A is nipped by the conveyance roller 46 and the nip roller 50,
The suction by the suction cups 40 is released, and the supplied heat-sensitive sheet A is guided by the transport guide 44 while being transported by the transport unit 4.
The recording medium is conveyed to the recording conveyance unit 18 by 2. When the heat-sensitive sheet A to be recorded is completely discharged from the magazine 24, the lid 26 is closed by the opening / closing means and the inside is kept airtight. The opening / closing means may have a known structure such as one using a link mechanism or one using a belt drive.

The recording / conveying section 18 has a regulating roller pair 52, a conveying roller pair 56, and a guide 58.
First, the heat-sensitive sheet A has its leading end reaching the regulation roller pair 52. Therefore, the distance defined by the transport guide 44 from the transport means 42 to the regulation roller pair 52 is set to be slightly shorter than the length of the heat sensitive sheet A in the transport direction. The regulation roller pair 52 is initially stopped, and when the leading edge of the heat-sensitive sheet A reaches the regulation roller pair 52, the temperature of the thermal head 66 is confirmed, and if the temperature of the thermal head 66 is a predetermined temperature, the regulation roller pair 52 is detected. The conveyance of the heat sensitive sheet A by 52 is started, and the heat sensitive sheet A is conveyed to the recording unit 20 while being guided by the guide 58.

The recording section 20 has a thermal head 66, a platen roller 60, a cooling fan 76 for cooling the thermal head 66, and a guide 62. The thermal head 66 performs thermal image recording with a recording (pixel) density of, for example, about 300 dpi, and is fixed to the thermal head main body on which the glaze for thermal recording on the thermal sheet A is formed and the thermal head main body. And a heat sink. The thermal head 66 is supported by a support member 68 that is rotatable about a fulcrum 68a in the direction of arrow a and in the opposite direction. Before the heat-sensitive sheet A is conveyed, the support member 68 is rotated upward (in the direction opposite to the arrow a), and the thermal head 66 (glaze) and the platen roller 60 are not in contact with each other. When the leading edge of the heat-sensitive sheet A is conveyed to the recording start position (the position corresponding to the glaze of the thermal head 66) by the recording / conveying unit 18, the support member 68 rotates in the direction of the arrow a, and the heat-sensitive sheet A is moved to the thermal head. 6
6 and the platen roller 60, the heat sensitive sheet A is held at a predetermined position by the platen roller 60 and conveyed downstream, while the thermal head 66 heats each recording dot of the glaze according to the recording image. As a result, thermal image recording is performed on the thermal sheet A.

The heat-sensitive sheet A on which the heat-sensitive image recording is finished is
While being guided by the guide 62, the tray 72 of the discharge section 22 is conveyed by the platen roller 60 and the conveying roller pair 63.
Is discharged. The tray 72 projects to the outside of the recording device 12 through a discharge port 74 formed in the housing 28, and the heat-sensitive sheet A on which an image is recorded is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 74 and taken out.

Although the heat-sensitive recording sheet package of the present invention has been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course it is okay.

[0027]

As described above in detail, according to the heat-sensitive recording sheet package of the present invention, the heat-sensitive sheet can always be suitably held in a predetermined humidity environment.
High-quality image recording can be stably performed. Moreover, the heat-sensitive sheet can be easily supplied to the heat-sensitive image recording apparatus without directly touching it with a hand, and the adverse effect on the heat-sensitive image due to the oil of the hand can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a thermal image recording apparatus of the present invention that uses the thermal recording sheet package of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a thermal recording sheet package of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a magazine of the thermal image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

4 (a), (b) and (c) are conceptual diagrams of another example of the thermal recording sheet package of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 90 (Thermal recording sheet) Package 12 (Thermal image) Recording device 14 Loading section 16 Supplying and conveying means 18 Recording and conveying section 20 Recording section 22 Ejecting section 24 Magazine 25 Sponge 26 Lid 28 Housing 30 Insertion port 32 Guide plate 34 Guide roll 36 Stopping member 40 Sucker 42 Conveying means 44 Conveying guide 46 Conveying roller 48 Endless belt 50 Nip roller 52 Regulation roller pair 56,63 Conveying roller pair 58,62 Guide 60 Platen roller 66 Thermal head 68 Supporting member 72 Tray 74 Discharge port 76 Cooling fan 80 Outlet 82 Case 86 Humidity adjusting agent 88,92 Moisture-proof bag 94 Sealing material

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat-sensitive recording sheet package, comprising: a package having a heat-sensitive recording sheet stack, the package having an outlet for the heat-sensitive recording sheet; and a humidity control agent fixed to the package. .