JPH10197967A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To uniformly form a coating film on an image recording material while reducing the cost. SOLUTION: Plural nozzle holes 324 are formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of a nozzle board 322, so that a nozzle column is constituted. Four nozzle columns are arranged on the board 322 in a staggered state. When the diameter of one waterdrop sprayed from each nozzle hole 324 and adhering to a photosensitive material is defined as D, the pitch Pa of nozzle holes with each other inside each nozzle column is defined as the length of (√3).D/2, an interval Pb between nozzle columns is defined as the length of m(√3).Pa /2. Provided that (m) is a value within the range of 0.5<m<1. When the number of the nozzle column is defined as 2n, and also the carrying speed of the photosensitive material is defined as (v); water is sprayed in the cycle of <=Pb .2n/v.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image by appropriately applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material such as a photosensitive material and an image receiving material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus which performs an image recording process using two types of image recording materials, for example, a photosensitive material and an image receiving material.

In this type of image forming apparatus, an image forming solvent application section having a tank for storing an image forming solvent to be applied to a photosensitive material is arranged. A heat development transfer section comprising an endless pressure contact belt which is in pressure contact with the outer periphery of the roller and rotates together with the heating drum is arranged.

The photosensitive material, to which an image is exposed while being nipped and conveyed in the image forming apparatus, is immersed in a tank in which water as an image forming solvent is stored in an image forming solvent coating section, and is coated with water. After that, it is sent to the thermal development transfer section. On the other hand, the image receiving material is sent to the thermal development transfer unit in the same manner as the photosensitive material.

In the thermal development transfer section, the photosensitive material after water application is superimposed on the image receiving material, and in this state, the photosensitive material is closely wound around the outer periphery of the heating drum. Further, the two materials are nipped and conveyed between the heating drum and the endless pressure contact belt, and the photosensitive material is thermally developed, and the image is transferred to the image receiving material, whereby a predetermined image is formed (recorded) on the image receiving material.

However, when the photosensitive material is immersed and applied in a tank in which water serving as an image forming solvent is stored, water once in contact with the photosensitive material is always held in the tank. As a result, bacteria grow in the tank using the organic substance slightly eluted from the photosensitive material as a nutrient source, and the water is contaminated, which may cause deterioration of the image forming apparatus itself and deterioration of image quality. Was.

Accordingly, the water supply side of the tank or the like is kept out of contact with the photosensitive material, and the nozzle plate having the nozzle holes is vibrated so that water is ejected from a spray-type coating apparatus which sprays small water droplets to expose the photosensitive material. It is conceivable to apply it to the material.

[0008]

Here, if all the jetted water droplets fly in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the nozzle plate,
The arrangement of the nozzle holes, which is geometrically determined by calculation in advance, may be sufficient. However, due to the structure of the coating apparatus, it is actually impossible to make the flatness of the nozzle plate ideal without any tolerance.

For this reason, the landing position of the water droplets flying from each nozzle hole on the photosensitive material is shifted from the ideal position. However, there is a disadvantage that non-uniform application such as generation of agglutination unevenness occurs due to the occurrence of a portion where no particles are adhered.

On the other hand, in the case of a line type coating apparatus in which a large number of nozzle holes are arranged side by side, if it is attempted to manufacture a complete apparatus in which all the nozzle holes function, the yield of the coating apparatus deteriorates and the manufacturing cost decreases. Will increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a uniform coating film on an image recording material while reducing the cost in consideration of the above fact.

[0012]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having an application device for applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material. A nozzle row constituted by a plurality of nozzle holes for applying the image forming solvent to the recording material and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus is provided in the coating apparatus in an integer multiple of 2,
The diameter of the drop of the image forming solvent adhering to the image recording material on is D, and the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes with each other in the nozzle array and (√3) · D / 2, m is 0.5 <m <1 when a value in the range of the interval P _b between nozzles rows m (√3) · P
and _a / 2, the conveying speed of the image recording material when the v, a period T for injecting a solvent for image formation and the following values P _b · 2n / v with the number of nozzle rows and 2n, that Features.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a coating device for applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material, wherein the image forming solvent is jetted to form an image on the image recording material. A nozzle row formed of a plurality of nozzle holes for coating a solvent and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus is provided in the coating apparatus as an integer multiple of 2, and the diameter of one drop of the image forming solvent adhered on the image recording material. the is D, when k is a value in the range 0.5 <k <1, and the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes with each other in the nozzle array and k (√3) · D / 2 ,
When m is a value in the range 0.5 <m <1, the image recording material with a spacing P _b between the nozzle rows and _{m (√3) · P a /} 2, the number of nozzle rows and 2n , The period T of ejecting the solvent for image formation is represented by P _b · 2n
/ Kv or less.

The operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect will be described below. A plurality of nozzle rows which are formed by a plurality of nozzle holes for spraying the image forming solvent onto the image recording material by spraying the image forming solvent and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus are provided in the coating apparatus in an integral multiple of 2.

Further, the diameter of the drop of the image forming solvent adhering to the image recording material on is D, and the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes with each other in the nozzle array and (√3) · D / 2, m is 0. 5 <
m <when a value of 1, and the interval P _b between the nozzle rows
Is m (√3) · P _a / 2, and the number of nozzle rows is 2n and the conveying speed of the image recording material is v, the period T of ejecting the solvent for image formation is P _b · 2n / V
The following values are assumed.

Accordingly, since m is in the range of 0.5 <m <1, not only is there no space between the image forming solvents on the image recording material, but also the coating device which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the coating device. The solvent for image formation is attached to the image recording material in a state where the solvent for image formation overlaps in the short side direction. For this reason, even if the flatness of the nozzle plate in which the nozzle holes of the coating device are formed is somewhat poor, for example, the portion where the image forming solvent is not adhered is surely eliminated, and the image forming solvent is coated uniformly without aggregation unevenness. become able to.

On the other hand, if all the nozzle holes are made to function, the yield in the production of the coating apparatus deteriorates, but the solvent for image formation overlaps in the short direction of the coating apparatus orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus. When the image forming solvent is attached to the image recording material in a state where the nozzle holes are not arranged, some non-functional nozzle holes can be complemented, so that the yield is improved while maintaining the performance and the cost is reduced. Can be achieved.

As described above, it is possible to provide a non-contact coating apparatus capable of forming a uniform coating film on an image recording material and reducing the cost.

The operation of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 will be described below. A nozzle row formed by a plurality of nozzle holes for spraying the image forming solvent onto the image recording material by spraying the image forming solvent onto the coating apparatus and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus is an integer multiple of 2 in the coating apparatus. Provided.

Further, an image of one drop adhering to the image recording material
The diameter of the image forming solvent is D, and k is in the range of 0.5 <k <1.
When the value of 囲 is set, the pitch between the nozzle holes in the nozzle row
Chi-P _aIs k (√3) · D / 2, and m is 0.5 <m <1
, The interval P between the nozzle rows_bM
(√3) ・ P_a/ 2, and the number of nozzle rows is 2n
And when the conveying speed of the image recording material is v,
The period T for spraying the solvent for image formation is P_b・ 2n / kv or less
It will be the value below.

Therefore, not only the same effect as in the first aspect is exhibited, but also, since k is set in the range of 0.5 <k <1, the solvent for image formation overlaps along the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus. In the arranged state, the image forming solvent is attached to the image recording material. For this reason, the portion where the image forming solvent is not attached is further eliminated, so that the image forming solvent can be more uniformly applied and the cost can be reduced.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus 10 which is an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the machine base 12 of the image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
The photosensitive material 16 is wound around the photosensitive material magazine 14 in a roll shape such that the photosensitive (exposure) surface of the photosensitive material 16 pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 faces to the left.

A nip roller 18 and a cutter 20 are disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive material outlet of the photosensitive material magazine 14, so that the photosensitive material 16 can be cut out after the photosensitive material 16 is drawn out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 by a predetermined length. The cutter 20
For example, it is a rotary type cutter including a fixed blade and a movable blade. The movable blade can be moved up and down by a rotary cam or the like to cut the photosensitive material 16 by meshing with the fixed blade.

A plurality of transport rollers 24, 26, 28, 3 are located downstream of the cutter 20 in the transport direction of the photosensitive material 16.
Reference numerals 0, 32, and 34 are arranged in order, and a guide plate (not shown) is arranged between the transport rollers. The photosensitive material 16 cut to a predetermined length is first fed to the transport rollers 24, 2
6 and is conveyed to the exposure unit 22 provided between them.

An exposure device 38 is provided on the left side of the exposure section 22. The exposure device 38 is provided with three types of LDs, a lens unit, a polygon mirror, and a mirror unit (all are not shown). Are exposed.

Above the exposure section 22, there are provided a U-turn section 40 for transporting the photosensitive material 16 in a U-shaped curve and a water application section 50 for applying an image forming solvent. In the present embodiment, water is used as the image forming solvent.

The photosensitive material 16 ascended from the photosensitive material magazine 14 and exposed at the exposure unit 22 is nipped and conveyed by conveyance rollers 28 and 30, respectively, and is applied with water while passing through a conveyance path near the upper side of the U-turn unit 40. It is sent to the unit 50.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, an injection tank 312 constituting a part of the coating device 310 is disposed at a position facing the transport path E of the photosensitive material 16 in the water coating section 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water bottle 332 for storing water to be supplied to the injection tank 312 is disposed below and to the left of the injection tank 312. 3 for filtering water
34 are arranged. Then, a water supply pipe 342 in which a pump 336 is disposed on the way connects the water bottle 332 and the filter 334.

Further, on the right side of the injection tank 312, a sub tank 338 for storing water sent from the water bottle 332 is provided.
Is disposed, and the water supply pipe 34 is
4 extends to the sub-tank 338.

Therefore, when the pump 336 is operated, water is sent from the water bottle 332 to the filter 334 side, and water filtered through the filter 334 is sent to the sub-tank 338, and the water is temporarily stored in the sub-tank 338. Will be able to

The sub tank 338 and the injection tank 31
A water supply pipe 346 connecting the water bottle 332 and the water bottle 332 via a filter 334, a sub tank 338, a water supply pipe 346, and the like.
The water sent at 36 will fill this injection tank 312.

A tray 340 connected to a water bottle 332 by a circulation pipe 348 is disposed below the injection tank 312. The tray 340 collects water overflowing from the injection tank 312 and passes through the circulation pipe 348. To return to the water bottle 332. The circulation pipe 348 is connected to the sub-tank 338 in a state of protruding and extending into the sub-tank 338, and excessive water accumulated in the sub-tank 338 is supplied to the water bottle 332.
I am going to put it back.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, an elastically deformable rectangular thin plate is provided on a part of the wall surface of the injection tank 312 facing the transport path E of the photosensitive material 16. A bent nozzle plate 322 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a plurality of nozzle plates 322 are provided at regular intervals along a direction intersecting the conveying direction A of the photosensitive material 16 which is the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 322. Nozzle hole 324 (for example, several tens μm in diameter)
m) are formed over the entire width of the photosensitive material 16, thereby forming a linearly extending nozzle row. The four nozzle rows are arranged on the nozzle plate 322 in a zigzag pattern, which is an integer multiple of two.

That is, four nozzle rows formed by a plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged in a line are provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction X of the injection tank 312, respectively. The water filled in the injection tank 312 through the holes 324 is filled with the photosensitive material 16.
It can be discharged so as to be injected to the side.

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the nozzle holes 324 is formed in a circular shape having the same inner diameter d, and water droplets L having substantially the same volume can be ejected from each of the nozzle holes 324. It has become.

Further, when the diameter when the water droplet L of a drop ejected from the nozzle holes 324 is attached on the photosensitive material 16 is D, the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes with each other in each nozzle row (√3) · D / 2 of the length, spacing P _b between the nozzle rows
Is m (√3) · P _a / 2. Here, m is a value in the range of 0.5 <m <1.

[0040] That is, the center S of the three nozzle holes 324 that are adjacent to each other, such that each becomes the vertex of an isosceles triangle having a base pitch P _a, and a structure in which to place the nozzle holes 324 on the nozzle plate 322 FIG.
As shown in FIG.
In particular, the injection can be performed in the short direction Y of the injection tank 312 which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X of the injection tank.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an exhaust pipe 330 extends from the upper part of the injection tank 312,
The exhaust pipe 330 allows communication between the inside and the outside of the injection tank 312. Further, a valve (not shown) for opening and closing the exhaust pipe 330 is provided in the middle of the exhaust pipe 330, and the opening and closing movement of the valve allows the inside of the injection tank 312 to communicate with and close to outside air. ing.

Both ends of the nozzle plate 322, which is the end of the nozzle plate 322 located in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle row formed by the plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged linearly, are shown in FIG. As described above, the pair of lever plates 320 are bonded to each other with an adhesive or the like. The nozzle plate 322 and the pair of lever plates 320 are connected by being bonded and connected in this manner. The pair of lever plates 320 is formed by a pair of side walls 312A of the injection tank 312.
Are fixed to the pair of side walls 312A via narrow supporting portions 312B formed at the lower portions of the pair.

On the other hand, a part of a pair of top walls 312C which come into contact with each other to form the top surface of the injection tank 312 protrudes to the outside of the injection tank 312, and is provided below the protruding top wall 312C. Are arranged with a plurality of piezoelectric elements 326 (three on each side in the present embodiment) bonded to be actuators. The outer end side of the lever plate 320 is bonded to the lower surface of the piezoelectric element 326, and the piezoelectric element 32
6 and the lever plate 320 are connected.

Accordingly, the piezoelectric element 326 and the lever plate 3
20 and the support portion 312B constitute a lever mechanism, and when the outer end side of the lever plate 320 is moved by the piezoelectric element 326, the lever plate 320 is moved in the opposite direction to this movement.
The inner end side of the will move. The piezoelectric element 326
Is formed by, for example, laminated piezoelectric ceramics, whereby the axial displacement of the piezoelectric element 326 is increased, and a power source (each not shown) whose voltage application timing is controlled by a controller , The piezoelectric element 326 is connected. The valve for opening and closing the exhaust pipe 330 is also connected to the controller, and the controller also controls the opening and closing operation of the valve.

On the other hand, the lever plate 320 and the side wall 312
A, the support portion 312B, and the top wall 312C respectively form part of a frame 314 that is integrally formed.
As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of the frames 314 is overlapped and screwed with a bolt (not shown),
The outer frame of the injection tank 312 is formed in a state where the pair of lever plates 320, the pair of side walls 312A, the pair of top walls 312C, and the pair of support portions 312B are arranged to face each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left and right ends of the nozzle plate 322, which are the ends of the nozzle plate 322 positioned in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle row formed by the plurality of nozzle holes 324, A thin sealing plate 328 is provided between the frame 31 and the end portion of the frame 314.
4 are attached.

Further, a gap between the left and right ends of the nozzle plate 322 and the ends of the pair of frames 314 and the sealing plate 328 is filled inside the sealing plate 328, and water is supplied from between them. In order to prevent leakage, an elastic adhesive, for example, a silicone rubber-based adhesive is filled. Therefore, the gap of the injection tank 312 is sealed by the elastic adhesive without obstructing the movement of the left and right ends of the nozzle plate 322. Note that the injection tank 3 is not used without using the thin sealing plate 328.
The left and right ends of 12 may be sealed with only an elastic adhesive.

As described above, when power is supplied to the piezoelectric element 326 from the power supply, as shown in FIG. 7, the piezoelectric element 326 expands and rotates the lever plate 320 around the support portion 312B. Along with this, the piezoelectric element 326 deforms and displaces the nozzle plate 322 so as to raise the central portion of the nozzle plate 322 via the lever plate 320 in the direction of arrow B. Then, with the deformation of the nozzle plate 322, the pressure of the water in the injection tank 312 increases, and the water droplets L, which are small amounts of water, are collectively and linearly injected from the nozzle holes 324 arranged in four rows. Will be.

Further, by repeatedly supplying current to the piezoelectric element 326 and repeatedly extending the piezoelectric element 326, it is possible to continuously eject the water droplet L from the nozzle hole 324.

Here, as shown in FIG.
Let the volume of one droplet L ejected from 4 be volume V, and let the contact angle when water adhere to the photosensitive material 16 be the contact angle θ, the diameter of one droplet L on the photosensitive material 16 D is obtained by the following equation.

[0051]

(Equation 1)

The volume V of the single water droplet L is determined by the nozzle plate 3
Nozzle hole 324 at the time of displacement by the piezoelectric element 326 of FIG.
Can be obtained from Table 1 below, which shows the experimental results obtained by changing the condition of the variation width (nozzle amplitude h) at the location corresponding to Here, the inner diameter d of the nozzle hole 324 is set to 30 μm
And the data of 80 μm are shown as examples.

[0053]

[Table 1]

Then, three water droplets L ejected from the nozzle hole 324 and attached to the photosensitive material 16 adjacent to each other
Adhere to the photosensitive material 16 in the following arrangement.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the photosensitive material 1 ejected from the nozzle holes 324 in each nozzle row, respectively.
The distance between the center S1 of the water droplet L on 6 is the same as the pitch P _a is the distance between the centers S mutual nozzle holes 324 in the nozzle rows. Also, the center S of the water droplet L on the photosensitive material 16 ejected from the nozzle holes 324 between the nozzle rows, respectively.
Distance along the direction orthogonal to the nozzle rows between 1 is the same as the interval P _b is the distance between the nozzle rows.

As a result, three water droplets L adjacent to each other
However, not only do not have a gap between each other, but also in a state where the injection tank 312 is arranged overlapping in the short direction Y,
It will be deposited on the photosensitive material 16.

[0057] Further, if the conveying speed of the photosensitive material 16 was v with the number of nozzle rows and 2n, P _b · 2n /
It is assumed that water is injected at a cycle T having a value equal to or less than v.
That is, in the case of this embodiment, since nozzle columns are four rows n is 2, and as a result, for each conveyance amount of the photosensitive material 16 corresponding to four times the distance interval P _b, water nozzle hole 32
4, water is applied onto the photosensitive material 16 without gaps.

Specifically, after water is sprayed at the moment when the nozzle hole 324 is located above the portion indicated by the dotted line 324A in FIG. 9, the nozzle hole is then injected above the portion indicated by the solid line 324B in FIG. Water droplets L are repeatedly jetted at a timing such that water is jetted at the moment when 324 is located.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the water droplets L adhere to the entire surface of the photosensitive material 16 in an arrangement in which the lines connecting the centers S1 form an isosceles triangle. However, in practice, when the water droplets L after they are attached and adhere to each other on the surface of the photosensitive material 16 and interfere with each other, the water droplets L tend to aggregate to reduce the surface energy. Quickly aggregates,
It becomes one as a whole.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a receiving magazine 10 for storing an image receiving material 108 is provided at the upper left end in the machine base 12.
6 are arranged. A dye fixing material having a mordant is applied to the image forming surface of the image receiving material 108, and the image receiving material 108 is pulled out from the material receiving magazine 106 so that the image forming surface of the image receiving material 108 faces downward. It is wound in a roll shape around 106.

A nip roller 110 is disposed near the image receiving material outlet of the image receiving magazine 106. The nip roller 110 nips the image receiving material 108, pulls out the image receiving material 108 from the image receiving magazine 106, and releases the nip. can do.

The cutter 11 is provided beside the nip roller 110.
2 are arranged. The cutter 112 is, for example, a rotary type cutter including a fixed blade and a movable blade, like the above-described cutter 20 for the photosensitive material. For this reason, the moving magazine of the cutter 20 is moved up and down by a rotary cam or the like and meshes with the fixed blade, whereby the receiving magazine 106 is received.
The image receiving material 108 pulled out of the photosensitive material 16 can be cut into a shorter length than the photosensitive material 16.

The transport roller 13 is provided beside the cutter 112.
2, 134, 136, 138 and a guide plate (not shown) are arranged, and the image receiving material 108 cut to a predetermined length is provided.
Can be conveyed to the thermal development transfer unit 120 side.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, the thermal development transfer section 120 is wound around a plurality of winding rollers 140, respectively, and is a pair of endless belts 122 each formed into a loop having a longitudinal direction in the vertical direction. , 124. Therefore, when one of these winding rollers 140 is driven and rotated, the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 wound around these winding rollers 140 are respectively rotated.

In the drawing of the pair of endless belts 122, 124, the heating plate 12 formed in a flat plate shape whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction is provided in the loop of the endless belt 122 on the right side.
6 is disposed facing the inner peripheral portion on the left side of the endless belt 122. A linear heater (not shown) is disposed inside the heating plate 126, and the heater can heat the surface of the heating plate 126 to a predetermined temperature.

Accordingly, the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer section 120 by the last transport roller 34 in the transport path. Further, the image receiving material 108 is transported in synchronization with the transport of the photosensitive material 16,
In a state where the photosensitive material 16 is advanced by a predetermined length, the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer unit 120 by the last transport roller 138 in the transport path, and is superposed on the photosensitive material 16.

In this case, the image receiving material 108 is the photosensitive material 16
Both the width dimension and the longitudinal dimension are smaller than that of the photosensitive material 16, so that the periphery of the photosensitive material 16 is overlapped with all four sides protruding from the periphery of the image receiving material 108.

As described above, the pair of endless belts 122 and 12
Photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 1
08 is nipped and conveyed by a pair of endless belts 122 and 124 while being superposed.
Further, the superposed photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 108
However, when completely stopped between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124, the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 stop rotating once, and the sandwiched photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 108 are heated by the heating plate 126. The photosensitive material 16 is transported by the endless belt 122 and the heating
6, the movable dye is released with the heating, and at the same time, the dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material 108, and an image is obtained on the image receiving material 108. .

Further, a pair of endless belts 122, 124
On the downstream side in the material supply direction, a peeling claw 128 is arranged. For this reason, the peeling claw 128 is engaged with only the front end portion of the photosensitive material 16 of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 which are nipped and conveyed between the pair of endless belts 122, 124, and the pair of endless belts 122, 124. The tip of the photosensitive material 16 protruding from the gap can be peeled off from the image receiving material 108.

The photosensitive material discharge roller 1 is on the left side of the peeling claw 128.
The photosensitive material 16, which is moved leftward while being guided by the peeling claw 128, can be further transported to the waste photosensitive material container 150 side.

The waste photosensitive material storage section 150 has a drum 152 around which the photosensitive material 16 is wound, and a belt 154 partially wound around the drum 152. Further, the belt 154 includes a plurality of rollers 15.
The belt 154 is rotated by the rotation of the rollers 156, and the drum 1
52 rotates.

Accordingly, when the photosensitive material 16 is fed while the belt 154 is rotated by the rotation of the roller 156, the photosensitive material 16 can be accumulated around the drum 152.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1, a pair of endless belts 122,
Receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 16 so that the image receiving material 108 can be transported from the lower side to the left.
6, 168 and 170 are arranged in order. For this reason, the image receiving material 108 discharged from the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 is transferred to the receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164 and 16
6, 168, 170, and the tray 172
Will be discharged to

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the image recording apparatus 10 having the above configuration, the nip roller 18 is operated after the photosensitive material magazine 14 is set, and the photosensitive material 1
6 is pulled out by the nip roller 18. When the photosensitive material 16 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 2
0 operates, the photosensitive material 16 is cut into a predetermined length, and the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed to the exposure unit 22 with its photosensitive (exposure) surface facing left. The exposure device 38 operates simultaneously with the passage of the photosensitive material 16 through the exposure unit 22, and the exposure unit 22
The image is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive material 16 located at the position (1).

When the exposure is completed, the exposed photosensitive material 16 is exposed.
Is sent to the water application unit 50. In the water application section 50, the conveyed photosensitive material 16 is sent to the ejection tank 312 side by driving the conveying roller 32, as shown in FIG.

Then, water is attached to the photosensitive material 16 conveyed along the conveyance path E by jetting from the jet tank 312. The operation and operation at this time will be described below.

First, the exhaust pipe 330 is controlled by the controller.
Is closed. In this state, the nozzle plate 32
When the water is sprayed from the nozzle 2 while being atomized, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 326 by energization from a power source controlled by a controller, and all the piezoelectric elements 326 are deformed so as to be simultaneously extended.

When the piezoelectric element 326 is deformed in this way,
The displacement is transmitted to the nozzle plate 322 via the rotation of the pair of lever plates 320 around the support portion 312B, and the nozzle plate 32
2 is displaced to pressurize the water in the injection tank 312. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the water filled in the ejection tank 312 can be ejected from the nozzle hole 324 while being atomized, and can be attached to the photosensitive material 16 being conveyed.

At this time, the nozzle plate 322 installed in the injection tank 312 as a part of the wall surface of the injection tank 312
A plurality of nozzle holes 324 for injecting water are arranged in four rows over the entire width of the photosensitive material 16. Further, as described above, the volume V of the water droplets L ejected from the nozzle holes 324 is obtained from the inner diameter d of the nozzle holes 324 and the nozzle amplitude h. The size of the diameter D of the water droplet L attached on the surface 16 is determined.

[0080] Then, with the pitch P _a and (√3) · D / 2 between the nozzle holes 324 each other in each nozzle row, m
When but that is a value in the range 0.5 <m <1, and the interval P _b between the nozzle rows and _{m (√3) · P a /} 2, further combined with the conveying speed v of the photosensitive material 16, P Water is applied over the entire surface of the photosensitive material 16 by spraying water from the nozzle holes 324 many times at a timing of a cycle T equal to or less than a value defined by _b · 2n / v.

That is, the three water droplets L adhering to the photosensitive material 16 adjacent to each other not only have no gap between them, but also overlap more along the short direction Y of the jet tank 312. In this state, it is attached on the photosensitive material 16.

Accordingly, not only are there no gaps between the water droplets L, but also in a state where the water droplets L are overlapped with each other in the short direction Y of the jet tank 312 in which the nozzle plate 322 is easily warped. Even if the flatness of the nozzle plate 322 is somewhat poor, there is no portion on the photosensitive material 16 where water does not adhere, so that water can be applied uniformly without aggregation unevenness.

On the other hand, if it is attempted to make all of the large number of nozzle holes 324 function, the yield during the production of the injection tank 312 will deteriorate, but the water droplets L adhere to the photosensitive material 16 in a state of being overlapped. Then, some non-functioning nozzle holes 324 are supplemented, so that the yield can be improved and the cost can be reduced while maintaining the performance.

That is, by increasing the redundancy of atomization caused by the injection of water from the nozzle holes 324, even if one of the nozzle holes 324 is clogged, the other nozzle holes 324 can prevent the clogging. Since the locations are complemented, no aggregation unevenness occurs.

As described above, the nozzle holes 324 are arranged so that all the water droplets are cohered, and a uniform water film is formed on the photosensitive material 16 immediately after the impact, thereby eliminating the uneven coating. As a result, it is possible to provide a non-contact coating device 310 capable of forming a uniform coating film on the photosensitive material 16 and reducing the cost.

Here, m is set to be in the range of 0.5 <m <1 when m is 1 although there is no gap between the water droplets L, but as shown in FIG. Because it is attached
Due to deformation such as warpage that affects the flatness of the nozzle plate 322, a gap may be generated between the water droplets L.
Is larger than 1, a gap is formed between the water droplets L.

On the other hand, if m is 0.5, a portion where the water droplets L overlap one another four times occurs, and the photosensitive material 16
Can be understood that a large amount of water adheres to the particles, and that m is not more than 0.5.

As described above, it is possible to form a uniform coating film on the photosensitive material 16 without water becoming dirty and causing deterioration of the image recording apparatus 10 itself and deterioration of image quality.

On the other hand, the injection tank 312 is
Since water is jetted from the nozzle hole 324,
Compared to a coating apparatus in which a photosensitive material or the like is immersed and applied in a tank in which water is stored, it is possible to apply the photosensitive material 16 with a small amount of water and to dry the photosensitive material 16 in a short time.

The injection tank 312 has a plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged over the entire width of the photosensitive material 16.
Since water is simultaneously ejected from these nozzle holes 324 by one displacement by the piezoelectric element 326, water can be applied over a wide area over the entire width of the photosensitive material 16 by one ejection. For this reason, the nozzle plate 32
It is not necessary to scan 2 on a two-dimensional plane, and it is possible to apply a large area in a short time, thereby shortening the application time.

Further, the nozzle plate 3 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle row formed by the plurality of nozzle holes 324
Lever plate 320 is connected to both ends of lever 22 and lever plate 3
The nozzle plate 322 and the piezoelectric element 326 are connected to each other via 20. Therefore, the nozzle holes 324 can be collectively and stably displaced along the longitudinal direction of the linearly arranged nozzle rows with the same displacement amount, and water can be more uniformly applied to the photosensitive material 16. Becomes possible.

On the other hand, when water is jetted from the nozzle holes 324 of the nozzle plate 322, although the water in the jet tank 312 gradually decreases, the sub-tank 338 supplies water to keep the water level in the jet tank 312 constant. Since it has a function, water is supplied from the sub tank 338 side, and the water pressure in the injection tank 312 during atomization can be maintained at a constant value, and continuous water injection is ensured.

Thereafter, the photosensitive material 16 to which the water as an image forming solvent has been applied in the water application section 50 is fed by the conveying roller 34 between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer section 120.

On the other hand, as the photosensitive material 16 is scanned and exposed, the image receiving material 108 is also pulled out from the material receiving magazine 106 by the nip roller 110 and transported. When the image receiving material 108 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 112 operates to cut the image receiving material 108 into a predetermined length.

After the operation of the cutter 112, the cut image receiving material 108 is transported by the transport rollers 132, 134, 136 and 138 while being guided by the guide plate.
When the leading end of the image receiving material 108 is nipped by the transport roller 138, the image receiving material 108 enters a standby state immediately before the thermal development transfer unit 120.

As the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 by the conveying rollers 34 as described above, the conveyance of the image receiving material 108 is restarted, and the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 are resumed. The image receiving material 108 is fed integrally with the photosensitive material 16 between them.

As a result, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108
Are stacked, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 are nipped and conveyed while being heated by the heating plate 126,
An image is formed on the image receiving material 108 by performing thermal development transfer.

Further, a pair of endless belts 122, 124
When these are discharged from the photosensitive material 16, the peeling claw 128 engages with the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 which is conveyed ahead of the image receiving material 108 by a predetermined length, and the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 is brought into contact with the image receiving material 10.
Peel from 8. The photosensitive material 16 is further conveyed by a photosensitive material discharge roller 148 and is disposed in the waste photosensitive material storage unit 1.
50. At this time, since the photosensitive material 16 dries immediately, it is not necessary to further provide a heater for drying the photosensitive material 16.

On the other hand, the image receiving material 108 separated from the photosensitive material 16 is applied to receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 166, and 1
The sheet is conveyed by 68 and 170 and discharged to the tray 172.

In the case of performing the image recording processing for a plurality of sheets, the above steps are sequentially and continuously performed.

As described above, the pair of endless belts 122, 1
The image receiving material 108 on which a predetermined image is formed (recorded) by the thermal development transfer process sandwiched between the pair of endless belts 1
After being discharged from the transfer rollers 22 and 124, the transfer material is nipped and conveyed by a plurality of receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170, and is taken out of the apparatus.

Further, there are the following modified examples of this embodiment. In other words, the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes 324 with each other in each nozzle array is the length of k (√3) · D / 2 , the interval P _b between the nozzle rows _{m (√3) · P a /} 2
And the length. Here, k is a value in a range of 0.5 <k <1, and m is a value in a range of 0.5 <m <1.

That is, three nozzle holes 3 adjacent to each other
24, the longitudinal direction X of the injection tank 312 and
Water can be jetted onto the photosensitive material 16 in an overlapping manner along the transport direction A, which is the short direction Y of the jet tank 312.

As a result, three adjacent water droplets L
Are attached to the photosensitive material 16 in a state where not only are there no gaps between them but also the jet tank 312 is arranged so as to overlap in both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0105] Further, if the conveying speed of the photosensitive material 16 was v with the number of nozzle rows and 2n, P _b · 2n /
It is assumed that water is injected at a period T that is equal to or less than kv. As a result, in the case of this modification, the water droplet L is repeatedly repeated at a timing longer than the injection timing as shown in FIG.
Can be injected. In other words, by shortening the length of the pitch P _a, it enables higher density applied in a single injection, as a result, can be lengthened period T.

As described above, the portion to which water is not adhered is further eliminated, so that water can be more uniformly applied and the coating device 3
10 can be reduced in cost.

Next, an injection tank 312 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 14 and will be described below. still,
The same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 14, the nozzle plate 322 of the injection tank 312 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of nozzle holes 324 for jetting water intersecting the conveying direction A of the photosensitive material 16 at regular intervals. Eight nozzle rows, which are arranged in a straight line along the direction, are arranged in a zigzag pattern and are integer multiples of two. Thereby, the present embodiment also has the same operation as the first embodiment, but can further increase the amount of atomization caused by one injection. In the embodiment, the number of nozzle rows is four and eight. However, the number of nozzle rows is not limited thereto, and may be an integer multiple of 2, 2, 6, or 10 or more. This makes it possible to reduce the number of times the actuator is driven.

On the other hand, the volume V of the water droplet L applied in the first and second embodiments is 0.00001 to 0.01 mm.
^In the range of ³ , the contact angle θ is 40 ° or less, and the thickness of the water film formed on the photosensitive material 16 may be in the range of 1 to 100 μm. However, the present invention is not limited to these values.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the nozzle rows are arranged at right angles to the transport direction. However, it is not necessary to limit the nozzle rows to right angles. Is also good.

In the above embodiment, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 are used as image recording materials,
The spray tank 3 of the coating device 310 is applied to the photosensitive material 16 after the exposure.
The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108
Is superimposed and thermally developed and transferred. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and water may be sprayed onto the image receiving material 108 for application.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these materials, and other sheet-like or roll-like image recording materials can be applied, and the solvent for image formation may be a material other than water.
Further, the present invention may be applied to application of a developing solution to photographic paper in a developing machine, application of immersion water of a printing machine, a coating machine, and the like.

[0113]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has an excellent effect that a uniform coating film can be formed on an image recording material while reducing costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a coating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the injection tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing a state where the photosensitive material is conveyed below the injection tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an injection tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which water is injected from an injection tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a state in which water droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes of the ejection tank and adhere to the photosensitive material according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram in which the positions of the nozzle holes of the injection tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention are projected onto a photosensitive material.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a photosensitive material in a state where water droplets are sprayed from nozzle holes of a spray tank and applied according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged conceptual diagram showing three water droplets taken out from a photosensitive material in a state where water droplets are sprayed and applied from nozzle holes of a spray tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a heat development transfer unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a photosensitive material in a state where water droplets are sprayed from a nozzle hole and applied, and is a diagram illustrating a comparative example.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram in which the position of a nozzle hole of an injection tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention is projected on a photosensitive material.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image recording device 16 photosensitive material (image recording material) 62 water application unit 310 application device 312 injection tank 322 nozzle plate 324 nozzle hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an application device for applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material, wherein the plurality of nozzles apply the image forming solvent to the image recording material by spraying the image forming solvent. A nozzle row constituted by holes and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus is provided in the coating apparatus as an integer multiple of 2, wherein the diameter of one drop of the image forming solvent adhered on the image recording material is D, and the nozzle row is the pitch P _a of the nozzle hole between (√3) · D
/ 2, and when m is a value in the range 0.5 <m <1, and the interval P _b between the nozzle rows and _{m (√3) · P a /} 2, the number of nozzle rows and 2n image if the conveying speed of the recording material was v, the period T for injecting a solvent for image formation to the following value P _b · 2n / v, the image forming apparatus, characterized in that with. 2. An image forming apparatus having an application device for applying an image forming solvent to an image recording material, wherein the plurality of nozzles apply the image forming solvent to the image recording material by spraying the image forming solvent. A nozzle row constituted by holes and extending in the longitudinal direction of the coating apparatus is provided in the coating apparatus as an integer multiple of 2, and the diameter of one drop of the image forming solvent deposited on the image recording material is D, and k is 0. .5 <k <when a value of 1, and the pitch P _a of the nozzle holes with each other in the nozzle array and k (√3) · D / 2 , m is 0.5 <m <1 in the range of when a value, the interval P _b between the nozzle rows and _{m (√3) · P a /} 2, if the number of nozzle rows and the transport speed of the image recording material as v with the 2n, image formation the period T for injecting a solvent to the following value P _b · 2n / kv, image type, characterized in that Apparatus.