JPH1062946A - Photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive material processing device which is capable of uniformly applying a small amt. of a processing liquid on a photosensitive material. SOLUTION: A planographic printing plate M is coated with a developer on its photosensitive surface at the time of passing between a coating roller 125 and a back up roller 128 and, simultaneously, the coating amt. of the developer is metered by the coating roller 125. The planographic printing plate M past the spacing between the coating roller 125 and the back up roller 128 is guided upward by a guide member 48 which is arranged on the side reverse from the photosensitive surface of the planographic printing plate M and comes into contact with the surface on the side reverse from the photosensitive surface of the planographic printing plate M.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive materials such as films, photographic papers, printing plates and the like are processed with a processing solution such as a developing solution, a fixing solution, a stabilizing solution, and washing water after an image is recorded. As a photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing such processing, a photosensitive material is transported into a processing tank storing a processing liquid by a transporting unit including a plurality of transport roller pairs or the like, and the photosensitive material is immersed in the processing liquid. An immersion-type processing apparatus that performs processing by such a method is known.

In such an immersion type processing apparatus,
Since the processing solution deteriorates due to processing fatigue accompanying the processing of the photosensitive material or temporal fatigue due to carbon dioxide or oxygen in the atmosphere, the deterioration of the processing solution is recovered by replenishing the processing solution with a replenisher. Therefore, the components of the processing liquid at the start of the processing are different from the components of the processing liquid when the processing is continued thereafter, and it is impossible to perform strictly uniform processing. In addition, such an immersion type processing apparatus has a problem that the amount of waste liquid of the processing liquid is large and the maintainability of the apparatus is poor.

As a photosensitive material processing apparatus for solving such problems, instead of immersing the photosensitive material in the processing solution, an amount of the processing solution required for processing the photosensitive material is applied to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material. There is also used a coating type processing apparatus for performing the processing. For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-7257, such a coating-type processing apparatus includes a wire bar formed by spirally winding a wire around a shaft around a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive material after supplying a processing liquid. A processing apparatus is disclosed in which only a required amount of processing liquid is applied to a photosensitive material by measuring the amount of the processing liquid applied to the photosensitive material by contacting the measuring means.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-725.
In the processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-107, when the photosensitive material passes through the measuring means, the photosensitive material is transported in the horizontal direction. In such a configuration, there is no problem when a relatively large amount of the processing liquid is applied to the photosensitive material, but when a small amount of the processing liquid is applied to the photosensitive material, uneven application of the processing liquid occurs. . That is, when the photosensitive material is passed through the measuring means while being transported in the horizontal direction,
The size of the processing liquid reservoir formed upstream of the contact area between the photosensitive material and the measuring means in the transport direction of the photosensitive material affects the amount of the processing liquid applied to the photosensitive material. As a result, there is a problem that application unevenness of the processing solution occurs on the photosensitive material, and as a result, processing unevenness occurs on the processed photosensitive material. Such a phenomenon is particularly remarkable in the case where a lithographic printing plate utilizing a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method), in which development proceeds rapidly, is used as a photosensitive material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of uniformly applying a small amount of a processing liquid to a photosensitive material.

In the processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-7257, the amount of processing solution applied to the photosensitive material is measured by a measuring means, so that the amount of processing liquid necessary for processing the photosensitive material is measured. By applying only the liquid to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material, the consumption of the processing liquid is minimized, but the processing liquid also adheres to the surface of the photosensitive material opposite to the photosensitive surface, and Since the liquid is taken out together with the photosensitive material, processing liquids other than the processing liquid necessary for processing are wasted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of minimizing the consumption of a processing solution not required for processing.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transporting means for transporting a photosensitive material with its photosensitive surface facing upward, and a processing liquid supplied to the photosensitive material transported by the transporting means. A processing liquid supply unit, a measurement unit that contacts the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material conveyed by the conveyance unit, and measures the processing liquid supplied by the processing liquid supply unit; And a guide means for contacting a surface of the material opposite to the photosensitive surface and guiding the photosensitive material upward.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the guide means comprises a guide member having a contact portion extending in a direction intersecting with the direction of conveying the photosensitive material. As the contact portion slides relatively on the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material with the conveyance, the processing liquid attached to the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material is scraped off. A recovery path is provided below the guide member for collecting the processing liquid scraped from the photosensitive material by the guide member into a processing liquid tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the guide means moves the photosensitive material after contact with the measuring means by 3 to 35 ° with respect to the horizontal direction. Guide upward at an angle.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the weighing means comprises a weighing roller having an uneven surface.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lithographic printing plate making apparatus provided with a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention.

This plate making apparatus uses a lithographic printing plate M using a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method) as a photosensitive material.
The lithographic printing plate M is subjected to image exposure and development processing. The exposure apparatus 2 performs exposure to the lithographic printing plate M, and performs the development processing to the exposed lithographic printing plate M. And a development processing device 3.

A lithographic printing plate using a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method), particularly a lithographic printing plate having a physical development nucleus layer on a silver halide emulsion layer is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 3,728. No. 4,114,769, No.4,160,670, No.4,336,321, No.4,501,811, No.4,510,228, No.4,621,041 The exposed silver halide is subjected to chemical development by DTR development to become black silver to form a hydrophilic non-image area, while the unexposed silver halide crystal is The silver salt complexing agent in the developer forms a silver complex and diffuses to the physical development nucleus layer on the surface. Form.

First, the configuration of the exposure apparatus 2 will be described. The exposure device 2 exposes the image of the original to the lithographic printing plate M by projecting the reflected light from the original mounted on the original holder 12 onto the surface of the lithographic printing plate M by the projection optical system 13. is there.

The original holder 12 has a light transmitting plate 14 for placing an original and an upper lid 15 which can be opened and closed with respect to the light transmitting plate 14. 1, it is configured to be reciprocally movable in the left-right direction between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a two-dot chain line. Further, the projection optical system 13 is fixed below the reciprocating movement path of the original holder 12, and a rod-shaped light source 17 for irradiating illumination light to the surface of the original horizontally moved while being held by the original holder 12; The apparatus includes a plurality of folding mirrors 18 for guiding light reflected from a document by the light source 17 and a projection lens 19 for projecting the reflected light guided by the plurality of folding mirrors 18 onto a lithographic printing plate M.

When exposing an image of a document on the lithographic printing plate M by the exposure device 2, the document holder 12 is arranged at a position shown by a solid line in FIG. The original is mounted on the original holder 12 by closing the upper cover 15 after placing the original. Then, with the light source 17 turned on, the document holder 12 is moved to the left in FIG. In synchronization with this, the leading end of the lithographic printing plate M wound in a roll by the plurality of transport rollers 22 and the guide member 23 is moved to the original holder 1.
2 is conveyed at the same speed as the moving speed. As a result, the document held in the document holder 12 is sequentially irradiated with light from the light source 17. Then, the reflected light from the original is irradiated onto the surface of the lithographic printing plate M moving at the same speed as the original holder 12 via the plurality of folding mirrors 18 and the projection lens 19, and the image of the original is printed on the lithographic printing plate M. Exposed.

The lithographic printing plate M to which the image has been exposed is sequentially transported from the exposure device 2 to the subsequent development processing device 3 for processing. Further, a cutting device 25 having a cutter 24 that moves in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M is disposed on the exit side of the exposure device 2. Cut at the rear end of the exposed part.

Since the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M in the exposure device 2 is lower than the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M in the developing device 3, the lithographic printing plate M is simply transferred to the exposure device 2 and the developing device 3. Cannot be conveyed. When the lithographic printing plate M is cut by the cutting device 25, it is necessary to stop the transport of the lithographic printing plate M. For this reason, a lithographic printing plate M buffer unit 26 is provided between the exposure device 2 and the development processing device 3, and when the lithographic printing plate M that has been exposed in the exposure device 2 is transported, the buffer unit 26 By stopping the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 and 28 disposed for a certain period of time, the lithographic printing plate M is stored in the buffer unit 26 for a certain length, and then conveyed to the developing device 3. ing.

Next, the structure of the developing apparatus 3 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing the developing device 3 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an outline diagram showing a piping system thereof.

The developing unit 3 applies a developing solution (activator) to the exposed lithographic printing plate M and develops the lithographic printing plate M, and a developing solution (stabilizer) to the developed lithographic printing plate M. Stabilizer 33 for applying and stabilizing
And a drying unit 34 for drying the lithographic printing plate M after the stabilization process.

The developing section 32 includes a roller 2 of the buffer section 26.
Lithographic printing plate M conveyed to developing section 32 by 7, 28
A pair of introduction rollers 41 and 42 for nipping and transporting the developer, and a developer application for measuring and applying a fixed amount of the developer to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M transported by the pair of introduction rollers 41 and 42 A mechanism 43 and a pair of squeezing rollers 4 for removing the developer supplied to the developing process from the lithographic printing plate M;
4, 45, and a plurality of guide members 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 for guiding the lithographic printing plate M.

The lower roller 41 of the pair of introduction rollers 41, 42 is a heat roller having a built-in heater for heating the lithographic printing plate M passing therethrough. The lithographic printing plate M is heated in advance prior to the development process because a small amount of a temperature-controlled developer is applied to the lithographic printing plate M and the lithographic printing plate M is heated by the heat capacity of the lithographic printing plate M when developing. This is to prevent the temperature of the developer that has come into contact with the developer from decreasing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing solution application mechanism 43 is connected to a developing solution tank 52 for storing a developing solution via a pump 53. A collection tray 54 is provided below the developer application mechanism 43. The developing solution in a developing solution tank 52 is pumped by a pump 53 to a developing solution application mechanism 43.
And supplied onto the lithographic printing plate M. Then, the developer which has not been applied to the lithographic printing plate M, such as the developing solution which has flowed out from both ends and the rear end of the lithographic printing plate M or the developer which has been scraped off by a guide member 48 described later, is collected on the collection tray 54. To be dropped. Further, since the developing solution can be reused, the developing solution is dropped into the liquid receiving portion 56 of the developing solution tank 52 through a collecting pipe 55 provided at a lower end portion of the collecting tray 54, and collected in the developing solution tank 52. Is done. Developer tank 5
2 has a built-in panel heater 57, and is configured to maintain a developing solution circulating in a developing solution circulation path from the developing solution tank 52 to the developing solution application mechanism 43 at a predetermined temperature.

A collection tray 58 is provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45. The fatigue developing solution removed from the lithographic printing plate M by the pair of squeezing rollers 44, 45 passes through the collecting hole 63 of the liquid receiving member 62 provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 44, 45, and the collection tray 5
8 is dropped. Further, since this developer cannot be reused, it is discharged to the drainage tank 64 via the collection pipe 59 provided at the lower end of the collection tray 58.

As shown in FIG. 4, the developing solution application mechanism 43 has a developing solution supply pipe 122 having a plurality of discharge holes 121 formed thereunder, and a plurality of developing solution supply pipes 122 for flowing the developing solution down to the lower end thereof. Developer receiving portion 124 having opening 123
A coating roller 125 having a plurality of grooves on its surface and rotating in contact with the lithographic printing plate M; and a diffusion for guiding the developer flowing down from the opening 123 of the developer receiving portion 124 to the coating roller 125. The film 126 and the developer receiving section 12
4 has a backflow prevention film 127 for preventing backflow of the developer flowing down from the opening 123, and a backup roller 128 abutting on the application roller 125. In addition,
Arrows in FIG. 4 indicate the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M.

The application roller 125 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a wire bar in which a wire 125b of about 0.4 mm is wound on the surface of a metal roller 125a of about 14 mm in diameter. For this reason, the application roller 125
A plurality of grooves are formed by wires 125b in a direction substantially parallel to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Therefore, when the application roller 125 and the lithographic printing plate M are in contact with each other, the plurality of openings 1 formed by the grooves of the application roller 125 are formed in the contact portion between the application roller 125 and the lithographic printing plate M.
25c is formed. The size of the opening 125c is
This is a reference for the amount of application when the developer applied to the lithographic printing plate M is measured.

The developing solution supply pipe 122 is connected to the developing solution tank 52 via the pump 53, and the developing solution is discharged from the plurality of discharge holes 121 by driving the pump 53. After the developer is once received by the developer receiving section 124, the diffusion film 12
Flow down to 6. Opening 12 of developer receiving section 124
The developer flowing down from 3 is temporarily stored in the contact portion between the application roller 125 and the diffusion film 126 and is diffused in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Then, with the rotation of the application roller 125, the developer passes through the opening formed by the groove of the application roller 125 and passes through the application roller 125.
Move in the direction of the contact portion between
A reservoir is formed there.

When the lithographic printing plate M passes through the liquid reservoir, a developing solution is applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M. At this time, since the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is pressed against the surface of the application roller 125 by the backup roller 128, the developer applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is opened by the groove of the application roller 125. It is weighed to a certain amount by the part.

At this time, as described later, the application roller 1
The lithographic printing plate M having passed between the backup roller 25 and the backup roller 128 is guided upward by the guide member 48. For this reason, the measurement by the application roller 125 is performed accurately. Therefore, the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M that has passed through the contact portion between the backup roller 128 and the application roller 125 is always coated with a certain amount of developer required for development.

The operation of the guide member 48 will be described later in detail.

The stabilizing section 33 is provided with a stabilizing liquid applying mechanism 73 for measuring and applying a fixed amount of a stabilizing liquid to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M conveyed from the developing section 32 and a stabilizing process. The lithographic printing plate M includes a pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75 for removing the stabilizing liquid from the lithographic printing plate M, and a plurality of guide members 76, 77 and 78 for guiding the lithographic printing plate M.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stabilizing solution applying mechanism 73 is connected to a stabilizing solution tank 82 for storing a stabilizing solution via a pump 83. A collection tray 84 is provided below the stable liquid application mechanism 73. The stable liquid in the stable liquid tank 82 is supplied to the stable liquid applying mechanism 73 by the pump 83.
And supplied onto the lithographic printing plate M. Then, a stable liquid that has not been applied to the lithographic printing plate M, such as a stable liquid that has flowed out from both ends and a rear end of the lithographic printing plate M or a stable liquid that has been scraped off by the guide member 76, can be reused. It is dropped on the collection tray 84. Then, the stable liquid is further dropped into a liquid receiving section 86 of a stable liquid tank 82 through a collecting pipe 85 provided at a lower end of the collecting tray 84,
It is collected in the stable liquid tank 82.

A collecting tray 88 is provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75. The stable liquid removed from the lithographic printing plate M by the pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75 is dropped onto the collection tray 88 via the collection holes 93 of the liquid receiving member 92 provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75. I do. Further, since this stable liquid cannot be reused, it is discharged to the drainage tank 64 via a collecting pipe 89 provided at the lower end of the collecting tray 88.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stabilizing liquid application mechanism 73 includes a stabilizing liquid supply pipe 132 having a plurality of discharge holes 131 formed below the stabilizing liquid supply pipe 132, and a plurality of stabilizing liquid supply pipes 132 for flowing the stabilizing liquid downward. A stable liquid receiving portion 134 having an opening 133 formed therein.
A coating roller 135 whose surface is formed of a single-cell sponge and rotates in contact with the lithographic printing plate M; and an opening 133 of the stable liquid receiving portion 134 whose surface is formed in an uneven shape.
Film 136 for guiding the stable liquid flowing down from the coating roller 135 to the coating roller 135 and the lithographic printing plate M with the coating roller 1
And a leaf spring 138 that urges the plate spring 335. In addition,
Arrows in FIG. 4 indicate the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M.

The stable liquid supply pipe 132 is connected to the aforementioned stable liquid tank 82 via a pump 83, and the stable liquid is discharged from the plurality of discharge holes 131 by driving the pump 83. After the stable liquid is once received by the stable liquid receiving section 134, the diffusion film 13 passes through the plurality of openings 133.
Flow down to 6. Opening 13 of stable liquid receiving portion 134
The stable liquid flowing down from 3 is temporarily stored in a contact portion between the application roller 135 and the diffusion film 136, and is diffused in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Then, with the rotation of the application roller 135, the stable liquid passes through the opening formed by the unevenness on the surface of the diffusion film 136, moves toward the contact portion between the application roller 135 and the leaf spring 138, and stores the liquid therein. Form.

When the lithographic printing plate M passes through the liquid reservoir, a stable liquid is applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M. At this time, since the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is pressed against the surface of the application roller 135 by the leaf spring 138, the stable liquid applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is a single bubble on the surface of the application roller 135. It is metered to a constant volume by a number of holes with a sponge. Therefore, a constant amount of the stabilizing liquid required for stabilization is always applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M that has passed through the contact portion between the leaf spring 138 and the application roller 135.

The leaf spring 138 has an overflow hole 137 for storing a stable liquid more than necessary at a contact portion between the leaf spring 138 and the application roller 135 and for preventing the liquid reservoir from becoming excessively large. Is provided.

The drying unit 34 includes a rubber roller 102 that supports and transports the lithographic printing plate M transported from the stabilizing unit 33,
A mirror roller 103 for preventing uneven drying of the lithographic printing plate M by contacting the rubber roller 102 with a predetermined pressure;
Cleaning liquid reservoir 104 for supplying the cleaning liquid via
A drying mechanism 107 having a fan 105 and a heater 106 for blowing hot air onto the lithographic printing plate M to dry it, and a plurality of transport rollers 108 for transporting the lithographic printing plate M;
09 and 110. The cleaning liquid storage unit 104 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The cleaning liquid supply pipe 105 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid 4 and 45 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply pipe 105 via a pump 106.

The development processing of the lithographic printing plate M by the development processing device 3 is performed as follows.

That is, the lithographic printing plate M, on which an image is recorded by the exposure device 2 at the preceding stage, is transferred to the pair of introduction rollers 41, 4
The developing solution is applied by the developer application mechanism 43 to apply an amount of the developing solution necessary for developing the lithographic printing plate M.
The lithographic printing plate M to which only the developing solution necessary for the developing process is applied is supplied from the developing solution applying mechanism 43 to the pair of squeezing rollers 4.
The developing process is completed on the photosensitive surface while being transported through the space developing section reaching to 4, 45. And the lithographic printing plate M
The developing solution adhered to the developing process and removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 is removed. Subsequently, the lithographic printing plate M is applied with a stabilizing solution application mechanism 73 with an amount of stabilizing solution necessary for stabilizing the lithographic printing plate M. The lithographic printing plate M to which only the necessary amount of the stabilizing liquid for the stabilizing process is applied is stabilized while being conveyed to the pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75, and the stabilizing process attached to the lithographic printing plate M is performed. Is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 74 and 75. Then, the lithographic printing plate M for which the stabilization process has been completed.
After the unevenness of drying is prevented by being pressed by the mirror surface roller 103, the drying is performed by the drying mechanism 107 and discharged onto the discharge tray 29 shown in FIG.

In the developing apparatus 3, since only the necessary amount of the developing solution is applied to the lithographic printing plate M and the developing process is performed, the amount of the developing solution required for the process can be reduced. It becomes possible. Further, since a substantially unused processing liquid is supplied to the lithographic printing plate M, the lithographic printing plate M can always be uniformly processed.

Next, a description will be given of a configuration in which the lithographic printing plate M after the application of the developing solution is guided upward in the developing section 32 as described above. FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view showing a part of the developing unit 32.

The planographic printing plate M has a pair of introduction rollers 41,
And is guided by a guide member 47,
It is inserted between the application roller 125 and the backup roller 128. Then, the lithographic printing plate M is
When passing between the backup roller 128 and the backup roller 128, the developer is applied to the photosensitive surface, and the application amount of the developer is measured by the application roller 125.

Application roller 125 and backup roller 1
The lithographic printing plate M having passed between the lithographic printing plate M and the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is arranged on the side opposite to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M, and is guided upward by a guide member 48 which comes into contact with the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface. You will be guided.

That is, the guide member 48 is formed of a bent plate-like member extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the lithographic printing plate M (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6). The portion functions as a contact portion that comes into contact with the surface on the opposite side of the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M when the lithographic printing plate M is conveyed and slides there. The contact portion at the upper end of the guide member 48 is disposed slightly above the contact portion between the application roller 125 and the backup roller 128. For this reason, the lithographic printing plate M that passes between the application roller 125 and the backup roller 128 and is transported in contact with the guide member 48 is guided upward by an angle θ as shown in FIG. Is done.

At this time, the developer supplied to the coating roller 125 via the diffusion film 126 described above is applied to the coating roller 125 on the upstream side of the measuring position by the coating roller 125.
A liquid reservoir is formed at the contact portion between the lithographic printing plate M and the lithographic printing plate M. Since the lithographic printing plate M is guided upward after contacting the application roller 125, the size of the lithographic printing plate M
It does not affect the amount of developer applied to the substrate.

When the lithographic printing plate M passes between the application roller 125 and the backup roller 128 to apply the developing solution to its photosensitive surface, the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface is opposite to the photosensitive surface. The developer is also applied. The developer applied to the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface is not used at all for the development processing, and if this developer is discarded, the developer is wasted.

However, as described above, the contact portion at the upper end of the guide member 48 slides on the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M passing between the application roller 125 and the backup roller 128. The developer applied and adhered to the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface is applied to the guide member 48.
Is scraped off. Then, the developer scraped off by the guide member 48 is transferred to the guide member 48 as described above.
From the collection tray 54. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing solution is supplied to the liquid receiving portion 5 of the developing solution tank 52 through a collecting pipe 55 provided at a lower end portion of the collecting tray 54.
6 and is collected in the developer tank 52. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the developer from being wastefully consumed because the developer is attached to the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface and taken out.

The lithographic printing plate M passed over the guide member 48
Is inserted between a pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 while being guided by guide members 49 and 50.

The angle θ for guiding the planographic printing plate M upward is preferably 3 ° to 35 °. When the angle θ is 3 ° or less, the liquid formed at the contact portion between the application roller 125 and the lithographic printing plate M upstream of the measuring position by the application roller 125 depends on the viscosity of the developer and the like. When the reservoir becomes large, the developer forming the reservoir is filled with the opening 1 by the groove of the application roller 125.
In some cases, the planographic printing plate M may flow out in the transport direction after passing through the plate 25c. When the angle θ is 35 ° or more, the lithographic printing plate M
May flow backward in the direction opposite to the transport direction.

In the stabilizing section 33, the application roller 1
Similarly to the guide member 48, the guide member 76 that passes between the plate spring 35 and the leaf spring 138 and abuts on the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the planographic printing plate M after the application of the stabilizing liquid is also used. M
Has the function of scraping and removing the stabilizer applied to the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface.

In the above-described embodiment, the wire 125 is attached to the surface of the metal roller 125a as the measuring means.
coating roller 1 composed of a wire bar wound with b
Although the case where 25 is used has been described, a weighing roller having other irregularities formed on the surface thereof may be used.
Further, these rollers may be used in a state where they are not rotated, and further, weighing means other than the rollers may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the application roller 125 serves both as a supply unit for supplying the developer to the lithographic printing plate M and a measuring unit for measuring the developer. The supply of the developer to the lithographic printing plate M and the measurement of the developer may be executed by different mechanisms.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, as the guide means, a guide constituted by a bent plate-shaped member extending in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6). Although the case where the member 48 is used has been described, other guide means may be used. In this case, in order to remove the developing solution adhering to the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface, the surface of the lithographic printing plate M opposite to the photosensitive surface is transported along with the transport of the lithographic printing plate M. It is necessary to make the whole area relatively slidable.

Further, in the above-described embodiment,
Although the case where the lithographic printing plate M using the silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method) is used as the photosensitive material has been described, the present invention is also applicable to a photosensitive material processing apparatus using other various photosensitive materials. Is possible.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the guide means for guiding the photosensitive material upward is provided,
Even when a small amount of processing liquid is supplied to the photosensitive material, the processing liquid can be uniformly applied. Therefore, it is possible to prevent uneven processing of the photosensitive material due to uneven coating of the processing liquid.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the guide means comprises a guide member configured to scrape the processing liquid adhered to the surface of the photosensitive material opposite to the photosensitive surface, and the guide means is provided below the guide member. Is provided with a recovery path for collecting the processing liquid scraped from the photosensitive material by the guide member into the processing liquid tank, so that the processing liquid adhering to the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material is removed. It becomes possible to collect, and wasteful consumption of the processing liquid can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the guide means guides the photosensitive material after contacting the measuring means upward at an angle of 3 to 35 ° with respect to the horizontal direction. It becomes possible to apply more uniformly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even when a measuring roller having irregularities on its surface is used as the measuring means, the amount of the processing liquid supplied from the processing liquid supplying means is not affected. Instead, the processing liquid can be applied uniformly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lithographic printing plate making apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a developing device 3;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a piping system of the developing device 3;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a developer application mechanism 43.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a stable liquid application mechanism 73.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view showing a part of a developing unit 32;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an application roller 125 in an enlarged manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 Exposure device 3 Development processing device 32 Developing unit 33 Stabilizing unit 34 Drying unit 41 Introducing roller 42 Introducing roller 43 Developer coating mechanism 44 Squeeze roller 45 Squeeze roller 48 Guide member 52 Developer tray 54 Collection tray 55 Collection tube 56 Liquid receiver 122 developer supply pipe 125 coating roller 128 backup roller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshikazu Takano 3-4-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Within Mitsubishi Paper Mills Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Kunihiro 3-4-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Kawaguchi 1 at 480 Takamiyacho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Hikone District Office (72) Inventor Eiji Miyasaka 1 at 480 Takamiyacho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. in the Hikone District Office (72) Inventor Masaharu Kimura 1 at 480 Takamiya-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture Dip Nippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Hikone District Office

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a photosensitive material with its photosensitive surface facing upward, a processing liquid supply means for supplying a processing liquid to the photosensitive material transported by the transporting means, and a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material by the transporting means. Measuring means for contacting the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material to be measured and measuring the processing liquid supplied by the processing liquid supply means; and abutting on a surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material after contacting the measuring means. And a guide unit for guiding the photosensitive material upward. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit includes a guide member having an abutting portion extending in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the photosensitive material is conveyed. It is configured so as to scrape the processing liquid attached to the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material by relatively sliding on the opposite surface, and the guide member is provided below the guide member. 2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recovery path for recovering the processing liquid scraped from the photosensitive material by the processing liquid into the processing liquid tank. 3. The photosensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the guide means guides the photosensitive material after contacting the measuring means upward at an angle of 3 to 35 ° with respect to a horizontal direction. Processing equipment. 4. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weighing unit is a weighing roller having irregularities formed on a surface thereof.