JPH1124225A - Liquid injection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To almost uniformly inject liquid extending over the whole column of plural nozzle holes made to pierce by being linearly arranged on the nozzle plate of a liquid injection device. SOLUTION: A displacement transmission member 320 coupled to both side end parts of the nozzle plate 322 constituted as one part of an injection tank 312 housing the liquid is supported by a wall-like supporting part 312B so that it can oscillate with respect to the side wall 312A of the tank 312. By a rigidity adjustment means 311 arranged at the prescribed part of the supporting part 312B, the rigidity of a part becoming easy to be displaced much is lowered. By making the transmission member 311 oscillate by an actuator 326, the liquid is almost uniformly injected extending over the whole column of the plural nozzle holes of the plate 322.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus capable of ejecting an image forming solvent which is a suitable liquid to an image recording material such as a photosensitive material and an image receiving material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image forming apparatus of a laser exposure heat development transfer system (silver salt photographic system) is used. Such an image forming apparatus obtains an output print through the processing steps shown in FIG. First, in an exposure processing step, an input signal of image data is subjected to image processing by the CPU 500, and the image processing signal is sent to the semiconductor unit 502.

In this semiconductor unit 502, a three-color simultaneous exposure is performed by using a laser (LD) light source on an exposure surface of a donor piece 506 which is drawn out from a donor roll 504 wound in a roll shape by a predetermined length and cut. Perform processing. By this exposure treatment, the silver halide in the donor piece 506 reacts with the light source to form a latent image, which is sent to the next water application step.

In this water application step, the liquid ejecting device 508 is used.
Is applied to the surface of the donor piece 506 in a predetermined small amount and uniformly, and is sent to the next heat development and color image transfer process.

In this heat development and color image transfer process, a piece of image receiving paper 512 (an OHP film or the like may be used) which is drawn out from the image receiving paper roll 510 by a predetermined length and cut and prepared.
Then, in a state where the donor pieces 506 to which water has been applied are overlapped and bonded, heating is performed by a heating device 514. As a result, development proceeds on the donor piece 506 side, and
The dye of No. 6 is transferred to the receiving paper piece 512 and fixed, and the image of the donor piece 506 is transferred to the receiving paper piece 512. After this transfer operation is completed, the bonded donor piece 506 is attached.
And the image receiving paper piece 512 are sent to a peeling step.

In this stripping step, the used donor piece 50
6 and the receiving paper piece 512 to which the image has been transferred are peeled off,
The donor piece 506 is discarded, and the receiving paper piece 512 is completed as a high-quality color print and sent out.

Conventionally, as a liquid ejecting apparatus 508 used in such an image forming apparatus, in order to uniformly apply a small amount of water on the surface of the donor piece 506, many small nozzle holes are formed at the bottom of a small water tank. The nozzle plate is arranged, and a small columnar actuator is arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate, and the actuator is driven to vibrate the nozzle plate to eject water droplets from the nozzle holes. Things have been suggested.

[0008]

In the conventional liquid ejecting apparatus as described above, when a long plate-like nozzle plate is vibrated by an actuator arranged at a predetermined interval,
Nozzle plate 2
The displacement is larger at the center position between the actuators, and the change is smaller at both ends of the nozzle plate fixed to the apparatus main body.

For this reason, the liquid jetting amount is small near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate, and the liquid jetting amount is large at the central portion between the two actuators. It has been difficult to spray the liquid evenly over the entire length in the longitudinal direction.

In view of the above fact, the present invention newly provides a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects a liquid uniformly over the entire row of a plurality of nozzle holes formed in a nozzle plate in a line. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus which forms a part of a wall surface of an ejection tank for storing a liquid, and includes a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting the liquid. A nozzle plate having a single or a plurality of nozzle rows, a displacement transmitting member connected to both end portions of the nozzle plate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle row, a displacement transmitting member, and a side wall of the injection tank. A support portion that is provided as a wall that connects between the two, and that supports the displacement transmitting member in a swingable manner with respect to the side wall of the injection tank; Placed,
An actuator that presses the liquid in the ejection tank by the nozzle plate connected to the displacement transmitting member to eject the liquid from the plurality of nozzle holes by expanding and contracting and driving the displacement transmitting member to swing about the support portion, When the displacement transmitting member is swung by the actuator, a portion of the support portion is made thinner or a portion of the support portion which is notched is low in rigidity so as to suppress the swinging operation of a portion of the displacement transmission member. And a rigidity adjusting means for reducing the rigidity of a part of the supporting portion by adopting a structure closed by a member or the like.

With the above-described structure, when the actuator is extended and contracted to swing the displacement transmitting member,
Since the rigidity of the part provided with the rigidity adjusting means of the support part is low,
The displacement of the displacement transmitting member corresponding to this portion due to the swing operation is suppressed to a level similar to the displacement of the swing operation of the other portions. Therefore, the displacement amount of the displacement transmitting member is substantially equalized over the entirety thereof, and the liquid ejected from the nozzle row constituted by the plurality of nozzle holes provided on the nozzle plate is ejected substantially uniformly from each part of the nozzle row. Can be done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the first aspect, actuators are arranged near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the displacement transmitting member and the ejection tank, respectively.
It is characterized in that the displacement transmitting member swings near both ends in the longitudinal direction.

With the above-described structure, even if both ends of the displacement transmitting member are fixed, each part near the both ends is rocked by each actuator, so that the force of each actuator is displaced by the corresponding displacement. The displacement is transmitted to the end of the transmission member, and both ends of the displacement transmission member are swung substantially in the same manner as other portions. Therefore, in combination with the operation and effect of the invention described in claim 1, the liquid is substantially evenly distributed over the entire nozzle row constituted by the plurality of nozzle holes of the nozzle plate operated by the displacement transmitting member. Can be injected.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overall configuration of an image recording apparatus 10 which is an image forming apparatus provided with a liquid ejecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In a machine base 12 of the image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive material magazine 1 for storing a photosensitive material 16 is provided.
The photosensitive material 16 drawn out of the photosensitive material magazine 14 is wound around the photosensitive material magazine 14 in a roll shape such that the photosensitive (exposure) surface of the photosensitive material 16 faces leftward in FIG. Has been taken.

A nip roller 18 and a cutter 20 are arranged 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 ejection tank 312 constituting a part of an application device 310, which is a liquid ejection device, is arranged at a position of the water application section 50 opposite to the conveyance path A of the photosensitive material 16. ing.

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, a sub-tank 338 for storing the water sent from the water bottle 332 is disposed on the right side of the injection tank 312 with respect to FIG. 2, and a water pipe 344 extends from the filter 334 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 between the water bottle 33 and one side of the water bottle 33 is disposed therebetween, and the water bottle 33 is provided via a filter 334, a sub tank 338, a water supply pipe 346, and the like.
The water sent by the pump 336 from the pump 2
2 will be satisfied.

A tray 340 connected to a water bottle 332 by a circulation pipe 348 is disposed below the injection tank 312, and the water overflowing from the injection tank 312 is collected by the tray 340, and the water flows 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, a portion of the bottom wall of the injection tank 312 facing the conveyance path A of the photosensitive material 16 is a rectangular thin plate material (for example, elastically deformable). A nozzle plate 322 having a thickness of 60 μm or less is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the nozzle plate 322 has a plurality of nozzle holes 324 (for example, having a diameter of 1) for jetting water filled in the jet tank 312.
0 μm to 200 μm) are arranged linearly along a direction intersecting the transport direction A of the photosensitive material 16 at regular intervals, and are arranged over the entire width of the photosensitive material 16. The plurality of nozzle holes 324 may be arranged so as to be arranged in a single or a plurality of nozzle rows. This allows
The water in the injection tank 312 can be released from the nozzle holes 324 to the photosensitive material 16 side.

The nozzle plate 322 has a plurality of nozzle holes 324 so as to increase rigidity along a longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 322 in which the plurality of nozzle holes 324 are arranged.
Are provided in a groove 322A that is bent in a trapezoidal groove extending in the direction in which the lines are linearly arranged.

Further, the water which has overflowed from the nozzle holes 324 is connected between the adjacent nozzle holes 324 due to the water pressure when the water is stored in the injection tank 312, and the apparent nozzle hole diameter becomes large and water leaks. To prevent
The lower surface of the nozzle plate 322, which is the outer surface of the injection tank 312, is subjected to a water repellent treatment such as NiP plating.

In order to prevent bubbles from adhering to the periphery of the nozzle hole 324, the corner of the nozzle plate 322 inside the injection tank 312 and around the nozzle hole 324 has a curved sectional structure. Alternatively, this portion is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the injection tank 312 on the opposite side of the portion where the water supply pipe 346 is connected is shown.
An exhaust pipe 330 extends from the upper part of the exhaust pipe 33.
0 enables communication between the inside and outside of the injection tank 312. 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. I have.

As shown in FIG. 4, both ends of the nozzle plate 322, which is the end of the nozzle plate 322 located in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged linearly, are displaced as shown in FIG. The nozzle plate 322 and the pair of lever plates 320 are connected to each other by being bonded to the pair of lever plates 320, which are members, with an adhesive or the like. The pair of lever plates 320 are respectively fixed to the pair of side walls 312A via support portions 312B which are side walls connecting the pair of side walls 312A of the injection tank 312.

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 (two on each side in the present embodiment) serving as actuators that are driven to expand and contract. The outer end side of the lever plate 320 is bonded to the lower surface of the piezoelectric element 326, and the piezoelectric element 326 and the lever plate 320 are connected. That is, the piezoelectric element 326 is bridged between the top wall 312C and the lever plate 320.

Accordingly, the piezoelectric element 326 and the lever plate 3
20 and the support portion 312B constitute a lever mechanism. When the outer end side of the lever plate 320 is moved by the piezoelectric element 326, the lever plate 320 is swung around the support portion 312B, and the movement is in the opposite direction. The inner end side of the lever plate 320 moves. The piezoelectric element 326 is made of laminated piezoelectric ceramics, for example, and the displacement of the piezoelectric element 326 in the axial direction is increased.
It is connected to a power supply (not shown) whose voltage application timing is controlled by a controller. 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 a part of an integrally formed frame 314,
As shown in FIG. 4, the frames 314 are overlapped with each other and fastened by bolts (not shown), so that a pair of lever plates 320, a pair of side walls 312A, and a pair of top walls 31 are provided.
The outer frame of the injection tank 312 is formed in a state where the 2C and the pair of support portions 312B are arranged to face each other.

Note that the frame 314 is formed of a metal material such as aluminum, brass, and magnesium. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the specific dimensions of the lever plate 320 and the support portion 312B are as follows: the thickness D of the lever plate 320 is 2 to 8 mm, and the hinge thickness t which is the width of the support portion 312B is 0. The hinge height H, which is 2 to 1 mm and the height of the support portion 312B, is 0.6 to 3 mm.

That is, the lever plate 320 itself is required to have high rigidity so as to swing integrally as a rigid body.
The thickness D was 2 to 8 mm. Further, if the hinge thickness t of the support portion 312B is unnecessarily thin, processing becomes difficult and breakage occurs easily. If the hinge thickness t is unnecessarily thick, the lever plate 320 becomes difficult to move, If the height H is too high, the support portion 312B tends to fall,
Within the above range, the above problems will not occur.

Further, the lever plate 320 and the support portion 312B
Are formed in the dimensions as described above, so that the piezoelectric element 3
Nozzle plate 3 around nozzle hole 324 for displacement amount of 26
The magnification of the lever mechanism, which is the displacement amount of 22, can be set in the range of 1 to 20 times.

Next, a plurality of nozzle holes 3 arranged linearly
A configuration will be described in which the nozzle plate 322 having the nozzles 24 is displaced equally in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle holes 324 arranged linearly by using a lever mechanism.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment, the plurality of piezoelectric elements 326, the lever plate 320, and the support 312B
The nozzle plate 322 is operated by the lever mechanism constituted by. In this lever mechanism, the lever plate 320
Piezo element 326 formed singly over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of
Accordingly, if all parts of the lever plate 320 are configured to be moved uniformly, the nozzle plate 322 can be displaced evenly.

However, the piezoelectric element 326 is expensive, and in order to reduce the material and simplify the configuration, the columnar piezoelectric element 3
When a single or multiple levers 26 are used to form a lever mechanism, the nozzle plate 322 operated by such a lever mechanism is displaced unevenly in the longitudinal direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the lever plate 320 and the support portion 312B are formed to have the same rigidity in the longitudinal direction and have the same cross section, and each portion has the same rigidity, this is operated using two piezoelectric elements 326. And two piezoelectric elements 3 as shown by a three-dot chain line U in the figure.
At the center position between 26, the amplitude of the displacement is maximum. Therefore, in order to reduce the displacement amount of the portion where the displacement of the nozzle plate 322 becomes maximum, the rigidity adjustment is performed by changing the position corresponding to the position where the displacement of the support portion 312B becomes maximum or the position where the displacement becomes large so as to reduce the rigidity. Means 311 are configured. The rigidity adjusting means 311 is a means for changing the rigidity of a part of the support part 312B. For example, a part of the support part 312B is cut out to form an opening so that water does not get wet from the opening. It is configured to be closed by an adhesive which is an elastic and low rigid member. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a required portion of the support portion 312B is drilled and closed with an elastic adhesive. In the case of drilling in this way, the individual liquid ejecting apparatuses are operated to measure the distribution state of the water ejected from the nozzle holes 324 of the nozzle plate 322, and specifically correspond to the places where the displacement is large. An operation of changing the rigidity by drilling a hole in the support portion 312B can be performed. Also in this case, the holes are closed with an elastic adhesive. Further, the rigidity adjusting means 311 includes a support portion 312B
May be made thinner to reduce the rigidity, or the material may be modified to reduce the rigidity, or the rigidity may be changed and adjusted by various other configurations. Such a rigidity adjusting means 311 is attached to the support 31.
When provided in a part of 2B, the portion provided with the rigidity adjusting means 311 has no fulcrum or the stiffness of the fulcrum is reduced, and the amplitude of the portion of the lever plate 320 corresponding to the rigidity adjusting means 311 is reduced. Therefore, by providing the stiffness adjusting means 311 at a portion corresponding to the highest amplitude in the longitudinal vibration characteristics of the lever plate 320, the amplitude at that portion can be reduced and the amplitude can be averaged.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rigidity adjusting means 311
Is provided in the middle of the two piezoelectric elements 326, the displacement of the lever plate 320 is reduced at this portion, so that the displacement of the nozzle plate 322 is reduced as shown by the curve W in FIG.
The difference in the magnitude of the displacement along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 322 is reduced, and the displacement is equalized. Therefore, the nozzle plate 322
The distribution state of the water jetted from the plurality of nozzle holes 324 linearly arranged in the nozzle plate 322 is also made uniform over the entire length of the nozzle plate 322 in the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 7, the amplitude is normalized and set to 1 where the amplitude indicated by the three-dot chain line U is maximum. That is, when the rigidity adjusting means 311 is provided as shown by the curve W in FIG. 7, the amplitude at the center in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate 322 is reduced to a ratio of 0.7 (the maximum amplitude shown by the three-dot chain line U). (The value is reduced by 0.3 from the value 1), and furthermore, the variation range of the curve W can be uniformed so as to be within the range of the ratio of 0.1.

In the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present embodiment,
The nozzle plates 322 at both ends in the longitudinal direction and the pair of frames 3
14 are closed by sealing plates 328, respectively.
At both ends provided with 28, the operation of the support portion 312 </ b> B of the lever mechanism and the lever plate 320 is restricted by the sealing plate 328. Therefore, in the vicinity of both ends of the nozzle plate 322, the displacement becomes small. Therefore, the piezoelectric elements 326 are arranged near both ends of the nozzle plate 322, and the ends of the adjacent nozzle plates 322 are moved by the piezoelectric elements 326 as necessary and sufficiently. By arranging the piezoelectric elements 326 in this manner, the amplitude of the nozzle plate 322 is substantially uniform over the entire length along the longitudinal direction in which the plurality of nozzle holes 324 are arranged along a line using a small number of piezoelectric elements 326. Is obtained. For this reason, the amplitude distribution along the width direction of the photosensitive material 16 can be made substantially uniform, and the water pressure in the peripheral portion of each nozzle hole 324 can be made such that the water pressure reaches the atomizable pressure. Nozzle holes 3 arranged in a circle
From 24, it becomes possible to apply while spraying water substantially uniformly over the entire width direction of the photosensitive material 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, both ends of the nozzle plate 322, which is the end of the nozzle plate 322 positioned in the longitudinal direction of the row of nozzle holes 324, and a pair of frames 3
14 and the end portion, the thin sealing plate 3
28 are arranged in a state of being bonded to the pair of frames 314.

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 hindering movement of both ends of the nozzle plate 322. Note that the injection tank 31 is not used without using the thin sealing plate 328.
The two ends may be sealed by forming a lid with an elastic adhesive.

As described above, when power is supplied to the piezoelectric element 326 from the power supply, as shown in FIG. 5, the piezoelectric element 326 is extended and the lever plate 320 is rotated around the support portion 312B. Along with this, the nozzle plate 3 is moved so that the piezoelectric element 326 raises the center of the nozzle plate 322 in the direction of arrow B.
22 is displaced while being deformed. 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 a small amount of water, are collectively jetted linearly from the nozzle holes 324.

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.

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, similar to the above-described photosensitive material cutter 20, and the movable blade is moved up and down by a rotating cam or the like to engage with the fixed blade. Accordingly, the image receiving material 108 pulled out from the receiving material magazine 106 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 FIGS. 1 and 8, the heat development transfer section 1
Reference numeral 20 includes a pair of endless belts 122 and 124 that are wound around a plurality of winding rollers 140, respectively, and formed into a loop with the longitudinal direction being the longitudinal direction. 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.

The heating plate 12 formed in a flat plate shape with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction is provided in the loop of the endless belt 122 on the right side of the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 in the drawing.
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, 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 heated by the heating plate 126 via the endless belt 122 at the time of the nipping conveyance and at the time of stopping, and the movable dye is released with the heating, and at the same time, the dye is transferred to the image receiving material 108.
Is transferred to the dye fixing layer, 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.
Of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 nipped and transported between the endless belts 2 and 124, only the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 is engaged, and the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 protruding from between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124. It can be peeled off from the image receiving material 108.

The photosensitive material discharge roller 1 is located 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 container 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.

Therefore, when the photosensitive material 16 is fed in a state where 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 conveyed from below to downstream.
6, 168 and 170 are arranged in this order, and the image receiving material 108 discharged from the pair of endless belts 122 and 124.
Are the receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 166, 1
The sheet is conveyed by 68 and 170 and discharged to the tray 172.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the image recording apparatus 10 having the above configuration, after the photosensitive material magazine 14 is set, the nip roller 18 is operated, and the photosensitive material 16 is pulled out by the nip roller 18. When the photosensitive material 16 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 20 operates to cut the photosensitive material 16 into a predetermined length, and transports the photosensitive material 16 to the exposure unit 22 with its photosensitive (exposure) surface facing left. Is done. Then, the exposure device 38 is operated simultaneously with the passage of the photosensitive material 16 through the exposure unit 22, and the image is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive material 16 located at the exposure unit 22.

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 A by jetting from the jet tank 312. The operation and operation at this time will be described below.

First, the valve of the exhaust pipe 330 is closed by the controller. When spraying water while atomizing in this state, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric elements 326 by energization from a power supply controlled by a controller, and all the piezoelectric elements 326 are deformed so as to be simultaneously extended.

When the plurality of piezoelectric elements 326 expand and contract so as to extend simultaneously, the pair of lever plates 320 are swung around the support portions 312B, and the pair of lever plates 32 are rotated.
Nozzle hole 324 of nozzle plate 322 located between
Is reciprocated along the direction toward the photosensitive material 16 on the transport path A, and the nozzle plate 322 pressurizes the water in the injection tank 312.

As described above, with the operation of the piezoelectric element 326, the water filled in the injection tank 312 is jetted from the plurality of nozzle holes 324. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the water filled in the injection tank 312 can be ejected from the nozzle holes 324 while being atomized, and can be attached to the photosensitive material 16 being conveyed.

In this case, since these nozzle holes 324 are provided on the bottom wall surface of the injection tank 312, air bubbles F may enter the inside of the injection tank 312 from the nozzle holes 324 as water is jetted. The bubble F rises in the injection tank 312 without being accumulated near the nozzle hole 324. For this reason, the nozzle holes 324 are not blocked by the bubbles F and water does not flow out of the nozzle holes 324, so that there is no portion of the photosensitive material 16 where water does not adhere.

That is, as a result, the water can be evenly applied to the upper surface of the photosensitive material 16 by the jet tank 312 which is not in contact with the photosensitive material 16. Note that the bubbles F that have risen inside the injection tank 312 are discharged out of the injection tank 312 through the exhaust pipe 330.

Further, with the operation of the piezoelectric element 326,
The lever plate 320 is swung around the support portion 312B extending along the direction in which the plurality of nozzle holes 324 are linearly arranged, and the displacement of the lever plate 320 is changed near the both ends of the rigidity adjusting means 311 and the nozzle plate 322. Since the adjustment is performed by the configuration in which the piezoelectric elements 326 are arranged, the entire portion of the nozzle plate 322 where the plurality of nozzle holes 324 are provided is displaced substantially uniformly.

Therefore, the nozzle holes 324 can be collectively and stably displaced at substantially the same displacement amount along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of nozzle holes 324 arranged linearly. The discharged water is ejected from the plurality of nozzle holes 324 substantially uniformly. Therefore, in combination with the fact that the nozzle plate 322 is used as the bottom wall surface of the injection tank 312, a portion where water does not adhere to the photosensitive material 16 is more unlikely to be generated.

On the other hand, the nozzle plate 322 is formed of a thin plate material, and the nozzle plate 322 has a groove 322A extending along a direction in which a plurality of nozzle holes 324 are linearly arranged.
Are bent.

Accordingly, since the nozzle plate 322 is made of a thin plate having the groove 322A, the groove 322
With A, the rigidity of the nozzle plate 322 is reduced while maintaining the rigidity of the nozzle plate 322 in the direction in which the plurality of nozzle holes 324 are linearly arranged, and the required amplitude for the nozzle holes 324 is secured. Therefore, the atomizing operation of the application device 310 is stabilized, and the water filled in the injection tank 312 is reliably jetted from the plurality of nozzle holes 324.

Further, since the nozzle plate 322 is made of a thin plate material, the
The small nozzle holes 324 can be easily provided in the nozzle plate 322 with a uniform size.

On the other hand, the injection tank 312 is
Since water is jetted from the nozzle hole 324,
Compared with a coating apparatus that dries and applies a photosensitive material in a tank in which water is stored, it is possible to apply a minimum amount of water, so that the photosensitive material can be dried in a short time. .

Further, 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.

On the other hand, since it is only necessary to form a plurality of nozzle holes 324 in the nozzle plate 322, no integration technique is required, and the coating apparatus 310 can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, water is applied over the entire surface of the photosensitive material 16 by spraying water from the nozzle holes 324 many times at an arbitrary timing in combination with the transport speed of the photosensitive material 16. Then, the nozzle holes 32 of the nozzle plate 322
4, water in the injection tank 312 sequentially decreases, but since the sub-tank 338 has a function of supplying water to make the water level in the injection tank 312 constant, the sub-tank 338 side Since more water is supplied, 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 of 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 is transferred to the heat development transfer unit 120.
Is in a standby state just before.

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, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 are nipped and conveyed while being heated by the heating plate 126, and are subjected to thermal development transfer to form an image on the image receiving material 108.

Further, a pair of endless belts 122, 124
When these are discharged from the image receiving material 108, the peeling claw 128 engages with the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 which is transported a predetermined length ahead of the image receiving material 108, and the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 is
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, 1
The sheet is conveyed by 68 and 170 and discharged to the tray 172.

When the image recording processing for a plurality of sheets is performed, 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, in the above-described embodiment, 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, and they may be arranged at an angle to the transport direction.

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 exposure.
Water is applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 10
8 is superimposed and thermally developed and transferred, but the 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.

[0093]

As described above, according to the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the present invention, the liquid can be ejected substantially uniformly over the entire row of a plurality of nozzle holes formed in the nozzle plate in a line. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

5 is a sectional view at the time of liquid ejection along line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a state in which a liquid is ejected onto a conveyed photosensitive material in the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a liquid application state when the liquid is ejected on the photosensitive material by the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a heat development transfer unit in the image recording apparatus including the liquid ejecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view illustrating a processing process in an image recording apparatus provided with a conventional liquid ejecting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image recording device 16 photosensitive material (image recording material) 62 water application unit 310 application device 311 rigidity adjusting means 312 injection tank 312B support unit 320 lever plate (displacement transmission member) 322 nozzle plate 322A groove 324 nozzle hole 326 piezoelectric element

Claims (2)

[Claims] A nozzle plate which forms a part of a wall surface of an injection tank for storing a liquid, and in which one or a plurality of nozzle rows each including a plurality of nozzle holes for jetting a liquid are arranged; Displacement transmitting members connected to both end portions of the nozzle plate in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, respectively, are provided as walls connecting between the displacement transmitting members and the side walls of the injection tank, A support portion for swingably supporting the displacement transmitting member with respect to a side wall, singly or plurally disposed so as to bridge between the displacement transmitting member and a side wall of the injection tank, and driven by expansion and contraction to perform the displacement By swinging the transmission member around the support portion as a fulcrum,
An actuator that pressurizes the liquid in the ejection tank by the nozzle plate connected to the displacement transmitting member and ejects the liquid from the plurality of nozzle holes; and when the displacement transmitting member swings by the actuator,
In order to suppress the swinging operation of a part of the displacement transmitting member, a part of the support part is thinned, or a part of the support part, which is notched, is closed by a member having low rigidity. And a stiffness adjusting means for lowering the stiffness of a part of the support portion. 2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is arranged near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the displacement transmitting member and the injection tank, and the actuator is oscillated near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the displacement transmitting member. Item 2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to Item 1.