JPH01166043A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute a small-sized developing device with a low cost and to prevent the degradation in quality of an image by moving a roll to scan a photosensitive material and a developing material and providing an angle between the scanning direction of an exposure beam to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material and the moving direction of the roll. CONSTITUTION:A pressurizing means which presses a photosensitive material 2 and a developing material 4 to each other consists of a stage 5 and rolls 6 and 6' which are rotated and moved in the direction crossing the feeding direction of the photosensitive material 2 and the developing material 4 while holding the photosensitive material and the developing material between themselves to press them to the stage 5. An angle theta is provided between the scanning direction of an arrow V to the photosensitive material 2 and the developing material 4 of rolls 6 and 6' and the direction of the extension of an exposure line K to the photosensitive material 2. Thus, the developing device is made small-sized and low-cost and has a structure easy to assemble and maintain, and the degradation in image quality due to disaccord between the direction of the exposure line and that of the pressure line is reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The developing device of the present invention will be explained according to the following items.

A. Industrial field of application B0 Summary of the invention C1 Prior art a. - Background of boat fishing An example of a conventional pressure printer [Figure 9] C9 Other examples of exposure means [Figures 10 and 11] D8 Problems to be solved by the invention [Figures 9, 12, and 13] a. Problems of conventional printers [Figure 9] b. Attempts to reduce pressure and its problems [Figure 9] Figure 12, 13
Figure E Means for solving the problem [Figure 13] F, Examples [Figures 1 to 8] a, Photosensitive film, color developing paper [Figures 1, 4 to 7] a -1, Photosensitive film a-, 2, Developing paper and color developing paper, Outline of printer and developing operation, etc. [Fig. 1, Fig. 2 b-1, Overview [Fig. 1] b-2, Exposure and pressure [Figures 1 and 2] b-3 Angle between exposure line and pressure line, etc. [Figure 2] C. Base section, feed roller, etc. [Figures 3 to 7] d. Movable frame , guide shaft, driven roller [Figures 3 to 7] e Transfer belt, sensor [Figures 3 to 7] f, moving block [Figures 3 to 8] f-1, carriage, eaves piece f-2, roller support arm, pressure roller f-2-a, structure f-2-b, support to the carriage f-3, pressing and moving the pressure roller to the stage g, operation G1 Effect of the invention ( A. Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a novel developing device. Specifically, a photosensitive material comprising a dye precursor that forms a color when combined with a specified developing substance or a color forming substance that itself has color forming properties is encapsulated in microscopic capsules of an exposure-curing type or an exposure-softening type, and a prescribed color developing substance. Developing device for developing an image on the color developing material by pressing the back-filled photosensitive material and the color developing material, which have been exposed to light, into contact with each other using a pressure means in a superimposed state. Yes, the components of the pressure section for bringing the photosensitive material and color developing material into pressure contact.
This type of developing device can be constructed in a small size and at low cost by scanning the photosensitive material and the color developing material, and the scanning direction of the - component in the pressure section and the exposure by the exposure means can be It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel developing device that can prevent deterioration of the image quality of the developed image by devising the relationship with the extending direction of the line.

(B. Summary of the Invention) The developing device of the present invention brings a photosensitive material exposed by an exposure means and a color developing material which reacts with the photosensitive material and develops a color into pressure contact with each other using a pressure means, thereby forming a color developing material. A developing device for developing an image, in which a pressure means for bringing a photosensitive material and a color developing material into pressure contact with a stage is used, and the photosensitive material and color developing material are sandwiched between the stage, and the developing device rotates to expose the photosensitive material and the color developing material. It is constituted by a roller that moves in a direction crossing the feeding direction of the material and color developing material, and an angle is provided between the scanning direction of the roller with respect to the photosensitive material and color developing material and the direction in which the exposure line extends with respect to the photosensitive material, As a result, the pressure required for the pressure means can be reduced, and this type of developing device can be made compact, low-cost, and easy to assemble and maintain. The deterioration in image quality caused by mismatching the direction of the pressure lines can be suppressed to a small extent, thereby making it possible to perform clean development.

(C, Prior Art) (a, - Boat Fishing Background) There are various types of developing systems for developing images on color developing paper. There is a method in which an image is made to appear on the color developing material by bringing the materials into pressure contact with each other,
Such a developing system is used in pressure printers, pressure fixing copying machines, and the like.

For example, pressure-type printers enclose a dye precursor that develops color by combining with a specific developing substance in a microscopic capsule that becomes pressure-resistant and non-destructive when exposed to a specific light. A photosensitive film coated with a dye precursor consisting of: By placing the photosensitive film in this state on developer paper coated with a predetermined developing substance and applying pressure, the unexposed capsules are destroyed and the dye precursors in the capsules are transferred to the developer paper. As a result, a predetermined image appears on the color developing paper.

(b. An example of a conventional pressure printer) [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 schematically shows an example a of a conventional pressure printer.

In the same figure, b is a long photosensitive film, and the part between the supply side spool C and the take-up side spool d is made to pass through a predetermined running path, and in the middle of the running path, It is sandwiched between a pair of pressure rollers e1f.

g is color developing paper. The pressure rollers e and f have a substantially cylindrical shape with a length slightly longer than the width of the color developing paper g, and the lower pressure roller f is rotatably supported by a support frame (not shown) and rotated by a motor. The upper pressure roller e is rotatably supported by a pressure frame (not shown) which is pressed downward by a strong elastic member, and is in pressure contact with the lower pressure roller f.

h is the supply side spool C of the traveling path of the photosensitive film b.
Fiber optical tubes (hereinafter referred to as rFOTs) are placed between the pressure rollers e and f.
Say J. ), whose light-emitting surface i is in contact with the photosensitive film b, and an exposure beam corresponding to each pixel is irradiated to each one or more pixel lines consisting of an array of each resolved pixel of a predetermined image. The dye precursor provided on the exposed surface of the photosensitive film b is exposed. The FOTh is arranged such that the pixel line extends along the width direction of the photosensitive film b, and by irradiating the exposure beam while feeding the photosensitive film b at a predetermined pitch, the exposed surface of the photosensitive film b is fixed to a predetermined position. Each pixel line of the image is exposed to light, thereby forming a predetermined area of the photosensitive film b into a printing film j forming a color development pattern of one image. Incidentally, in each exposure line for the photosensitive film b by FOTh, k, . . . extend in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive film b.

Further, after the photosensitive film b has been exposed to light, the color developer paper g is fed between pressure rollers e and f in a state where it is overlapped with the photosensitive film b.

When the lower pressure roller f rotates, the upper pressure roller e that is in pressure contact with it also rotates, so that the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper g are moved while being pressed against each other, and due to this pressure contact. , the unexposed dye precursor capsules of the photosensitive film b are destroyed and the dye precursors encapsulated therein are transferred to the developer paper g, whereby the dye precursors are developed on the developer paper and developed. An image will appear on colored paper g.

(c. Other examples of exposure means) [Figures 10 and 11 In addition to the above-mentioned FOTh, cathode ray tubes (hereinafter referred to as rcRTJ) are also used as exposure means for exposing the photosensitive film b. There are also beam deflection mirrors.

In Figure 10, A is a light emitting surface m that is the size of one image.
The light-emitting surface m is in contact with a photosensitive film b, and with the photosensitive film b stopped traveling, an exposure beam corresponding to each pixel of a predetermined image is applied to the light-emitting surface m. By sequentially scanning the film b in the same direction as the width thereof, a print film j for one image consisting of a large number of exposure lines n1n is formed on the photosensitive film b.

In FIG. 11, O is a laser light source, p is a condensing lens, and q is a deflection mirror that reflects the beam from laser light source 0 toward the exposed surface of photosensitive film b. By scanning the exposed beam along the width direction of the exposed surface of the photosensitive film b and feeding the photosensitive film b at a predetermined pitch, a large number of exposure lines r, r, . . . are formed on the photosensitive film b. A printing film j for one image is formed.

(D Problem to be solved by the invention) [Figure 9, 1
Figures 2 and 13 (a. Problems with conventional printers) [Figure 9] According to printer a described above, the printing operation can be performed continuously without any breaks, so it has the advantage of high printing speed. .

However, the two upper and lower pressing rollers e and f require extremely large pressure in order to press the entire band-shaped pressing area extending in the width direction of the photosensitive film ÷b and the color developing paper g at once. For example, if pressure rollers e and f have a size corresponding to A4 size developer paper, the pressure applied by pressure rollers e and f is 1. OOO to g~1.500
g is required, and the support frame supporting the upper pressure roller e is provided with an extremely large pressure source capable of applying such strong pressure, such as a compression spring with an extremely high spring constant. .

Therefore, printer a using such pressure rollers e and f requires extremely high mechanical strength in each part, and also requires the use of a motor with a large output, or the rotation of the motor is controlled by the lower side. Since it is necessary to use a chain or the like for the transmission mechanism that transmits the information to the pressure roller f, the shape and weight are large compared to the size of the image to be printed, the cost is high, and assembly and maintenance are difficult. There is a problem with becoming.

(b. Attempts to reduce pressure and its problems) [
FIGS. 12 and 13 Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional printer A, a printer S as shown in FIG. 12 was considered.

This printer S uses a pressure means for bringing the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper g into pressure contact with a stage t, which is a stationary side member 11, and a pressure means that moves while rolling while being in pressure contact with the stage t. The pressure roller U is in pressure contact with the stage t with the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper g sandwiched therebetween, and the pressure roller U is moved in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper g. By moving the photosensitive film b and the developing paper g to a certain width (
By performing development for each band-shaped pressure contact area having a width (width of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure roller U) and alternately repeating the movement of the pressure roller U and the feeding of the photosensitive film b and the color developing paper g. I thought about developing one image.

According to such a printer S, since the pressure roller U, which is a pressure means, moves to scan the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper g, the pressure is necessary for the pressure rollers e and f of the printer a. This means that the pressure will be considerably smaller than the normal pressure.

Incidentally, in this type of development system, exposure of a photosensitive film, etc. is often performed for each pixel line of the image by the aforementioned FOTh, CRTj2, deflection mirror q, etc., and the exposure line at the time of exposure is In order to avoid the need to move the means relative to the photosensitive film, or to make it possible to simultaneously advance the pressure by the pressure means while performing exposure,
On the above exposure line, ni,..., n, n,...
・Alternatively, it is common to extend along a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive film, such as r, r, . . .

Then, the printer S applies pressure to the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper g in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of these films. It is sufficient if there is no angle at all between the scanning direction of the pressure roller U with respect to the photosensitive film b and the color developer paper g (hereinafter referred to as the "pressure scanning direction"), but these exposure A delicate angle inevitably occurs between the scanning direction and the pressure scanning direction due to mechanical precision, plastic deformation of the photosensitive film b, etc., and this causes deterioration of the image quality of the developed image. No. 1
There is a problem of becoming one.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the pressure lines V, V, ... by the pressure roller U are at an angle θ with respect to the exposure lines k, k, ... This angle is caused by mechanical errors in , elongation of photosensitive film b, etc. In addition, in the drawing, each interval between the angle θ and the exposure line, ... and the pressure line V%V, ... (The illustration is exaggerated.) When extending in an inclined direction, these exposure lines have... and pressure lines V, V,
The development density at the points w, w, ... where ... intersects is higher than the rest of the area, and therefore, the above points w, w, ... are added to the image appearing on the color developer paper g. In the exposure line, the extending direction of k,... and the pressure line V, V,...
・The lines connected along the extending direction, that is, the lines connecting the points with high concentration, become conspicuous like a striped pattern,
Moreover, such striped patterns often appear to form so-called moiré stripes.

(E. Means for solving the problem) [Figure 13] However, in order to make the above-mentioned moiré fringes less noticeable, the distances P1 and P2 between the dark points W, W, ...
(hereinafter referred to as "moire pitch") may be made as small as possible, and the moire pitch P,
, P2 and the exposure line, the interval Se (hereinafter referred to as "exposure pitch") and the pressure line v, ■,
... (hereinafter referred to as "pressure pitch").

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the developing device of the present invention rolls in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the photosensitive material, etc. while being pressed against a stage with a predetermined photosensitive material and color developing material sandwiched therebetween. A roller is provided so that the photosensitive material and the color developing material are brought into pressure contact by the roller and the stage, and an angle is provided between the scanning direction of the exposure beam and the moving direction of the roller with respect to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material, etc. It is something that

Therefore, according to the developing device of the present invention, since the roller, which is the pressure means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developer material into pressure contact, moves in a scanning manner with respect to the photosensitive material and the color developer material, the pressure is not applied. The shape of the means and the pressurizing force required for the pressurizing means can be made considerably small, thereby making it possible to make this type of developing device compact, low-cost, and easy to assemble and maintain.

Moreover, the moiré pitch is recognized by normal vision in relation to the exposure pitch and the pressure pitch, which is the angle between the scanning direction of the exposure beam, that is, the exposure scanning direction, and the moving direction of the roller, that is, the pressure scanning direction. By setting the size so that it is as small as possible, it is possible to prevent stripes from appearing on the image that appears on the color developing material, thereby significantly improving the image quality of the developed image. .

(F. Embodiment) [FIGS. 1 to 8] Details of the developing device of the present invention will be described below according to the illustrated embodiment.

In the illustrated embodiment, the developing device of the present invention is used in a printer 1 that uses a long photosensitive film as the photosensitive material.

First, an example of photosensitive film and color developing paper will be explained,
Next, the outline of the printer 1 and the developing operation etc. will be explained in principle using FIGS. 1 and 2, and then the printer 1
The specific structure of is explained.

(a, photosensitive film, color developer paper) [Figures 1, 4 to 7 (a-1 photosensitive film) 2 is a long photosensitive film, and the film is rolled in a substantially roll shape. It is housed in a cassette 3 (not shown in FIG. 3).

The photosensitive film 2 is formed by providing a photosensitive dye precursor on one surface 2a (see FIG. 7, hereinafter referred to as "exposed surface") of a suitable film base material.

For example, when the dye precursor is irradiated with ultraviolet light of a predetermined wavelength, the molecular bond structure changes and hardens. A dye precursor substance, that is, a substance that forms a predetermined color by combining with a developing substance provided on the color developing paper described below, is enclosed in the capsule, and the capsule contains three different colors,
For example, a dye precursor having a dye that develops into one of red, blue, and green on color developing paper is encapsulated, and dye precursors having these different colors are mixed on the exposed surface. It has been attached countless times.

Furthermore, the photo-curing properties of these capsules differ depending on the pigment of the encapsulated dye precursor, and each capsule is cured only when irradiated with ultraviolet light of a predetermined wavelength. Therefore, for example, ultraviolet light of a wavelength that cures capsules containing a dye precursor that emits red light will cure these capsules even if it is irradiated to capsules containing a dye precursor that emits blue or green colors. There's nothing to do.

(a-2, color developing paper and color development) 4.4, . . . are color developing papers on which images are printed.

The developer paper 4.4, .
Developing surface. ) is a printing surface provided with a predetermined developing substance, that is, a substance that forms a predetermined color by combining with the dye precursor of the dye precursor.

After the photosensitive film 2 is exposed,
When the developer paper 4 and the photosensitive film 2 are overlapped and pressed with the developing surface 4a of the developer paper 4 and the exposed surface 2a of the photosensitive film 2 facing each other, the capsules of the dye precursors provided on the photosensitive film 2 are removed. The uncured material is destroyed and the dye precursor encapsulated therein is transferred to the developing surface 4a of the color developing paper 4, whereby the transferred dye precursor and the developing material are combined. This will produce a predetermined color.

(b, Overview of printer and developing operation, etc.) [Figures 1 and 2] (b-1, Overview) [Figure 1] 5 is a stage, which has a length longer than the width of the color developing paper 4 and is arranged on the left and right sides. Direction (The direction diagonally downward to the left in Figure 1 is the left side, and the direction diagonally upward to the right is the right side. In addition, the direction diagonally downward to the right in the figure is the front side, and the direction diagonally upward to the left is the rear side. Further, the upward direction is defined as the upper side, and the downward direction is defined as the lower side.In the following explanation, directions will be referred to in this direction.), and the upper surface 5a thereof is It is formed flat.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a pressure roller having a relatively small diameter and a thin disc shape in the axial direction, and is provided so as to be movable with respect to the stage 5, and is pressed against the upper surface 5a of the stage 5 with a predetermined pressure. It rolls on the stage 5 along a direction inclined at a predetermined angle θ (this angle θ will be explained in detail later) with respect to the left-right direction (hereinafter referred to as the "pressure scanning direction"). However, the stage 5 is moved back and forth between one end and the other end at a predetermined timing and intermittently.

7 and 8 are feed rollers arranged close to the stage 5 from the rear, 9 and 10 are tension rollers arranged close to the stage 5 from the front, and 11 are feed rollers 7.8.
This is a guide roller placed behind the

The film cassette 3 is arranged such that its axial direction extends along the left-right direction, and the film outlet 3a faces the road force, and the photosensitive film 2 is placed in the cassette 3.
After being pulled out from the film, the film is wound around the guide roller 11 and extends forward from there, and is then wound around the feed rollers 7 and 8.
and between the tension rollers 9 and 10 so as to be wound onto a take-up spool (not shown). When the portion between the sandwiched position comes into contact with the upper surface 5a of the stage 5 and the printing operation starts, the feed roller 7.8 and the tension roller 9.1
o rotates to feed the photosensitive film 2 forward at a predetermined pitch.

12 is a light source (hereinafter referred to as rFOTJ, not shown in FIG. 3) for exposing the photosensitive film 2 in a pattern according to a predetermined image signal, and is a light source for bundling a large number of optical fibers. The light-emitting surface 12a on which the light-emitting end face of the optical fiber is arranged is an elongated surface, and the length of the light-emitting region in the longitudinal direction is approximately the same as the width of the photosensitive film 2.

The light emitting end surface of the optical fiber has light emitting lines 13a and 13b along the longitudinal direction of the light emitting surface 12a.
, 13c, and these light emitting lines 13a, 13b, 13c are arranged at a constant pitch along the width direction of the light emitting surface 12a.

Incidentally, among the light emitting lines 13a, 13b, and 13c (7), each optical fiber located on the same light emitting line emits an exposure beam of the same wavelength, and the wavelength differs for each light emitting line.

The light emitting surface 12a of the FOT 12 is oriented slightly upward at the rear.
The light emitting lines 13a, 13b, and 13c are arranged to extend in the left-right direction, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the photosensitive film 2, and the photosensitive film 2 is connected to the film cassette 3 and the film guide roller 11. The light emitting surface 12a is in contact with the light emitting surface 12a.

(b-2, Exposure and Pressure) [Figures 1 and 2] Then,
The photosensitive film 2 is attached to the light emitting lines 13a, 13b, 13.
When the exposure beam corresponding to the pixels of a predetermined image is irradiated from the light emitting lines 13a, 13b, 13c of the FOT 12 while being intermittently fed at the same feed pitch as the array pitch of the photosensitive film 2, the exposure surface 2a of the photosensitive film 2 is Each linear portion 14, 14, . Then, a predetermined area of the photosensitive film 2 is formed on the printing film 15 having a color development pattern of one image.

Then, the developer paper 4 is fed so as to overlap the portion of the photosensitive film 2 designated as the printing film 15, and when the leading edge of the printing film 15 reaches the upper surface 5a of the stage 5, the pressure roller 6 is moved. As a result, line-shaped areas 16, 16, . The printing film 15 is brought into pressure contact with the roller 6 and the stage 5.
The capsules of the dye precursors located on the pressure line and not exposed by the FOT 12 are destroyed and the dye precursors encapsulated therein are transferred to the developer paper 4.
The image is transferred to the developing surface 4a and develops color, whereby development is performed along one pressure groove.

Therefore, when the movement of the pressure roller 6 and the feeding of the photosensitive film 2 and color developer paper 4 at a constant pitch are repeated alternately, pixels of a predetermined image are moved to the pressure line 16.
．． The image is developed every 16, . . . , so that one image appears on the developing paper 4.

Note that since the moving direction of the pressure roller 6 is a direction inclined at an angle θ with respect to the pressure scanning direction, that is, the width direction of the photosensitive film 2, the pressure line 1 by the pressure roller 6 is
6.16, . . . are exposure lines 14 on the photosensitive film 2
, 14, . . . at an angle θ.

(b-3, angle between exposure line and pressure line, etc.) [
FIG. 2] By the way, as mentioned above, if there is an angle between the exposure line on the photosensitive film and the pressure line applied to the photosensitive film by the pressure roller, the points W, W where these lines intersect , . . . may become higher than the remaining portions, resulting in an unsightly striped pattern in the developed image. However, such unevenness in development density is caused by the moiré pitches P, P2. If the thickness is as small as possible, for example, about 1 millimeter or less, even if there is unevenness in the developing density, it will not look like a striped pattern.

Further, the moiré pitches PI and P2 are the exposure line 14.
．． 14,... and the pressure lines 16.16,... (hereinafter referred to as the "relative scanning angle") is θ, and the pitch of the exposure lines 14.14,... , referred to as "exposure pitch") is Se, and the pressure line 16.16,
... pitch (one-time feed amount of photosensitive film 2).

Hereinafter, this will be referred to as "pressure pitch." ) is Sd, then the following is obtained. By intentionally setting the above relative scanning angle θ in the relationship between the exposure pitch Se and the pressurizing pitch Sd, the moiré pitches P, , P2 can be made as small as possible. can.

For example, when the exposure pitch Se is 0.08 mm and the pressing pitch Sd is 0.15 mm,
Moiré pitch P1. In order to make P2 as large as about 1 mm, the relative scanning angle θ1 with respect to Pl is similo(0°08)=4.6.

Therefore, the relative scanning angle θ2 for P2 is 5in-'
(0, 15) = 8.6 degrees, so the relative scanning angle θ is set to the larger of the above θ1 and θ2, that is, 8.
．． If it is 6' or more, both moiré pitches P1 and P2 can be 1 mm or less.

Note that the relative scanning angle θ for the printer 1 shown in the drawing
is about 10 degrees, and therefore, the pressure scanning direction of the pressure roller 6 is a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 4, that is, a direction inclined by about 10 degrees with respect to the exposure scanning direction.

Furthermore, the exposure pitch Ss and the pressurizing pitch Sd are set to the values described above (i.e., 5e=0.08 mm, 5d=0.15
In order to set the moiré pitches P1 and P2 to about 1/2 mm to 1/3 mm at most, P.

The relative scanning angle θ, for is 5in-'((2~31xO,08)-9,2''
~13.9°, and the relative scan angle θ2 for P2 is 5in-' ((2~3)XO,15)-17,
5° to 28.7°, so the relative scanning angle θ is set to θ1 above.
, θ2, i.e., 17.5° or more, the moiré pitches P, , P2 are both halved.
It can be less than a millimeter and can also be 26.7”
With the above settings, both P, P2 can be reduced to 1/3 millimeter or less, and a more preferable result can be obtained.

In this way, by appropriately setting the relative scanning angle θ between the exposure lines 14.14, . . . and the pressure lines 16.16, . The moiré pitches P1 and P2 can be made as small as possible, and it is possible to prevent unsightly striped patterns from appearing in the developed image.

Note that the exposure pitch Se and the pitch Sd should be appropriately set in relation to the structure of the exposure means and pressure roller used in the developing device, the tightness of the photosensitive film and color developer paper, the developing efficiency, etc. Although the setting widths of the exposure pitch Se and the pressurizing pitch Sd cannot be categorically defined, - for boat fishing, the exposure pitch Se should be approximately 0.04 to 0.25 mm due to resolution, development efficiency, etc. It is desirable to set the pressure pitch Sd within a range of about 0.05 to 0.4 mm. Therefore, the relative scanning angle θ under such conditions can be set in the range of approximately 2° to 30°, and in some cases, it can also be set to about 60°. For example, if one of the exposure scanning direction and the pressure scanning direction is tilted to the plus side with respect to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive film, and the other is tilted to the minus side, it is possible to A relative scan angle θ can be obtained.

(c, base part, feed roller, etc.) [FIGS. 3 to 7] 17 is the base part of the printer 1, which includes a bottom plate 18 and side walls 1 erected upward from both left and right sides of the bottom plate 18.
9.19' and the side wall 19. A shaft-shaped crosspiece 20 and the side wall 19.
19' and a back plate 21 connecting the rear end portions.

The stage 5 is made of a metal with relatively high hardness, and its cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction, and both ends of the stage 5 are formed by the side walls 19.
It is fixed to the approximately middle portion of the upper end portion of 19' in the front-rear direction.

Further, the lower feed roller 7 and the tension roller 9 are arranged at a position slightly below the upper surface 5a of the stage 5, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the side walls 19 and 19'.
Also, a paper feed motor 22 consisting of a step motor etc. supported on the bottom plate 18 of the base portion 17 and a speed reduction mechanism 23.2 are provided.
4, it is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5 at a predetermined timing. Then, the feed roller rough rotates slightly slower than the tension roller 9,
As a result, the photosensitive film 2 and the developer paper 4 are placed under some tension between these rollers 7.9.

Reference numeral 25 designates a lock element for locking a movable frame, which will be described later and is rotatably supported by the base part 17, to the base part 17, and both left and right ends of the lock element are rotatably supported by the column 20, and , lock claws 25 at the upper ends of both left and right ends.
a, 25a (Only the right side is shown in Figure 5.)
is formed.

The guide roller 11 has side walls 19 at both ends thereof.
．． 19', and the film cassette 3 and FOT 12 are fixed to the bottom plate 18 in the above-described orientation.

(d, movable frame, guide shaft, driven roller) [Figs. 3 to 7] 26 is a movable frame, and the side wall 19 of the base portion 170.
19', two side plates 27 and 27' facing each other in parallel and spaced apart in the left-right direction, and these side plates 27
．． Connecting plates 28 and 29 (fourth
In the figure, the rear connecting plate 29 is omitted. ), etc., and the lower end of the rear end of the side plate 27, 27' is the support shaft 30.
．． 30 (only the one on the right side is shown in FIG. 5) is rotatably supported at the upper end of the rear end of the side wall 19, 19' of the base portion 17.

A lockable pin 31.31 (only the one on the right side is shown in Fig. 5) projects inward from the corner where the front edge and lower edge of the side plate 27.27' intersect, and is movable. With the pressure roller of the moving block supported by the frame 26, which will be described later, in contact with the upper surface 5a of the stage 5, the lock element 250, the lock claw 25a,
25a is engaged from above, the base portion 17
locked against.

32. Reference numeral 32 denotes a guide shaft having an elongated cylindrical shape, which extends in a direction inclined by approximately 10 degrees with respect to the pressure scanning direction, that is, the left-right direction, and is spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction above the stage 5. with both ends of the side plate 2
7.27'.

The upper feed roller 8 and tension roller 10 are driven rollers, and both ends of the upper feed rollers 8 and tension rollers 10 are connected to the rotating ends of support arms 33, 33, etc., which are rotatably supported by the side plates 27, 27'. When the movable frame 26 is rotatably supported and locked to the base portion 17, the support arm 33.
Torsion springs 34, 34, installed in 33,...
. . are brought into elastic contact with the feed roller 7 and the tension roller 9.

(e, Transfer belt, sensor) [Figures 3 to 7 35 is a motor for moving the pressure roller, and is attached to a mounting plate 36 protruding from the left side plate 27 of the movable frame 26 toward the left side. It is supported along the axial direction or the vertical direction, and a drive pulley 37 is fixed to the rotating shaft 35a.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a driven pulley, which is rotatably supported by a support shaft 40 fixed to a support plate 39 projecting rightward from the right side plate 27' of the movable frame 26.

Note that the drive pulley 37 and the driven pulley 38 are located at a slightly higher position than the guide shafts 32 and 32, and
2.32 are arranged corresponding to each other from the side at both ends.

An endless transfer belt 41 is passed around these drive pulley 37 and driven pulley 38. Therefore, the travel path between the turning points at both ends of the transfer belt 41 extends along the pressure scanning direction.

A carriage of a moving block, which will be described later, is connected to the transfer belt 41, and the motor 35 rotates clockwise in FIG. 4 (hereinafter referred to as "normal rotation") when moving the moving block to the right. j), and to move the moving block to the left, rotate it counterclockwise (
Hereinafter, this will be referred to as "reversal." ).

42 and 43 are sensors for detecting that a moving block, which will be described later, has reached the end of its moving range;
A pair of light emitting elements 44.44 facing each other with a slight interval
and light receiving elements 45.45, and these light emitting elements 4
4.44 and the light receiving element 45.45 are fixed to both left and right ends of the connecting plate 28, with the supporting pieces 46.
It is supported by 46.

(f, moving block) [Figures 3 to 8] 47 is a moving block, which includes a carriage movably supported on the guide shaft 32, 32 and two rollers rotatably supported on the carriage. It includes a support arm, a pressure roller rotatably supported by the roller support arm, and a compression spring for constantly biasing the roller support arm downward.

(f-1, carriage, eaves piece) 48 is a carriage.

Reference numeral 49 denotes the main part of the carriage 48, which has a substantially square shape when viewed from above and has a block shape with a thickness half the height of the movable frame 26, and has both front and rear ends of the upper surface. is slightly higher than the rest of the spring, and two spring placement holes 50, 50 are formed at the center in the front-rear direction and are spaced apart in the left-right direction, passing through the spring in the height direction.

Reference numeral 51.51 denotes an arm support piece that protrudes downward from a position on the lower surface of the main portion 49 that sandwiches the spring arrangement hole 50.50 from both the front and back sides, and the arm support piece 51.5
A support hole 51a that penetrates these arm support pieces 51 and 51 in the thickness direction thereof is provided at approximately the middle in the left-right direction of the arm support piece 51.
51a (see FIG. 5) is formed.

52.52.52 is an insertion hole that penetrates the upper end of the main portion 49 in the left-right direction, and this insertion hole 52.52.52 extends across the spring placement hole 50.50.

Reference numerals 53 and 53' designate eaves pieces that have a rectangular shape that is long in the left and right direction when viewed from above, and more than half of these eaves pieces 53 and 53' in the width direction extend from the upper surface of the main part 49 of the carriage 48 ( Front eave piece 53) rear (rear eave piece 53')
It is fixed to the carriage 48 in a position protruding from the carriage 48, and has protrusions 54 and 54 formed on its lower surface, and the front eaves piece 53 has a light shielding part protruding upward from its front edge. 53a is integrally formed.

55.55, . . . are support shafts protruding from two positions spaced apart in the left and right direction on both the front and rear surfaces of the main portion 49 of the carriage 48, and these four support shafts 55, 55, .
・Guided rollers 56.56, . . . are rotatably supported, and these guided rollers 56.56, .
A deep engagement groove 56a having a V-shaped cross section on the outer peripheral surface of the
56a, . . . are formed.

The carriage 48 is guided by its guided roller 56.5.
Engagement grooves 56a, 56a, 6,...
・is a guide shaft 32.32 provided on the movable frame 26
is rotatably engaged from below with the eaves piece 53.
The protrusion 54.54 formed on the guide shaft 32.3
A connecting piece 57 is supported to move along the guide shaft 32.
is connected to the transfer belt 41.

Therefore, the carriage 48 is moved along the guide shafts 32, 32 by the running of the eight feed belt 41.

In addition, when the movable frame 26 is locked with respect to the base part 17, the carriage 48 is urged to move upward due to the reaction force generated by the pressure roller coming into pressure contact with the stage 5. , guided rollers 56, 56, .

(f-2, roller support arm, pressure roller) (f-2-
a. Structure) 58 and 59 are roller support arms.

58a and 59a are the main parts of the roller support arms 58 and 59, and support pieces 58b, 58b, 59b, and 59b, which are parallel to each other and are opposed to each other, protrude downward from both front and rear ends of the arms. , 58b, 59b, 59
Support holes 60, 60, .
A shallow circular recess 61.61 is formed on the upper surface of 59a.

Further, a support portion 62 protrudes toward the right from the upper half of the right side near the rear end of the left roller support arm 58.
However, support portions 62 protruding leftward from the upper half of the left side surface of the right roller support arm 59 near the front end are integrally formed, and these support portions 6
2. Through holes 62a, 62 that penetrate through 62 in its thickness direction
a is formed. Further, the tip surfaces 62b, 62b of these support portions 62, 62 are arcuate surfaces extending in the vertical direction.

6.6' is a pressure roller formed of a metal with high hardness, and is formed in the shape of a disk, and its outer peripheral surfaces 6a, 6
'a' is formed as a surface whose entire width in the width direction extends parallel to the axis of the pressure roller 6.6'.

63.63 is the support piece 58 of the roller support arm 58.59
b, 58b, 59b, support holes 60 formed in 59b.
6o,... is a support shaft press-fitted into the pressure roller 6.
．． 6' is located between the support pieces 58b and 58b and between the support pieces 59b and 59b of the roller support arms 58 and 59, and the support shaft 63. 63 is rotatably inserted.

Therefore, the pressure roller 6.6' is attached to the roller support arm 58.
59, and some of them are support pieces 58b, 58b, and 59b.

It protrudes downward from the lower end of 59b.

(f-2-b, Support to Carriage) The two roller support arms 58 and 59 are connected to the support section 62.
．． 62 are opposed to each other in the thickness direction, and most of the support parts 62 .
The support shafts 64.64 inserted into the support holes 51a, 51a formed in the arm support pieces 51.51 are rotatably inserted into the insertion holes 62a, 62a formed in the arm support pieces 51.51. It is rotatably supported at the lower end.

65. 65 is a substantially cylindrical spring bearing shaft, and an insertion hole 6 is provided near the upper end of the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.
5a, 65a are formed, and the insertion holes 65a, 65
Flanges 65b, 65b are formed at positions slightly downward from a.

The spring bearing shaft 65.65 is inserted into the spring arrangement hole 50.50 formed in the main portion 49 of the carriage 48 with a slight margin around the spring arrangement hole 50.50, and is inserted into the insertion holes 65a, 65a. Insertion hole 5 formed in main part 49
2.52.52 is supported by the carriage 48 by being inserted through the support bin 66 press-fitted therein, and
The compression spring 6
7.67 has been reduced.

Therefore, due to the elastic force of the compression springs 67, 67, the left roller support arm 58 is biased with rotational force in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7, and the right roller support arm 59 is biased in the clockwise direction. The rotational force will be energized.

In addition, the main parts 58a and 59a of the roller support arms 58 and 59
A part of a stopper (not shown) is protruded from the opposing surfaces of the main parts 58a and 59a when the pressure roller 6.6' is not pressed upward. By abutting a portion of the stopper, the rotation of the roller support arms 58, 59 due to the rotational force is stopped at a constant point.

(f-3, Pressure contact and movement of pressure roller to stage) Locking of the movable frame 26 to the base portion 17 is performed by moving the movable frame 26 from a state where the pressure roller 6.6' is in contact with the upper surface 5a of the stage 5. It is done when pushed down slightly.

Therefore, the pressure roller 6.6' is compressed by the compression spring 67.6.
The elastic force of the carriage 48 causes it to come into pressure contact with the stage 5, and the reaction force of this pressure contact causes the carriage 48 to
is urged upward, so that the guided roller 56.
The engagement grooves 56a, 56a, . . . of 56 are connected to the guide shaft 32.
32 from below.

As described above, when the eight-feed belt 41 runs, the carriage 48 is moved in the pressure scanning direction, so the pressure rollers 6 and 6' roll while being in pressure contact with the upper surface 5a of the stage 5 to apply pressure. It will be moved in the scanning direction.

In addition, the moving block 47 is connected to the left side plate 2 of the movable frame 26.
When the front eaves piece 53 comes into contact with a stopper 68 (shown only in FIG. 4) fixed to the inner surface of the eaves 7 (hereinafter referred to as "one end position in the movement range"),
The light shielding part 53a is located between the light emitting element 44 and the light receiving element 45 of the left sensor 42 and blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 44 toward the light receiving element 45, and the moving block 47 is movable. The position at which the stopper 68' (also shown only in FIG. 4) that is fixed to the inner surface of the right side plate 27' of the frame 26 comes into contact with the stopper 68' (hereinafter referred to as "the position at the other end of the movement range"). ), the light blocking portion 53a enters between the light emitting element 44 and the light receiving element 45 of the right sensor 43 and blocks the light emitted from the light emitting element 44 toward the light receiving element 45. Thereby, it is detected that the moving block 47 has reached one end position or the other end position in the moving range.

When the printing operation starts, the motor 35 alternately and intermittently repeats normal rotation and reverse rotation, so that the moving block 47 intermittently moves between both ends of its movement range.

In addition, 69 is a paper feed tray in which a large number of the developer papers 4.4, . . . are stored, and 70 is a paper feed roller. The rollers are then fed between the feed roller 7 and the driven roller 8 at predetermined timing.

71 is a paper discharge guide plate.

(g. Operation) Therefore, the operation of the printer 1 configured as described above is performed as follows, for example.

When the print operation start command is issued, the movement block 47
is moved to one end or the other end of its movement range and made to wait at that position, and the photosensitive film 2 is run at a constant pitch by the feed roller 7, the driven roller 8, the tension roller 9, and the driven roller 10,
Further, the exposed surface 2a is exposed by the FOT 12 to form a printing film 15.

Further, at a predetermined timing after or before the formation of the photographic film 15 is completed, one sheet of color developer paper 4 is sent out with its leading edge positioned slightly ahead of the leading edge of the photographic film 15, and the photosensitive film 15 is fed out. 2 and is supplied onto the stage 5.

When the leading edge of the portion of the photosensitive film 2 that has become the printing film 15 reaches the top surface 5a of the stage 5, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) and a start signal is output, causing the motor 35 to rotate. to move the moving block 47. Therefore, the pressure roller 6.6' is rolled in the pressure scanning direction while being in pressure contact with the upper surface 5a of the stage 5 with the developer paper 4 and photosensitive film 2 in between. It will scan in a direction tilted 10 degrees with respect to the width direction,
As a result, pressure lines extending in a direction inclined at 10 degrees with respect to the width direction of the developer paper 4 and the photosensitive film 2 are brought into pressure contact with each other by the pressure roller 6, 6' and the upper surface 5a of the stage 5.

When the moving block 47 reaches one end or the other end of the moving range, the sensor 42 or 43 outputs an output, which causes the motor 35 to stop and the motor 22 to rotate for a certain period of time to move the developing paper 4 and the other end. The photosensitive film 2 is fed by a predetermined pitch, that is, a pressing pitch Sd, and further,
When this feeding is completed, the motor 35 will be rotated again. When the moving block 47 reaches the other end or one end of the moving range, there is an output from the sensor 43 or 42, and the developer paper 4 and the photosensitive film 2 are fed by a predetermined pitch, and then the moving block 47 is moved again. will be moved. The traveling of the developing paper 4 and the photosensitive film 2 and the movement of the moving block 47 are alternately performed.

Since the pressure roller 6.6' is moved so as to scan the photosensitive film 2 and the color developer paper 4 in a direction crossing the feeding direction thereof, the pressure applied to the stage 5 is as follows.
For example, if a pressing force of 1.000 kg to 1.500 g is required for one entire pressure line of the photosensitive film 2 and the color developing paper 4, a strength of about 2 to 3 kg will suffice.

In this embodiment, since the two pressure rollers 6 and 6' sequentially apply pressure to the same location, it is possible to further reduce the pressing force, and the -th pressurization The capsules that were not completely destroyed in the second pressurization will be completely destroyed, and density unevenness can be almost completely eliminated. Furthermore, since the pressure applied to one part can be reduced, damage to the photosensitive material or color developing paper can be reduced. That is, it is possible to eliminate these collapses, undulations, damage to the ends, etc.

(G. Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the developing device of the present invention uses an exposure beam emitted from an exposure means to move a photosensitive material on which a predetermined color developing pattern is formed by exposure to light. A developing device that performs development by exposing and pressing the exposed photosensitive material and color developing material between a stage and a pressure roller that rolls while being in pressure contact with the stage, It is characterized in that an angle is provided between the scanning direction of the exposure beam and the moving direction of the roller with respect to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the roller serving as the pressing means for bringing the photosensitive material and the color developing material into pressure contact with each other moves in a scanning manner with respect to the photosensitive material and the color developing material, the pressing means The shape of the developing device and the pressing force required for the pressing means can be made considerably small, thereby making it possible to make this type of developing device compact, low-cost, and easy to assemble and maintain.

In addition, the angle between the scanning direction of the exposure beam, that is, the exposure scanning direction, and the moving direction of the roller, that is, the pressing scanning direction, is set to the moiré pitch, that is, the exposure line by the exposure means and the roller in relation to the exposure pitch and the pressing pitch. By setting the pitch between the many points where the pressure lines intersect with each other to be so small that it cannot be recognized with normal vision, striped patterns etc. can be prevented from appearing in the image appearing on the developing material. This can significantly improve the quality of the developed image.

In the above embodiment, the scanning direction of the exposure beam is perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material, and the pressure scanning direction of the roller is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the scanning direction of the exposure beam. However, in the present invention, the scanning direction of the exposure beam may be tilted with respect to the pressure scanning direction with the pressure scanning direction of the roller being perpendicular to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material, or Both the scanning direction of the exposure beam and the pressing scanning direction may be tilted in the same direction or in the opposite direction with respect to the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material.

In the above embodiment, the feeding of the photosensitive material and the color developing material was stopped while the roller was moving over the photosensitive material and the color developing material. The roller may be moved while continuously feeding the material and color developing material. In this case, the direction of the roller may be slightly tilted in the direction opposite to the direction in which the photosensitive material is fed with respect to the direction of movement. It is possible to do so.

In addition, in the above embodiments, the present invention is carried out by exposing a photosensitive film 2 coated with a photosensitive dye precursor to form a printing film 15, and also superimposing this printing film 15 on developer paper and applying pressure. Although the present invention is applied to a printer in which an image is developed on color developing paper, the present invention is not limited to such an example of application.
The image is developed using a developing paper that is provided with both a photosensitive dye precursor and a developing substance, i.e., a developing paper that is integrated with the photosensitive material and developing material (sometimes referred to as "self-contained"). The present invention can be applied to various developing devices such as a developing device or a developing device for pressure-fixing the toner to copy paper in a copying machine using photosensitive printing toner.

That is, these developing devices also correspond to developing devices that perform development while pressing a photosensitive material and a color developing material between a stage and a roller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 8 show an example of an embodiment in which the developing device of the present invention is applied to a pressure printer, with Figure 1 being a simplified perspective view of the whole, and Figure 2 showing exposure lines by the exposure means. 3 is a front view, FIG. 4 is a plan view, and FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the pressure line by the pressure roller.
6 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part shown by partially cutting away, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part along the line ■-■ of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line V. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing a pressure roller and its support part in an exploded manner, and FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional pressure printer. and FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing different examples of exposure means,
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a proposed developing device, and FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing an exposure line by an exposure means and a pressure line by a pressure roller. Explanation of symbols 1... Developing device, 2... Photosensitive material, 4... Color developing material, 5... Stage, 6.6'... Pressure roller, 12... Exposure means, θ ···angle

Claims (1)

[Claims] A photosensitive material, on which a predetermined color developing pattern is formed by exposure, is exposed to an exposure beam emitted from an exposure means, and the exposed photosensitive material and the color developing material are pressed against a stage and the stage. A developing device that performs development by applying pressure between a pressure roller that rotates in a state in which an angle is set between the scanning direction of the exposure beam and the moving direction of the roller with respect to the feeding direction of the photosensitive material. A developing device characterized by