JPH01307752A - Coater - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the evaporation and contamination of an image forming solvent by housing the image forming solvent into a main water tank at the time of coating and recovering the image forming solvent into an auxiliary water tank from the main water tank after the end of the coating. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer 163 operates a pump 164 to supply water from the auxiliary water tank 166 into the main water tank 174 simultaneously when the power source of an image recorder is turned on. The microcomputer 163 opens a solenoid valve 168 to recover the water in the main water tank 174 into the auxiliary water tank 174 simultaneously when the power source of the image recorder is turned off. Since the auxiliary water tank 166 has a hermetic structure, the recovered water is preserved in a dust proof state in the auxiliary water tank 166. The water in the auxiliary water tank 166 is supplied to the main water tank 174 by the pump 164 at the start of the next coating of the image recorder, by which the coating of the water on the photosensitive material A is executed. The evaporation and contamination of the image forming solvent is prevented in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coating device for coating a recording material with an image forming solvent.

[Conventional technology]

Examples of image recording materials include photothermographic materials.

Regarding this heat-developable photosensitive material and its process, for example, Basics of Photographic Engineering Non-Silver Salt Photo Fuku (Published by Corona Publishing, 1982), pages 242 to 255, Eizo Information, published in April 1978, page 40, and Neblett's Handbook of Photo. Graphy (Neblett's Handbook of
Photography and Reprograph
y) 7th edition (7tfiEd,) Van Nostrand Reinhold Company (VanNostra
nd Re1nhold Company) 32
It is described on pages 33 to 33.

Furthermore, many methods have been proposed for obtaining color images by heat development.

For example, releasing a mobile dye in an image-like manner by heating,
A method of transferring this mobile dye to a dye fixing material with a mordant using a solvent such as water, a method of transferring it to a dye fixing material using a high boiling point organic solvent, a method of transferring this mobile dye to a dye fixing material using a hydrophilic thermal solvent incorporated in the dye fixing material A method in which the mobile dye is heat-diffusible or sublimable and is transferred to a dye-receiving material such as a support has been proposed.゛(U.S. Patent No. 4.463,079, U.S. Patent No. 4.474゜86
No. 7, No. 4.478.927, No. 4.507.3
No. 80, JP-A-58-149046, JP-A No. 58-149
No. 047, No. 59-152440, No. 59-1544
No. 45, No. 59-165054, No. 59-18054
No. 8, No. 59-168439, No. 59-174832
No. 59-174833, No. 59-174834, No. 59-174835, etc.) An apparatus for implementing this type of image forming method is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-75247. After exposing a color image to a heat-developable photosensitive material using an exposure head in an exposure section, the photothermographic material is coated with an image forming solvent such as water, and then sent to a heat-developable section.
An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which an image-receiving material is brought into close contact with a heat-developable photosensitive material after heat development, and the image is sent to a transfer section, where the image is thermally transferred to the image-receiving material.

As a coating device for applying the image forming solvent, for example, the photothermographic material is conveyed while being immersed in the image forming solvent contained in a water tank, and the photothermographic material is held between a pair of squeeze rollers; One conceivable structure is to scrape off excess image forming solvent from the swollen photothermographic material.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the coating device with the above configuration, if the image forming solvent is always stored in the water tank, the image forming solvent in the water tank may evaporate, resulting in high humidity inside the image recording device, or even There are problems such as condensation. High humidity and dew condensation within the image recording apparatus become factors that corrode elements within the image recording apparatus.

In addition, floating matter in the image recording device falls into the image forming solvent in the water tank and contaminates the image forming solvent, and if the contaminated image forming solvent is applied to the photothermographic material, a good image cannot be obtained. There is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a coating device configured to prevent evaporation and contamination of an image forming solvent.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The above object of the present invention is to transport a recording material while immersing it in an image forming solvent, and to squeeze the recording material between a pair of squeeze rollers and remove the recording material from the recording material. A coating device for scraping off excess image forming solvent, comprising a recovery means for collecting the image forming solvent in a main water tank containing the image forming solvent into a sealed auxiliary water tank, and an image forming solvent in the auxiliary water tank. supplying means for supplying the image forming solvent into the main water tank from the auxiliary water tank at the start of coating, and supplying the image forming solvent in the main water tank into the auxiliary water tank at the end of coating. This is accomplished by a coating device comprising said supply means and a control means for controlling the operation of said collection means.

That is, the image forming solvent is contained in the main water tank during coating with the image recording device, and the image forming solvent is collected from the main water tank into the auxiliary water tank after the image recording device has finished coating, thereby preventing the evaporation of the image forming solvent. , contamination can be prevented and good image recording can be performed.

Incidentally, examples of the recording material used in the present invention include the following.

For example, there are so-called photothermographic materials in which an image obtained by thermal development is transferred to an image-receiving material by heating. This photosensitive material is one in which a mobile dye is released imagewise by heating, and the mobile dye is transferred to an image receiving material (dye fixing material) having a mordant using a solvent such as water; Transfer to the image-receiving material is performed using a high-boiling organic solvent, transfer is performed to the image-receiving material using a hydrophilic thermal solvent built into the image-receiving material, or the mobile dye is heat-diffusible or sublimable and the support is There are known methods that transfer to dye-receiving materials such as bodies, and specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,079, U.S. Pat.
4.478; 927, 4,507,38
No. 0, No. 4,500.626, No. 4.483,9
No. 14, JP-A-58-149046, JP-A No. 58-149
No. 047, No. 59-152440, No. 59-1544
No. 45, No. 59-165054, No. 59-18054
No. 8, No. 59-168439, No. 59-174832
No. 59-174833, No. 59-174834, No. 59-174835, etc.

Further, the image forming solvent includes, for example, water, and this water is not limited to so-called pure water, but includes water in the widely conventional sense. In addition, pure water, methanol, DMF,
A mixed solvent with a low boiling point solvent such as acetone or diisobutyl ketone may be used. Furthermore, a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development stopper, a hydrophilic heat solvent, etc. may also be used.

[Embodiment]

Next, preferred embodiments of the coating apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in this embodiment,
As the photosensitive material, a type that requires a heat development step and in which an image is transferred and formed on an image-receiving material having an image-receiving layer in the presence of an image-forming solvent such as water is used.

Inside the housing 12 constituting the image recording device, there is a photosensitive material supply section 13 that stores the photosensitive material A, an image reading section 15 that reads image information carried on the document S, and a photosensitive material that forms a latent image on the photosensitive material. an exposure section 16 for applying water to the photosensitive material A, a water application section 17 for applying water to the photosensitive material A, an image receiving paper supply section 41 that stores the image receiving paper C, a superimposing section 19 for superimposing the image receiving paper C on the photosensitive material A, and a photosensitive material A. A heat development transfer section 21 that heats the material A and the image-receiving paper C, and a stripper B 23 that separates the image-receiving paper C from the photosensitive material are provided, respectively.

A transparent document support glass plate 14 on which a document S is placed is arranged on the upper surface of the housing 12, and the image reading section 15 is arranged below this document support glass plate 14. That is, the image reading unit 15 includes the light source 18, mirror 20a, and imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30 that integrally scans the entire surface of the original support glass plate 14, and the light source 18, etc., in the same direction by % of the scanning distance. Mirror 2 moving to
0b, 20c# and fixed mirrors 20d, 20e.

2Of, which are surrounded by a partition wall 22,
Optically isolated from other parts. However, in this case, an exposure opening 34 for the exposure section 16 for the photosensitive material is defined in the partition wall 22 at a portion through which the optical axis 32 of the image reading section 15 reflected by the fixed mirror 2Of passes. A shutter device 35 and a shutter control device 36 are arranged in the exposure opening 34 .

Further, a standard white plate 302 is provided near the original support glass plate 14 so as to be exposed to the light source 18 .

On the other hand, the photosensitive material supply section 13 is provided on the left side of the housing 12 and is kept light-tight. This photosensitive material supply section 13 is loaded with a removable photosensitive material magazine 54 in which photosensitive material A is wound.

The photosensitive material supply section 13 has roller pairs 56a to 56d for conveying the photosensitive material A from the magazine 54 to the exposure section 16. In this case, roller pair 56a.

A cutter 58 for cutting the photosensitive material A into predetermined lengths is provided between the cutters 56b. Further, the exposure table 60 disposed between the roller pair 56C156d faces the exposure opening 34 defined at the bottom of the partition wall 22 surrounding the image reading section 15.

In front of the exposure section 16 (hereinafter, "front" refers to the downstream side with respect to the traveling direction of the photosensitive material, etc.) is provided with a conveyance path consisting of a pair of rollers 56e and a guide plate.

The exposure section 16 performs imagewise exposure on the photosensitive material A to form a latent image, and the photosensitive material A on which the latent image is formed is conveyed to the water application section 17 via the conveyance path.

The water application section 17 is for facilitating the transfer of the latent image formed on the photosensitive material A, and is composed of a roller pair 56f, a squeeze roller pair 176, a guide plate 172, and a main water tank 174. Then, the main water tank 174 is filled with water, and the photosensitive material is transported while being immersed in the water.

The photosensitive material A coated with water is squeezed by a pair of squeeze rollers 176.
It is conveyed to the overlapping section 19 by.

On the other hand, on the right side of the housing 12, a receiving paper supply section 41 for supplying the receiving paper C is provided. The image receiving paper supply section 4
1 is a receiving paper magazine 43 that stores rolled receiving paper C;
is loaded. The image receiving paper C in the magazine 43 is transferred to the roller pair 5.
6h, and cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 44 disposed in front of the pair of rollers 56h.

The cut image-receiving paper C is conveyed to the overlapping section 19 by a pair of rollers 56i.

In front of the overlapping part 19, the overlapping photosensitive materials A
A heating development transfer B21 is provided which heats the image-receiving paper C, develops the latent image on the photosensitive material A, and transfers it onto the image-receiver paper C.

The heat development transfer section 21 is surrounded by a heat-insulating partition wall 62, and is wound around a hollow cylindrical heating drum 74 containing a halogen lamp 72 at an angle of about 270 degrees around the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 74. It includes an endless belt 84 supported by four belt support rollers 76, 77, 78° 80, and heats the photosensitive material A and the image receiving paper C in a superposed state. By this heating, the photosensitive material A
The upper latent image is developed and transferred onto the image receiving paper C to develop color.

A peeling section 23 is provided within the partition wall 62, and the peeling section 23 includes a first peeling claw 232 for peeling the photosensitive material A from the image receiving paper C, and a first peeling claw 232 for peeling the image receiving paper C from the heating drum 74. It consists of two peeling claws 234 and a roller 56j that discharges the image receiving paper C to the outside of the partition wall 62.

In front of one side of the heat development transfer section 21, there is a waste tray 118 for discarding the heated photosensitive material A peeled from the image receiving paper C by the peeling claw 232, and a pair of rollers 56k for throwing the photosensitive material A into the waste tray 118. will be provided. The waste tray 118 is provided below the heat development transfer section 21 .

In addition, in front of the other side of the heat development transfer section 21, there is a take-out tray 120 for storing the heated image receiving paper C and a pair of rollers 561, 56m, 5 for conveying the heated image-receiving paper C to the take-out tray 120.
6n is provided, and the image-receiving paper C on which the image has been transferred is led out to the take-out tray 120.

Further, a color density detection unit 124 for detecting the color density of the image on the image receiving paper C is arranged between the pair of rollers 56m and 56n. The color density detection unit 124 includes an illumination device 126 that illuminates the image surface of the image receiving paper C, and a color photosensor 128 that receives reflected light from the image receiving paper C due to this illumination.

The apparatus further includes a color density control unit 150 connected to the imaging lens/filter unit assembly 30 and the photosensor 128 and disposed at a suitable location within the housing 12; Photosensitive material supply section 13, image reading section 15, drive system of image reading section 15 (
(not shown), image receiving paper supply section 41, cutter 44.58,
A system control device (not shown) is provided which is connected to the shutter control device 36, the water application section 17, the heat development transfer section 21, and the peeling section 23 and controls the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the water application section 17.
7 is in operation.

The water application section 17 includes a main water tank 174 containing water, a guide plate 172 that guides the photosensitive material A into the water, a pair of rollers 56f that conveys the photosensitive material A along the guide plate 172, and a roller pair 56f that is coated with water. It consists of a pair of squeeze rollers 176 that scrape off excess water from the swollen photosensitive material A. The squeeze roller pair 176 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and has a water-retaining resin layer 1 such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on the circumferential surface.
77 is provided. Therefore, squeeze roller pair 17
When the swollen photosensitive material A is pinched and conveyed by the photosensitive material A, the excess water flows down on the squeeze roller 176 and is collected in the main water tank 174. Here, since the surface of the squeeze roller pair 1760 is aqueous, contaminants contained in water and image forming substances on the photosensitive material A do not adhere to the surface of the squeeze roller pair 176. The surface will not get dirty.

A supply pipe 160 for supplying water and a discharge pipe 162 for discharging water from the main tank 174 are attached to the main tank 174 that accommodates water, and a pump 164 is attached to the middle part of the supply pipe 160. There is. Further, a sealed auxiliary water tank 166 is installed at one end of this supply vibe 160, and therefore, by driving this pump 164, water can be supplied from the auxiliary water tank 166 into the main water tank 174 as needed. There is.

A solenoid valve 168 is attached to the middle part of the discharge vibrator 162, and this solenoid valve 168 is normally closed to maintain a constant amount of water in the main water tank 174. Here, when the solenoid valve 168 is opened, the water in the main water tank 174 is guided to the auxiliary water tank 166 installed at the end of the discharge pipe 162.

The operation of these pump 164 and electromagnetic valve 168 is controlled by a microcomputer 163, respectively. Then, the microcomputer 163 operates the pump 164 at the same time as the image recording apparatus 10 is powered on, and the pump 164 moves from the auxiliary water tank 166 to the main water tank 174.
Supply water inside. Also, the microcomputer 163
At the same time as the image recording apparatus 10 is powered off, the solenoid valve 168 is activated, and the solenoid valve 168 is opened and the water in the main water tank 174 is collected into the auxiliary water tank 166. Since the auxiliary water tank 166 has a sealed structure, the recovered water is stored in the auxiliary water tank 166 in a dust-proof state. Then, when the image recording device IO starts the next coating, water in the auxiliary water tank 166 is supplied to the main water tank 174 by the pump 164, and the photosensitive material A
Water application is performed.

An overflow vibe 165 is attached to the main water tank 174 to discharge excess water contained in the main water tank 174. The opening 165a of this overflow vibe 165 is arranged at a predetermined height from the bottom of the main water tank 174, and when the water supplied from the supply vibe 160 reaches above this opening 165a, the water is discharged to the outside of the main water tank 174, so that the amount of water (water surface height) in the main water tank 174 can be kept constant.

Opening 16 on the opposite side of this overflow pipe 1650
5b is connected to the discharge pipe 162 between the solenoid valve 168 and the auxiliary water tank 166.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the squeeze roller 176 may be formed of, for example, metal, resin, or the like.

Furthermore, a device for cleaning the squeeze roller pair 176 may be added.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be an apparatus for applying an image forming solvent to an image-receiving material.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the image forming solvent in the sealed auxiliary tank is supplied into the main tank during coating, and the image forming solvent in the main tank is recovered into the auxiliary tank after coating, so that the image forming solvent evaporates. For example, it is possible to prevent corrosion of an image recording device equipped with this coating device. Furthermore, since the image forming solvent is stored in a sealed state when not being applied, the image forming solvent is not contaminated, and a good image can be obtained on the recording material to which this image forming solvent is applied. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with a coating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coating section. Reference numbers in the figure: 10 Image recording device 12 Housing 13
g Optical material supply section 14 Document support glass plate 15 Image reading section 17.
Water application section 18 Light source 19 Overlapping section 21 Heat development transfer section 23 Peeling section 30 Imaging lens/filter unit assembly 32/optical axis 36 Shutter control device 41 Receiving paper supply section 43 Receiving paper magazine 44.58 Cutter 54 Sensor Material magazines 56a to 56n Roller pair 60 Exposure table 72 Halogen lamp 74 Heating drum 76.7? ,7
8.80 Belt support roller 84 - Endless belt 118 - Waste tray 120 - Take-out tray 124 Color density detection unit 126 Lighting device 128
- Color photo sensor 150 Color density control unit 160 Supply vibrator 162 Discharge vibrator 1
63-Microcomputer 164 Pump 165 Overflow vibe 166 Auxiliary water tank 168 Solenoid valve 172
Guide plate 173 Bearing 174 Main water tank
175. Shaft 176 Squeeze roller 177-78 Water-based resin layer 232, 234 Peeling claw 302 White plate

Claims (1)

[Claims] A coating device conveys a recording material while immersing it in an image forming solvent, and scrapes off excess image forming solvent from the recording material by sandwiching the recording material between a pair of squeeze rollers, the coating device comprising: a collection means for collecting the image forming solvent contained in the main water tank into a sealed auxiliary water tank; a supply means for supplying the image forming solvent in the auxiliary water tank into the main water tank; A control means for controlling the operation of the supply means and the recovery means so as to supply the image forming solvent into the main water tank and recover the image forming solvent in the main water tank into the auxiliary water tank at the end of coating. A coating device comprising: