JPH02251831A - Accumulator control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a folding phenomenon by holding the trailing edge of a sheet photosensitive material in a carrying guide and maintaining the trailing edge until a loop in an accumulator unit disappears. CONSTITUTION:Since the carrying speed of the photosensitive material in an exposing device is about 10 times higher than that in a developing device, the accumulator unit 3 is provided as a buffer to timely match the exposing device 2 with the developing device 4. Namely, the sheet photosensitive material 23b temporarily residing in the accumulator unit 3 is carried to the developing device 4 while the trailing edge is held in the fixed carrying guide 34 disposed from the paper eject part of the exposing device 2 to the inlet 32 of the accumulator unit 3. This holding state is continued until the residing loop of the photosensitive material 23b disappears. Thus, the trailing edge of the photosensitive material is prevented from being folded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus in which an exposure device and a developing device are connected by an accumulator unit. (Sometimes referred to as a half-tone original film or original) is placed accurately in a predetermined position, and exposed to positive or negative type color photosensitive material multiple times, once for each original, to achieve the same color scheme as the printed finish. This technology relates to accumulator control in a color proofing device, for example, among color proofing techniques that create color images and directly inspect the presence or absence of abnormalities in a separation mesh original for printing plate creation. Further, the color proof making device can also be used as a poster making device when making a poster using a color photosensitive material using the above-mentioned separation mesh original.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, this type of apparatus is constructed by connecting an exposure device and a developing device. Among these, the exposure device feeds the photosensitive material stored in the magazine onto the exposure table using a feed roller, exposes the color printing original plate on the exposure table, and then discharges the exposed photosensitive material to the developing device. Paper. On the other hand, the developing device processes the exposed photosensitive material discharged from the exposure device and discharges it outside the machine. The conveying speed of the photosensitive material within the exposure device is faster than the conveying speed within the developing device by an IQ times the diameter.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional color proof production apparatus, even if the exposure work is completed in the exposure device, the next photosensitive material cannot be fed to the exposure table until the work of feeding the photosensitive material to the developing device, which is a subsequent process, is completed. There was a problem that the next exposure operation could not be started.

Therefore, in consideration of the above points, even if the process of feeding the photosensitive material to the developing device is in progress, the exposed photosensitive material can be ejected immediately from the exposure device at high speed, and subsequent exposure processing can be continued without a hitch. A color proof producing device is necessary, and the applicant of the present invention has achieved this objective by disposing an accumulator for temporarily storing the photosensitive material between the exposure device and the developing device in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-321816.

However, while the photosensitive material is being fed into the accumulator, the rear end of the photosensitive material may curl, causing a folding phenomenon. Although it is necessary to control the accumulator without causing such a phenomenon, the control becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

The object of this invention is to provide an accumulator control method for an apparatus in which an exposure device and a developing device are connected by an accumulator unit that temporarily holds a sheet of photosensitive material.
The sheet photosensitive material temporarily stopped in the accumulator unit is transferred to the developing device while the rear end of the sheet photosensitive material is held in a fixed conveyance guide arranged from the paper discharge section of the exposure device to the entrance of the accumulator unit. This is achieved by an accumulator control method characterized in that the holding state is continued until the retention loop of the photosensitive material disappears by being conveyed.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a color proof production device employing the method of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the external appearance of the color proof production device, Fig. 3 is a side view of the same, and FS4 is a view from the exposure device. 5 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit at the beginning of sheet discharge, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit during loop formation, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit at the beginning of conveyance to the developing device. 7 is a sectional view showing the roller pressing drive of the accumulator unit, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the state of the retention loop of the sheet photosensitive material in the accumulator unit, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional device. .

The conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is not provided with an accumulator unit, and the exposure device and developing device are almost the same as the color proof producing apparatus using the present invention. Therefore, in the figures, members having the same functions as those in the conventional device are indicated by the same symbols in the device using the present invention, and the explanation for the conventional device is as follows.
This will be repeated repeatedly, so it will be omitted. Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is of course not limited to these examples. The color proof creation device is Y version, M version,
Before creating the actual printing plate using each color-separated original film that has been color-separated into 0 version and black version, check that there are no errors in the layout of the original film, no color differences, no typographical errors, etc. This is a device for inspecting and obtaining proofs (color proofs) to confirm the finish of printed matter in advance.The device positions one or more sheets of the above-mentioned decomposition film and overlays it on color photosensitive material to form an original film. By sequentially contacting and exposing the color photosensitive material with corresponding color spectra; by creating a proof (color proof), you can discover errors in the separation screen original, check the print finish in advance, and improve the separation screen original. This allows the work to undo corrections.

In the figure, ■ is the main body of the color proof production apparatus, and the main body 1 consists of three parts: an exposure device 2, an accumulator unit 3, and a developing device 4.

Among these, the exposure device 2 is for closely exposing the printing original film to the photosensitive material, and the light-shielding cover 50 that makes it possible to form a dark room is attached to the upper part of the exposure device 2, which has a hinge 51 and a gas damper 5.
2, the light source unit 21 can be opened and closed.
It is equipped with The light source unit 21 includes a light source and a color filter therein, and performs exposure by scanning the light source. A light-shielding curtain (not shown) that can be opened and closed is provided on the lower side of the light source unit 21, and a document positioning bin bar (registration bin, not shown) is placed on the light-shielding curtain, and a printing original film is placed on the upper surface of the document frame 53. ), and can be set precisely using the bottle holes on the original. 22 is a photosensitive material loading unit;
Inside is a magazine 2 of long photosensitive material wound into a roll.
It is designed to accommodate 3. The leading end of the photosensitive material long roll 23a is sent out by a pair of nipping and feeding rollers 24, and the leading end is aligned with the cutter 27 and stands by. Furthermore, the fixing base 54 is
The leading end is fed to the left end, the leading end is sucked by the suction cup 25, and is conveyed, moved to a position where a predetermined length of the photosensitive material long roll 23a is measured, and stopped. The long roll of photosensitive material 23a is cut into a sheet of photosensitive material 23b by a cutter section 27, and is further moved so that the leading end of the sheet of photosensitive material 23b is located at a predetermined position on the exposure table 26. After cutting the suction cup 25, the suction cup 25 returns to its original position.

The exposure table 26 moves up and down each time one or more of the Y version, M version, 0 version, and black version of the printing original film is set on the original frame 53 and exposed, and is repeatedly brought into close contact with the original film. It is configured to be exposed to light.

That is, the exposure table 26 moves up with the light-shielding curtain open, brings the sheet photosensitive material 23b into close contact with the printing original film, and is exposed by the light source unit 21. After that, the exposure table 26 is lowered and the light-shielding curtain is closed. Here, the light-shielding cover 50 is opened, and when the next deep-immersion film for printing is set, it rises again to perform exposure processing, and when the entire exposure processing is completed and descends, the exposed sheet photosensitive material 2
3b can be discharged to the accumulator unit 3 side. Reference numeral 28 denotes a pair of paper discharge rollers from the exposure device 2.

The accumulator unit 3 is provided as a buffer responsible for temporal matching of the exposure device 2 and the developing device 4, and while the sheet photosensitive material 23b is being fed at the entrance of the developing device 4, which is a subsequent process, The sheet photosensitive material 23b can be stocked, the next sheet photosensitive material can be fed to the exposure table, and the next exposure operation can be started. Further, it is configured so that it can stand by until the receiving system for the developing device 4 is ready. 31a is a sensor, and the sensor 31a is connected to the exposure section 2.
is provided near the pair of rollers 28, and detects the leading edge of the photosensitive material discharged from the exposure device 2, and drives the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 130 and 150 of the accumulator unit 3 at high speed and at the same speed. There is. Reference numeral 34 denotes a fixed conveyance guide, which is provided above the photosensitive material travel path and is configured to linearly restrict the travel of the sheet photosensitive material 23b. 35 is a movable conveyance guide;
Reference numeral 5 is provided at the lower side of the photosensitive material traveling path, and is adapted to linearly restrict the traveling of the sheet photosensitive material 23b together with the fixed guide 34. The guide 35 can be opened and closed, and When the material 23b is stored in the accumulator unit, it is configured so that it can be opened downward.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a sensor, and the sensor 36 is provided in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 37 of the accumulator unit 3. The pair of transport rollers 130 and 150, the pair of discharge rollers 28 on the exposure device side, and the pair of nipping transport rollers 161 are temporarily stopped, and the movable guide 3
5 is released downward, and then the pressure of the driven roller of the roller pair 130 is released, and only the roller pair 28 and 161 are driven at high speed, so that the sheet photosensitive material 23b is fed into the accumulator unit 3 so as to be free and loose. The rear end of the photosensitive material 23b is configured to remain within a conveyance guide 162 extending from the exposure device 2 to the accumulator unit 3. Reference numeral 38 denotes a sensor, and the sensor 38 is provided at a suitable location below the device 3 to detect the position of the tip when the movable conveyance guide 35 is opened downward, and can monitor the opening and closing of the movable conveyance guide 35.

The two pairs of nipping and conveying rollers 130 and 150, as shown in FIG.
, 150b, each roller having bearings 137., 150b at both ends.
It is held by the frames 3A and 3B of the accumulator unit 3 via 138. A bearing 138 for the driven roller is fitted into an elongated hole provided in the frames 3A, 3B so that it can move up and down. An endless spring belt 139 is hung in a groove provided on the outer periphery of the bearings 137 and 138, and the rollers 130a and 130b and 150a and 15
0b are urged to press against each other.

Timing pulleys 134 and 154 with roller pressure cams are provided on both sides of the shafts of the drive rollers 130a and 150a.
is rotatably fitted concentrically to the shaft. The timing pulley 134 includes a roller pressure cam 134a and drive transmission pulleys 134b and 134c. The timing pulley 154 also has the same structure as the timing pulley 134, so a description thereof will be omitted. Then, pin 1 is attached to the control cam motor shaft 141.
Drive is transmitted from the timing pulley 142 fixed at 43 to the pulley 134b to determine the rotation angle of the roller crimping cam 134a, and further, the pulley 134c drives the pulley 154c of the timing pulley 154 with a roller crimping cam that is concentric with the driving roller 150a. is transmitted, and the rotation angle of the roller pressure bonding cam 154a is determined to be the same rotation angle as the cam 134a.

A control cam motor shaft 141 is rotatably fixed to both frames 3A and 3B via a bearing 144.

Further, on both sides of the driven roller shaft, disks 136 and 156 are rotatably provided as cam receivers that receive the pressure cam concentrically with the shaft.

An accumulator unit drive motor (not shown) is connected to one end of the shaft integrated with the drive roller 130a, and a drive connection pulley 131 for the drive rollers 130a and 150a is fixed to the other end and attached to the drive roller 150a. It is drivingly connected to a pulley 151 which is attached to the main body by a timing belt.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the crimping release areas of the roller crimping cams 134a and 154a are O to O, respectively.
180° and in the range of 0 to 90°. The rotation direction of each cam is clockwise in this embodiment. However, the cam shape and rotation direction are not limited to this.

Reference numeral 39 denotes a shutter, and the shutter 39 is provided in front of the paper discharge port 37 so that it can be opened and closed, and prevents moisture, light, and gas (generated from the developer, fixer, etc.) from entering from the developing device 4 side. Therefore, the traveling path of the photosensitive material can be shielded in a light-tight and air-tight manner. P is a positioning pin, which is inserted into the hole H3 of the exposure device 2 to position and fix it.

H2 is a hole, and the hole H7 is a positioning pin P2 of the developing device 4.
When a plurality of accumulator units are configured, a positioning pin of another accumulator unit can be inserted and positioned and fixed.

The developing device 4 is used to perform processing such as development, fixing, and stabilization on the sheet photosensitive material 23b fed from the accumulator unit 3 side. Reference numeral 41 denotes a second exposure tube, and the exposure tube 41 is provided immediately after the entrance 42 so that the exposed sheet photosensitive material 23b can be subjected to a second exposure in a developer. Further, 43 is a developing section that performs color development processing on the photosensitive material after the second exposure, 44 is a fixing section that performs bleaching and fixing processing, and 45 is a stabilizing section that performs stabilization processing.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a drying section, and the drying section 46 is a section for drying the photosensitive material after a series of processes. Reference numeral 47 denotes a replenishment tank. The tank 47 contains replenishment liquids such as a developer, a fixing/bleaching liquid, and a stabilizing liquid, so that the replenishment liquid can be supplied to each of the above-mentioned parts through a supply pipe (not shown). It has become.

The photosensitive material long roll 23a of the photosensitive material magazine 23 loaded in the photosensitive material loading unit 22 is fed out by the feed roller 24 and the suction cup 25, enters the exposure device 2, and enters the cutter 27 as described above. The sheet of photosensitive material 23b is cut to a length and set on the exposure table 26, and then raised and brought into close contact with the original film for printing, and the light source unit 21
After exposure, it descends and its tip is passed to a pair of paper ejection rollers 2.
The paper is delivered to the accumulator unit 3 side by a transport roller pair 161 rotating synchronously at the same speed as the paper ejection roller pair 28, and a nipping transport roller pair 130, 150 of the accumulator unit 3.

Inside the accumulator unit 3, first, the sensor 31a
detects the leading edge of the sheet photosensitive material 23b,
As shown in Fig. 4, the timing pulley 134.1 with cam
54 rotates the nipping conveyance roller pair 130 and 150.
The pressing cams 134a and 154a are brought into a state in which the pair of rollers are pressed together, and the drive motor of the accumulator unit is driven at high speed. At the same time, the pair of paper ejecting rollers 28 and the pair of conveying rollers 161 for discharging sheets on the exposure device 2 side are also driven by the drive motor on the exposure device 2 side to the pair of nipping conveying rollers 13.
It is driven at exactly the same high speed as 0.150.

At this time, the movable conveyance guide 35 within the accumulator unit 3 forms a straight path together with the fixed conveyance guide 34. The sheet photosensitive material 2 is moved to the position of the sensor 36.
When the tip of roller 3b reaches the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 130, 1
50, 161 and the pair of paper discharge rollers 28 are temporarily stopped.

Next, the sensor 3 detects that the movable guide 35 is opened downward.
8 confirms, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure cams on the shafts of the driving rollers 130a and 150a of the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 13G and 150 rotate 180 degrees clockwise, and the roller pressure cam 134a is rotated to the cam receiver. is the position where the driven roller 130b is lifted up via the disc 136 to release the pressure bonding, and the roller pressure bonding cam 154a maintains the driven roller 150b in the pressure bonded state.

Then, in this state, the driving of each pair of pinching rollers in the accumulator unit 3 is stopped; only the pair of paper ejection rollers 28 of the exposure device 2 and the pair of conveyance rollers 161 interlocked therewith are rotated at high speed, and the exposed sheet is The photosensitive material 23b is advanced into the accumulator unit in a U-shape. The rear end of the sheet photosensitive material 23b is detected by the detection sensor 163, and remains in the conveyance guide 1.62 after passing through the nipping conveyance roller pair 161, and the driving of each roller pair on the exposure device side is stopped. do.

Sheet photosensitive material 23 in accumulator unit 3
There are two ways to temporarily stop item b: one is to leave the rear end free as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 8, and the other is to hold the rear end in the conveyance guide of the accumulator unit as shown by the one-dot chain line in the same figure. There are two control methods: The color sensitive material for printing used for color proofing is a thin base paper coated with a light-sensitive emulsion, and the side to which the emulsion is coated and the opposite side have different shrinkage rates depending on temperature and humidity, causing curling.

When operating the color proofing device in a work environment with well-controlled temperature and humidity, there will be no problem with any of the above control methods, but if the device is operated under unstable temperature and humidity conditions. When driving, the curls become bamboo shoot-like in the stopping loop as shown by the two-dot chain line, and the curls become particularly tight toward the rear end. If such a sheet photosensitive material is continued to be transported by the pair of nipping and transporting rollers 150, the curled portion will be folded in by the pair of rollers, causing a serious problem. In order to avoid such a phenomenon, the control method of the present invention holds the rear end of the sheet photosensitive material in the conveyance guide 162 until the sheet photosensitive material 23b is conveyed into the developing device and the loop in the accumulator unit is eliminated. I tried to keep holding the rear end. It is thought that if the movable conveyance guide 35 is raised almost at the same time as the loop is eliminated to form the upper and lower conveyance guides 34.35 between the pair of nipping conveyance rollers 130, 150, the prevention of folding due to curling will be even more complete. .

However, experimental results show that both roller pairs 130 and 150
If the distance between them is as short as 150mm, the temperature is 10'O
.

Even in a harsh environment with relative humidity of about 20%, it was able to withstand practical use and the folding phenomenon could be prevented.

The state of the accumulator shown in Fig. 5 has ended, and the developing section is back on! When it becomes possible to receive No. 14 sheet photosensitive material, the shutter 39 opens and the accumulator drive motor starts driving at a low speed while leaving the pressing state of each roller of the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 130 and 150 unchanged. A Subicon motor is used as the motor.

When the leading edge of the sheet photosensitive material 23b is fed into the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 42a of the developing section, the pressing cams 13 of the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 130 and 150 are moved as shown in FIG.
4a and 154a are further rotated in the same manner for 90 inches, and both roller pairs are released from pressure and rotated at the same speed.
Driving of 150a continues. All conveyance of the sheet photosensitive material 23b into the developing device is carried out by a pair of conveying rollers 42a and others within the developing device.

When the rear end of the photosensitive material 23b passes the position of the sensor 36, a timer allows a little margin and the shutter is safely closed. Then, the roller crimping cams 134a, 15
4a and the movable conveyance guide 35 return to the state shown in FIG. 4, and stand by to receive subsequent sheets of photosensitive material.

By closing the shutter 39 as described above, water vapor of the developer, light, and gas will not enter from the developing device 4 side, and the photosensitive material can safely stand by until the developing device 4 is ready to receive it. The exposure device 2 can simultaneously discharge the sheet photosensitive material 23b to the accumulator unit 3 and begin the next sheet feeding and exposure operation. When the accumulator unit 3 receives a signal indicating that the receiving system for the developing device 14 is ready, the shutter 39 opens and the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 150 is driven to develop the photosensitive material in the accumulator 3 from the paper discharge port 37. The paper is ejected to the device 4.

In the developing device ii4, the photosensitive material entered from the entrance 42 is subjected to a second exposure process in the second exposure barrel 41, a color development process in the development s43, a fixing and bleaching process in the fixing part 44, and a stabilizing part 4.
After performing stabilization processing in step 5 and drying processing in drying section 46, the processed photosensitive material is discharged outside the machine.

Due to the control method of the accumulator configured as described above, the color proof production device can save approximately 2 minutes, which corresponds to the time required to feed the photosensitive material in the developing device, even if the processing time in the exposure device and developing device is the same as in the conventional device. The time required from the start of exposure to the start of the next exposure can be reduced to 374 times compared to the conventional method.

At the same time, since the pair of nipping conveyance rollers 130 and 150 are arranged at short intervals in the conveyance path constituted by the conveyance guides 162, 34, and 35, the leading edge of the sheet photosensitive material 23b does not meander at all. It is transported stably while being guided, and there are no accidents caused by jams.

Furthermore, by continuing to hold the rear end of the sheet photosensitive material in the conveyance guide, it is possible to avoid serious failures such as folding of the photosensitive material due to curling.

In addition, stable conveyance control of the accumulator has become possible with a simple mechanical configuration consisting of one drive motor and one control motor.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the function of the accumulator for temporarily storing the exposed sheet photosensitive material between the exposure device and the developing device can be easily and reliably performed, and the waiting time for the sheet photosensitive material can be reduced to almost zero. Furthermore, folding failures of the sheet photosensitive material were avoided, and a great contribution was made to improving the throughput and conveyance processing quality of color proofing apparatuses.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a color proof production device using the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the color proof production device. Figure 3 is a side view of the same. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit at the initial stage of paper discharge from the exposure device. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit during loop formation. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the state of the accumulator unit during the start of transportation to the developing device. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the roller pressing drive of the accumulator unit. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the state of the retention loop of the sheet photosensitive material inside the accumulator unit. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional color proof production device. 1... Color proof creation device main body 2... Exposure device 3... Accumulator unit 4... Developing device 21... Light source unit 2
2...Photosensitive material loading unit 23...Photosensitive material magazine 23a...Photosensitive material long roll 23b...See! - Photosensitive material 24... Paper feed roller pair 25... Suction cup 26... Exposure table 27
... Cutter 28 ... Paper ejection roller pair 31
a, 36.38, 163-Sensor 32.42... Entrance 34... Fixed conveyance guide 35... Movable conveyance guide 37... Paper ejection port 39... Shutter 41
. . . second exposure cylinder 42a, 130.150.161 . . . pinching conveyance roller pair 43 . . . developing section 44 . . fixing section 45
... Stable section 46... Drying section 47...
Replenishment tank 50... Light shielding cover 51... Hinge 52... Gas damper 53... Upper surface of document frame 54... Fixing base 130a, 15
0a-... Drive rollers 130b, 150b... Followed rollers 134.154... Timing pulley 134a,
154a...Roller crimping cam 136.156...Cam holder is a disc

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for controlling an accumulator of an apparatus in which an exposure device and a developing device are connected by an accumulator unit for temporarily retaining a sheet photosensitive material, wherein the sheet photosensitive material temporarily retained in the accumulator unit has a rear end portion. The sheet of photosensitive material is held in a fixed conveyance guide disposed from the paper discharge section of the exposure device to the entrance of the accumulator unit until the retention loop of the photosensitive material disappears by conveying the sheet of photosensitive material to the developing device. An accumulator control method characterized by continuing a holding state.