JPH02275444A - Photosensitive material storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member used in a pressure transfer type image forming apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,446 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 88,739/1989 discloses a method of forming an image by controlling the transferability of a transfer material by utilizing the photocuring or photosoftening properties of a photosensitive material. Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-3035
The image forming method disclosed in Publication No. 7 and the like has the advantage that the post-exposure process is simpler than that of silver salt photography, and that it is superior in gradation expressiveness than that of electrophotography.

However, on the other hand, this type of image forming method requires that an image-exposed film-like photosensitive member is passed between rollers together with a transfer sheet for pressure transfer. The component is a material whose surface is uniformly coated with microcapsules containing a photocurable (softening) substance and a coloring agent that hardens (softens) when exposed to light, and if a hand or a part of the image forming device touches it. In some cases, the microcapsules may break or fall off, resulting in defects in the image.Also, like ordinary photosensitive paper, it is sensitive to external light, so this kind of thin paper In addition, it is extremely difficult for the user to properly mount a wide photosensitive member from the image exposure section to the transfer section without exposing it to light.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a new storage container that can easily and accurately mount this type of sheet-like photosensitive member without exposing it to light. There is a particular thing.

[Means to solve the problem]

That is, the present invention provides a storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members to solve this problem, and includes a photosensitive member storage container in which both ends of the photosensitive member are wound around a pivotally supported supply shaft and a winding shaft. Until the supply shaft and the winding shaft are installed, the rotation of the supply shaft and the take-up shaft is regulated with a predetermined amount of slack on the photosensitive member, and when the shaft is installed in the main body of the apparatus, the rotation restriction is released. This allows the photosensitive member to be mounted neatly and accurately without exposing it to light.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of an image forming apparatus to which the storage container for sheet-like photosensitive members according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a photosensitive sheet f containing cyan, magenta, and yellow dye precursors as photosensitizers and dispersingly coated with microcapsules that harden in response to red, green, and blue wavelength light energy. is used to feed the photosensitive sheet f wound around the supply shaft 11 in the cassette 1o to the exposure table 2, where an exposure lamp is guided from the document d side onto the photosensitive sheet f via the condensing lens unit 3. Will! according to the original image with the light of 4! ! is formed, and then fed between the upper and lower rollers 5.6 in the pressure development unit, while the transfer sheet s accommodated in the paper feed cassette is guided between these rollers 5.6, and the two are brought into pressure contact. The capsules on the photosensitive sheet f that were not cured during the exposure process are destroyed and the dye precursors inside are transferred onto the transfer sheet S. Thereafter, the photosensitive sheet f is transported by the winding shaft 12 in the cassette 1o. The winding and transfer sheet S is configured to be passed through a heat fixing unit 8 to promote color reaction and to undergo gloss treatment, and then to be discharged onto a tray (not shown).

By the way, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cassette, which is a photosensitive member storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette as seen from the back, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cassette. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the supply or winding shaft; The cassette 10 is composed of a cassette case 13, a supply shaft 11, a take-up shaft 12, and a photosensitive sheet f.
Windows 15a and 15b are provided on the side surfaces for supplying and winding up the photosensitive sheet f.

In FIG. 2, there is a supply shaft 11 on the back side of the cassette 10.
and a locking mechanism 16 for regulating rotation of the winding shaft 12.
a and 16b are arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette IO rotatably supports the supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft 12 inside the cassette case 13, and one bearing is attached to the locking mechanism. is located.

The cassette according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and the method of attaching the cassette 10 to the image forming apparatus, which is a feature of the present invention, will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the cassette according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the front. When installing the cassette 10 into the image forming apparatus 1, it is necessary to install the cassette 10 from the front side in FIG. 5 with the exposure table 2 and roller 5 wrapped around the photosensitive sheet f. As a condition for smoothly installing the cassette 10 into the image forming apparatus 1, a fifth condition is satisfied.
The length of the photosensitive sheet f shown in the figure exposed outside the cassette 10 is approximately equal to the length of the photosensitive sheet f exposed outside the cassette case 13 shown in FIG. It is necessary to prevent the exposed photosensitive sheet f from coming out beyond a predetermined length even if the exposed photosensitive sheet f is pulled with force.
The supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft 12 form a locking mechanism 1 shown in FIG.
6, the above conditions can be satisfied. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the cassette 10 showing a state in which the photosensitive sheet f is stored inside the cassette case 13 in the locked state shown in FIG. The supply shaft 11
Since the winding shaft 12 is locked, the photosensitive sheet f is stored in the cassette case 13 in a slack state.

Specific embodiments of the locking mechanism for the supply shaft and take-up shaft of the cassette according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the locking mechanism of the present invention, and FIG.
) is a cross-sectional view. The end faces of the supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft 12 are provided with at least one recess 18 as shown in the figure, and a lock pawl 17 is provided on the cassette case 13 so as to be able to engage freely in the recess 18. It is regulated in the direction of engagement with the shaft. As shown in FIG. 8, the lock claw 17 has a slope t formed thereon, and a wall 19 for positioning the cassette 10 provided in the image forming apparatus 1.
By pressing the slope t of the locking claw 17 with the lock release pin 20 set up in the vertical direction, the locking pin 17 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 8(b), thereby releasing the supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft. 12 rotation restriction is canceled.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The lock pawl 17 is provided on the cassette case 13 so as to be rotatable about the pin 22 so as to be able to bite into the recess 18 of the shaft.
The direction of engagement with the shaft is restricted by a spring 21.

When the cassette 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the tip of the lock claw 17 is pushed against the wall 19, causing the lock claw 17 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Release rotation restriction. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. The lock pawl 17 is provided on the cassette case 13 so as to be able to engage freely in the recess 18 of the shaft and to rotate freely around the bin 22, and is restricted by a spring 21 in the direction in which it engages with the shaft. A small diameter portion 23 is provided in a portion slightly inside the ends of the supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft 12, and the cassette 10 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
When the lock release pin 2O is installed on the wall 19
By pressing the side part of the lock pawl 17, the lock pawl 17 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
When the tip of the lock claw 17 escapes into the small diameter portion 23, the rotation restriction of the supply shaft 11 and the winding shaft 12 is released.

Although this embodiment has been described in terms of the configuration as a copying machine, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to optical printers, facsimile machines, and the like.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a photosensitive member storage container in which both ends of the photosensitive member are wound around a pivotally supported supply shaft and a winding shaft is attached to an apparatus main body as a storage container for a sheet-like photosensitive member. The rotation of the supply shaft and take-up shaft is restricted with a predetermined amount of slack in the photosensitive member until it is installed, and the rotation restriction is released when the photosensitive member is attached to the main body. When a user installs a film cassette into an image forming apparatus, he or she pulls out the exposed photosensitive sheet from the film cassette until it can no longer be pulled out, and the length of the photosensitive sheet exposed outside the film cassette extends beyond the cassette case. Since the length is approximately equal to the length of the exposed photosensitive sheet, the photosensitive member can be easily and accurately attached to the image forming apparatus without exposing it to light.

In addition, since the photosensitive sheet can be pulled out to a predetermined length using the locking mechanism of the film cassette, there is no need for a special member to pull out the photosensitive sheet in advance and maintain that state. This has the effect of reducing the cost per sheet.

Furthermore, since there is no need to pull out the photosensitive sheet beforehand when packing and transporting film cassettes, the packaging case can be approximately the same size as the film cassette, which not only reduces the size of the packaging case but also reduces the cost of packaging materials. can be reduced, and the effect is very large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention seen from the front, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette seen from the back,
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the cassette as seen from the supply or winding shaft; FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the cassette according to the present invention viewed from the front; and FIG. 5 is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the cassette showing the photosensitive sheet stored inside the cassette case in the locked state shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8(a) and 8(b) are sectional views showing a locking mechanism of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view showing an example. 10φ 12 ・ 13 ・ 16 φ 17 ・ 18 Cassette supply shaft Winding shaft Cassette case locking mechanism Lock claw recess Fig. 4 Fig. 2 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] A photosensitive material comprising a supply shaft, a winding shaft, and a sheet-like photosensitive member coated with a photosensitive material for controlling the transfer of coloring material, both ends of which are wound around the supply shaft and the winding shaft. In the component storage container, the rotation of the supply shaft and the winding shaft is regulated with a predetermined amount of slack in the photosensitive member until it is installed in the device main body, and when it is installed in the device main body, A photosensitive member storage container used in an image forming apparatus, wherein the rotation restriction is released.