JPH0416944A - Pressure developing device - 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 pressure developing device that develops a pressure-sensitive sheet by applying pressure on which a latent image has been previously recorded by a pressure-sensitive capsule.
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a pressure developing device that pinches and sends out a pressure-sensitive sheet between a pair of work rolls.

In copying machines, printers, etc. that use conventional technology pressure-sensitive sheets,
Generally, (a) a pair of work rolls are arranged to be rotatable about mutually parallel axes and to be able to approach and separate from each other, and (b)
(C) a rotational drive means for rotationally driving at least one of the pair of work rolls; A pressure-sensitive sheet is provided with a plurality of types of microcapsules containing substances on its surface, and a latent image is recorded by changing the hardness of the photosensitive substance through photosensitive treatment, and a coloring reaction is performed with the dye precursor. A color developer sheet having a color developer provided on the surface thereof is superimposed, and is pressed between the pair of work rolls by the pressure means, and at least one of the work rolls is rotationally driven by the rotation drive means. A pressure developing device is used that crushes a portion of the microcapsules according to the hardness of the photosensitive material by feeding the microcapsules and develops the latent image on the color developer sheet.

In such a pressure developing device, a large load of several tons is applied between a pair of work rolls by the pressure means, so conventionally, the pair of work rolls had sufficient rigidity to withstand the large load. However, as the diameter of the work rolls increases, the pressure area against the pressure-sensitive sheet increases, making it necessary to increase the load applied between the work rolls.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to configure one of the pair of work rolls with a small-diameter roll to reduce the pressing area against the pressure-sensitive sheet. In this case, a large pressing force necessary for pressure development can be obtained by simply applying a relatively small load using the pressing means. In addition, when one of the work rolls is constituted by a small-diameter roll in this way, it is desirable to provide a hack-and-roll for hoisting up the small-diameter roll, which has insufficient rigidity, from behind.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention However, in a pressure developing device in which one of the pair of work rolls is a small diameter roll as described above, when the pressure sensitive sheet is pressed against the small diameter roll side. However, due to the small-diameter roll being deflected in a wave-like manner in the axial direction, a thrust force in the axial direction of the roll acts on the pressure-sensitive sheet, which adversely affects development. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a relatively hard pressure sensitive sheet 17 contacts the small diameter roll 15 side, and a relatively soft color developing sheet 19 contacts the large diameter roll 13 side to apply pressure. In this case, the pressure sensitive sheet 17 is deformed into a wavy state along the small diameter roll 15. At this time, on the contact surface between the pressure sensitive sheet 17 and the color developing sheet 19,
A component F (thrust force) of the pressing force F due to the load applied between the rolls in a direction parallel to their contact surfaces acts,
For this reason, there are problems in that wrinkles occur on the surface of the color developer sheet 19 and image reproducibility is impaired.

The present invention has been made against the background of the above, and its purpose is to eliminate wrinkles in images developed by a pressure developing device in which a pair of work rolls includes a large-diameter roll and a small-diameter roll. The purpose is to prevent the occurrence of

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the object, the gist of the present invention is to provide a method comprising: (a) a pair of work rolls; (b) a pressurizing means; and (C) a rotational drive means. , a pressure-sensitive material in which multiple types of microcapsules containing multiple types of dye precursors and photosensitive substances are provided on the surface, and a latent image is recorded by changing the hardness of the photosensitive substance through photosensitive treatment. The sheet and a color developing sheet, the surface of which is provided with a color developer that reacts with the dye precursor to form a color, are overlapped, and the sheet is pressed between the pair of work rolls by the pressure means, and at least By rotating and sending out one work roll,
In the pressure developing device that crushes a portion of the microcapsules according to the hardness of the photosensitive material and develops the latent image on the color developing sheet, the pair of work rolls includes a large-diameter roll having different diameters from each other; The present invention is constructed using small-diameter rolls, and the pressure-sensitive sheet is positioned on the side of the large-diameter roll having a large diameter, so that the pressure-sensitive sheet and the color developer sheet are pressed together.

Operation and Effects of the Invention In this way, since the relatively hard pressure-sensitive sheet is placed on the large-diameter roll side and is pressed together with the color developer sheet, unevenness due to bending deformation is almost eliminated. On the other hand, the unevenness of the small diameter roll is absorbed by the relatively soft and thick color developing sheet, and the contact surface between the pressure sensitive sheet and the color developing sheet runs along the large diameter roll. It becomes a smooth shape. Therefore, thrust force due to the deformation of the small-diameter roll is not generated on the contact surfaces of these, and the surface of the color developer sheet, that is, the side where the color developer is provided and pressed against the pressure-sensitive sheet, Wrinkles may occur or
High-quality reproduced images can be obtained without impairing image reproducibility even in a pressure developing device in which one of the work rolls is a small-diameter roll.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are diagrams showing the state of the pressure developing device 10, which is an embodiment of the present invention, during development; FIG. 1 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a ■Cross-sectional view. In each figure, reference numerals 12 and 14 are a pair of work rolls having different diameters, and a pressure sensitive sheet 16 and a color developing sheet 18 are conveyed while being pinched between the pair of work rolls 12 and 14 to perform development. It is about to be done. The work rolls 12 and 14 are each comprised of a large-diameter roll and a small-diameter roll each having a cylindrical shape with a constant diameter in the axial direction.

A large-diameter work roll 12 has hair rings 24a and 24b attached to a pair of base plates 22a and 22b of a fixed frame 20 provided in a fixed position at both ends thereof.
Axial center through! , arranged so that it can rotate around.

Inside the pair of base plates 22a and 22b, a pair of movable plates 26a and 26b have an axis i! which is parallel to the axis ll. The small-diameter work roll 14 is arranged so as to be rotatable about the axis 12, and the small-diameter work roll 14 is connected to a pair of movable plays (26a and 26b) at both ends thereof via hair rings 28a and 28b to form an axis parallel to the axis 12. It is arranged to be rotatable around the center r3. A pressure sensitive sheet 16 is placed between such a pair of work rolls 12 and 14.
In the case where the work roll 14 has a small diameter, the pressure area against the pressure sensitive sheet 16 is small, and a large pressure force necessary for pressure development can be obtained even with a small pressure load.

Then, on the lower side of the work roll 14, that is, on the opposite side to the work roll 12, there is a hack-and-roll 30 that contacts the work roll 14 with the work roll 12 sandwiched therebetween, in the same manner as the work roll 14. Hair rings 32a and 32b are attached to movable plates 26a and 26b.
parallel to the axis r2 through the axis ! and in FIG. 2 the axis ! ! .

The backup roll 30 has a drum-like shape in which a cross-sectional shape including the axis is curved so that the diameter gradually decreases from the central part in the axial direction toward both ends. In this state, the work roll 14 is brought into contact with the work roll 14 mainly at its center, and the movement of the work roll 14 in a substantially vertical direction is regulated and backed up. In other words, the work roll 12
has a large diameter and has sufficient rigidity, while the work roll 14 has a small diameter, so if it is used alone, the center portion of the pressure sensitive sheet 16 and the color developing sheet 18 will be damaged by the pressure reaction force when it is pressed. is particularly susceptible to bending and deformation. However, by being supported by the hack-and-roll 30, the bending deformation of the work roll 14 is suppressed.

The above-mentioned fixed frame 20 is connected to the above-mentioned pair of head plates 22a.
and 22b are connected by a reinforcing rod 34 and integrally fixed to a fixing member (not shown). This fixed frame 20 has a third base plate at the bottom of the pair of base plates 22a and 22b.
The eccentric cam shaft 36 shown in the figure is connected to the shaft center 1 through a pair of hair rings 38a and 38b. It is arranged so as to be rotatable around an axis 25 parallel to the . The eccentric camshaft 36 has a pair of bearings 40a and 40b located inside the bearings 38a and 38b and has a pair of bearings 40a and 40b, respectively, and a pulley 42 is mounted on one shaft end so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other. It is configured to be rotated via a timing belt 44 by a step motor 46 disposed on the head plate 22b.

Further, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the axes of the bearings 40a and 40b are offset by a dimension e from the axis of the eccentric camshaft 36, and the eccentric camshaft 36 is 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG. In the rotated state, in other words, the axes of the bearings 40a and 40b are the axes! The bearings 40a and 40b are moved as the eccentric camshaft 36 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the step motor 46, starting from a position on the right side in the horizontal direction. Based on the amount of movement of the hair rings 40a and 40b in the horizontal direction, the pressurizing units 50a and 50b, which will be described next, are
The pair of movable plates 26a and 26b are rotated around the axis 12 via the work roll 14.
is brought close to the work roll 12 and pressurized. The situation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the hair rings 40a and 40b are horizontally moved a full stroke 2e from the starting point, and the work rolls 12 and 1
In this state, the pressure sensitive sheet 16 is pressurized for 4 hours.

The pair of movable plates 26a and 26b are rotatably supported by rotation shafts 48 which are respectively erected on the Hayspray 22a and 22b in alignment with the axis 2□. By rotating clockwise, the work roll 14 is brought closer to the work roll 12. At the bottom of the pair of movable plates 26a and 26b,
A pair of pressurizing units t-50a and 50b are provided, respectively.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the pressurizing unit) 50a is
A bolt 52 whose axis is substantially orthogonal to the axis l of the eccentric camshaft 36, and a pair of flanged sleeves 56 through which the bolt 52 passes and a compression coil spring 54 inserted. and 58, a cap 60 that is screwed onto the tip end side of the threaded portion of the bolt 52 and is brought into contact with the hair ring 40a, an adjustment nut 62 that defines the position of the sleeve 58 with respect to the bolt 52, and a threaded portion of the camp 54. A lock nut 64 for fixing the mating position is attached to the inner side surface of the movable plate 26a by a pair of brackets 66 and 68. Note that the movable plate 26a
In order to secure a housing space for the compression coil spring 54 and the pair of sleeves 56 and 58, an opening window 7 is provided.
0a is formed. In addition, the movable plate 26b side 9
The pressure unit l-50b has substantially the same configuration as the pressure unit 50a, and is attached to the inner side surface of the movable plate 26b.

In the pressure units 50a and 50b, each cap 60 is always brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of each of the hair rings 40a and 40b due to the weight of the movable plate 26a26b, the work roll 14, the backup roll 30, etc. Further, the precompression state of each compression coil spring 54 is adjusted by changing the position of the sleeve 58 by an adjustment pad 62, so that when the camp 60 is not pushed into the bracket 68, the precompression state is adjusted. The bolt 52 is biased rightward in the figure by a biasing force corresponding to the amount of contraction, so that its head abuts the end surface of the sleeve 56 on the opposite side from the flange. Further, by appropriately changing the screwing position of the cap 60 with respect to the bolt 52, the hair rings 40a and 4
The gap between the work rolls 12 and 14 in a state where 0b is located at the starting point is adjusted.

The movable plates 26a and 26b on which the pressurizing units 50a and 50b are disposed are arranged such that the cap 60 is moved to the left in FIG. until the work roll 14 comes into contact with the work roll 12 with the pressure sensitive sheet 16 and color developing sheet 18 sandwiched therebetween, and the rotation of the movable plates 26a and 26b is stopped. It can be rotated around. After the rotation of the movable plates 26a and 26b is stopped, the cap 6
The compression coil spring 54 is compressed and deformed by the amount that 0 is further moved, and a biasing force corresponding to the amount of compression acts on the movable plates 26a and 26b. A biasing load of a magnitude multiplied by 1 is applied to the work roll 14 via the hair rings 28a and 28b.

That is, the rotation angle of the eccentric camshaft 36 is controlled by the drive of the step motor 46, so that the pressing force of the work roll 14 that presses the pressure sensitive sheet 16 becomes a desired value suitable for development. Specifically, work role 1
The amount of compression deformation of the compression coil spring 54 can be changed depending on the width dimension of the color developer sheet 18 in the axial direction of the color developer sheets 2 and 14. Above eccentric camshaft 3
The rotation angle 6 is preset by the size selection operation of the color developer sheet 18, and the operation of the step motor 46 is controlled so that the set rotation amount is obtained. In this embodiment, the step motor 46
, eccentric camshaft 36, and pressure units 50a and 5
0b functions as a pressure means for bringing the pair of work rolls 12 and 14 relatively close to each other and applying pressure for development.

A sprocket 72 is mounted on one shaft end of the work roll 12 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 via a chain 74 by a motor 76 fixed to the head plate 22a. It has become. The pressure-sensitive sheet 16 and the color developing sheet 18 which are pressed between the work roll 12 and the work roll 14 are
By driving the motor 76, which is the rotational driving means in this embodiment, the sheets are sequentially subjected to pressure development and sent out.

The pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is made of a photosensitive resin, which is a photosensitive material that is cured by being exposed to light of different colors.
Three types of microcapsules each containing dye precursors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and a polymerization initiator are uniformly coated on the surface of a resin film such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and exposed to light. A latent image was recorded based on the difference in curing of the photosensitive resin of each microcapsule. The pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is wound into a roll and housed in a light-shielding container (not shown), and its lower end is passed between a pair of work rolls 12 and 14, and a guide is provided near the exit of the pressure-sensitive sheet 16. It is guided by a unit 78 and wound up by a winding device (not shown). In addition,
This pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is connected to the light-shielding container and the pressure developing device 1.
0, and a latent image is recorded.

Further, in the color developer sheet 18, the color developer particles applied to the surface of the soft base paper react with dye precursors of each color on the pressure sensitive sheet 16 side to develop color, thereby making the latent image visible. The image will be printed. A large number of developer sheets 18 are prepared that are cut into various sizes, and sheets of a selected size are delivered one by one near the entrance of a pair of work rolls 12 and 14 by a paper feeder (not shown). Entrance chute 8 located in
0 and is supplied between work rolls 12 and 14 with a gap formed therebetween. The work rolls 12 and 14 are then pressurized.
After being fed out, the sheet is separated from the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 by the guide unit 78, and is conveyed to a tray (not shown).

Here, the positional relationship of the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 and the color developer sheet 18 with respect to the work rolls 12 and 14 is such that the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is located on the side of the work roll 12 having a larger diameter, as is clear from FIG. The color developer sheet 18 is placed on the side of the work roll 14 having a smaller diameter, and in this state the pressure sensitive sheet 16 and the color developer sheet 18 are pressed together.

The pressure developing device 10 configured as described above is operated as follows. First, in a state where the eccentric camshaft 36 is not driven, the pressure sensitive sheet 16, which has been passed through the gap between the pair of work rolls 12 and 14, is rolled until the latent image portion thereof reaches the pressing position. The developer sheet 18 is rolled up by the take-up device and passed through the inlet chute 80 along the lower surface of the pressure-sensitive sheet 16.
is fed by the paper feeding device and set at a position where it can be sandwiched together with the pressure sensitive sheet 16 between the work rolls 12 and 14.

Then, the eccentric camshaft 36 is connected to the step motor 46.
The hair rings 40a and 40b are rotated by a predetermined angle by the drive of the pair of movable plates 26 via the pressure units 50a and 50b.
a and 26b are rotated to bring the work roll 14 and backup roll 30 close to and in contact with the work roll 12 side, and at the same time, the pressure sensitive sheet 16 and the color developer sheet 1
8 at a predetermined pressure. After that, the motor 7
6, the work roll 12 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Then, when the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 and the color developer sheet 18 are fed a predetermined length and development is completed, the motor 76 is stopped, and the step motor 46 is driven in the opposite direction so that the eccentric camshaft 36 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the pair of movable plates 26a and 26b are returned to their original positions.

Here, the work rolls 12 and 14 in this embodiment
When the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 and color-developing sheet 18 are pressed, as described above, the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is placed on the large-diameter work roll 12 side, and the color-developing sheet 18 is placed on the small-diameter work roll 14 side. Since the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is positioned and pressurized, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is placed along the work roll 12 which has high rigidity and has few irregularities in deflection deformation, while being deflected and deformed into an uneven wave state. The relatively soft and thick color developing sheet 18 is deformed to fill the unevenness of the work roll 14. Therefore, the unevenness of the wavy state is absorbed by the deformation of the color developer sheet 18, and the contact surface between the pressure sensitive sheet 16 and the color developer sheet 18 has a smooth shape along the surface of the work roll 12. Thrust force due to deformation of the work roll 14 hardly acts between the contact surfaces.

Note that FIG. 4 shows the pressurized state when the work roll 14 is not hacked up by the hack up roll 30, but even if the backup roll 30 is present, the same condition will be applied although there are differences in degree. We live in a deformed state. Further, the bending and deforming state of the work roll 14 in FIG. 4 is emphasized for ease of understanding, and the same is true for FIG. 5.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is positioned on the side of the large-diameter work roll 12, and the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is placed on the side of the large-diameter work roll 12.
6 and the developer sheet 18 are pressurized, no thrust force acts on their contact surfaces, which may cause wrinkles on the developer side surface of the developer sheet 18 or impair image reproducibility. Even in the present pressure developing apparatus 10, in which the pair of work rolls is composed of a large-diameter work roll 12 and a small-diameter work roll 14, a high-quality reproduced image can be obtained.

In addition, in order to obtain a predetermined pressure suitable for development, pressure was conventionally applied between a pair of work rolls that both had large diameters, so the pressure area against the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 was relatively large, and a large amount of pressure was applied between the work rolls. Although it was necessary to apply a load, in this example, one work roll 1
4 has a small diameter, the pressing area against the pressure-sensitive sheet 16 is relatively small, and a predetermined pressing force can be obtained even if the urging load applied to the work roll 14 by the compression coil spring 54 is not very large. With,
Heath plates 22a and 22b supporting each roll
Therefore, members such as the movable plates 26a and 26b can be constructed lightweight and simply to accommodate small urging loads.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above based on the drawings,
The invention can also be applied in other embodiments.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pressing force is changed according to the color developer sheet 18 of various sizes, but when handling only the color developer sheet 18 of a certain size, etc. Alternatively, the eccentric camshaft 36 may be rotated by a certain angle to apply a constant load at all times for pressure development.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pair of movable plates 2
6a and 26b are axial centers with respect to the fixed frame 20! 2
By being rotated around the work roll 14
However, for example, the movable plates 26a and 26b are linearly guided so that the work roll 14 is moved linearly towards and away from the work roll 12. It may be configured as follows.

Further, the hack-and-roll 30 in the above-mentioned embodiment was a crown roll having a drum shape with a curved cross-sectional outline including the axis, but instead of this, for example, the work roll 14 and its A cylindrical roll with a constant diameter that contacts almost the entire length, or a work roll 1
A skew roll whose axis is inclined with respect to the work roll 14 and whose center portion mainly contacts the center portion of the work roll 14 may be used as the hack-up roll. Further, it is not necessary to provide a hack-up roll, and it is possible to omit it.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, one hack-up roll 30 for backing up the work roll 14 was arranged so that the axes thereof including the work roll 12 were located approximately on a straight line. Alternatively, a plurality of bank up rolls may be arranged in a wide range on the opposite side of the work roll 12.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the pressurizing means was constituted by the above-mentioned step mortar 46, the eccentric camshaft 36, the pressurizing units 50a and 50b, etc., but instead of this, for example, a cylinder and a piston may be provided. It is also possible to use other well-known driving and pressing mechanisms such as a hydraulic actuator, a crank mechanism, a gear-rack mechanism, etc.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the motor 76 as a rotational driving means drives the work roll 12, but instead of this, the motor 76 drives the work roll 14, or the work roll 12 and the work roll 14 They may be driven together in synchronization so that their circumferential speeds match.

In addition, in the above embodiment, color development was carried out using three types of microcapsules that harden when exposed to light of different colors. In cases where a pressure-sensitive sheet with an image recorded thereon is pressure developed to obtain a light and shade image, or where a pressure-sensitive sheet with a latent image recorded thereon is developed using multiple types of pressure-sensitive capsules, each of which is cured by the action of light removal. The present invention can also be applied in such cases.

Note that the above is just one embodiment of the present invention,
The present invention can be implemented with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from its spirit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pressure developing device which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the eccentric camshaft, etc. of the device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the pressurized state of the pressure sensitive sheet and the color developing sheet in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating a case where the arrangement of the pressure-sensitive sheet and the color developing sheet is reversed from that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. : Pressure developing device: Work roll: Work roll: Pressure sensitive sheet: Eccentric camshaft (large diameter roll) (small diameter roll) 18: Color developer sheet]

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A pair of work rolls arranged to be rotatable around axes parallel to each other and capable of approaching and separating, a pressurizing means for pressurizing the pair of work rolls by bringing the pair of work rolls relatively close to each other, and the pair of work rolls. and a rotation drive means for rotationally driving at least one of the work rolls, and a plurality of types of microcapsules containing a plurality of types of dye precursors and a photosensitive substance are provided on the surface, and the photosensitive substance is A pressure-sensitive sheet on which a latent image is recorded by changing the hardness of a substance and a color-developing sheet whose surface is provided with a color-developing agent that reacts with the dye precursor to form a color are superimposed, and the sheet is pressed by the pressing means. By rotating and sending out at least one of the work rolls by the rotation driving means while pinching between the pair of work rolls, a part of the microcapsules are crushed according to the hardness of the photosensitive material, and the microcapsules are crushed depending on the hardness of the photosensitive material. In the pressure developing device that develops a latent image on the color developing sheet, the pair of work rolls is constituted by a large diameter roll and a small diameter roll having different diameters, and the pressure sensitive roller is placed on the side of the large diameter roll having a larger diameter. A pressure developing device characterized in that a sheet is positioned so that the pressure sensitive sheet and the color developing sheet are pressed together.