JPH0915824A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Image recording that allows the photosensitive material after image transfer to be transported smoothly and reliably without causing clogging, and prevents curling to be collected in a small space without waste. Get the device. [Structure] The photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B for conveying the photosensitive material 22 to the stacking tray 146 are a pair of corrugation rollers meshing with each other.
The beads can be formed while nipping and conveying 2. Further, one of the sensitive material discharge rollers 140A has a backup roller 1
42 are provided in contact with each other, and can guide the photosensitive material 22 to the nipping portion between the photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B. As a result, the photosensitive material 22 is smoothly inserted into the nipping portion between the photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for superposing a light-sensitive material and an image-receiving material and transferring an image recorded on the light-sensitive material to the image-receiving material to obtain an image on the image-receiving material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image recording material, there is known an image recording apparatus which performs an image recording process using, for example, a photosensitive material and an image receiving material.

In this type of image recording apparatus, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are respectively wound and accommodated in roll-shaped magazines in a light-shielding magazine. Each time an image recording process is performed, a pull-out roller is used. It is sandwiched and used by sequentially pulling it out. Further, the image recording apparatus is provided with a water coating section for coating the image forming solvent on the photosensitive material, and further, from a heating drum and an endless pressure welding belt which is in pressure contact with the outer circumference of the heating drum and rotates together with the heating drum. The thermal development transfer section is arranged.

The photosensitive material, which is pulled out from the magazine by a predetermined size by a drawing roller and cut, is exposed to an image while being conveyed while being nipped and conveyed by a conveying roller, and further, water is applied as a solvent for image formation in a water application section, and then heat is applied. It is sent to the development transfer section. On the other hand, like the photosensitive material, the image receiving material is pulled out from the magazine by a predetermined size by a drawing roller and cut, and is fed to the heat development transfer section in synchronization with the photosensitive material by the conveying roller. In the heat-development transfer section, the light-sensitive material coated with water is superposed with the image-receiving material, and in this state, the light-sensitive material is closely wound around the outer periphery of the heating drum. Further, both materials are sandwiched and conveyed between the heating drum and the endless pressure contact belt so that the photosensitive material is thermally developed and an image is transferred to the image receiving material, and a predetermined image is formed (recorded) on the image receiving material. is there.

Further, a separating means such as a peeling claw is arranged in the vicinity of the heating drum, and the photosensitive material after the thermal development transfer is separated from the image receiving material by the peeling claw or the like. Further, the separated photosensitive material is conveyed by a conveying roller or the like and accumulated in a sensitive material waste box.

Here, the photosensitive material applied to such an image recording apparatus is separated from the image receiving material after the heat development transfer for the reason that the photosensitive material is wound around a conveying roller and conveyed, or heated by a heating drum. Then, curl occurs. If the curls are simply accumulated in the sensitive material waste box without being removed, the apparent volume of the photosensitive material accumulated due to the curl increases, and the substantial amount of the photosensitive material waste box that can be accumulated is reduced. Will decrease.

Therefore, the present applicant has already proposed a technique capable of preventing curling of the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material and integrating the material in a small space without waste (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 315739).

In the image recording apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, a corrugated forming means such as a waist roller is provided in the conveying path of the photosensitive material which is separated from the image receiving material and conveyed by the conveying roller.
A bead is formed on the photosensitive material along the transport direction. As a result, beads are formed on the photosensitive material accumulated in the sensitive material waste box to increase the rigidity, so that the photosensitive materials are regularly stacked and accumulated. Therefore, the apparent volume of the photosensitive material does not increase, the space of the sensitive material waste box can be effectively used, and the size can be reduced.

[0009]

By the way, in the image recording apparatus having the above-described structure, the conveyance path of the photosensitive material after being separated from the image receiving material is set to be curved due to downsizing of the apparatus or the like. In some cases, the photosensitive material may be accumulated in the sensitive material waste box through such a curved transport path.

In this case, when the waist roller is simply provided on the photosensitive material conveying path to form the beads along the conveying direction on the photosensitive material as described above, the photosensitive material conveying path is set to be curved. Due to this, the photosensitive material may unnecessarily contact the guide plate and the like around the conveying path, and it may be difficult to smoothly bite into the waist roller. Especially,
As described above, the photosensitive material is coated with water as an image forming solvent, so if the photosensitive material comes into contact (adhesion) with a guide plate or the like around the transport path, it may jam without sticking to the waist roller. There is room for improvement in this respect as well, because smooth bite-in-to-the-punch transfer to the waist roller is further hindered.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can smoothly and surely convey the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material after the image is transferred, without causing jamming,
An object of the present invention is to obtain an image recording apparatus which can prevent curling and can be integrated in a small space without waste, and which can be realized by a simple structure.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus, wherein a photosensitive material and an image receiving material are superposed on each other, the image recorded on the photosensitive material is transferred to the image receiving material, and the photosensitive material is separated by a separating means. In an image recording apparatus for separating an image receiving material from an image receiving material to obtain an image on the image receiving material, a conveying path which is arranged on the downstream side of the photosensitive material conveying path of the separating means and which sandwiches the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material and is curved. And a pair of corrugation rollers that form a wavy bead along the transport direction while transporting to a stacking tray.
Of the pair of corrugation rollers, a backup roller that is provided in contact with a corrugation roller positioned at least inside the curved path of the curved transport path and that guides the photosensitive material to a nipping portion by the pair of corrugation rollers is provided. It is characterized by that.

[0013]

In the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the photosensitive material after the thermal development transfer is separated from the image receiving material by the separating means. The separated photosensitive material is sandwiched by a pair of corrugation rollers and conveyed, and at this time, corrugated beads are formed along the conveying direction and accumulated on the accumulating tray.

In this case, when the photosensitive material is nipped by the pair of corrugation rollers, the backup roller is forcibly guided to the nip portion of the corrugation roller. Therefore, even if the transport path of the photosensitive material is set to be curved, the photosensitive material is prevented from unnecessarily contacting other parts around the transport path, and the photosensitive material is smooth without clogging. Bite into the pinching part of the corrugation roller.

Since beads are formed on the photosensitive material accumulated on the accumulating tray to increase the rigidity, they are regularly accumulated and accumulated. Therefore, the apparent volume does not increase at the time of stacking, the space of the stacking tray can be effectively used, and the size can be reduced.

As described above, the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material after the image is transferred can be smoothly and surely conveyed without causing clogging, and curl can be prevented to be accumulated in a small space without waste. can do.

[0017]

1 shows a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an external perspective view of the image recording apparatus 10. The image recording apparatus 10 is an apparatus that forms an image by exposing an image on a photothermographic material and thermally developing and transferring the image on an image receiving material.

The image recording apparatus 10 has a box shape as a whole, and a machine door 12 is provided with a front door 13, a side door 15, and the like. By opening each door, the inside of the machine base 12 can be exposed. Note that each door is provided with a safety device by a so-called interlock mechanism (not shown) so that the power of a predetermined portion can be turned off at the same time when the door is opened.

On the upper surface of the machine base 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, there is provided a mounting base 14 on which the original G is mounted. A rectangular hole is provided in the mounting table 14 and a transparent glass plate 16 is attached thereto.
Presser cover 1 that can be opened and closed on the side of 6 on the back side of the device
8 are attached.

On the other hand, a photosensitive material magazine 20 is arranged in the machine base 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, and the photosensitive material 22 is wound and stored in a roll shape. This photosensitive material 22
The widthwise dimension of is, for example, 135 mm. The photosensitive material 22 has a photosensitive silver halide, a binder, a dye-donor substance, and a reducing agent on a support, and its photosensitive (exposure) surface is wound obliquely downward to the right of the apparatus. There is.

The photosensitive material magazine 20 is formed in a length corresponding to the dimension of the photosensitive material 22 in the width direction and has a rectangular shape from a body part (not shown) and a pair of side frame parts fixed to both ends of the body part. It is configured in a box shape and is housed in a housing portion provided on the machine base 12. Here, the photosensitive material magazine 20 is arranged in a state in which the taking-out port 20A of the photosensitive material 22 provided at the corner portion of the square is located at the uppermost position,
The photosensitive material 22 is constructed so as to be drawn obliquely upward to the right.

In the accommodating portion of the sensitive material magazine 20, an inner door (not shown) is arranged at the drawn-out portion of the sensitive material magazine 20, and when the sensitive material magazine 20 is accommodated in the accommodating portion, the machine is not operated. Even when the front door 13 of the table 12 is opened, external light does not enter the accommodation portion, and the accommodated photosensitive material 22 is prevented from being inadvertently exposed to light.

Photosensitive material outlet 20 of photosensitive material magazine 20
A nip roller 24 as a pull-out roller is arranged near A. By rotating the nip roller 24, the photosensitive material 22 can be pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 20 and conveyed. The speed at which the photosensitive material 22 is drawn out and conveyed by the nip roller 24 is, for example, 50 mm / sec.
It has become.

A cutter 26 is provided above the nip roller 24.
Are arranged, and the photosensitive material 22 pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 20 by a predetermined length can be cut by the nip roller 24. The cutter 26 is, for example, a cutter composed of a fixed blade and a rotary blade, and the rotary blade can be moved vertically by a wire or the like in the conveying direction to mesh with the fixed blade to cut the photosensitive material 22. It should be noted that after the cutter 26 is actuated, the nip roller 24 rotates in the reverse direction, and is rewound to the extent that the tip of the photosensitive material 22 is slightly nipped by the nip roller 24. The operation of the cutter 26 and the rewinding operation are independently performed by a drive system different from the operation of pulling out the photosensitive material 22 of the nip roller 24.

Above the cutter 26, a conveying roller 28,
A transport roller 30 and a guide plate 32 are arranged,
The photosensitive material 22 cut into a predetermined length can be conveyed to the exposure unit 34. These transport rollers 28 and 30 also rotate in the same manner as the nip roller 24, so that the transport speed is, for example, 50 mm / sec or 30 mm / sec.
The photosensitive material 22 can be conveyed by switching to and.

The exposing section 34 is located between the carrying rollers 36 and 38, and the exposing material (exposure point) is defined between these carrying rollers to allow the photosensitive material 22 to pass therethrough. The transport speed of the photosensitive material 22 by the transport rollers 36 and 38 (passing speed of the exposure unit) is
For example, it is 50 mm / sec.

Above the exposed portion 34 and the transparent glass plate 1
An exposure device 40 is provided in the space below 6. The exposure device 40 includes a lamp unit 42, a mirror unit 44, a filter unit 46, and a mirror unit 4.
8 and a sixth reflection mirror 50.

The lamp unit 42 is composed of a rod-shaped halogen lamp 52 as a light source and a first mirror 54, and the mirror unit 44 is composed of a second mirror 56 and a third mirror 58. The mirror unit 48 is composed of a fourth mirror 60 and a fifth mirror 62.

The filter unit 46 includes three types (C, M, Y) of color adjustment filters 64, a lens 66,
And a diaphragm mechanism 68. The filter unit 46 is arranged between the third mirror 58 of the mirror unit 44 and the fourth mirror 60 of the mirror unit 48, and is located on the optical path of the reflected light from the document G. As a result, the document G (the third mirror 5 of the mirror unit 44)
Image formation and color correction of the reflected light from 8) can be performed.

This exposure apparatus 40 irradiates the original G mounted on the mounting table 14 in a slit shape with the light from the halogen lamp 52 during normal (actual magnification) exposure, while the lamp unit 42 and The mirror unit 44 moves along the document G (mounting table 14), and the reflected light from the document G is exposed to the exposure unit 3
The photosensitive material 22 located at No. 4 can be scanned and exposed. Further, when the exposure is performed with the magnification changed, the filter unit 46 and the mirror unit 48 are moved according to the magnification, and the lamp unit 42 and the mirror unit 44 are moved along the document G as described above. Exposure unit 3
The photosensitive material 22 located at No. 4 is exposed by scanning.

A switchback unit 7 is provided on the side of the exposure unit 34.
0 is provided, and a water application section 72 is provided below the exposure section 34. The photosensitive material 22 that has risen from the photosensitive material magazine 20 and has been exposed in the exposure section 34 is once sent to the switchback section 70, and then the conveyance roller 3
6, the reverse rotation of the transport roller 38 and the transport roller 30 causes the water to pass through the exposure unit 34 again, and is fed to the water coating unit 72 via the branching unit 74 provided immediately below the transport roller 30.

A coating tank 76 is arranged in the water coating section 72. The coating tank 76 is formed in a dish shape, and is filled with water as an image forming solvent. Also,
The bottom wall of the coating tank 76 is slidably supported by a rail provided on the machine base 12, and is detachable by sliding it to the front side of the machine base 12 with the front door 13 open. There is.

A supply roller 78 is arranged at the end of the coating tank 76 on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 22, and a pair of squeeze rollers 80 are arranged at the end on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 22. It is arranged.

Supply roller 78 and squeeze roller 80
Are, for example, both silicon rubber rollers having an outer diameter of 18 mm, and the rubber hardness is, for example, 60 ± 5 for the supply roller 78 and 40 ± 5 for the squeeze roller 80.
5 is set. Further, a predetermined pressing force (for example, 1 kg) is applied to both ends of each roller in the longitudinal direction.

A guide plate 82 is attached above the coating tank 76 so as to face the coating tank 76. The guide plate 82 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, and the space between the guide plate 82 and the coating tank 76 is a passage for the photosensitive material 22. Therefore, when the coating tank 76 is filled with water, the photosensitive material 22
Is sent between the guide plate 82 and the application tank 76 to apply water, and is squeezed by the squeeze roller 80 so that excess water is removed.

In this case, the water coating length of the photosensitive material 22 between the guide plate 82 and the coating tank 76 (the length of the photosensitive material 22 passing through water) is, for example, 100 mm. The immersion time is 2.5 seconds, for example. Further, the photosensitive material 22 after the water coating process (that is, after passing through the squeeze roller 80) has 11 ± 1 gr / m 2.
² water is applied. Further, a ceramic heater is attached to the upper part of the guide plate 82, and water can be heated (for example, 40 ± 3 ° C.) and filled in the coating tank 76.

An auxiliary overflow tank 84 is arranged on the machine base 12 below the coating tank 76, and a replenishing tank 86 is arranged immediately below the auxiliary overflow tank 84. The replenishment tank 86 is filled with water as an image forming solvent, and a pipe, a pump,
Also, it is connected to the coating tank 76 via a water filter 88 and the like. As a result, the water in the replenishment tank 86 can be fed to and filled in the coating tank 76, and the coating tank 7
The water in 6 can be discharged (returned) to the refill tank 86.

A heat development transfer section 90 is provided on the side of the water application section 72.
Is placed and is coated with water (squeeze roller 80
The photosensitive material 22 (after having passed through) is fed in.

On the other hand, the machine base 12 beside the sensitive material magazine 20.
An image receiving material 92 is arranged in the image receiving material 94.
Is rolled up and stored. Image receiving material 94
Is smaller than the photosensitive material 22 (for example, 1
27 mm) is formed. A dye fixing material having a mordant is applied to the image forming surface of the image receiving material 94, and the image forming surface is wound obliquely downward to the right of the apparatus.

Like the photosensitive material magazine 20, the receiving material magazine 92 is formed in a rectangular box shape from a body and a pair of side frame portions fixed to both ends of the body, and the machine base 12
Can be pulled out to the front side (the front side in FIG. 1, that is, the width direction of the rolled image receiving material 94). Here, this receiving material magazine 92 is arranged in a state in which the take-out port 92A of the image receiving material 94 provided at the corner portion of the square is located at the uppermost position, similarly to the above-mentioned photosensitive material magazine 20. The reference numeral 94 is a structure that is pulled out obliquely to the upper right.

Image receiving material outlet 92 of receiving material magazine 92
A nip roller 96 is disposed in the vicinity of A, and the image receiving material 94 can be pulled out from the material receiving magazine 92 and conveyed, and the nip can be released.

A cutter 98 is arranged above the nip roller 96. Like the cutter 26 for the photosensitive material, the cutter 98 is, for example, a cutter of a type including a fixed blade and a rotary blade, and the rotary blade is moved vertically by a wire or the like in the conveying direction to engage with the fixed blade. As a result, the image receiving material 94 drawn from the receiving material magazine 92 is cut into a shorter length than the photosensitive material 22.

Above the cutter 98, the photosensitive material magazine 20 is provided.
Located on the side of the conveyance roller 100, the conveyance roller 10
2 and the guide plates 104A and 104B are arranged, and the image receiving material 94 cut into a predetermined length can be conveyed to the heat development transfer section 90.

Further, one roller portion 100A of the conveying roller 100 is supported by a guide plate 104A located on the opposite side of the photosensitive material magazine 20, and the lower end portion of this guide plate 104A is rotated by a support shaft 106. It is movably supported. Therefore, the guide plate 10 is provided around the support shaft 106.
By rotating 4A, the guide plate 104A can be separated from the corresponding guide plate 104B together with one roller portion 100A of the conveying roller 100 to open the conveying path of the image receiving material 94.

Further, at the upper end of the guide plate 104A,
A pressing spring portion 108 is provided so as to be bent in the opposite direction to the other guide plate 104B. This pressure spring part 1
Reference numeral 08 corresponds to a second peeling / conveying unit 150, which will be described later, and normally contacts the second peeling / conveying unit 150 to press the guide plate 104A toward the guide plate 104B.

On the other hand, the carrying roller 102 is the carrying roller 1.
The image receiving material 94 conveyed from 00 can be sent to the heat development transfer section 90.

The heat development transfer section 90 is composed of a heating drum 110 and an endless pressure contact belt 112, and a laminating roller 114 is arranged on the outer circumference of the heating drum 110 on the water application section 72 side.

The laminating roller 114 is a roller having an outer diameter of, for example, 18 mm at the central portion in the axial direction, the outer peripheral surface of which is coated with silicone rubber (for example, a thickness of 4.0 mm), and the rubber hardness thereof is almost the same. It is set to 60 degrees. Further, the laminating roller 114 is applied with a predetermined pressing force (for example, 4 kg) at both ends in the longitudinal direction, so that the heating drum 11 is heated.
It is pressed against the outer circumference. This laminating roller 114 is
It is connected to a drive motor (not shown), and the drive force of the drive motor is transmitted to rotate the drive motor.
Here, the photosensitive material 22 or the image receiving material 9 by the squeeze roller 80 or the conveying roller 102 is compared with the conveying speed of the photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 by the laminating roller 114.
4 is set to be slightly slower (for example, about 2%), whereby the photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 are subjected to a back tension when being fed to the laminating roller 114. It is like this.

The heating drum 110 is made of a thin aluminum pipe. In this embodiment, the heating drum 110 has a thickness of 3 mm.
mm, outer diameter 130 mm, and axial effective width 158 mm. Teflon treatment (fluorine coating treatment) is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 110, and black heat resistant coating is applied to the inner peripheral surface thereof.

Photosensitive material 2 conveyed to heat development transfer section 90
2 is fed between the laminating roller 114 and the heating drum 110, the image receiving material 94 is synchronized with the conveyance of the photosensitive material 22, and the photosensitive material 22 precedes by a predetermined length (20 mm in this embodiment). In this state, it is fed between the laminating roller 114 and the heating drum 110 to be superposed. In this case, the image receiving material 94 is the photosensitive material 22.
Since the widthwise dimension and the lengthwise dimension are both smaller than that of the image receiving material 94, the four sides of the photosensitive material 22 are overlapped with each other so as to project from the peripheral portion of the image receiving material 94.

Further, the cam 1 is provided on the side wall of the heating drum 110.
16 is fixed. The cam 116 is engageable with a peeling claw 134 and a peeling claw 154 described later,
The peeling claw 134 and the peeling claw 154 are adapted to rotate as the heating drum 110 rotates. Further, a halogen lamp 118 is arranged inside the heating drum 110. The halogen lamp 118 has an output of 450 W, for example, and can raise the temperature of the surface of the heating drum 110 (for example, about 80 ° C.).

The endless pressure contact belt 112, which is in pressure contact with the outer circumference of the heating drum 110, has a structure in which a woven fabric material is covered with rubber, and in this embodiment, the widthwise dimension is 145 mm. The woven material is made of an aromatic polyamide fiber (for example, Kevlar or Nomex;
ont's registered trademark) or the like. The coating rubber is silicon rubber containing carbon and has conductivity.

The endless pressure contact belt 112 is wound around four winding rollers 120, 122, 124, 126, and the endless outer side between the winding rollers 120 and 126 is the heating drum 110. Is pressed against the outer circumference of.

The winding rollers 120, 122, 124 are each made of steel and electroless nickel plated. Further, the winding roller 124 is formed in a taper shape in which both ends in the axial direction expand outward, and 0.5 kg at both ends in the longitudinal direction (practical range: 0.
A pressing force of 3 to 1.0 kg) is applied in a direction away from the heating drum 110. As a result, the endless pressure welding belt 1
12 is kept at a predetermined tension and the deviation is prevented.

On the other hand, the winding roller 126 is a rubber roller, and is further connected to a drive motor through a drive system (not shown). The driving force of the drive motor is transmitted to rotate the winding roller 126. It has become so. When the winding roller 126 is rotated, the endless pressure welding belt 112 wound around the winding roller 126 is rotated, and accordingly, the rotational force of the endless pressure welding belt 112 causes friction with the heating drum 110. The force is transmitted to the heating drum 110, and the heating drum 110 is driven to rotate. In this case, the rotating peripheral speed of the heating drum 110 is 35 mm / sec.

The photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 superposed by the laminating roller 114 are kept in the superposed state, and between the heating drum 110 and the endless pressure contact belt 112, approximately 1/2 turn of the heating drum 110 ( Winding roller 1
It is configured so as to be sandwiched and conveyed between (20) and the winding roller 126). Further, when the laminated photosensitive material 22 and image receiving material 94 are completely contained between the heating drum 110 and the endless pressure contact belt 112, the heating drum 1
Reference numeral 10 temporarily stops the rotation (for example, for 5 to 15 seconds) and heats the sandwiched photosensitive material 22 and image receiving material 94. When the photosensitive material 22 is heated during the nip and conveyance and when stopped, it releases a movable dye, and at the same time, the dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material 94 to obtain an image.

Below the winding roller 126, a first peeling / conveying unit 130 is arranged corresponding to the heating drum 110. In the first peeling and conveying section 130, the heating drum 11 on the downstream side in the material supply direction of the endless pressure welding belt 112.
A bending guide roller 132 is arranged on the side of 0.
The bending guide roller 132 is a rubber roller made of silicon rubber, and rotates by receiving the driving force of the driving motor. Further, the bending guide roller 132 is pressed against the outer periphery of the heating drum 110 with a predetermined pressure (for example, 600 g). Therefore, the heating drum 110 and the endless pressing belt 11 are pressed.
The photosensitive material 22 or the image receiving material 9 conveyed by
4 can be further pinched and conveyed.

A peeling claw 134 is rotatably supported axially below the heating drum 110 on the downstream side of the bending guide roller 132 in the material supply direction, and a pinch roller 136 is further provided.
Is arranged.

The peeling claw 134 corresponds to the outer periphery of the heating drum 110 and can be brought into contact with or separated from the heating drum 110 by the operation of the cam 116 described above. When the peeling claw 134 is in contact with the heating drum 110, the endless pressure welding belt 1
Of the photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 that are nipped and conveyed between the recording material 12 and the heating drum 110, only the leading ends of the photosensitive materials 22 that are superposed in a state of being preceded by a predetermined length are engaged, and this leading end is heated. It can be peeled off from the outer periphery of the drum 110. On the other hand, the pinch roller 136 has the peeling claw 134.
The peeling claw 134 is operated in conjunction with the heating drum 110.
In the state of being separated from, the bending guide roller 132 is pressed against the bending guide roller 132 with a predetermined pressure (for example, 600 g). Therefore, the photosensitive material 22 peeled by the peeling claw 134 is
While being pressed by the pinch roller 136, it is wound around the bending guide roller 132 and moved laterally.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, a pair of guide plates 138A and 138B facing each other are arranged on the side of the bending guide roller 132 and the peeling claw 134, and further, the guide plate 138A. A guide roller 144 is arranged in the vicinity of the tip of the. Further, the sensitive material discharge roller 14 is attached to the tip end portions of the guide plates 138A and 138B.
0A, 140B, and a backup roller 142 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensitive material discharge roller 140
A and 140B are a pair of so-called corrugation rollers that mesh with each other, and are configured to sandwich and convey the photosensitive material 22 and form a bead having a U-shaped cross section along the conveying direction.

On the other hand, the backup roller 142 is provided in contact with one of the photosensitive material discharging rollers 140A located inside the curved path of the conveying path of the photosensitive material 22, and the photosensitive material 22 is provided with a pair of photosensitive material discharging rollers 140A. It can be guided to the sandwiched portion by 140B.

These sensitive material discharge rollers 140A, 140
The photosensitive material 22 which is moved laterally while being wound around the bending guide roller 132 by the B and the backup roller 142 can be further conveyed and accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box (collection tray) 146.

The photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A, 140B
Rotation speed of the heating drum 110 is 1 than the rotation peripheral speed of the heating drum 110.
It is set to be about 3% faster, and prevents the photosensitive material 22 from loosening and sticking to the guide plates 138A and 138B.

A second peeling / conveying section 150 is arranged just below the heating drum 110 on the side of the peeling claw 134, corresponding to the heating drum 110. This second peeling and conveying section 150
In the above, the peeling roller 15 is provided directly below the heating drum 110.
2 and the peeling claw 154 are arranged. Peeling roller 15
2 is a rubber roller made of silicon rubber and has a surface roughness of 12.
It is set to 5 S or less, and the drive force of the drive motor is transmitted to rotate. Also, the peeling roller 152
Is a predetermined pressure (for example, 40
0 g). Therefore, the peeling roller 152
Is an image receiving material 94 that moves together with the heating drum 110,
By acting together with the peeling claw 154, it can be peeled from the outer periphery of the heating drum 110 to guide the bending.

A guide plate 156 and a material receiving roller 158 are arranged below the peeling roller 152 and the peeling claw 154, and guide and convey the image receiving material 94 peeled from the heating drum 110 by the peeling roller 152 and the peeling claw 154. can do. Further, the receiving material discharge roller 158
The material receiving guide 160, the material receiving roller 16
2, a material receiving discharge roller 164 and a guide roller 166 are arranged, and the image receiving material 94 carried by the material receiving discharge roller 158 can be further carried and discharged to the tray 168. Further, one roller portion 162A of the material receiving and discharging roller 162 is supported by the material receiving guide 160, and further, the end of the material receiving guide 160 on the material receiving and discharging roller 164 side is rotatable by the support shaft 170. Supported by. Therefore, the receiving guide 1 is provided around the support shaft 170.
By rotating 60, the material receiving guide 160 can be separated from the other roller portion 162B of the material receiving discharge roller 162 and the guide roller 166 to open the conveyance path of the image receiving material 94.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10 having the above-mentioned structure, the heat development transfer section 90 is constructed as a single developing unit as a whole, and the first peeling and conveying section 1 is provided.
30 and the second peeling / conveying unit 150 are configured as a single peeling unit as a whole, and are in a direction opposite to the position where the water coating unit 72 is arranged with respect to the machine base 12 (opposite to the photosensitive material magazine 20 and the receiving material magazine 92). Side). Therefore, even when the photosensitive material 22 or the image receiving material 94 is jammed during transport (so-called jam), the heat development transfer section 90 or the first peeling transport section is opened after the side door 15 of the machine base 12 is opened. This can be easily eliminated by moving the 130 and the second peeling / conveying unit 150 and the like open.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the image recording apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration, in a normal image recording process using the photosensitive material 22 stored in the photosensitive material magazine 20, the document G is placed on the mounting table 14 (transparent glass plate 16) and the pressing cover 18 is provided. After closing, the magnification of the image to be recorded, the number of processed images, etc. are designated, and when a start instruction is given, image processing is started.

That is, with the photosensitive material magazine 20 set, the nip roller 24 is actuated to move the photosensitive material 22.
Are drawn out by the nip roller 24 at a speed of, for example, 50 mm / sec. When the photosensitive material 22 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 26 is actuated to cut the photosensitive material 22 into a predetermined length, and is further conveyed by the conveying roller 28 and the conveying roller 30 at a speed of 50 mm / sec, for example. After that, the photosensitive material 22 transported by the transport rollers 28 and 30
Further passes through the exposure section 34 at a predetermined speed (for example, 50 mm / sec) by the transport rollers 36 and 38. At the same time when the photosensitive material 22 is conveyed (passes through the exposure unit 34), the exposure device 40 operates.

In the exposure device 40, at the time of normal (actual magnification) exposure, the lamp unit 42 and the mirror are illuminated while the light from the halogen lamp 52 is applied to the document G placed on the mounting table 14 in a slit shape. The unit 44 is moved along the document G (mounting table 14). As a result, the reflected light from the document G reaches the filter unit 46 via the first mirror 54 of the lamp unit 42, the second mirror 56 and the third mirror 58 of the mirror unit 44. In the filter unit 46, image formation and density (light amount) adjustment are performed by the lens 66 and the diaphragm mechanism 68, and color correction is performed by the color adjustment filter 64. The light passing through the filter unit 46 passes through the fourth mirror 60 and the fifth mirror 62 of the mirror unit 48, and then the sixth reflecting mirror 5
It is reflected by 0 and is scanned and exposed to the photosensitive material 22 located in the exposure section 34.

On the other hand, when the exposure is performed while changing the magnification, the filter unit 46 and the mirror unit 48 are moved to predetermined positions on the optical path according to the designated magnification, and the lamp unit 42 is also used as described above. Also, the mirror unit 44 moves along the document G to scan and expose the photosensitive material 22 located in the exposure section 34.

The photosensitive material 22 that has been exposed by the exposure device 40 is once sent to the switchback unit 70, and then passes through the exposure unit 34 again by the reverse rotation of the transport rollers 36, 38, 30 and the branching unit 74. After passing through, it is sent to the water application section 72.

In the water application section 72, the conveyed photosensitive material 2
2 is sent between the guide plate 82 and the coating tank 76 by the drive of the supply roller 78, and is nipped and conveyed by the squeeze roller 80. Here, the photosensitive material 22
Water is applied to the squeeze roller 80, and the squeeze roller 80 removes excess water to pass through the water application section 72. The photosensitive material 22 coated with water as the image forming solvent in the water coating section 72 is sent to the thermal development transfer section 90 by the squeeze roller 80.

On the other hand, as the scanning exposure of the photosensitive material 22 is started, the image receiving material 94 is also pulled out from the material receiving magazine 92 by the nip roller 96 and conveyed. When the image receiving material 94 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 98 operates and the image receiving material 94 is cut into a predetermined length. Cutter 98
After the operation of, the image receiving material 94 after cutting is guided by the guide plate 104.
Conveyor roller 10 while being guided by A and 104B
0, it is conveyed by the conveyance roller 102, and is in a standby state immediately before the thermal development transfer section 90.

In the heat development transfer section 90, when it is detected that the photosensitive material 22 has been fed between the outer periphery of the heating drum 110 and the laminating roller 114 by the squeeze roller 80, the conveyance of the image receiving material 94 is restarted. Laminating roller 11
4 and the heating drum 110 is operated. As a result, the photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 superposed by the laminating roller 114 remain in the superposed state and the heating drum 110 and the endless pressure contact belt 112.
It is sandwiched between the heating drum 110 and the heating drum 110, and is conveyed over almost 1/2 circumference (between the winding roller 120 and the winding roller 126). Further, the light-sensitive material 22 that is overlaid
The image receiving material 94 is heated by the heating drum 110. When the photosensitive material 22 is heated during the nip and conveyance and when stopped, it releases a movable dye, and at the same time, the dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material 94 to obtain an image.

After that, when the photosensitive material 22 and the image receiving material 94 are nipped and conveyed and reach the bending guide roller 132 on the side of the heating drum 110, the peeling claw 134 is moved by the cam 116, and the peeling claw 134 has a predetermined length longer than that of the image receiving material 94. The peeling claw 134 engages with the leading end of the photosensitive material 22 that is conveyed in advance to peel the leading end of the photosensitive material 22 from the outer periphery of the heating drum 110. Further, the return movement of the peeling claw 134 causes the pinch roller 136 to press the photosensitive material 22.
The photosensitive material 22 is wound around the bending guide roller 132 while being pressed by the pinch roller 136, and is moved laterally.

The photosensitive material 22 wound around the bending guide roller 132 is further guided by the guide plates 138A, 138B and the guide roller 144, while the photosensitive material discharge roller 14 is being guided.
It is nipped and conveyed by 0A and 140B and accumulated in a waste photosensitive material storage box 146.

In this case, the pair of sensitive material discharge rollers 140
At this time, wavy beads are formed on the photosensitive material 22 sandwiched and conveyed by A and 140B along the conveying direction and accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 146. Therefore, the photosensitive material 2 accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 146
Beads are formed on the sheet 2 to increase its rigidity, and curling is prevented, so that the photosensitive materials 22 are regularly stacked and accumulated. As a result, the photosensitive material 2
In No. 2, the apparent volume does not increase when accumulated, the space of the waste photosensitive material storage box 146 can be effectively used, and the size can be reduced.

Further, in this case, when the photosensitive material 22 is nipped by the pair of sensitive material discharge rollers 140A, 140B, it is forcibly guided by the backup roller 142 to the sandwiched portion of the sensitive material discharge rollers 140A, 140B. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive material 22 from unnecessarily contacting other parts (for example, the guide plates 138A, 138B, etc.) around the conveyance path, and the photosensitive material 22 is not jammed, so that the photosensitive material discharge roller 140A can be smoothly discharged. 140
Engage in the pinching part of B.

As described above, the photosensitive material 22 separated from the image receiving material 94 is smoothly and surely conveyed without causing clogging, and is collected without waste in the waste photosensitive material storage box 146 without curling. It

On the other hand, the heating drum 1 separated from the photosensitive material 22
An image receiving material 94 that moves while being in close contact with 10.
Are sent to the peeling roller 152. When the tip of the image receiving material 94 is nipped by the peeling roller 152 (between the heating drum 110), the peeling claw 15 is again moved by the cam 116.
4 is moved, the peeling claw 154 engages with the tip of the image receiving material 94, and the image receiving material 94 is peeled from the outer periphery of the heating drum 110.

The image receiving material 94 peeled from the outer periphery of the heating drum 110 by the peeling claw 154 is further wound around the peeling roller 152, moved downward, and conveyed by the material receiving roller 158 while being guided by the guide plate 156. Further, while being guided by the material receiving guide 160, the material is conveyed by the material receiving discharge roller 162 and the material receiving discharge roller 164, and is discharged to the tray 168.

When carrying out the image recording process for a plurality of sheets, the above steps are successively carried out.

Thus, the image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
In No. 0, the photosensitive material 22 separated from the image receiving material 94 is nipped and conveyed by the pair of sensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B to form wavy beads along the conveying direction and accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 146. Therefore, beads are formed on the photosensitive material 22 accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 146 to increase its rigidity, curling is prevented, and the photosensitive materials 22 are regularly stacked and accumulated. it can. As a result, the apparent volume of the photosensitive material 22 does not increase when it is accumulated, and the space of the waste photosensitive material storage box 146 can be effectively used, and the size can be reduced. Further, when the photosensitive material 22 is nipped by the pair of sensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B, the backup roller 142 is forcibly guided to the sandwiched portion of the sensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B. 22 is prevented from unnecessarily contacting other parts around the conveyance path, and the photosensitive material discharging roller 14 can be smoothly moved without jamming the photosensitive material 22.
It can be inserted into the pinching part of 0A and 140B.

FIG. 4 in the above embodiment shows a mode in which two pairs of the photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B and the backup roller 142 are provided along the axial direction (the width direction of the photosensitive material 22). However, the number of the photosensitive material discharge rollers 140A and 140B and the backup rollers 142 arranged is not limited to this, and may be set as appropriate according to the widthwise dimension of the photosensitive material 22 and the like.

[0085]

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material after the image is transferred can be smoothly and surely conveyed without causing clogging, and the curl is generated. It has an excellent effect that it can be integrated in a small space without waste and can be realized by a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing details of a photosensitive material discharge roller and a backup roller of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a development view showing details of a photosensitive material discharge roller and a backup roller of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 image recording device 22 photosensitive material 94 image receiving material 110 heating drum 132 bending guide roller (separating means) 134 peeling claw (separating means) 138A guide plate 138B guide plate 140A sensitive material discharge roller (corrugation roller) 140B sensitive material discharge roller (corrugation) Roller) 142 backup roller 144 guide roller 146 waste photosensitive material storage box (collection tray)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording method in which a light-sensitive material and an image-receiving material are superposed on each other to transfer an image recorded on the light-sensitive material to the image-receiving material, and the separating means separates the light-sensitive material and the image-receiving material to form an image on the image-receiving material. In the apparatus, the photosensitive material is disposed on the downstream side of the photosensitive material transporting path of the separating unit, and the photosensitive material separated from the image receiving material is sandwiched to form a curved transporting path and is transported to the stacking tray, and along the transport direction. A pair of corrugation rollers forming a corrugated bead, and a pair of corrugation rollers provided in contact with at least a corrugation roller located inside the curved conveyance path of the curved conveyance path, the photosensitive material being formed by the pair of corrugation rollers. An image recording apparatus comprising: a backup roller that guides the nip portion.