JPH09244151A - Supporting structure for sheet-like member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain excellent close contactness. SOLUTION: Original film 60 is laminated on photosensitive material 24 on a surface plate 18, and is covered with overlay film 80 supported and spread by shaft members 88 and 90 and is made closely vacuum-stuck, so that exposure is performed. A positioning pin 98 is inserted into the inside of a positioning hole 100 and one end of the original film 60 held oh a pin bar 96 is spread over a recessed groove 112 on the upper surface of a surface plate main body 28, so that sucking force by which the overlay sheet 80 for closely vacuum- sticking is sucked on the surface plate main body 28 is deteriorated by this portion. A sheet presser 300 is independently formed of plural elastic parts which are elastically deformable, and intervenes between the lower surface of the shaft member 90 and the corresponding part of the overlay sheet 80, and presses the original film 60, so that the floating of the original film 60 caused by the deterioration of sucking is prevented. The sheet presser 300 follows the movement of the overlay sheet 80 made by closely vacuum-sticking, so that the occurrence of the wrinkles of the overlay sheet 80 is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, in a plate inspection making apparatus, a photosensitive material placed on a surface plate and an original film to be superposed thereon are formed of a flexible transparent sheet-like member. It is used in a vacuum contact exposure device that covers and makes a vacuum contact and exposes a photosensitive material through an image of an original film.The end of the sheet-shaped member is elongated along the end so that the sheet-shaped member is stretched. The present invention relates to a support structure for a sheet-shaped member supported by the supported support member, and a vacuum contact exposure apparatus including the support structure for the sheet-shaped member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vacuum contact exposure apparatus of a plate inspection apparatus, a photosensitive material is placed on a surface plate, an original film is superposed on the photosensitive material, and they are overlaid by an overlay sheet. Then, the film is covered with a vacuum and vacuum-bonded, and the exposure is performed.

Here, a groove is formed along the edge of the peripheral surface of the surface plate, the inside of the groove is evacuated and the peripheral portion of the sheet-like member is adsorbed, and the vacuum of the photosensitive material and the original film is obtained. Adhesion is performed.

By the way, the original film is positioned in the frame of the film loading table, and one end of the original film is held on a pin bar attached to a positioning plate provided in the frame. Is mounted on the film loading table, the film loading table moves from outside the surface plate to above the surface plate,
The platen moves up into the frame to face the platen by the film loading table and the positioning plate, and the photosensitive material and the original film are polymerized. The photosensitive material is placed in the area surrounded by the concave groove on the surface plate, but the original film has one end held on the pin bar. It is overlapped with the light-sensitive material in a state where it is removed from above and extended out of the surface plate. Therefore, the portion of the concave groove corresponding to one end of the original film is covered with the original film, and the suction force for adhering the overlay sheet to the surface plate is reduced by that much, so that the photosensitive material and the original film are separated from each other. Therefore, poor adhesion is likely to occur. FIG. 7 shows a state in which one end of the original film 60 straddles the corresponding groove 112.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure for a sheet-like member that obtains good adhesion, and a vacuum contact exposure apparatus having the support structure for the sheet-like member.

[0006]

According to a support structure for a sheet-like member of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a photosensitive material placed on a surface plate and an original film to be polymerized thereon are flexible. It is used in a vacuum contact exposure apparatus that exposes a photosensitive material through an image of an original film by covering it with a transparent sheet-shaped member in a vacuum state, and the end of the sheet-shaped member is stretched so as to stretch the sheet-shaped member. In a support structure that is supported by a support member elongated along a portion, an end portion of the sheet-shaped member passes through a lower side of the support member and is folded back along a peripheral surface of the support member to be supported by the support member. A sheet retainer which is interposed between the lower surface of the support member and a portion of the sheet-shaped member facing the support member and which is formed of a plurality of elastic portions that can be elastically deformed independently is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the support structure for a sheet-shaped member according to the first aspect, wherein the elastic portion of the sheet retainer is formed by a loop.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum contact exposure apparatus including the sheet-like member supporting structure according to the first or second aspect.

According to the above structure, for example, in the vacuum contact exposure device of the plate inspection device, the photosensitive material is placed on the surface plate, the original film is superposed on the photosensitive material, and
It is covered with a sheet-like member and vacuum-bonded. Under this vacuum contact, the photosensitive material is exposed through the image on the original film.

The sheet-shaped member is stretched with its end portion supported by a support member. For example, when the original film is stacked on the photosensitive material with one end of the original film being held on the pin bar and the other end being off the surface plate, it corresponds to one end of the original film. In the portion to be pressed, the suction force for sucking the sheet-shaped member for vacuum-contacting the original film and the photosensitive material onto the surface plate is reduced.

According to the present invention, the sheet retainer is formed of a plurality of elastic portions which are independently elastically deformable, and the sheet retainer is provided between the lower surface of the support member and the corresponding portion of the sheet-shaped member. Since it is interposed, the seat retainer,
Apply the force to press the original film to the original film,
It is possible to prevent the original film from being lifted up due to the decrease in the suction force. That is, the lifting of the original film is forcibly suppressed.

Further, the sheet retainer is formed by a plurality of elastic portions which are elastically deformable independently. The sheet retainer can follow the movement of the sheet-shaped member due to the vacuum contact, allow the movement of the sheet member, and prevent wrinkles from occurring.

As the sheet retainer, a porous material such as a sponge tape, a brush, a teremp or the like can be used. A fastener is known that includes a female portion formed of a plurality of loops and a male portion formed of a plurality of hooks, and the female portion and the male portion are elastically engaged in a detachable manner. The female portion and the male portion can be applied as a sheet retainer, and in particular, the female portion formed by a plurality of loops has an appropriate elastic force and is effective.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, one embodiment in which the support structure for a sheet-like member according to the present invention is applied to a vacuum contact exposure apparatus in a color proof making apparatus (plate inspection making apparatus) will be described with reference to FIGS. It will be explained based on.

The plate inspection making apparatus includes C plate, M plate, Y plate and B plate.
Using each original film color-separated into K (Sumi) plate,
It is an apparatus for inspecting whether there is an error in the layout of the original film, whether there is a color difference, whether there is an error in characters, etc., before creating the actual printing plate. In the vacuum contact exposure apparatus, if the photosensitive material is a positive type photosensitive material, the C plate and the B
The K plate and the photosensitive material are overlapped and vacuum contact exposure is performed,
Next, the M plate and the BK plate are overlaid on the photosensitive material and vacuum contact exposure is performed, and then the Y plate and the BK plate are overlaid on the photosensitive material and vacuum contact exposure is performed. When the photosensitive material is a negative type photosensitive material, the C plate, the M plate, the Y plate and the BK plate are sequentially superposed on the photosensitive material and subjected to vacuum contact exposure.

As shown in FIG.
A magazine 12 is provided on the left side of the casing 14, and a surface plate 18 is provided at the center. The magazine 12 contains the photosensitive material in a roll form. When the photosensitive material (the conveying path 16 of the photosensitive material is indicated by a chain line) is pulled out from the magazine 12 and the leading end of the photosensitive material reaches the front of the surface plate 18, the leading end is sucked by the suction cup unit 20. By moving the suction cup unit 20 from the front side of the surface plate 18 to the end portion on the opposite side of the surface plate 18 along the upper surface of the surface plate 18, the photosensitive material is conveyed horizontally in the direction of the arrow A so that Placed on.

The photosensitive material drawn from the magazine 12 is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter 22 and supplied to a surface plate 18. In FIG. 1, a photosensitive material 24 cut into a predetermined length is shown mounted on a surface plate 18.

Two magazines 12 are shown in FIG. For example, it is possible to selectively supply photosensitive materials having different sizes.

As shown in FIG. 4, the surface plate 18 is formed of three layers of a lower base plate 26, an upper surface plate main body 28, and a pattern forming plate 30 between them, and is generally a rectangular plate. It is said to be a state. The pattern forming plate 30 has a rectangular outer frame 32.
And is made of sponge. Base plate 26
The surface plate main body 28 and the surface plate main body 28 are bolted 36 at their peripheral portions from below through a spacer 34 penetrating the outer frame 32 of the pattern forming plate 30, and a cavity 38 is formed in the outer frame 32 of the pattern forming plate 30. Is formed. The platen body 28 has a large number of holes 4 communicating with the cavity 38 and the outside of the platen body 28.
0 is formed, and the base plate 26 is provided with a piping plug 42 communicating with the cavity 38. A vacuum pump 44 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the pipe plug 42, and the cavity 3
8 is evacuated and suction is performed in the holes 40 of the platen body 28, and the photosensitive material 24 is adsorbed on the platen body 28. The vertical and horizontal pieces 46 are arranged in the outer frame 32 of the pattern forming plate 30 to divide the cavity 38 into a plurality of areas, and the cavity 38
By vacuumizing each area, the suction area on the surface plate 18 can be made to correspond to the size of the photosensitive material 24 placed on the surface plate 18.

On the other hand, the upper surface of the casing 14 is lowered on the right side in FIG. 1, and the lowered portion is the film loading portion 52.
It is said. The film loading section 52 is covered with a large lid 54, and a rectangular hole 56 is formed in the large lid 54.
Is covered with a small lid 58. The large lid 54 and the small lid 58 are
Each of them can be opened and closed by rotating as shown by an arrow B in FIG. Open the small lid 58 and insert the original film 60 into the rectangular hole 5.
The original film 60 can be mounted on the film loading table 62 by inserting the original film 60 from the position 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, a film loading table 62.
Is a guide rail 64 arranged in the film loading section 52.
And the position thereof in the film loading portion 52 outside the casing 14 (position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1) guided by the guide rails 66 arranged in the casing 14 following this.
And the position on the surface plate 18 in the casing 14 (see FIG.
Between the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line and the position shown in FIG. 3) through the inlet 70 in the horizontal direction, in the direction of arrow A and in the opposite direction of arrow A. The sprocket wheel 72 is rotationally driven by the motor 74, and the chain 76 wound around the sprocket wheels 72, 74 travels to move the film loading table 62.

The film loading table 62 has a rectangular frame 78. An overlay sheet (sheet-shaped member) 80 is provided inside the frame 78. The overlay sheet 80 has a rectangular and transparent flexible sheet shape. In the frame 78,
A pair of chains 82 are provided on both left and right sides when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the film loading table 62, and each chain 82 is sprocket wheel 8 axially supported by a frame 78.
It is wrapped around 4,86. Between the chains 82,
The two shaft members 88, 90 are bridged to form the shaft members 88, 9
The end of 0 corresponds to the fixed seat 83 of the chain 82.
The bolt 85 is fastened to the. The respective axial members 88, 90 support the respective left and right ends of the overlay sheet 80 when viewed in the moving direction of the film loading table 62, and the overlay sheet 80 is stretched. Sprocket wheel 84
Is rotated by a motor 92 and both chains 82 travel, whereby the overlay sheet 80 is orbitally moved in the direction of arrow D, and a position horizontally occupying the upper side in the frame 78 (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1). ) And a position horizontally occupying the lower side thereof (position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1).

With the overlay sheet 80 positioned below the frame 78, the original film 60 is loaded on the film loading base 62, and the film loading base 62 moves.
As a result, the original film 60 becomes the overlay sheet 80.
Accepted on top.

The film loading table 62 includes a positioning plate 94. The positioning plate 94 is the four of the frame 78.
One of the two side portions is fixed by being stretched over between the side portions facing each other in the moving direction of the film loading table 62.
When 0 is located on the upper side in the frame body 78, it is arranged long along the end portion on the front side in the moving direction of the overlay sheet 80.

A pin bar 96 is detachably attached to the upper surface of the positioning plate 94. The pin bar 96
The manuscript film 60 is formed at a position corresponding to an end portion of the original film 60, and is formed in a long plate shape along the end portion. On the upper surface of the pin bar 96,
A plurality of positioning pins 98 are provided in a protruding manner at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. A plurality of positioning holes 100 are formed in the end portion of the original film 60 corresponding to the positioning pins 98. When the original film 60 is loaded on the film loading table 62, the end portion of the original film 60 is placed on the pin bar 96, and the positioning pin 98 is inserted into the positioning hole 100. This allows the pin bar 9
The document film 60 is positioned with respect to 6.

Various types of pin bars 96 are prepared according to the size of the original film 60 and the like, and are selected appropriately.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a pressing plate 102 is provided on the positioning plate 94. The pressing plate 102 has a long plate shape along the edge of the original film 60, and is hinged to the positioning plate 94 so as to be vertically rotatable. A magnet 106 is fixed to the lower surface of the pressing plate 102 on the hinge 104 side. Holding plate 102
Are attracted to the pin bar 96 made of a magnetic material. As a result, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the end portion of the original film 60 is pressed by the front end portion of the pressing plate 102, and the positioning hole 100 at the end portion of the original film 60 is prevented from coming out of the positioning pin 98. The original film 60 is prevented from falling off. When loading the original film 60 on the film loading table 62, the pressing plate 102 is rotated upward as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 6 against the magnetic force of the magnet 106. The positioning pin 98 can be inserted into and removed from the positioning hole 100 at the end of the.

Positioning holes 108 are formed on both ends of the positioning plate 94 in the longitudinal direction so as to project downward in the form of bosses.
The base plate 2 of the surface plate 18 corresponds to the positioning hole 108.
6 extends beyond the surface plate body 28 and the pattern forming plate 30 and a positioning pin 110 is projected on the upper surface of the extended portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the surface plate 18 is guided by the guide means 48 and can be moved up and down.
Driven by zero. When the film loading table 62 moves from the film loading section 52 in the direction opposite to the arrow A and is positioned on the surface plate 18, the overlay sheet 80 reversely moves from the lower position in the frame 78 to the upper position. Then, the shaft member 90 reaches the position before the positioning pin 98. Then, the surface plate 18 rises in the direction of arrow C and enters the frame 78. As shown in FIG. 6, when the surface plate 18 is lifted, the positioning pins 110 are inserted into the positioning holes 108.
The upper surface of the above-mentioned extended portion of the base plate 26 comes into contact with the lower surface of the positioning hole 108 to stop the elevation of the surface plate 18,
Positioning between the surface plate 18 and the film loading table 62 is performed.

As a result, the original film 60 is superposed on the photosensitive material 24 placed on the surface plate 18 and is covered with the overlay sheet 80.

As shown in FIG. 7, the overlay sheet 80
Is located on the upper surface of the surface plate main body 28.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the surface plate body 28,
The concave groove 112 is formed, and the concave groove 112 is formed in the base plate 26.
A pipe plug 118 is provided which communicates with the inside of the concave groove 112 through an opening 114 bored in the hole and a communication hole 116 corresponding to the hole 114 formed in the outer frame 32 of the pattern forming plate 30. The vacuum pump 44 is connected to the pipe plug 118, as in the case of the pipe plug 42, and suction is performed in the concave groove 112, and the overlay sheet 80 is suctioned to the surface plate 18. As a result, the photosensitive material 24 and the original film 60 are brought into vacuum contact with the surface plate 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, above the surface plate 18,
An exposure unit 122 including a light source 120 is provided, and the exposure unit 1
With 22, the photosensitive material 24 is exposed (vacuum contact exposure) through the image recorded on the original film 60 and printing is performed.

After printing, suction in the concave groove 112 is stopped, and the vacuum contact between the photosensitive material 24 and the original film 60 is released. Subsequently, the surface plate 18 descends, and the overlay sheet 80 is reversely moved in the direction of arrow A from the upper position in the frame body 78 to the lower position in the frame body 78, and the original film 60 is again moved. It is received on the overlay sheet 80. After that, the film loading table 62 moves in the direction of arrow A and returns to the film loading section 52, and the original film 60
Can be exchanged.

Surface plate 18, film loading table 62, exposure unit 1
22 constitutes a vacuum contact exposure apparatus.

Suction at the hole 40 on the surface plate 18 is stopped,
When the adsorption of the photosensitive material 24 on the surface plate 18 is released, the photosensitive material 24 after printing is again adsorbed by the adsorption unit 20 and is sent to the delivery section 124 rightward in FIG. In the delivery section 124, the photosensitive material 24 is delivered to the processor section.

The processor section comprises a developing tank, a bleach-fixing layer, a processing tank 126 for a washing layer, and a drying section 127, and is arranged below the film loading section 52 in the casing 14. The photosensitive material 24 sequentially passes through each processing tank 126 to undergo development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water, and the photosensitive material 24 passes through a drying section 128 to be dried, and then exposed. The material 24 is discharged to the outside of the casing 14 through the discharge port 128.

Here, the support structure of the end portions of the overlay film 80 to the shaft members (support members) 88 and 90 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The shaft member 88 corresponding to the rear end of the overlay film 80 in the moving direction is formed in a long cylindrical shape along the end. The corresponding end portion of the overlay film 80 includes a tubular portion 200 having a closed cross-sectional shape formed by folding back the overlay film 80 and welding the folded back tip to the corresponding portion of the overlay film 80. The shaft member 88 is inserted into the tubular portion 200 from the longitudinal direction (axial direction). At both ends of the shaft member 88 projecting from the tubular portion 200, the upper portion is cut off so that the bolt seat 2
02 is formed. The chain 82 is attached to the bolt seat 202.
Is formed with a bolt hole 204 through which the bolt 85 fixed to the fixed seat 83 is penetrated.

On the other hand, the shaft member 90 corresponding to the end portion on the front side in the moving direction of the overlay film 80 is elongated along the end portion thereof, and has a concave longitudinal cross section, and has a groove 206 at the center of the upper surface. The groove side walls 208 and 209 are provided between the groove side walls 208 and 209. At the end portion of the overlay film 80 corresponding to this, the overlay film 80 is folded back through the lower side of the shaft member 90, and the tip end of the overlay film 80 is groove 2.
06 side wall 208, 2 of the shaft member 90
09, the supported portion 21 having an open cross-sectional shape, which is bent so as to enclose the groove side wall 208 on the front side in the moving direction of the overlay film 80 and is formed along the shape of the peripheral surface of the shaft member 90.
0 is provided. The supported part 210 has the shaft member 9 inside thereof.
It is releasably engaged with the peripheral surface of the shaft member 90 in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of 0.

The supported portion 210 maintains its bent shape before and after the engagement with the shaft member 90, and the supported portion 2 is maintained.
Due to the elastic deformation of 10, the engagement and disengagement with the shaft member 90 can be easily performed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shaft member 90.

A U-shaped sandwiching member 212 is detachably and elastically engaged with the groove side wall 208 from above, and the folded-back portion of the supported portion 210 is sandwiched between the sandwiching member 212 and the groove side wall 2.
It is sandwiched and fixed between 08 and. Sandwiching member 2
12 is configured by being divided into a plurality of pieces, for example, three pieces, along the longitudinal direction of the shaft member 90.

The shaft member 90 protruding from the supported portion 210
A bolt seat 213 is formed at both ends of the chain so that the upper part is cut off and a groove bottom is left a little. A bolt hole 214 is formed through which the bolt 85 to be stopped penetrates.

On the lower surface of the shaft member 90, a long sheet retainer 300 is fixed along the edge of the overlay film 80, and the overlay sheet 80 passing below the shaft member 90 is attached.
It is interposed between the part and. The sheet retainer 300 is formed of a plurality of elastic portions that can be elastically deformed independently.
The sheet retainer 300 may be, for example, a porous material such as a sponge tape, a brush, or a soft elastically deformable material such as a teremp. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, a female portion 304 formed of a plurality of loops 302 and a male portion 30 formed of a plurality of hooks 306 as shown in FIG.
And a female part 304 and a male part 308 are elastically engaged with each other in a detachable manner (velcro tape:
The product name) is publicly known. The female part 304 and the male part 308 can be applied as a sheet retainer, and in particular, the female part 304
Is preferred.

According to the above construction, the photosensitive material 24 is the surface plate 1
8, the original film 60 is placed on the photosensitive material 24, and they are covered with the overlay film 80 and vacuum-bonded. Under this vacuum contact, the original film 6
The light-sensitive material 24 is exposed through the image of 0.

Both ends of the overlay film 80 are supported and stretched by the shaft members 88 and 90.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the photosensitive material 24
Is located in a region surrounded by the concave groove 112 of the surface plate main body 28. On the other hand, with respect to the original film 60, the positioning pin 98 is inserted into the positioning hole 100 at one end of the original film 60 on the side corresponding to the pin bar 96, and one end thereof is held on the pin bar 96. Then, the original film 60 is superposed on the photosensitive material 24, and the original film 60 is positioned outside the upper surface of the platen body 28 so as to extend to the outside of the platen body 28. Therefore, in the portion corresponding to one end of the original film 60, the concave groove 112 on the upper surface of the surface plate main body 28
Is covered with the manuscript film 60, and the manuscript film 6
The suction force for sucking the overlay sheet 80 for vacuum-contacting the photosensitive material 24 and the photosensitive material 24 onto the surface plate main body 28 is reduced.

In the present embodiment, the sheet retainer 300 is formed of a plurality of elastic portions that are independently elastically deformable, and the lower surface of the shaft member 90 and the overlay sheet 8 corresponding thereto are formed.
Since it is interposed between the 0 part and the sheet presser 3
00 is the original film 6 through the overlay sheet 80.
A force of pressing 0 is exerted on the original film 60, and the original film 60 is prevented from being lifted up due to the decrease in the suction. That is, the lifting of the original film 60 is forcibly suppressed.

Further, since the sheet retainer 300 is formed by a plurality of elastic portions which can be elastically deformed independently,
The sheet retainer 300 allows the sheet member to move by following the movement of the overlay sheet 80 even if the overlay sheet 80 moves due to vacuum contact, and can prevent the overlay sheet 80 from wrinkling.

The supporting structure for supporting the end of the sheet-shaped member is not limited to the structure of the first embodiment. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft member in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is not limited to the concave shape, and various shapes such as a rectangular prismatic shape, a cylindrical shape, and an L-shaped shape are possible. Further, instead of using the sandwiching member to fix the folded-back portion of the supported portion to the shaft member, the folded-back portion can be bolted to the upper surface of the shaft member.

[0049]

As described above, the sheet-like member support structure of the present invention and the vacuum contact exposure apparatus provided with the sheet-like member support structure provide good adhesion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a plate inspection creation apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a plate inspection making apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a vacuum contact exposure apparatus of a plate inspection creation apparatus to which the support structure for a sheet-like member according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a surface plate.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a support structure for a sheet-shaped member according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a support structure for a sheet-like member according to the present embodiment (a diagram in which a frame body of a film loading table is omitted).
It is.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the relationship between the surface plate, the photosensitive material, the original film, and the overlay film.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a female portion formed by a plurality of loops of a fastener applied as a sheet retainer.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a male part formed by a plurality of hooks of a fastener applied as a sheet retainer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 18 Surface plate (vacuum contact exposure device) 24 Photosensitive material 60 Original film 80 Sheet-like member 62 Film loading table (vacuum contact exposure device) 88 Shaft member (supporting member) 90 Shaft member (supporting member) 122 Exposure unit 210 Supported part 300 sheet retainer 302 loop (elastic part)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material placed on a surface plate and an original film to be superposed thereon are covered with a flexible transparent sheet-like member to be vacuum-adhered, and the photosensitive material is passed through an image on the original film. A support structure used in a vacuum contact exposure apparatus for exposing, which supports an end portion of a sheet-shaped member to a support member elongated along the end so as to stretch the sheet-shaped member, The end portion of the member is folded back along the peripheral surface of the supporting member through the lower side of the supporting member and is supported by the supporting member, and is interposed between the lower surface of the supporting member and a portion of the sheet-shaped member facing the lower surface. A support structure for a sheet-shaped member, comprising: a sheet retainer formed of a plurality of elastic portions that are independently elastically deformable. 2. The support structure for a sheet-shaped member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion of the sheet retainer is formed of a loop. 3. A vacuum contact exposure apparatus comprising the support structure for a sheet-like member according to claim 1 or 2.