JPH09304907A - Heat developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat developing device which can heat-develop and treat in a good condition in a short period of time without causing inconveniences such as unevenness in an output picture image and transfer deviation. SOLUTION: A heat developing transfer section 140 is rotated by an endless belt 164 rotated by a drive roller 142 and a driven roller 144 connected with the drive roller 142 through a one-way clutch 174 and is provided with an endless belt 166 of which set rotation speed is lower than that of the endless belt 164. Moreover, pre-heat plates 184, 186 are arranged on the upstream side of heating plates 180, 182 in the heat developing transfer section 140. When a photosensitive material 16 and an image receive material 72 are heat-developed and transferred, the endless belts 164, 166 are rotated at the same speed due to idle running of the one-way clutch 174 and friction between the endless belts 164 and 166 at the time of rotation, and the photosensitive material 16 and the image receive material 72 are heat-developed and transferred after pre-heat of the pre-heat plates 184, 186 is given.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat developing apparatus which is applied to an image forming apparatus using a light-sensitive material and an image-receiving material and which carries out heat-development processing with the light-sensitive material and the image-receiving material in a superposed state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus for performing an image recording process using two kinds of image recording materials, that is, a light-sensitive material and an image-receiving material, heats the light-sensitive material and the image-receiving material in a superposed state and heats the light-sensitive material A thermal development device for thermal development transfer is provided.

In such a heat developing apparatus, there has been devised a heat developing apparatus of a type which heats the photosensitive material and the image receiving material while sandwiching and transporting the photosensitive material and the image receiving material using a pair of endless belts.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a thermal developing device 300 of this type is provided with a pair of endless belts 302 and 304 which are opposed to each other in a state of being pressed against each other. The endless belt 302 is wound around a plurality of winding rollers 306 and can rotate in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed V ₃ . On the other hand, the endless belt 304 is wound around a plurality of winding rollers 308 and can rotate in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed V ₄ .

In addition, these endless belts 302 and 304
Flat heating plates 310 and 312 are provided inside the loop. The heating plates 310 and 312 are arranged near the portions where the endless belts 302 and 304 are pressed against each other so as to face each other with the endless belts 302 and 304 interposed therebetween. A linear heater (not shown) is housed inside each of the heating plates 310 and 312.
The surfaces of 0 and 312 are heated, and the endless belts 302 and 3 are further heated.
The photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 can be heated via 04.

That is, in the heat developing apparatus 300 having the above-mentioned structure, the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 are the endless belt 30.
When located at the upstream end of 2, 304 (indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 7), the endless belts 302, 304 rotate and the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 are superposed on the upper end sides of the endless belts 302, 304. While being sandwiched between the endless belts 302 and 304, it is conveyed in the direction of the arrow Y ₃ in FIG. 7.

Next, the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316
Through the endless belts 302, 304 to the heating plates 310, 3
When conveyed to a position facing 12, the rotation of both endless belts 302 and 304 is stopped. In this state, the heating plates 310, 31 whose surfaces have been heated to a predetermined temperature in advance
2, the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 are heated for a predetermined time. As a result, heat development transfer is performed, and an image can be formed on the image receiving material 316.

Further, when the thermal development transfer is completed, the endless belts 302 and 304 are rotated again, whereby the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 can be discharged from the thermal developing device 300.

[0009]

By the way, in the above-described conventional thermal developing device 300, the photosensitive material 314 coated with the image forming solvent (for example, water) is the thermal developing device 30.
Since the endless belts 302 and 304 convey the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316, the upstream side of the heating plates 310 and 312 (that is, the photosensitive material 31).
4 and the entrance side of the image receiving material 316) to the endless belt 30
The heating plates 310 and 312 are connected to the photosensitive material 3 via the 2, 304.
By being cooled by 14, the surface temperature of the heating plates 310, 312 decreases. In this state, the temperature of the surfaces of the heating plates 310 and 312 is lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side.
14 and the image receiving material 316 are uniformly heated to a predetermined temperature over a long heating time, and the heating plate 3
Since the surface temperatures of 10 and 312 are not uniform, so-called output image unevenness (shading) may occur.

Here, the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 of the endless belts 302 and 304 are provided outside the heat developing device 300.
Another preheating means is disposed near the entrance of the heating plate 310 to heat the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 before the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 are sandwiched between the endless belts 302 and 304. A method for preventing the temperature decrease of No. 312 has been devised. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-7700 discloses a heat development transfer device provided with a preheating means. However, in this type of apparatus, the preheating means for the photosensitive material and the image receiving material is provided at a position apart from the main heating means due to its structure, so that the main heating can be performed immediately after the preheating. It is difficult, and the temperature change of the photosensitive material and the image receiving material after the preheating until the main heating becomes a problem.

Further, in the heat developing device 300 having the conventional structure, the endless belt 3 is provided in order to prevent problems such as transfer deviation.
02 rotation speed V ₃ and endless belt 304 rotation speed V ₄
Need to match the speed of. However, in the conventional heat developing device 300, a driving force such as a motor (not shown) is applied to one endless belt 302 to rotate the endless belt 302,
The other endless belt 304 is simply replaced with the one endless belt 302.
In the case of a structure in which the endless belts 302 and 304 are rotated by following each other by friction, the rotation of the other endless belt 304 is delayed and the other endless belts 3
There is a speed difference between 02 and 304.

On the other hand, a driving force such as a motor is applied to each of the endless belts 302 and 304 so that both endless belts 30 can be driven.
In the case of the configuration in which 2, 304 are rotated independently, the belt thickness of the endless belts 302, 304 and the winding rollers 306, 3
Due to a dimensional error such as the diameter dimension of 08, an error occurs in the rotation speeds of both endless belts 302 and 304, and it is difficult to accurately match the rotation speeds of both endless belts 302 and 304.

In this way, both endless belts 302, 3
When the rotational speeds V ₃ and V _{4 of} 04 are different, the photosensitive material 314 and the image receiving material 316 may be displaced during conveyance, and a problem such as transfer deviation may occur.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a heat developing apparatus which can favorably perform heat development processing in a short time without causing problems such as output image unevenness and transfer deviation.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat developing device which is rotatably opposed to each other while being wound around a plurality of winding rollers and in pressure contact with each other, and holds and conveys a photosensitive material and an image receiving material. A heat developing device comprising: a pair of endless belts, and a heating unit arranged in a loop of the endless belt and heating the photosensitive material and the image receiving material through the endless belt, wherein the endless belt In the loop and closer to the upstream side in the transport direction than the heating means, preheating applying means for applying preheating of a predetermined temperature to the photosensitive material and the image receiving material via the endless belt is provided. I am trying.

In the heat developing apparatus having the above construction, first, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are sandwiched between a pair of endless belts and conveyed in a predetermined direction while being preheated by the endless belts. Is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating means through the endless belt, and the image is thermally developed and transferred from the photosensitive material to the image receiving material.

As described above, since the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are preheated in advance, the heating means provided immediately adjacent to the preheat applying means is immediately applied with heat of a predetermined temperature. It is possible to raise the temperature promptly until a predetermined uniform heating. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image without unevenness in the output image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the heat developing apparatus according to the first aspect, the heating means and the preheating applying means are hot plates formed in a flat plate shape.

In the heat developing apparatus having the above structure, since the heating means and the preheating applying means are flat heating plates, the surface temperature of the heating means and the preheating applying means can be easily adjusted. Therefore, the surface temperatures of the heating means and the preheating applying means are appropriately adjusted according to conditions such as the state of the heating plate and the temperature around the heating plate, and heat of an appropriate temperature can be applied to the photosensitive material and the image receiving material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the heat developing apparatus according to the first aspect, the preheating applying means is a preheating roller which is formed in a columnar shape and is rotated around the endless belt. It has a feature.

In the heat developing apparatus having the above structure, the preheating roller rotates when the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are conveyed by the endless belt, and the preheating from the preheating roller is sensitized through the endless belt wound around the preheating roller. Material and image receiving material are provided.

Here, since the preheating roller contacts the endless belt while rotating, the contact portion between the preheating roller and the endless belt becomes fluid, and the preheating roller contacts the endless belt while always being heated to a predetermined temperature. To do. Therefore, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are always preheated to a predetermined temperature, and more uniform preheating can be applied to the entire surfaces of the photosensitive material and the image receiving material.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the heat developing device of the first aspect.
The heat developing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein further preheating is provided on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the endless belt from the portion where the pair of endless belts are in contact with each other and sandwich the photosensitive material and the image receiving material. It is characterized in that a provision means is provided.

In the heat developing apparatus having the above structure, the endless belt is heated by the preheating applying means other than the preheating applying means on the side close to the heating means before the pair of endless belts contact each other. When the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are sandwiched between the endless belts, the endless belt is further heated by the preheating applying means on the side close to the heating means, so that the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are preheated.

Here, since the endless belt is preheated by the preheating applying means different from the preheating applying means on the side arranged in the vicinity of the heating means, the endless belt is preheated by the preheating application means on the side arranged in proximity to the heating means. It is possible to prevent the temperature of the endless belt from lowering until the endless belt is heated. Therefore, preheating can be applied to the photosensitive material and the image receiving material more quickly.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat developing device, wherein a first endless belt wound around a driving roller which receives a driving force from a driving source and which rotates and a rotation of the driving roller which is connected to the driving roller. It is wound around a driven roller that receives and rotates, and the rotation speed of the driven roller is set to be slower than that of the first endless belt, and is pressed against the first endless belt to be in contact with the first endless belt. A second endless belt that sandwiches the photosensitive material and the image receiving material and conveys them in a predetermined direction, and is interposed between the drive roller and the driven roller, and only the rotation of the drive roller corresponding to the predetermined conveyance direction is driven. And a one-way clutch that is transmitted to the roller.

In the heat developing apparatus having the above construction, when the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are sandwiched between the first and second endless belts, the driving roller is rotated by the driving force of the driving source. Further, the driven roller which receives the rotation of the driving roller rotates. As a result, both endless belts rotate, and the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are heated while being conveyed in a predetermined direction while being sandwiched between the endless belts, and the image is thermally developed and transferred from the photosensitive material to the image receiving material. .

By the way, in the heat developing apparatus of the present invention, since the rotation speed (set speed) of the second endless belt by the preset driven roller is slower than the rotation speed of the first endless belt, the driving roller and the driven roller are driven. When the roller rotates and both endless belts rotate, a speed difference is generated between both endless belts, which causes friction between both endless belts. Due to this frictional force, the second endless belt follows the first endless belt and tries to rotate at the same speed as the first endless belt, that is, a speed exceeding the set speed of the second endless belt described above. .

In this case, the second endless belt rotates the driven roller, and the driven roller rotates at a speed higher than the initial rotation speed (that is, the rotation speed for rotating the second endless belt at the set speed). Try to rotate. Here, since the one-way clutch is interposed between the driving roller and the driven roller, when the driven roller exceeds the initial rotation speed, the one-way clutch idles and the driven roller is not affected by the rotation of the driving roller. The second endless belt is smoothly rotated following the rotation of the second endless belt. As a result, since the substantial rotation speed of the second endless belt and the rotation speed of the first endless belt match, the photosensitive material and the image receiving material can be favorably conveyed in a superposed state, and there is always no transfer deviation or the like. You can get good quality images.

Further, in the heat developing apparatus of the present invention, unlike the conventional heat developing apparatus in which the driven side endless belt is rotated following only by the frictional force between the endless belts, the frictional force generated between both endless belts. Is the rotation speed of the first endless belt and the rotation speed of the second endless belt on the setting (setting speed)
(That is, the above-mentioned frictional force is ignored, and the difference between the rotational speeds of both endless belts due to the force of only the driving roller and the driven roller) can be compensated for. Therefore, the rotation speed of the first endless belt and the rotation of the second endless belt are reduced by a frictional force extremely smaller than the minimum frictional force required to match the rotation speeds of both endless belts in the conventional configuration. Even if the speeds are matched and the frictional resistance is reduced due to wear or the like, the rotational speeds of both can be matched.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 3 shows a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus 10 to which a heat developing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in this figure, the image recording apparatus 1
0 has a box-shaped machine base 12. A photosensitive material magazine 14 is arranged inside the machine base 12, and a photosensitive material 16 is provided.
Is stored in a rolled-up state. In addition, in the vicinity of the photosensitive material outlet of the photosensitive material magazine 14,
A nip roller 18 and a cutter 20 are arranged so that the photosensitive material 16 can be pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14 by a predetermined length and cut. Here, the cutter 20 is, for example, a rotary type cutter including a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the movable blade is moved up and down by a rotating cam or the like to engage the movable blade and the fixed blade, so that the photosensitive material 16 is removed. Can be disconnected.

Inside the machine base 12, a plurality of transport rollers 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 are arranged in order. A guide plate (not shown) is arranged between the transport rollers 24 to 34 to form a transport path for the photosensitive material 16.

An exposure unit 22 is provided between the transport rollers 24 and 26. An exposure device 38 including three types of laser diodes, a lens unit, a polygon mirror, and a mirror unit (all not shown) is arranged on the left side of the exposure unit 22 (on the side of the arrow X _{2 in} FIG. 3). Of the photosensitive material 16 by irradiating the exposed portion 22 with a light ray C.
Can be exposed to.

Above the exposure device 38 (arrow Y _{1 in} FIG. 3).
(Direction side), a U-turn portion 40 is provided, and while the photosensitive material 16 is curved in a U shape, the conveying rollers 28, 30 are provided.
It can be transported to the water application section 44 on the side of the U-turn section 40.

The water application section 44 is provided with an injection tank 48. The lower surface of the spray tank 48 is provided with a spray nozzle (not shown).
The injection tank 48 is arranged so as to face the nozzle 6.
A water bottle 50 for storing water as an image forming solvent is arranged on the lower left side of the injection tank 48. Further, a pump 52 is arranged above the water bottle 50, and a filter 54 is arranged above the pump 52. The water bottle 50, the pump 52, and the filter 54 are connected by a water supply pipe 56, and the water stored in the water bottle 50 is pumped by the pump 52.
Pumped up and sent to the filter 54, and the filter 5
It can be filtered by 4.

A sub tank 58 is arranged on the right side of the injection tank 48 (on the side of the arrow X _{1 in} FIG. 3).
The sub tank 58 is connected to the filter 54 by a water supply pipe 57 and can store a predetermined amount of water filtered by the filter 54. Further, the sub tank 58 is connected to the injection tank 48 by a water supply pipe 60, and water stored in the sub tank 58 can be supplied to the injection tank 48.

That is, the water stored in the water bottle 50 is once stored in the sub-tank 58 after being filtered by the filter 54, and is further fed from the sub-tank 58 to the injection tank 48 to be exposed from the injection nozzle of the injection tank 48. The material 16 is atomized. This allows water to be applied to the photosensitive material 16.

A tray 6 is provided below the injection tank 48.
2 are arranged to collect water overflowing from the injection tank 48. Further, the tray 62 is connected to the water bottle 50 by the circulation pipe 64, and the collected water is collected by the water bottle 5.
Can be set back to zero. Further, the circulation pipe 64 connects the water bottle 50 and the sub tank 58, so that a predetermined amount or more of water accumulated in the sub tank 58 can be returned to the water bottle 50.

On the other hand, on the left side of the filter 54, a receiving material magazine 70 is arranged, and the image receiving material 72 is stored in a rolled-up state. Further, a nip roller 74 is arranged near the image receiving material take-out port of the material receiving magazine 70, and the image receiving material 72 can be pulled out from the material receiving magazine 70 and the nip can be released. Here, the nip roller 74 is arranged so that the image receiving material 72 is longer than the length of the photosensitive material 16 pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 14.
Is set to pull out short.

A cutter 7 is provided on the side of the nip roller 74.
6 are arranged. The cutter 76 is a rotary type cutter like the cutter 20, and can cut the image receiving material 72 drawn from the receiving magazine 70.

On the side of the cutter 76, conveying rollers 80,
82, 84, 86 and a guide plate (not shown) are arranged to form a conveyance path for the image receiving material 72.

On the other hand, on the lower right side of the sub tank 58,
A heat development transfer section 140 as a heat development device is provided.

Here, FIG. 1 shows an enlarged perspective view of the heat development transfer section 140, and FIG. 2 shows the heat development transfer section 1
An enlarged front view of 40 is shown.

As shown in these figures, the heat development transfer portion 140 is the endless belt 164 as the first endless belt.
And an endless belt 166 as a second endless belt.

The endless belt 164 is wound around the driving roller 142 and the winding rollers 146, 148, 150, 152, and the endless belt 166 is wound around the driven roller 144 and the winding rollers 154, 156, 158, 160, 162. It has been turned. Here, springs 176 and 178 are attached to the winding rollers 150 and 152, and the endless belt 1 is always driven by the biasing force of these springs 176 and 178.
It is urged toward the 66 side (that is, the arrow X ₂ direction side in FIGS. 1 to 3). Therefore, the endless belts 164, 166
Between the winding rollers 150 and 152 and the winding roller 160,
162 are pressed against each other while facing each other.

The drive roller 142 around which the endless belt 164 is wound is connected to a motor 168 and receives the driving force of the motor 168 to rotate to rotate the endless belt 164. Further, a gear 170 is attached to the opposite side of the drive roller 142 from the motor 168.

On the other hand, a gear 172 having the same number of teeth as the gear 170 is attached to the driven roller 144 around which the endless belt 166 is wound. The gear 172 meshes with the gear 170, receives the driving force received by the driving roller 142 via the gear 170, and further transmits this driving force to the driven roller 144. As a result, the driven roller 14
4 rotates and the endless belt 166 rotates.

The gear 172 is attached to the driven roller 144 via, for example, a sprag type one-way clutch 174. This one-way clutch 174
Is in the transport direction of the image receiving material 72 (that is, in FIGS.
The rotation of the gear 172 corresponding to the arrow Y ₂ direction) is transmitted to the driven roller 144, but when the gear 172 reversely rotates with respect to the driven roller 144, it idles.

Further, the diameter of these drive rollers 142
D₁, The diameter D of the driven roller 144_Two, Endless belt 164
Thickness T₁, And the thickness T of the endless belt 166_TwoEach of
The dimensional relationship is D₁And T₁Sum is D_TwoAnd T_TwoGreater than the sum of
(Ie D₁+ T₁> D _Two+ T_Two),
Rotational speed V of the surface of the endless belt 166_TwoIs an endless belt 1
Rotation speed V of the surface of 64₁To be slower than
Wow, V_Two<V₁Is set).

Further, the heat development transfer section 140 is provided with heating plates 180 and 182 as heating plates of flat plate heating means.

The heating plate 180 is disposed in the vicinity of the contact portion with the endless belt 166 inside the loop of the endless belt 164. Further, a plurality of springs 188 are attached to the heating plate 180 and are constantly urged toward the endless belt 166 side (that is, the arrow X ₂ direction side in FIGS. 1 to 3). On the other hand, the heating plate 182 is arranged near the contact portion of the endless belt 166 with the endless belt 164 inside the loop. A linear heater (not shown) is housed inside each of the heating plates 180 and 182, and the surface of each of the heating plates 180 and 182 is appropriately heated in a predetermined range by the heater to obtain a desired temperature distribution. Can be heated to a heating plate 1
The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 conveyed between 80 and the heating plate 182 can be heated to a predetermined temperature via the endless belts 164 and 166.

Further, the heating plate 18 is provided between the heating plate 180 and the winding roller 150 in the loop of the endless belt 164.
A preheating plate 184 serving as a heating plate of the preheating applying means close to 0.
Is arranged. A spring 190 is attached to the preheating plate 184 and is always urged toward the endless belt 166 (that is, the arrow X ₂ direction side in FIGS. 1 to 3). On the other hand, in the loop of the endless belt 166, between the heating plate 182 and the winding roller 160, a preheating plate 186 serving as a heating plate of the preheating imparting means is arranged close to the heating plate 182. These preheating plates 184 and 186 are formed in a flat plate shape whose length corresponding to the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 is shorter than that of the heating plates 180 and 182. In addition, inside these preheating plates 184, 186,
Similar to the heating plates 180 and 182, linear heaters (not shown) are arranged, and these heaters appropriately raise the surface of each of the preheating plates 184 and 186 in a predetermined range to preheat the plates 184 and 186. The surface temperature of the can have a desired temperature distribution. Here, these preheating plates 184, 1
The surface temperature of 86 is set higher than the surface temperatures of the heating plates 180 and 182, and preferably the heating plates 180 and 182 are
The surface temperature of 182 is set to be 5 ° C. to 30 ° C. higher.

That is, before the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 reach a predetermined position between the heating plates 180 and 182,
Preheating plates 184, 18 via endless belts 164, 166
6 can be heated to a predetermined temperature.

A peeling claw 90 is arranged below the heat development transfer section 140. The peeling claw 90 is conveyed by the endless belts 164 and 166, and the front end portion of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 protruded below the heat development transfer portion 140.
Of these, the photosensitive material 16 can be separated from the image receiving material 72 by engaging only with the tip portion of the photosensitive material 16.

On the left side of the peeling claw 90, a sensitive material discharge roller 92 is arranged. The photosensitive material discharge roller 92 conveys the photosensitive material 16 separated by the separating claw 90 to the waste photosensitive material storage portion 94.

The discarded sensitive material storage portion 94 includes a drum 96 and a plurality of rollers 100. These drums 96
The endless belt 98 is wound around the plurality of rollers 100, and when the roller 100 rotates, the endless belt 98 rotates, and the drum 96 rotates accordingly. Accordingly, the photosensitive material 1 guided by the photosensitive material discharge roller 92
6 can be wound and accumulated on the drum 96.

Further, under the heat development transfer section 140, the machine stand 1
In the vicinity of the bottom wall of No. 2, the receiving material discharge rollers 102, 104,
106, 108, 110 are arranged, and the photosensitive material 1
The image receiving material 72 from which 6 is peeled can be conveyed in a predetermined direction. Further, a tray 112 is arranged in the vicinity of the final material receiving and discharging roller 110, and the image receiving material 72 conveyed by the material receiving and discharging rollers 102 to 110 can be accumulated.

Next, the operation of the heat development transfer section 140 as the heat development device according to the present embodiment will be described through the processing steps of the image recording device 10.

In the image recording apparatus 10 having the above-mentioned structure, the nip roller 18 is actuated to move the photosensitive material 16 to the photosensitive material magazine 14.
When it is pulled out from the cutter, the cutter 20 operates, the photosensitive material 16 is cut into a predetermined length, and the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed to the exposure unit 22. Then, when the photosensitive material 16 passes through the exposure section 22, the exposure device 38 is operated to scan and expose the light beam C onto the photosensitive material 16 located in the exposure section 22. As a result, the photosensitive material 16
A latent image is formed on the.

When the exposure of the light ray C is completed, the photosensitive material 16
Is sent to the water applying section 44, and the spray tank 48 applies mist-like water to the photosensitive material 16.

Further, the photosensitive material 16 coated with water is
It is conveyed to the heat development transfer section 140 by the conveyance roller 34.

On the other hand, in synchronization with the conveyance and scanning exposure of the photosensitive material 16, the nip roller 74 is actuated, the image receiving material 72 is pulled out from the material receiving magazine 70, and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 76. The cut image receiving material 72 is guided by the guide plate while being conveyed by the transport rollers 80 to 8
6 is conveyed. When the leading end of the image receiving material 72 is sandwiched by the transport rollers 86, the image receiving material 72 is in a standby state immediately before the heat development transfer section 140.

Further, when the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed to the thermal development transfer section 140 by the conveying roller 34, the image receiving material 7
2 is restarted and the image receiving material 72 is sent between the endless belts 164 and 166 in a state where the photosensitive material 16 is superposed.

In this state, the motor 1 of the heat development transfer section 140 is
When 68 is operated, the drive roller 142 is rotated and the endless belt 164 is rotated. Further, the driving force of the motor 168 rotates the driven roller 144 via the gears 170 and 172 and the one-way clutch 174, and the endless belt 166 is rotated.
Is rotated.

Here, the driving roller 142 and the driven roller 1
44 each of the diameter dimensions D ₁ and D ₂ and the endless belt 16
Since the set rotation speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166 is slower than the rotation speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164 due to the dimensional relationship between the belt thicknesses T ₁ and T ₂ of the endless belts 4 and 166, the motor 168 drives the endless belt. When both 164 and 166 rotate, a speed difference occurs between the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 166, which causes the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 1 to rotate.
Friction occurs between 66. Due to this frictional force, the endless belt 166 follows the endless belt 164.
It tries to rotate at the same rotation speed as 64, that is, at a speed higher than the rotation speed V ₂ .

In this case, the endless belt 166 rotates the driven roller 144, and the driven roller 144 rotates at a speed higher than the initial rotation speed (that is, the rotation speed for rotating the endless belt 166 at the speed V ₂ ). try to. Here, since the one-way clutch 174 is interposed between the gear 172 and the driven roller 144, when the driven roller 144 exceeds the initial rotation speed, the one-way clutch 174 idles and the driven roller 144 affects the gear 172. The endless belt 166 is smoothly rotated without being received (that is, without being influenced by the driving roller 142). As a result, the substantial rotation speed of the endless belt 166 matches the rotation speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164, so that the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 can be favorably conveyed in a superposed state, and there is always no transfer deviation. You can get good quality images.

Further, unlike the conventional heat development transfer section (heat development apparatus) in which the driven endless belt is rotated following only the frictional resistance between both endless belts, the endless belt 16
The frictional force generated between the endless belt 4 and the endless belt 166 may compensate for the difference between the rotational speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164 and the set rotational speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166. Therefore, the rotation speed of the endless belt 164 and the rotation speed of the endless belt 166 are substantially smaller than the minimum frictional force required to match the rotation speeds of both endless belts in the conventional configuration. And the endless belt 164
Even if the frictional resistance between the endless belt 166 and the endless belt 166 is reduced due to wear or the like, the rotation speeds of the both endless belts 164 and 166 can be matched.

In this way, the endless belts 164, 166
The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 conveyed to the first pass between the preheating plates 184 and 186. Here, preheating plate 1
84 and 186 are preheated to a predetermined temperature for each predetermined range, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are preheated to a predetermined temperature from the preheating plates 184 and 186 via the endless belts 164 and 166. Granted.

The photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 to which the preheating is applied are conveyed by the endless belts 164 and 166 until they are located between the heating plate 180 and the heating plate 182. When the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are located between the heating plate 180 and the heating plate 182, the motor 168 temporarily stops and the endless belts 164 and 166 stop. In this state,
The heat from the heating plates 180, 182 is transferred to the endless belts 164, 1
Is applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 via 66,
The image is transferred by thermal development from the photosensitive material 16 to the image receiving material 72.

Here, the preheating plates 184 and 186 are the heating plates 1.
80 and 182 are arranged close to each other,
The image receiving material 72 is passed between the preheating plates 184 and 186 to be preheated, and then the main heating is performed by the heating plates 180 and 182 immediately. Therefore, the heating plate 18
The heating time by 0, 182 can be greatly shortened.

Further, since the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are preheated, the heating plates 180 and 182 are not cooled by the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72, and the heating plates 180 and 182 are provided with the photosensitive material. 16 and the image receiving material 72 can be heated extremely uniformly, and an extremely high quality image without unevenness in the output image can be formed.

Further, the preheating plates 184, 186 and the heating plate 1
Since 80 and 182 are separated, the preheating plate 184,
The heat of 186 and the heat of the heating plates 180 and 182 do not interfere with each other to affect the temperature.
The heating plates 180 and 182 can reliably apply heat of a predetermined temperature set in advance to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72.

In this way, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 discharged from the thermal developing and transferring section 140 after the thermal development transfer is completed are preceded by a predetermined length before the image receiving material 72. The peeling claw 90 engages with the tip portion, and peels the tip portion of the photosensitive material 16 from the image receiving material 72. The photosensitive material 16 is further conveyed by the photosensitive material discharge roller 92 and accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage portion 94.

On the other hand, the image receiving material 72 separated from the photosensitive material 16 is conveyed by the material receiving discharge rollers 102 to 110 and discharged to the tray 112.

Thus, the pair of endless belts 164, 1
The image receiving material 72 sandwiched between 66 and subjected to the heat development transfer processing to form (record) a predetermined image is a pair of endless belts 16.
After being discharged from Nos. 4 and 166, the sheet is sandwiched and conveyed by the plurality of receiving material discharge rollers 102 to 110 and taken out of the apparatus.

As described above, the present image recording apparatus 1
At 0, since the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are heated by the heating plates 180, 182 immediately after being preheated by the preheating plates 184, 186 in the heat development transfer section 140, heating by the heating plates 180, 182 is performed. The temperature rise time, that is, the heat development transfer time can be greatly shortened, and an image can be formed in a short time.

Further, since the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are preheated and heated to a predetermined temperature before being heated by the heating plates 180 and 182, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 enter. Heating plate 18 by
It is possible to prevent cooling of Nos. 0 and 182, and it is possible to form an extremely uniform image without unevenness in the output image.

Further, the preheating plates 184 and 186 and the heating plate 1
Since 80 and 182 are separate, preheating plates 184 and 186
And the heat of the heating plates 180, 182 do not interfere with each other to affect the temperature, and the preheating plates 184, 186 and the heating plates 180, 182 ensure that the heat of the predetermined temperature set in advance is applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving surface. It can be applied to the material 72.

Further, the driving force obtained by the driving roller 142 is transmitted to the driven roller 144 via the one-way clutch 174, and the rotational setting V of the endless belt 166 is set.
₂ is made slower than the rotation speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164.
This speed difference is compensated by the friction between the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 166 to equalize the rotation speed of the endless belt 164 and the rotation speed of the endless belt 166. Therefore, the endless belts 164, 166, the driving roller 142, the driven roller Endless belt 16 even if there is a dimensional error in 144 etc.
4 and the endless belt 166 can be reliably driven at the same rotation speed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shift between the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72, and it is possible to form a high-quality image without transfer deviation.

Furthermore, both endless belts 164, 166
Because they always rotate at equal and constant speed (in other words,
Since the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are always conveyed at a constant speed), the preheating plates 184, 186 and the heating plate 180,
It becomes easy to control the temperature of 182, and a good quality image can always be obtained.

In the thermal development transfer section 140 of the image recording apparatus 10, the diameters D ₁ and D _{2 of} the driving roller 142 and the driven roller 144, and the thicknesses T ₁ and T ₂ of the endless belts 164 and 166, respectively. The rotational speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166 is set to be slower than the rotational speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164 depending on the dimensional relationship of the above.
By setting the number of teeth of 0 to be smaller than the number of teeth of the gear 172, the set rotational speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166 may be set lower than the rotational speed V ₁ of the endless belt 164. Further, by using a material having a small surface friction coefficient for the endless belts 164 and 166, the set rotational speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166 is set to the rotational speed V ₂ of the endless belt 164.
May be slower than ₁ . Further, the rotation speed V ₂ of the endless belt 166 on the above setting is set to the endless belt 16
4 may be appropriately combined with the configuration for making the rotational speed slower than V ₁ .

Further, in the heat development transfer section 140 of the image recording apparatus 10, the gears 170 and 172 are used to drive the driving roller 1
Although the rotation is transmitted from 42 to the driven roller 144, the configuration for transmitting the rotation to the driven roller 144 is not limited to this. Instead of the gears 170 and 172, another motion transmission mechanism such as belt transmission may be used. It may be applied.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that the first embodiment will be described in each of the following embodiments.
The parts that are basically the same as those in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a heat development transfer section 200 as a heat development apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in this figure, the heat development transfer section 2
Reference numeral 00 is provided with preheating rollers 202 and 204 in place of the preheating plates 184 and 186 and the winding rollers 150 and 160 of the heat development transfer section 140 of the first embodiment.
These preheating rollers 202 and 204 are used for the heat development transfer unit 2
00 upstream, that is, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 7
The endless belt 164 or the endless belt 166 is placed around the second entry portion, and is wound around together with other winding rollers, and rotates as the endless belts 164 and 166 rotate. Further, a spring 206 is attached to the preheating roller 202 similarly to the winding roller 150, and the endless belt 166 is always provided.
Side (that is, the arrow X ₂ direction side in FIG. 4). Further, heaters (not shown) are provided inside the preheating rollers 202 and 204, and the surfaces of the preheating rollers 202 and 204 can be heated to a predetermined temperature by being heated by the heater.

That is, the thermal development transfer section 200 is similar to the thermal development transfer section 140 according to the first embodiment.
When the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are conveyed by being sandwiched between the endless belts 164 and 166, first, the preheating roller 20 is passed through the endless belts 164 and 166.
Preheat of a predetermined temperature is applied from 2,204. here,
The preheating rollers 202 and 204 are endless belts 164 and 166.
Is preliminarily applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 while being rotated by the rotational drive, the portions of the preheating rollers 202 and 204 which are in contact with the endless belts 164 and 166 are always maintained at a predetermined temperature. Preheating of the temperature can be applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72. Further, since the present heat development transfer section 200 has a configuration in which the preheating applying means and the roller are integrated, the number of parts can be reduced and the heat development transfer section 200 can be downsized.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 shows a front view of a heat development transfer portion 210 as a heat development device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the thermal development transfer unit 210
Is between the preheating rollers 202, 204 and the heating plates 180, 182 of the heat development transfer unit 200 of the second embodiment and the preheating plate 18 of the heat development transfer unit 210 of the first embodiment.
This is a configuration in which preheating plates 212 and 214 similar to those of Nos. 4 and 186 are arranged.

In the thermal development transfer section 210, the photosensitive material 16
And the image receiving material 72 is the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 16.
When sandwiched between 6 and conveyed, first, preheat of a predetermined temperature is applied from the preheat rollers 202 and 204 via the endless belts 164 and 166. Then, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 are transferred to the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 166.
When conveyed to the downstream side by the endless belts 164, 1
Preheating at a predetermined temperature is separately applied from the preheating plates 212 and 214 via 66. That is, in the main thermal development transfer section 210, the preheating rollers 202 and 204 and the preheating plates 212 and 214 are provided.
Since the preheating is applied in two steps according to, the preheating can be reliably applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72, and a more uniform image can be formed without unevenness in the output image.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a front view of a heat development transfer portion 220 as a heat development device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in this figure, the heat development transfer section 2
20 is basically the same structure as the heat development transfer section 140 according to the first embodiment, but the heat development transfer section 140 is used.
Unlike the above, preheating plates 222 and 2 as another preheating applying means.
24, 226, 228. Preheating plates 222, 2
24 is provided corresponding to the endless belt 164.
The endless belt 164 is disposed on the opposite side of the portion that contacts the endless belt 166 near the winding roller 146.

On the other hand, the preheating plates 226 and 228 are provided corresponding to the endless belt 166, and the winding rollers 158 are provided.
The endless belt 164 is arranged on the opposite side of the portion in contact with the endless belt 164 in the vicinity of.

In the heat development transfer section 220, the endless belt 1 is
64 and the endless belt 166 form the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 7.
Before the 2 is sandwiched, the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 1
Each of 66 is preheated by preheating plates 222, 224, 226, 228, and the endless belt 164 and the endless belt 166 sandwich the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 with the preheating applied, and the endless belts 164, 166 Preheating is applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72.
Further, in this state, the endless belts 164 and 166 are heated by the preheating plates 184 and 186, and new preheating is applied to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72.

Here, in the thermal development transfer section 220, the preheating plates 222, 224, 226, 22 are heated before the endless belts 164, 166 are heated by the preheating plates 184, 186.
8 is heated by the endless belts 164, 166.
The temperature drop of the endless belts 164, 166 due to the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 being sandwiched therebetween is prevented. Therefore, the preheating from the preheating plates 184 and 186 is applied to the photosensitive material 1.
6 and the image receiving material 72 can be applied immediately, and the heat development transfer time can be further shortened.

Further, the preheating plates 222, 224, 226, 2
Since 28 is arranged on the side opposite to the heating plates 180 and 182, the length of the heat development transfer section 220 in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72 can be shortened, and the heat development transfer section 220 can be removed. Can be miniaturized.

In the heat development transfer section 220, the preheating plate 2 is sandwiched between the endless belts 164 and 166 from inside and outside.
22, 224, 226, 228 are provided, but at least the preheating plates 224, 228 are provided, and the endless belts 164, 166 are provided from the inside of the endless belts 164, 166.
Any configuration may be used as long as 66 is heated.

Further, the heat development transfer section 1 of each of the above embodiments.
In 40, 200, 210, 220, the endless belt 16
Although the preheating plates 180 and 182, the preheating rollers 202 and 204, and the like are provided on both 4 and 166, the materials of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 72, the process of heat development transfer, or the apparatus. Considering cost etc.,
The preheating plates 180 and 182 and the preheating rollers 202 and 204 may be provided with preheating means corresponding to only one of the endless belts 164 and 166.
A configuration in which a plurality of each of the above-mentioned preheating applying means are installed may be adopted.

[0098]

As described above, in the heat developing apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to perform good heat development transfer from the photosensitive material to the image receiving material in a short time without causing problems such as transfer deviation and output image unevenness. That is, it has an extremely excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a heat developing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the heat developing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the outline of the configuration of an image recording apparatus to which the heat developing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration of a heat developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of a heat developing device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration of a heat developing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the configuration of a conventional heat developing apparatus to which a pair of endless belts is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 140 Thermal Development Transfer Section (Heat Developing Device) 142 Driving Roller 144 Driven Roller 146 Winding Roller 148 Winding Roller 150 Winding Roller 152 Winding Roller 154 Winding Roller 156 Winding Roller 158 Winding Roller 160 Winding Roller 162 Winding Hanging roller 164 Endless belt (first endless belt) 166 Endless belt (second endless belt) 170 Gear 172 Gear 174 One-way clutch 180 Heating plate 182 Heating plate 184 Preheating plate 186 Preheating plate 200 Thermal development transfer unit (thermal development device) ) 202 preheating roller 204 preheating roller 210 heat development transfer unit (heat development device) 212 preheating plate 214 preheating plate 220 heat development transfer unit (heat development device) 224 preheating plate 228 preheating plate

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of endless belts, which are wound around a plurality of winding rollers and rotatably face each other in a state of being in pressure contact with each other, and sandwich and convey a photosensitive material and an image receiving material; A heat developing device that is disposed and that heats the photosensitive material and the image receiving material through the endless belt; and A heat developing device provided with a preheating applying unit which is disposed in proximity to the upstream side and which applies preheating of a predetermined temperature to the photosensitive material and the image receiving material via the endless belt. 2. The heating means and the preheating applying means,
The heat developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat developing plate is a flat plate. 3. The heat developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preheating applying means is a preheating roller which is formed in a columnar shape and which is rotated around the endless belt. 4. A further preheating means is provided upstream of the pair of endless belts in the rotation direction of the endless belt with respect to a portion where the endless belts are in contact with each other and sandwich the photosensitive material and the image receiving material. The thermal development device according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3. 5. A first endless belt wound around a drive roller that rotates by receiving a drive force from a drive source, and a first endless belt that is connected to the drive roller and rotates by a rotation of the drive roller. The rotational speed of the driven roller is set to be slower than that of the first endless belt, and the photosensitive material and the image receiving material are sandwiched between the first endless belt and the first endless belt by pressing. A second endless belt for transporting in the direction of, and a one-way clutch interposed between the drive roller and the driven roller for transmitting only rotation of the drive roller corresponding to the predetermined transport direction to the driven roller, Thermal developing device.