JP2551640B2 - Development device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a developing device for developing a photosensitive material,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a developing device that develops a photosensitive material by supplying a droplet of a developing solution to the surface of the photosensitive material.

[Prior Art] As a method of supplying a developing solution by supplying a developing solution to the surface of an imagewise exposed photosensitive material, the photosensitive material is immersed in the developing solution or the developing solution is applied to the surface of the photosensitive material. Is continuously supplied.

However, in the above method, an extra developing solution is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive material in addition to the developing solution necessary for developing the photosensitive material. For this reason, the developer is wasted.

In order to solve this, a so-called liquid spraying method has been considered as a method of supplying a developing solution into droplets and spraying the droplets onto the surface of the photosensitive material without using the developing solution.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above liquid spraying method of spraying the developing solution onto the surface of the photosensitive material, the developing solution is diffused from the nozzles from which the developing solution is ejected and sprayed onto the surface of the photosensitive material. , The supply amount of the developer is different between the central part of the photosensitive material and its periphery,
There is a problem that the developing solution cannot be uniformly supplied to the surface of the light-sensitive material and the light-sensitive material cannot be uniformly developed.

Therefore, it is considered that a plurality of nozzles are arranged so as to face the developing area of the photosensitive material, the developing solution is uniformly sprayed on the surface of the photosensitive material, and the developing solution is uniformly supplied to the surface of the photosensitive material. It is difficult to arrange a plurality of nozzles so as to face the surface of the photosensitive material, and a developing electrode is arranged on the surface of the photosensitive material in order to control the amount of developer adhering to the photosensitive material. In the above, it is difficult to dispose a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the developing solution so as to face the surface of the photosensitive material.

Further, it is very difficult to dispose a plurality of nozzles facing the surface of an electrophotographic film such as a microfilm having a small developing area.

Also, in order to uniformly supply the developing solution to the surface of the photosensitive material,
A method of adsorbing a sol-type developer on the surface of the photosensitive material at a developing electrode has also been proposed, but in this case, depending on the position of the supply port for supplying the sol-type developer to the surface of the photosensitive material, In some cases, the developing solution cannot be uniformly supplied to the surface of the material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device having a simple structure and capable of uniformly supplying a developing solution to the surface of a photosensitive material without waste.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, a perforated plate having a plurality of small holes arranged so as to face a photosensitive material that is conveyed so that the surface of a development area is substantially vertical, and the perforated plate facing the photosensitive material. A pressurizing chamber provided on the side opposite to the surface and capable of storing the developer, a developer supplying unit for supplying the developer into the pressurizing chamber, and a small hole for periodically pressurizing the developer in the pressurizing chamber. It is characterized in that it has a pressurizing means for ejecting the developing solution in the form of liquid droplets substantially horizontally to the developing area through, and an excluding means for removing the excess developing solution on the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material.

[Operation] In the present invention having the above configuration, the developing solution is supplied into the pressurizing chamber by the developing solution supply means. The developing solution supplied into the pressurizing chamber is held in the pressurizing chamber when the pressurizing unit is not operated, and when the pressurizing unit is operated, it is periodically pressurized and exposed through the small holes formed in the perforated plate. It is ejected horizontally in the form of droplets toward the development area of the material. As a result, the developing solution is supplied to the surface of the developing area facing the porous plate in a substantially vertical state, and the photosensitive material is developed. Excess developer after developing the photosensitive material is removed from the photosensitive material by the removing means.

As described above, in the present invention, since the developing area surface of the photosensitive material is substantially vertical and the developer is jetted and supplied in a substantially horizontal direction in a droplet state, the developer can be supplied to the photosensitive material without waste. The material can be developed.

Further, since the porous plate is provided with a plurality of small holes through which the developing solution is ejected in a droplet state, the developing solution can be uniformly supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive material.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a process head 10 which is an example of a developing device incorporated in an electrophotographic apparatus. FIG. 1 shows the developing unit 16 of the process head 10 and the relationship between the developing unit 16 and other devices. FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line I--I in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process head 10 is composed of a relatively flat body portion 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a pair of leg portions 13 located below the body portion 12 which are integrally formed. , Except for attachments, are integrally molded with synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the main body portion 12 of the process head 10, the charging and exposing portion 14, the developing portion 16, the drying portion 18 and the fixing portion 20 are arranged in sequence in the width direction at intervals of one frame of the electrophotographic film 22. It is formed by a corresponding constant pitch.

In the charging / exposure unit 14, the electrophotographic film 22 (corresponding to one frame) located at this portion is charged and then exposed by being irradiated with image light from a document not shown. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern of the original is formed on the electrophotographic film 22.

In the developing unit 16, the liquid developing solution is applied to the electrophotographic film 22 exposed by the charging and exposing unit 14 to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

In the drying section 18, dry air is blown to the electrophotographic film 22 moistened with the liquid developer to remove moisture.

In the fixing unit 20, an image is fixed on the electrophotographic film 22 by a fixing lamp or the like.

In the developing unit 16, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,
A pressure chamber 30 is provided in a recess 28 formed in the front wall 26 of the process head 10 so as to open toward the front wall 26.

The entire opening 32 of the pressurizing chamber 30 is closed by a diaphragm 34. The vibrating plate 34 is formed of a stainless plate having a thickness of about 30 to 50 μm, and as shown in FIG. 3, small holes 36 penetrating through the front and back are formed at equal intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions. . The area where the small holes 36 are formed is
It faces the development area surface of the electrophotographic film 22, and is, for example, about 10 × 8 mm. The photo film 22 is
The surface of the development area is vertical. The distance between the small holes 36 is 20
Evenly arranged in a grid pattern at intervals of 0 to 300 μm.
About 200 to 500 pieces are formed in the area of × 8 mm. Further, the arrangement of the small holes 36 may be a staggered arrangement as shown in FIG. 3 (B). The diameter of this small hole 36 is set to 10 to 100 μm.

Piezo-vibrator 38 is fixed to the upper and lower sides of the back surface of the diaphragm 34, that is, the inner side of the process head 10. The piezo oscillator 38 is connected to a voltage applying means (not shown). The piezo oscillator 38 is a so-called piezoelectric element,
As shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, when a voltage is applied, it has a piezoelectric property to generate a strain force that deforms in the vertical direction, and this strain force causes the diaphragm 34 to move to the middle portion as shown in FIG. It is designed to vibrate so that it oscillates around 20kHz to 100kHz.

As shown in FIG. 1, an air outlet 48 is formed in the upper portion of the pressurizing chamber 30 and communicates with a passage 50 formed in the internal space of the process head 10. The passage 50 communicates with an air suction port 52 opened on the upper surface of the process head 10.

A developing solution supply port 54 is formed in the lower part of the pressurizing chamber 30 and communicates with a passage 56 formed by the internal space of the process head 10. The passage 56 communicates with a developer inlet 58 opened on the lower surface of the process head 10.

As shown in Fig. 1, the air suction port 52 has a valve
It is connected to a gas-liquid separation device 66 through conduits 62 and 64 via 60. An air pump 70 is connected to the gas-liquid separation device 66 via a pipe line 68, and a negative pressure is supplied to the gas-liquid separation device 66. The negative pressure causes the developer in the pressurizing chamber 30 to be sucked into the gas-liquid separator 66.

The gas-liquid separation device 66 separates the developer containing air, which flows into the separation tank 67 through the conduit 64, into air and the developer, and prevents the developer from mixing in the air pump 70. ing.

In addition, a branch pipe 69 is branched in the middle of the pipe 64,
It communicates with a pressure regulating valve (not shown). With this pressure adjusting valve, the negative pressure supplied by the air pump 70 is adjusted, and the suction amount of the developing solution is adjusted.

The developer inlet port 58 communicates with the developer bottle 74 by a pipe 72.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, left and right frames 40 and 42 are provided on both sides of the pressurizing chamber 30 in the width direction so as to project forward from the recess 28. The electrophotographic film 22 positioned on the developing unit 16 contacts the left and right frames 40, 42, and the diaphragm 34 and the left and right frames 40, 42,
A space surrounded by the electrophotographic film 22 is a developing chamber 44. The upper part of the developing chamber 44 is open and communicates with the outside.

The left and right frames 40 and 42 are integrally formed with the main body 12 of the process head 10, and a developing solution outlet 46 is formed in the lower part of the developing chamber 44 over the entire width direction of the developing unit. The developer outlet 46 is a passage formed by the internal space of the process head 10.
It is in communication with 47. The passage 47 communicates with a developer discharge port 76 opened on the lower surface of the process head 10. The developing solution discharge port 76 is connected to the gas-liquid separation device 80 by a pipe line 78.
The gas-liquid separation device 80 is connected to an air pump 84 by a pipe line 82, and a negative pressure is supplied to the gas-liquid separation device 80.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Charge exposure unit 1 adjacent to process head 10
4, each frame of the electrophotographic film 22 is sent to the developing unit 16, the drying unit 18, and the fixing unit 20 in the above order and processed, and an image is recorded on the electrophotographic film 22.

In this case, a film moving motor (not shown) is driven, and a predetermined frame freely selected from the frames not yet recorded is positioned on the front surface of the charging / exposure unit 14. This operation of selecting a predetermined frame is performed by designating a predetermined frame with a control keyboard (not shown) that operates an electrophotographic apparatus (not shown) in which the process head 10 is incorporated.

Here, focusing on this one predetermined frame, the case where the predetermined one frame is sent from the charging exposure section 14 to the developing section 16, the drying section 18 and the fixing section 20 to record an image will be described.

A predetermined frame freely selected from the unrecorded frames is positioned at the charging exposure unit 14 and is charged and exposed to form an electrostatic latent image.

One frame on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is moved to the developing section 16 by a film moving motor (not shown).

In the developing unit 16, the air pump 70 is operated, and a negative pressure is supplied into the pressurizing chamber 30 via the gas-liquid separator 66. As a result, the developer stored in the developer bottle 74 is sucked up into the pressure chamber 30, and the pressure chamber 30 is filled with the developer.

When a predetermined frame of the electrophotographic film 22 moves to the developing unit 16, a voltage is applied to the piezo-vibrator 38 by a voltage applying means (not shown). By applying this voltage, the piezoelectric vibrator 38 is distorted in the vertical direction as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, and the diaphragm 34 is expanded and contracted in the vertical direction. Due to this expansion and contraction, the diaphragm 34 vibrates in a wavy manner in the middle portion as shown in FIG. Due to this vibration, the developing solution in the pressure chamber 30 becomes droplets from the small hole 36 and is jetted into the developing chamber 44, is supplied in the form of mist into the developing chamber 44, and is applied to the surface of one frame of the electrophotographic film 22. To be done. As a result, the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic film 22 is visualized with this developer.

Since the developing chamber 44 is formed by the vibrating plate 34, the left and right frames 40 and 42, and the electrophotographic film 22, the developing solution jetted into the developing chamber 44 is prevented from splashing to the outside.

Although the upper part of the developing chamber 44 is open, it is sucked by the air pump 84 which is an excluding means for excluding the excess developing liquid, so that the liquid developing liquid in the developing chamber 44 is discharged from the developing liquid outlet. It is sucked out from 46 and sent to the gas-liquid separation device 80.
As a result, the developer does not scatter from the upper part of the developing chamber 44 to the outside of the developing chamber 44.

Here, the principle that the developing solution in the pressure chamber 30 is ejected as droplets from the small holes 36 due to the wavy vibration of the vibrating plate 34 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vibration plate 34 vibrates in a wave shape by the action of the piezoelectric vibrator 38. A small hole 36 is formed in the antinode due to this vibration. For this reason, the small hole 36 portion is displaced by the maximum amount in the left-right direction on the paper surface of FIG. As a result, the developing solution in the pressure chamber 30 is cyclically pressurized, and the small chamber 36
Eject into 44.

That is, from the state shown in FIG. 5A, the vibration plate 34 vibrates by the action of the piezoelectric vibrator, moves to the developing chamber 44 side, and becomes the state shown in FIG. 5B. Next, the vibration plate 34 moves to the inside of the pressure chamber 30 due to the vibration, and pressurizes the developing solution in the pressure chamber 30.
When the vibrating plate 34 comes to the center of the vibration, the developing solution is pushed out to the developing chamber 44 side from the small hole 36 as shown in FIG. 5 (C).
Further, the vibration plate 34 moves to the pressure chamber 30 side and presses the developing solution. In this state, as shown in FIG.
The developing solution extruded from the liquid tends to be spherical due to its surface tension, and the small holes 36 of the developing solution start to be narrowed. When the vibrating plate 34 further vibrates from this state and moves to the developing chamber 44 side, the developing solution becomes liquid and is repelled and ejected into the developing chamber 44 as shown in FIG. 5 (E). According to this principle, the developing solution becomes droplets from a plurality of small holes 36 provided in the vibrating plate 34 and is supplied in the form of mist into the developing chamber 44, is applied to the surface of the photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material is developed. .

As a usage example utilizing such a principle, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-
A fuel supply device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 44989 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-2858 is proposed.

The small hole 36 is formed at a position corresponding to an antinode when the vibration plate 34 vibrates in a wave shape. For this reason, the vibrating plate 34 is formed at a position where it is displaced to the maximum, so that the pressing force for pressing the developer in the pressurizing chamber 30 is maximized. Further, since the small hole 36 is formed in the belly portion, the developing solution jetted from the small hole 38 is jetted to the electrophotographic film 22 along the substantially horizontal direction and supplied to the electrophotographic film 22. That is, since the plurality of small holes 36 are jetted out in a substantially horizontal direction, the developing solution is uniformly supplied to the surface of the electrophotographic film 22.

Further, in this embodiment, since the piezo vibrator 38 is used to vibrate the vibration plate 34, the apparatus becomes small and the developing unit
16 can be formed in a small size.

After the developing solution is supplied to the electrophotographic film 22 and the developing process is performed, the excess developing solution remaining in the developing chamber 44 is collected by the gas-liquid separating device 80 to separate the liquid (developing solution) and the gas (air). It is separated and collected.

A predetermined frame of the electrophotographic film 22 having undergone the developing process in the developing section 16 is positioned in the drying section 18 by a film moving motor (not shown). In the drying section 18, warm air is blown onto the electrophotographic film 22 to dry the developing solution.

Next, the predetermined one frame located in the drying unit 18 is the fixing unit 20.
Be moved to. Cold air is supplied to a predetermined frame that has moved to the fixing unit 20. After a lapse of a predetermined time, a xenon lamp (not shown) provided in the fixing section 20 emits light, the developer is fused and fixed on the surface, and the fixing step is completed.

By completing the above steps, the recording of the image on the electrophotographic film 22 is completed.

In this embodiment, the supply of the developing solution to an electrophotographic film such as a micro film for recording a micro image has been described with reference to an example to which the present invention is applied, but the supply of the developing solution to a film used for silver halide photography is described. The present invention can also be applied.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, in the present invention, the porous plate having a plurality of small holes corresponding to the developing region of the photosensitive material, and the pressure chamber provided on the side of the porous plate opposite to the photosensitive material. A developing solution supplying means for supplying the developing solution into the pressing chamber, and a pressing means for periodically pressurizing the developing solution in the pressing chamber and ejecting the developing solution through the small holes to the developing area in a liquid state. It has an excellent effect that the developer can be uniformly supplied to the surface of the photosensitive material without waste, since it has a means for removing the excess developer on the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 2 showing a developing portion of a process head which is an example of a developing device.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a process head, FIG. 3 (A) is a perspective view showing a developing portion, FIG. 3 (B) is a perspective view showing another example of the developing portion, and FIG. 5A to 5E are cross-sectional views showing the relationship with the film, and FIGS. 5A to 5E are explanatory views showing a state in which the vibrating plate vibrates and the developing solution is ejected. 10 …… Process head, 16 …… Developing section, 30 …… Pressure chamber, 34 …… Vibration plate, 36 …… Small hole, 38 …… Piezo vibrator, 40,42 …… Left and right frame, 44 …… Development Chamber, 70 ... air pump, 72 ... pipe, 74 ... developer bottle.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A perforated plate having a plurality of small holes arranged facing a photosensitive material conveyed such that a surface of a development area is substantially vertical, and a porous plate provided on a side opposite to a surface facing the photosensitive material. A pressurizing chamber capable of storing the developer, a developer supplying means for supplying the developer into the pressurizing chamber, and a developer in the pressurizing chamber is periodically pressurized to drop the developer in a droplet state through small holes. A developing device, comprising: a pressurizing unit for ejecting the developer substantially horizontally to the developing region; and an excluding unit for removing an excessive developing solution on the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material.