JP4293486B2 - Optical printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of an optical printer that forms and develops an image on an instant film by converting an electrical signal into an optical signal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Video printers that print images digitally processed and displayed on a display on a sheet have become widespread. The printing method of the video printer includes a thermal method, an ink jet method, a laser beam scanning method, a liquid crystal shutter method, and the like. Among them, the liquid crystal shutter method is attracting attention because it is suitable for small size and light weight. In the conventional liquid crystal shutter system, an instant film configured to perform development processing by rupturing a bag-like developer storage portion provided at a front end portion and applying the developer to the surface is used as a print head. After the exposure was performed while moving the optical head, the developer was transported while being sandwiched from both sides by the developing means comprising a pair of rollers, thereby performing development processing and discharging from the discharge port.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional technology, the optical head is moved with respect to the instant film in a state where the instant film having the developer storage portion at the front end portion and the waste liquid storage portion at the rear end portion is fixed. However, after the instant film is exposed, the developer film is ruptured by transporting the instant film while being sandwiched from both sides by the developing means consisting of a pair of rollers, and applying the developer to the photosensitive surface. Was configured to do. Therefore, since the optical head moving means for moving the optical head and the conveying means for conveying the instant film are necessary, the cost is high. Further, since the optical head is moved, there is a problem that a large space is required and becomes large.
[0004]
A conventional example as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the optical head 103 starts moving in the direction of arrow K in order to expose the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113 in the conventional example. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the optical head 103 continues to move in the direction of the arrow K from the state of FIG. 11 to complete exposure of the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113 and stop at the end. . FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state when the instant film 113 is discharged from the instant film discharge port 112 after the optical head 103 has moved in the K ′ direction from the state of FIG. 12 and stopped at the original position. . 14 is a main cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along line LL in FIG. FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the M part in FIG. 14 in an enlarged manner.
[0005]
In FIG. 11, an instant film discharge port 112 for discharging the instant film 113 is provided on the front surface of the printer main body 101, and the optical head 103 can reciprocate in the front-rear direction inside the printer main body 101. Is provided. In FIG. 11, the optical head 103 starts moving in the direction of arrow K to expose the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113. In FIG. 12, the optical head 103 continues to move in the direction of the arrow K from the state of FIG. 11, completes exposure of the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113, and stops at the end.
[0006]
In FIG. 13, the optical head 103 moves in the K ′ direction from the state of FIG. 12, returns to the movement start position, and stops.
[0007]
In FIG. 14, the instant film 113 is conveyed from the state of FIG. 13 while being pressed and clamped from above and below by the developing means 106 and discharged from the instant film discharge port 112. The instant film 113 is squeezed from above and below by the developing means 106, the developer stored in the developer storage unit is pushed out and flows while wetting the surface of the photosensitive surface, and flows into the waste solution storage unit.
[0008]
In FIG. 15, the instant film 113 is pressed and clamped from above and below by the developing means 106 as shown in FIG. 14, and the developer stored in the developer storing portion is pushed out and flows while wetting the surface of the photosensitive surface. In this state, the developer holding bag rises greatly between the front of the inlet and the developing means 106 due to the resistance of the inlet when the developer flows into the waste liquid storage unit.
[0009]
In the instant film 113, the developer holding bag is greatly swelled by the developer between the front of the inlet and the developing means. Therefore, when the raised portion passes through the developing means, the conveyance resistance increases, and the instant film 113 The conveyance speed decreases.
[0010]
In the above-described conventional example, since the optical head moving means for moving the optical head and the conveying means for conveying the instant film are necessary, the cost is high. Further, since a relatively large optical head is moved, a large space is required, and there is a problem that the outer shape of the printer becomes large.
[0011]
In order to solve such problems, it is conceivable to expose and discharge the instant film while moving the instant film without moving the print head. However, in an automatic developing printer that automatically develops after printing, the developing solution storage unit attached to the front end of the instant film is ruptured and the developing process is performed by applying the developing solution to the photosensitive surface. The configured instant film is exposed by an optical head, and then conveyed while being sandwiched from both sides by a pair of developing means, which ruptures the developer container and performs development processing and discharges from the discharge port To do. Accordingly, since the developer holding bag is greatly raised between the front of the inlet and the developing means by the developer, the instant film has an increased conveyance resistance when the raised portion passes the developing means, and the instant film The conveyance speed of was lower. There is a problem that exposure to the instant film becomes uneven when the fluctuation of the transport speed of the instant film is large.
[0012]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the transport load and load fluctuation of the photoconductor transport means when discharging the instant film while developing it, thereby reducing the fluctuation of the transport speed.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a developer storage section having a photosensitive surface and a non-photosensitive surface formed around the photosensitive surface, and storing a developing solution in a part of the non-photosensitive surface. An optical printer that performs optical writing on an instant film formed with a frame, a film storage unit that is fixed to the frame and stores the instant film, and transports the instant film sent from the film storage unit A developing means for applying the developing solution to the photosensitive surface by pressing and holding the developing solution storage portion disposed downstream of the conveying means in the conveying direction, and the developing means. An optical head having an optical head positioned to irradiate an irradiation position at a predetermined position in the transport direction with reference to While being movably supported before after the direction of direction, and is characterized in that it is substantially central to elastically held in the movable range by the developing means elastic holding member.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a main cross-sectional view showing a state of a main cross section of one embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state of a cross section along line DD in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing an E portion in FIG. 5 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of an instant film used in the optical printer of the present invention.
[0015]
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the main film is discharged while printing on the instant film in the main cross-sectional view shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan sectional view showing a state of the section GG in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion J in FIG.
[0016]
1 and 2, the main configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described. On the front surface of the printer main body 1, an instant film discharge port 12 for an instant film 13 to be described later printed is provided. The printer main body 1 is provided with a film accommodating portion 4 for accommodating an instant film 13 described later, and an optical head 3 for irradiating the instant film 13 described later with light to print an image. Between the film storage unit 4 and the instant film discharge port 12, a transport means 5 for transporting the instant film 13 stored in the film storage unit 4 in the direction of the instant film discharge port 12, and the instant film 13 Developing means 6 is provided for pressing and applying the developer contained in a developer containing portion 13e, which will be described later, to the surface of the photosensitive surface 13a.
[0017]
The transport means 5 includes a transport roller lower 5b composed of a pair of left and right rollers, as well as a transport roller upper 5a composed of a pair of left and right rollers. Each of the left and right transport roller uppers 5a is rotatably supported at one end. Further, the upper conveying roller 5a and the lower conveying roller 5b are in pressure contact with each other. The developing means 5 comprises an upper developing roller 6a and a lower developing roller 6b, and is supported rotatably at both ends. The upper developing roller 6a and the lower developing roller 6b are in pressure contact with each other.
[0018]
3 and 4, a driving mechanism for driving the conveying unit 5 and the developing unit 6 will be described. A conveying gear 5c is fixed to the upper conveying roller 5a of the conveying means 5, and a developing gear 6c is fixed to the upper developing roller 6a of the developing means 6. Further, the drive gear 10 meshes with both the transport gear 5c and the developing gear 6c, and the drive gear 10 further meshes with a motor gear 11a fixed to the rotor of the motor 11, and transports by rotating the motor 11. The means 5 and the developing means 6 are configured to rotate in the same direction.
[0019]
5 and 6, the structure for supporting the developing means 6 will be described. The left and right frames 2 are formed with developing means guide portions 2a and 2b for supporting the developing means 5 so as to be movable in the transport direction and the reverse direction of the instant film 13, respectively. Developing means frame bodies 8 are attached to the developing means guide portions 2a and 2b of the left and right frame bodies 2, respectively. The developing device frame 8 is provided with guide pins 8a and 8b, and the guide pins 8a and 8b of the developing device frame 8 are slidably fitted to the developing device guide portions 2a and 2b of the frame 2, respectively. ing. The developing roller bearing 7a and the developing roller bearing 7b are rotatably fitted to both end portions of the conveying roller upper 5a and the conveying roller lower 5b, respectively. The developing roller bearing 7a and the developing roller bearing 7b are respectively connected to the left and right developing means frames. It is supported by the body 8.
[0020]
A developing means elastic holding member 9 is fixed to the frame 2, and the developing means elastic holding member 9 has a first urging portion 9 a for urging the developing means 6 in the transport direction of the instant film 13. A second urging portion 9b that urges in the direction opposite to the conveying direction is formed. The first urging unit 9a and the second urging unit 9b sandwich the developing unit 6 at the center of the movable range.
[0021]
In FIG. 7, the configuration of the instant film 13 will be described. The instant film 13 has a photosensitive surface 13a on one side, and the periphery of the photosensitive surface 13a has a front end portion 13b, a rear end portion 13c, and a side end portion 13d formed so as to connect the front end portion 13b and the rear end portion 13c. Surrounded by The front end portion 13b is provided with a developer storage portion 13e for storing the developer, and the rear end portion 13c is provided with a waste liquid storage portion 13f for storing the waste liquid that has been developed on the photosensitive surface 13a. . A developer holding bag 13g made of a transparent material is provided on the upper surface of the photosensitive surface 13a. Several liquid inlets 13h are provided between the developer container 13e and the developer container 13g, and several liquid outlets 13j are provided between the developer container 13g and the waste container 13f. .
[0022]
8 and 9, the state in which the instant film 13 is conveyed in the direction of the instant film discharge port 12 by the conveying means 5 and the developing means 6 will be described. When the transport means 5 and the developing means 6 are driven by the motor 11 to transport the instant film 13 in the direction of arrow H so as to be discharged from the instant film discharge port 12, the transport is made up of two pairs of pressure-contact rollers. The means 5 conveys the instant film 13 while sandwiching both end portions 13d of the instant film 13 from above and below. At the same time, the developing means 6 composed of a pair of rollers that press against each other presses and holds the instant film 13 from above and below.
[0023]
The instant film 13 is squeezed from above and below by the developing means 6, and the developer stored in the developer storage portion 13e is pushed out and flows through the developer holding bag 13g while wetting the surface of the photosensitive surface 13a. The developer that has developed the exposed photosensitive surface 13a passes through the liquid discharge port 13j and flows into the waste liquid storage portion 13f. At this time, due to the fluid resistance caused by the developer flowing into the liquid discharge port 13j, the developer holding bag 13g is located at the developing means 6 as shown in FIG. A large raised protrusion 13K is formed.
[0024]
However, in the present invention, the instant film 13 is transported by the transport means 5, and the developer holding bag 13 g rises greatly at the developing means 6 to form the convex portion 13 k, thereby increasing the transport resistance of the instant film 13. However, when the first urging portion 9a is bent, the developing means 6 slightly escapes in a direction away from the conveying means 5, and when the convex portion 13k passes through the developing means 6, the second urging portion 9b Return to position. As a result, the transport resistance when the convex portion 13k passes through the developing means 6 is reduced, and the instant film 13 is transported by the transport means 5 with almost no decrease in the transport speed. Therefore, the conveyance speed of the instant film 13 does not drop sharply and the exposure unevenness on the photosensitive surface 13a of the instant film 13 is small.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention includes a film storage unit that stores an instant film, a transport unit that transports the instant film sent from the film storage unit, and a downstream side of the transport unit in the transport direction. A developing means for pressurizing and holding the developing solution storage portion to apply the developing solution onto the photosensitive surface, and an optical head positioned so as to irradiate an irradiation position at a predetermined position in the transport direction with reference to the developing means The developing means is supported so as to be movable within a predetermined range in the transport direction and the reverse direction of the instant film, and is elastically held at substantially the center of the predetermined range by the developing means elastic holding member. Since the instant film is conveyed by the conveying means, the developer holding bag is greatly raised by the developing means. , Exposure unevenness relative to a small instant film without conveying speed of the instant film decreases abruptly increases.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a main cross-sectional view showing a state of a main cross section of an embodiment according to the present invention.
2 is a plan sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line AA in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state of a cross section along line DD in FIG. 3;
5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. 2. FIG.
6 is an enlarged detailed view showing an E portion in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of an instant film used in the optical printer of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where the paper is discharged while printing on an instant film in the main cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1;
9 is a plan sectional view showing a state of a section taken along the line GG in FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion J in FIG. 8;
11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the optical head 103 starts moving in the direction of an arrow J in order to expose the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113 in the conventional example. FIG.
12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the optical head 103 continues to move in the K direction from the state of FIG. 11 to complete the exposure of the photosensitive surface of the instant film 113 and stop at the end. FIG.
13 is an explanatory view showing a state when the instant film 113 is discharged from the instant film discharge port 112 after the optical head 103 has moved in the K ′ direction from the state of FIG. 12 and stopped at the original position. .
14 is a main cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section taken along line LL in FIG.
15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state of an M part in FIG. 14 in an enlarged manner.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Frame 2a Developing means guide part A
2b Developing means guide B
3 Optical head 4 Film container 5 Conveying means 5a Above conveying roller 5b Under conveying roller 5c Conveying gear 6 Developing means 6a Developing roller 6b Developing roller 6c Developing gear 7a Developing roller bearing 7b Developing roller bearing under 8 Developing means frame body 8a Guide pin A
8b Guide pin B
9 Developing means elastic holding member 9a First urging portion 9b Second urging portion 10 Drive gear 11 Motor 11a Motor gear 12 Instant film discharge port 13 Instant film 13a Photosensitive surface 13b Front end portion 13c Rear end portion 13d Side end portion 13e Development Liquid storage part 13f Waste liquid storage part 13g Developer holding bag 13h Liquid inlet 13j Liquid outlet 13k Convex part

Claims (4)

An optical printer for performing optical writing on an instant film having a photosensitive surface and a non-photosensitive surface formed around the photosensitive surface, and having a developing solution storage portion storing a developing solution in a part of the non-photosensitive surface A frame, a film storage unit that is fixed to the frame and stores the instant film, a transport unit for transporting the instant film sent from the film storage unit, and a transport direction from the transport unit A developing means for pressurizing and holding the developing solution storage section and applying the developing solution to the photosensitive surface, and an irradiation position at a predetermined position in the transport direction with reference to the developing means. in an optical printer having a light head positioned to irradiate, the developing means may be supported movably before after the direction of the conveying direction of the instant film Optical printer, characterized by being substantially center elastically held in the movable range by the developing means elastic holding member. The optical printer according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit includes a developing roller and a developing roller. And a developing means frame that is rotatably supported on the developing roller and below the developing roller, and is supported by the frame so as to be movable in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the instant film. Item 3. The optical printer according to Item 2. The developing means elastic holding member has a first urging portion that urges the developing means in the transport direction of the instant film and a second urging portion that urges the developing means in a direction opposite to the transport direction. The optical printer according to claim 1.

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