Photography – Fluid-treating apparatus – Gaseous-treating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-02-06
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Fluid-treating apparatus
Gaseous-treating
C034S643000, C034S638000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183146
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drier device for photosensitive material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a photosensitive material drier device, in which the photosensitive material can be protected from being damaged or jammed.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
There are various automatic photosensitive material processors, including a photo film processor and a printer/processor. The printer/processor consists of a printer component in which images on developed photo film are printed on color paper, and a processor component for automatically developing the color paper. The processor component includes a drier device for drying photographic paper after being processed with various kinds of procession solution. There is a known type of drier device including nip rollers or rollers arranged in a zigzag manner, which contact an emulsion surface of the photographic paper for conveying the photographic paper. A serious problem occurs in this type as the rollers are likely to create damages due to the contact, traces occurring upon pressure of the rollers, unevenness in surface gloss, or the like. This problem is very remarkable as the photographic paper is still wet to a halfway extent before the end of the drying operation.
There are known techniques in which a fan for suction is used for conveyance in suction of the photographic paper, or air for drying is applied to the photographic paper on an endless conveyor belt to keep the photographic paper in tight contact with the endless conveyor belt. Another suggestion is disclosed in JP-A 9-43826, a Japanese patent application filed by the assignor of the present application. A photosensitive material drier device includes a fan suitable for blowing the photographic paper on the endless conveyor belt with air sent through an air blow case, and includes an air intake case behind the endless conveyor belt for suction of the photographic paper to the endless conveyor belt, for the purpose of reliable conveyance.
However the known drier device has such shortcomings that irregularities in the drying occur, that front corners of the photographic paper are likely to enter slits formed in the air blow case to extend in the width direction of the photographic paper, and that jamming of the photographic paper occurs. Even when the photographic paper is not jammed, the corners may be bent and seriously damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a drier device for photosensitive material, in which it is possible to avoid occurrence of irregularities in drying, and jamming of the photosensitive material.
In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of this invention, a drier device for photosensitive material includes a conveyor for conveying the photosensitive material along a predetermined conveying path. A fan or blower dries the photosensitive material by application of air thereto while the photosensitive material is conveyed along the conveying path. There is an air blow case into which the fan or blower sends the air, the air blow case having an air blow wall extending along the conveying path, and being positioned opposite to the photosensitive material. Plural outlet slits are formed through the air blow wall, for blowing the photosensitive material with the air. Each of the outlet slits extends in a crosswise direction crosswise to the conveying path, the outlet slits are arranged in N trains arranged along the conveying path, and each of the outlet slits has a length smaller than a width of the photosensitive material.
In a preferred embodiment, the N trains include first and second trains. The first train includes P of the plural outlet slits arranged in the crosswise direction. The second train is disposed adjacent to the first train with reference to the conveying path, includes Q of the plural outlet slits, arranged in the crosswise direction, and offset in the crosswise direction from the P outlet slits.
Furthermore, an outer inclined guiding surface is disposed on one of two edges of the outlet slits located downstream with reference to the conveying path, and formed with an inclination by chamfering, for preventing the outlet slits from interfering with an edge of the photosensitive material.
Furthermore, an inner inclined guiding surface is formed with the air blow wall and inside the air blow case, and inclined by chamfering at least one of two edges of the outlet slits.
Furthermore, a straightener is disposed in the air blow case, for regularizing a flow rate of the air between the plural outlet slits.
Furthermore, an air blow duct introduces the air from the fan or blower to the air blow case. The air blow case further includes a duct connecting gap connected with the air blow duct. The straightener introduces part of the air to ones of the outlet slits farther from the duct connecting gap with reference to the crosswise direction.
The air blow case further includes an extension portion disposed to extend from the air blow wall in the crosswise direction, and having the duct connecting gap formed therein. The straightener includes at least one plate having first and second edges, the first edge being positioned opposite to one middle position in the duct connecting gap, and the second edge being positioned opposite to one middle position in the air blow wall.
The air blow case further includes a base wall disposed opposite to the air blow wall. The straightener is disposed on the base wall, away from the duct connecting gap in the crosswise direction, and with an inclination to come nearer to the air blow wall in the crosswise direction.
The air blow wall is produced from resin.
A proportion of a total of open areas of the outlet slits to an area of the air blow wall is 5-20%.
The conveyor includes a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt has a plurality of air openings.
Furthermore, a push roller is positioned opposite to an end of the conveyor belt disposed downstream with reference to the conveying path, for nipping the photosensitive material in cooperation with the conveyor belt. A guiding plate is disposed near to the push roller, for introducing the photosensitive material toward the push roller.
Furthermore, an air intake duct is connected with the fan or blower on a side opposite to the air blow case. An air intake case is connected with the air intake duct, for covering a back of the conveyor belt, to introduce the air to the fan or blower, and to suck the photosensitive material in contact with the conveyor belt.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3577651 (1971-05-01), Nichols
patent: 5150955 (1992-09-01), Devaney, Jr. et al.
patent: 9-43826 (1997-02-01), None
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rutledge D.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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