Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – With developing
Patent
1992-03-11
1994-05-17
Braun, Fred L.
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
With developing
G03B 2732, G03B 2752
Patent
active
053132483
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image formation apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or the like, utilizing a photosensitive transfer type heat development material to form output images. More particularly, it relates to a heat developing machine portion of an image formation apparatus and a method of transferring a photosensitive member.
2. Background Art
Various methods and apparatus for forming images have been known. A conventional image formation apparatus utilizing a heat development material of the photosensitive transfer type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-147461. According to this publication, main mechanism portions, such as an exposure portion, a heat development portion, and a pressure transfer portion, are arranged within one region of the apparatus. Image formation is performed according to the following procedure.
First, a roll-like heat development material of the photosensitive transfer type is cut into predetermined lengths before being exposed to an image to form a latent image. Next, heat rollers heat-develop the image. Then, the photosensitive member is superposed by image-receiving paper, and transferred under pressure by rollers. The photosensitive member is discharged by a separation device to a disposal portion therefor, whereas the image-receiving paper is discharged to a tray through a fixing device.
The above conventional art, however, has the following problems.
First, a used photosensitive member which is no longer usable by the apparatus operator is discharged each time an image is formed. The operator must provide a new photosensitive member when the existing photosensitive member is no longer usable, and besides, must also dispose of the used photosensitive member, thus, doubling the operator's work.
Second, a mechanism is required to cut the roll-like photosensitive member. Such a mechanism affects the tension and loading on the photosensitive member considerably, thus creating problems such that the photosensitive member is carried in an unsmooth manner, raised or wrinkled. In the conventional art, because this mechanism is near the exposure portion, such problems become particularly serious. For this reason, there is a demand for a more accurate and complex carrying mechanism in photosensitive member carrying portions, including the exposure portion.
Third, because the photosensitive member and the image-receiving paper in the form of cut sheets are superposed on each other to be transferred under high pressure, an accurate mechanism or device to separate the photosensitive member and paper with certainty is required.
These problems can be solved if the photosensitive member is not cut into sheets but has a continuous form. However, since the path along which the photosensitive member area is carried after exposure is long, the amount of useless photosensitive member increases enormously, resulting in an increase in the cost of the photosensitive member. For this reason, it is possible to effectively make better use of the photosensitive member by rewinding it. However, the unused photosensitive member has passed through a heat developing device, thereby being affected by the heat. Therefore, the photosensitive member is no longer reusable, and thus the portion of useless photosensitive member increases or remains high.
Fourth, while the photosensitive member is being carried through the image apparatus, fine dust particles and the like in the carrying mechanism damage an image forming micro capsule disposed on the member, markedly deteriorating the quality of any output image.
Because of the rapidly increasing trend toward OA, the use of various kinds of electronic equipment has recently spread among many people of varying skill levels. When consumers are going to use electronic equipment, it is very important to consider several factors, such as ease of replacement parts, ease of understanding the structure and operation, and cost (running cost), so that it can be
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Abe Nobumasa
Fujisawa Kazutoshi
Furukawa Saburo
Kobayashi Atsushi
Kumai Eiji
Braun Fred L.
Janofsky Eric B.
Seiko Epson Corporation
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