Heating apparatus

Details Heating apparatus Heating apparatus

1999-07-08

2001-11-27

Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)

Electrophotography

Image formation

Fixing

C399S336000, C396S575000, C219S216000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06324376

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat developing apparatus, and more precisely, to a heating apparatus which forms an image by heating a sheet-form material, which carries image data thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithographic film (a photosensitive material) has been used for a long time for printing newspaper, magazines, and the like. In the same way as a photographic film, an image can be formed on a photosensitive material such as the lithographic film, by carrying out processing (wet processing) such as developing and fixation. However, when each processing such as developing and fixation, is carried out by wet processing, the developing processing becomes complicated. Moreover, since each processing is carried out by soaking the lithographic film in processing tanks in sequence, each of which stores a processing solvent (e.g., a developer or a fixer), there has been a problem with this method in that control of each processing is troublesome, and deterioration of a heat developing apparatus itself is accelerated by dirt or the like adhering to the heat developing apparatus.
In contrast, a heat developing apparatus capable of developing processing on photosensitive materials such as the lithographic film without complicated processing (the wet processing) such as development and fixation, has been proposed. This heat developing apparatus carries out developing processing by superposing a photosensitive material, on which an image has been exposed, and an image receiving material one on top of the other, heating them for a certain period of time, and then peeling the photosensitive material from the image receiving material, and drying them (i.e., so-called dry processing is carried out).
As shown in
FIG. 8
, a photosensitive material
126
, on which an image has been exposed by an exposure device
102
provided adjacent to a heat developing apparatus
100
, is inserted into the heat developing apparatus
100
from an insertion opening
104
, and is conveyed by plural transport rollers
106
. A water application section
108
and a heat developing section
110
are provided along the direction the photosensitive material
126
is conveyed. At the water application section
108
, water is applied onto the photosensitive material
126
, so that the adhesion between the photosensitive material
126
and a processing sheet (i.e., the above-described image receiving material)
112
can be improved. A heating drum
114
is provided in the heat developing section
110
. A heater
116
, which is contained inside the heating drum
114
, raises the temperature of the rotating heating drum, and the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
conveyed along the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum
114
are heated for a predetermined period of time (i.e., heat developing processing is carried out). At this time, the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
, which have been superposed one on top of the other, are conveyed in a state in which they are attached by pressure. After completion of heat developing processing, the photosensitive material
126
is peeled from the processing sheet
112
, and is dried by plural fans
118
.
Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 9
, a heat developing section
110
A may be structured such that plural heating plates
120
A to
120
E are provided in a circular arc configuration in order to restrict the height of a heat developing apparatus
100
A. A flat heater (not shown) and a flat temperature sensor (also not shown) are built into the heating plates
120
A to
120
E, and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E are heated so as to be a suitable temperature for heat developing processing. That is, heat developing processing is carried out by conveying the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
, which have been laminated together, along the circular arc configuration of the heating plates
120
A to
120
E through a belt
124
.
Therefore, since a liquid containing chemicals, such as a processing solvent, is not used, nuisances such as liquid storing, replenishment control, and apparatus cleaning can be avoided, and maintenance properties of the apparatus can be improved.
However, in the heat developing apparatus
100
shown in
FIG. 8
, heat developing processing is carried out by conveying the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
along an outer peripheral surface of the heating drum
114
set in the heat developing section
110
, and by attaching the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
onto the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum
114
from pressure by a pressing belt
122
. Moreover, in the heat developing apparatus
100
A shown in
FIG. 9
, heat developing processing is carried out by conveying the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
along the circular arc configuration of the heating plates
120
A to
120
E through the belt
124
. That is, heat developing processing is carried out in a state in which the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
laminated together are caused to contact with and to be attached by pressure to the heating drum
114
or the belt
124
wound around the heating plates
120
A to
120
E.
Accordingly, since a mechanism for causing the photosensitive material
126
and a processing sheet
112
to contact with and to be attached by pressure to the heating drum
114
or the belt
124
wound around the heating plates
120
A to
120
E is needed, there is a problem with this method in that the inner structure of the heat developing apparatus becomes complicated.
In the heat developing apparatus
100
shown in
FIG. 8
, the heater
116
is built in the heating drum
114
, and the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
are heated via the heating drum
114
. Moreover, in the heat developing apparatus
100
A shown in
FIG. 9
, the flat heater is built into the heating plates
120
A to
120
E, and the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
are heated by the heating plates
120
A to
120
E and by the belt
124
wound around the heating plates
120
A to
120
E. In this way, since the conventional heat developing apparatuses
100
,
100
A are structured such that the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
are heated indirectly, not only the photosensitive material
126
and the processing sheet
112
, but also the heating drum
114
and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E need to be heated, so that a heater of a large capacity must be built thereinto. Accordingly, there is another problem in that manufacturing costs of the heat developing apparatus increase.
Further, the heating drum
114
and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E are cooled gradually. Therefore, there is a problem in that when heat developing processing is carried out continuously on the photosensitive material
126
, the temperature of the heating drum
114
and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E is unstable, and it is difficult to adjust the temperature to a value suitable for heat developing processing. Moreover, there is another problem in that an uneven developing is caused by the shapes of the heating drum
114
and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E, so that an image cannot be formed accurately.
In contrast, there is a method for heating a photosensitive material without using the heating drum
114
and the heating plates
120
A to
120
E. In such a method, a heater is provided so as to face the photosensitive material conveyed linearly, so that the photosensitive material is heated by relative movement of the photosensitive material and the heater.
However, when this method is used, it takes considerable time to heat the photosensitive material. Moreover, when the heater is moved, the heater is cooled by the air flow generated around the heater, and the heating temperature of the photosensitive material becomes unstable, so that failures such as breaking of filaments or the

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Heating apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Heating apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heating apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2582021