Photography – Fluid-treating apparatus – Having photographic medium feed
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-24
2003-04-29
Rutledge, Della J (Department: 2851)
Photography
Fluid-treating apparatus
Having photographic medium feed
C396S617000, C396S620000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06554508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing device in which a photosensitive material that has been inserted via an insertion aperture is processed using processing solutions stored in processing tanks, and is then discharged via a discharge aperture and stacked.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a guide structure for a photosensitive material processing device for guiding a photosensitive material in a predetermined transporting direction in the processing tanks while supporting the photosensitive material in the processing device.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing device for processing a photosensitive material by brushing the surface of the photosensitive material using brush rollers.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a finishing solution control system used in the processing device in a finishing processing section for performing a desensitizing processing on the surface of the photosensitive material using finishing solution.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a water storage tank for storing water used to wash the photosensitive material and to dilute processing solution in the processing device.
The present invention also relates to a stacking device provided in the processing device for stacking photosensitive material ejected from the ejection aperture of the processing section after passing through the processing section of the processing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a photosensitive material processing device, processing such as developing and the like using a plurality of processing solutions is performed on a photosensitive material that has undergone image exposure as the photosensitive material is being transported, by immersing the photosensitive material in processing solutions, spraying processing solutions on the surface of the photosensitive material, and the like.
For example, in a photosensitive material processing device for processing photosensitive planographic printing plates (referred to below as “printing plates”) as a photosensitive material, there are provided a plurality of processing steps that use processing solutions, such as: a developing step for developing the printing plate by immersing it in a developing solution; a washing step for washing the surface of the printing plate using washing water; and a desensitizing step for performing a desensitizing processing by coating the surface of the printing plate with finisher solution after it has finished the washing process in order to protect it. A printing plate that has previously undergone image exposure is thus subjected to developing, washing, and desensitizing processing in a processing device such as this.
However, the developing solutions used in processing a printing plate deteriorate as they come into contact with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the processing performance thereof is reduced. Moreover, the processing performance changes as the water content in the developing solutions evaporates. Furthermore, the finisher solution coated on the printing plate adheres to the rollers and is made to stick to the rollers if heated air from the drying step provided adjacent to the finisher step leaks into the finisher step. Pairs of transport rollers in the finisher step prior to the drying step end up sticking together, and the surface of the printing plate is damaged as the printing plate comes into contact with the rollers to which the finisher solution has stuck.
Therefore, in the processing device, the insertion apertures and discharge apertures through which the printing plate passes are closed off using a blade or slide type of shutter mechanism. Consequently, outside air can be prevented from coming in via the insertion aperture and discharge aperture when no printing plate is passing through. As a result, deterioration in the developing solutions, evaporation of the water content in the developing solutions, and the hardening of processing solutions such as the finisher solution adhered to the rollers can be prevented.
However, if the insertion apertures and discharge apertures are closed off using a blade and a printing plate is transported while in contact with this blade, then if the blade makes contact with the surface of the printing plate while processing solution is adhering to the printing plate, contact marks from the blade are left on the surface of the printing plate and the like, thereby affecting the product quality of the printing plate.
Moreover, if the insertion apertures and discharge apertures are opened and closed off using a slide type of shutter, space for the movement of the slide type shutter needs to be secured near the insertion apertures and discharge apertures. The securing of this space has sometimes been difficult, as printing plate processors have become more and more compact. In addition, in a slide type of shutter, if processing solution becomes adhered and fixed thereto, operating failures can occur and accurate opening and closing can be difficult. Consequently, the first problem evident In existing photosensitive material processing devices is the opening and closing of the portion used as a passage by the printing plate.
Here, examples of printing plates include, in addition to a commonly structured printing plate (presensitized or PS plate) comprising a photosensitive composition coated in a thin layer on an aluminum substrate, a photopolymer plate comprising a photo adhesion layer, a photo polymerization layer, and an overcoat layer superposed on a substrate, and a thermal plate comprising on a substrate a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer in which the photo energy of laser light is converted into thermal energy and which is either hardened (negative type) or made soluble (positive type) depending on the developing solution.
Printing plates on which images have been recorded undergo developing processing using a photosensitive material processing device and are used as printing plates for printing. Guide devices are provided inside the developing tanks of the processing device and printed plates are transported while being guided by the guide devices.
Some processing devices use only plate shaped guide devices depending on the printing plate being processed while other processing devices transport the printing plates by guiding them via contact with a plurality of transporting rollers provided in the guide devices. When processing is performed using photopolymer plates, the unnecessary photosensitive layer is removed by rubbing the surface of the plate with brush rollers. At this time, transporting rollers may be provided at positions facing the brush rollers in the guide. Moreover, the printing plates come in various sizes and it is necessary to use a guide device having width dimensions that correspond to a size within the range that can be processed by the processing device.
Accordingly, the second problem in existing processing devices is the difficulty in lowering the cost brought about when guide devices that match the various sizes and types of printing plates being processed need to be used even if the guide devices used have a common configuration.
Next, in an automatic developing device, which is a photosensitive material processing device for performing developing processing on an image exposed photopolymer plate, an image is formed by immersing the photopolymer plate in developing solution, thereby swelling the unnecessary photosensitive layer (the photopolymer layer) in accordance with the exposure image, and then removing the unnecessary layer from the substrate. Moreover, in an automatic developing device, by brushing the surface of the printing plate that has been immersed in the developing solution using a brush roller, the removal of the unnecessary photosensitive layer from the substrate can be accelerated.
The brush rollers used when processing printing plates such as a photopolymer plate and the like are formed by attaching channel brus
Iwamoto Takayuki
Matsuda Shin-ichi
Nozawa Ryoei
Suya Toshihiro
Yamamoto Hideto
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rutledge Della J
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
Photosensitive material processing device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Photosensitive material processing device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photosensitive material processing device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3040196