Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-07-24
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C399S279000, C430S350000, C430S353000, C347S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265693
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat-development recording apparatus and heat sensitization which is performed in a film conveying apparatus for conveying a film, such as a heat-development photosensitive material, and more particularly to an antistatic technique for use when a film, such as a heat-development photosensitive material, is conveyed.
As an image recording apparatus for recording a medical image for use in a digital radiography system, a CT, an MR or the like, a wet system has been known which obtains a reproduced image by performing a wet process after a process for photographing or recording an image on a silver-salt photosensitive material has been performed.
In recent years, a recording apparatus has attracted attention which employs a dry system in which the wet process is not performed and which uses a heat-development photosensitive material.
FIG. 3
is a block diagram showing a related heat-development recording apparatus.
The foregoing apparatus is an apparatus for performing all of recording of a latent image on a recording material, development of the latent image and transference of the image in a dry state. Referring to
FIG. 3
, a heat-development photosensitive material which is a recording material is, in an exposure section
4
, irradiated (scanned) with a laser beam modulated by a laser modulation section
3
in accordance with image data
1
so that a latent image is formed. Then, the exposed heat-development photosensitive material is, in a heat-development section
5
, brought into contact with a heating means so that heat-development is performed. As a result, an image is obtained.
When the above-mentioned sequential heat-development process is performed, the photosensitive material is, while being nipped by conveying rollers, conveyed from a magazine loaded into the heat-development recording apparatus to the exposure section
4
after which the photosensitive material is conveyed from the exposure section
4
to the heat-development section
5
. During the conveyance, an emulsion binder of a conventional wet-type silver-salt film containing water in a large quantity has inhibited easy electrification.
On the other hand, a dry silver material for use in a method in which all of the processes for obtaining an image are performed in a dry state must maintain the hardness of the surface of the dry silver material. Therefore, an emulsion binding having a low water content must be employed, causing undesirable electrification to sometimes occur during conveyance or in a manufacturing process.
If the electrification of the photosensitive material occurs, adhesion of dust or the like easily takes place. It leads to a fact that an irregular image occurs. What is worse, a plurality of the photosensitive materials sometimes adsorb one another. In the foregoing case, introduction of the sheet material encounters a problem, causing a malfunction to occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus which is capable of preventing electrification of a film, which is a heat-development photosensitive material or the like, preventing a malfunction or the like during the heat-development process and improving conveyance easiness of the sheet and which can be manufactured at a low cost.
In order to achieve the foregoing object, according to the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising: a heat-developing section for heat-developing a latent image formed on a photo/heat-sensitive material sheet in which an antistatic agent is added; and conveying rollers made of resin for conveying the photo/heat-sensitive material sheet along a sheet feeding path including at least the heat-developing section.
The foregoing structure is arranged such that the antistatic agent is added to the film, such as the heat-development photosensitive material. Therefore, electrification during the manufacturing process and the conveying process can be prevented. Thus, any antistatic brushes and adhesive rollers are not required. Moreover, use of the resin roller for conveying the heat-development photosensitive material sheet enables the manufacturing cost to be reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2861056 (1958-11-01), Minsk et al.
patent: 3206312 (1965-09-01), Sterman et al.
patent: 3428451 (1969-02-01), Trevoy et al.
patent: 5380644 (1995-01-01), Yonkoski et al.
patent: 6077649 (2000-06-01), Torisawa
patent: 60-244945 (1985-12-01), None
patent: 61-20033 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 62-170950 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 63-188135 (1988-08-01), None
patent: 6-301140 (1994-10-01), None
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Fuqua Shawntina
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
Image recording 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 Image recording apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image recording apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2538697