U.S. patent application number 11/224124 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-06 for conveying roller, production method thereof and conveying apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Koji Itoh.
Application Number | 20060071421 11/224124 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36124782 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060071421 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Itoh; Koji |
April 6, 2006 |
Conveying roller, production method thereof and conveying
apparatus
Abstract
A conveying roller pair disposed in a bleaching-fixing bath of a
photographic printer is constituted of a flat roller and a
projection roller. Plural roller pieces are fixed to a roller shaft
of the projection roller. Plural projections are formed by coating
molding on an outer peripheral surface of the roller piece. Each
roller piece has a core with an approximately ring shape, and an
elastic layer with plural projections. The core and the elastic
layer are adhered through a primer layer. Accordingly, uniform
adhesive strength is secured and slipping of the elastic layer on
the core is prevented. Since the plural projections are arranged in
a phase-coherent manner, contact condition and contact pressure
between the sheet and the projection roller are kept constant. As a
result, a skew of the sheet is prevented.
Inventors: |
Itoh; Koji; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
36124782 |
Appl. No.: |
11/224124 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/272 ;
271/275; 271/314 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2404/133 20130101;
B65H 27/00 20130101; B65H 2404/5521 20130101; B65H 2404/521
20130101; B65H 2404/563 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/272 ;
271/275; 271/314 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/02 20060101
B65H005/02; B65H 5/04 20060101 B65H005/04; B65H 29/20 20060101
B65H029/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 13, 2004 |
JP |
2004-265791 |
Claims
1. A conveying roller comprising: a roller shaft; and plural cores
fixed to said roller shaft, said cores and said roller shaft
integrally rotating about a rotation center line of said roller
shaft, an elastic layer having plural projections being formed by
coating molding on an outer peripheral surface of each of said
cores.
2. A conveying roller according to claim 1, wherein said elastic
layer is formed after forming a primer layer on each of said cores
by coating a primer.
3. A conveying roller according to claim 2, wherein a blasting is
performed to a surface of each of said cores for increasing
adhesive strength before forming said primer layer.
4. A conveying roller according to claim 1, wherein said plural
projections are aligned to form projection lines, which are in
parallel to said rotation center line, said projection lines are
arranged at a constant pitch in a circumferential direction.
5. A conveying roller according to claim 4, wherein said plural
projections are arranged in a zigzag by shifting said adjacent
projection lines in the direction of said rotation center line.
6. A conveying roller according to claim 1, wherein a fitting hole
is formed through each of said cores along said rotation center
line, each of said cores is attached to said roller shaft by
inserting said roller shaft into said fitting hole.
7. A conveying roller according to claim 6, wherein a fixing member
is attached to said roller shaft for fixing each of said cores to
said roller shaft.
8. A conveying roller according to claim 7, wherein an engaging
section, in which said fixing member is engaged, is formed in each
of said cores for fixing each of said cores to said roller
shaft.
9. A method for producing a conveying roller comprising the steps
of: forming an elastic layer having plural projections by coating
molding on an outer peripheral surface of each of plural cores; and
fixing said cores, each of which is formed with said elastic layer,
to a roller shaft such that said cores and said roller shaft
integrally rotate about a rotation center line of said roller
shaft.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said coating molding of
said elastic layer is performed by setting said core as a core in a
mold, and filling an elastic material in a cavity formed between
said core and said mold.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said coating molding of
said elastic layer is performed after a primer layer is formed on
each of said cores by coating a primer.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein a blasting is performed
to a surface of each of said cores for increasing adhesive strength
before forming said primer layer.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said core is set in
said mold in a predetermined position in a circumferential
direction.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said plural projections
are aligned to form projection lines, which are in parallel to said
rotation center line, said projection lines are arranged at a
constant pitch in said circumferential direction.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said plural projections
are arranged in a zigzag by shifting said adjacent projection lines
in the direction of said rotation center line.
16. A method according to claim 9, wherein a fitting hole is formed
through each of said cores along said rotation center line, each of
said cores is attached to said roller shaft by inserting said
roller shaft into said fitting hole.
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein a fixing member is
attached to said roller shaft for fixing each of said cores to said
roller shaft.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein an engaging section, in
which said fixing member is engaged, is formed in each of said
cores for fixing said cores to said roller shaft.
19. A method according to claim 9, wherein said core is formed of a
thermoplastic resin material, a thermosetting resin material or a
metal material.
20. A method according to claim 9, wherein said elastic layer is
formed of a vulcanized rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein a hardness of said
elastic layer is approximately 50 degrees.
22. A conveying apparatus comprising: a conveying roller pair
including: a conveying roller formed such that plural cores are
attached to a roller shaft, said cores and said roller shaft
integrally rotating about a rotation center line of said roller
shaft, an elastic layer having plural projections being formed by
coating molding on an outer peripheral surface of each of said
cores; and a flat roller used in a pair with said conveying roller
for nipping and conveying a sheet.
23. A conveying apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
elastic layer is formed after forming a primer layer on each of
said cores by coating a primer.
24. A conveying apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
projections in a nip area, where said sheet is nipped, are deformed
so that said projections outside said nip area in a width direction
of said conveying roller contact said flat roller when said
conveying roller and said flat roller nip said sheet.
25. A conveying apparatus according to claim 24, wherein a hardness
of said elastic layer is approximately 50 degrees.
26. A conveying apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said sheet
is a photosensitive material.
27. A conveying apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said
conveying roller pair is disposed in a storage tank in which a
processing solution is stored, and said elastic layer, said cores
and said primer layer are chemical-resistant to said processing
solution.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a conveying roller having
plural projections on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a method
for producing the conveying roller and a conveying apparatus using
the conveying roller.
[0003] 2. Background Arts
[0004] For example, a photographic printer performs processes of
exposing, developing, drying and the like in this order to a
photosensitive recording paper of a cut-sheet type while conveying
in a sub-scanning direction. The photosensitive recording paper is
nipped and conveyed by a plurality of conveying roller pairs
disposed along a passage. Because of the restrictions such as a
printer size and the like, the passage is curved in up-and-down
directions in several sections in the printer, particularly in a
processing tank in which a processing solution for developing is
stored. For that reason, the plurality of conveying roller pairs
are placed in the processing tank at narrow intervals.
[0005] When the conveying roller is constituted of flat rollers,
the photosensitive recording paper is frequently squeezed by the
flat rollers. As a result, the quality in edge portions of the
photosensitive recording paper may be deteriorated. Further, when
the photosensitive recording paper is nipped by one side of the
conveying roller pair in a width direction, a roll alignment may be
changed. Accordingly, a conveying force becomes unbalanced in the
width direction so that the photosensitive recording paper may be
skewed. In order to prevent such problems, the conveying roller
pair disposed in the processing tank is usually constituted of a
projection roller, which has plural projections on an outer
peripheral surface thereof, and the flat roller (see page 4 of
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-106376).
[0006] The projection roller is usually formed by inserting a
cylindrical core, which is made of metal or resin, into a silicone
rubber tube whose outer peripheral surface is formed with plural
projections. An external diameter of the core is larger than an
internal diameter of the silicone rubber tube. In that case,
slipping of the silicone rubber tube against the core is prevented
by a tightening force of the rubber tube alone. Further, there is a
known method for producing the projection roller, in which a rubber
roller is inserted into a tube, and the outer peripheral surface of
the rubber roller and the tube are adhered with using a primer (see
page 3 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-147125).
Furthermore, instead of using the primer, there is a method in
which the core and a rubber layer are directly adhered through
chemical bonding between a vulcanized rubber and a thermoplastic
resin by forming the rubber layer made of the vulcanized rubber on
the outer peripheral surface of the core made of the thermoplastic
resin.
[0007] When producing the projection roller using the above
methods, a width of the rubber tube with the projection is usually
formed longer than the width of the passage. However, in that case,
an outer diameter of the projection tube tends to vary in the width
direction. As a result, contact condition and contact pressure
between the photosensitive recording paper and the projections of
the projection roller vary in the width direction, which may
generate the skew of the photosensitive recording paper. In order
to prevent such problems, the projection roller is formed by
attaching plural projection tubes to the core (see page 4 of
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-106376). Thereby,
phases of the projections formed in adjacent projection tubes are
shifted so that arrangements of the projections become random.
Accordingly, the variations in the outer diameter of the projection
tube are virtually canceled.
[0008] When the projection roller, which prevents the slipping of
the projection tube only by the tightening force thereof, is used,
the tightening force of the projection tube is down by a slight
swelling of the projection tube in the processing solution, or the
stress relaxation of the projection tube itself. In particular,
since the projection roller is soaked in the processing solution
for a long time, the projection tube is swelled to a certain extent
even if the projection tube is formed of a chemical-resistant
material. Especially in the developing solution, the problems such
as the slipping of the projection tube and failures in conveying
the photosensitive recording paper tend to increase as the
tightening force of the projection tube is down by the swelling.
Further, since the projection roller nips and conveys the
photosensitive recording paper with a high conveying force while
deforming the projections formed on the outer peripheral surface
thereof, the stress is concentrated at the projections. As a
result, the stress applied to the projections during the conveyance
accelerates the expansion of the projection tube which causes
stress relaxation. Accordingly, the slipping occurs easily.
[0009] Inserting the core into the projection tube is troublesome
since the core should be inserted while expanding the projection
tube. Further, when inserting the core into the projection tube,
there may be a gap between the core and the projection tube, or a
distortion on the projection tube. As a result, the position of
each projection may deviate from the designed position, or the
outer diameter of each projection tube may vary. Furthermore, an
edge of the core may tear the projection tube when inserting the
core into the projection tube.
[0010] When plural projection tubes are attached to the outer
peripheral surface of the core, the variations in the outer
diameter of the projection tube are canceled as the phase of the
projection arrangement is shifted in each projection tube (see page
4 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-106376).
However, in that case, a leading end of the photosensitive
recording paper may be curled and damaged, and projection marks may
be caused by the projections deforming the recording paper in the
leading end, since a part of the leading end of the recording paper
may enter between the rollers at a large entry angle with respect
to the projections. Further, since the contact condition and the
contact pressure between the photosensitive recording paper and the
projection roller cannot be kept constant throughout the width
direction, the skew of the photosensitive recording paper cannot be
prevented.
[0011] To solve such problems, there is a method in which the
projection tubes are attached to the core such that each projection
is aligned in the same phase. However, it is difficult to manually
set each projection in the same phase. Further, note that the page
4 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-18328 does not
disclose a method for performing phase alignment of each projection
when forming the vulcanized rubber layer on the outer peripheral
surface of the core made of the thermoplastic resin. Furthermore,
the core made of the thermoplastic resin is usually formed by
injection molding using a mold. At that time, gas generated during
the injection molding may be deposited on the surface of the core
depending on deterioration of the mold with time lapse and the type
of the material used for the injection molding. As a result, the
deposited gas may weaken the chemical bond between the resin and
the vulcanized rubber when the vulcanized rubber layer is formed on
the outer peripheral surface of the core made of thermoplastic
resin. Accordingly, there is a possibility that required level of
the adhesive strength is not obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a conveying
roller, a production method thereof and a conveying apparatus which
prevent failures in conveying by preventing slipping of an elastic
layer around an outer peripheral surface of the core.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
conveying roller, a production method thereof and a conveying
apparatus which prevent the failures in conveying by keeping
contact condition and contact pressure constant between a sheet and
the conveying roller.
[0014] In order to achieve the above and other object of the
present invention, an elastic layer with plural projections of the
same phase is formed by coating molding on an outer peripheral
surface of a core. A conveying roller includes a roller shaft and
plural cores fixed to the roller shaft such that the cores and the
roller shaft integrally rotate about a rotation center line of the
roller shaft. The elastic layer with plural projections is formed
on the outer peripheral surface of each core after a primer layer
is formed on the core. The core and the elastic layer are adhered
through the primer layer. Before forming the primer layer, it is
preferable to perform blasting to the surface of the core for
increasing adhesive strength.
[0015] Further, the plural projections are aligned to form
projection lines, which are parallel to the rotation center line,
and the projection lines are arranged at a constant pitch in a
circumferential direction. The adjacent projection lines in the
circumferential direction are shifted in the direction of the
rotation center line and arranged in a zigzag. Further, a fitting
hole is formed through the core along the rotation center line, and
the plural cores are attached to the roller shaft by inserting the
roller shaft into the fitting hole. It is preferable to attach a
fixing member to the roller shaft and form an engaging section in
each core for fixing each core to the roller shaft by engaging the
fixing member in the engaging section.
[0016] In a method for producing the conveying roller of the
present invention, the elastic layer with plural projections is
formed by coating molding on the outer peripheral surface of the
core. The plural cores formed with the elastic layer are fixed to
the roller shaft such that the plural cores and the roller shaft
integrally rotate about the rotation center line of the roller
shaft. The coating molding of the elastic layer is performed by
setting the core as a core in the in a mold, and filling an elastic
material in a cavity formed between the core and the mold. The core
is set in the mold in a predetermined position in the
circumferential direction.
[0017] The core is formed of a thermoplastic resin material, a
thermosetting resin material or a metal material. The elastic layer
is preferably formed of a vulcanized rubber or a thermoplastic
elastomer. It is preferable that the hardness is approximately 50
degrees.
[0018] A conveying apparatus of the present invention includes a
conveying roller pair. The conveying roller pair includes the
conveying roller and a flat roller used in a pair with the
conveying roller for nipping and conveying the sheet. Further, it
is preferable that the projections in a nip area, where the sheet
is nipped, are deformed so that the projections outside the nip
area in a width direction of the conveying roller contact the flat
roller when the conveying roller and the flat roller nip the sheet.
Furthermore, it is preferable to use a photosensitive material as
the sheet. The conveying roller pair is preferably disposed in a
storage tank in which processing solution is stored. It is
preferable that the elastic layer, the core and the primer layer
are chemical-resistant to the processing solution.
[0019] The conveying roller, a production method thereof and a
conveying apparatus using the conveying roller prevents the
slipping of the elastic layer on the outer peripheral surface of
the core while conveying the sheet, since the elastic layer with
the plural projections is formed by coating molding on the core. As
a result, the failures in conveying the sheet is prevented.
Further, although the number of the processes for producing the
conveying roller is increased by forming the elastic layer, the
working efficiency is substantially improved as the processes for
inserting the core into the projection tube become unnecessary.
Furthermore, the core is no longer inserted into the projection
tube by manual work. Accordingly, yields in manufacturing the
projection roller and the quality stability are improved at the
same time.
[0020] The entry angle of the sheet can be kept constant throughout
the leading end of the sheet while the sheet enters between the
conveying roller and the flat roller which form the conveying
roller pair. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent the
projection marks which are caused by the projections pressing the
part of the sheet. Further, the contact condition and the contact
pressure can be kept constant throughout the width section of the
sheet. Accordingly, the skew of the sheet is prevented by
preventing unbalance in the conveying force of the conveying roller
and changes in the roll alignment.
[0021] Further, since the core and the elastic layer are adhered
through the primer layer, the uniform adhesive strength is secured
regardless of the surface profile in the core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions of
the preferred embodiments when read in association with the
accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only
and thus do not limit the present invention. In the drawings, the
same reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photographic printing
system;
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a conveying roller pair disposed in a
bleaching-fixing bath in a processor section;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a lateral view of a core constituting a projection
roller of the conveying roller pair;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a front view of the core;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the core viewed from a
lateral side;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a mold for coating
molding of an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the
core;
[0029] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are explanatory views showing steps for
attaching roller pieces to a roller shaft of the projection roller:
FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of the projection roller when
the first roller piece is attached, FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional
view of the projection roller when the second roller piece is
attached and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the projection
roller when all the roller pieces are attached;
[0030] FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the roller shaft which
has a D-cut section, and FIG. 8B is a front view of the roller
piece whose fitting hole is formed in a D-shape;
[0031] FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory views showing steps for
attaching the roller pieces of FIG. 8B to the roller shaft of FIG.
8A: FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the roller shaft when the
first roller piece is attached, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional
view when the second roller piece is attached;
[0032] FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the roller shaft to
which a key is attached, and FIG. 10B is a front view of the roller
piece, an opening of which is formed with a key groove;
[0033] FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing steps for
attaching the roller pieces of FIG. 10B to the roller shaft of the
FIG. 10A: FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view when the first roller
piece is attached, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view when the
second roller piece is attached; and
[0034] FIGS. 12A and 12B are explanatory views showing steps for
attaching the roller pieces, each of which has concave and convex
sections in the core, to the roller shaft: FIG. 12A shows the
beginning of attaching the roller pieces, and FIG. 12B shows when
all the roller pieces are attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, a photographic printing system 10 is an
image output apparatus which is constituted of an image input
device 11, an image processing device 12, a printer 13, a processor
14 and the like. Each section of the photographic system 10 is
connected to a controller 15 through wiring (not shown). The
controller 15 controls the overall operation of the photographic
system 10.
[0036] The image input device 11 generates image data by
photoelectrically reading an image recorded on a photographic film
by using an image capture device such as a CCD image sensor, or
obtains the image data by reading the image data recorded in a
recording medium such as a memory card, CDR, DVD-R and the like.
The image data is sent to the image processing device 12, and image
processing such as color balance correction and density correction
are performed to the image data. After the image processing, the
image data is sent to the printer 13.
[0037] The printer 13 records images on a photosensitive recording
paper (a recording material), which is cut in a predetermined
length, using recording light whose intensity is modified according
to the image data, while conveying the photosensitive recording
paper in a sub-scanning direction (a conveying direction). The
printer 13 is provided with a supply section 17, a back-printing
section 18, a skew-correcting section 19, an exposure section
(image recording section) 20, a receiver section 21, a sorter
section 22, a carrying section 23 and the like in this order from
an upstream. In each of the above sections, plural conveying roller
pairs, each of which is constituted of a drive roller and a nip
roller, are disposed along a main passage 24 (indicated by an
alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1) of the photosensitive
recording paper.
[0038] In the supply section 17, magazines 27a and 27b are set.
Each of the magazines 27a and 27b contains a recording-paper roll
26 which is a photosensitive recording paper 25 in a roll form. In
the magazines 27a and 27b, paper roller pair 28a and 28b are
disposed respectively for pulling out and conveying the
photosensitive recording paper 25 toward the back-printing section
18. When the paper roller pair 28a and 28b are rotated by a paper
feed motor (not shown), the photosensitive recording paper 25 is
pulled out from the recording-paper roll 26 and conveyed toward
cutters 30a and 30b. The cutters 30a and 30b cut the photosensitive
recording paper 25, which is pulled out for a predetermined length
in accordance with the print size, to form a paper sheet 35.
[0039] In the embodiment, since the paper sheet 35 is conveyed in a
single line to the sorter section 22, which will be described
later, timing of supplying the paper sheet 35 from each of the
magazines 27a and 27b is automatically adjusted. Further, when the
magazines 27a and 27b contain the same type of the photosensitive
recording paper 25 (the recording-paper roll 26), the
photosensitive recording paper 25 may be pulled out from one of the
magazines (27a or 27b) first, and then from the other magazine
after the photosensitive recording paper 25 is completely pulled
out from the initially selected magazine. The plural conveying
roller pairs disposed along the main passage 24 convey the paper
sheet 35, which has been cut by the cutters 30a and 30b, through
the back-printing section 18, the skew-correcting section 19, the
exposure section 20, the receiver section 21, the sorter section 22
and the carrying section 23 in this order.
[0040] The back-printing section 18 has a back-printing head 37
which records print information, such as a photography date, a
print date, a frame number, various IDs and the like, on the back
(an opposite side of the recording surface) of the paper sheet
35.
[0041] The skew-correcting section 19 is constituted of a resist
roller pair 39 and the plural conveying roller pairs disposed at
the front and rear of the resist roller pair 39. The resist roller
pair 39 corrects an inclination of the paper sheet 35 so as to
prevent misalignments in an angle and an exposure position of the
paper sheet 35 in the exposure section 20. Any known methods can be
used for correcting the skew using the resist roller pair 39. For
instance, the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication Nos. 4,602,778 and No. 11-349191 can be applied.
[0042] The exposure unit 20 is constituted of an exposure unit 41,
feed roller pairs 42 and 43, and the like. The exposure unit 41
includes a known laser printer and an image memory (not shown). In
the image memory, image data sent from the image processing device
12 is stored. The laser printer exposes the image on the paper
sheet 35 by scanning the recording light (the laser light), which
is modulated according to the image to be recorded, in a
main-scanning direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning
direction. Nip rollers of the feed roller pairs 42 and 43 are
switchable between a nip position, in which the paper sheet 35 is
nipped, and a release position in which the paper sheet 35 is
released. The nip position and the release position of each nip
roller are switched when a position sensor (not shown) detects a
leading end or a trailing end of the paper sheet 35. Thereby, it
becomes possible to prevent velocity fluctuations in conveying the
paper sheet 35 during the exposure.
[0043] The receiver section 21 has plural roller pairs for
retaining a leading end of the paper sheet 35 which is conveyed
from the exposure section 20 after the exposure, and conveys the
paper sheet 35 toward the downstream in the conveying direction
with the same velocity as that in the exposure section 20. Each
roller pair in the receiver section 21 is constituted of a drive
roller and a nip roller which is releasable. The nip roller
releases the paper sheet 35 during the exposure. When the exposure
of the trailing end of the paper sheet 35 is completed, the nip
roller moves to the nip position, and nips and conveys the paper
sheet 35 to the sorter section 22.
[0044] The sorter section 22 sorts the paper sheet 35, which has
been conveyed in the single line, into plural lines according to
the sheet size while conveying the paper sheet 35 at a
predetermined first velocity. For instance, when the paper sheet 35
is of a normal or small size, the sorter section 22 sorts the paper
sheet 35 into two lines. When the paper sheet 35 is of a large
size, which cannot be conveyed in parallel, the sorter section 22
conveys the paper sheet 35 in the single line without sorting. The
carrying section 23 conveys the paper sheet 35, which is conveyed
from the sorter section 22, to the processor 14 at a second
velocity corresponding to a processing speed of the processor
14.
[0045] The processor 14 is constituted of a processing section 46,
a drying section 47, a passage changing section 48, a rearranging
section 49, a sorter 50 and the like. The paper sheet 35 conveyed
from the printer 13 is conveyed in parallel in the processor 14
along the main passage 24 indicated by the alternate long and short
dash line in FIG. 1.
[0046] In the processing section 46, a developing bath 52, a
bleaching-fixing bath 53 and a washing bath 54 are disposed in this
order from the upstream. Predetermined amounts of a developing
solution 52a, a bleaching-fixing solution 53a and a washing
solution 54a are stored in the developing bath 52, the
bleaching-fixing bath 53 and the washing bath 54 respectively. In
each bath 52, 53 and 54, a paper conveying rack 55 is loaded. In
each paper conveying rack 55, plural conveying roller pairs 58 are
disposed at predetermined intervals. The conveying roller pair 58
is constituted of a flat roller 56 and a projection roller 57 which
will be described later. To make a photographic print, the paper
sheet 35 is sequentially conveyed in parallel through each bath
52-54 by the conveying roller pair 58 for developing, fixing and
washing. When there is a possibility that the projection roller 57
may cause unevenness in developing, the projection roller 57 can be
replaced with a flat roller of the same size.
[0047] The drying section 47 is disposed in an upper section of
each bath 52-54, and is constituted of a belt and a ventilation
duct (not shown). The ventilation duct supplies dry air heated by a
heater (not shown) to the paper sheet 35 conveyed on the belt.
Thereby, wash water, which is deposited on the paper sheet 35 when
washed in the washing bath 54, is removed. The dried paper sheet
(the photographic print) 35 is conveyed to the passage changing
section 48 which is disposed above the drying section 47 (see FIG.
1).
[0048] The passage changing section 48 conveys the paper sheet 35
of the normal size, which is conveyed in parallel, to the
rearranging section 49. When the paper sheet 35 of the large size
is conveyed, the passage changing section 48 switches the passage
to a tray 60 disposed in a downstream of a sub-passage 24a.
[0049] The rearranging section 49 rearranges the paper sheet 35 of
the normal size conveyed in parallel to the single line. The
rearranging section 49 is set in a replaceable manner according to
the processing capacity of the photographic printing system 10. For
instance, the rearranging section 49 is replaced with the one with
faster rearranging speed, the one which does not perform
rearranging or the like according to the photographic printing
system 10. The sorter 50 outputs the plural paper sheet 35 conveyed
from the rearranging section 49 in each print job.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, The flat roller 56 and the projection
roller 57 are rotatably retained in the paper conveying rack 55
through bearing sections 63 respectively. A drive motor is
connected to one of the above two rollers, a flat roller 56 for
instance, through a drive transmission mechanism (not shown),
rotating the flat roller 56 at a predetermined rotation speed
according to the conveying speed of the paper sheet 35.
[0051] The flat roller 56 is constituted of a roller shaft 65 and a
rubber roll 66 attached to the roller shaft 65. The roller shaft 65
is rotatably retained in the paper conveying rack 55 through the
bearing section 63. The roller shaft 65 can be formed of any metal
or resin material as long as the material is chemical-resistant
(corrosion-resistant) to the developing solution 52a, the
bleaching-fixing solution 53a and the washing solution 54a.
Further, a width of the rubber roll 66 is longer than that of the
passage along which the paper sheet 35 is conveyed in parallel. The
rubber roll 66 can also be formed of any resin material as long as
the material is chemical-resistant to the developing solution 52a,
the bleaching-fixing solution 53a and the washing solution 54a. In
the embodiment, the roller shaft 65 is formed of SUS 316, and the
rubber roll 66 is formed of a silicone rubber, for instance.
[0052] The projection roller 57 has a skewer-like shape. The
projection roller 57 is constituted of a roller shaft 68, roller
pieces 70, pins 71 (see FIG. 7) and an E-ring 72. The roller shaft
68 is rotatably retained in the paper conveying rack 55 through the
bearing section 63. The roller pieces 70, each of which is formed
with projections 69 on an outer peripheral surface thereof, are
attached and fixed to the outer circumferential surface the roller
shaft 68. The pins 71 fix the roller pieces 70 on the roller shaft
68 which will be described later.
[0053] In the embodiment, the projection roller 57 is formed in the
skewer-like shape by fixing the roller pieces 70 to the roller
shaft 68 at certain intervals. However, the projection roller 57
can be formed in other configurations. For instance, a length of
the roller piece 70 is extended in the width direction so that the
projection roller 57 may have a similar shape to the flat roller
56. However, in that case, an outer diameter (a length from a shaft
center of the roller shaft 68 to an outer circumferential surface
of an elastic layer 79 which will be described later) may vary in
an axial direction of the roller shaft 68. For that reason, it is
preferable to form a roller piece 70 with a short width and fix
plural roller pieces 70 to the roller shaft 68. The number of the
roller pieces 70 to be fixed to the roller shaft 68 is not
particularly limited, and may be arbitrarily increased or decreased
according to the width of the paper sheet 35 to be conveyed.
[0054] As with the roller shaft 65, the roller shaft 68 is formed
of any metal or resin material with the chemical resistance to the
developing solution 52a, the bleaching-fixing solution 53a and the
washing solution 54a. In the embodiment, the roller shaft 68 is
formed of SUS 316. The roller shaft 68 has pin holes 74 (see FIG.
7) for attaching the pins 71, which will be described later, and a
ring groove 75 (see FIG. 7) for attaching the E-ring 72 in the
corresponding fixing position of each roller piece 70.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the roller piece 70 is constituted of
a circular core 78, the elastic layer 79 and a primer layer 80. The
core 78 has an approximately ring (cylindrical) shape in which a
fitting hole 77 is formed for attaching the core 78 to the roller
shaft 68. The elastic layer 79, which has the projections 69 in a
predetermined arrangement on the surface, is formed by coating
molding on the outer peripheral surface of the core 78. The primer
layer 80 adheres the elastic layer 79 and the core 78. Further, a
note C in FIG. 5 indicates a rotation center line of the roller
shaft 68.
[0056] The core 78 is formed of a coating section 78a, on which the
elastic layer 79 is coated and formed, and a spacer section 78b
which restricts a movement of the roller piece 70 in an axial
direction of the roller shaft 68 (in a direction of the rotation
center line C) when attaching the roller piece 70 to the roller
shaft 68. The core 78 is formed of a so-called injection molding in
which heated and melted resin material (modified polyphenylene
ether) is injected, cooled and solidified in a mold (not shown). At
that time, gas generated by the injection molding may be deposited
on the outer peripheral surface of the core 78. The deposited gas
weakens the adhesive strength between the outer peripheral surface
of the core 76 and the primer layer 80 which will be described
later. Accordingly, the adhesive strength between the elastic layer
79 and the outer peripheral surface of the core 76 is reduced. To
prevent the reduction of the adhesive strength, it is preferable to
perform a blasting on the surface of the coating section 78a of the
core 78 before forming the elastic layer 79 by coating molding. The
blasting makes the outer peripheral surface of the core 78 rough
and increases an adhesive area thereof. Accordingly, the adhesive
strength is improved.
[0057] The resin material for forming the core 78 should have the
chemical resistance to the developing solution 52a, the
bleaching-fixing solution 53a and the washing solution 54a, and
heat resistance for preventing deformations and a secondary
shrinkage which may be caused by the heat which is generated when
the elastic layer 79 is formed by coating molding. In the
embodiment, VESTORAN (produced by Daicel Degussa, Ltd.) is used as
the resin material.
[0058] Further, in the embodiment, when the core 78 is formed by
the injection molding, a pin groove 82, in which the pin 71 is
engaged, is formed in an opening 77a which is formed in a left edge
portion of the fitting hole 77 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). By adjusting
the depth of the pin groove 82 (which is a length in the direction
of the rotation center line C), a fixing position of the roller
piece 70 is adjusted with respect to the roller shaft 68. In the
embodiment, the two pin grooves 82 are formed at diametrically
opposed positions with respect to a center of the opening 77a.
However, the position of the pin groove 82 is not particularly
limited, and can be changed as necessary.
[0059] Since the projections 69 are formed on the outer peripheral
surface of the elastic layer 79, it is preferable that the elastic
layer 79 is formed of a vulcanized rubber or the like which is
chemical-resistant to the developing solution 52a, the
bleaching-fixing solution 53a and the washing solution 54a and
whose hardness is not so high. In the embodiment, the elastic layer
79 is formed of the silicone rubber (produced by Dow Corning Toray
Co., Ltd.) with the hardness of about 50 degrees. The projections
69 on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer 79 is also
formed of the soft silicone rubber so that it becomes possible to
prevent projection marks on the paper sheet 35 caused by
deformation of the projections 69 when the paper sheet 35 is nipped
between the flat roller 56 and the projection roller 57.
[0060] In the embodiment, each projection 69 is aligned in the
direction of the rotation center line C to form a projection line.
The projection line is arranged at a constant pitch in a
circumferential direction of the elastic layer 79. Adjacent
projection lines in the circumferential direction are staggered
with respect to the rotation center line C to form a zigzag.
Thereby, it becomes possible to prevent the projection marks on the
leading end of the paper sheet 35 caused by the projections 69
partly pressing the paper sheet 35, which will be described later.
Further, it becomes possible to keep the contact condition and the
contact pressure of the paper sheet 35 constant. The arrangement
pattern of the projections 69 is not limited to the examples shown
in FIGS. 3-5. The projections 69 can be arranged in any arbitrary
pattern which enables to prevent projection marks and keep the
contact condition and the contact pressure constant.
[0061] Further, in the embodiment, the shape and the height of each
projection 69 are adjusted in such a way that the projections 69,
which are in the position for nipping the paper sheet 35, are
deformed, and the projections 69, which are not in the position for
nipping the paper sheet 35, contact the flat roller 56 (see FIG.
2). Thereby, it becomes possible to nip the paper sheet 35 with the
constant contact pressure in the width direction so that the skew
and the like are prevented.
[0062] The elastic layer 79 is formed by coating molding on the
outer peripheral surface of the coating section 78a of the core 78
as described above, and adhered to the outer peripheral surface of
the coating section 78a through the primer layer 80. In the
embodiment, the blasting is performed to the core 78 which is
formed by the injection molding. Thereafter, the primer is coated
to the coating section 78a to form the primer layer 80. The primer
layer 80 is formed of a silicone-based primer (produced by
Shin-Etsu Silicone, Ltd.) which is chemical-resistant. The core 78,
which is formed with the primer layer 80, is set as a core in a
mold 84 for forming the elastic layer as shown in FIG. 6, for
instance.
[0063] In FIG. 6, the mold 84 is constituted of a top mold 86,
which is formed to cover an upper half of the core 78, a bottom
mold 87, which is formed to cover a lower half of the core 78, and
a positioning block 88 for positioning the core 78. The top mold 86
and the bottom mold 87 are joined at a mold parting line PL in a
detachable manner. In the top and the bottom molds 86 and 87, mold
faces 89a and 89b, which correspond to the shape of the core 78,
are formed respectively. A cavity 90 is formed between the mold
faces 89a, 89b and the coating sections 78a of the core 78
respectively according to a thickness of the elastic layer 79.
Hollows 90a, which correspond to the shape and the arrangement of
the projections 69, are formed in areas in the mold faces 89a and
89b on the opposite side of the coating section 78a. An injection
hole 91 is formed through the top mold 86 for injecting the heated
and melted silicone rubber into the cavity 90. Further, openings
92a and 92b are formed in the top and bottom molds 86 and 87
respectively. The positioning block 88 is set in the openings 92a
and 92b when the top and bottom molds 86 and 87 are joined.
[0064] The positioning block 88 is formed in a shape to be fitted
in the pin groove 82 formed in the opening 77a of the core 78. To
set the core 78 coated with the primer layer 80 in the mold 84, the
positioning block 88 is fit in the pin groove 82 first. Then, the
positioning block 88 and the core 78 are set in the bottom mold 87.
Thereafter, the top mold 86 and the bottom mold 87 are joined.
Thus, the core 78 is set in the mold 84 in such a way that the pin
groove 82 is set in the predetermined direction, that is, the core
78 is positioned in the same position in the circumferential
direction. Thereby, the phase of the arrangement of the projections
69 formed on the outer peripheral surface of each roller piece 70
is automatically aligned when the roller pieces 70 are attached to
the roller shaft 68, which will be described later.
[0065] After setting the core 78 in the mold 84, the heated and the
melted silicone rubber is injected through the injection hole 91.
Thereafter, the silicone rubber is cooled and solidified to form
the elastic layer 79 on the coating section 78a of the core 78.
Thus the roller piece 70 is formed. The outer peripheral surface of
the coating section 78a and the elastic layer 79 are adhered
through the primer layer 80 by the heat generated by forming of the
elastic layer 79 by coating molding. When the silicone rubber is
solidified, the top and the bottom molds 86 and 87 are separated,
the roller piece 70 is taken out from the mold 84 and the flash and
the like are removed. Even if there is PL flash on the tips of the
projections 69 caused by the PL between the top and the bottom
molds 86 and 87, such PL flash has little effect on the paper sheet
35, since the projections 69 are deformed while conveying the paper
sheet 35. In the embodiment, the mold 84 is constituted of the top
and the bottom molds 86 and 87. However, to facilitate the
separation of the molds, the mold 84 may be configured with four or
more molds by further dividing the top and the bottom molds 86 and
87.
[0066] Thus, when producing the roller piece 70, the primer layer
80, which is chemical-resistant, is formed on the coating section
78a on the core 78, and the elastic layer 79 is formed on the
primer layer 80. Thereby, the core 78 and the elastic layer 79 are
adhered and integrated through the primer layer 80. Accordingly,
the tightening force of the elastic layer 79 is prevented from
relaxing due to swelling and stretching caused by the stress at the
conveyance unlike the projection tubes. As a result, the slipping
of the elastic layer 79 is prevented when conveying the paper sheet
35. Further, since the core 78 and the elastic layer 79 are not
directly adhered by the chemical bond, but through the primer layer
80, the uniform adhesive strength is secured regardless of the
surface condition of the coating section 78a of the core 78.
[0067] Although processes to form the elastic layer 79 by coating
molding on the core 78 are necessary in the embodiment, the
conventional processes, in which the core 78 is inserted into the
projection tube (not shown), are omitted. Accordingly, the working
efficiency is significantly improved. Further, since each
projection 69 is arranged in the designed position by integrally
forming the elastic layer 79 and the core 78, it becomes possible
to prevent the deviations of the projections 69 from the designed
positions occurred in the above conventional processes.
[0068] After forming the predetermined number of roller pieces 70,
each roller piece 70 is attached to the roller shaft 68 one by one.
Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, processes for attaching the
roller pieces 70 to the roller shaft 68 are described. The roller
piece 70 is attached to the roller shaft 68 one by one from a right
end of the roller shaft 68.
[0069] Before attaching the first roller piece 70, a first pin 71
is engaged in the pin hole 74 formed on the left end side of the
roller shaft 68 as shown in FIG. 7A. Then, the roller piece 70 is
attached to the roller shaft 68 by inserting the right end of the
roller shaft 68 into the fitting hole 77 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) of the
roller piece 70. Thereafter, the roller piece 70 is slid to the
left along the roller shaft 68 until the pin 71 is engaged in the
pin groove 82. The pin 71 restrains further slide movement and the
rotation of the roller piece 70 in the circumferential
direction.
[0070] When the slide movement of the first roller piece 70 is
completed, the second pin 71 is engaged in the second pin hole 74,
and the second roller piece 70 is attached to the right end of the
roller shaft 68. Then, the second roller piece 70 is slid to the
left along the roller shaft 68 until the second pin 71 is engaged
in the second pin groove 82 in the same manner as the first roller
piece 70. Thereby, the first pin 71 and the second roller piece 70
restrain the movement of the first roller piece 70 in the axial
direction (the direction of the rotation center line C) of the
roller shaft 68, and thus the first roller piece 70 is fixed to the
roller shaft 68. Hereinafter, the roller piece 70 is fixed to the
roller shaft 68 one by one in the same manner.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 7C, when the last roller piece 70 is
attached to the roller shaft 68 and completely slid, the E-ring 72
is engaged in the ring groove 75. Thereby, the movements of all the
roller pieces 70 in the direction of the rotation center line C
(see FIG. 5) are restrained. Further, as described above, since the
rotation of each roller piece 70 is restrained in the
circumferential direction by using the pin 71, all roller pieces 70
are completely fixed to the roller shaft 68.
[0072] In the embodiment, the core 78 is placed in the mold 84 in
the predetermined position in the circumferential direction when
the elastic layer 79 is formed by coating molding on the core 78.
Therefore, the phase of the arrangement of the projections 69 on
each roller piece 70 is automatically aligned only by engaging the
pin 71 in the pin groove 82. Further, in the embodiment, the
projections 69 on each roller piece 70 is formed in such a way that
the projection lines, in which the projections 69 are aligned in
the direction of the rotation center line C of the core 78, are
arranged in the zigzag with the constant pitch in the
circumferential direction of the elastic layer 79. Accordingly, it
becomes possible to keep the entry angle constant throughout the
leading end of the paper sheet 35 when the paper sheet 35 enters
between the flat roller 56 and the projection roller 57. Further,
the contact condition and the contact pressure between the paper
sheet 35 and the projection roller 57 are kept constant throughout
the paper sheet 35 in the width direction.
[0073] Next, the operation of the photographic print system 10 of
the above configuration is described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the
user issues a print command, the controller 15 pulls out the
predetermined length of the photosensitive recording paper 25 from
the magazines 27a and 27b loaded in the supply section 17, and
drives the cutters 30a and 30b to cut the paper sheet 35. In the
back-printing section 18, the predetermined information such as the
photography information is recorded on the paper sheet 35. Then, in
the skew-correcting section 19, the skew of the paper sheet 35 is
corrected. Thereafter, the paper sheet 35 is conveyed to the
exposure section 20. In the exposure section 20, the image is
scanned and exposed on the paper sheet 35 by the laser light (the
recording light) which is modulated according to the image
data.
[0074] After the exposure, the paper sheet 35 is conveyed to the
sorter section 22 through the receiver section 21. When the paper
sheet 35 is of the normal or small size, the sorter section 22
sorts the paper sheet 35 into two lines. When the paper sheet 35 is
of the large size, which cannot be conveyed in parallel, the sorter
section 22 conveys the paper sheet 35 in the single line without
sorting. In the embodiment, the paper sheet 35 of the normal size
is used. After being sorted into two lines, the paper sheet 35 is
conveyed to the processor 14 through the carrying section 23.
[0075] In the processor 14, the paper sheet 35 is subject to
processing such as developing, fixing and washing in this order
through baths 52-54 respectively, while being nipped and conveyed
by the conveying roller pair 58, which is constituted of the flat
roller 56 and the projection roller 57, disposed in each bath
52-54. In the embodiment, each roller piece 70, which is to be
attached to the roller shaft 68 of the projection roller 57, is
formed by coating the elastic layer 79 on the core 78 through the
primer layer 80. As a result, the slipping of the roller piece 70,
which is caused by the stress relaxation or slight swelling of the
elastic layer 79 in the processing solution, are prevented when the
paper sheet 35 is conveyed. Accordingly, the failures in conveying
the paper sheet 35 are prevented. Further, the uniform adhesive
strength is secured regardless of the surface condition of the
coating section 78a of the core 78.
[0076] Further, the processes for producing the roller piece 70 are
increased since the elastic layer 79 is formed by coating molding
on the core 78. However, the working efficiency is substantially
improved since the processes for inserting the core 78 into the
projection tube (not shown) become unnecessary. Furthermore, since
the core 78 is no longer inserted into the projection tube (not
shown) by manual work, the tearing of the projection tube caused by
inserting the core 78 into the projection tube, or the variations
in the outer diameter of each roller piece 70 in the direction of
rotation center line C are prevented. Thus, yields in manufacturing
the projection roller 57 and the quality stability are improved at
the same time.
[0077] In the embodiment, each projection 69 is aligned to form
projection lines in the direction of the rotation center line C.
The projection lines are arranged at the constant pitch in the
zigzag. Further, the projections 69 of each roller piece 70
attached to the roller shaft 68 are phase-coherent. Accordingly,
the entry angle of the leading end of the paper sheet 35 between
the projection rollers 56 and 57 of the conveying roller pair 58
can be kept constant throughout the leading end of the paper sheet
35. Thereby, the projection marks, which are caused by partly
pressing the leading end of the paper sheet 35 by the projections
69, are prevented. Further, since the contact condition and the
contact pressure between the paper sheet 35 and the projection
roller 57 are kept constant throughout the width direction of the
paper sheet 35, the unbalance in the conveying force of the
conveying roller 58 and the changes in the roll alignment are
restricted. Accordingly, the skew of the paper sheet 35 is
prevented.
[0078] After being developed, fixed and washed in the baths 52-54,
the paper sheet 35 is conveyed to the drying section 47. In the
drying section 47, the dried air heated by the heater is supplied
to the paper sheet 35 to remove the wash water deposited on the
paper sheet 35. The dried paper sheet 35 is conveyed to the passage
changing section 48. Since the paper sheet 35, which is conveyed in
parallel, is of the normal size, the passage changing section 48
conveys the paper sheet 35 to the rearranging section 49. The
rearranging section 49 rearranges the parallel conveying line into
the single line and conveys the paper sheet 35 to the sorter 50.
The sorter 50 outputs the plural paper sheets 35 conveyed from the
rearranging section 49 according to each print job.
[0079] In the embodiment, the core 78 is formed of the modified
polyphenylene ether which is the thermoplastic resin. However,
other material, which is chemical- and heat-resistant, can be used
for forming the core 78. For instance, as shown in Table 1 below,
the core 78 can be formed of one of polyamide, polyphenylene
sulfide or polypropylene, or a copolymer copolymerized from at
least two of the above materials. Further, the core 78 can be
formed of thermosetting resin such as phenol, or metal material
such as SUS316, titanium, hastelloy and inconel. When the metal
material is used for forming the core 78, the roller shaft 68 and
the core 78 can be formed integrally by forming steps in the roller
shaft 68. When the core 78 and the roller shaft 68 are separately
formed, it is preferable to form the core 78 by cutting processing,
metal injection molding (MIM) or lost-wax molding.
[0080] In the embodiment, the elastic layer 79 is formed of the
vulcanized rubber (the silicone rubber). However, it is possible to
use other chemical-resistant material for forming the elastic layer
79, such as hydrogenated styrenic thermoplastic elastomer or
olefinic thermoplastic elastomer with the hardness of approximately
50 degrees as shown in Table 1 below.
[0081] In the embodiment, the core 78 and the elastic layer 79 are
adhered through the primer layer 80. However, the present invention
is not limited to the embodiment. For instance, as shown in the
Table 1 below, when the core 78 is formed of the modified
polyphenylene ether, which is the thermoplastic resin, and the
elastic layer 79 is formed of the silicone rubber, the core 78 and
the elastic layer 79 are directly adhered through the chemical bond
at an interface between the thermoplastic resin and the silicone
rubber caused by coating the elastic layer 79 on the peripheral
surface of the core 78 without the use of the primer layer 80.
[0082] Further, when the elastic layer 79 is formed by the
thermoplastic elastomer, which has good adherence to the core 78
formed of the thermoplastic resin, it is also possible to directly
adhere the core 78 and the elastic layer 79 through the chemical
bond without the use of the primer layer 80. For instance, as shown
in FIG. 1, when the core 78 is formed of the modified polyphenylene
ether, and the elastic layer 79 is formed of the hydrogenated
styrenic thermoplastic elastomer, the core 78 and the elastic layer
79 are directly adhered since the styrene component in both
materials are melted. Further, when the core 78 is formed of the
polypropylene, and the elastic layer 79 is formed of the olefinic
thermoplastic elastomer, the core 78 and the elastic layer 79 are
directly adhered since the polypropylene component in both
materials are melted. TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Type of Core Elastic
layer joint Thermo- Polyamide Silicone Primer plastic rubber Resin
Modified Silicone Primer polyphenylene rubber Chemical ether bond
Hydrogenated Chemical styrenic Bond thermoplastic elastomer
Polyphenylene Silicone Primer Sulfide rubber polypropylene Silicone
Primer rubber Olefinic Chemical thermoplastic bond elastomer
Thermo- Phenol Silicone Primer Setting Rubber Resin Metal SUS316
Silicone Primer material Titanium Rubber Hastelloy Inconel
[0083] In the embodiment, the circumferential rotation of the
roller piece 70 is prevented by forming the pin groove 82 in each
roller piece 70 (the core 78) and engaging the pin 71, which is
attached to the roller shaft 68, in the pin groove 82. However, the
present invention is not limited to the embodiment. It is also
possible to prevent the circumferential rotation of the roller
piece 96, for instance, by using a roller shaft 95 with a D-shaped
section instead of the roller shaft 68 (see FIG. 8A), and forming a
D-shaped fitting hole 97 through a roller piece 96 instead of the
fitting hole 77 (see FIG. 8B). In that case, to prevent the slide
movement of the roller piece 96 in the direction of the rotation
center line C, the ring groove 75 for attaching 15 the E-ring 72 is
formed in a position corresponding to the attaching position of the
roller piece 96. Since the roller pieces 96 and 70 have the same
configuration except for the shape of the fitting hole 97, the same
numeral is assigned to the same member and the explanation is
omitted.
[0084] To attach the roller piece 96 to the roller shaft 95, the
first E-ring 72 is attached to the ring-groove 75 on the left end
side of the roller shaft 95 as shown in FIG. 9 before attaching the
first roller piece 96. Next, the right end section of the roller
shaft 95 is inserted into the fitting hole 97 of the roller piece
96, and the roller piece 96 is slid to the left along the roller
shaft 95 until the roller piece 96 is stopped by the E-ring 72.
When the first roller piece 96 is completely slid and stopped, as
shown in FIG. 9B, the second E-ring 72 is attached to the second
ring-groove 75, which is second from the left, to prevent the slide
movement of the first roller piece 96 in the direction of the
rotation center line C. The same is applied to the third roller
piece 96 and after. As the slide movement in the direction of the
rotation centerline C and the circumferential rotation of each
roller piece 96 are restrained by the E-rings 72 and the roller
shaft 95, all the roller pieces 96 are completely fixed to the
roller shaft 95.
[0085] Further, for instance, as shown in FIG. 10A, a roller shaft
100, in which plural first key grooves 99 (see FIG. 11) for
attaching keys 98 are formed in positions corresponding to
attaching positions of roller pieces 101, can be used. As shown in
FIG. 10B, a second key groove 102 can be formed in the opening 77a
of the fitting hole 77 through the roller piece 101. Since the
roller pieces 101 and 70 have the same configuration except for the
second key groove 102, the same numeral is assigned to the same
member and the explanation is omitted.
[0086] To attach the roller piece 101 to the roller shaft 100, as
shown in FIG. 11A, the first key 98 is attached to the first key
groove 99 on the left end side of the roller shaft 100 before
attaching the first roller piece 101. Next, the right end section
of the roller shaft 100 is inserted into the fitting hole 77 of the
first roller piece 101, and the roller piece 101 is slid to the
left along the roller shaft 100 until the roller piece 101 is
stopped by engaging the key 98 in the second key groove 102.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11B, the slide movement of the roller
piece 101 in the axial direction is prevented by attaching the
second key 98 to the second key groove 99 which is second from the
left. The same is applied to the third roller piece 101 and after.
When the last roller piece 101 is attached to the roller shaft 100,
the E-ring 72 (not shown) is attached to the right end of the
roller piece 101. The slide movement in the direction of the
rotation center line C and the circumferential rotation of each
roller piece 101 are prevented by using the key 98 and the second
key groove 102. Thus, all the roller pieces 101 are completely
fixed to the roller shaft 100.
[0087] Further, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a convex section 104
is formed on one side of the core 78 of a roller piece 103, for
instance, on the left side, and a concave section 105 is formed on
the other side, in this case, on the right side. The convex section
104 and the concave section 105 of the adjacent roller pieces 103
engage with each other. In that case, before attaching the first
roller piece 103, a stopper 107 formed with the concave section 105
is fixed to the left end of a roller shaft 106 by a screw 108 and
the like as shown in FIG. 12A. Next, the right end of the roller
shaft 106 is inserted into the fitting hole (not shown) of the
roller piece 10.3, and the roller piece 103 is slid to the left
along the roller shaft 106 until the roller piece 103 is stopped by
engaging the convex section 104 in the concave section 105 of the
stopper 107.
[0088] When the first roller piece 103 is completely slid and
stopped, the second roller piece 103 and after are attached in the
same manner to engage the convex section 104 in the concave section
105 of the previously attached roller piece 103. When the last
roller piece 103 is attached, a stopper 109 formed with the convex
section 104 is attached and fixed to the right end side of the
roller piece 103. The slide movement of each roller piece 103 in
the direction of the rotation center line C and the circumferential
rotation of each roller piece 103 is restrained by the stoppers 107
and 109. Thus, all the roller pieces 103 are completely fixed to
the roller shaft 106.
[0089] In the embodiment, the projection roller 57 (the conveying
roller pair 58) are disposed in each bath 52-54. However, the
present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The projection
roller 57 can be disposed in arbitrary areas along the main passage
24 and the sub passage 24a, or in each section constituting the
photographic printing system 10. Further, the present invention is
not limited to the projection roller 57 used in the photographic
printing system 10. It is also possible to use the projection
roller in various conveying roller pairs for conveying various
sheets such as thin metal sheet, paper, film and the like.
[0090] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not
to be limited to the above embodiment but, on the contrary, various
modifications will be possible to those skilled in the art without
departing from the scope of claims appended hereto.
* * * * *