JP2000039696A - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To process a photosensitive material with high quality even when the temperature of the photosensitive material processing apparatus itself or the temperature of the photosensitive material installed in the photosensitive material processing apparatus is low. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus which can perform the processing. A developing device (11) includes a developing solution applying mechanism (43) having an applying roller (75) for measuring and applying a fixed amount of a developing solution to a photosensitive surface of a lithographic printing plate (M). By changing the conveying speed of the lithographic printing plate M based on a pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 for removing the liquid from the lithographic printing plate M and a temperature value measured inside the developing device 11 by a temperature sensor, M is the developer application mechanism 4
After the developing solution is applied in 3, a pair of squeezing rollers 4
And a control unit for controlling the time until the developer is removed by the control unit 4 or 45.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive materials such as films, photographic papers, printing plates and the like are processed with a processing solution such as a developing solution, a fixing solution, a stabilizing solution, and washing water after an image is recorded. As a photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing such processing, a photosensitive material is transported into a processing tank storing a processing liquid by a transporting unit including a plurality of transport roller pairs or the like, and the photosensitive material is immersed in the processing liquid. An immersion-type processing apparatus that performs processing by such a method is known.

In such an immersion type processing apparatus,
Since the processing solution deteriorates due to processing fatigue accompanying the processing of the photosensitive material or temporal fatigue due to carbon dioxide or oxygen in the atmosphere, the deterioration of the processing solution is recovered by replenishing the processing solution with a replenisher. Therefore, the components of the processing liquid at the start of the processing are different from the components of the processing liquid when the processing is continued thereafter, and it is impossible to perform strictly uniform processing. In addition, such an immersion type processing apparatus has a problem that the amount of waste liquid of the processing liquid is large and the maintainability of the apparatus is poor.

As a photosensitive material processing apparatus for solving such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-237455.
As described in the publication, instead of immersing the photosensitive material in the processing solution, a coating method in which the amount of processing solution required for processing the photosensitive material is applied to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material to perform the processing. Equipment is also used. In such a coating type processing apparatus, a roller whose surface is roughened by forming a groove on the surface thereof (hereinafter, referred to as a “roughening roller”) and a support roller are arranged to face each other, By discharging the processing liquid from the processing liquid supply nozzle having a plurality of processing liquid discharge holes to the roughening roller, a processing liquid reservoir is formed between the roughening roller and the support roller. The processing liquid is applied to the photosensitive material by allowing the photosensitive material to pass therethrough.

Further, in such a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the coating method, the processing liquid is supplied from a processing liquid tank storing the processing liquid to a predetermined temperature while heating the processing liquid to a predetermined temperature. The processing is promoted by applying the heated processing liquid to the photosensitive material.

[0006]

In the case of processing a photosensitive material using such a coating type photosensitive material processing apparatus, for example, when the photosensitive material processing apparatus is installed in a low-temperature atmosphere for a long time, etc. When the temperature of the photosensitive material processing apparatus itself or the temperature of the photosensitive material installed in the photosensitive material processing apparatus is low, there arises a problem that the processing quality of the photosensitive material deteriorates.

[0007] Such a problem is caused by a decrease in the temperature of the photosensitive material itself or a decrease in the temperature of the photosensitive material due to being conveyed through the photosensitive material processing apparatus which has been cooled to a low temperature. It is considered that the temperature of the photosensitive material also decreases, and accordingly, the progress speed of the processing of the photosensitive material decreases.

In particular, when a lithographic printing plate utilizing a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method), in which development proceeds rapidly, is used as a photosensitive material, not only the above problem becomes particularly remarkable, but also lithographic printing. There is a problem that printing performance, particularly printing durability, which is a problem unique to the plate, is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. Even when the temperature of the photosensitive material processing apparatus itself or the temperature of the photosensitive material installed in the photosensitive material processing apparatus is low, An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of processing a photosensitive material with high quality.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying a photosensitive material, a processing liquid application unit for applying a processing liquid to the photosensitive material conveyed by the conveying means, A temperature measuring unit for measuring a temperature in the photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: a processing solution removing unit configured to remove a processing solution applied to the photosensitive material by the processing liquid application unit; and a temperature measuring unit. By controlling the transport speed of the photosensitive material by the transport unit based on the measurement result, the photosensitive material is coated with the processing liquid by the processing liquid coating unit and then removed from the processing liquid by the processing liquid removing unit. And control means for changing the time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the processing liquid application section includes an application roller that contacts a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive material conveyed by the conveyance means, and the application roller And a processing liquid supply unit for supplying a processing liquid to the liquid crystal panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the coating roller has an uneven portion for passing a processing liquid on an outer peripheral portion thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the transporting means includes a backup roller disposed at a position in contact with the application roller.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the processing liquid removing unit includes a pair of rollers for nipping the photosensitive material conveyed by the conveying means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the temperature in the photosensitive material processing apparatus measured by the temperature measuring means to be equal to or lower than a set temperature. Only in the case of (1), the time from when the processing liquid is applied to the photosensitive material by the processing liquid application unit until the processing liquid is removed by the processing liquid removing unit is changed.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plate making apparatus for a lithographic printing plate M provided with a development processing device 11 as a photosensitive material processing device according to the present invention.

This plate making apparatus uses a lithographic printing plate M using a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method) as a photosensitive material.
The lithographic printing plate M is subjected to image recording and development processing. The image recording apparatus 10 records an image on the lithographic printing plate M, and the lithographic printing plate M after image recording is developed. And a development processing device 11 for performing processing.

A lithographic printing plate using a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (DTR method), particularly a lithographic printing plate having a physical development nucleus layer on a silver halide emulsion layer is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 3,728. No. 4,114,769, No.4,160,670, No.4,336,321, No.4,501,811, No.4,510,228, No.4,621,041 It is described in the specification and the like.

In such a lithographic printing plate, the silver halide in the exposed portion of the surface of the lithographic printing plate causes chemical development to become black silver to form a hydrophilic non-image area, On the other hand, the unexposed silver halide crystals are converted into silver complexes by the silver salt complexing agent in the developing solution and diffuse to the physical development nucleus layer on the surface. An image portion mainly composed of developed silver is formed.

First, the configuration of the image recording apparatus 10 will be described.

The image recording apparatus 10 includes a plurality of transport rollers including a pair of nip rollers 37 and 38 for transporting a long planographic printing plate M stored in a state of being wound in a roll shape in the storage section 12; An exposure mechanism 13 for recording an image on the lithographic printing plate M by scanning the lithographic printing plate M conveyed by these conveying rollers with a laser beam in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and the lithographic printing plate M; A punching mechanism 14 for punching a punching hole for positioning in the plate M
And a cutting mechanism 15 for cutting the lithographic printing plate M at a position separated from the lithographic printing plate M by the exposure mechanism 13 by a small distance from the irradiation position of the laser beam.

The storage section 12 stores a long lithographic printing plate M in a wound state, and the long lithographic printing plate M stored in the storage section 12 is guided by a guide member (not shown) or the like. It is guided and transported toward the punching mechanism 14.

The perforating mechanism 14 is for perforating a lithographic printing plate M with a punching hole for positioning, and for collecting punch debris generated from the lithographic printing plate M having the perforated hole. And a punching hole for positioning by a pair of punches which move up and down with respect to the die by driving a motor (not shown).

The lithographic printing plate M, in which a positioning punch hole is punched by the punching mechanism 14, is placed on a nip roller pair 37, 3
The sheet is conveyed in a state of being pinched by the recording medium 8, and an image is recorded by the exposure mechanism 13. The exposure mechanism 13 includes a rotary polygon mirror 63, an Fθ lens 64, a folding mirror 65, and a cylindrical lens 66. A laser beam R emitted from a laser light source (not shown) and modulated by an image signal is deflected by a rotating polygon mirror 63 and
4. Folding mirror 65 and cylindrical lens 66
And scans the lithographic printing plate M in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

The cutting mechanism 15 includes a cutter that reciprocates in the width direction of the lithographic printing plate M, and cuts the lithographic printing plate M into a predetermined length by the cutter.

Since the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M in the image recording device 10 does not match the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M in the developing device 11, the lithographic printing plate M is simply processed by the image recording device 10 and the developing process. It cannot be transported over the device 11. When the lithographic printing plate M is cut by the cutting mechanism 15 or when the punching holes are punched by the punching mechanism 14, it is necessary to stop the transport of the lithographic printing plate M. Therefore, a lithographic printing plate M buffer unit 26 is provided between the image recording device 10 and the development processing device 11, and when the lithographic printing plate M that has been exposed in the image recording device 10 is transported, The lithographic printing plate M having a fixed length is stored in the buffer unit 26 and then transported to the developing device 11.

Next, the configuration of the developing apparatus 11 according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view showing the developing device 11 in FIG.

The developing unit 11 applies a developing solution (activator) to the exposed lithographic printing plate M and performs a developing process. The developing unit 22 applies a stabilizing solution to the lithographic printing plate M after the developing process. It comprises a stabilizing section 23 for stabilizing processing and a drying section 24 for drying the lithographic printing plate M after the stabilizing processing.

The developing section 22 has a developing solution applying mechanism 43 for measuring and applying a fixed amount of developing solution to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M transported by the transport rollers from the buffer section 26.
And a pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 for removing the developing solution subjected to the developing process from the lithographic printing plate M, and a plurality of guide members for guiding the lithographic printing plate M.

The developer application mechanism 43 is connected via a pump 47 to a developer tank 46 for storing the developer. A collection tray 4 is provided below the developer application mechanism 43.
8 are installed. The developing solution in the developing solution tank 46 is pumped to the developing solution application mechanism 43 by a pump 47 and supplied onto the lithographic printing plate M. Then, a developing solution that has not been applied to the lithographic printing plate M, such as a developing solution that has flowed out from both end portions and a rear end portion of the lithographic printing plate M, is dropped onto the collection tray 48. Further, the developing solution is supplied to a liquid receiving portion 51 of the developing solution tank 46 through a collecting pipe 49 provided at a lower end portion of the collecting tray 48.
And is collected in the developer tank 46. The developer tank 46 has a built-in panel heater 52 and is configured to maintain the developer circulating in the developer circulation path including the developer tank 46 and the developer application mechanism 43 at a predetermined temperature. ing.

A collection tray 53 is provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45. The fatigue developing solution removed from the lithographic printing plate M by the pair of squeezing rollers 44, 45 passes through the collecting hole 55 of the liquid receiving member 54 provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 44, 45, and the collection tray 5
Drop on 3. Then, the developer is discharged to a drain tank 57 via a collection pipe 56 provided at the lower end of the collection tray 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developer application mechanism 43 includes a developer supply pipe 72 having a plurality of discharge holes 71 formed thereunder, and a plurality of developer supply pipes 72 for allowing the developer to flow down to the lower end thereof. A developer receiving portion 74 having an opening 73 formed therein, an application roller 75 rotating in contact with the lithographic printing plate M, and a developer flowing down from the opening 73 of the developer receiving portion 74 are guided to the application roller 75. Backflow preventing film 77 for preventing the backflow of the developing solution flowing down from the opening 73 of the developing solution receiving portion 74, and a backup roller 78 in contact with the application roller 75. Note that FIG.
Indicates the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M.

The diffusion film 76 is made of a vinyl chloride resin (PVC) film having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and is attached to the side wall of the developer receiving portion 74 by an attachment plate 79. Developer receiving portion 7 in diffusion film 79
The upper end of the hanging portion 4 is arranged close to the opening 73 of the developer receiving portion 74, and the lower end thereof is in contact with the surface of the application roller 75 with elastic force.

As shown in FIG. 4, the coating roller 75 has a diameter of 0.4 mm on the surface of a metal roller 75a having a diameter of 13 mm.
13.8 mm in diameter wound with a 75 mm metal wire 75b.
mm wire bar. Therefore, a plurality of grooves are formed on the surface of the application roller 75 by the wire 75b in a direction substantially parallel to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Therefore, when the application roller 75 and the diffusion film 76 are in contact with each other, a plurality of openings 75c formed by grooves of the application roller 75 are formed at the contact portions between the application roller 75 and the diffusion film 76.

The developing solution supply pipe 72 is connected to the developing solution tank 46 via a pump 47, and the developing solution is discharged from the plurality of discharge holes 71 by driving the pump 47. After the developer is once received by the developer receiver 74, it flows down from the plurality of openings 73 toward the diffusion film 76. The developer flowing down from the opening 73 of the developer receiving portion 74 is temporarily stored in a contact portion between the application roller 75 and the diffusion film 76, and is diffused in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Then, with the rotation of the application roller 75, the developer passes through the opening formed by the groove of the application roller 75 and passes through the application roller 75 and the backup roller 78.
And a liquid reservoir is formed there.

When the lithographic printing plate M passes through the liquid reservoir, a developing solution is applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M. At this time, since the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is pressed against the surface of the application roller 75 by the backup roller 78, the developer applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is released by the groove of the application roller 75. It is weighed to a certain amount by the part. Accordingly, the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M that has passed through the contact portion between the backup roller 78 and the application roller 75 is always coated with a certain amount of developer required for development.

Note that the lithographic printing plate M is heated by bringing the lithographic printing plate M into contact with the lithographic printing plate M before the developing solution is applied thereto, in a stage preceding the developing solution coating mechanism 43 in the developing unit 22, thereby heating the lithographic printing plate M. A heating roller for accelerating the development process of M may be provided.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and FIG.
Reference numeral 3 denotes a stabilizing solution applying mechanism 81 for measuring and applying a fixed amount of a stabilizing solution to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M conveyed from the developing unit 22, and a lithographic printing process for applying the stabilizing solution subjected to the stabilizing process. A pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83 for removing from the plate M;
And a plurality of guide members for guiding the lithographic printing plate M.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stabilizing solution application mechanism 81 is connected to a stabilizing solution tank 84 for storing a stabilizing solution via a pump 85. A collection tray 86 is provided below the stable liquid application mechanism 81. The stable liquid in the stable liquid tank 84 is supplied to the stable liquid applying mechanism 81 by a pump 85.
And supplied onto the lithographic printing plate M. Then, the stable liquid not applied to the lithographic printing plate M, such as the stabilizing liquid flowing out from both ends and the rear end of the lithographic printing plate M, is collected on the collection tray 8.
6. Drop on top. Further, the stable liquid is dropped into the liquid receiving section 88 of the stable liquid tank 84 via the collecting pipe 87 provided at the lower end of the collecting tray 86, and the stable liquid tank 84
Collected inside.

A collection tray 89 is provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83. The stable liquid removed from the lithographic printing plate M by the pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83 passes through a collecting hole 93 of a liquid receiving member 92 provided below the pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83 and is collected by a collecting tray 89.
Drop on top. Then, the stable liquid is further discharged to the drainage tank 57 via the collection pipe 91 provided at the lower end of the collection tray 89.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stabilizing liquid application mechanism 81 includes a stabilizing liquid supply pipe 95 having a plurality of discharge holes 94 formed below the stabilizing liquid supply pipe 95 and a plurality of stabilizing liquid supply pipes 95 for flowing down the stabilizing liquid at the lower end thereof. A stabilizing liquid receiving portion 97 having an opening 96 formed thereon, an application roller 98 having a surface formed of a single-cell sponge and rotating in contact with the lithographic printing plate M; A diffusion film 99 for guiding the stable liquid flowing down from the opening 96 of the receiving portion 97 to the application roller 98.
And a leaf spring 100 for urging the lithographic printing plate M toward the application roller 98. Note that the arrows in FIG. 3 indicate the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M.

The stable liquid supply pipe 95 is connected to the above-mentioned stable liquid tank 84 via a pump 85, and the stable liquid is discharged from a plurality of discharge holes 94 by driving the pump 85. After the stable liquid is once received by the stable liquid receiving section 97, it flows down from the plurality of openings 96 toward the diffusion film 99. The stable liquid that has flowed down from the opening 96 of the stable liquid receiving portion 97 is temporarily stored in a contact portion between the application roller 98 and the diffusion film 99, and is diffused in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate M. Then, with the rotation of the application roller 98, the stable liquid passes through the opening formed by the unevenness of the surface of the diffusion film 99 and moves in the direction of the contact portion between the application roller 98 and the leaf spring 100, and stores the liquid therein. Form.

When the lithographic printing plate M passes through the liquid reservoir, a stabilizing solution is applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M. At this time, since the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M is pressed against the surface of the application roller 98 by the leaf spring 100, the stable liquid applied to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M It is metered to a constant volume by a number of holes with a sponge. Therefore, on the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate M that has passed through the contact portion between the leaf spring 100 and the application roller 98,
This means that a constant amount of the stabilizing liquid required for stable operation is always applied.

The leaf spring 100 has an overflow hole 101 for storing an excessive amount of a stable liquid in a contact portion between the leaf spring 100 and the application roller 98 to prevent the liquid reservoir from becoming excessively large. Is provided.

A rubber roller 102 for supporting and transporting the lithographic printing plate M transported from the stabilizer 23 between the drying unit 24 and the stabilizer 23 is brought into contact with the rubber roller 102 with a predetermined pressure. A mirror surface roller 103 for preventing uneven drying of the lithographic printing plate M, and a cleaning liquid reservoir 104 for supplying a cleaning liquid to the mirror surface roller 103 via a rubber roller 102 are provided. The cleaning liquid storage unit 104 includes a pair of squeezing rollers 4 in the developing unit 22.
The cleaning liquid supply pipe 105 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid 4 and 45 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply pipe 105 via a pump 106.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drying section 24 has a heater 121 and a pair of fans 122 and 123, and is configured to blow hot air to the lithographic printing plate M to dry.

The above-mentioned squeezing rollers 44, 45, 82, 8
3. The rollers such as the backup roller 78 and the rubber roller 102 function as a transport unit for transporting the lithographic printing plate M. Then, the squeezing rollers 44, 45, 82,
83, backup roller 78 and rubber roller 102
Are configured to rotate by driving a single motor 116 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main electrical configuration of the development processing apparatus 11.

The developing device 11 includes a ROM 111 in which an operation program necessary for controlling the device is stored, a RAM 112 in which data and the like are temporarily stored at the time of control,
A control unit 11 comprising a CPU 113 for executing a logical operation
4 is provided. The control unit 114 controls the interface 1
The motor is connected to a motor 116 for driving rollers such as the squeezing rollers 44, 45, 82, 83, the backup roller 78, and the rubber roller 102. Further, the control unit 114 is also connected to a temperature sensor 90 described later via an interface 115.

The lithographic printing plate M produced by the developing device 11
Is performed as follows.

That is, the lithographic printing plate M on which an image has been recorded by the preceding image recording apparatus 10 is supplied to the developer coating mechanism 43.
As a result, an amount of developer required for the development of the lithographic printing plate M is applied. The lithographic printing plate M to which only the necessary amount of the developing solution for the developing process is applied is developed on the photosensitive surface thereof while being transported through the space developing section from the developing solution applying mechanism 43 to the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45. Processing is completed. And
The developer applied to the lithographic printing plate M and subjected to the developing process is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45.

At this time, after the lithographic printing plate M is coated with the developing solution in the developing solution applying mechanism 43, the time until the developing solution is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 is a temperature as described later. Development processing device 11 using sensor 90
It is controlled by changing the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M according to the measured value of the internal temperature.

Subsequently, the lithographic printing plate M is applied by the stabilizing solution applying mechanism 81 with an amount of stabilizing solution necessary for stabilizing the lithographic printing plate M. The lithographic printing plate M to which only the necessary amount of the stabilizing liquid for the stabilizing treatment is applied is a pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83
The stabilizing solution that has been subjected to the stabilizing process while being transported to the lithographic printing plate M and subjected to the stabilizing process is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 82 and 83. Then, the lithographic printing plate M that has been subjected to the stabilization process is pressed by the mirror surface roller 103 to prevent uneven drying, and then is dried by the drying unit 24, and the discharge tray 25 shown in FIG.
Is discharged on top.

In the developing apparatus 11, only the amount of the developing solution necessary for the developing process is applied to the lithographic printing plate M and the developing process is performed, so that the amount of the developing solution required for the process can be reduced. It becomes possible. Further, since a substantially unused processing liquid is supplied to the lithographic printing plate M, the lithographic printing plate M can always be uniformly processed.

Next, control of the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described.

The developing apparatus 1 of the coating method as described above.
In the case where the lithographic printing plate M is subjected to the development processing using 1, the temperature of the development processing device 11 itself or the temperature of the lithographic printing plate M stored in the storage unit 12 in a state of being wound in a roll shape is low. , The lithographic printing plate M after development processing
May deteriorate the quality of development processing. For example, as a lithographic printing plate M, a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method (D
When a lithographic printing plate utilizing the TR method is used, when the temperature in the developing device 11 becomes 20 ° C. or less, there is a problem peculiar to the lithographic printing plate after the developing process. The problem that the printing performance deteriorates, especially the printing durability deteriorates, tends to occur.

For this reason, in the developing device 11, based on the measured value of the temperature inside the developing device 11 by the temperature sensor 90 (see FIG. 1) disposed near the buffer 26 in the developing device 11. 6, the squeezing rollers 44, 45, 82, 83 functioning as a conveying means for conveying the lithographic printing plate M by the control unit 114 shown in FIG.
The rotation of the motor 116 for driving the rollers such as the backup roller 78 and the rubber roller 102 is controlled to change the development time of the lithographic printing plate M, thereby preventing the above-described deterioration in the development processing quality.

More specifically, when the temperature sensor 90 measures the temperature in the developing device 11 below 20 ° C., the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M is reduced as the temperature is lower. Like that.

That is, the lithographic printing plate M was applied to the lithographic printing plate M due to a temperature decrease of the lithographic printing plate M itself or a temperature decrease of the lithographic printing plate M caused by being conveyed through the developing processing device 11 which has become low temperature. The temperature of the developer also decreases, and the processing speed of the lithographic printing plate M decreases accordingly. Therefore, by lowering the transport speed of the lithographic printing plate M,
The development time can be extended to the time required for completion of processing.

In addition, by reducing the transport speed, the contact time between the application roller 75 and the lithographic printing plate M in the developing solution application mechanism 43 becomes longer, and the lithographic printing plate passes through the groove of the application roller 75 and becomes flat. The amount of the developer supplied to the surface of the printing plate M per unit area increases. Therefore, the heated developing solution is supplied to the lithographic printing plate M in a larger amount, so that the developing speed is increased and more appropriate developing processing can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the above-described transport speed control process.

When an image is recorded in the image recording device 10 of the plate making apparatus, the temperature in the developing device 11 is measured by the temperature sensor 90 (step S1).

Then, the rotation speed of the motor 116 is set based on the measurement result (step S2).

More specifically, when the temperature in the development processing device 11 is 20 ° C. or more, after the lithographic printing plate M is applied with the developing solution in the developing solution applying mechanism 43, a pair of squeezing rollers 44 , 45, the rotation speed of the motor 116 is set so that the time T until the developer is removed is 7 seconds. Then, the temperature in the development processing device 11 is set to 20 degrees Celsius.
If it is less than the above, the rotation speed of the motor 116 is set so that the time T is increased by 0.4 seconds each time the temperature decreases by 1 °. If the temperature inside the developing device 11 is 20 ° C. or more, the quality of the developing process is not affected by the process at that temperature. In the case of 20 ° or more, the time until the developer is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 after the lithographic printing plate M is applied with the developer in the developer application mechanism 43 is set to be constant. ing.

By rotating the motor 116 at the set rotation speed, the squeezing rollers 44, 45, and 8 functioning as a transport unit for transporting the lithographic printing plate M.
2, 83, backup roller 78 and rubber roller 1
The roller such as 02 is rotated at a speed suitable for conveying the lithographic printing plate M (step S3).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the development processing of the lithographic printing plate M has been completed (step S5). When the development processing has been completed, the motor 116 is stopped (step S5).
6), a series of processing ends.

In the above-described embodiment, the time T after the lithographic printing plate M is applied with the developing solution by the developing solution applying mechanism 43 until the developing solution is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 44 and 45 is T. Is set linearly so that the time T increases by 0.4 seconds each time the temperature decreases by 1 ° when the temperature in the developing device 11 is 20 ° C. or less. The time T may be changed stepwise.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the development processing device 11 of the plate making apparatus for recording and developing an image on the lithographic printing plate M has been described. The present invention may be applied to a development processing device that performs only processing.

[0069]

According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention,
Temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature in the photosensitive material processing apparatus,
By controlling the transport speed of the photosensitive material by the transport unit based on the measurement result of the temperature measuring unit, the photosensitive material is coated with the processing liquid by the processing liquid application unit, and then the processing liquid is removed by the processing liquid removal unit. Since control means for changing the time until the removal is provided, in a coating-type photosensitive material processing apparatus, the temperature of the photosensitive material processing apparatus itself and the temperature of the photosensitive material installed in the photosensitive material processing apparatus are low. In this case, the photosensitive material can be processed with high quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plate making apparatus for a lithographic printing plate M provided with a developing device 11 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a developing device 11;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a developer application mechanism 43;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a coating roller 75.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a stable liquid application mechanism 81.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main electrical configuration of the developing device 11;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a transport speed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording device 11 Developing device 22 Developing part 23 Stabilizing part 24 Drying part 43 Developing solution application mechanism 44, 45 Squeeze roller 72 Developing solution supply tube 75 Application roller 78 Backup roller 81 Stabilizing solution applying mechanism M Planographic printing plate

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Sadao Kuryu 3-4-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Paper Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Kawaguchi 5-5 Higashi-Kujo Minamiishidacho, Minami-ku, Kyoto Japan Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Jujo Office (72) Inventor Fumihara Fukuhara 5th Higashikujo Minamiishidacho, Minami-ku, Kyoto Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Jujo Office (72) Inventor Masahiko Takeuchi Higashikujo Minamiishida, Minami-ku, Kyoto City 5 Town Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. Jujo Plant F-term (reference) 2H096 AA06 EA04 GA02 GA23 JA03 2H098 DA02 EA10 FA10 FA14

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a photosensitive material, a processing liquid applying unit for applying a processing liquid to the photosensitive material transported by the transporting means, and a process applied to the photosensitive material by the processing liquid applying unit. A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising: a processing solution removing unit that removes a liquid; a temperature measuring unit that measures a temperature in the photosensitive material processing unit; and a photosensitive material that is transported by the transport unit based on a measurement result of the temperature measuring unit. Control means for controlling the transport speed to change the time from when the photosensitive material is coated with the processing liquid by the processing liquid coating unit to when the processing liquid is removed by the processing liquid removing unit. A photosensitive material processing apparatus. 2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing liquid application unit includes: an application roller that contacts a photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material conveyed by the conveyance unit; A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: 3. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application roller has an uneven portion for passing a processing liquid on an outer peripheral portion thereof. 4. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport unit includes a backup roller disposed at a position where the transfer roller contacts the application roller. 5. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing liquid removing unit includes a pair of rollers for sandwiching the photosensitive material transported by the transport unit. 6. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control only when a temperature in the photosensitive material processing unit measured by the temperature measuring unit is equal to or lower than a set temperature. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for changing the time from when the processing liquid is applied to the photosensitive material by the processing liquid application unit to when the processing liquid is removed by the processing liquid removing unit;