Patent ID: 6241401
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B41J,G03D

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an exposed photosensitive material by carrying out a plurality of types of processes in sequence on said photosensitive material, comprising:transporting means for transporting said photosensitive material along a transporting path which guides said photosensitive material; andprocessing solution supply means which are provided at each stage of the plurality of types of processes and which supply the processing solutions used at each stage on a single exposed surface of said photosensitive material at a time,wherein said processing solution supply means comprises processing solution storage tanks, elastically deformable processing solution spray tanks which communicate with said processing solution storage tanks, and piezoelectric elements which are connected to a portion of the side walls of said elastically deformable processing solution spray tanks, andwherein said piezoelectric elements are deformed by energizing said piezoelectric elements, said deformation of said piezoelectric elements increases the pressure on the processing solution inside said processing solution spray tank, and said processing solution is sprayed simultaneously through a plurality of nozzle holes provided in said processing solution spray tank along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which said photosensitive material is transported thereby coating said photosensitive material with said processing solution.