Color photographic processing method and apparatus

What is claimed is:

1. A color photographic processing apparatus in which a color film processing apparatus, a printer and a color paper processing apparatus are built-in in a casing, characterized in that

the sum of a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color film processing apparatus and a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 950 mm to

a processing time from insertion of an exposed color film into the color film processing apparatus to discharge of the 25th finished print or equivalent thereto through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper is less than 10 minutes,

a ratio NV of the length of the path (mm) to the conveying speed of the color film (mm/second) is from 120-330, and

a ratio PV of the length of the path (mm) to the conveying speed of the color film (mm/second) is from 20-120.

2. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing time from insertion of an exposed color film into the color film processing apparatus to discharge of the 25th finished print or equivalent thereto through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper is in the range of 5 to 8 minutes.

3. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein of the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of the drying station of the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 750 mm to 4,500 mm, and the conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 5 to 20 mm/second.

4. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color film comprises a polyester support.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said length is 1,500-4,500 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said conveying speed is 10-20 mm/sec.

7. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein of the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 750 mm to 4,500 mm, and the conveying speed of the color paper in the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 12 to 100 mm/second.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said length is 2,000-4,000 mm.

9. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the printer of the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 100 mm to 1,000 mm, and the conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 5 to 20 mm/second.

10. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying system of the color film in the color film processing apparatus comprises a guide and a roller.

11. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the inner width of the guide is more than 0.5 mm and less than 5.0 mm, and the depth of the guide is more than 2 mm and less than 5 mm.

12. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the coefficient of linear expansion of the material constituting the guide is less than 1.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm.degree. C.) and more than -1.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm.degree. C.).

13. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the material constituting the guide is at least one of homopolymer and polymer alloy selected from the groups of polyphenyleneether resins and polyphenyleneoxide resins.

14. A color photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a means for reading information recorded on a magnetic recording layer on the color film is provided in the casing.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus has a projection area of less than 1 m.sup.2.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ratio 150-270.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying speed is 25-80 mm/sec.

18. A color photographic processing method in which a color film processing apparatus, a printer and a color paper processing apparatus are built-in in a casing, characterized in that

the sum of a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color film processing apparatus and a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 950 mm to 10,000 mm,

a processing time from insertion of an exposed color film into the color film processing apparatus to discharge of the 25th finished print or equivalent thereto through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper is less than 10 minutes,

a ratio NV of the length of the path (mm) to the conveying speed of the color film (mm/speed) is from 120 to 330, and

a ratio PV of the length of the path (mm) to the conveying speed of the color paper (mm/second) is from 20 to 120.

19. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein the processing time from insertion of an exposed color film into the color film processing apparatus to discharge of the 25th finished print or equivalent thereto through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper is in the range of 5 to 8 minutes.

20. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of a drying station of the color film processing apparatus is from 750 mm to 4,500 mm, and the conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 5 to 20 mm/second.

21. A color photographic processing method according to claim 16, wherein the color film comprises a polyester support.

22. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein the sum of the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 750 mm to 4,500 mm, and the conveying speed of the color paper in the color paper processing apparatus is in the range of 12 to 100 mm/second.

23. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the printer of the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 100 mm to 1,000 mm, and the conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus is in the range of 5 to 20 mm/second.

24. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein the conveying system of the color film in the color film processing apparatus comprises a guide and a roller.

25. A color photographic processing method according to claim 24, wherein the inner width of the guide is more than 0.5 mm and less than 5.0 mm, and the depth of the guide is more than 2 mm and less than 5 mm.

26. A color photographic processing method according to claim 24, wherein the coefficient of linear expansion of the material constituting the guide is less than 1.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm.degree. C.) and more than -1.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm.degree. C.).

27. A color photographic processing method according to claim 26, wherein the material constituting the guide is at least one of homopolymer and polymer alloy selected from the groups of polyphenyleneether resins and polyphenyleneoxide resins.

28. A color photographic processing method according to claim 18, wherein a means for reading information recorded on a magnetic recording layer on the color film is provided in the casing.

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Present invention relates to color photographic a processing method and apparatus which are capable of performing color photographic processing. The present invention is further drawn to a color photographic processing method and apparatus which have a superior processing performance and less drawbacks in transportation of materials to be processed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Processes (develop-printing (DP) processes) for obtaining finished prints from exposed color negative film include generally three steps of a) a step of processing the color negative film, b) a step of printing images on the color negative film onto a color paper and c) a step of processing the color paper. These processes are collectively carried out by laboratories located at various locations. However, nowadays, storefront processing apparatus called mini-labs are seen. In general, the mini-lab has two processing apparatuses, one of which is a film processing apparatus for processing the color negative films, and the other of which is a printer-processor which performs the printing step and the step of processing color paper successively. However, it is difficult to install such two processors in a small floor space in a store. Accordingly, a processing apparatus which has a small installing floor space and a high processing capacity is obviously desired.

Factors which affect the size of a processing apparatus are considered to be processing time, processing capacity (size of processing tanks), replenishing tanks, discharge tanks and the like. The processing time affects the size of a processing tank directly, and therefore, reduction of the processing time is an effective means to make the size of a processing apparatus compact.

Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. 64-15741 and 4-141645 disclose processing apparatuses in which a film processing apparatus, a printer and a paper processing apparatus are integrally consolidated. These processing apparatuses are advantageous to make processing apparatuses compact. The present invention provides a technology for shortening the processing time to allow processing apparatus more compact.

Further, in the above-described consolidated processing apparatus, the negative film is transferred to the next step and the printing is carried out successively after the negative film has been processed without checking the quality of the processed negative film. Consequently, prints of inferior quality may be provided. Accordingly, in this type of processing apparatus, a design which does not cause scratches or stains on the printed paper is required.

The present invention is to provide a color photographic processing method and apparatus which can produce prints having a highly improved quality.

Furthermore, waiting time for obtaining finished prints in a develop-printing process (DP process) is 30 minutes at shortest, or on a degree of one hour in the above-described storefront processing. Accordingly, a customer can rarely receive finished prints while the customer is waiting at the storefront. Consequently, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a super rapid photofinishing process in which processing time for one order is reduced. By achieving the object above, a color photographic processing method and apparatus which enable a customer to receive finished prints while the customer is waiting at the storefront are provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a compact color photographic processing apparatus which is capable of develop-printing in a short time, and further, to provide a compact color processing apparatus which has a superior processing performance and less drawbacks in transportation of materials to be processed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining finished prints having a superior quality in a short time.

The inventor of the present invention has studied extensively and found that the above objects can be achieved by method and the apparatus described hereinafter.

The present apparatus in which a color film processing apparatus, a printer and a color paper processing apparatus is one are built-in in a casing, characterized in that the sum of a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color film processing apparatus and a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is from 950 mm to 10,000 mm, and a processing time from insertion of an exposed color negative film into the color film processing apparatus to discharge of the 25th finished prints or equivalent thereto through the processing of the color negative film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper is less than 10 minutes.

The processing method and apparatus according to the present invention preferably comprise processing time from the insertion of an exposed color film into the color film processing apparatus to the discharge of finished prints through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure onto the color paper and the processing of the color paper from 5 to 8 minutes.

The processing method and apparatus according to the present invention preferably comprise a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color film processing apparatus is from 750 mm to 4,500 mm and conveying speed of a color film from 5 mm to 20 mm per second.

Further, the processing method and apparatus according to the present invention preferably comprise a length of a path from an entrance of a developing tank to a discharge port of a drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is from 900 mm to 4,500 mm, and conveying speed of a color paper from 12 mm to 100 mm per second.

Furthermore, the processing method and apparatus according to the present invention preferably comprise a length of a path from an exit of the color film processing apparatus to an entrance of a printer from 100 mm to 1,000 mm, and a conveying speed of a color film is from 5 mm to 20 mm per second.

Moreover, the processing method and apparatus according to the present invention, are preferably constituted such that a color film is conveyed by guide rollers and guides.

In addition, the processing apparatus according to the present invention, has a reading means for reading information recorded on a magnetic recording layer on a color film in the casing of the apparatus. According to the structures above, the sum of the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of the drying station of the color film processing apparatus and the length of the path from the entrance of the developing tank to the discharge port of the drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is from 950 mm to 10,000 mm, and the conveying speeds of the color film and the color paper are adjusted within the range of the length of the paths so that the totalized processing time from insertion of an exposed color film into the apparatus until discharge of the 25th or equivalent thereto of the printed color paper through the processing of the color film, the print-exposure and the processing of the color paper can be less than 10 minutes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a processing portion of a color photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional drawing of a developing tank of a color film processing apparatus which is applicable to the color photographic processing method and the color photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a groove of a guide.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of the groove of the guide taken along the line X--X.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a main portion of a reading and writing device for magnetic signals which is applicable to a color photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a chart showing infra-red absorption spectra of polyphenylenephenylether modified with polystylene.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show process flow charts showing examples of processes which are applicable to the processing method and the processing apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The color photographic processing apparatus which can be used in the present invention is described in detail hereinafter.

The color processing apparatus of the present invention is a so-called consolidated processing apparatus in which a color film processing apparatus, a printer and a color paper processing apparatus are installed together. Various methods have been proposed to install two processing apparatuses, i.e., a color film processing apparatus and a color paper processing apparatus. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2-33147 and FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 4-141646 disclose a layout in which one processing apparatus is in line with the other processing apparatus and a printer is disposed therebetween. Further, FIGS. 1 and 4 of Japanese patent Application Laid Open No. 2-271354 disclose an apparatus in which a processing tank is superposed on another in two layers. FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 4-141645 and FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 3-154044 disclose apparatuses in which two processing lines are at right angles each other. Further, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2-245751 shows a specification in which two processing lines are in parallel with each other.

In the present invention, various arrangements as described above can be used. However, for the purpose of making the apparatus as compact as possible, it is most preferable that two processing lines are in parallel with each other. This is also advantageous when processing solutions for the color film processing apparatus are in common with those for the color paper processing apparatus.

Preferred embodiments of the processing method and the processing apparatus are described thereinafter, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a processing portion of a color photographic processing apparatus in which processing solutions for the color film processing apparatus are in common with those for the color paper processing apparatus. Numeral 1 denotes a casing and numeral 2 denotes the front side of the casing 1. A color film processing apparatus 4 is disposed at the side of a film insertion entrance 3, and a color paper processing apparatus 5 is disposed in parallel with the color film processing apparatus 4. The color film processing apparatus 4 and the color paper processing apparatus 5 are communicated with a replenishing solution tank and a discharge solution tank portion 6, respectively. The discharge solutions from the color film processing apparatus 4 and the color paper processing apparatus 5 are discharged into the replenishing and discharge solution tank portion 6, and the replenishing solution (developing solution) is replenished from the replenishing solution tank of the replenishing and discharge solution tank portion 6 to the color film processing apparatus 4 and the color paper processing apparatus 5 as occasion demands. A color paper 8 for color printing is supplied from a paper cartridge 7 disposed above the color paper processing apparatus 5 to the color paper processing apparatus 5, and the processed color paper is conveyed from a color paper exit 9 to the outside of the color photographic processing apparatus. The film 12 is inserted into the color photographic processing apparatus from the film insertion entrance 3, and conveyed into the color film processing apparatus 4. The processed color film 12 is conveyed to an exposing station 13 through a drying zone. The color paper conveyed from the paper cartridge 7 is exposed by a light passed through an image on the color film 12 and reflected by a mirror 10 and a mirror 11. The imagewisely exposed paper 8 is conveyed to the color paper processing apparatus 5 and processed. The processed paper is taken out from a processed paper exit 9 through a drying zone to the outside of the color photographic processing apparatus.

In the above-described color photographic processing apparatus, an apparatus as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C is preferred as the color film processing apparatus 5. In this color film processing apparatus, a jet stream agitation is performed from the inside of a U-shaped moving path of the film. FIG. 2A shows a vertical cross-sectional drawing of an embodiment of a processing tank in which the emulsion layer of the film 40 faces in the inward direction of the U-shaped moving path, and the jet stream agitation is performed between the U-shaped moving path of the film 40. A side view of a conveying path of a film guided by guides is also shown in FIG. 2A. A cross-section of plates 130 and 132 which constitute a guide groove is shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional drawing of the guide, taken along the line X--X, where D is the depth of the groove of the guide and W is the inner width of the groove of the guide. A plurality of conveying rollers (drive rollers) 45A and 45B made of rubber are disposed along the conveying path formed by the guide groove. These rollers are arranged so as to correspond to the perforated portions at the both sides of the film, the portions being outside of image areas of the film. The rollers are rubber rollers of approximately 3 mm in width and mounted on drive shafts. The film 40 is conveyed by the rotation of the rollers driven by a drive source. The rubber rollers 45A and 45B contact only the portions in the vicinity of perforated guide holes at the both sides of the film 40 and do not contact the emulsion surface at the image areas of the film 40.

A box body 80 having an opening 82, as a means for the jet stream agitation, is disposed in the U-shaped conveying path of the film as shown in FIG. 2A and communicated with a pressure pump (not shown) via a pipe toward the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The opening 82 of the box body 80 is formed such that the longitudinal direction of the opening 82 is the transverse direction of the film 40. The opening shaped like a slit, from which a jet stream is blown out is disposed between the drive rollers 45A arranged in the vertical direction. The developing solution in a developing tank 20 is sent into the box body 80 with pressure and sprayed from the opening 82 of the box body 80 toward the surface of the emulsion layer inside of the U-shaped conveying path of the film 40 in the direction of arrow A. The opening 82 in the vicinity of the surface W of the processing solution is inclined in the direction being apart from the surface W.

Further, when a film having a track of a magnetic recording layer, on which information regarding types of film, information regarding customer's order such as numbers of prints, and information regarding user such as a customer's ID and the like can be recorded, is processed a magnetic signal reading and writing device is preferably installed at the interior of the color photographic processing apparatus.

A main part of a film conveying device to which the above-described magnetic signal reading and writing device is applied is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the film 214 having a track 215 on which a magnetic signal is recorded is conveyed by pairs of rollers 202, between which the film 214 is nipped, driven by a motor 201. A magnetic head 210 contacts the track 215 disposed in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the film 214 and reads information recorded on the track 215 for each frame of the film 214 and information recorded at the leading end of the film 214. Output signals from the magnetic head 210 are demodulated into digital signals by a demodulator 203 and stored in a buffer memory 204. Meanwhile, information necessary for each frame and information to be inputted to the leading end and the trailing end of the film 214 are transmitted to the buffer memory 204 via a controller 207 from a keyboard 213, and the inputted information is combined with the read information.

Next, a writing position on the film 214 is detected by a frame detection portion 209 and the information from the buffer memory 204 is converted in accordance with a recording method of the film 214 by a modulator 205. The converted information is then written onto the track 215 by a magnetic head 206. The information may be written onto the track 215 which was used during exposure of the film 214, but may be written onto another track which may be separately provided.

In the processing apparatus according to the present invention, time from the insertion of a film to the completion of develop-printing, that is, time from the insertion of one roll of film into the processing apparatus to discharge the 25th or equivalent thereto of prints for the roll of film, is less than ten minutes. The time required for one roll of film means the time from the insertion of one roll of film on which 25 frames of images or equivalent thereto are normally exposed until the discharge of 25 finished prints or equivalent thereto of L-size (127 mm.times.89 mm) from the frames. The time is preferably from 3 to 8 minutes.

Further, it is preferable that the processing apparatus of the present invention is compact, and a preferred floor space of the apparatus is less than 1 m.sup.2, more preferably from 0.3 to 0.8 m.sup.2. The floor space means a projection area of the processing apparatus, and does not include spaces for maintenance and operation.

For the purpose of achieving the photofinishing in a short period of time and the compact size of the processing apparatus, the conveying distance (the length of path) for the color film and the color paper is preferably as short as possible, and it is necessary that the sum of the length of the path between the entrance of the developing station and the exit of the drying station of the color film processing apparatus, and the length of the path between the entrance of the developing station and the exit of the drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is from 950 mm to 10,000 mm. If the sum of the length of the paths is less than 950 mm, it is difficult to obtain high quality finished color prints by adjusting the conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus and the conveying speed of the color paper in the color paper processing apparatus. On the other hand, if the sum of the length of the paths exceeds 10,000 mm, reduction of the processing time becomes difficult.

The adjustment of the length of the conveying paths can be achieved by making the length of the rack in the processing tank adjustable. The length of the path from the entrance of the developing station to the exit of the drying station of the color film processing apparatus is, for example, from approximately 750 mm to 4,500 mm, preferably, from approximately 1,500 mm to 4,500 mm, more preferably, from approximately 2,000 mm to 4,000 mm. The entrance of the developing station means the position where the color film contacts with the developing solution, and the exit of the drying station means the position where the color film comes out of the drying zone to the exterior of the color film processing apparatus.

The images on the color film are printed onto the color paper by a color printer and the exposed color paper is then conveyed to the color paper processing apparatus. It is desirable that the series of these operations are successively and automatically carried out. Further, it is desirable that the distance from the exit of the drying zone of the color film processing apparatus to the insertion of the exposed color paper into the color paper processing apparatus is short. Namely, the sum of the distance from the exit of the drying zone of the film processing apparatus to the printing station for printing the images on the color film onto the color paper, and the distance from the printing station to the position where the exposed color paper contacts the color paper developing solution is less than 2,000 mm, preferably from 200 mm to 1,500 mm. However, it is not desirable that when the distance between the exit of the drying zone of the film processing apparatus and the printing station is too short, problems in shift of hue of colors of the color film, so-called thermochromism, due to the heat during drying occur.

The length of the path from the entrance of the developing station to the exit of the drying station of the color paper processing apparatus is from approximately 900 mm to 4,500 mm, preferably, from approximately 1,500 mm to 4,500 mm, more preferably, from approximately 2,000 mm to 4,000 mm. The entrance of the developing station means the position where the color paper contacts with the developing solution, and the exit of the drying station means the position where the color paper comes out of the drying zone to the exterior of the paper processing apparatus.

Furthermore, the conveying speeds of the color film and the color paper through the above-described paths and the printing speed are important for the purpose of reduction of time for the photofinishing. The conveying speeds of the color film and the color paper can be adjusted by changing rotation speed of a variable speed motor in the drive unit of the conveying mechanism of each of the processing apparatuses.

The conveying speed of the color film in the color film processing apparatus is from 5 mm to 20 mm/second, preferably from 10 mm to 20 mm/second, in view of the reduction of time for the photofinishing, the prevention of scratches and stains of the color film, and prevention of failure in conveyance of the film, more preferably from 12 mm to 18 mm/second. When the conveying speed is slower than the above-described range, failures in conveyance and stains tend to occur. Then the conveying speed is faster than the above-described range, scratches of the film tend to arise. Moreover, when the conveying speed of the film having a magnetic recording layer is within the above range, the accuracy in reading magnetic recorded information is highest.

With regard to the relationship between the length of the conveying path of the color film and the conveying speed of the color film, in the following equation:

when the value of NV is from 120 to 330, preferably from 150 to 270, the specification of the film processing apparatus is the most preferable.

The conveying speed of the color paper in the color paper processing apparatus is from 12 mm to 100 mm/second, preferably from 20 mm to 100 mm/second, in view of the reduction of time for photofinishing, and the whiteness of non-image areas of the processed paper and the stability of the image color of the processed paper. The most preferred range of the conveying speed is from 25 mm to 80 mm/second. When the conveying speed is slower than the above-described range, the whiteness of non-image areas of the processed paper and the stability of the image color may be deteriorated. When the conveying speed is faster than the above range, scratches on the paper may be caused, and deterioration of components in washing water or a stabilizing solution due to oxidization by air is accelerated. As a result, the white background of non-image areas may become yellowish.

With regard to the relationship between the length of the conveying path of the color paper and the conveying speed of the color paper, in the following equation:

when the value of PV is from 20 to 120, preferably from 30 to 90, the specification of the paper processing apparatus is the most preferable.

Next, the conveying method of the film processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described hereinafter.

When a film is conveyed along the guides, which support both edges of the film and disposed along the direction of conveyance of the film according to the present invention, preferable conveying characteristics of the film processing apparatus, and preferable effects on preventing scratches and stains of the film are well exhibited. The most preferred ranges of the inner width (D) of the groove of the guide is from 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm and the depth of the groove of the guide is from 2 mm to 5 mm.

Since troubles in transportation of the film and scratches of the film are rarely caused when the coefficient of linear expansion of material for constituting the guide is less than 6.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm .degree.C.)and more than -1.0.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm .degree.C.), this range is preferred. Examples of such materials are preferably polymer compounds. Embodiments of the polymer compounds are compounds containing poly (2,6-dimethylphenyleneoxide) as a main component such as polyphenyleneether resins (hereinafter referred to as PPE) and polyphenyleneoxide resins (hereinafter referred to as PPO) and the like. These compounds can be used alone as a homopolymer, or can be used as a polymer alloy by modifying with other resins.

Examples of the polymer alloys are the polymer alloys of PPE, PPO and the like with stylene resins, polyamide resins (PA), polyolefine resins, polybutylenetelephthalate resins, polyphenylenesulfide resins and the like. The polymer alloy in the present invention is a high molecular multi-component system, in which different types of polymers coexist microscopically, which includes block coplolymers, graft coplolymers and polymer blend. As the polymer alloys, modified polyphenyleneether (hereinafter referred to as modified PPE) which includes stylene-grafted polyphenyleneether resin alloyed with stylene resin and modified polyphenyleneoxide (hereinafter referred to as modified PPO) can preferably be used. These types of polymer alloys which are commercially available include: Nolyl (tradename) made by Nippon GE Plastics; Zaylone (tradename) made by Asahi Kasei Kogyo; and Yupiace (tradename) made by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical. The polymer alloys which include polyamides such as nylon are: Zaylone (tradename) made by Asahi Kasei Kogyo; Lynex A (tradename); Sumitomo SPA (tradename) made by Sumitomo Chemicals; and Artlee (tradename); and Remalloy (tradename) made by Mitsubishi Yuka and the like. The polymer alloys which include polyolefine resins such as polypropylene resins, or polybutylenetelephthalate resins are: Yupiace (tradename) made by Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals; and Dialloy (tradename) made by Mitsubishi Rayon and the like. The polymer alloys which include polyphenylenesulfide resins are: Yupiace (Tradename) made by Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals and the like.

The polymer alloys which can most preferably be used in the present invention are modified PPE, modified PPO and polyphenylenesulfide resins (hereinafter referred to as PPS) which are modified with stylene resins. The coefficients of linear expansion of the PPE modified with stylene, and the modified PPO and PPE/PPS polymer alloy in the above are changed depending on the content of PPE component.

In the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group, and n represents an integer from 10 to 1,000,1000. The lesser contents of the polyphenyleneether represented by the above general formula, the higher coefficient of linear expansion. The coefficient of linear expansion of polyphenyleneether which is not modified is from 2.7.times.10.sup.-5 to 3.1.times.10.sup.-5 (cm/cm .degree.C.), but the thermal deformation temperature is 193.degree. C. Since the temperature is too high and there is a problem in molding characteristics, the modified polyphenyleneether modified with stylene is used. There is a tendency that the coefficient of linear expansion becomes higher when mixing ratio of stylene is higher. When the mixing ratio with stylene increases and the coefficient of linear expansion