JPH04149537A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely align a mask original plate and to always output an excellent image by switching a reference signal which is compared with a detection signal for aligning the mask original plate according to the kind of the original plate. CONSTITUTION:When the mask original plate is carried to an exposing position, the kind of the original plate is discriminated according to the transmissivity of the original plate by a sensor 121d. In case it is a plain paper, a reference signal generation circuit 98a for a plain paper is selected by a switch 96, and in case it is an OHP sheet, a reference signal generation circuit 98b for an OHP sheet is selected by a switch 96. Then an aligning mark is detected by respective sensors 121a, 121b, and 121c and the detection signal is compared with the reference signal by respective comparison circuits 97a, 97b and 97c. Based on the compared result, a driving motor 111 and horizontal direction moving motors 117 and 118 are driven by a driving circuit 99, so that the mask original plate is moved to a specified position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that forms an image by exposing a photosensitive recording medium using a mask original.

[Prior art] Conventionally, red (R), green (G),
Each color separation mask original plate (hereinafter referred to as a mask original plate) of blue (B) is created, and is sequentially superimposed on the same side of a photosensitive recording medium, and from that point onwards, an exposure means is used to perform color separation for each mask original plate using dichroic light. Image recording apparatuses are known that record images by exposing them to light and forming latent color images on a photosensitive recording medium (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-1999)
(See Publication No. 268650) 9゜By the way, in such an image recording apparatus, it is necessary to align each mask original on the photosensitive recording medium with high precision, so alignment marks are printed on each mask original. Then, the mask original was adjusted to a predetermined position by moving an alignment device so that the mark could be detected by a plurality of optical sensors fixedly installed at predetermined positions. Then, the detection signal of each sensor is compared with a reference signal, and when a predetermined detection result is obtained, the alignment is terminated (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-91652).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as mask original plates, materials with extreme differences in light reflectance are used, such as plain paper and over-the-top projector sheets (hereinafter referred to as OHP sheets). Therefore, if the reference signal when aligning the mask master is set to one of the two, the other will not be read well, resulting in an error in the mask master due to recognition flaws, or even if it is recognized, it will not be in the specified position. There was a problem that the images could not be matched and the colors would be shifted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is characterized by switching the reference signal depending on the type of mask original, thereby making it possible to reliably recognize the mask original regardless of the type of mask original. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording device that can be aligned at a predetermined position and always output good images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a detection means for detecting a mark for alignment made on a color separation mask original, and a a plurality of reference signal generation means for comparing with the detected detection signal; a signal switching means for switching the reference signals generated by the plurality of reference signal generation means; and a signal switching means for switching the reference signals generated by the plurality of reference signal generation means; and mask original positioning means for moving the color separation mask original to a predetermined position based on the result of comparison with a reference signal.

[Operation] According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, for example, when the mask original is plain paper, the reference signal generating means for plain paper is selected by the switching means. Then, the mark on the mask original is detected by the detection means, the detection signal from the detection means is compared with the reference signal from the reference signal generation means, and the mask original is aligned at a predetermined position by the mask original positioning means based on the comparison result. . Further, for example, when the mask original is an OHP sheet, the reference signal generating means for the OHP sheet is selected by the switching means, and alignment is performed in the same manner.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a monochrome laser printer (hereinafter referred to as laser printer) 1 and an image recording device 20 in a combined arrangement.

The laser printer 1 is mounted on top of the image recording device 20. In the laser printer 1, a charged photoreceptor drum 3 is irradiated with laser light by a polygon scanner 2, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drum 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed in a developing device 4, and then transferred to a paper feed cassette 5.
The toner image is transferred onto plain paper or a transparent sheet supplied from the printer and fixed by a fixing device 6. Normally, the laser printer 1 records data transmitted from a host computer.

Output paper from the laser printer 1 is transferred to a paper bus switching unit 10, where it is transferred to a monochrome paper output tray 11 if a black and white image is required, or a paper output tray 7 connected to an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 14. If a color image is required, after being sent to the output tray 7,
The image is sent to the DF tray 12 and taken into the image recording device 20.

The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken into the image recording device 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13, and the three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer 1 form a set to form an image. The mask original plate 15 of the recording device 20 (the red, green, and blue mask original plates are individually 15R,
(also referred to as 15G and 15B). The mask original plate 15R is a mask original plate in which toner, which is a light-shielding image, is placed on other parts of the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50 in order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor. Similarly, the mask original plate 15G contains microcapsules containing a magenta dye precursor among the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50, and the mask original plate 15B contains microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50. In order to harden the microcapsules containing the yellow dye precursor, there is a mask original plate with a light-blocking image of toner placed on the other parts.

Next, the configuration of the image recording device 20 will be explained.

An image recording device 20 is installed on the paper output tray 7 of the laser printer 1.
ADF 14 is connected. An alignment device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the image recording device 20, and a mask original transport path 2 is located between the ADF tray 12 and the alignment device 31.
1 is connected.

On both left and right sides of the alignment device 31, roller pairs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 whose rotational directions can be controlled, gates 28, 29, and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged. In the middle of the mask original transport path 21, a pair of glue curler rollers 101 is arranged to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1. Outside the roller pair 26, 27, there is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15.

The alignment device 31 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the alignment device 31 includes a pair of rollers 3 that move the mask original 15 in the transport direction (arrow G direction).
2.33 is attached, and the roller pair 32.33 is driven from the drive motor 111 via a plurality of gears and shafts. The roller pairs 32 and 33 are rotatably attached to an alignment frame 113 that is attached to the apparatus main body frame 112 so as to be movable within the attached plane. The position of the alignment frame 113 is regulated with respect to the device main body frame 112 by links] 14 and lateral movement links 115 and 116. Lateral movement link 115.1
16 is configured to be moved in the direction of arrow H and one direction by the driving force of lateral movement motors 117 and 118 and gears, respectively. A glass plate 34 is attached to the center of the alignment frame 113, and allows the guide of the mask original 15 between the pair of rollers 32, 33 and the exposure light from below to pass through. Further, near the roller pair 32,
For sensor mounting (not shown), the member is the frame 11 of the main body of the device.
2, and the sensor mounting member is attached to the mask original plate 1 in order to align the mask original plate 15 at a predetermined position.
The alignment mark Ml printed in the non-image area 15a of No. 5.

An alignment sensor 121a at a position roughly corresponding to M2
, 121b, 121c and a sensor 121d for determining the type of mask original 15 based on transmittance. Sensors 121a, 121b, 121c for positioning
are reflective optical sensors using a combination of an LED and a photodiode, and the sensor 1
21d is a transmission type optical sensor.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31, and the exposure device 41 is movable in the left-right direction along the alignment device 31. The exposure device 41 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflector 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and a filter unit 44 that includes a red filter 44R, a clean filter 44G, and a blue filter 44B. .

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is, for example, 1. Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-1430
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known in Publication No. 44, and it is a photocurable resin that cures with light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, and 1, cyan, and magenta. , yellow dye precursors are coated onto a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is housed in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light. The photosensitive recording medium 50 passes from inside the cartridge 51 between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, and passes through the buffer 55, separation roller 64, and pressure developing device 70.
It is routed through the drive roller 57 to the take-up roller 54. The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53 and is configured to bring the mask original 5 transported onto the glass plate 34 into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. The fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position, and is arranged so as to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52 during exposure of the mask original 15. has been done.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by coating a base paper with a developer described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer-coated surface faces downward. It is set.

At the top of the cassette 61, a suction cup 62 for feeding the color developer sheets 60 one by one is arranged.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a pair of pressure rollers 71 and the like that superpose the photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure and the color developer sheet 60 and develop the image under pressure.

The heat fixing device 80 includes a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 for conveying the color developer channel 60 in the lower part, and rollers 87 and 88. It is composed of an endless belt 89 that is installed, and a paper discharge tray 63 is attached to the outside of the heat fixing device 80 .

Next, the electrical configuration for controlling the alignment device 31 for the mask original 15 will be explained with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control system includes an electronic control circuit 90. The electronic control circuit 90 includes a central processing unit (J'J, hereinafter referred to as CPU) 91 that executes arithmetic processing for various controls, and a control program and initial data necessary for the CPU 91 to execute arithmetic processing. Read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as RO) in which
92, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 93 in which data used to execute arithmetic processing by the CPU 91 is temporarily stored, an input circuit 94 for inputting input signals, and It includes an output circuit 95 and the like that outputs an output signal. Sensors 121a, 121b
, 121c and 121d are comparison circuits 97a and 9, respectively.
7b, 97c, 97d, and the comparison circuit 97
a, 97b, and 97c are connected to the switch 96. Connected to the switch 96 are a reference signal generation circuit 98a that generates a reference signal when the mask original is plain paper, and a reference signal generation circuit 98b that generates a reference signal when the mask original is an OHP sheet. A drive circuit 99 for driving the drive motor 111 and the lateral movement motors 117 and 118, and a switch 96 are connected to the output circuit 95, and the switch 96 is switched by the CPU 91.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the operation when outputting a plurality of color images from one set of mask originals will be described next.

First, a mask original plate 1 for red is printed using a laser printer 1.
5R is created. At this time, the mask original 15R outputted from the laser printer 1 is sent to the ADF tray 12 of the ADF 14 and fed into the image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13.

The original mask 15R fed into the image recording device 20 is
It passes through the mask original transport path 21 and is sent to the alignment device 31 by roller pairs 24 and 22.

On the way, mask original plate 15H is removed by recurrer roller pair 101.
Curls are corrected. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to a predetermined exposure position using a pair of rollers 32. Here, the sensor 121d determines the type of mask original 15H based on the transmittance of the mask original 15R, and
When it is determined that the paper is plain paper, the switch 96 selects the reference signal generating circuit 98a for plain paper. Then, the alignment mark M1 printed on the mask original plate 15R,
M2 to each sensor 121a, 121 . The detection signal and the reference signal of the reference signal generation circuit 98a are compared by each comparison circuit 97a, 121c, and based on the comparison result, the drive circuit 99 controls the drive motor 111, the horizontal direction. Travel motor 117.1
By driving 18, the mask original 15R is moved to a predetermined position. If it is determined that the mask original 15R is an OHP sheet, the reference signal generation circuit 98b for OHP sheets is selected by the switch 96, and positioning is performed in the same manner.

Immediately before alignment, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by a cam 53, and a fixed roller 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52. After the alignment is completed, the exposure table 52 is further lowered by the cam 53, and the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31
The mask original plate 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42
is turned on, and the exposure device 41 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light via the red filter 44R and the mask original 15R. When the exposure is finished, the lamp 42 turns off and the waist exposure device 41 turns off.
moves backward in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42.

While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52 is raised by the rotation of the cam 53, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is separated from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 15R. At this time, pack tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 50 at the center of rotation of the roll of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 is lowered, a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is applied. Saga storage cartridge 51
When the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pulled out from the inside and the exposure table 52 is raised after exposure, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

Even after the exposure of the red mask master plate 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 only rises to a predetermined position, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved to the exposure table 52 by a fixed roller 56 pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52. remains fixed.

Next, when the green mask original 15G created by the laser printer 1 passes through the ADF tray 12, ADF paper feed roller 13, recurler roller pair 101, and mask original transport path 21, and reaches just before the roller pair 24, the roller 22.24.25.27, the roller pair 32.33 of the alignment device 31 is rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15R to the right, and the mask original 15R is moved to the alignment device 3.
At the same time as the mask original 15G is fed out from the mask 1, the mask original 15G is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines, the exposed mask original 15R is held between the roller pair 27, and with the rear end of the mask original 15R passing through the gate 29, the roller pair 27 It is maintained by stopping rotation.

The mask original 15G guided to the alignment device 31 is transferred to the exposure table 52 after the type of the mask original 15G is determined and the alignment is performed with respect to the photosensitive recording medium 50, as in the case of the mask original 15R. By lowering the
It is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. Then lamp 4
2 is turned on, and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. The exposure device 41 is moved back to the original position, and the filter unit 44 is moved so that the blue filter 44B is positioned above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the image recording device 20, and is conveyed just before the roller pair 24.
4.22.25.26 and roller pair 3 of alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15G to the right, and the mask original 15G is aligned with the alignment device 31.
At the same time, the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position of the solid line, the gate 29 is located at the position of the broken line, and the mask original 1 after exposure is
5G is held by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 26 while being held between the roller pair 26 and with its rear end passing through the gate 29.

The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a similar operation. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original 15B.

By the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated from each other, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow E to remove the unexposed portions of the photosensitive recording medium 50. is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. The drive roller 57 transports the photosensitive recording medium 50 and stops the photosensitive recording medium 50 when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 .

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, the developer sheet 60
is sent out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62, and is stopped after being conveyed to a position where the leading edge of the developer sheet 60 corresponds to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, the pressure developing device 70 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 71 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. At this time, by lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position again, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table 52. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed while being pressurized while being overlapped with the color developer channel 60, and the photosensitive recording medium 50
The uncured microcapsules on 0 are destroyed by pressure,
A color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is developed on the developer sheet 60.

By rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow F. The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a separation roller 64 and guided toward a heat fixing device 80 .

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by a heater 81 and heated by air circulating in a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth, giving the surface of the color developer sheet 60 an appropriate level of gloss. It will be done. The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to color development and gloss treatment is discharged to a paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-described series of development and coloring/glossy processing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is held and fixed between the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56. Therefore, while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the next exposure point is It is possible to perform exposure processing on the latent image of a color image.

When exposing the second color image, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15R held at the position of the roller pair 27 is sent to the alignment device t31 by the rollers. vs. 24.22.2
5.27 and the roller pair 32.33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated so as to convey the mask original 15R to the left.

At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines.

The mask original plate 15B is held between a pair of rollers 24 and a gate 28
The rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped and held at the position where the rear end has passed. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50.
be brought into close contact with The photosensitive recording medium 50 is a mask original plate 15
is exposed to red light through R.

Next, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the roller pair 26 is moved to send the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 to the alignment device 31.
2.23.25.26 and roller pair 3 of alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left.

At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by broken lines. The mask original plate 15R is held between the pair of rollers 23 and held by stopping the rotation of the pair of rollers 23 at the position where the rear end passes through the gate 28. Alignment device 31
The mask original 15G sent to the photosensitive recording medium 50 is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. Photosensitive recording medium 50
is exposed to green light through the mask original 15G.

Next, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent to the right, and the same operation is performed to send the mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 to the alignment device 31, and the color is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent image of the image is formed to form a color image on the developer sheet 60.

By repeating the same operation, one set of mask originals 1
5, a predetermined number of color images can be output.

After outputting a predetermined number of color images from the same mask original 15, each mask original 15 is discharged from the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26 to the paper discharge tray 30.

In addition, if the next mask original 15 is output from the laser printer 1 while a series of color images is being exposed, it is stored in the ADF (ADF) ray 12 and the exposure of the previous set is completed. Then, the ADF paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper sheets one by one into the image recording apparatus 20.

In addition, if you want to reuse a mask master output from another laser printer or a previously used mask master, please use the AD
By setting it on the F tray 12, the mask original can be input.

Further, in this embodiment, the reference signal generating circuits are only provided for the case of plain paper and for the case of OHP sheets, or three or more reference signal generating circuits may be provided.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, the reference signal is switched depending on the type of mask original, so that the mask original can be reliably used regardless of the type of mask original. This has the effect of recognizing and aligning to a predetermined position, ensuring that a good image is always output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to control of alignment of a mask original, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image recording device, and a plan view of the alignment device of the embodiment. In the figure, 15 is a mask original, 20 is an image recording device, 31 is an alignment device, 41 is an exposure device, 50 is a photosensitive recording medium,
90 is an electronic control circuit, and 91 is a CPU. 96 is a switch, 97 a 197 b s 97 c
s 97d is a comparison circuit, 98a and 98b are reference signal generation circuits, and 1.2La, 121b, 121c, and 121d are sensors (detection means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of color separation mask originals created based on color image information are sequentially superimposed on predetermined positions on a photosensitive recording medium, and each color separation mask original is printed from above the color separation mask original. In an image recording apparatus equipped with an exposure means for exposing a photosensitive recording medium to light, a detection means for detecting a mark for alignment made on the color separation mask original; a detection signal detected by the detection means; a plurality of reference signal generation means to be compared; a signal switching means for switching the reference signals generated by the plurality of reference signal generation means; and a result of comparing the detection signal of the detection means and the reference signal of the reference signal generation means. and a mask original positioning means for moving the color separation mask original to a predetermined position based on the above.