JP2000292898A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of forming an image on photosensitive heat developable material having plural sizes, forming the image on the photosensitive heat developable material having different characteristics, and also forming the good image corresponding to the photosensitive heat developable material having different characteristics. SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with a supply part having plural trays housing the plural photosensitive heat developable materials F of the same size and in the same shape substantially housed in the same package and supplying the photosensitive heat developable material from the selected tray, an image correcting part correcting an image signal, and an exposing part 120 exposing the photosensitive heat developable material supplied from the tray part based on the image signal corrected by the image correcting part. The image correcting part 123 stores characteristic correcting data by each tray among the plural trays, and corrects the image signal recorded on the photosensitive heat developable material according to the characteristic correcting data of the tray where the photosensitive heat developable material to be exposed is housed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image by exposing a photosensitive heat developing material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus for exposing a photosensitive heat developing material can set only one solid pack containing a plurality of photosensitive heat developing materials of the same manufacturing lot. Transports and supplies the photothermographic material from the printer, and corrects the image signal according to the characteristic correction data for correcting the characteristics of the photothermographic material obtained from the information indicated by the bar code attached to this pack. In this method, the photosensitive heat developing material is exposed based on the corrected image signal.
Then, the pack is provided with a weak adhesive lid sheet, and when the pack is set, the lid sheet is opened, and when replacing the pack, the light adhesive is closed by closing the weak adhesive lid sheet, and the pack is sealed. It was possible to replace it halfway.

[0003] However, in such a method, the lid sheet is opened and closed each time it is replaced halfway, so that the weak adhesiveness of the lid sheet is weakened, so that the pack cannot easily be closed when the pack is taken out. Therefore, the possibility of light fogging of the photosensitive heat developing material in the pack increases, and if a special weakly adhesive material is used to avoid this, the cost increases. In addition, since a solid pack is used, the cost is high, and the burden on the environment is large due to the waste disposal of the used pack.

[0004] Therefore, a plurality of photosensitive heat developing materials are accommodated in a package made of a flexible material, the package is set on a tray, and at least a part of the photosensitive heat developing material is put out of the package. It has been considered that a photosensitive heat developing material is supplied as the above. However, if this is simply done, there is a problem that the barcode attached to the package cannot be read when at least a part of the photosensitive thermal developing material is out of the package. Therefore, the characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material cannot be corrected, and it becomes difficult to record a good image.

Further, in such a conventional form, in order to record an image on a photosensitive heat developing material of a different size, it is not possible to replace the photosensitive heat developing material contained in the tray yet with the tray. This is not possible unless the photosensitive photothermographic material used is destroyed. The same applies to the case where an image is recorded on a photosensitive heat developing material having different characteristics. In any case, the photosensitive heat developing material is wasted, which is not preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to form an image on a photosensitive heat developing material having a plurality of sizes and to form an image on a photosensitive heat developing material having different characteristics. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of forming a good image correspondingly.

[0007]

The above object of the present invention can be solved by the following means.

That is, the present invention has a plurality of trays for storing a plurality of photosensitive heat developing materials of substantially the same size and the same shape, which are housed in the same package, and the photosensitive tray is selected from the selected tray. A supply unit for supplying a photosensitive thermal developing material, an image correcting unit for correcting an image signal, and exposing the photosensitive thermal developing material supplied from the tray unit based on the image signal corrected by the image correcting unit. And an exposure unit, wherein the image correction unit stores characteristic correction data for each tray of the plurality of trays,
The image signal recorded on the photosensitive heat developing material is corrected according to the characteristic correction data of the tray containing the photosensitive heat developing material to be exposed.

As a result, a single tray accommodates a plurality of photosensitive heat developing materials of substantially the same size and the same shape, which have been housed in the same package, so that the production lot, the storage history and the size can be stored. And the same characteristics correction data can be used, so even if photosensitive heat-developable materials with different characteristics such as manufacturing lots, storage histories, and sizes are set in multiple trays, The characteristic correction data is stored, and only the image signal recorded on the photosensitive thermal developing material is corrected according to the characteristic correcting data of the tray in which the photosensitive thermal developing material to be exposed is stored, and the characteristic corresponding to the characteristic is corrected. Exposure becomes possible, and good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

[0010] Further, the photosensitive thermal developing material contained in the tray cannot be replaced during the process. As a result, since the data cannot be replaced midway, it is more appropriate to store the characteristic correction data for each tray.

Further, in the above-mentioned tray, when the photosensitive thermal developing material to be used for image formation is contained, the contained photosensitive thermal developing material is not exposed to the outside. This is preferable because unexpected light fogging does not occur in the remaining photosensitive heat developing material.

The image forming apparatus further includes a heat developing section for thermally developing the photosensitive heat developing material exposed at the exposure section. This allows
Data for correcting the heat development characteristics can be included in the characteristic correction data, and a good image can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat development materials having different heat development characteristics.

The apparatus further comprises a densitometer for measuring the density characteristics of the photosensitive thermal developing material thermally developed in the thermal developing section, and when the photosensitive thermal developing material is stored in the tray,
The supply section supplies a photosensitive thermal developing material from the tray, and the exposure section exposes the photosensitive thermal developing material contained in the tray supplied from the supply section to a test image, and The developing unit thermally develops the photothermographic material exposed to the test image, and the densitometer measures the density characteristics of the photothermographic material exposed to the test image and thermally developed. The correction unit stores the characteristic correction data obtained from the density characteristics obtained by the measurement as the characteristic correction data of the tray. The characteristics of the photothermographic material may vary greatly depending on the storage history.Thus, even after the photothermographic material has various storage histories until stored in the tray, after being stored in the tray, A test is performed, and the characteristic correction data obtained as a result is stored and used, so that exposure corresponding to this can be performed and a good image can be stably obtained.

Further, each of the plurality of trays includes:
A recording medium that contains a photosensitive heat-developable material and can be set with a package on which a recording medium for recording data is provided on the surface, and reads data from the recording medium provided on the surface of the package set on each tray Means, wherein the image correction unit stores, as characteristic correction data of the tray, characteristic correction data obtained from density characteristics obtained by measurement and data read from the recording medium. . Thereby, the characteristic correction data for each package can be easily obtained without mistake, and the characteristic correction data is obtained in combination with the density characteristic obtained by the above-described method, so that good characteristic correction data is obtained and stored. Since it is used, the exposure corresponding to the difference in the characteristics can be performed well, and a better image can be obtained more stably.

Further, each of the plurality of trays includes:
It is possible to set a package on which a recording medium for storing the photosensitive heat developing material and recording the characteristic correction data is provided on the surface, and the characteristic correction data is obtained from the recording medium provided on the surface of the package set on each tray. Characterized by having a recording medium reading means for reading. As a result, the characteristic correction data can be easily obtained without fail, and the exposure according to the characteristic of the photosensitive thermal developing material stored in the tray can be performed.

Further, the exposure unit has a light source that emits light in accordance with an image signal, and an optical filter that is inserted and removed on an optical path between the light source and the photosensitive heat development material, The optical filter is inserted and removed according to the characteristic correction data of the photosensitive thermal developing material to be exposed, and the photosensitive thermal developing material is exposed to light from the light source. Photothermographic materials have large variations in characteristics depending on the production lot and the package containing multiple sheets, and as long as the light emission intensity of the light source can be modulated, changes in the characteristics of the photothermographic materials may not be sufficient. However, this makes it possible to perform exposure corresponding to the variation in characteristics by inserting or removing an optical filter on the optical path according to the characteristic correction data. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a light source which emits light in accordance with an image signal, and exposing a photosensitive heat development material with light from the light source to form an image. An optical filter is inserted and removed on the optical path between the photosensitive thermal developing material and the photosensitive filter, and the optical filter is inserted and removed according to the characteristics of the photosensitive thermal developing material to be exposed.

The photosensitive thermal developing material has large variations in characteristics depending on the production lot and the package containing a plurality of sheets, and can cope with the change in the characteristics of the photosensitive thermal developing material within a range where the light emission intensity of the light source can be modulated. May not be there,
By inserting or removing an optical filter on the optical path according to the characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material to be exposed,
Exposure corresponding to the variation in characteristics becomes possible. Therefore,
Good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

A plurality of optical filters having different characteristics can be inserted into and removed from the optical path as the optical filter. This makes it possible to more precisely perform exposure corresponding to the characteristics of the photosensitive heat-developable material and stably form a better image.

Further, the exposure section has a light source that emits light in accordance with an image signal, and a light modulation element disposed on an optical path between the light source and the photosensitive heat development material, and is exposed. The light modulation element is controlled in accordance with the characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material, and the photosensitive heat development material is exposed to light from the light source. Photothermographic materials have large variations in characteristics depending on the production lot and the package containing multiple sheets, and as long as the light emission intensity of the light source can be modulated, changes in the characteristics of the photothermographic materials may not be sufficient. However, by this, by arranging a light modulation element such as an acousto-optic light modulator on the optical path and controlling the light modulation element according to the characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material, the characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material Exposure can be performed with the variation of the exposure corrected. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a light source which emits light in accordance with an image signal, and exposing a photosensitive heat development material with light from the light source to form an image.
A light modulation element is disposed on an optical path between the light source and the photosensitive heat development material, and the light modulation element is controlled based on characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material to be exposed.

The photosensitive thermal developing material has large variations in characteristics depending on the production lot and the package containing a plurality of sheets, and can cope with the change in the characteristics of the photosensitive thermal developing material within a range where the light emission intensity of the light source can be modulated. May not be there,
Exposure in which a light modulation element such as an acousto-optic light modulator is arranged on the optical path and the light modulation element is controlled in accordance with the characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material, thereby correcting variations in the characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material. Becomes possible. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

Further, the light source is a semiconductor light emitting device.
Although the semiconductor light emitting device is relatively inexpensive, the adjustment range of the light emission amount is often narrow.
13. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above items 13 to 13, it is possible to perform exposure in which variations in the characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material are corrected. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention, which are examples of the present invention, will be described. Therefore, the meaning of the terms of the invention and the invention itself should not be construed as being limited by the description of the embodiments and examples of the invention, and it is needless to say that the invention can be appropriately changed / improved. Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat developing apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a left side view of the heat developing device. Thermal developing device 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes a feeding unit 105 that feeds the film F which is a sheet-like heat development material one by one, an exposure unit 120 that exposes the fed film F, and a thermal development that develops the exposed film F. Unit 130. Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, the feeding section 105 is provided with trays T for accommodating a plurality of deposited films F in two upper and lower stages. Above the front end side of each tray T, a suction unit 1 that moves up and down by sucking the front end of the film F
11 are provided. In the vicinity of the suction unit 111, a pair of feed rollers 1 for feeding the film F supplied by the suction unit 111 in the direction of the arrow (1) (horizontal direction).
12 are provided. Further, the suction unit 111 can move back and forth and feed the film F, which has been sucked, to the feeding roller pair 1.
12 can be carried. Then, the feed roller pair 112
Are provided with a plurality of transport roller pairs 141 for transporting the film F fed in the vertical direction. The film F is transported by these transport roller pairs 141 in the direction (downward) shown by the arrow (2) in FIG.

A transport direction changing unit 145 is provided below the thermal developing device 100. This transport direction converter 14
5 is a transport roller pair 141 as shown in FIGS.
As a result, the film F conveyed vertically downward as shown by the arrow (2) in FIG. 2 is conveyed in the horizontal direction as shown by the arrow (3), and then the conveyance direction is perpendicular to the arrow (3) from the arrow (4). Then, the film F whose transport direction has been changed and transported is transported upward in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow (5) in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the film F conveyed from the conveyance direction changing unit 145 is moved by an arrow (6) in FIG.
Plural transport roller pairs 14 transported vertically upward as indicated by
2 is provided, and the film F is transported from the left side surface of the heat developing device 100 upward in the vertical direction indicated by an arrow (6) in FIG.

In the course of transporting vertically upward, the exposure unit 120 moves the photosensitive surface of the film F to the infrared region 780-860.
Scanning exposure is performed with laser light in the range of nm (810 nm in the present embodiment) to form a latent image corresponding to an exposure image signal.

A heat developing section 130 is provided on the upper part of the heat developing apparatus 100. In the vicinity of the drum 14 of the heat developing section 130, a pair of conveying rollers 142 is provided in a vertically upward direction as shown by an arrow (6) in FIG. A supply roller pair 143 for supplying the film F conveyed to the drum 14 to the drum 14 is provided.

The film F is supplied to the drum 14 at a random timing depending on the situation. In addition, instead of supply at random timing, supply may be performed at a certain timing. As an example of supplying with timing, the supply roller pair 143 stops until the next supply position on the circumference of the drum 14 reaches a predetermined rotation position, and the next supply position on the circumference of the drum 14 You may make it rotate at the time of reaching the predetermined rotation position. That is, the film F may be supplied to a predetermined supply position of the drum 14 by controlling the rotation of the supply roller pair 143.

The drum 14 of the heat developing unit 130 heats the film F while rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow (7) in FIG. 1 with the film F and the outer peripheral surface of the drum 14 in close contact with each other. And heat develop. That is, the film F
Is formed into a visible image. Then, the drum 1 of FIG.
The film F is separated from the drum 14 when the film F is rotated to the right with respect to the film 4. A plurality of transport roller pairs 144 are provided on the right side of the thermal developing unit 130, and while transporting the film F separated from the drum 14 obliquely downward to the right as shown by an arrow (8) in FIG. Cooling. Then, the transport roller pair 144 transports the cooled film F while the densitometer 1
18 measures the concentration of the film F. Thereafter, the plurality of transport roller pairs 144 are moved to the film F separated from the drum 14.
Is transported in the horizontal direction as shown by the arrow (9) in FIG. 1, and is discharged to a discharge tray 160 provided at the upper right portion of the heat developing device 100 so that it can be taken out from the upper portion of the heat developing device 100.

FIG. 3 shows a tray 1 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
It is a side view which shows the supply part 90 of 1 and 12 and a tray vicinity. As shown in FIG.
And the supply unit 90 near the tray will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film package 1 that can be stored in the trays 11 and 12 comprises a bag-shaped packaging member 2 made of a flexible material, a plurality of films F made of a photothermographic material, A plurality of holes (not shown) are formed at one end of the packaging member 2 including a backing ball 3 for sandwiching and protecting a plurality of films F. A bar code seal 1a as a recording medium on which the density characteristic information of the wrapped photosensitive heat developing material is recorded is attached to the surface of the wrapping member 2. The density characteristic information of the photosensitive heat developing material is used as density characteristic correction data as described later. The bar code seal may be a magnetic tape, an optical recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or the like. The film package is packed with films of various sizes such as six-section, half-section, large-size, and large-section, and the film packages of different sizes can be loaded in the trays 11 and 12. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the trays 11 and 12 are configured so that the film package 1 can be stored therein, and the locking portions 31a and 32a are passed through a plurality of holes of the film package 1 so as to be directed in the drawing. take-up shafts 31 and 32 that are rotated to r and are taken out by taking up the packaging member 2 of the film package 1.
And a roller pair 33a, 33b, 34a, 34b for sandwiching the packaging member 2 of the film package 1. The winding shafts 31 and 32 are rotationally driven by a winding shaft driving mechanism (not shown) including a motor, a belt mechanism, and the like, and rotated in the rotation direction r in FIG. The member 2 is pulled out while being wound up.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Means that many films F in the film package 1 are
The film F is transported out of the sheet trays 11 and 12.
Holding members 36 and 37 serving as film holding means for moving left and right and up and down in the figure while holding by vacuum suction, a pair of rollers 38 and 39 for nipping and transporting the film F from the first tray 11, A pair of rollers 40 for nipping and transporting the film F from the second tray 12, a pair of transport rollers 41 for transporting the film F from the first and second trays 11 and 12 downward in the figure, and a pair of transport rollers 38 A transmission type photointerrupter, which is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side and includes a light receiving element 51a and a light emitting element 51b for detecting the film F from the first tray 11; And a transmission type photo interrupter including a light receiving element 52a and a light emitting element 52b for detecting the film F from the tray 12 of FIG.

Each of the transmission type photo interrupters shown in FIG. 3 constitutes a film detecting means, and the light emitting elements 51a and 52a are
Light is emitted in directions c and d, respectively, and the light receiving elements 51b and 52
b. Light emitting element 51a, 52a and light receiving element 51
b, 52b and the film F conveyed between
Is positioned as shown by the broken line in the figure, the light is blocked, and the period from the start of the blocking until the rear end of the film F passes between the light emitting elements 51a, 52a and the light receiving elements 51b, 52b and the blocking ends. It is configured to count one film. Thus, for example, since the number of films F in the film package 1 is constant (for example, 125), the number of films remaining in the tray can be known. The light emitted from the light emitting elements 51a and 52a is preferably light in a wavelength range outside the photosensitive wavelength of the film F. Further, the photo interrupter is not limited to the transmission type as described above, and may be a reflection type.

As shown in FIG. 3, reading sensors 51 and 52 for reading information on the bar code seal 1a of the packaging member 1 are arranged above the trays 11 and 12, respectively. By irradiating light from the reading sensors 51 and 52 as shown by the broken lines in the figure and reading the reflected light, it is possible to read the density characteristic information and the like recorded on the barcode seal 1a.

The locking mechanism for the trays 11 and 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a side view showing a tray and a cover member for covering the front of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing a lock mechanism of the cover member on the front of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, a cover member 13 that rotates about a rotation shaft 13b is provided on a front surface 10a of the apparatus. When the cover member 13 is positioned at the broken line, the trays 11, 12
It is configured to be able to be pulled out and pushed in at a. By moving the tray into the apparatus 100 with the film packages loaded in the trays 11 and 12 and covering the front surface 10 a with the cover member 13, the trays 11 and 12 are moved.
Cannot be extracted, and the inside of the device 100 is in a light-tight state.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of the cover member 13 is provided with a claw portion 13a slightly inclined obliquely downward in the figure. A locking pin 73 is provided on the device side so as to be movable in the vertical direction in the drawing and engages with the claw portion 13a, and a biasing force including a spring or the like for biasing the locking pin 73 in the direction e in the drawing. A member 74, a solenoid valve 75 for moving the locking pin 73 in the direction e ′ in the figure when the member 74 is operated, and a switch 76 for operating the solenoid valve 75, which releases the locked state of the tray by the cover member 13 by the operation. And a control unit 77 for controlling the lock release switch 76. The lock of the cover member 13 can be released by operating the solenoid valve 75 with the lock release switch 76 under the control of the control unit 77, so that the locked state of the trays 11 and 12 can be released.

Next, locking of the tray will be described.
In order to lock the tray, as shown in FIG.
Is rotated in the direction d, the claw portion 13a is
As shown in the figure, the cover member 1 is pressed down against the urging force while being urged in the direction e and abutting against the lock pin 73 located slightly above to engage the lock pin 73 as shown in the drawing.
3 is locked by the locking pin 73. As a result, the cover member 13 is locked.

Next, with the film supply stopped,
The photo interrupters 51a, 51b, 52a, 5 shown in FIG.
If the film remains in each tray in the measurement by 2b, a release signal is not sent to the control unit 77 in FIG. 5, so that the lock release switch 76 cannot be turned on. This allows
As long as the film remains in each tray, the tray cannot be pulled out, so that the remaining film does not unexpectedly fog. When there is no more film on the tray, a release signal is sent to the control unit 77 to turn on the lock release switch 76, and the solenoid valve 75 pushes the locking pin 73 against the biasing force of the biasing member 74 in the direction e ′. To release the locked state between the claw portion 13a and the locking pin 73. Thereby, the cover member 13 can be rotated in the direction d ′ in FIG. 2, and the tray can be unlocked.
In addition, a cover member is provided for each of the plurality of trays,
The above lock may be performed for each tray. In addition, the cover member may be, for example, a slide type that slides in a vertical direction, in addition to the rotation type.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the exposure unit 120. The exposing unit 120 deflects the laser light L, the intensity of which has been modulated based on the image signal S, by the rotating polygon mirror 113 to perform main scanning on the film F, and also moves the film F in the main scanning direction with respect to the laser light L. The sub-scanning is performed by relatively moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to the above, and a latent image is formed on the film F using the laser beam L.

More specifically, in FIG. 6, a digital image signal S output from the image signal output device 121 is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 122 and input to a modulation circuit 123. You. Modulation circuit 12
Reference numeral 3 generates an optical modulation signal based on the analog signal, and controls the driver 124 of the semiconductor laser 110 with the optical modulation signal so that the semiconductor laser 110 emits the modulated laser light L. .

The laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 110 is converged only in the vertical direction by the cylindrical lens 115, and is applied to the rotating polygon mirror 113 rotating in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Incident as
The laser beam L is reflected and changed in the main scanning direction by the rotary polygon mirror 113. Modified laser light L
Is a focusing lens 114 formed by combining two lenses.
After passing through the optical path, the light is reflected by a cylindrical mirror 116 provided in the optical path extending in the main scanning direction, and is conveyed (sub-scanned) by the conveying device 142 in the direction of arrow Y (sub scanning). Main scanning is repeatedly performed on the surface in the arrow X direction. That is, the laser light L
Is irradiated over the entire surface to be scanned on the film F.

By the scanning of the laser beam as described above, a latent image based on the image signal S is formed on the film F, and this latent image is thermally developed by the developing unit 130 as described with reference to FIG. And the film F having a visible image is discharged out of the apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, the modulation circuit 123 includes
A density characteristic data signal read by the reading sensors 51 and 52 and a density value measured by the densitometer 118 are input from the bar code sticker 1a recording the density characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material in FIG. 3, and the characteristic correction is performed for each tray. An image correction control unit 71 for controlling the modulation circuit 123 using characteristic correction data corresponding to a tray in which a film F to be created, stored and exposed is stored is connected.

Here, the density characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material will be described with reference to FIG. An image is formed on the film F based on the light modulation signal generated based on the image signal S from the image signal output device 121, and the image signal S before being corrected and the density of the image formed on the film are described below. 7 (concentration curve) is shown in FIG. Since this relationship is nonlinear as can be seen from FIG. 7, the density of the film on which the image is formed is not proportional to the intensity of the image signal S, and the image quality is degraded. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the relationship between the image signal S and the density of the image formed on the film (density curve) when generating the light modulation signal from the image signal S so that the relationship is linear as shown in FIG. There is.

Incidentally, the density characteristics of the photosensitive heat-developable material tend to be relatively large depending on the production lot or the film package, so that the density curve in FIG. 7 also changes.
The image correction controller 71 controls the modulation circuit 1 for each of a number of characteristic numbers so that the density and the image signal as shown in FIG.
23, for example, conversion LUT data for converting an image signal into a light modulation signal is stored in advance. The tray 1 is read by the reading sensor 51 or 52.
When the characteristic number of the film packaged in each of the film packages 1 (FIG. 3) stored in the tray 1 or the tray 12 is read from the bar code seal, the image correction control unit 71
The converted LUT data corresponding to the characteristic number is converted to the converted LUT data of the tray (a kind of characteristic correction data of the present invention).
To be stored. Thus, the image correction control unit 71
Then, the reference table used for the correction is set to each tray 1
The information is stored for each of the film packages 1 stored in the storage units 1 and 12. At the time of exposure, the image correction control unit 71 sets the conversion LU of the tray containing the film F to be exposed.
The T data is selected, the selected conversion LUT data is set in the light modulation circuit 123, and the corrected light modulation signal is output from the light modulation circuit 123.

The conversion LUT data itself may be recorded on the bar code seal of the package, instead of the film characteristic number. Thus, the image correction control unit 71
There is no need to previously store the conversion LUT data for each of a large number of characteristic numbers. Also, there is no need to upgrade the stored data.

When a new film is stored in the tray, test exposure is performed to obtain characteristic correction data, and the characteristic correction data set as described above is replaced.

This is because, when a new package is set on the tray 11 or 12 and a plurality of films are stored, the supply unit thereafter proceeds to the tray 11 or tray 1.
2 supplies the first one film F in the film package, and the exposure unit exposes the test image to the film F stored in the tray 11 or the tray 12 supplied from the supply unit and heats the test image. The developing unit 130 thermally develops the film F exposed with the test image, the densitometer 118 measures the density of the film F exposed and thermally developed with the test image, and the image correction control unit 71 The converted LUT data obtained from the density obtained by the measurement of the total 118 and the converted LUT data described above is obtained, and the corresponding tray or tray 12 is obtained.
Is stored as conversion LUT data.

Here, the test images are 5 to 10
An image to be exposed by changing the position of the predetermined amount of light in a number of steps (for example, 20 steps) of about 0 steps sequentially in the transport direction,
Examples include an image that is exposed by changing the position of a predetermined amount of light in a large number of stages (for example, 20 stages) of about 00 in order in a matrix, but is not limited thereto.

As a result, not only the correction including the heat development characteristic can be performed, but also, for example, even if the density characteristic of the film changes over time due to the storage history after the production of the film, the exposure corresponding to this can be performed. Therefore, since the correction can be made closer to the original characteristic, a better image can be formed more stably corresponding to the films F having different characteristics. The test image as described above is obtained based on information such as density characteristics read from a bar code sticker of the package of the film F, based on the optimum range of the light modulation signal value (a type of exposure control amount) and light modulation. By determining the signal value interval, the number of steps, and the like, accurate test exposure can be performed, and good converted LUT data can be stably obtained.

Further, the image correction control section 71 stores the date and time when the film is stored for each of the trays 11 and 12 by using a built-in timer, and monitors the storage period from the current date and time for each of the trays 11 and 12. The exposure amount can be corrected, for example, by correcting the converted LUT data or adjusting the gain of the modulation circuit 123 according to this period.
Thus, when the film stored in each tray changes in characteristics due to aging, the film is exposed with an exposure amount corresponding to the storage period, so that a good image is obtained regardless of the length of the storage period. Can be formed.

The operation of the image forming apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described. First, in a state where the trays 11 and 12 of FIG. 3 are pulled out from the front surface 10a of FIG. 4, the film packages 1 of FIG. Is locked to the locking portion 31a (the state of the film package 1 in the tray 12 in FIG. 3). The same operation is performed on the tray 12 (the same applies hereinafter unless otherwise specified). Next, the other end 1e of the film package 1 slightly protruding from the tray 12 to the side 12a is cut, and Trays 11 and 12 are pushed into the apparatus 100. At this time, the side surfaces 11a and 12a of the trays 11 and 12 are as shown in FIG.
Is located on the front side 10a of the device. In this state, the cover member 13 is rotated in the rotation direction d as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to cover the front surface 10a and locked as shown in FIG.
As a result, the trays 11 and 12 are locked in the apparatus 100 and cannot be pulled out.
The inside is in a light-tight state.

In this state, the bar code seal 1a on the surface of each film package 1 stored in each tray 11, 12 is provided.
The reading characteristic data is read by the reading sensors 51 and 52 from the image forming apparatus, and the control in the image correction control unit 71 of FIG. 6 determined according to the density characteristic for each of the film packages 1 loaded on the trays 11 and 12 is performed. Table is LUT
72. Thereafter, since the packaging member 2 is pulled out, there is no problem that the information cannot be read from the bar code seal as in the related art.

Next, the take-up shaft 31 of the tray 11 is rotated in the rotation direction r in FIG. 3 by operating a take-up shaft driving mechanism (not shown), thereby engaging with the locking portion 31a of the take-up shaft 31. The stopped packaging member 2 of the film package 1 is wound around the periphery. Thereby, the packaging member 2 is pulled out from the film package 1. At this time, the packaging member 2 is the film package 1
However, as shown in the packaging member 2 of the tray 11 in FIG.

Next, when the holding member 36 moves downward in FIG. 3 by a moving mechanism (not shown) and comes into contact with the film F of the film package 1 in the tray 11, the vacuum device connected to the holding member 36 The film F is held in a suction state by (not shown). The holding member 36 approaches the roller pair 38 by moving the moving mechanism 58 upward and left while holding the film F, feeds the film F to the roller pair 38, and then lowers the roller F in FIG. Transport.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, when the transported film F reaches the exposure unit 120, the film F is scanned by the laser beam as described above. 71 selects the conversion LUT data of the tray 11 or the tray 12 in which the film F is stored, and sets the conversion LUT data in the modulation circuit 123. And the modulation circuit 1
23 corrects the image signal S based on the set conversion LUT data and sends a light modulation signal to the driver 124;
Then, the driver 124 drives the semiconductor laser 110 based on the light modulation signal, and excites and emits a laser beam from the semiconductor laser 110.

Then, the latent image based on the image signal S is formed on the film F by the scanning of the laser beam,
This latent image is visualized by being thermally developed in the developing unit 130 as described with reference to FIG. 1, and the film F having the visible image is discharged out of the apparatus 100.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the image signal and the density.
Since an image is formed on a film in a linear state as described above, a good image can be formed on the film. Further, even if films having different sizes (therefore, the exposure control amounts are different) or films having different density characteristics are loaded on the plurality of trays 11 and 12, the film F having different characteristics is corrected because the characteristics are corrected for each film. Good images can be formed corresponding to different films

[0062]

Modification 1 Next, a modification of the exposure unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, ND (neutral density) having different transmittances in the optical path L according to the density characteristics of the film.
It is possible to switch the filter,
This is the same as the above-described embodiment except for the points described below.
As shown in FIG. 9, the ND filter section 80 has a light transmittance of 1
A motor having a filter 81 having a light transmittance of 50%, a filter 82 having a light transmittance of 50%, a filter 83 having a light transmittance of 25%, a filter 84 having a light transmittance of 12.5%, and a gear 85, a rack gear 86 provided longitudinally below the filter unit 80 and meshing with a motor gear;
And a control unit 87 for controlling the motor 85. Control unit 8
7 is connected to the above-described image correction control unit 71.

The image correction control section 71 selects an optimum filter for each tray based on the density characteristics recorded on the bar code stickers from the reading sensors 51 and 52 and the density obtained by the measurement of the densitometer 118. Then, the selected filter is stored.

When exposing the film F, a filter selection signal indicating the filter of the tray in which the film F to be exposed is stored is sent to the control unit 87, and the control unit 87
Drives the motor 85 according to the filter selection signal so that the selected filter is inserted into the exposure optical path.

This makes it possible to perform exposure according to the density characteristics of each film stored in a plurality of trays.
That is, the film of the film F has a large variation in characteristics depending on a production lot or a film package accommodating a plurality of films.
The semiconductor laser, which is the light source, does not have a sufficiently wide range in which the light emission intensity can be modulated, and even if the light emission intensity is changed within this range, it may not be able to cope with this change in characteristics. By arranging the transmittance filter, it is possible to adjust the light intensity and perform exposure in which variations in characteristics are corrected. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics. Note that the conversion LUT data of the tray is corrected according to the selected filter.

Modification 2 Next, another modification of the exposure unit 120 will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, an acousto-optic light modulator 88 is arranged as an optical modulation element in an optical path L, and is the same as the above-described embodiment except for the following points. The acousto-optic light modulator 88 is controlled by a control unit 89 connected to the image correction control unit 71 similar to the above.

The image correction control unit 71 calculates an optimum modulation amount for each tray based on the density characteristics from the reading sensors 51 and 52 and the density obtained by the measurement of the densitometer 118. Is stored. Further, the conversion LUT data of the tray is corrected according to the obtained modulation amount.

When exposing the film F, a modulation amount signal indicating the modulation amount of the tray in which the film F to be exposed is stored is sent to the control unit 89, and the control unit 88 responds to the modulation amount signal. The acousto-optic light modulator 88 is controlled so that the optimum modulation amount (the ratio of the outgoing light amount to the incident light amount) is obtained.
Control.

As a result, it becomes possible to perform exposure in accordance with the density characteristics of each film stored in a plurality of trays.
That is, the film of the film F has a large variation in characteristics depending on a production lot or a film package accommodating a plurality of films.
The semiconductor laser, which is the light source, has a wide range in which the light emission intensity can be modulated, and even if the light emission intensity is changed within this range, it may not be possible to cope with this change in characteristics. By adjusting the light intensity by modulating the light with the modulation element 88, it is possible to perform exposure in which variations in characteristics are corrected. Therefore, good images can be formed corresponding to photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the developing unit 130
Although it is incorporated in the image forming apparatus 100 together with the exposure unit 120, it may be configured separately from the exposure unit 120.
In such a case, a transport unit that transports the film F from the exposure unit 120 to the development unit 130 is required.

[0071]

According to the present invention, an image can be formed on a photosensitive heat developing material having a plurality of sizes, an image can be formed on a photosensitive heat developing material having different characteristics, and photosensitive heat developing materials having different characteristics can be formed. An image forming apparatus capable of forming a good image corresponding to a material can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a plurality of trays and a supply unit near the trays of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

4 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a tray and a cover member.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a mechanism for locking the cover member of FIG. 4;

6 is a perspective view and a block diagram showing an exposure unit of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a density curve (a) before correction and a density curve (b) after correction of the photosensitive heat-developable film.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a modification of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view and a block diagram showing a modification of the exposure unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view and a block diagram showing another modified example of the exposure unit shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Film package 1a Barcode seal (recording medium) 11, 12 Tray 51, 52 Reading sensor (recording medium reading means) 71 Image correction control part 80 ND filter part (optical filter) 88 Acousto-optic light modulator (optical modulation element) 90 supply unit 100 thermal developing device 105 feeding unit 110 semiconductor laser (light source) 118 densitometer 120 exposure unit 123 modulation circuit, light modulation circuit (image correction unit) 130 thermal development unit F film

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H106 AA72 AB54 BA49 BA53 BA62 BH00 2H112 AA03 BA01 BA16 BB10 BB12 BB14 BC10 BC27 BC32 5C077 LL16 MM27 PP15 PP45 PQ08 PQ23 SS02 SS03 TT02

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of trays for accommodating a plurality of photosensitive heat developing materials of substantially the same size and the same shape housed in the same package, and the photosensitive heat developing materials are selected from a selected tray. A supply unit that supplies an image signal, an image correction unit that corrects an image signal, and an exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive thermal development material supplied from the tray unit based on the image signal corrected by the image correction unit. Wherein the image correction unit stores the characteristic correction data for each of the plurality of trays and responds to the characteristic correction data of the tray in which the photosensitive thermal developing material to be exposed is stored. An image signal recorded on the photosensitive heat-developable material. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive thermal developing material stored in the tray cannot be replaced midway. 3. The photosensitive thermal developing material according to claim 2, wherein the photosensitive thermal developing material for which an image is to be formed is not exposed to the outside when the tray accommodates the photosensitive thermal developing material. Image forming device. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal developing section for thermally developing the photosensitive thermal developing material exposed at the exposing section. 5. A photothermographic material which has been thermally developed in the thermal developing section, the apparatus further comprising a densitometer for measuring the density characteristics of the photosensitive thermal developing material. Supplies a photosensitive thermal developing material from the tray, the exposure unit exposes a test image to the photosensitive thermal developing material contained in the tray supplied from the supply unit, and the thermal developing unit Heat-developing the photothermographic material exposed with the test image, the densitometer measures the density characteristics of the photothermographic material exposed and thermally developed with the test image, and the image correction unit And storing characteristic correction data obtained from the density characteristics obtained by the measurement as characteristic correction data for the tray.
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. A package in which a photosensitive heat developing material is stored and a recording medium for recording data is provided on the surface of each of the plurality of trays, and the package is set in each tray. Has a recording medium reading means for reading data from a recording medium provided on the surface of the, the image correction unit,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein characteristic correction data obtained from density characteristics obtained by the measurement and data read from the recording medium are stored as characteristic correction data for the tray. 7. Each of the plurality of trays accommodates a photosensitive heat developing material, and can be set with a package having a recording medium for recording characteristic correction data provided on a surface thereof. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium reading unit that reads the characteristic correction data from a recording medium provided on a surface of the package. 8. The exposure unit has a light source that emits light in accordance with an image signal, and an optical filter that is inserted and removed on an optical path between the light source and the photosensitive heat development material, 8. The photosensitive thermal developing material according to claim 1, wherein said optical filter is inserted and removed according to characteristic correction data of the photosensitive thermal developing material to be exposed, and said photosensitive thermal developing material is exposed to light from said light source. Any one of the image forming apparatuses. 9. A light source that emits light in accordance with an image signal,
In an image forming apparatus for exposing a photosensitive heat developing material with light from the light source to form an image, an optical filter is inserted and removed on an optical path between the light source and the photosensitive heat developing material, and is exposed. An image forming apparatus for inserting and removing the optical filter according to the characteristics of the photosensitive heat developing material. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of optical filters having different characteristics can be inserted into and removed from the optical path as the optical filter. 11. The exposure unit includes a light source that emits light in accordance with an image signal, and a light modulation element that is disposed on an optical path between the light source and a photosensitive heat development material, and is exposed. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light modulation element is controlled in accordance with characteristics of the photosensitive heat development material, and the photosensitive heat development material is exposed to light from the light source. Image forming device. 12. An image forming apparatus having a light source that emits light in response to an image signal, and exposing a photosensitive heat developing material with light from the light source to form an image. An image forming apparatus comprising: a light modulating element disposed on an optical path between the light modulating elements; and controlling the light modulating element based on characteristics of a photosensitive heat developing material to be exposed. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said light source is a semiconductor light emitting device.