JP2000351236A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform high speed image recording from a proper condition in a case using LED units as light emitting elements. SOLUTION: An image recording apparatus is equipped with LED units 320-322 having LED chips and lenses for collecting the lights from the LED chips in front and an image forming optical system 331 optically conjugating the lenses of the LED units 320-322 and a photosensitive material substantially. By substantially forming the lights emitted from the LED units 330-332 into an image on the photosensitive material by the image forming optical system, the photosensitive material is exposed to record an image. In this case, a region largest in the light output of the LED chips is positioned on the optical axis of the lenses of the LED units.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image by irradiating light emitted from a plurality of light sources having different wavelength characteristics onto a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive material and exposing the same to light. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus in which the image recording speed is considered.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of Desk Top Publishing and the like, the work of image editing and page imposition of images input from a scanner on computer software has become common, and full digital editing has become commonplace. .

In such a process, an image setter output for directly outputting image-edited page data to a film, a computer-to-plate (CTP) output for directly recording an image on a printing plate, and a Is a computer to cylinder (CTC) for directly recording an image on a printing plate wound on a cylinder of a printing press.

[0004] In this case, performing one-time film output or printing plate output only for confirmation of proofreading, and performing proofreading or proofreading with other proofing materials increases waste and unnecessary work of the film and the printing plate. There's a problem.

[0005] Therefore, particularly in the process of creating and editing a full digital image by such a computer,
DDCP (Direct Digital Color Proof or DC
There is a demand for a system for directly outputting a color image called P (Digital Color Proof).

[0006] Such a DDCP is used to record digital image data processed on a computer on a plate making film using an imagesetter or the like, perform a final printing operation of directly creating a printing plate by CTP, or perform CTC. Before performing image recording directly on the printing plate wound on the cylinder of the printing press, etc., create a color proof that reproduces the output target indicated by the digital image processed on the computer, and This is for checking text characters and the like.

[0007] Further, in such a proofing process in the printing process, 1) confirmation of a mistake inside the work site, that is, an inner school, 2) an outer school submitted for confirmation of a finish to an orderer and a designer, 3) Proofs are created and used mainly for three purposes: a print sample provided as a sample of the final printed matter to the captain of the printing press.

[0008] At this time, for the purpose of checking the inside, and for some outside school applications, there are needs for shortening the delivery time and reducing costs.
In some cases, calibration materials that cannot reproduce halftone images, that is, calibration using the sublimation transfer method, or output products such as ink jet and electrophotography, are mainly used as proofs for appearance confirmation. In order to confirm details and to confirm inappropriate interference fringes of a halftone image called moiré during printing, a proof that faithfully reproduces a printed halftone dot has been strongly desired.

In response to such needs, a sublimation transfer recording material,
DDCP, which exposes the thermal recording material to an image and transfers it to the actual printing paper, has begun to spread. However, these systems have a high laser head cost, expensive equipment, and a large number of color image forming sheets. The problem is that it is expensive to use, and that the process of image exposure → transfer requires only the number of colors and takes a long time. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to make a large number of copies in terms of cost and time.

Therefore, as an apparatus for producing such a color proof, there is provided a drum provided with a plurality of holes penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inside, and a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the drum. There has been proposed an image recording apparatus that performs exposure in accordance with a digital image signal while recording the halftone image while rotating the drum by the rotation driving mechanism while holding the photosensitive material.

In recent years, it has been proposed to use a light source in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in order to improve the image recording speed of an image recording apparatus.

[0012]

However, when the LED unit is used as the light emitting element, the optimal relationship between the light emitting area and light output of the LED chip and the exposure speed has not been known.

Even if a plurality of light-emitting elements are used, when an LED unit is used as the light-emitting element, the life of the lens of the LED unit and the life of the imaging optical system are long and the life of the lens of the LED unit is long. There has been no image recording device capable of easily recording a high-speed good image stably while allowing image recording using the minimum density to the maximum density.

An object of the first invention is to provide a low cost and simple structure, a long life of a lens of an LED unit and a long life of an imaging optical system, and an image recording using a minimum density to a maximum density of a photosensitive material. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily record a high-speed good image stably while being possible.

Further, when the LED unit is used as a light emitting element, no consideration has been given to high-speed image recording due to the optical positional relationship between the LED chip constituting the LED unit and its lens.

A second object of the present invention is to enable high-speed image recording based on the optical positional relationship between the LED unit and the optical system when the LED unit is used as a light emitting element.

[0017]

The above object of the present invention can be solved by the following means. (1) Light emission area S1 (square mm) and standard light output P1
An LED unit including a (mW) LED chip and a lens for collecting light from the LED chip forward, and a photosensitive element having a light amount per unit area required to reach the maximum photosensitive density is P2 (μW / square μm). An imaging optical system in which the material and the lens of the LED unit are substantially optically conjugated, and the exposure area of the photosensitive material per second per LED unit is S2 (square mm / second). ), The light emission of the LED unit is substantially imaged on the photosensitive material by the imaging optical system at an exposure speed of: It is an image recording apparatus characterized by the following.

(Equation 1) 2 × S2 × P2 ≦ P1 / S1 (Equation 2) P1 / S1 ≦ 2000 × S2 × P2 (Equation 3) P1 / S1 ≦ 500 (Equation 4) P1 ≦ 50 (Equation 5) 40 ≦ S2 (Equation 6) S2 ≦ 500 In the image recording apparatus described above, by satisfying all the above expressions, the life of the lens of the LED unit and the life of the imaging optical system are long with a simple structure at low cost. While it is possible to record images using the minimum density to the maximum density of the photosensitive material, it is possible to easily record high-speed good images stably.

If Expression 1 is not satisfied, it becomes particularly difficult to record an image at high speed. If the expression 2 is not satisfied, it becomes particularly difficult to stably reproduce the minimum photosensitive density of the photosensitive material, and it becomes difficult to record an image using the minimum density to the maximum density of the photosensitive material. If Equation 3 is not satisfied,
In particular, it becomes difficult to extend the life of the imaging optical system.
If Expression 4 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to extend the life of the lens of the LED unit. If Expression 5 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to record an image at high speed. If Expression 6 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to stably record an image.

(2) The image recording apparatus according to (1), wherein an area of the LED chip having the largest light output is located on the optical axis of the lens of the LED unit. In this image recording apparatus, the light emission in the region of the LED chip having the highest light output is relatively collected by the lens in the imaging optical system, so that the light emission of the LED chip can be effectively used, and the light exposure of the photosensitive material can be improved. To perform high-speed image recording. In addition, the light output was large except at the center of the LED chip (within a circle having a radius of 0.2 times the maximum diagonal length of the light emitting surface of the LED chip centered on the center of gravity of the light emitting surface of the LED chip). Also, the light emission of the LED chip can be effectively used, and high-speed image recording can be performed by performing favorable exposure on the photosensitive material.

(3) An LED unit including an LED chip and a lens for collecting light from the LED chip forward, and an imaging optics in which the lens of the LED unit and a photosensitive material are substantially optically conjugate. An image recording apparatus for exposing the photosensitive material to record an image by substantially forming the light emission of the LED unit on the photosensitive material by the imaging optical system.
An image recording apparatus, wherein an area where the light output of the LED chip is highest is located on the optical axis of the lens of the D unit.

In this image recording apparatus, the light emitted from the region of the LED chip having the highest light output is relatively focused on the imaging optical system by the lens, so that the light emitted from the LED chip can be used effectively, and High-speed image recording can be performed by performing favorable exposure. In addition, the light output was large except at the center of the LED chip (within a circle having a radius of 0.2 times the maximum diagonal length of the light emitting surface of the LED chip centered on the center of gravity of the light emitting surface of the LED chip). Also, LED
The light emission of the chip can be effectively used, and high-speed image recording can be performed by performing favorable exposure on the photosensitive material.

(4) The image recording apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the lens has a shape symmetric with respect to an optical axis of the lens. In this image recording apparatus, the image of the lens of the LED unit formed on the photosensitive material is natural, and the image overlaps naturally,
Images of good image quality can be recorded.

(5) The image recording apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the LED chip is covered with the lens. In this image recording device,
Since the LED chip is not exposed, it is possible to suppress the life of the LED chip from being attached to dust or the like. Further, the irradiation angle of the light from the LED unit can be narrowed by the shape of the lens, and high-speed and good exposure can be performed efficiently by utilizing the light emission of the LED chip.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Also,
Although the following explanation explains the meaning of the term,
The meaning of the terms in the embodiments is only described, and the meaning of the terms in the present invention is not limited to this description.

First, the overall configuration and operation of an image recording apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described.
The image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that obtains a color proof for obtaining a proof to check the finish of a printed matter in advance from a digital image signal. Specifically, in producing a color print, before producing a printing plate from a digital image signal, a color proof which simulates an image obtained by printing from a digital image signal on a printing plate produced from the digital image signal. Is created and laid out on the image indicated by the digital image signal.
It is a device that creates a color proof in order to check for errors such as errors in colors, characters, etc., and to confirm the finish of printed matter in advance.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, a roll-shaped silver halide color photographic material is set as a photosensitive material, cut into a sheet at an exposure section, and then responded to the aforementioned digital image signal. Then, the substrate is exposed to a laser beam, and then developed in a developing section to create a color proof.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the color proof creating apparatus. The image recording apparatus has an exposure unit 3 for exposing an image on a photosensitive material, and a developing unit 4 for developing the exposed photosensitive material.

The loading section 7 is a section for loading a magazine 10 containing a roll of the photosensitive material P in a roll form (see FIG. 1), and is provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body. The loading of the magazine 10 is performed by opening and closing the paper feed cover 9. The loading section 7 of the present embodiment is a section for loading a magazine 10 containing a roll of photosensitive material P (see FIG. 2), but may be a section that can directly set the roll of photosensitive material.

The magazine 10 set in the loading section 7 is a magazine containing rolls wound with the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material P facing outward. When the loading section 7 can directly set a roll of photosensitive material, it is preferable to set a roll wound with the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material P facing outward.

A magazine loading section 7 for storing the photosensitive material P
A roller pair 21 and a cutter 22 for cutting the photosensitive material into a predetermined length are provided vertically below the roller pair 21. Also,
The roller pair 21 is disposed at a position close to the outlet of the loaded magazine 10 when the magazine is loaded.

The squeeze roller 23 is provided vertically below the roller pair 21 and can be moved toward and away from the drum 31 provided in the main scanning section 30. The conveying path of the photosensitive material from the outlet of the magazine 10 to the squeeze roller 23 extends substantially vertically downward. When the photosensitive material P is supplied to the drum 31, the squeeze roller 23 is pressed against the drum 31 to bring the supplied photosensitive material P into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 31. Meanwhile, photosensitive material P
Is fed a predetermined length, the squeeze roller 23 stops, and the cutter 22 cuts the photosensitive material P into a sheet of a predetermined length. After that, the squeeze roller 23 is driven to rotate to bring the photosensitive material P into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 31.

The drum 31 is rotatable by a squeeze roller 23. When the photosensitive material P is fed, the photosensitive material P is fixed on the outer peripheral surface by air suction while being rotated by the squeeze roller 23. Then, when the photosensitive material P is completely fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 31, the squeeze roller 23 is separated from the drum 31. When the squeeze roller 23 separates from the drum 31, the drum 31 is rotated by a rotation driving mechanism of the drum 31 at a rotation speed higher than the rotation speed at the time of the close contact operation, so that the photosensitive material P is main-scanned at the time of recording. It rotates at a high speed while fixing the photosensitive material P on the outer peripheral surface.

The optical unit 32 is arranged to face the drum 31, and is driven by the sub-scanning mechanism 300.
Move parallel to the axis of rotation. Also, the optical unit 32
Receives a digital signal and writes an image on the photosensitive material P on the drum 31 by a laser beam.

The rotation of the drum 31 on which the photosensitive material P is fixed on the outer peripheral surface corresponds to the main scanning and the optical unit 3.
The sub-scanning is performed by moving the drum 2 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 31, exposure is performed according to a digital image signal, and a halftone dot latent image is recorded on the photosensitive material P.

The paper discharging section 50 has a peeling guide 51 that can be brought into contact with and separated from the drum 31. The peeling guide 51 is usually
When the drum 31 is stopped after detaching from the drum 31 and the image writing is completed, the peeling guide 51 comes into contact with the drum 31, and the squeeze roller 23 is pressed against the drum 31,
The squeeze roller 23 is driven to rotate to rotate the drum 31, and the separation guide 51 separates the photosensitive material P from the drum 31.

When the peeling of the photosensitive material P is completed, the peeling guide 51 is separated from the drum 31. Then, the paper discharge unit 50
Sends the peeled photosensitive material P to the development processing unit 4. Also,
The development processing unit 4 includes a color development processing unit 42, a bleach-fix processing unit 43, a stabilization processing unit 44, a drying unit 45, and a discharge tray 4
6 is provided. When using a chemical fog type direct positive photosensitive material, color development processing, bleach-fixing processing, stabilization processing,
Processing is performed in the order of drying, and the developed photosensitive material P is discharged to a discharge tray 46.

A second exposure section 41 for uniformly exposing the photosensitive material after completion of image writing sent from the exposure section 3 is provided, and an internal latent image type direct positive photosensitive material is used. The second exposure section 41 is for exposing in the state where the photosensitive material P is present in the color developing solution, and the second exposure section 41 and the color developing section 42 in FIG. 1 are substantially composed of one processing tank. The portion of the shallow processing tank is a second exposure unit 41.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main scanning section and a sub-scanning section. Shafts 31 at both ends of drum 31 of main scanning unit 30
a, 31b are connected to a support base 34 via bearings 33a, 33b.
a, 34b so as to be rotatable. A drive pulley 35a is provided on one shaft portion 31a of the drum 31,
The drive pulley 35a is connected to an output pulley 35b of the drum rotation motor M6 by a belt 36, and the drum 31 rotates by driving the drum rotation motor M6. A rotary encoder 37 is provided on one shaft portion 31a of the drum 31, and outputs a rotation pulse to be used for pixel clock control synchronized with the rotation of the drum.

The other shaft 31b of the drum 31 is connected to the suction blower P1. The drum 31 is formed of a hollow body, and has a suction hole 31c formed on the surface thereof.
The pressure of the inside of the drum 31 is reduced by the drive of 1, and the photosensitive material P is adsorbed on the surface of the drum 31.

The optical unit 32 includes a red LED unit 320, a green LED unit 321, a blue L
The ED unit 322 is arranged. Light from the red LED unit 320 and the green LED unit 321 passes through the mirrors 325 and 326,
The ED unit 322 exposes an image on the photosensitive material P on the drum 31 from the condenser lens 331 via the mirror 327.

The optical unit 32 is fixed to a moving belt 340, and is provided to be movable in a direction parallel to the drum axis while being guided by a pair of guide rails 341 and 342.
The moving belt 340 is wound around a pair of pulleys 343 and 344. One pulley 344 is connected to an output shaft 345 of the sub-scanning motor M7, and the optical unit 32 moves in parallel with the drum axis by driving the sub-scanning motor M7. .

The optical unit 32 is initially stopped at the sub-scanning reference position, starts sub-scanning from the sub-scanning reference position during image recording, and moves forward to a position corresponding to the image size. Then, it returns to the sub-scanning reference position.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the optical configuration of the optical unit 32 of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.
The optical unit 32 includes a red LED unit 320,
A green LED unit 321 and a blue LED unit 322 are arranged. Red LED unit 320
Is reflected by the mirror 325, passes through the dichroic mirrors 326 and 327, and forms the image forming optical system 33.
Enter 1. Some light from the green LED unit 321 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 326,
After passing through the dichroic mirror 327, the imaging optical system 33
Enter 1. Some light from the blue LED unit 322 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 327 and enters the imaging optical system 331. The imaging optical system 331 includes the red LED unit 320 and the green LED unit 32.
1. Blue LED unit 322 lens and drum 31
An imaging optical system in which the above photosensitive material is conjugated with the photosensitive material P
Expose the image to

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a sectional structure of the LED unit 320. In addition, other LED units 321,
322 has the same configuration. Here, the LED unit 32
0 denotes an LED chip 320a that emits light and an LED chip 320a that is provided so as to cover the LED chip 320a.
and a lens 320b that collects light from a in the forward direction. The front lens 320b is an LED
It is formed of a transparent resin that constitutes the entire unit.

The image forming optical system 331 in FIG.
The front lens of each of the LED units 320a to 322a and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material P are configured to be substantially optically conjugate. It should be noted that the LED unit 3 has such a conjugate relationship and is located at the position of the photosensitive material P.
It is also a reduction optical system in which light from 20 to 322 is reduced and projected.

In the LED unit 320, the entire surface of the light emitting surface of the LED chip 320a does not always emit light with a uniform emission intensity. In addition, there is an area that does not emit light due to wiring. In this case, the light is guided to the imaging optical system 331 by the front lens 320b so as to include the light emitted from the LED chip 320a in the region with the highest light output.

In this embodiment, the LED chip 32
0a is collected by the front lens, and furthermore, since an imaging optical system in which the front lens and the photosensitive material have a substantially conjugate relationship is used, L
Even if the light output is large except at the center of the ED chip 320a, the light emission of the LED chip 320a can be effectively used, and the photosensitive material P can be favorably exposed to contribute to high-speed image recording. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, the light emission in the area of the LED chip 320a having the largest light output is guided to the imaging optical system 331 by the front lens 320b, and the front lens 320b and the photosensitive material P are conjugated. Since the exposure to the photosensitive material P is performed by the imaging optical system 331, the optical positional relationship between the LED unit and the optical system can be set to a suitable state. Even if the output is large, the light emission of the LED chip can be effectively used, and good exposure of the photosensitive material can be performed, thereby contributing to high-speed image recording.

It is to be noted that LE is placed on the optical axis of the front lens 320b.
By configuring the LED so as to locate the region of the D chip 320a having the highest light output, the portion having the highest light output passes through the center portion of the front lens 320b, and is affected by dimming around the lens. Will not be. As a result, the light emission of the LED chip can be used more efficiently, and good exposure of the photosensitive material can be performed, thereby contributing to high-speed image recording.

In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (b), the focal length of the front lens 320b is shorter than the distance d from the tip of the front lens to the LED chip.

As a result, the diffused light from the LED chip 320a converges near the center of the front end of the front lens 320b. Then, by using the imaging optical system 331 in which the front lens and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material are conjugated, light from the LED chip can be once collected at the center of the front lens 320b and then imaged on the photosensitive material. Becomes LE
Good exposure can be performed without waste by the diffused light from the D chip.

In this optical unit 32, both LED units emit light using light emitting diodes. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a plurality of LED units are provided for each color LED unit. Are supported by a light source holder 350 and are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern. Here, four Ls in the main scanning direction are used.
ED unit is arranged, 10 LEDs in the sub scanning direction
The unit is located.

Here, exposure of 10 data is performed in parallel in the sub-scanning direction, and four LEDs are exposed in the main scanning direction.
The unit exposes the same pixel to increase the total exposure of the same pixel.

LEDs having different wavelength characteristics as described above
The recording speed can be improved by configuring each unit with an LED unit of a plurality of light emitting elements.

In this arrangement pattern, four LED units are arranged at predetermined intervals L1 in the main scanning direction and shifted by a predetermined pitch P in the sub-scanning direction. The LED units arranged along the main scanning direction are the same as or slightly smaller than the beam diameter of the unit. Therefore, when the LED units are scanned in the main scanning direction, their borders are in contact with each other or partially overlap. . This arrangement pattern is the same in other LED units. This is shown in FIG.

In this case, it is desirable that the shape of the front lens of the LED unit is symmetrical. That is, LE
By making the front lens of the D unit symmetric, when performing exposure using a plurality of LEDs, each L
Exposure from the ED naturally overlaps, and good image recording can be performed. Although FIG. 7 shows a circular example, the shape may be a polygon.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a half mirror 328 is provided on the optical axis between the LED unit 322 and the dichroic mirror 327. The half mirror 328 transmits the light emitted from the LED unit 322 and reflects the light imaged on the exposure surface of the photosensitive material P, and causes the focus detection screen 329 to display the light on the exposure surface of the photosensitive material P. It is configured to project a confocal image of light to be formed.

That is, the optical axis distance from the exposed surface of the photosensitive material P to the LED unit 322 via the dichroic mirror 327 and the focus detection screen 329 from the exposed surface of the photosensitive material P via the dichroic mirror 327 and the half mirror 328. The optical axis distance is set to be the same, so that the half mirror 3
28 is equal to the distance from the focus detection screen 329 to the half mirror 328.

In order to maintain the light amount from the LED unit under such conditions, a sensor 380 may be provided so that the light amount can be detected when the optical unit 32 returns to the home position.

The light emitting area S1 (square mm) of the LED chip, the standard light output is P1 (mW), the maximum photosensitive density of the photosensitive material (the maximum density in the case of a negative photosensitive material, the minimum density in the case of a positive photosensitive material). ), The amount of light per unit area required to reach P2 (μW / square μm), and the LED unit 1
Assuming that the exposure area of the photosensitive material per unit per second is S2 (square mm / sec), all of the following expressions are satisfied.

(Equation 1) 2 × S2 × P2 ≦ P1 / S1 (Equation 2) P1 / S1 ≦ 2000 × S2 × P2 (Equation 3) P1 / S1 ≦ 500 (Equation 4) P1 ≦ 50 (Equation 5) 40 ≦ S2 (Equation 6) S2 ≦ 500 By satisfying all of the above expressions, the life of the lens of the LED unit and the life of the imaging optical system are long with a simple structure at low cost, and the minimum density of the photosensitive material is maximized. While high-density image recording is possible, high-speed, good images can be easily recorded stably.

When the images were recorded under the following conditions for all three colors of B, G and R, the above-mentioned favorable effects were confirmed. S1 = 0.04 S2 = 300 P1 = 2 P2 = 28 If Expression 1 is not satisfied, it becomes particularly difficult to record an image at high speed. If the expression 2 is not satisfied, it becomes particularly difficult to stably reproduce the minimum photosensitive density of the photosensitive material, and it becomes difficult to record an image using the minimum density to the maximum density of the photosensitive material. If Expression 3 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to extend the life of the imaging optical system. If Expression 4 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to extend the life of the lens of the LED unit. If Expression 5 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to record an image at high speed. If Expression 6 is not satisfied, it is particularly difficult to stably record an image.

Further, since the region of the LED chip having the highest light output is located on the optical axis of the lens of the LED unit, the light emission of the region of the LED chip having the highest light output is transmitted to the imaging optical system by the lens. Because it is relatively gathered, the light emission of the LED chip can be used effectively,
High-speed image recording can be performed by performing favorable exposure on the photosensitive material. In addition, the light output was large except at the center of the LED chip (within a circle having a radius of 0.2 times the maximum diagonal length of the light emitting surface of the LED chip centered on the center of gravity of the light emitting surface of the LED chip). Also, the light emission of the LED chip can be effectively used, and high-speed image recording can be performed by performing favorable exposure on the photosensitive material.

Since the lens is symmetrical with respect to the optical axis of the lens, the image of the lens of the LED unit formed on the photosensitive material is natural, and the image overlaps naturally. Images of good image quality can be recorded.

Since the LED chip is not exposed because it is covered with the lens, LE
It is possible to suppress the life of the D chip from being attached to dust or the like. Further, the irradiation angle of the light from the LED unit can be narrowed by the shape of the lens, and high-speed and good exposure can be performed efficiently by utilizing the light emission of the LED chip.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, the life of the lens of the LED unit and the life of the imaging optical system are long with a simple structure at low cost, and the minimum density to the maximum density of the photosensitive material is used. It is possible to easily record a high-speed good image stably while still recording an image. Also, L
When the ED unit is used as a light emitting element, high-speed image recording can be performed based on the optical positional relationship between the LED unit and the optical system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of an internal configuration of an apparatus according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an LED unit according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an LED unit according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an LED unit according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of exposure of an LED unit according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording device 3 Exposure part 4 Processing part 100 Image recording control part 320-322 LED unit 320a-322a LED chip 320b-322b Front lens 331 Imaging optical system

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Atsushi Oishi 1 Sakuracho, Hino-shi, Tokyo Inside Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuaki Tamakoshi 591-7, Kazahirose, Oyama, Sayama-shi, Saitama F-term ( Reference) 2C162 AE12 AE14 AE23 AE28 AE48 AE77 AF02 AF07 AF14 AF15 AF19 AF84 FA04 FA17 FA27 FA34 FA44 FA49 2H106 BH00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An LED unit having a light emitting area S1 (square mm) and a standard light output of P1 (mW), and an LED unit including a lens for collecting light from the LED chip in a forward direction. A photosensitive material having a required amount of light per unit area of P2 (μW / square μm);
An imaging optical system that is substantially optically conjugate with the lens of the unit, wherein the exposure area of the photosensitive material per second per LED unit is S2 (square mm / sec). An image forming method for exposing the photosensitive material to record an image by substantially forming the light emission of the LED unit on the photosensitive material by the imaging optical system at a speed, wherein the image satisfies all of the following expressions: Recording device. 2 × S2 × P2 ≦ P1 / S1 P1 / S1 ≦ 2000 × S2 × P2 P1 / S1 ≦ 500 P1 ≦ 50 40 ≦ S2 S2 ≦ 500 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area of the LED chip having the highest light output is located on an optical axis of the lens of the LED unit. 3. An LED unit comprising an LED chip and a lens for collecting light from the LED chip forward, and an imaging optical system in which the lens of the LED unit and a photosensitive material are substantially optically conjugate. An image recording apparatus for recording an image by exposing the photosensitive material by substantially forming the light emission of the LED unit on the photosensitive material by the imaging optical system, comprising: LED on the optical axis of the lens
An image recording apparatus, wherein an area of a chip having the highest light output is located. 4. The lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens has a shape symmetric with respect to an optical axis of said lens.
The image recording device according to any one of the above. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LED chip is covered with the lens.