JP2001063176A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small size, a light weight, an excellent portability, a low cost and a high image quality recording by constituting so that relative positions of a recording means, a conveying means and a recording medium are transferred in a conveying direction of the medium when printed to form a printer. SOLUTION: When a housing front part 17a and a housing rear part 17b are relatively moved parallel to an X-axis direction when printed, an optical recording head 1, medium conveying rollers 16a, 16b and a medium conveying amount detector 14 are disposed at a downstream side of a medium conveying direction 29 against cassette 6. A pawl member 13 takes out an instant film in a cassette 6 by driving it in the direction 29 by a driving means to send the rollers 16a, 16b. In this case, the head 1 may be moved onto a non-printed area of the film. Then, the rollers 16a, 16b are rotatably driven by a signal from a motor driver 54.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive recording medium (recording medium) using an optical recording head (recording means).
The present invention relates to a printer device formed thereon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
Conventional optical printer (printer device) disclosed in JP-A-7
FIG. Referring to FIG. 1, an optical recording head 101 includes a light emitting unit 102, a mirror 103a serving as an optical imaging unit, and a selfoc lens array 103b.
It is configured to be movable in the horizontal sub-scanning direction in the figure by a motor 109 via a belt 108. The photosensitive recording medium 104 is housed in a cassette 106 such that the photosensitive recording surface faces the optical recording head 101, and an image is formed and recorded by irradiation light 107 from the optical recording head 101. The optical recording head 101 includes a photosensitive recording medium 10.
A detection sensor 110 for detecting the fourth edge 104a is provided. Then, the photosensitive recording medium 10 on which recording is completed
4 is discharged to the left in the figure by the rollers 105a and 105b.

The interface 111 of the optical printer includes a CPU 112, a data transfer unit 113 including a shift register and a buffer, and a motor driver 114. The image data received by the CPU 112 from the external personal computer is transferred to the data transfer unit 113,
When an exposure instruction signal is output from 2, the irradiation light 107 corresponding to the image data is emitted from the optical recording head 101. When the motor driver 114 receives the ON signal from the CPU 112, the motor driver 114 outputs a speed control signal to the motor 109 so as to rotate at a constant speed.
Upon receiving the FF signal, the motor 109 is stopped.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when an image signal generated from a personal computer or the like is input to the data transfer unit 113 via the CPU 112, and then the CPU 112 outputs an ON signal to the motor driver 114, the motor driver 114 drives the motor 109, The optical recording head 101 is moved in the sub scanning direction. At this time, after the detection sensor 110 on the optical recording head 101 detects the edge 104a of the photosensitive recording medium 104, the optical recording head 101 is moved a predetermined distance to the recording area and recording on the photosensitive recording medium 104 is started. You.

During recording, the optical recording head 101 is
In accordance with the rotation of No. 9, it moves at a predetermined speed in the sub-scanning direction. Image data is sequentially input to the data transfer unit 113, and recording is performed by the optical recording head 101 for each line in the main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface) at regular time intervals. The moving speed of the optical recording head 101 in the sub-scanning direction is
The speed is set such that the number of lines per unit length in the sub-scanning direction becomes a predetermined value, for example, eight lines per mm, and the motor driver 114 controls the rotation speed of the motor 109 so as to reach this moving speed. I do. Thereafter, an image signal is sequentially input, exposure is performed for each line, and after all the line exposures are completed, the photosensitive recording medium 104 is discharged by rollers 105a and 105b of discharging means or is transferred to developing and fixing means (not shown). Conveyed.

[0006]

Since the conventional printer is constructed as described above, it requires optical recording head scanning means such as a motor and a belt for scanning the optical recording head. Since a dead space for scanning the print head is created inside the printer device, there has been a problem that the device becomes larger and is not suitable for carrying.

Further, if the optical recording head is fixed, and the photosensitive recording medium is relatively moved with respect to the optical recording head, exposure is performed.
Also in a printer device of a recording type, a device for developing or fixing an exposed photosensitive recording medium is required in addition to the photosensitive recording medium conveying unit, and thus there is a problem that the device becomes large.

In a printer apparatus using a liquid crystal shutter in which liquid crystal pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in an optical recording head, black stripes due to non-opening portions of the liquid crystal pixels, which is one of the causes of image quality deterioration, are subjected to photosensitive recording. In order to prevent the liquid crystal shutter from being generated on the medium, a method has been proposed in which the liquid crystal shutter is shifted in the XY direction by a half pitch of the liquid crystal pixels relative to the photosensitive recording medium.
Since a mechanism for shifting in the Y direction is required, there has been a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a small-sized, lightweight, highly portable, low-cost, and high-quality printer.

[0010]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured such that, during a printing operation, a relative position of a recording medium and a conveying means and a recording medium shifts in a conveying direction of the recording medium.

In the printer device according to the present invention, a pair of rollers is used as the conveying means, and the other roller is provided on the arm attached to the center axis of one of the rollers, and the arm is parallel to the cassette during a non-printing operation. Facing the cassette,
At the time of a printing operation, it is configured to be perpendicular to the cassette downstream of the cassette in the transport direction of the recording medium.

In the printer device according to the present invention, the turning operation of the arm is synchronized with the change of the relative position between the recording means and the conveying means and the recording medium.

The printer device according to the present invention is configured to take out one recording medium in the cassette in synchronization with a change in the relative position between the recording means and the conveying means and the recording medium.

The cassette of the printer device according to the present invention is provided with a medium take-out opening for taking out the stored recording medium one by one on a side surface on the medium conveyance direction side, and is arranged side by side on the downstream side of the cassette in the medium conveyance direction; The recording means is arranged at a position facing a recording surface of a recording medium taken out from the medium outlet.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a mode of a printer device according to the present invention during a non-printing operation, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a mode of the printer device during a printing operation, and FIG. Configuration diagram of recording head, FIG. 4
Is a diagram showing a flow at the time of a printing operation, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an instant film as a photosensitive recording medium.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical recording head for forming a line image. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical recording head 1 includes a light source 10 and a liquid crystal shutter element for opening and closing each pixel based on image information. 1 and a lens array 12 as an optical imaging means. Reference numeral 4a denotes a self-developing instant film accommodated in the cassette 6 with the photosensitive recording surface facing the optical recording head 1, and as shown in FIG. 5, a developer accommodating position 4ac accommodating the developer. And a margin 4aa provided before and after the developer accommodating position at the end, and the developer accommodating position 4ac and the margin 4aa are accommodated in the cassette 6 so as to be on the medium transport direction 29 side. 13 is an instant film 4a from the cassette 6
This is a claw member for taking out.

Reference numerals 16a and 16b denote a pair of medium conveying rollers (conveying means) also serving as a developing roller for developing the recording medium 4 exposed by the optical recording head 1, and are driven to rotate by a signal from a motor driver 54. The distance between the medium conveying paths of the medium conveying rollers 16a and 16b is arranged to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the instant film 4a before development. Reference numeral 15 denotes a code wheel attached to the rotation shaft of the medium transport roller 16a. The slit on the code wheel 15 is read by the medium transport amount detector 14, and the medium transport amount is detected by an arithmetic circuit (not shown).

The device housing 17 is divided into a housing front portion 17a and a housing rear portion 17b, and the housing front portion 17a and the housing rear portion 17b are configured to be movable by a fixed distance in the medium transport direction 29. The device housing 17 is extendable and contractible in the medium transport direction. The optical recording head 1, the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b, and the medium transport amount detecting means 14 are mounted on a front portion 17a of the housing, and the cassette 6 including the instant film 4a is mounted on a rear portion 17b of the housing. The optical recording head 1 is installed at a position facing the cassette 6 on the X axis indicating the medium transport direction 29.

The interface 51 of the optical printer includes a CPU 52, a data transfer unit 53 including a shift register and a buffer, and a motor driver 54.
The image data received by the CPU 52 from the external personal computer is transferred to the data transfer unit 53, and when an exposure instruction signal is output from the CPU 52, irradiation light 57 corresponding to the image data is emitted from the optical recording head 1. The motor driver 5
4 receives the ON signal from the CPU 52, issues a speed control signal to rotate the medium transport rollers 16a, 16b at a constant speed, and stops the medium transport rollers 16a, 16b when receiving the OFF signal from the CPU 52.

Next, the operation will be described. At the time of printing operation, when the housing front portion 17a and the housing rear portion 17b are relatively translated in the X-axis direction, the optical recording head 1, the medium conveyance rollers 16a and 16b, and the medium conveyance amount detector 14 Than in the medium transport direction 29. Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the claw member 13 takes out the instant film 4a in the cassette 6 and drives it to the medium carrying rollers 16a and 16b by driving the medium in the medium carrying direction 29 as shown in FIG. In this case, the optical recording head 1 has only to be moved over the non-print area of the instant film 4a.

Next, the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b are driven to rotate by a signal from the motor driver 54. The instant film 4a is transported in the medium transport direction 29 which is the sub-scanning direction, and after the photosensitive recording area 4ab is transported to the image forming position of the optical recording head 1, the optical recording head 1 reads the image from the data transfer unit 53. Receiving the data signal, exposure of the first line is started (step ST1).

Next, the medium transport amount L is detected by the code wheel 15 and the medium transport amount detector 14 (step ST).
2) It is determined whether one line width W has been conveyed (step ST)
3) If NO, the process returns to step ST2, and if YES, the optical recording head 1 starts exposure of the second line (n-th line) when L = W (step ST4). Thereafter, each time the photosensitive recording medium 4 is conveyed by one line, the optical recording head 1 sequentially exposes the data of the corresponding line until all data is completed, and determines whether all data is completed (step ST5). If the printing is finished.

Next, the developing operation will be described. Since the distance between the medium transport paths of the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b is arranged to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the instant film 4a before development, the instant film 4a
Is passed through the medium transport rollers 16a, 16b, the developer accommodating position 4ac of the instant film 4a is broken, and the enclosed developer is discharged in a form of being pushed out to the upstream side in the medium transport direction, and the exposed photosensitive recording area is exposed. 4ab is uniformly applied and stretched. In this case, it does not adhere to the cylindrical surface of the medium transport roller.

The developing operation is performed by the instant film 4
a, the developing operation is started after the end of the exposure for the first and subsequent lines, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the developer is stored in the instant film 4a. Position 4ac is medium transport direction 2
It is desirable to provide a margin 4aa on the 9th side and before and after that, which is not the photosensitive recording area 4ab.

As means for detecting the medium transport amount L,
The medium transport amount L may be detected by counting the number of pulses of the stepping motor required to transport one line of the instant film 4a by using a stepping motor as a driving unit of the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b. . The optical recording head 1 is a liquid crystal shutter element 1.
However, a line head using a fluorescent tube or a light emitting diode (LED) may be used.

Although the above description uses the instant film 4a as the photosensitive recording medium, an image sheet 4b coated with microcapsules can be used as the photosensitive recording medium. The image sheet 4b develops color by crushing the capsule under pressure, and accelerates color development by heat.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a printer using the image sheet 4b. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a heat roller, which is pressed against the medium transport roller 16a via a bearing 20 by a roller pressing spring 19. I have. Other configurations and printing operations are the same as those in FIG.

Next, the developing operation will be described. A contact pressure by a roller pressing spring 19 is generated at a contact point between the heat roller 18 and the medium transport roller 16a, and the optical recording head 1
When the exposed image sheet 4b passes through the contact portion, the microcapsules in the image sheet 4b are crushed by the contact pressure, and react with the developer flowing out of the crushed microcapsules to perform development. At this time, the image sheet 4b is heated by the heat roller 18 to accelerate the development.

FIG. 7 shows a liquid crystal shutter 1 of the optical recording head 1.
8 is an exposure timing chart of a liquid crystal shutter row during a printing operation, and FIG. 9 is a view showing a printing state. In FIG. 7, three liquid crystal shutter elements 11 are arranged in order of a red shutter row 11R, a green shutter row 11G, and a blue shutter row 11B from the upstream side in the medium transport direction 29. W represents the width of the liquid crystal shutter row, and P represents the liquid crystal shutter row interval. The relationship between P and W is such that when the liquid crystal shutters are two-dimensionally arranged, a non-opening portion is generated, and thus P−W> 0.

In FIG. 8, V indicates the transport speed of the photosensitive recording medium 4, and the numerals in the figure indicate exposure data corresponding to each line data in the sub-scanning direction of image information of each liquid crystal shutter row. That is, one of the red shutter row 11R, one of the green shutter row 11G, and the blue shutter row 11B
Numeral 1 indicates exposure data corresponding to the first line of the image information in the sub-scanning direction.

The timing shown in the alphabets in parentheses in FIG. 8 corresponds to the printing state shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, Rn, Gn, and Bn (n = 1, 2,...) Indicate exposed areas per element of each color shutter row on the photosensitive recording medium 4, and the subscript n is the sub-scanning direction n of image information.
The exposure data corresponding to the line is shown.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the exposure operation of the red shutter row 11R will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A, the exposure of the first line of the R row is performed, and the data R 1 of the first line of the red shutter row 11 R is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 4. Next, the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b are rotationally driven by a signal from the motor driver 54, the transport amount L of the photosensitive recording medium 4 is detected by the medium transport amount detector 14, and the medium transport amount L = the column width of the liquid crystal shutter 11. After reaching W, red shutter row 11R
The exposure of the second line is performed, and as shown in FIG. 9B, the data R2 of the second line of the red shutter row 11R is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 4 next to the R1 without any gap.
Thereafter, similarly, each time L = W, exposures of R3, R4,..., Rn and a total of n lines are performed without gaps.

Next, the exposure operation of the green shutter row 11G will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (c),
The exposure of the first line of the green shutter row 11G is started with a delay of P / V time from the start of the exposure of the first line of the red shutter row 11R, and is on the same area as the recording data R1 of the first line of the red shutter row 11R. Green shutter row 1
1G first line data G1 is recorded. Similarly, the exposure of the second line of the green shutter row 11G is started with a delay of P / V time from the start of the exposure of the second line of the red shutter row 11R, and is on the same area as the recording data of the second line of the red shutter row 11R. To the green shutter row 11G
The line data G2 is recorded (FIG. 9E). In the same manner, the data for the Gn line is recorded without any gap with the adjacent recording data.

Next, the exposure operation of the blue shutter row 11B will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (f),
The exposure of the first line of the blue shutter row 11B is started with a delay of P / V time from the start of the exposure of the first line of the green shutter row 11G, and the first line of the blue shutter row 11B is located on the same area as R1 and G1. Data B1 is recorded, and data of three colors is overprinted. Similarly, the data B2 on the second line of the blue shutter row 11B is the G2
It is started with a P / V time delay from the start of exposure, and the R2, G
2 is recorded on the same area. In the same manner, data for the Bn line is recorded without any gap between adjacent recording data.

As described above, the first liquid crystal shutter row is exposed and driven every time the photosensitive recording medium conveyance amount L detected by the medium conveyance amount detector 14 satisfies L = liquid crystal shutter row width W. The liquid crystal shutter rows of the second and subsequent rows are delayed by P / V time from the start of exposure of the data of the n-th line in the sub-scanning direction of the image information of the immediately preceding liquid crystal shutter row, and the data of the n-th line in the sub-scanning direction of the image information are obtained. , Exposure images of three color data of the same line in the sub-scanning direction of image information can be formed at the same location on the photosensitive recording medium Can be recorded.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another arrangement of the liquid crystal shutter of the optical recording head 1. In the figure, red shutter rows 11Re and 11R are arranged from the upstream side in the medium transport direction 29.
The liquid crystal shutter elements 11 of two rows and six rows of each color are arranged in a staggered order in the order of o, green shutter rows 11Ge, 11Go, and blue shutter rows 11Be, 11Bo. The shape of each liquid crystal shutter element is W × W, the row interval between each liquid crystal shutter row is P (P> W), and the liquid crystal shutter elements in each row are arranged at 2 W intervals in the main scanning direction.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the first row of red shutter rows 11Re includes the medium transport amount detector 1
The exposure of each line data is started each time the medium transport amount L detected by 4 becomes L = liquid crystal shutter row width W.
The second row of red shutter rows 11Ro exposes each liquid crystal shutter row so as to start exposure of corresponding line data in the sub-scanning direction of image information after P / V time from the start of exposure of the red shutter row 11Re. Drive.

Subsequent green shutter rows 11Ge, 11G
o, for the blue shutter rows 11Be and 11Bo,
Exposure of the corresponding line data is started after P / V time from the start of exposure of the immediately preceding liquid crystal shutter row.

As described above, the red shutter row 11R
e, 11Ro, green shutter row 11Ge, 11Go,
2 rows of each color in the order of blue shutter rows 11Be and 11Bo,
Six rows of the liquid crystal shutter elements 11 are arranged in a staggered manner. In the first row of the liquid crystal shutter rows, the medium transport amount L detected by the medium transport amount detector 14 is L = the liquid crystal shutter row width W,
And the liquid crystal shutter rows of the second and subsequent rows are delayed by P / V time from the start of exposure of the data of the nth line in the sub-scanning direction of the image information of the immediately preceding liquid crystal shutter row. Exposure driving of the data of the nth line in the scanning direction allows an exposure image of three color data of the same line in the sub-scanning direction of image information to be formed at the same location on the photosensitive recording medium 4, and Thus, data can be recorded without a gap in the medium transport direction 29 and the main scanning direction.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the optical recording head 1 is arranged at a position facing the cassette 6 in the medium transport direction 29 during the non-printing operation, and is moved toward the medium transport direction 29 during the printing operation. Since the optical recording head 1 is moved relatively in parallel and the optical recording head 1 is positioned downstream of the cassette 6 in the medium transport direction 29, the apparatus size during the non-printing operation can be reduced.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical printer device according to the second embodiment, FIG. 12 is a detailed configuration diagram of a medium transport roller unit, and FIG. 13 is a detailed configuration diagram of a paper feeding unit. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b
One end of this arm is rotatably attached to a roller center shaft 22 which is the rotation axis of the medium transport roller 16a, and the other end of this arm 21 is rotatably attached to the medium transport roller 16b. I have. Reference numeral 23 denotes an arm gear rotatably supported by the roller center shaft 22 together with the arm 21. Reference numeral 24 denotes a pinion gear that meshes with the roller rotation rack 25 and the arm gear 23.

The optical recording head 1, the roller center shaft 22 and the pinion gear 24 are attached to the front part 17a of the housing, and in the initial state (non-printing state), the medium transport roller 16
The optical recording heads 1 a and 16 b and the optical recording head 1 are installed at positions facing the cassette 6 on the X axis indicating the medium transport direction 29. The roller rotation rack 25 includes a rack gear 25a, a rack arm 25b having no gear portion, and a rack claw 25c, and is installed on the housing rear portion 17b.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a two-stage gear comprising a small gear 26a and a large gear 26b. The large gear 26b meshes with a paper feed rack gear 13a provided on the claw member 13 for paper feed.
The small gear 26a meshes with the pinion gear 27. 2
The step gear 26 and the pinion gear 27 are attached to the housing rear portion 17b, and the claw member 13 is attached to the housing rear portion 17b so as to be movable in the medium transport direction 29.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a paper feed rack attached to the front part 17a of the housing, which is configured to mesh with a pinion gear during a paper feed operation. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. At the time of a printing operation, the housing front portion 17a and the housing rear portion 17b are relatively translated in the X-axis direction, and the optical recording head 1 and the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b are relatively translated with respect to the cassette 6. FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in the middle of the sliding movement. In FIG. 15, the roller rotating rack 25 attached to the rear part 17b of the housing is moved in parallel to the left with respect to the front part 17a of the housing to move the pinion gear 24. To rotate the arm gear 2
The arm 21 and the medium transport roller 16b are rotated around the roller center axis 22 in the direction of arrow CW in FIG.

On the other hand, the paper feeding rack 28 attached to the front part 17a of the housing moves in the right direction parallel to the rear part 17b of the housing in FIG. Since they are not engaged, the claw member 13 is stationary.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the housing front portion 17a and the housing rear portion 17b are further translated relatively to the X-axis direction, as shown in FIG.
5 is disengaged from the pinion gear 24, the arm gear 23, the arm 21, and the rotation of the medium conveyance roller 16b around the roller center axis 22 are stopped, and the medium conveyance roller 16b is positioned at the printing state.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 19, the paper feed rack 28 meshes with the pinion gear 27, and pushes the claw member 13 in the X-axis direction via the large gear 26b of the second gear 26 and the paper feed rack gear 13a. The photosensitive recording medium 4 is taken out of the cassette 6 one by one by moving in parallel. Pinion gear 2
7 is a small gear 26a of the two-stage gear 26, a paper feed rack gear 13
Since a is configured to mesh with the large gear 26b,
The moving amount of the claw member 13 is larger than the moving amount of the paper feed rack 28.

As shown in FIG. 20, when the relative movement of the front part 17a and the rear part 17b of the housing in the X-axis direction is completed and the printer is ready for printing, as shown in FIG. The rack claw 25c of the rack 25 meshes with the pinion gear 24, and locks the turning operation of the arm 21 around the roller center axis 22. As shown in FIG. 22, the claw member 13 is moved in parallel in the X-axis direction by the paper feed rack 28 to feed the photosensitive recording medium 4 between the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b, and is ready for printing. Thereafter, the same printing operation as in the first embodiment is performed, but the printing operation for the second and subsequent sheets is performed by repeating the above operation.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the medium transport roller 16b is rotatably mounted on the rotatably provided arm of the roller center shaft 22, which is the rotation axis of the medium transport roller 16a. As a result, during the non-printing operation, the optical recording head 1 and the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b are arranged at positions facing the cassette 6 in the medium transport direction 29, and during the printing operation, the optical recording head 1 is moved in the medium transport direction. The optical recording head 1 and the medium transport rollers 16a, 16b
Is positioned perpendicular to the cassette 6 downstream of the cassette 6 in the medium transport direction 29, so that the size of the apparatus during the non-printing operation can be further reduced.

The medium transport direction 29 of the optical recording head 1 and the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b with respect to the cassette 6
Since the rotation of the medium transport roller 16b about the roller center axis 22 is synchronized with the above relative translation movement, there is no need to use a drive source such as a motor for this rotation. This has the effect of miniaturization and cost reduction.

Further, the medium transport direction 2 with respect to the cassette 6 of the optical recording head 1 and the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b.
Since the sheet feeding operation by the claw member 13 is synchronized with the relative translation operation on the sheet 9, there is no need to use a driving source such as a motor for the sheet feeding operation, and the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. effective.

Embodiment 3 FIG. FIG. 23 shows the third embodiment.
And FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the main components. In the figure, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is
The plurality of recording media are stacked in the cassette 6 with the recording surface facing downward in the Y-axis direction in the drawing. In the cassette, a mounting table for the photosensitive recording medium constantly pushed upward by an elastic member (spring, leaf spring, or the like) is provided. Regardless of the loaded amount of the photosensitive recording medium 4, the uppermost photosensitive recording medium is always provided. The recording medium faces the take-out port. During the printing operation, the claw member 13 driven by the paper feed rack 28 shown in FIG.
The photosensitive recording medium 4 is taken out from a. The recording surface of the removed photosensitive recording medium 4 is downward (the negative direction of the Y axis in the figure).
Becomes The optical recording head 1 is arranged in parallel with the side surface of the cassette 6, and is installed at a position facing the recording surface of the photosensitive recording medium 4 taken out from the medium taking-out opening 6a. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. Paper feed rack 2
8 is driven, the claw member 13 takes out the photosensitive recording medium 4 from the cassette 6, and the medium transport rollers 16a
And between 16b and 16b, and it is in a printable state. Then, in a state where the photosensitive recording medium 4 is transported by the medium transport rollers 16a and 16b, a printing operation similar to that of the first embodiment is performed. In the illustrated example, the photosensitive recording medium 4 is taken out with the recording surface facing downward from the take-out opening provided at the upper side of the cassette, but the photosensitive recording medium 4 is taken up with the recording surface facing up from the take-out opening provided at the lower side of the cassette. You may take it out. In this case, it is necessary to reverse the recording surface of the optical recording head 1.

As described above, by providing the medium take-out port 6a on the side surface in the medium conveyance direction 29 of the cassette 6 in which a plurality of the photosensitive recording media 4 are stacked and stored, the dead space between the cassette 6 and the medium conveyance rollers 16a and 16b is provided. The optical recording head 1 can be arranged in the space, the thickness of the device in the height direction can be reduced, and the device can be made thinner. In each of the above embodiments, an optical printer using an optical recording head has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other printers, for example, a thermal type, a thermal transfer type, a laser type, and the like.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the optical recording head is disposed at a position facing the cassette in the medium transport direction during the non-printing operation, and is relatively positioned in the medium transport direction during the printing operation. And the optical recording head is positioned downstream of the cassette in the medium transport direction, so that the size of the device during non-printing operation can be reduced, and a printer device excellent in portability can be obtained. Can be.

According to the present invention, since one of the pair of medium transport rollers is configured to be rotatable about the center axis of the other roller, the optical recording head and the pair of medium transport rollers are transported during the non-printing operation. In the printing operation, the optical recording head and the medium transport roller pair are relatively moved in parallel in the medium transport direction so that the optical recording head and the medium transport roller pair are moved. The printer can be positioned vertically with respect to the cassette downstream of the cassette in the medium transport direction, so that the size of the device during non-printing operation can be further reduced, and a printer device excellent in portability can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the relative movement of the optical recording head and the pair of medium transport rollers in the medium transport direction with respect to the cassette includes the rotation of the arm supporting one roller of the pair of medium transport rollers. Since the synchronization is employed, there is no need to use a drive source such as a motor for the rotation of the arm, and the size and cost of the printer can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the sheet feeding operation from the cassette is synchronized with the relative parallel movement operation of the optical recording head and the medium conveying roller pair in the medium conveying direction with respect to the cassette. It is not necessary to use a drive source such as a motor, and the effect of reducing the size and cost of the printer device can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the recording medium is provided on the side surface of the cassette in the medium conveying direction, is arranged in parallel with the downstream side of the cassette in the medium conveying direction, and faces the recording surface of the recording medium taken out from the medium taking-out opening. Since the recording means is arranged at the position, the optical recording head can be disposed in the dead space between the cassette and the medium transport roller pair, and the height of the printer device in the height direction can be reduced. This has the effect of reducing the thickness of the printer device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a non-printing operation of an optical printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram during a printing operation of the optical printer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an optical recording head applied to the optical printer device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the optical printer device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a storage position of a developer of an instant film applied to the optical printer device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an optical printer device using an image sheet as a photosensitive recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a liquid crystal shutter of the optical recording head.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of a liquid crystal shutter during a printing operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation of the optical printer device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a liquid crystal shutter of the optical recording head.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical printer device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a configuration of a medium transport roller unit in the state of FIG.

13 is a detailed view of the configuration of a sheet feeding unit in the state of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a transition of the optical printer device to a use state according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of a configuration of a medium transport roller unit in the state of FIG. 14;

16 is a detailed view of the configuration of a sheet feeding unit in the state of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a transition of the optical printer device to a use state according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

18 is a detailed view of a configuration of a medium transport roller unit in the state of FIG.

19 is a detailed view of a sheet feeding unit configuration in the state of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an optical printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is ready for a printing operation.

21 is a detailed view of the medium transport roller unit in the state of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a detailed view of the sheet feeding operation in the state of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of an optical printer device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of main components of an optical printer device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional optical printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical recording head, 4 photosensitive recording medium, 4a instant film, 4aa margin, 4ab photosensitive recording area,
4ac developer storage position, 4b image sheet, 6 medium storage cassette, 6a medium take-out port, 11 liquid crystal shutter, 11R red shutter row, 11G green shutter row, 11B blue shutter row, 13 claw member,
13a feed rack gear, 14 medium transport amount detector, 1
5 Code wheel, 16a Medium transport roller, 16b
Medium transport roller, 17 device housing, 17a housing front, 17b housing rear, 18 heat roller, 19 roller pressing spring, 20 bearing, 21 arm, 22 roller center axis, 23 arm gear, 24 pinion gear,
25 roller rotating rack, 25a rack gear, 25b
Rack arm, 25c rack claw, 26 two-stage gear,
26a small gear, 26b large gear, 27 pinion gear, 28 paper feed rack, 29 medium conveyance direction, L medium conveyance amount, W1 line width, V medium conveyance speed, P liquid crystal shutter row interval.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C059 AA05 AA07 AA22 AA26 AA38 AA74 2C061 AQ03 AR01 AS02 AS11 BB04 CC05 CC09 CD23 2H072 AA09 AA16 AA29 AB08 BA12 CA01 HA08 3F343 FA09 FB04 GA01 GB01 GC03 MA03 MB03 MB03 MB15 MC07

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Recording means for forming an image on a recording medium, a cassette accommodating the recording medium, sheet feeding means for taking out the recording medium one by one from the cassette, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium Wherein the relative position between the recording means and the transport means and the recording medium is shifted in the transport direction of the recording medium during a printing operation. 2. A pair of rollers is used as a conveying means, and the other roller is provided on an arm attached to the center axis of one of the rollers. In a non-printing operation, the arm is parallel to the cassette and faces the cassette. 2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein during printing operation, the printing apparatus is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the cassette downstream of the cassette in the conveying direction of the recording medium. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the rotation of the arm is synchronized with a change in the relative position of the recording medium and the conveying means and the recording medium. 4. A recording medium in a cassette is synchronized with a change in the relative position of the recording medium and the conveying means and the recording medium.
The printer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printer device is configured to take out sheets. 5. A printer apparatus comprising: recording means for forming an image on a recording medium; a cassette containing the recording medium; and paper feeding means for taking out the recording medium one by one from the cassette. A medium take-out port for taking out the stored recording media one by one is provided on the side surface on the medium transport direction side, and the cassette is arranged side by side on the downstream side in the medium transport direction of the cassette, and records the recording medium taken out from the medium take-out port. A printer device wherein the recording means is arranged at a position facing a surface.