JP2001330892A - Print head and photographic processing device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the setting of an exposure start point of exposure dots in a main scanning direction by differences in the widths of photosensitive materials and the setting of a shading correction start point. SOLUTION: The photographic processing device has an optical modulating means which modulates the light from a light source according to image information by each of respective pixels and has a printing section which exposes the prescribed exposure range including of the photosensitive materials in the main scanning direction by scanning the photosensitive materials with the modulated light in their main scanning direction. The printing section has a dummy data insertion circuit 32 which inserts the dummy data as the image information corresponding to the exposure pixels exclusive of the photosensitive materials in the prescribed exposure range of the main scanning direction. The dummy data insertion circuit 32 imparts the dummy data to the actual data outputted from an improving processing circuit 31 and outputs the same to a shading correction circuit 33. The shading correction circuit 33 continuously subjects both of the actual data and the dummy data to shading correction and outputs the same to an exposure data memory 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print head for exposing a photosensitive material such as photographic paper by scanning light modulated in accordance with image information, and a photographic processing apparatus having the same. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in printing a photograph, an analog exposure is performed in which a photographic film on which an original image is recorded is irradiated with light, and the light transmitted through the photographic film is irradiated on photographic paper to perform printing. ing. In recent years,
Based on digital image data obtained by reading an image on a photographic film with a scanner or digital image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, monochromatic light of red, blue, and green is printed on photographic paper for each pixel. Digital exposure for printing by irradiation is performed.

Various arrangements for performing the digital exposure have been proposed. As one example, for example, there is a configuration in which scanning exposure is performed on photographic paper while modulating laser light in accordance with image data. The image printing apparatus having such a configuration includes a light source that emits laser light of each color of blue, green, and red, and performs a printing operation in the following procedure. First, laser light of each color is modulated based on input digital image data. Then, the modulated laser light is
The light is deflected in the main scanning direction by a deflector such as a polygon mirror, and is irradiated onto photographic paper via an optical system such as an fθ lens. At the same time, the photographic printing paper is conveyed and moved in the sub-scanning direction to perform scanning exposure, and a two-dimensional color image is printed on the photographic printing paper.

[0004] In addition to using the laser light as described above,
For example, an image printing apparatus and the like configured to perform scanning exposure using various optical shutter elements are also known.

[0005]

By the way, since the photographic paper (photosensitive material) used for exposure has a plurality of sizes, in the image printing apparatus of the above-mentioned conventional construction, the photosensitive materials having different widths in the main scanning direction are used. In order to perform the exposure, it is necessary to set an exposure start position, that is, a position where irradiation of the exposure dots in the main scanning direction is started in accordance with the width. That is, in the scanning digital exposure as described above, the exposure image is printed on the photosensitive material as exposure dots arranged in the main scanning direction based on the digital image data, so that the exposure start position is determined according to the width of the photosensitive material. There is a problem that complicated circuit setting for control is required.

In the above-described conventional image printing apparatus, for example, when printing is performed with a constant light amount depending on the characteristics of an fθ lens used for exposing a photosensitive material by reflecting a laser beam with a polygon mirror. A phenomenon may occur in which both ends of the photosensitive material are thin along the main scanning direction, and the vicinity of the center is densely printed. In order to correct the density unevenness of the exposed image due to such a phenomenon, shading correction for correcting a light amount error between the exposure dots in the main scanning direction by a shading process is performed.

In the conventional image printing apparatus, when the above-described shading correction calculation is performed, that is, when the calculation (multiplication) of the exposure data and the correction data is performed, the shading correction is started according to the width of the photosensitive material. You need to set points.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the width in the main scanning direction of a photosensitive material used in an image printing apparatus (photographic processing apparatus) for performing scanning exposure by laser light using a polygon mirror as a deflector and an exposure start position. FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a photosensitive material A having a width of α mm in the main scanning direction.
_{When 11} is used, the first dot of the exposure is at the P2 point, and when performing shading correction, shading correction data from the P2 point is required. Further, when the main scanning direction width is a photosensitive material A ₁₂ is Betamm,
The first dot of the exposure is at the P3 point, and data for shading correction from the P3 point is required.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of a shading correction operation performed in the conventional image printing apparatus. As shown in the figure, the shading correction operation is performed in each of steps S51 to S65. First, after turning on the power (S51), exposure data is received (S52), and the exposure start position U is set according to the width of the photosensitive material (S53). For example, when using a light-sensitive material A ₁₁ main scanning direction width is αmm as shown in Figure 5, the exposure start position P2, when the main scanning direction width is a photosensitive material A ₁₂ is Betamm, exposure Start position is P3
Is set to

Next, the number of dots (M) along the main scanning direction is set according to the width of the photosensitive material (S54). When an exposure start command is issued (S55), a synchronization detection signal is input (S55).
56), the exposure start position P2 or P3 from the foremost position P0 (n = 1) in the scanning width direction of the polygon scanner.
After a certain waiting period (S58) until (n = U), scanning exposure based on the input image data is started. Note that n indicates a counter value corresponding to a dot after synchronization is detected by a synchronization sensor (not shown).

Then, in S59, pixel data of the Nth dot in the main scanning direction of the image data (= n−U, n−U> 0) is input, and in S60, the pixel data is located at the n-th dot position in the main scanning direction of S59. Find and input the corresponding shading correction data. That is, the n-th dot position is the N-th dot position from the exposure start position that changes to P2 or P3 depending on the size of the photosensitive material.
It is necessary to perform S60 as a step of selecting a shading correction corresponding to the n-th dot position from the shading correction data acquired in advance and stored in the memory in accordance with the size of the photosensitive material.

Next, a shading correction calculation is performed by multiplying the pixel data by the shading correction data (S61), and a correction calculation result is output (S62).

As described above, the shading correction operation in S59 to S62 is repeated successively for each dot by sequentially replacing n with n + 1 until the dot position becomes n = M + U (S63 to S64), and for one line. Shading correction is completed.

Next, exposure is performed using the result of correction calculation, that is, exposure data after shading correction. If this exposure ends at the current line, the process returns to step S52 to prepare for the next exposure. If the exposure of the line is to be continued, the operation after S56 is repeated (S6).
5).

As described above, in the conventional image printing apparatus, when performing shading correction, it is necessary to set a shading correction start point, that is, specify an address at which multiplication starts, depending on a difference in photosensitive material width. There is also a problem that circuit setting becomes more complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to set an exposure start point of an exposure dot in the main scanning direction due to a difference in photosensitive material width, and to set a shading correction start point. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print head which does not require the setting of a print head, and a photographic processing apparatus provided with the print head.

[0017]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head including light modulating means for modulating light from a light source in accordance with image information corresponding to each pixel. A print head that exposes a predetermined exposure range including the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction by scanning the light modulated by the light modulating means in the main scanning direction of the photosensitive material. It is characterized by including dummy data insertion means for inserting dummy data as image information corresponding to exposure pixels other than the photosensitive material.

According to the above arrangement, the light modulated by the light modulating means in accordance with image information for each pixel is scanned in the main scanning direction of the photosensitive material, and a predetermined range including the photosensitive material is defined in the main scanning direction. It will be exposed. As described above, since the exposure range including the photosensitive material is constant, the exposure start position is always constant, regardless of the width of the photosensitive material, and depends on the width of the photosensitive material used conventionally. There is no need to reset the exposure start position. Therefore, it is possible to provide a print head which does not require setting of an exposure start point of an exposure pixel (exposure dot) in the main scanning direction due to a difference in width of the photosensitive material.

The dummy data insertion means inserts dummy data as image information corresponding to exposed pixels other than the photosensitive material in the predetermined exposure range in the main scanning direction. The dummy data may be, for example, a value such that the amount of light reaching the photosensitive material becomes 0, or may be a value such that a predetermined amount of light reaches intentionally.

Thus, for example, even when shading correction for eliminating unevenness of the exposed pixels in the main scanning direction is considered, the exposure is always started for both the exposed pixels on the photosensitive material and the pixels exposed by the dummy data. Shading correction may be performed from the point, and it is not necessary to set a shading start point according to the width of the photosensitive material to be used for starting the shading correction from an exposed pixel on the photosensitive material. Therefore, it is possible to provide a print head which does not require such setting for each photosensitive material to be used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the shading correction is continuously performed on the exposure pixels on the photosensitive material and the exposure pixels corresponding to the dummy data inserted by the dummy data insertion means. It is characterized by having shading correction means for performing.

According to the above arrangement, the shading correction means continuously performs shading correction on both the exposure pixels corresponding to the image information and the exposure pixels corresponding to the dummy data. Can be continuously corrected. Therefore, it is not necessary to set a shading start point for starting shading correction only from a portion corresponding to the image information, so that it is possible to reduce the number of circuit settings and simplify the circuit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the dummy data inserting means sets color information as the dummy data.

According to the above arrangement, since the dummy data insertion means sets the color information as dummy data, a secondary function of setting a border portion corresponding to the dummy data portion to, for example, a color or a color pattern. Can be obtained at the same time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photo processing apparatus comprising the print head according to any one of the first to third aspects.

According to the above arrangement, since the photographic processing apparatus is provided with the print head, the setting of the exposure start point of the exposure dot in the main scanning direction due to the difference in the size of the photosensitive material, the start of the shading correction, and the like. It is possible to provide a photo processing device that does not require setting of points.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The photographic processing apparatus according to the present embodiment prints on a photosensitive material based on image data of an original image,
This is a digital photographic printer that prints an original image on a photosensitive material by performing development and drying processes.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the above-mentioned photographic processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the photographic processing apparatus includes an exposure unit 1, a photographic paper storage unit 2, a development unit 3, a drying unit 4, and a PC (Personal Computer) 5.

The photographic paper storage unit 2 stores photographic paper, which is a photosensitive material, and supplies the photographic paper to the exposure unit 1 during printing. The exposure unit 1 prints an image by subjecting the photographic paper supplied from the photographic paper storage unit 2 to scanning exposure according to the image data of the original image. Details of the exposure unit 1 will be described later.

The developing section 3 develops an image by transporting the photographic paper subjected to the printing process while applying various developing solutions. The drying unit 4
This is for drying the photographic paper subjected to the development processing. The PC 5 has a function of storing image data of an original image,
It has a function of performing data processing on image data.

The control board in the photographic processing apparatus has a function of controlling various operations in the apparatus, and one line of actual exposure dots irrespective of the width of the photosensitive material, which is a feature of the present invention. The control means 30 performs control for keeping the number constant. Details of the control means 30 will be described later.

Next, the configuration of the exposure unit 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of the exposure unit 1 and the photographic paper storage unit 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the photographic paper storage unit 2 located above the exposure unit 1 includes two paper magazines 2a and 2b for storing roll-shaped photographic paper P. Each of the paper magazines 2a and 2b stores photographic paper P of a different size, and is set so that the photographic paper P to be supplied can be switched according to the size of the output image desired by the user. The exposure unit 1 is provided with the photographic paper P supplied from the photographic paper storage unit 2 as described above.
, And is provided with a printing section 6 and transport rollers R1 to R5.

The printing section (print head) 6 irradiates light for exposure to the photographic paper P being transported by the transport rollers R1 to R5. The transport rollers R1 to R5 are connected to the photographic paper P supplied from the photographic paper storage unit 2.
Is sent to the developing unit 3 via the printing unit 6.

Next, the configuration of the printing section 6 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the printing unit 6. The printing unit 6 includes a light source unit 7R, 7G, 7B, a scanning unit 8, and a transport unit 9.

(Structure of Light Source Unit) The light source unit 7R includes a red LD.
(Laser Diode) (light source) 10R, lens group 11R, acousto-optic modulator (AOM: Acousto-Optic Modulator)
(Light beam modulating means) 12R, dimming unit 13R, and mirror 14R. Lens group 11R, AOM12
The R and the dimmer 13R are arranged in this order on the optical axis from the red LD 10R to the mirror 14R.

The red LD 10R is a semiconductor laser that emits laser light having a wavelength of a red component. The lens group 11
R is a lens group for shaping the red laser light emitted from the red LD 10 and guiding the red laser light to the light entrance of the next AOM 12R.

The AOM 12R is an optical modulator using a so-called acousto-optic diffraction, which is a diffraction phenomenon in which a refractive index distribution created in a transparent medium by a sound wave acts as a phase diffraction grating, and changes the intensity of an applied ultrasonic wave. This modulates the intensity of the diffracted light. This A
An AOM driver 15R is connected to the OM 12R, and a high-frequency signal whose amplitude is modulated according to image data is input from the AOM driver 15R.

For the AOM 12R, the AOM driver 1
When a high-frequency signal is input from 5R, an ultrasonic wave according to the high-frequency signal is propagated in the acousto-optic medium. When laser light passes through such an acousto-optic medium, diffraction occurs due to the effect of the acousto-optic effect, and laser light having an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the high-frequency signal is emitted from the AOM 12R as diffracted light.

The light control section 13R is a member for adjusting the intensity of the laser light emitted from the AOM 12R and modulated in accordance with the image data. For example, the light control section 13R is provided with an ND filter and a plurality of openings having different sizes. It is composed of a rotating plate and the like. Light emitting devices such as semiconductor lasers and solid state lasers
Since the range of the amount of light that can emit light in a stable state is determined, the adjustment of the amount of light by the light control unit 13R allows exposure in a light amount range that provides a wide dynamic range according to the coloring characteristics of photographic paper. It is possible to do.

The mirror 14R reflects the laser beam emitted from the light control section 13R in the direction in which the scanning section 8 is arranged. This mirror 14R outputs
Any mirror that reflects the red component light may be used. In the present embodiment, since a red laser beam having only the wavelength of the red component is incident on the mirror 14R, a mirror that totally reflects the incident light is used as the mirror 14R.

On the other hand, the light source 7G is provided with a green SHG (Second
Harmonic Generation) Laser unit (light source) 10G,
An AOM (light beam modulator) 12G, a dimming unit 13G, and a dichroic mirror 14G are provided. AOM
12G and the dimmer 13G are arranged in this order on the optical axis from the green SHG laser unit 10G to the dichroic mirror 14G.

The green SHG laser unit 10G functions as a light source for emitting laser light having a green component wavelength. Inside the green SHG laser unit 10G, although not shown, a solid-state laser such as a YAG laser and a second-harmonic generation unit for extracting a second harmonic from laser light emitted from the solid-state laser are provided. A variable wavelength unit and the like are provided. For example, YA
When a laser beam having a wavelength of 1064 nm is emitted from the G laser, a laser beam having a wavelength of 532 nm (green component) is generated in the second harmonic generation unit, and the laser beam having the second harmonic component is emitted. Will be. In the configuration of the present embodiment, a solid-state laser is used as a unit that emits a basic laser beam. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an LD may be used.

In the light source section 7R, the red LD 1
While a lens group 11R is provided between 0R and AOM 12R, such a lens group is not provided in the light source unit 7G. However, the lens group 11R
A configuration having a function equivalent to that of the green SHG laser unit 10G is provided inside the green SHG laser unit 10G.

The AOM 12G and the light control section 13G have the same configuration as the AOM 12R and the light control section 13R described in the light source section 7R. That is, AOM1
2G modulates the laser light emitted from the green SHG laser unit 10G according to image data, and the dimmer 13G adjusts the light amount of the laser light emitted from the AOM 12G.

The dichroic mirror 14G is connected to the dimming unit 1
The laser light of the green component emitted from 3G is reflected in the direction in which the scanning unit 8 is arranged. The dichroic mirror 14G has a property of reflecting only light of a wavelength of a green component and transmitting light of other wavelengths.
The dichroic mirror 14G is connected to the light source 7R.
Are arranged on the optical path from the mirror 14R to the scanning unit 8 at the point. The red laser light reflected by the mirror 14R passes through the dichroic mirror 14G and reaches the scanning unit 8. That is, the light traveling from the dichroic mirror 14G toward the scanning unit 8 is composed of a red component laser beam and a green component laser beam modulated according to image data.

The light source section 7B has substantially the same configuration as the light source section 7G, and includes a blue SHG laser unit (light source) 10B, an AOM (light beam modulating means) 12B, a dimming section 13B, and a dichroic mirror 14B. It has. The AOM 12B and the light control section 13B
G laser unit 10B to dichroic mirror 14
B are arranged in this order on the optical axis reaching B.

The blue SHG laser unit 10B functions as a light source for emitting laser light having a wavelength of a blue component, and has substantially the same configuration as the green SHG laser unit 10G. The AOM 12B and the dimming unit 13B are the same as those of the AOM described in the light source units 7R and 7G.
It has the same configuration as the 12R / 12G and the dimmers 13R / 13G. That is, the AOM 12B has a blue S
The laser light emitted from the HG laser unit 10B is modulated according to image data.
Is for adjusting the amount of laser light emitted from the AOM 12B.

The dichroic mirror 14 B
The laser beam of the blue component emitted from 3B is reflected in the direction in which the scanning unit 8 is arranged. The dichroic mirror 14G has a property of reflecting only light having a blue component wavelength and transmitting light having other wavelengths.
The dichroic mirror 14B is a mirror 14
The red laser light, which is disposed on the optical path from the R and dichroic mirror 14G to the scanning unit 8 and is reflected by the mirror 14R and transmitted through the dichroic mirror 14G, and the green laser light reflected by the dichroic mirror 14G, , Dichroic mirror 14
The light passes through B and reaches the scanning unit 8. That is, the light traveling from the dichroic mirror 14B toward the scanning unit 8 is composed of red, green, and blue component laser beams modulated according to image data.

In the present embodiment, as described above, AOM is used as a configuration for modulating the intensity of laser light of each color component.
Although 12R, 12B, and 12G are used, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electro-optic modulator (EO)
M), a configuration may be adopted in which the intensity of laser light is modulated by applying a magneto-optical modulation element (MOM).

(Structure of Scanning Unit) The scanning unit 8 includes a reflecting mirror 16, a cylindrical lens 17, a polygon mirror (deflecting means) 18, and an fθ lens (optical means) 20. A cylindrical lens 17 is arranged on an optical axis extending from the reflection mirror 16 to the polygon mirror 18, and an fθ lens 20 is arranged on an optical path extending from the polygon mirror 18 to the printing paper P.

The reflection mirror 16 includes a light source section 7R, 7G, 7
Mirror 14R and dichroic mirror 14G in B
A member that reflects the red, green, and blue component laser beams reflected at 14B in the direction in which the polygon mirror 18 is disposed.

The cylindrical lens 17 is a lens that condenses the laser light reflected by the reflection mirror 16 on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 in the sub scanning direction. The cylindrical lens 17 is used to perform correction (surface tilt correction) when a surface tilt error (error in which the normal direction of the reflective surface deviates from a normal main scanning surface) occurs on the reflective surface of the polygon mirror 18. It is.

If a tilt error occurs on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18, the arrival position of the laser beam on the photographic paper P changes greatly, and pitch unevenness occurs in the printed image. In the present embodiment, as described above, the light is temporarily condensed by the cylindrical lens 17 on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 in the sub-scanning direction, and the laser light reflected from the polygon mirror 18 is fθ
The fθ lens 20 and the photographic paper P are arranged so as to converge on the photographic paper P again after passing through the lens 20. With such an arrangement, the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 and the photographic paper P are optically conjugate to each other, so that even if the light beam is deflected in the sub-scanning direction due to the surface tilt, the photographic paper P
The light flux forms an image at the same position above. In other words, even if light is emitted from a point on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 in any direction within a certain range, an image is formed at the same position on the printing paper P.

The polygon mirror 18 is a rotator provided so that a plurality of reflection surfaces form a regular polygon, and is driven to rotate by a polygon driver 19. The laser light emitted from the reflection mirror 16 via the cylindrical lens 17 is reflected by one reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 and travels in the photographic paper P direction. The direction of reflection of the laser light from the polygon mirror 18 moves in the main scanning direction according to the rotation of the polygon mirror 18. When the reflection of the laser beam on one reflection surface is completed by the rotation of the polygon mirror 18, the irradiation of the laser beam is shifted to the reflection surface adjacent to the reflection surface, and the reflection direction of the laser beam is shifted in the main scanning direction in the same range. Moving. As described above, one scanning line is scanned by one reflecting surface, and the next scanning line is scanned by an adjacent reflecting surface. Therefore, a time lag between adjacent scanning lines in the sub-scanning direction is extremely reduced. It is possible to make it smaller.

The fθ lens 20 is an optical system for correcting image distortion near both ends of the scanning surface due to the laser light emitted from the polygon mirror 18 to the printing paper P, and is composed of a plurality of lenses. . The image distortion near both ends of the scanning plane is caused by the difference in the length of the optical path from the polygon mirror 18 to the printing paper P.

The synchronous sensor 21 is located outside the main scanning range of the laser beam from the polygon mirror 18 to the printing paper P.
A and a mirror 21B are provided. Mirror 21
B is disposed at a position just outside the direction in which the main scanning starts as viewed from the polygon mirror 18. In other words, the laser light reflected from one reflection surface of the polygon mirror 18 first strikes the mirror 21B,
Immediately thereafter, exposure on the photographic paper P in the main scanning direction is performed.

The direction of the reflection surface of the mirror 21B is set such that the laser light from the polygon mirror 18 is irradiated on the synchronous sensor 21A. The length of the optical path from the polygon mirror 18 to the synchronization sensor 21A via the mirror 21B is
Is designed to be approximately equal to the length of the optical path from the point of view to the starting point of the main scanning on the photographic paper P.

The synchronous sensor 21A is a sensor for detecting light, and when a laser beam is irradiated from the polygon mirror 18 via the mirror 21B, a signal is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) at the irradiation timing. That is, by monitoring the output from the synchronous sensor 21A, the printing paper P
The above-mentioned scanning timing can be accurately grasped.

(Construction of Conveying Section) The conveying section 9 is provided with a conveying roller 22, a micro step motor 23, a micro step driver 24 and the like. The transport roller 22 is a roller that transports the photographic paper P, and in FIG. 4, transports the photographic paper P in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

The micro step motor 23 is a motor for driving the transport roller 22, and is constituted by a micro step motor which is a kind of a stepping motor. This micro step motor is a motor that can control the rotation angle extremely precisely.

The micro-step driver 24 drives the rotation of the micro-step motor 23, and conveys the photographic paper P in the sub-scanning direction so as to be synchronized with the main scanning timing under the control of a control unit (not shown). Controlling speed. The timing of the main scanning is determined based on the signal from the synchronous sensor 21A.

As described above, the printing unit 6 according to the present embodiment includes the red, green,
The photographic paper P is exposed while the laser light corresponding to each of the blue colors is moved in the main scanning direction, and the photographic paper P is transported in the sub-scanning direction, so that a two-dimensional printed image is printed on the photographic paper P. It is configured to be formed.

The fθ lens 20 has a different refractive index depending on the wavelength of the transmitted light when the laser light of each color is transmitted due to the material such as glass constituting the fθ lens 20. For example, each color light incident on the lens at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the optical axis of the lens travels in a different direction for each of the R, G, and B colors when transmitted through the lens and emitted. A similar phenomenon occurs in the configuration shown in FIG. 4. Even if the main scanning range of the laser beam emitted from the polygon mirror 18 toward the fθ lens 20 is equal for each color, the laser beam passes through the fθ lens 20. After that, the main scanning range is shifted for each color. The light emitted from the polygon mirror 18 in the same main scanning range is
If the main scanning range is different for each of the R, G, and B colors after passing through 0, light of each color that should correspond to the same pixel is applied to different positions on the photographic paper P. Therefore, a so-called color shift phenomenon occurs. Such color misregistration may cause unintended colors in the printed image, thereby significantly reducing the image quality.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shift of the main scanning range as described above is suppressed by changing the exposure scan clock (reference clock) of the image data input to the AOM drivers 15R, 15G, and 15B for each color. The configuration is adopted.

In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, depending on the number of faces of the polygon scanner 18, the range over which one reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 18 can be irradiated on one line of the photographic paper P is determined. Defined as the scanning width of the polygon scanner. Specifically, since the polygon mirror 18 has eight surfaces, it has a scanning angle of twice a value obtained by dividing 360 ° by 8, that is, a scanning angle of 90 °. However, there is a limit to the range in which the characteristics of the fθ lens 20 can be exhibited, such as inevitable distortion near the outer edge of the fθ lens 20. For this reason, among the areas on one line corresponding to the above-mentioned scanning angle, the actual exposure-possible area is set at a predetermined ratio, for example, several tens% of the scanning width of the polygon scanner, as the effective scanning width of the polygon scanner shown in FIG. Stipulated.

Therefore, the scanning start point at which optical scanning is possible is P0 in FIG. 5, that is, the leading end of the scanning width of the polygon scanner in the main scanning direction.
This is set to P1, which is the leading edge of the effective scanning width of the polygon scanner in the main scanning direction. As described above, the exposure start position P1 is set by limiting the exposure range due to the characteristics of the fθ lens 20 and the like. The setting of the exposure start position P1 is performed by the control unit 30 described later.

Next, the configuration and function of the control means 30 of the photographic processing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail below.

The control means 30 includes a dummy data insertion circuit 32 for performing control to keep the number of exposure dots in one line constant irrespective of the width of the printing paper P used in the main scanning direction.
(Dummy data insertion means). FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of control contents of the control means 30 in the photographic processing apparatus of the present embodiment.

The image processing circuit 31 (setting means) is a circuit for performing image processing on image data obtained by, for example, photographing with a digital camera or reading with a scanner. Therefore, the image processing circuit 31 outputs the actual data,
Image data can be sent to an external circuit. First, from the image processing circuit 31, “information on the total number of dots that can be exposed on one line, and information indicating the number of pixels in the main scanning direction of the image data input to the image processing circuit 31” (Data information) is sent to the dummy data insertion circuit 32.

In the actual data information, information on the total number of dots that can be exposed on one line, that is, information on how many dots are exposed on one line (the number of exposed pixels on one line) is a fixed value. That is, the number of exposed pixels in one line is f
The control unit 30 always sets a constant value based on the limitation of the exposure range due to the characteristics of the θ lens 20 and the resolution in the main scanning direction. The setting is, specifically,
This is performed by setting a specific number of dots such as the exposure start position P1 shown in FIG. 5 and the 5000th dot from the exposure start position P1. As described above, the image processing circuit 31 sets the number of exposure pixels of one line as a fixed value by fixing the exposure start position and the predetermined number of exposure pixels along the main scanning direction from the exposure start position. Becomes

The number of exposed pixels may be a fixed value determined by hardware or a value that can be set and changed as appropriate.

The dummy data insertion circuit 32 calculates the number of pixels of the dummy data from the number of exposed pixels of one line and the number of exposed pixels constituting an actual exposed image. That is, the number of pixels that the dummy data insertion circuit 32 inserts as dummy data is (number of exposed pixels of one line (fixed value)) − (number of pixels in the main scanning direction of image data transmitted from the image processing circuit 31). Becomes

Dummy data insertion circuit 32 of the present embodiment
, The color of the dummy data predetermined according to the color of the frame image is set as information. As a setting method, for example, if it is white,
(B, G, R = 255, 255, 255), if black, (B, G, R = 0, 0, 0); if blue, (B, G, R = 0, 0, 0).
G, R = 0, 255, 255). It is more preferable that the color of the dummy data is set to white so that the photographic paper P is not exposed, but not only white but also red or blue, or so-called Purikura (registered trademark)
In the case of using for example, it is also possible to set so as to form a pattern by combining the above setting methods. In this way, by inserting the dummy data, it is possible to obtain a secondary function of arbitrarily setting the color of the border.

In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present embodiment,
Although color exposure is premised, monochromatic exposure may be used.

Next, the image data with the dummy data inserted by the dummy data insertion circuit 32 is sent to the shading correction circuit 33 (shading correction means), and the shading correction data 34 acquired in advance
Is used to perform correction calculation for each dot position along the main scanning direction. At this time, the output of the actual data from the image processing circuit 31 and the output of the dummy data from the dummy data insertion circuit 32 are switched by a selection circuit (not shown), so that the image data in a state where the dummy data is inserted at an appropriate position is obtained. Is sent to the shading correction circuit 33.

The shading correction data 34 is acquired in advance for each dot position along the main scanning direction, that is, for each position (Nth dot) from the scanning start point (P1 in FIG. 5) determined by the effective scanning width of the polygon scanner. And stored in a memory (not shown). And
At the time of shading correction, the data is read out from the memory as shading data and used for correction calculation.

As described above, the output value based on the result of the above-described correction calculation is read and written as the exposure data in the exposure data memory 35 every exposure of one line.

In the photographic processing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the laser light is reflected by the polygon scanner and printed on the photographic paper P, the shading correction data 34 is thin at both ends of the photographic paper P due to the characteristics of the fθ lens. Are acquired in advance in order to correct such a phenomenon that the central portion is burned deeply. The method and timing of acquiring the correction data are not particularly limited, and may be performed in the same manner as in the related art. As the acquisition method, for example, a method of reading an exposure result on the photographic paper P with a scanner or the like can be used. In addition, the above acquisition timing is usually performed at the time of factory shipment in consideration of the fact that the shading correction data 34 is data due to characteristics of the fθ lens and the like.

As described above, in the photographic processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the control means 30 controls the number of exposure pixels of one line set as a fixed value and the image data sent from the image processing circuit 31. The number of pixels input as dummy data is calculated from the number of pixels, and dummy data of the calculated number of pixels is inserted. Therefore, the number of dots of the exposed pixels exposed on one line is always constant. can do. That is, regardless of the width of the photosensitive material, the exposure range including the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction can be always constant.

More specifically [0081] In FIG. 5, when exposing the photosensitive material A ₁ of the light-sensitive material width Arufamm, actual data portion is a portion indicated by (2), and distributed to both ends of the partial The dummy data shown in (1) is automatically inserted. When exposure similarly to the light-sensitive material A ₂ of the photosensitive material width βmm, the actual data portion is a portion indicated by (4) is inserted dummy data indicated by (3). In this case, the number of dots is (2) + (1) = (4) +
(3), the number of dots exposed on one line is the same as the number of exposed pixels on one line set as the fixed value, and is always a constant value. Since the exposure start position necessarily set to make the number of dots exposed on one line a fixed value becomes constant, the exposure start position is reset even if the width of the photographic paper P is different. No need.

If the number of dots to be exposed on one line is made constant by inserting dummy data as described above, a sequential (continuous) sequence of exposure data flows regardless of the width of the photosensitive material. ), A shading correction calculation can be performed. For this reason, it is not necessary to set a shading correction start point corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material, and a circuit for designating an address therefor is not required, so that the number of circuits can be reduced as a whole.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the shading correction operation performed by the control means 30.

The shading correction operation is performed continuously for each line. As shown in the figure, first, power is turned on in S1, an exposure start point V (exposure start position; fixed value) is set (S2), and the set value is stored in a memory (not shown). As described above, in the photographic processing apparatus of the present embodiment, since the setting of the exposure start point is performed in advance, for example, at the time of factory shipment, the exposure start position is set regardless of the width of the photosensitive material. It will be. With this configuration, it is not necessary to reset the exposure start position in accordance with the difference in width of the photosensitive material.

Next, the exposure data is received (S3), and the actual data number (M) in the main scanning direction is set according to the photosensitive material (S4).

When an exposure start command is issued (S5) and a synchronization detection signal is input from the synchronization sensor 21A (S5).
6) In a state where n = 1 is set in S7, the scanning is started with the rotation of the polygon mirror 18 from the starting point of the main scanning (P0 in FIG. 5). Note that the above n indicates a counter value corresponding to a dot after the synchronous detection by the synchronous sensor 21A. Exposure is not started until scanning is performed at a preset exposure start position (P1 (n = V) in FIG. 5) (S8).

Here, as described above, the exposure start position P1 is a constant value irrespective of the width of the photosensitive material. Therefore,
Scanning exposure always starts from P1 regardless of the width of the photosensitive material used. However, since the dummy data is inserted by the dummy data insertion circuit 32, for example, the photosensitive material αm
in the case of using a photosensitive material A ₁ of the m width, as the image data corresponding to between the exposure start position P1 in FIG. 5 to P2, a state in which the dummy data are used.

Next, as shown in steps S9 to S12, shading correction is performed for each pixel at each dot position. First, the shading correction circuit 33
After the pixel data corresponding to the N-th dot in the main scanning direction is input in S9, the shading correction data 34 is input in S10 to perform shading correction calculation (S11), and the correction calculation result is output (S11). S1
2).

As described above, the shading correction operation of S9 to S12 is repeated successively for each dot by sequentially replacing n with n + 1 until the dot position becomes n = M + V (S13 to S14). Shading correction is completed.

The shading correction operation shown in S9 to S12 is performed in a portion of each dot position where dummy data is input, that is, from P1 to P2 and from P5 to P2.
The same applies to the portion (1) up to 6. Also,
For the photosensitive material width is βmm photosensitive material A ₂ also, except that the dummy data is used as the corresponding image data into portions (3) from P1 in FIG. 5 P3 to and P4 to P6 is similar to the above correction The shading correction is performed by the operation.

If the exposure using the exposure data after shading correction ends at the line, the flow returns to step S3 to prepare for the next exposure, while if the exposure of the next line is to be continued, the operations from step S6 are repeated. (S14).

As described above, according to the present invention, the predetermined exposure range including the photosensitive material is exposed in the main scanning direction, and the exposure start position is always set to P1 regardless of the difference in photosensitive material width. It is not necessary to set the exposure start position (P2 and P3 in FIG. 5) according to the width of the photosensitive material as in the related art. Also, from the exposure start position P1, the start position (P2 or P2) of the exposure pixel corresponding to the actual image information.
Dummy data is inserted in the parts up to 3), and shading correction is started from the exposure start position P1, so that it is not necessary to set a circuit for designating an address to start correction calculation, thereby simplifying the control contents. It has the advantage of doing.

In the photographic processing apparatus of this embodiment, the light beam modulating means is provided as the light modulating means as described above.
A polygon mirror 18 as a deflecting means for deflecting the light beam in the main scanning direction and fθ as an optical means for converging the light beam from the polygon mirror 18 on a photosensitive material.
Although a configuration using a lens has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, a line-shaped optical shutter element may be used as a light modulation unit, and a line-shaped photosensitive material may be formed on a photosensitive material by a SELFOC lens (“SELFOC” is a registered trademark). A configuration for converging light may be used.

[0094]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head including light modulating means for modulating light from a light source in accordance with image information corresponding to each pixel, and the light modulated by the light modulating means. Is a print head that exposes a predetermined exposure range including the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction by scanning the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction, and corresponds to the exposed pixels other than the photosensitive material in the predetermined exposure range in the main scanning direction. And a dummy data inserting unit for inserting dummy data as image information to be inserted.

Therefore, no matter what width the photosensitive material is used, the exposure range including the photosensitive material is constant, so that the exposure start position is always constant, and the width of the photosensitive material used in the related art is not changed. It is not necessary to reset the exposure start position according to the condition. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a print head which does not need to set an exposure start point of an exposure pixel (exposure dot) in the main scanning direction due to a difference in width of the photosensitive material.

In the predetermined exposure range in the main scanning direction, dummy data insertion means inserts dummy data as image information corresponding to exposed pixels other than the photosensitive material. Thus, for example, even when considering shading correction to eliminate unevenness of exposed pixels in the main scanning direction, shading is always performed from the exposure start point for both the exposed pixels on the photosensitive material and the pixels exposed by the dummy data. Correction may be performed, and it is not necessary to set a shading start point according to the width of the photosensitive material to be used for starting shading correction from an exposed pixel on the photosensitive material. Therefore, it is possible to provide a print head that does not require such setting for each photosensitive material to be used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print head for continuously performing shading correction on an exposure pixel on a photosensitive material and an exposure pixel corresponding to dummy data inserted by the dummy data insertion unit. It is a configuration provided with.

Therefore, the shading correction means continuously performs shading correction on both the exposure pixels corresponding to the image information and the exposure pixels corresponding to the dummy data. Correction calculation can be performed. For this reason, it is not necessary to set a shading start point for starting shading correction only from a portion corresponding to the image information, so that it is possible to reduce the circuit setting and simplify the circuit.

The print head according to claim 3 is configured such that the dummy data inserting means sets color information as the dummy data.

Therefore, since the dummy data inserting means sets the color information as dummy data, it is possible to simultaneously obtain a secondary function of setting a border portion corresponding to the dummy data portion to, for example, a colored or colored pattern. This has the effect that it can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photo processing apparatus comprising the print head according to any one of the first to third aspects.

Therefore, since the photographic processing apparatus is provided with the print head, the setting of the exposure start point and the setting of the shading correction start point of the exposure dot in the main scanning direction due to the difference in the size of the photosensitive material can be performed. There is an effect that an unnecessary photo processing device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of control contents of a control unit in a photographic processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the photographic processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an exposure unit and a photographic paper storage unit included in the photographic processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing unit provided in the photographic processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a width in a main scanning direction of a photosensitive material used in a photographic processing apparatus that performs scanning exposure with a laser beam using a polygon mirror as a deflector and an exposure start position.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of shading correction performed by a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of shading correction performed in a conventional photo processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 PC 6 Printing unit (print head) 7R / 7G / 7B Light source unit (light source) 12R / 12G / 12B AOM (light modulation unit) 30 control unit 31 image processing circuit (setting unit) 32 dummy data insertion circuit (dummy data insertion) Means) 33 Shading correction circuit (shading correction means) P Printing paper (photosensitive material)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yasutaka Kayama 579-1 Umehara Umehara, Wakayama Prefecture, Noritsu Steel Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hayashi 577-1 Umehara Umehara, Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama Noritsu Steel Machinery Co., Ltd. Terms (reference) 2C362 AA54 AA64 BB37 BB38 CB47 CB71 CB72 CB78 2H106 AA22 AA76 AA80 BA55 2H110 AB09 CE12

Claims (4)

[Claims] A light modulating means for modulating light from a light source in accordance with image information corresponding to each pixel, and scanning the light modulated by the light modulating means in a main scanning direction of a photosensitive material; A print head for exposing a predetermined exposure range including a photosensitive material in the main scanning direction, wherein dummy data insertion means for inserting dummy data as image information corresponding to exposure pixels other than the photosensitive material in the predetermined exposure range in the main scanning direction. A print head comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising shading correction means for continuously performing shading correction on the exposure pixels on the photosensitive material and the exposure pixels corresponding to the dummy data inserted by the dummy data insertion means. The print head according to 1. 3. The print head according to claim 1, wherein said dummy data insertion means sets color information as said dummy data. 4. A photographic processing apparatus comprising the print head according to claim 1.