JP2002214755A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus surely performing sorting processing by easy control. SOLUTION: When a sorting signal is inputted, the control part 170 of the image forming device generates virtual photosensitive material data and inserts it in a sorting position between the photosensitive material data. As a result, a plurality of photosensitive materials are carried in a state where space is left as if virtual photosensitive material B0 is carried to the sorting position, and then sorting operation is performed in a state where the photosensitive material does not exist in a sorting part 18. The moving time of a sorter plate is secured between the carried rearmost photosensitive material A8 of one order and the forefront photosensitive material B1 of a following one order. Since control is performed by forming the virtual photosensitive material data in such a way, a special program for changing the supply timing and the sorting timing of the photosensitive material at the sorting position is not required, and the control is simplified and also the sorting processing is surely performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and the like for exposing a photosensitive material to record a latent image. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a distribution device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal. 2. Description of the Related Art A digital photo printer has been put into practical use that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated in accordance with the image data to record an image (latent image), develops the image, and outputs it as a print (photo). ing.

In a digital photo printer, an exposure condition is determined by photoelectrically reading a film and performing gradation correction and the like by image (signal) processing. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform editing of a print image such as synthesis of a plurality of images by image processing and image division, and various image processing such as color / density adjustment and contour enhancement. Can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, or can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk. Furthermore, according to the digital photo printer, the resolution,
It is possible to output a print with excellent image quality and excellent color / density reproducibility.

Such a digital photo printer basically comprises an input device having a scanner (image reading device) and an image processing device, and an output device having a printing device (image recording device) and a developing device. You. In the scanner, the projection light of the image photographed on the film is photoelectrically read by an image sensor such as a CCD sensor and transmitted to the image processing device as film image data (image data signal). The image processing device performs predetermined image processing on the image data,
The image data is sent to a printing apparatus as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. For example, if the printing apparatus uses a light beam scanning exposure, the printing apparatus deflects a light beam modulated in accordance with the supplied image data in the main scanning direction and exposes the light beam in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. By scanning and transporting the material, the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed by a light beam to form a latent image, and a back print is recorded. In the developing machine, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process and the like, so that an image photographed on a film is reproduced.

By the way, in a photo printer, development processing generally takes more time than exposure. Therefore, if the exposure (image input) and the development processing are performed continuously in parallel, the development processing cannot catch up, and the exposed photosensitive material gradually accumulates in an undeveloped state. It is necessary to stop the exposure operation.

Therefore, in a photo printer that performs exposure after forming the photosensitive material into a cut sheet, the exposed photosensitive material to be supplied to the developing device is moved in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction (hereinafter, referred to as a transport direction).
(A width direction) is disposed between the exposure unit and the development unit, and a plurality of rows are overlapped in the transport direction to improve the processing capacity of the development apparatus. ,
If the number of rows is three, it is possible to cancel the difference in speed between the exposure and the development by enabling about three times the development.

More specifically, in the distribution device, the photosensitive material conveyed from the exposure unit to the development unit by the conveyance belt is adsorbed by the suction cup and distributed in the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

On the other hand, a sorter is provided on the photosensitive material discharge side of the developing machine, and a plurality of photosensitive materials are collected as one case according to each negative or according to a user's request.

[0009]

In such an image forming apparatus, in recent years, in order to further improve the processing efficiency, the interval between the sheet-like photosensitive materials after sorting has been narrowed. As a result, if the photosensitive material is continuously discharged from the image forming apparatus at a narrow interval, the switching time of the sorter (the moving time of the sorter plate) cannot be secured.

Therefore, the interval between the last photosensitive material for one case to be sorted and the frontmost photosensitive material for the next case (hereinafter referred to as a sort position) is made wider than usual (for example, , 1.2 times). However, in order to change the interval between the photosensitive materials at the sort position, a separate sort processing program for changing the supply timing of the photosensitive material and the distribution timing of the sorting device has to be separately provided.

Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the control of the image forming apparatus becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the above-mentioned inconveniences are taken into consideration and the control is simple and the sorting process can be performed reliably.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a photosensitive material by developing a photosensitive material exposed in an exposure unit in a development unit, a supply unit that supplies a sheet-shaped photosensitive material toward the exposure unit at a predetermined timing; Distributing means for distributing the sheet-shaped photosensitive material exposed in the exposure unit in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, supplying the photosensitive material as a plurality of rows to the developing unit, and the photosensitive material discharged from the developing unit Sorting means for sorting each of the cases, and the last photosensitive material data of the photosensitive materials to be combined as one case in the sorting unit, and the frontmost photosensitive material data of the photosensitive materials to be combined as one case in the following case. Between,
Virtual data forming means for forming virtual photosensitive material data for increasing the switching time of the sorting means, control means for driving and controlling the supply means and the distribution means based on the photosensitive material data and the virtual photosensitive material data, It is characterized by having.

The operation of the first aspect of the present invention will be described.

Since the sheet-like photosensitive material is sorted in the width direction by the sorting means and inserted into the developing section as a plurality of rows, the processing speed of the developing section is improved and the image processing efficiency is improved.

In the virtual data forming means, between the last photosensitive material data of the photosensitive material to be collected as one case in the sorting process and the frontmost photosensitive material data of the photosensitive material to be collected as one succeeding case (hereinafter, referred to as the following). , Sort position), virtual photosensitive material data for increasing the switching time of the sorting means is formed. Since the control means controls the supply means and the distribution means based on the photosensitive material data and the virtual photosensitive material data, the distribution means sorts the last photosensitive material and then sorts the virtual photosensitive material (no photosensitive material) To perform the sorting operation), and sort the frontmost photosensitive material. As a result, the interval between the last photosensitive material for one case and the frontmost photosensitive material for one succeeding case is longer than the switching time of the sorting means, and the sorting process can be performed reliably.

On the other hand, the virtual data forming means forms the virtual photosensitive material data at the sorting position, and the supply means does not supply the photosensitive material for the virtual photosensitive material supply equivalent time based on the virtual photosensitive material data by the control means. Further, since the distributing means merely performs the distributing operation without using the photosensitive material, it is not necessary to provide a special program for the sorting process to change the supply timing and the distributing timing, thereby simplifying the control.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. First, an overall description will be given of the image forming apparatus, and later, the dummy control which is a main part will be described in detail. (Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus) The image forming apparatus 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 11 for exposing a photosensitive material to form a latent image, and a developing process and drying of the photosensitive material on which the latent image has been formed by the printer 11 to produce a print (finished print) for one film. Is a device used as a printing device of a digital photo printer, and is a device corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material. After being cut into long cut sheets, back print recording (back print) and digital scanning exposure are performed, and the exposed photosensitive material A is sorted into a plurality of rows by the sorting apparatus of the present invention as necessary. And a processor (developing device) 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, such a printer 11 includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a printer 14 for recording a back print, and an image recording unit 16 for exposing the photosensitive material A at a recording (exposure) position X. And the exposed photosensitive material A
And a distribution unit 18 for distributing the data into a plurality of rows. In addition, in the image forming apparatus 10, various members such as a conveyance unit of the photosensitive material A such as a conveyance roller, a conveyance guide, and a sensor are arranged as necessary in addition to the illustrated members.

In the printer 11, the photosensitive material supply unit 1
2 (hereinafter, referred to as a supply unit 12)
, Drawer roller pairs 24 and 26, cutters 28 and 30
And is configured.

Each of the loading sections 20 and 22 has a magazine 32 in which a long photosensitive material A wound in a roll shape with the recording surface outside is housed in a light-shielding housing. Both loading units 20,
The magazine 32 loaded in the magazine 22 usually contains photosensitive materials A of different types such as size (width), surface type (silk or mat, etc.), specifications (thickness, type of base, etc.). Note that the number of magazines 32 that can be loaded may be one or three or more, depending on the size, configuration, and the like of the printer 11.

The pull-out roller pairs 24 and 26 pull out and transport the photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 32 loaded in the loading units 20 and 22. This conveyance stops when the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream from the corresponding cutters 28 and 30 has a length corresponding to the print to be made, and then the cutters 28 and 30 are activated to operate the photosensitive material A. Is cut into a cut sheet of a predetermined length. In addition, one cutter may be shared by a plurality of loading units.

The photosensitive material A pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading unit 22 and cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 30
The photosensitive material A pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading unit 20 and cut by the cutter 28 on the other hand is transported by the first transport unit 34 and the second transport unit 36 composed of a number of transport roller pairs. By 36, both are conveyed upward, then conveyed rightward, and conveyed to the image recording unit 16 (scanning conveyance unit 42) with the recording surface facing up.

In the middle of the second transport section 36, the printer 14
Is arranged. The printer 14 includes, on the non-recording side (non-emulsion side = back side) of the photosensitive material A, the photographing date, print printing date, frame number, film ID number (sign), camera ID number used for photographing, photo printer Record various information such as the ID number, so-called back print (back print)
Is what you do. Therefore, the back print is recorded by the printer 14 while the photosensitive material A is transported by the second transport unit 36. As the printer 14 for recording the back print, a back print printer used for a known photo printer, such as an ink jet printer, a dot impact printer, and a thermal transfer printer, is exemplified. The printer 14 is a so-called APS (Advan)
(ced PhotoSystem), it is preferable that two or more lines can be printed.

A loop forming section 38 is provided between the pair of conveying rollers 36A and the pair of conveying rollers 36B downstream of the printer 14 in the second conveying section 36. That is, the transport speed of the photosensitive material A in the second transport unit 36 is the same as that of the image recording unit 1 after the transport roller pair 36B downstream of the loop forming unit 38.
6 (scanning conveying means 42), the speed is set higher than that of the conveying roller pair 36A upstream of the loop forming section 38 at the same speed as the scanning conveying speed of the photosensitive material A conveyed through the second conveying section 36. In the loop forming section 38, a loop corresponding to the size is formed as indicated by a dotted line in the drawing, based on the difference between the upstream and downstream transport speeds. Thus, the printer 11 separates the printer 14 and the image recording unit 16 with a short path length, and realizes highly accurate scanning and transport of the photosensitive material A during exposure.

The image recording section 16 is composed of an exposure unit 40 and a scanning and conveying means 42. The scanning and conveying means 42 holds the photosensitive material A at a predetermined recording position P and scans and conveys the photosensitive material A in the direction of the arrow Y. The exposure unit 40 modulates the recording light L in accordance with the data (recorded image) and deflects the recording light L in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper in FIGS. 1 and 3 and an arrow X direction in FIG. 4) orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction. The photosensitive material A is ejected two-dimensionally by scanning and exposing to the recording position P to record a latent image. In the illustrated image recording section 16, the side registration (edge position regulation) is performed so that the center of the photosensitive material A in the main scanning direction is at a predetermined position.
And exposure is performed with reference to the center.

The exposure unit 40 is a known light beam scanning device that uses a light beam such as a laser beam as the recording light L. The exposure unit 40 exposes a photosensitive material A to red (R), green (G), and blue (G). B) A light source that emits a light beam corresponding to each exposure, a modulating unit such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data, a modulated light beam An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror that deflects the light beam in the main scanning direction, and an fθ (scanning) lens for adjusting the optical path of a fθ (scanning) lens that forms a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a predetermined position on the recording position P with a predetermined beam diameter. It has a mirror and the like.

PDP (plasma display) array,
ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array, DMD (digital micromirror device) array, laser array, etc. Digital exposure means using a light emitting array, a spatial modulation element array, or the like may be used.

On the other hand, the scanning and conveying means 42
A pair of transport rollers 4 arranged with the (scanning line) interposed therebetween
4 and 46, and an exposure guide 52 (see FIG. 3) for more accurately holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position P. The exposure guide 52 is orthogonal to the main scanning direction while holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position P. The photosensitive material A is scanned and transported in the sub-scanning direction. Here, since the light beam as the recording light L is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the recording light L modulated according to the image data, and the latent image is formed. Be recorded. In addition, as the scanning and conveying means, an exposure drum that conveys the photosensitive material A while holding it at the recording position P,
A scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers abutting on the exposure drum with the recording position P interposed therebetween may be used.

A distribution unit 18 is arranged downstream of the image recording unit 16. The allocating unit 18 receives the photosensitive material A discharged from the scanning and transporting unit 42 of the image recording unit 16 and transports the photosensitive material A in the same direction as the scanning and transporting direction (arrow Y direction).
If necessary, the photosensitive material A is divided into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (that is, corresponding to the main scanning direction (arrow X direction), hereinafter, referred to as a width direction), and is divided into a plurality of rows through the processor 50 via the guide belt 49. Is transported to a transport roller pair 48 for supplying the photosensitive material A to the processor (processor entry). Exposure and development processing generally takes longer in development processing, but in the image forming apparatus 10, in the distribution unit 18, the photosensitive material A is sorted in the width direction and processed by the processor 50. By making A a plurality of rows that overlap in the transport direction (hereinafter, referred to as overlap), if the processing capacity of the processor 50 is two rows, it is approximately doubled.
If it is a row, it is set to about three times to cancel the speed difference between the exposure and the development processing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution section 18 basically includes a belt conveyer 70 which is a means for conveying the photosensitive material A.
And a distribution device 72. Image recording unit 1
The photosensitive material A exposed in step 6 is discharged and placed on the belt conveyor 70 and transported, and when transported to a predetermined position,
It is lifted up by the distribution device 72, conveyed in the downstream oblique width direction and sorted, placed again on the belt conveyor 70, conveyed as it is, and supplied to the conveyance roller pair 48. The belt conveyor 70 and the distributing device 72 of the distributing unit 18 are disposed immediately downstream of the image recording unit 16 (scanning and transporting unit 42) that performs exposure on the basis of the center, in the center of the horizontal (main scanning) direction (hereinafter, referred to as “the main scanning”). Simply centered).

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the distribution device 72 basically includes a lower substrate 88, an upper substrate 90 (omitted in FIGS. 4 to 7), a center line (an auxiliary belt conveyor 8 described later).
0) (referred to as the right side) in the transport direction (arrow Y direction) with the first suction unit 92 interposed therebetween.
And a first paddle 96 and a second suction unit 9 which engage with the second suction unit 94 and the first suction unit 92 on the left side.
4 and a driving means 100 (omitted in FIGS. 4 to 7) for rotating both paddles. The distributing device 72 of the distributing section 18 sucks and holds the photosensitive material A by the suction units 92 and 94, lifts the photosensitive material A, and moves the right first suction unit 92 obliquely outward on the downstream side. Left second suction cup unit 94
The photosensitive material A is conveyed in the width direction and is sorted into two or three rows.

The lower substrate 88 and the upper substrate 90 are the first substrate
It serves as a moving substrate of the suction unit 92 and the second suction unit 94, and is a plate material having basically the same plane shape, and is parallel to each other at a predetermined interval by a known means using a spacer, a stay or the like. Retained and fixed.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the lower substrate 88 and the upper substrate 90 guide long guide holes 102 </ b> A and 102 </ b> B for guiding the first suction unit 92 on the right side and the second suction unit 94 on the left side. Long guide holes 104A, 104B
Are formed to extend in the direction in which the photosensitive material A is distributed by the distribution device 72, that is, in the direction in which each sucker unit moves. As will be described later, each of the suction units 92 and 94 has two suction cups arranged in the conveying direction by the belt conveyor 70, and each guide hole corresponds to each suction cup. Therefore, the guide holes 102A, 102B and the guide holes 10
4A and 104B are formed in parallel with each other at the same position in the width direction and separated in the conveying direction by the belt conveyor 70. In the illustrated example, the guide hole 102 and the guide hole 104 are formed symmetrically with respect to the center line.

The moving guide means of the suction units 92 and 94 is not limited to a long hole as shown in the drawing, but may guide the suction units using, for example, a guide rail or a pipe. The lower substrate 88 and the upper substrate 90 include
In addition, it has a hole, a member, or the like for supporting each member, etc. of the driving means 100.

The first suction unit 92 for transporting and sorting the photosensitive material A obliquely downstream to the right includes suction cups 106A and 106.
B, holding shafts 108A and 108B, and connecting member 110
Is configured. On the other hand, the second sucker unit 94 that conveys and sorts the photosensitive material A diagonally to the left downstream,
2A, 112B, holding shafts 114A, 114B, and a connecting member 116. As described above, in the distribution device 72, the photosensitive material A is sucked and held by the suction units 92 and 94, and the photosensitive material A is transported left and right to form a plurality of rows. Therefore, the width of the auxiliary belt conveyor 80 described later disposed on the center line and the position in the width direction on the upstream side of the guide hole 102 and the guide hole 104 are determined based on the minimum size of the photosensitive material A to be distributed. Is set to be able to be adsorbed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, suckers 106A, 106B, 112A, 1A described later so that all types (sizes) of photosensitive materials A (A1 to A4) can be adsorbed.
12B is configured to be adsorbed near the center on the rear end side. That is, the photosensitive material A of any size is configured to be sucked at a predetermined position at a fixed distance (reference to the rear end) from the rear end.

Exposure is performed on the basis of the center, and both sucker units are arranged with the auxiliary belt conveyor 80 interposed therebetween, so that the first sucker unit 92 is located on the right side of the photosensitive material A,
As a result, the second suction unit 94 sucks and holds the left side. Both sucker units have basically the same configuration except that the arrangement positions are different, so the following description
The first sucker unit 92 is used as a representative example.

The holding shaft 108A is inserted into the guide hole 102A of the lower substrate 88 and the upper substrate 90, and the other holding shaft 108B is inserted into the guide hole 102B by a known method.
02A and 102B are movably held in the extending direction.
That is, the suction unit 92 includes the guide holes 102A,
The photosensitive material A is guided by 2B and moves in the transport direction of the photosensitive material A. At the lower end of the holding shaft 108A, a suction cup 106A is provided.
A suction cup 106B is held at the lower end of 08B so as to be vertically movable. A suction hose (not shown) connected to a vacuum pump or the like for sucking and holding the photosensitive material A by the suction cups 106A and 106B is connected to upper ends of the holding shafts 108A and 108B. Further, the suction cup 106
A and 106B are connected by a connecting member 110 and fixed to each other in a state where they are arranged in the conveying direction by the belt conveyor 70, and the first suction unit 92 is configured.

The first sucker unit 92 has a sucker 106A for sucking and lifting the photosensitive material A.
106B lifting / lowering means is arranged. There is no particular limitation on the means for raising and lowering the suction cups 106. For example, both suction cups 106 are urged upward using a spring or the like to be held on the holding shaft 108, and the connecting member 110 has a concave central portion. As the shape, an air cylinder or the like that presses the lower surface of the lower substrate 88 is disposed thereon, and means for moving the suction cup 106 up and down by pressing / non-pressing the lower surface of the lower substrate 88 by this cylinder is exemplified. The means for lifting and lowering the suction cup is not limited to this. For example, a method of fixing the suction cup to the support shaft and raising and lowering the support shaft, the lower substrate 88 or the lower substrate 88 and the upper substrate 90
, A method of raising and lowering the belt conveyor 70 (and the auxiliary belt conveyor 80), a method of providing a fulcrum at a position away from the suction cup (suction cup unit), and raising and lowering by swinging or rotating. . Further, the lift drive source may be performed by using a cam or a link mechanism other than the cylinder.

In this embodiment, in order to simplify the structure and control, the suction units 92 and 94 are raised and lowered together. Therefore, the suction cup 106A,
106B and the suction cups 112A and 112B are always at the same height with respect to the endless belt 78 of the belt conveyor 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, a first paddle 96 and a second paddle 98 are arranged on the upper surface of the lower substrate 88. The paddles 96 and 98 are both plate members that are rotatably supported on the support shaft 118 independently of each other, and are urged in directions approaching each other by a spring 132 described later. The center Z of the support shaft 118 is located on the center line (that is, on the center line of conveyance). First paddle 96
A long hole 120 is formed near the end opposite to the second paddle 98. The holding shaft 108 </ b> B is inserted into the elongated hole 120 and movably engages in the longitudinal direction, so that the right first
The suction unit 92 and the first paddle 96 are engaged. A rod-like stopper 122 is provided near the end of the upper surface of the first paddle 96 on the second paddle 98 side, and the engaging member 12 is provided outside the stopper 122.
4 are respectively fixed. Further, at a position near the support shaft 118 where the second paddle 98 does not overlap, a rod-shaped pin 96 is provided.
A is fixed vertically to the first paddle 96.

On the other hand, a long hole 126 is formed near the end of the second paddle 98 opposite to the first paddle 96. The holding shaft 114B is inserted into the long hole 126 and movably engages in the longitudinal direction, so that the left second suction cup unit 94
And the second paddle 98 are engaged. Also, the second paddle 9
An elongated hole 128 is formed in the vicinity of the end of the first paddle 8 on the side of the first paddle 96, and the stopper 122 and the engaging member 124 of the first paddle 96 are movably inserted in the longitudinal direction. further,
In the vicinity of the support shaft 118, the pin 96A of the first paddle 96 and the support shaft 1
A bar-shaped pin 98 </ b> B is vertically fixed to the second paddle 98 at a position opposed to the pin 18.

Further, the first paddle 96 of the second paddle 98
An engagement member 130 is fixed near the end on the opposite side to the above, and a spring 132 is wrapped between the engagement member 124 of the first paddle 96 and the two paddles in a direction to approach each other. . Therefore, the driving means 100 is connected to the first paddle 96
Is rotated counterclockwise, so that the spring 132
, The second paddle 98 also rotates in the same direction, and the driving means 100 rotates the second paddle 98 clockwise, so that the second paddle 98 is pulled via the spring 132 and the first paddle 96 also rotates. Rotate in the direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the driving means 100 includes a motor 134, which is a driving source, capable of bidirectional rotation, and a motor 1
34, a reduction gear 138 meshing with the gear 136, and the support shaft 1 meshing with the reduction gear 138.
The gear 140 includes a gear 140 supported by the gear 18 and a cylindrical rotating member 142 fixed to the gear 140 and rotatably supported by the support shaft 118. The upper substrate 90 and the lower substrate 88 are provided with through holes and support shafts for arranging them. The rotation transmission from the gear 136 of the motor 134 to the reduction gear 138 may be performed using a timing belt instead of meshing.

On the side surface of the rotating member 142, there are provided rotating pins 142A and 142B protruding in the radial direction at a height engaging with the pins 96A and 98B of each paddle. Accordingly, by driving the motor 134 and rotating the rotating member 142 in the counterclockwise direction, the rotating pin 142A pushes the pin 96A of the first paddle 96 to rotate the first paddle 96 in the counterclockwise direction. Then, the first suction unit 92 engaged with the first suction unit 92 can be moved along the guide holes 102A and 102B. By rotating the rotating member 142 in the clockwise direction, the rotating pin 142B is moved to the second paddle 98.
The second paddle 98 is rotated clockwise by pushing the pin 98B, and the second suction unit 94 engaged with the second paddle 98 can be moved along the guide holes 104A and 104B.
Further, by the action of the spring 132, the rotating member 142
As a result, the paddle that cannot be given a rotational force also rotates in the same direction.

Hereinafter, the movement of the first suction unit 92 and the second suction unit 94 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a state in which photosensitive material A, which will be described later, is sorted into three rows, where the first sucker unit 92 transports the photosensitive material A, and the second sucker unit 94 removes the photosensitive material A on the belt conveyor 70. Suction holding position (hereafter,
This position is the home position). When the motor 134 rotates from this state to rotate the rotating member 142 clockwise, the pin 96A follows and rotates clockwise due to the elastic action of the spring 132 in the compression direction.
That is, the first paddle 96 rotates clockwise to
First sucker unit 9 engaging with elongated hole 120 of paddle 96
2 (the suction cups 106A and 106B) are guided by the guide holes 102 and move in the left upstream direction (see FIG. 5).

In this state, the rotation pin 142B engages with the pin 98B of the second paddle 98, and the rotation member 142 further rotates clockwise, so that the rotation pin 142B pushes the pin 98B. Then, the second paddle 98 is rotated clockwise. As a result, the second sucker unit 94 (the suction cups 112A and 112A) that engages with the long hole 126 of the second paddle 98 is formed.
B) is guided by the guide holes 104A and 104B and moves in the left downstream direction (see FIG. 6). Here, the spring 132
The rotation of the first paddle 96 due to the elastic action by the compression of
The first paddle 96 is not transmitted to the spring 1
The first sucker unit 92 is guided by the guide hole 102 and moves in the left-upstream direction to the home position (see FIG. 6).

Further, when the rotating member 142 is rotated clockwise by the driving of the motor 134 and the second paddle 98 is rotated by pressing the pin 98B with the rotating pin 142B, the elastic force of the spring 132 is resisted. 7 moves to the most downstream side of the guide hole 104 (FIG. 7).
reference). At this point, the motor 134 stops, and the rotation of the rotation member 142 stops. The control of the motor 134 may be performed by a known method such as pulse control. Here, the first sucker unit 9 located at the home position
2 is locked by the guide hole 102, does not move any more, and the spring 132 expands in accordance with the rotation of the second paddle 98.

Also, from the state shown in FIG.
0 by reversing the motor 134,
2 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and conversely to the above-described operation, the respective paddles 96, 9 are arranged in the order of FIG. 7 → FIG. 6 → FIG.
8 rotates counterclockwise to move each suction unit 92, 94 to the right. That is, the counterclockwise rotation of the rotating member 142 causes the second paddle 98 to move as shown in FIG.
Is rotated counterclockwise by the action of the spring 132 and the like, and the second suction unit 94 is moved rightward in the upstream direction, and the rotating pin 142A and the pin 96A are engaged. When the rotating member 142 further rotates, as shown in FIG.
The paddle 96 is rotated to move the first suction unit 92 rightward and downstream, and the second paddle 98 is pulled via the spring 132 to reach the home position. When the rotating member 142 further rotates, as shown in FIG.
By the rotation of 6, the first suction unit 92 moves to the most downstream side, and the motor 134 stops. The second suction unit 94 that has reached the home position is locked by the guide hole 104 and does not move any further.

The distribution device 72 is not limited to performing all distribution by moving the first suction unit 92 and the second suction unit 94 to the most downstream position shown in FIGS. For example, when performing sorting in three rows, both sucker units 92 and 94 are connected to each other in FIGS.
In the case of moving to the most downstream position shown in FIG.
, That is, until the sucker unit that does not hold the photosensitive material A returns to the home position. As a result, quicker sorting becomes possible. The control and adjustment of the moving amount of the suction cup unit may be performed by driving control of the motor.

That is, as will become more apparent from the description of the operation later, according to the distribution device 72, the photosensitive material A by one of the suction units is alternately used by using two suction units (lift units). In synchronization with the conveyance, the other suction unit is moved to the home position to prepare for the next photosensitive material A by suction and holding, and by lifting the photosensitive material A sucked and held at the home position, Since the next loading of the photosensitive material A is not obstructed, the photosensitive material A is lifted and transported, so that the transport, that is, the sorting can be performed at high speed independently of the belt conveyor 70 and the like. Therefore, according to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, as described above, it is possible to sufficiently and quickly cope with the printing (exposure) of one sheet per two seconds or the like, and to quickly and surely sort the print with a short path length. Can be done with In addition, the distributing device of the present invention can easily move the two suction units, that is, distribute the photosensitive material A by using a guide plate for guiding the suction unit and two paddles with one motor. This is achieved by the configuration, and the distribution width can be easily changed by controlling the motor or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the belt conveyor 70 includes two rollers 74 and 76, an endless belt 78 wound around the rollers 74 and 76, and a drive source (not shown). Belt conveyor. The belt conveyor 70 holds the photosensitive material A after the exposure.
Is received and placed and transported, and the photosensitive material A transported (distributed) by the distribution device 72 is received, placed, transported, and supplied to a transport roller pair 48 that performs processor entry. The transport roller pair 48 nips the photosensitive material A and enters the processor 50, and transports the photosensitive material A at the same speed as the processor 50.

In the printer 11, the scanning and conveying means 4
Since the interval between the transport roller pair 2 (the transport roller pair 46) and the transport roller pair 48 needs to be longer according to the maximum size print in the transport direction targeted by the printer 11, the belt conveyor 70 Accordingly, the position and the transport length are set so that the exchange of the photosensitive material A between the two can be performed stably. On the other hand, if the distance between the scanning / conveying means 42 and the conveying roller pair 48 is too long, the cost and size of the apparatus will increase due to the extension of the path length. Therefore, the distance between the two is determined in consideration of this. The size (width) of the belt conveyor 70 in the width direction may be set to a width that allows the photosensitive material A to be stably and reliably conveyed in accordance with the maximum size in the width direction of the print, the number of sorting rows of the photosensitive material, and the like.

In the sorting section 18 of the present embodiment, as a preferred mode, the belt conveyor 70 has an inclination so as to descend toward the downstream. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive material A from being caught due to a curl (curl habit) which the photosensitive material A normally has and to prevent the photosensitive material A from buckling.
It is possible to more smoothly and stably receive the photosensitive material A from the scanning and conveying means 42 and supply the photosensitive material A to the processor 50. The angle is not particularly limited. However, if the angle is too large, the belt conveyor 70
5 ° because the photosensitive material A placed on the
It is preferable to set it to about 30 °.

The transport speed of the belt conveyor 70 is set higher than the transport speed of the processor 50 (transport roller pair 48). As a result, the difference between the photosensitive material conveyed at the conveyance speed of the processor 50 and the photosensitive material conveyed at the conveyance speed of the processor 50 due to being nipped by the conveyance roller pair 48 is reduced by the conveyance of the belt conveyor 70 (the overlap amount between the photosensitive materials A increases And the photosensitive material A can be arranged more densely in the transport path of the processor 50.

The conveying speed of the belt conveyor 70 is
It is preferable that the speed is slightly higher than the scanning conveyance speed of the image recording unit 16. This makes it possible to more reliably eliminate the influence on the scanning conveyance when the photosensitive material A is placed (contacted) on the belt conveyor 70. Specifically, it is preferable to increase the scanning conveyance speed by about 2% to 10% in consideration of the variation in the scanning conveyance speed, the stability of conveyance by the belt conveyor 70, and the like.

In the sorting section 18 of the present embodiment, as described above, the thin auxiliary belt conveyor 80 is arranged on the center line above the belt conveyor 70. The auxiliary belt conveyor 80 includes rollers 82 and 84 and an endless belt 86 wound around both rollers, and is driven at the same speed as the belt conveyor 70. The auxiliary belt conveyor 80 does not pinch and convey the photosensitive material A together with the belt conveyor 70, and is arranged with a slight gap from the belt conveyor 70. That is, the auxiliary belt conveyor 80 controls the curl of the photosensitive material A, assists the conveyance by the belt conveyor 70 and the suction and holding of the photosensitive material A by the distribution device 72, and
This is to improve the stability of the processor entry of the photosensitive material A. The interval between the belt conveyor 70 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 80 is not particularly limited. However, if the interval between them is too small, it affects the scanning and transport of the photosensitive material A during exposure, and the skew of the photosensitive material A is reduced. On the contrary, if it is too wide, there is no point in arranging the auxiliary belt conveyor 80, and the effect of improving the stability of the processor entry will not be obtained. Therefore, it is preferable that the distance between them is about 4 mm to 20 mm.

When the photosensitive material A is sorted in two or three rows, the curl of the photosensitive material A after the sorting is suppressed, and the photosensitive material A is parallel to the auxiliary belt conveyor 80 in order to secure the stability of the processor entry. Are provided with a pair of auxiliary belt conveyors 81A and 81B (see FIG. 4). The auxiliary belt conveyors 81A and 81B
5 and endless belts 87A and 87B wound around rollers 84.

The belt conveyor 70 carries the photosensitive material A thereon. On the other hand, the scanning transport means 42 and the processor 50
The conveying roller pair 48 (or conveying means in the processor 50) that supplies the photosensitive material A to the photosensitive material A normally sandwiches and conveys the photosensitive material A. Therefore, even if the photosensitive material A being exposed is discharged from the scanning and conveying means 42 and a part thereof is placed on the belt conveyor 70, the conveying speed of the photosensitive material A is controlled by the scanning and conveying means 42. Even if the transport speed and the scan transport speed are different from each other, it does not affect the scan transport speed of the photosensitive material A during exposure.
The distributing unit 18 can be disposed immediately after the scanning and conveying unit 42. On the other hand, when the photosensitive material A is released from the scanning and transporting means 42, the belt conveyor 70 transports the photosensitive material A at the transport speed and supplies it to the transport roller pair 48. Here, the transport speed of the transport roller pair 48 performing the processor entry is the same as the transport speed in the processor 50,
Although the transport speed of the belt conveyor 70 or the like is lower than the transport speed in the printer 11, if the photosensitive material A is transported by the belt conveyor 70, when the photosensitive material A is nipped by the transport roller pair 48, the transport speed becomes the transport roller pair 48. Therefore, the exposed photosensitive material A can be supplied to the processor 50 smoothly and safely.

That is, the distribution unit 18 includes the distribution device 72
Conveyor belt 70 on which photosensitive material A is placed and transported
And a sorting device 72 on the belt conveyor 70.
Is a small-sized, simple, and low-cost apparatus having a linear, short path, and a simple and short path, without affecting the scanning and conveying and the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the processor 50. The photosensitive material A is stably conveyed from the image recording unit 16 to the processor 50, and the photosensitive material A is quickly and reliably distributed in a plurality of rows in the meantime, corresponding to high-speed printing. I have.

Next, the configuration of the processor 50 will be schematically described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the processor 50 includes a developing section 154 having a developing section 150 and a drying section 152.
And a discharge unit 160 having a discharge device 160 and a sorter 158. The developing unit 150 includes a color developing tank 162, a fixing bleaching tank 164, and washing tanks 166A to 166D.
The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is recorded has
While being conveyed at a predetermined speed, they are sequentially immersed in each tank, subjected to a wet development process, and a latent image is visualized. The photosensitive material A after the development processing is directly carried into the drying unit 152, dried by a known means such as hot air drying, and printed (finished print).

The print discharged from the drying unit 152 is
The sheet is transported to the discharge device 160 as it is, and is sequentially
It is discharged to 8. The sorter 158 is a known sorter, for example, by sliding a number of linearly arranged shelves or rotating a number of circularly arranged shelves to switch between individual shelves and to provide a print discharge port of the discharge device 160. , Which sorts and stores prints.

The image forming apparatus 10 includes a control unit 170 (see FIG. 1). In the control unit 170, image data (photosensitive material data) obtained by an image reading device or the like (not shown)
The drawer roller pair 24, 26 is used for the magazine 32 based on
The timing (supply timing) is controlled in which the photosensitive material is drawn out of the printer and cut out into sheets by the cutters 28 and 30. That is, the photosensitive material supply timing calculated so that the photosensitive materials do not collide (interference) when distributed by the distribution unit 18 and is synchronized with the distribution timing of the suction unit performed at a constant interval. It is controlled by. When a sort signal described later is input, virtual photosensitive material data is formed, and dummy control described later is performed based on the virtual photosensitive material data. (Operation of Overall Configuration) The operation of the image forming apparatus 10 having such an overall configuration will be described first.

The distributing section 18 using the distributing device 72 includes a photosensitive member A that is conveyed in the width direction by both suction units, or a combination of this and the non-conveyance that does not convey the photosensitive material A in the width direction. Material A is divided into two or three rows. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a specific example in which the supply timing of the photosensitive material A to the distribution unit 18 is fixed will be described.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the areas indicated by arrows are the distribution unit 18, the image recording unit 16 (scanning / transporting unit 42) upstream of the distribution unit 18, and the processor entry downstream of the distribution unit 18. Are shown. The vertical lines shown in the figure schematically show the transport speeds at the upstream and downstream of the distribution unit 18. Specifically, as an example, the upstream side of the distribution unit 18 has a scanning conveyance speed of 80 mm /
The distance between each line is 80 mm corresponding to sec.
On the downstream side is 28.3 mm / sec, which is the transport speed of the transport roller pair 48 (processor 50), and the interval between each line is 2
Indicates 8.3 mm. That is, the photosensitive material A is conveyed by a vertical line interval in one second. In this example, the distribution unit 18
The transfer speed of the belt conveyor 70 is 84 mm / sec.
(Conveyance) The length is so-called wide 4-cut (254 mm x 3
81 mm) and 15 inches. That is, the maximum size supported by the image forming apparatus 10 is four wide.

Further, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first
The sucker unit 92 and the second sucker unit 94 are rectangles indicated by a dashed line at the center, the photosensitive material A is indicated by a white rectangle, and the sucker unit holding and holding the photosensitive material A is hatched. . In FIGS. 10 and 11, the home positions of the first suction unit 92 and the second suction unit 94 are written at the same position.
Actually, both sucker units are arranged so as to sandwich the center line, and the home position is symmetrical with respect to the center line as described above.

FIG. 10 shows the photosensitive material A
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of distributing the data into three rows. In the illustrated example of the printer 11, when continuously producing an L-size print, one sheet is output at a rate of about 2 seconds. Exposure is performed, that is, the photosensitive material A passes through the exposure point, and the photosensitive material A is sorted into three rows and supplied to the processor 50.

In the example of FIG. 10, first, the first suction unit 92 is located at the home position, and the second suction unit 9
4 has moved to the left downstream side (see FIG. 7). As shown in a, when the first photosensitive material A is conveyed to a position corresponding to the home position of the suction unit (hereinafter, referred to as “conveyed to the home position”), the belt conveyor 70 of the distribution unit 18 is moved. After stopping, as shown in b, the first sucker unit 92 (suckers 106A, 106B) descends to adsorb and hold the photosensitive material A, and then the first elevating means acts as shown in FIG. The first suction unit 92 rises and lifts the photosensitive material A. Incidentally, even if the belt conveyor 70 stops, the exposure in the image recording unit 16, that is, the scanning conveyance (80
(mm / sec) is continuously performed in correspondence with the exposure speed of one sheet per about 2 seconds, so as shown by b and d, the distance between the photosensitive material A at the home position and the next photosensitive material A Is jammed,
The front end reaches the home position, but at that time, the rear end side of the previous photosensitive material A (A1) has already been lifted.
(See FIG. 10), the next photosensitive material A (A2) is conveyed so as to dive below the rear end of the previous photosensitive material A (A1),
It is carried in smoothly without affecting scanning conveyance and sorting.

When the first suction unit 92 rises, the belt conveyor 70 is driven, and the motor 134 is driven to rotate the rotating member 142 in the counterclockwise direction to rotate the first paddle 9.
6, the first suction unit 92 moves rightward and downstream to convey the photosensitive material A, and the second suction unit 94 moves to the home position, as shown in c. 4 state). In the illustrated example, at this point, the second photosensitive material A has been transported to the home position.
The belt conveyor 70 stops, the elevating means lowers both sucker units, and the first sucker unit 92 opens the first photosensitive material A and places it on the belt conveyor 70, as shown in FIG. The second suction unit 94 adsorbs the second photosensitive material A, and then both suction units rise. Next, the belt conveyor 70 is driven and the motor 13 is driven.
4 rotates the rotating member 142 clockwise, the first sucker unit 92 moves to the home position, and the second sucker unit 94 moves to the left-downstream direction to convey the photosensitive material A as shown in e. . In the illustrated example, during this time, the first photosensitive material A is transported by the belt conveyor 70 (84 mm /
sec) to reach the pair of conveying rollers 48, and thereafter, are conveyed at the conveying speed of the processor 50 (28.3 mm / sec).

Next, the belt conveyor 70 stops,
The second sucker unit 94 descends, releases the second photosensitive material A as shown in f, and places it on the belt conveyor 70,
Next, the belt conveyor 70 is driven up. Here, when the sorting unit 18 in the illustrated example sorts three rows, the two photosensitive materials A are sorted right and left, and the next photosensitive material A is not sorted, and is passed through as it is. The belt is conveyed on the center line by the belt conveyor 70. Accordingly, in the steps e to g, the first suction unit 92 does not perform any operation, and the third photosensitive material A is transported by the belt conveyor 70 as it is.

As shown by g, when the fourth photosensitive material A is transported to the home position, the belt conveyor 70 stops. Note that the scanning speed is lower than the scanning speed.
, The third photosensitive material A has completely moved from the home position. Next, as shown by h, the first sucker unit 92 descends to adsorb the fourth photosensitive material A, rises, and the belt conveyor 70 is driven. Between these, the second photosensitive material A reaches the transport roller pair 48. The belt conveyor 70 repeats stop / drive, but the belt conveyor 70 and the transport roller pair 4
The photosensitive material A entered in the processor 50 is overlapped by the difference in transport speed between the photosensitive material A and the processor 8 (processor 50). Thereafter, as shown by i to k, similarly, the rightward distribution, the leftward distribution, and the clearing are sequentially repeated by moving, sucking and opening each suction unit, loading the photosensitive material A, and the like. Then, the photosensitive material A is sorted into three rows.

On the other hand, FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of distributing the photosensitive material A in two rows by the distribution unit 18. In the image forming apparatus 10, for example, 102
In the sizes of up to 152, the photosensitive material A is divided into two rows and supplied to the processor 50. In the illustrated example, the above L
The interval between the photosensitive materials A is slightly larger than the size.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the first sucker unit 92 is initially at the home position, and the second sucker unit 94 has moved to the left downstream side. In addition,
In this example, when sorting in two rows, the movement of each suction unit is not to the most downstream of the guide holes 102 and 104, but to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, that is, at first, This is the state shown in FIG. FIG.
As shown in (b), when the first photosensitive material A is transported to the home position, the belt conveyor 70 of the distribution unit 18 stops, and as shown in b, the first suction unit 92 is actuated by the lifting / lowering means. The photosensitive material A is lowered and held by suction, and then the first sucker unit 92 rises to lift the photosensitive material A.

When the first suction unit 92 rises, the belt conveyor 70 is driven again, and the motor 134 rotates the rotating member 142 counterclockwise, as shown in FIG.
The first suction unit 92 moves rightward and downstream to convey the photosensitive material A, and the second suction unit 94 moves to the home position (the state of FIG. 5). When these movements are completed, the belt conveyor 70 stops, the first sucker unit 92 descends, releases the photosensitive material A, and places it on the belt conveyor 70, and then the first sucker unit 92 rises. The belt conveyor 70 is driven.

When the second photosensitive material A is conveyed to the home position, the belt conveyor 70 stops, and as shown at d, the second suction unit 94 descends to adsorb the photosensitive material A, and then rises. Then, the belt conveyor 70 is driven. Next, the motor 134 rotates the rotating member 142 in the clockwise direction, and as shown in e, the second suction unit 94 moves in the left-downstream direction to convey the photosensitive material A,
The suction unit 92 moves to the home position. When these movements are completed, the belt conveyor 70 stops, the second sucker unit 94 descends, releases the photosensitive material A, places it on the belt conveyor 70, and then moves up to drive the belt conveyor 70. And f, the third photosensitive material A is carried into the home position. Hereafter, f
As shown in (k), according to the transport of the photosensitive material A to the home position, the belt conveyor 70 is stopped / re-driven, the suction units are moved, and the suction and release are performed, so that the distribution to the right and the distribution to the left are performed. The process is repeated, and the photosensitive material A is sorted into two rows. Further, as in the case of the three rows, the photosensitive material A entered in the processor 50 is overlapped by the difference in transport speed between the belt conveyor 70 and the transport roller pair 48.

In the above example, the belt conveyor 70 is stopped in order to carry out a more reliable operation when the sucking unit absorbs and releases the photosensitive material A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is possible. If present, belt conveyor 7
Suction or the like may be performed while 0 is driven.

As described above, the belt conveyor 70
Is faster than the transport roller pair 48 for performing processor entry. In the above example, the photosensitive material A in the processor 50 can be sufficiently overlapped by the speed difference. At this point, the photosensitive material A does not overlap. However, as the overlap of the photosensitive material A conveyed in the processor 50 increases, the processing capability of the processor 50 improves. Therefore, when the photosensitive materials A are arranged in a plurality of rows on the belt conveyor 70 of the sorting unit 18, the photosensitive materials A may be sorted such that they already overlap. However,
In any case, when the photosensitive material A (finished print) that has undergone processing such as development and drying is discharged from the processor 50, the difference between the front and rear photosensitive materials A (the discharging means from the processor 50 is nipped by a nip roller or the like) In the case of transport, etc., the difference between the rear ends)
Is too small, it may be difficult to accumulate the photosensitive materials A in the order of exposure depending on the configuration of the accumulating device and the sorting device, and so on. Must be taken into account.

The photosensitive material A conveyed by the distribution unit 18
Is supplied to the processor 50 by the transport roller pair 48 as described above, is subjected to development processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water, and is then dried and collected as a (finished) print for each case. (Sorted) and discharged. (Explanation of Main Part) The dummy control, which is the main part, will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a sort signal is output to the control unit 170 each time an image reading device (not shown) reads one film or by key input from an operator.

When the controller 170 confirms the input of the sort signal (step 200), virtual (dummy) photosensitive material data is created (step 202). The virtual photosensitive material data is size data. Note that the image data is blank so that the exposure processing is not performed on the portion corresponding to the virtual photosensitive material.

The virtual photosensitive material data thus created is inserted between the photosensitive material data (hereinafter, referred to as one case) and one subsequent photosensitive material data in the sorting process. (Step 20
4).

The important point here is that the interval between the photosensitive materials conveyed across the virtual photosensitive material (actually, the gap) is determined by the transport time in the discharge device 160 The switching time of the sorter 158 (the moving time of the sorter plate) As described above, the purpose is to create virtual photosensitive material data. In this embodiment, virtual photosensitive material data having the same size as the photosensitive material being processed is created.

Subsequently, the controller 170 draws out the roller pair 24 from the magazine 32 based on the virtual photosensitive material data and the photosensitive material data thus created.
The supply timing at which the photosensitive material is pulled out at 26 and cut to a predetermined length by the cutters 28 and 30 is calculated.

The supply timing is set so that the distribution operation of the distribution unit 18 and the interval which does not interfere with the previous photosensitive material in the processor 50 can be secured, and the suction units 92 and 94 of the distribution device 72 are fixed. It is set to be synchronized with a certain distribution timing.

That is, the supply timing of the portion corresponding to the virtual photosensitive material data (hereinafter referred to as virtual photosensitive material B0) does not interfere with the last photosensitive material A8 of the previous photosensitive material, and The supply timing of the frontmost photosensitive material B1 for one succeeding case is set so as not to interfere with the virtual photosensitive material B0 and synchronized with the distribution timing.

The image forming apparatus 10 in which the virtual photosensitive material data is formed as described above is controlled as follows. That is, the photosensitive material is pulled out of the magazine 32, cut by the cutter 28, and the last one photosensitive material A for one case.
After the sheet 8 is conveyed, the supply of the photosensitive material is not performed at the supply timing of the virtual photosensitive material B0, and the earliest photosensitive material B1 for one succeeding case is cut out (conveyed) at the above-described supply timing.

Even if the virtual photosensitive material B0 arrives at the recording position P of the image recording section 16 (see FIG. 13), no laser is irradiated because there is no image data in the virtual photosensitive material data.

Further, the last photosensitive material A8 of one case reaching the home position is transferred to the first sucker unit 92.
However, even if the photosensitive material is distributed and then reaches the distribution position, the photosensitive material has not reached the home position (the virtual photosensitive material B0 has reached (see FIG. 14). If the photosensitive material is not detected by the detection sensor 172 (see FIG. 14) at the timing, it is determined that the virtual photosensitive material B0 has reached the home position, the photosensitive material A8 is opened, and the normal distribution timing is performed. To move the second suction unit 94 to the distribution position without the photosensitive material, and the first suction unit 9
Return 2 to the home position.

As described above, by controlling the distribution device 72 as if the virtual photosensitive material B0 is being conveyed, the distribution timing of the first suction unit 92 and the second suction unit 94 is kept constant. A gap for switching the sorter plate can be secured between the photosensitive material A8 and the photosensitive material B1.

Subsequently, the photosensitive material B1 having reached the home position is adsorbed by the first sucker unit 92 and sorted (see FIG. 15). Hereinafter, the sorting operation is continuously performed.

The photosensitive material sorted in this manner is inserted into the processor 50 from the belt conveyor 70 via the pair of conveying rollers 48.

Inside the processor 50, as shown in FIG. 16, a portion corresponding to the virtual photosensitive material B0 exists as an empty space in the photosensitive material densely arranged at regular intervals. That is, a sufficiently large interval P2 can be ensured with respect to the normal interval P1 between the photosensitive materials A1 to A8, and the sorter 158 is discharged between the discharge of the photosensitive material A8 and the discharge of the photosensitive material B1 in the discharge device 160. The switching time (moving time of the sorter plate) can be sufficiently ensured.

Therefore, after the photosensitive material A8 that has reached the discharge section 160 is stored together with the photosensitive materials A1 to A7 as one unit, the sorter plate moves to move the next photosensitive material B1 and below to another place. It can be stored securely.

As described above, according to the dummy control according to the present embodiment, the supply timing and the distribution timing of the photosensitive material are constant by forming the virtual photosensitive material data at the sort position and inserting it between the photosensitive material data. In this state, the switching time of the sorter 158 (the moving time of the sorter plate) can be ensured.

If only the moving time of the sorter plate is to be ensured, as shown in FIG. 17, a normal photosensitive material A8 for one case and a photosensitive material B1 for the succeeding case are placed in a normal state. The problem can also be solved by forming the interval P3 larger than the interval P1. However, in this case, the supply timing (supply interval) and distribution timing of the photosensitive material must be changed from normal. That is, it is necessary to control each sort position using a program for the sort position different from the normal control. For example, it is necessary to provide a special program for calculating the interval P3 using a logic different from the above-described interference prevention time. In addition, the distribution unit 18 also requires a special program for changing the distribution timing of the suction units 92 and 94 that have distributed the photosensitive material at a fixed timing at the photosensitive material B1.

On the other hand, in the dummy control according to the present embodiment, virtual photosensitive material data is created, and control is performed such that the virtual photosensitive material is conveyed.
Without changing supply timing or distribution timing,
Sorting can be easily performed simply by using existing control.

That is, the virtual photosensitive material data is inserted at the sort position, and the image forming apparatus is controlled based on the virtual photosensitive material data, so that the sort processing can be reliably performed with simple control.

Although the present embodiment has been described using photosensitive materials of the same size, similar effects can be achieved with photosensitive materials of different sizes.

[0100]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the sort processing can be reliably performed with a simple control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a distribution unit of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a suction position in a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of distribution in a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of distribution in a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process of creating virtual photosensitive material data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a state of transporting a photosensitive material before and after a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a state of transporting a photosensitive material before and after a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of transporting a photosensitive material before and after a distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a state of transporting a photosensitive material inside a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of a state of transporting a photosensitive material inside a processor according to a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus 16 ... Image recording part (exposure part) 50 ... Processor (development part) 72 ... Distributing apparatus (distributing means) 158 ... Sorter (sorting means) 170 ... Control part (control means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive material by developing a photosensitive material exposed in an exposure unit in a developing unit, supplies the sheet-shaped photosensitive material toward the exposure unit at a predetermined timing. A supply unit; a distribution unit that distributes the sheet-shaped photosensitive material exposed in the exposure unit in a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction, and supplies the photosensitive material in a plurality of rows to the development unit; and discharges the photosensitive material from the development unit. Sorting means for sorting the photosensitive materials to be performed on a case-by-case basis; photosensitive material data at the end of the photosensitive materials to be collected as one case in the sorting means; Virtual data forming means for forming virtual photosensitive material data for increasing the switching time of the sorting means between the photosensitive material data, Serial image forming apparatus and a control unit operable for driving and controlling supply means and said distributing means based on the virtual light-sensitive material data, comprising: a.