JP2002321855A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent jamming of a loop forming part at the time of a rewind of a recording material. SOLUTION: First carrying rollers 102 are positioned on an upstream side of a conveyance direction on a carrying path of a recording material 15, and guide rollers 104A and 104B are positioned on a downstream side of the conveyance direction thereof. A loop guide roller 136 pushes a recording material 15 out by a dancer arm mechanism 110 positioned on the side of the guide rollers 104A and 104B so that a loop of the recording material 15 is formed. In this condition, when the recording material 15 is carried to the opposite direction, a rewind carrying guiding member 112 guides a part of the recording material 15 extending out from the guide roller 104A, toward the loop guide roller 136. When the recording material 15 is carried to the opposite direction, the recording material 15 extending out from between the guide roller and the loop guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism is caught in between the first carrying rollers, resulting in prevention of jamming.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus which does not cause jamming in a loop portion provided on a conveying path when a recording material conveyed on a conveying path inside the apparatus main body is rewinded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional image recording apparatuses include printers and copiers for recording images on various recording materials such as silver halide photographic recording materials, heat-development recording materials, and photosensitive and heat-sensitive recording materials, and photo printers (photo printing development). Machine).

In such an image recording apparatus, a recording material is stored in a magazine and prepared in a light-shielded state. In this image recording apparatus, the recording material is drawn out of the magazine loaded in the apparatus main body onto the conveyance path by the auto-loading mechanism, and is provided for adjusting the conveyance speed of the recording material between the units of the processing units having different processing speeds. Through the loop forming section, the sheet is further transported to a punch section on the transport path and stopped, and the punch section forms frame information (punch holes) corresponding to each frame section on which an image of a recording material is to be formed.

Next, a recording material on which frame information is formed is:
The recording material is conveyed to the exposure unit on the conveyance path through a loop forming unit provided for adjusting the conveyance speed of the recording material between the units of the processing units having different processing speeds, and is stopped at the exposure position. In this state, the exposure unit reads the frame information, centers the image to be exposed on the recording material with reference to the position of the frame information, and performs exposure processing by an exposure device to form a latent image on the recording material.

Next, the recording material on which a latent image has been formed by printing exposure is conveyed on a conveying path and formed into a loop for adjusting the conveying speed of the recording material between units of processing units having different processing speeds. After the back print corresponding to the exposed portion is recorded through the portion, the sheet is conveyed to the cutter, and the boundary between the exposed portion and the unexposed portion of the long recording material is cut by the cutter.

In this image recording apparatus, the unexposed portion of the long recording material is fed back through the processing section and the loop forming section on the transport path by the automatic rewind mechanism, and is rewound into the magazine. Is stored.

The exposed portion of the cut long recording material is temporarily stored in a reservoir, waits until the turn of the developing process comes, is again conveyed by the conveying device, and is sent to the developing section.

In this developing section, while the printing-exposed portion of the recording material is conveyed at a predetermined speed by a conveying device, the recording material is immersed in a developing solution in a color developing tank, and then immersed in a bleach-fixing solution in a bleach-fixing tank. After washing with washing water in a washing tank, a color developing process, a bleach-fixing process and a washing process are sequentially performed to develop.

Next, during the operation of passing the developed portion of the recording material through the drying section by the transport device, the recording material is dried and then transported to the discharge section. The discharge unit detects the frame information previously formed by the punch unit, cuts each print in accordance with the contents of the frame information, and sets each sheet as a (finished) print on which a visible image is formed.

The finished print thus formed is stored in a sorter according to the sort information.

[0011]

In the conventional image recording apparatus as described above, an unexposed portion of a long recording material conveyed to a cutter on a conveying path is reversely fed by an auto-rewind mechanism, and wound in a magazine. Perform the return operation.

During this operation, the unexposed portion of the long recording material passes through the loop forming section on the transport path.

In this loop forming section, a pair of conveying rollers nip and roll the recording material at both ends of the loop formed by the recording material, and a roller shaft is attached to the free end of the swinging dancer arm. The roller is brought into contact with the long recording material between a pair of conveying rollers and pressed down, thereby forming a U-shaped loop in the long recording material.

When a long recording material is fed backward by the automatic rewind mechanism,
This long recording material is bent out of a pair of transport rollers on the downstream side in the transport direction and changes the transport direction to a substantially right angle while bending,
While being pressed by the roller of the roller shaft fixed to the free end of the dancer arm, the sheet is bent and conveyed so as to form a U-shaped loop, and conveyed between a pair of conveying rollers on the upstream side in the conveying direction.

However, when the long recording material is conveyed in the forward direction from the upstream side to the downstream side, the loop forming section is provided so that the long recording material forms a good loop in the conveying direction. And a dancer arm on which a roller for rolling and guiding the recording material is mounted.

For this reason, when the unexposed portion of the long recording material is reversely fed by the automatic rewind mechanism, the long recording material is transferred to the pair of conveying rollers on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the guide rollers of the dancer arm. Between the pair of transport rollers on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the leading end of the loop is sandwiched between a pair of transport rollers on the downstream side in the transport direction. There is a problem that jamming may occur.

According to the present invention, in consideration of the above facts, it is possible to prevent a long recording material from jamming in a loop forming portion during an operation of reversely feeding the recording material on a conveyance path in order to rewind the long recording material. It is an object of the present invention to newly provide an image recording apparatus configured so as not to have the above.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising: a first transport roller disposed on a transport path of a recording material on an upstream side in a transport direction; A second roller disposed downstream of the first transport roller in the transport direction.
A dancer arm mechanism that is arranged on a conveyance roller and a guide roller that is located between the first conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller, and that can be operated to move the loop guide roller so as to extrude the recording material to form a loop in the recording material. When the recording material is reversely conveyed in a state where the loop is formed in the recording material by the dancer arm mechanism, a rewind conveyance guide that guides a portion of the recording material extended from the guide roller toward the loop guide roller. And a member.

With the above construction, when the recording material is reversely conveyed in a portion where a loop is formed on the conveying path of the image recording apparatus, the recording material comes off the guide roller and the first conveying roller The recording material is conveyed from the guide roller to the loop guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism to form a proper loop because the rewind conveyance guide member guides the portion to be extended to the side toward the loop guide roller. Is carried into the first transport roller. Therefore, it is possible to prevent jamming caused by the recording material extending from between the guide roller and the guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism and being sandwiched by the first conveyance roller when the recording material is conveyed in the reverse direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the rewind conveyance guide member guides a portion of the recording material extended from the guide roller toward the loop guide roller. And a roller member that rolls in such a manner.

With the above construction, in addition to the function and effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the roller member rolls and guides the recording material, so that the surface of the recording material is not damaged. Can be.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising: a first transport roller disposed on a transport path of a recording material on an upstream side in a transport direction; and a first transport roller transported on the transport path of the recording material by the first transport roller. Roller disposed on the downstream side in the direction, a dancer arm mechanism disposed on the guide roller side and operable to move the loop guide roller to a state in which the recording material is extruded to form a loop in the recording material, a first transport roller and a guide roller Between the fixed guide plate disposed along the transport path line at the time of loading the recording material, and the recording material when the recording material is reversely transported with the dancer arm mechanism forming a loop in the recording material. Removably mounted on the fixed guide plate so that the portion where the material has extended from the guide roller has extended can be rotated to the position where it guides toward the loop guide roller. A recording material extending so that a plurality of roller members for rolling and contacting the recording material to guide the recording material are arranged at intervals on an Indian conveyance guide member and a shaft rod mounted on the tip of the rewind conveyance guide member. In a state where the restraining member and the rewind conveyance guide member are at a position where the recording material is guided to the guide roller at a portion where the recording material extends off the guide roller, a portion of the extension suppressing member where the roller member on the shaft is not provided. And a guide protrusion protruding from the fixed guide plate so as to guide the recording material so as not to protrude from the gap between the suppression member and the fixed guide plate.

With the above arrangement, when the recording material is reversely conveyed in a portion where a loop is formed on the conveying path of the image recording apparatus, the recording material comes off the guide roller and the first conveying roller The recording material is transferred from the guide roller to the loop guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism because the roller member of the rewind conveyance guide member is rolled and joined to the loop guide roller so as not to damage the portion to be extended to the side. Transported toward the first transport roller in a state where an appropriate loop is formed. Therefore, when the recording material is conveyed in the reverse direction, the recording material extends from between the guide roller and the guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism, and the first recording material extends.
Jamming caused by being pinched by the transport roller can be prevented. In addition, during this operation, a guide protrusion protruding from the fixed guide plate is interposed in the gap between the roller member and the fixed guide plate, so that the recording material protrudes from the gap between the roller member and the fixed guide plate. Can be prevented.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the entire image recording apparatus. This image recording apparatus 10 is configured as an image recording apparatus of a digital photo printer.

That is, the image recording apparatus 10 reads image information by scanning the film with a scanner device in response to a user's input of an operation command for ordering prints, and exposure conditions (images) determined by a setup device based on the image information. The latent image is formed on the recording material by scanning and exposing the light beam output processed in accordance with the recording condition) on the recording material, and the recording material on which the latent image is formed is processed to record the image of the film. It is configured to output a printed image.

For this purpose, the image recording apparatus 10 is provided with a printer section 12 and a processor section 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 12 includes:
A magazine mounting section 17 for supplying a recording material 15 as a sheet member is provided. In this magazine mounting part 17,
The recording material 15 which is a long strip-shaped sheet member is transferred to
1, a magazine 16 for accommodating a recording material roll 19 wound in a roll shape is detachably mounted.

In the printer unit 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, the recording material 15 is pulled out from the magazine 16 mounted on the magazine mounting unit 17, and is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the predetermined conveying path. A transport unit 18 is provided as a transport unit that performs recording, image exposure (printing process), back print, and the like, and transports the developer to the developing unit 78 of the processor unit 14 which is the next process.

As shown in FIG. 1, a printer unit 12 of an image recording apparatus 10 photoelectrically reads projection light of an image photographed on a film by an image sensor such as a CCD sensor, and reads an analog image of the read film. The image processing unit 20 converts data into digital image data, performs predetermined image processing such as gradation correction on the converted digital image data, and derives output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. Provide.

The printer unit 12 of the image recording apparatus 10
The control device 23 includes various operation keys and a display (not shown) arranged in the image processing unit 20 which constitutes an input unit as an interface which can be used by a user to input an operation command for ordering a print. Connecting.

Further, the printer section 12 is provided with a control section having a control device 23 having a counter for controlling each section, and an electrical section 22 containing a power supply section and the like. Further, the printer section 12 is provided with a reservoir 24 for temporarily storing the exposed recording material 15.

In the image recording apparatus 10, the printer unit 1
The recording material 15 is supplied from the magazine 16 mounted on the second magazine mounting portion 17. The magazine 16 is configured as a box having a light shielding function.

The magazine 16 receives a shaft member 21 of a recording material roll 19 housed therein. At the same time, a rewinding device (not shown) is mounted on the magazine 16, and the revolving device rotates the shaft core member 21 to rewind the recording material 15 drawn from the recording material roll 19 around the recording material roll 19. Configure as possible.

Further, the magazine 16 is provided with an outlet 100 for projecting the recording material 15 from the recording material roll 19 stored in the magazine 16 to the outside and supplying the recording material 15 to the transport portion 18 on the magazine mounting portion 17 side. The outlet 100 has a rectangular beak-shaped protrusion provided with a slit through which the recording material 15 passes, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped notch in plan view.

A transport roller device 26 is installed inside the magazine mounting section 17 of the transport section 18 at a position corresponding to an outlet 100 projecting into the magazine mounting section 17 when the magazine 16 is mounted. .

In the transport roller device 26, a pair of rollers, which can be freely contacted and separated from each other by a driving device such as a solenoid, nip the recording material 15 exposed from the cutout portion of the outlet of the magazine 16 and use a pulse motor. The recording material 15 is conveyed on the conveyance path by being driven to rotate.

A width guide member 28 for regulating the width direction of the recording material 15 is provided downstream of the conveying roller device 26. The width guide member 28 is configured to adjust the guide width according to the width of the recording material 15 by a guide width adjustment mechanism (not shown).

Downstream of the width guide member 28, a first loop (slack) 30 having a substantially U-shape is formed.
On the downstream side of the loop 30, a punch hole 31 is formed in the recording material 15.
A punch 32 for punching (shown in FIG. 3) is provided. The first loop 30 is for absorbing intermittent conveyance / stop of the recording material 15 during operation of the punch 32 disposed on the downstream side.

The punch hole 31 is provided in a discharge section 82 described later.
The recording is performed for cutting of the recording material 15 performed in the above, or for positioning at the time of exposure scanning or back print processing, and for positional information for each print or for a unit number of sheets appropriately set for one film. It is pierced in the material 15.

On the downstream side of the punch 32, a conveying roller 34 driven by a pulse motor so as to change the conveying direction of the recording material 15 to substantially 90 degrees along a curve having a relatively small radius of curvature, and the conveying roller 34. An endless belt 38 wound around three guide rollers 36 is disposed so as to face the roller 34, and forms a bent portion on the transport path.

Further, the guide roller 36 in the conveyance path
A second loop (slack) 40 having a substantially U-shape is provided on the downstream side of
Are formed. An exposure unit 42 is provided downstream of the second loop 40. This exposure unit 42
A substantially U-shaped third loop 50 is formed on the downstream side of.

The exposure section 42 detects the punch holes 31 formed by the punch 32, controls the feed operation of the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount, determines the image exposure start position,
The recording material 15 conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (from right to left in FIG. 2) is two-dimensionally deflected by a light beam deflected in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 2) orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. It is designed to perform scanning exposure, and includes a sub-scanning conveyance device 44 and a light beam scanning device 46 using a pulse motor as a driving source.

The sub-scanning conveyance device 44 includes two pairs of registration rollers 52 and a width guide member 54 which are driven to rotate by a pulse motor for guiding the recording material 15 to an exposure position.
Further, on the downstream side thereof, there is provided a pair of conveying rollers 56 driven to rotate by two sets of pulse motors, so that the recording material 15 can be accurately conveyed to the exposure position of the light beam scanning device 46.

The light beam scanning device 46 includes the image processing unit 20
Using a light beam that is modulated according to the output image data (exposure conditions) derived and is deflected in the main scanning direction, the recording material 15 conveyed with high accuracy by the sub-scanning conveyance device 44 is subjected to two-dimensional Scanning exposure,
A latent image is formed on the recording material 15.

The second loop 40 and the third loop 50
Absorbs a problem caused by conveyance means (eg, a conveyance roller rotated by a pulse motor) arranged upstream and downstream with respect to conveyance of the recording material 15 in the sub-scanning conveyance device 44, that is, so-called back tension or pulling. Therefore, highly accurate conveyance of the recording material 15 can be realized.

On the downstream side of the third loop 50, the recording material 1
A transfer roller (not shown), which is rotated by a pulse motor for changing the transfer direction of the transfer roller 5 by approximately 90 degrees, is provided, and a back print unit 58 is provided downstream thereof. In the back print unit 58, the printing device 6
Various data such as the date of photographing the original film and the date of recording on the recording material 15 are recorded on the back side of the print (recording material) by 2.

Downstream of the back print section 58, a transport roller 64 driven by a pulse motor for changing the transport direction of the recording material 15 by approximately 90 degrees is disposed, and downstream thereof. , A first cutter 66 are arranged. The first cutter 66 cuts the recording material 15 at a required position.

On the downstream side of the first cutter 66, a substantially U-shaped fourth loop 60 housed in the reservoir 24 is formed. The fourth loop 60 housed in the reservoir 24 is provided to absorb the difference in processing speed between the printer unit 12 and the processor unit 14 and perform efficient print creation.

On the downstream side of the fourth loop 60, a transport roller 68 driven by a pulse motor is disposed, and further downstream thereof, a second cutter 72 is disposed.
The second cutter 72 is a cutter for cutting the recording material 15 when a trouble or the like occurs.

For example, the second cutter 72 is used when the amount of the recording material 15 stored in the reservoir 24 becomes less than a predetermined amount or when a trouble occurs in the processor unit 14 or the like. By cutting the recording material 15, the recording material 15 stored in the reservoir 24 is cut.
This prevents the recording material 15 from being unnecessarily pulled into the processor unit 14 and damaging each transport unit in the transport unit 18.

A substantially U-shaped fifth loop 70 is formed downstream of the second cutter 72. The fifth loop 70 finally absorbs the difference between the processing speed in the transport unit 18 and the processing speed in the processor unit 14 and the transport / stop of the recording material 15 by each transport unit in the transport unit 18. This is for preventing the recording material 15 from being unnecessarily pulled and damaged by the transporting means in the section 14.

Downstream of the fifth loop 70, a final transport roller 74, which is rotationally driven by a pulse motor for supply to the processor section 14, and two nip rollers 76 opposed thereto, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The recording material 15 that has been exposed is sent to the developing unit 78 of the processor unit 14.

At a position adjacent to the downstream side of the transport roller 74 and the nip roller 76, a transport state detecting means 75 for the recording material 15 is disposed. This transport state detecting means 7
Numeral 5 is configured to detect the conveyance state of the recording material 15 carried into the processor unit 14 based on position information or the like read from the punch holes 31.

As shown in FIG. 1, the processor unit 14 includes:
The exposed recording material 15 on which the latent image is formed is developed, fixed and
A developing unit 78 for performing a water washing process, a drying unit 80 for performing a subsequent drying process, and a discharge unit 82 having a third cutter 84 for cutting and separating the long recording material 15 into a predetermined length for each image frame; A sorter unit 86 for storing the finished prints is provided, and the exposed recording material 15 sent from the printer unit 12 is transported by a conveying unit (pulse motor) provided in the processor unit 14. It is conveyed while passing through each part by a conveying roller which is driven to rotate.

The developing section 78 includes a developing tank 88, a fixing tank 90, and a washing tank 92. The exposed recording material 15 is transported in each tank in a substantially U-shaped loop. Are subjected to a developing process, a fixing process, and a washing process.
Also in the drying unit 80, the recording material 15 after the water washing process is conveyed and dried in a substantially U-shaped loop, and conveyed to the discharge unit 82 in the next step.

The discharge unit 82 automatically sorts the discharged finished prints and stores them in a predetermined location of the sorter unit 86.

In the image recording apparatus constructed as described above, the third loop 50 is formed as a loop forming section which can reversely convey the recording material 15 by preventing jamming during rewind processing. The configuration is as shown in FIG.
The first loop 30 or the second loop 40 is also configured as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and is configured as a loop forming unit that can prevent jamming even when the recording material 15 is reversely conveyed during the rewind processing. Is also good.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the recording material 15
Is formed between the first transport roller 102 disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction and the guide roller 104 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction.
6 and a movable guide plate 108, and a dancer arm mechanism 110 and a rewind transport guide member 112 are mounted.

The fixed guide plate 106 is formed in a long plate shape, and is opposite to the direction in which the recording material 15 in the loop forming portion extends the loop in a U-shape (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). (Above) and fixed to the fixing member of the apparatus main body so as to be along the plane of the recording material 15.

On the fixed guide plate 106, both ends of one shaft 116 are axially mounted on the upstream side in the transport direction, and a plurality of guide wheels 114 are arranged on the shaft 116 at predetermined intervals. A rolling guide mechanism configured to partially project the guide wheels 114 from openings formed in the fixed guide plate 106 is arranged.

This rolling contact guide mechanism guides the recording material 15 so as to pass on a predetermined path by rolling the plurality of guide wheels 114 on one plane of the recording material 15.

Further, the fixed guide plate 106 is provided with an entrance guide plate portion 144 which is inclined at the end on the upstream side in the transport direction so as to widen toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

Further, the fixed guide plate 106 is provided with a plurality of small projecting guide projections 118 at a plurality of predetermined locations on the downstream end in the transport direction.

On the fixed guide plate 106, a rewind transport guide member 112 is mounted. The rewind conveyance guide member 112 is configured by extending a restraining member 124 extending between a pair of interlocking arm members 120.

Therefore, the fixed guide plate 106 has hook-shaped interlocking arm members 12 at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
The base ends of the zeros are respectively mounted on the shafts. Further, a rolling contact roller 122 is axially mounted on a free end of each interlocking arm member 120.

Each of the interlocking arm members 120 is provided with a member for suppressing the extension of the recording material 15 from the leading end of the portion linearly extending from the base end thereof toward the rolling contact roller 122 by a predetermined distance. Shaft the end.

The extension suppressing member 124 is constituted by a plurality of small cylindrical roller members 126 penetrating a single shaft rod 128 along their central axes. Further, the extension suppressing member 124 has two sets of two roller members 126 in which one roller member 126 is arranged at the center in the longitudinal direction of the shaft bar 128 and two roller members 126 are formed from the roller member 126 to both ends. The roller members 126 are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other.

The extension restraining member 124 has both ends of the shaft rod 128 axially attached to the interlocking arm member 120, respectively, and is integrated with the rewind transport guide member 112.
And mounted so as to be freely rotatable between a position in a loop forming state shown in FIG. 3 and a position in a loading state shown in FIG.

When the extension suppressing member 124 is in the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the gap between the roller members 126 of the extension suppressing member 124 and the roller member 126 Interlocking arm members 12 at both ends
0, the corresponding guide projections 118 enter the respective spaces, and close the gaps so that the recording material 15 does not protrude from between the extension suppressing member 124 and the fixed guide plate 106. Is set to the default state.

The two guide rollers 104A and 104B arranged opposite to each other in the loop forming portion are formed integrally with each other by penetrating the center of each through the shaft 130. Each of the shaft rods 130 has a portion near each of both ends thereof fixed to the corresponding fixed frame 13 of the image recording apparatus 10.
2 and are arranged.

The two guide rollers 104A and 104B arranged opposite to each other are connected to the recording material 15 on the conveyance path.
The guide rollers 104A and 104B are arranged so as to be positioned on both sides with respect to.

Further, the fixed guide plate 106 with respect to the transport path
(The position on the lower side as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4)
The base end of a dancer arm 134 is rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 130 of one guide roller 104A in order to form the dancer arm mechanism 110.

The dancer arm mechanism 110 includes a loop guide member 14 between the free ends of both dancer arms 134.
0 is constructed. This dancer arm mechanism 110
The loop guide member 140 is formed by passing a plurality of small cylindrical roller members, that is, loop guide rollers 136, through a single shaft rod 138 along their central axes. Further, in the loop guide member 140, one loop guide roller 136 is disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 138, and two loop guide rollers 136 form one set from the loop guide roller 136 to both ends. A pair of loop guide rollers 136 are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other.

The loop guide member 140 has both ends of the shaft 138 pivotally attached to the free ends of the dancer arms 134, respectively, and is integrated therewith.

The dancer arm mechanism 1 constructed as described above
Reference numeral 10 is mounted so as to be rotatable between a position in a loop forming state shown in FIG. 3 and a position in a loading state shown in FIG.

When the loop guide member 140 of the dancer arm mechanism 110 is in the loading state shown in FIG. 4, the gap between the loop guide rollers 136 of the loop guide member 140, and the loop guide roller 136 and the dancer arms 134 at both ends. The corresponding guide protrusions 118 enter the respective spaces formed between the loop guide members 140 and the fixed guide plate 106, and the gaps are closed so that the recording material 15 does not protrude from between the loop guide member 140 and the fixed guide plate 106. Is set to

Further, the fixed guide plate 106 with respect to the transport path
(The position on the lower side as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4)
, The shaft 130 of one of the guide rollers 104A has
The base end of the movable guide plate 108 is mounted.

The movable guide plate 108 is
Is mounted so as to be movable between a position in the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3 and a position in the loading state shown in FIG.

The movable guide plate 108 has an entrance guide 142 formed on a flat surface facing the recording material 15 on the free end side and formed on an inclined surface so as to widen toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

Further, the movement of the movable guide plate 108 between the position of the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3 and the position of the loading state shown in FIG. In order to interlock the operations, a small columnar interlocking operation member 135 is provided at a predetermined intermediate position of each dancer arm 134 so as to project toward the side of each corresponding movable guide plate 108.

At the same time, in order to interlock the operations of the dancer arm mechanism 110 and the rewind transport guide member 112, each of the rolling contact rollers 122 axially mounted on the free end of each of the interlocking arm members 120 is associated with the corresponding dancer arm 13.
4 so that it can be rolled and contacted with the free end.

With the above configuration, the control device 23 controls a pulse motor (not shown) to rotate the movable guide plate 108 counterclockwise from the position where the loop is formed in FIG. 3 toward FIG. 4, the interlocking operation member 135 abutting on the side of the movable guide plate 108 is pushed, and the dancer arm mechanism 110 also rotates integrally with the movable guide plate 108. FIG.
To the loading state shown in FIG.

Further, with the operation of the dancer arm mechanism 110, the rolling contact roller 122 is rolled on the free end of the dancer arm 134 with the rewind transport guide member 112. The control device 23 controls a pulse motor (not shown) to rotate the movable guide plate 108 clockwise from the loading state shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. When moving, the dancer arm mechanism 110 and the rewind transport guide member 112 follow and move by the operation reverse to the above.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, when the dancer arm mechanism 110 is moved to the loading position, the dancer arm mechanism 110 causes the loop guide roller 136 to loop the recording material 15 in the conveyance path into a U-shape. Is moved to the opposite side (above the recording material 15 in FIGS. 3 and 4) with respect to the direction in which it is extended, and is retracted.

The rewind transport guide member 112
The dancer arm mechanism 110 following the movable guide plate 108 in the state swings the loop guide roller 136 below the recording material 15 toward FIG. 3 and FIG. The loop is extended in a letter shape.

Along with this operation, the rewind conveyance guide member 112 follows the free end of the dancer arm 134 while rolling the rolling contact roller 122, and swings to a position on the fixed guide plate 106. The roller member 126 of the extension suppressing member 124 is located on the conveyance path (the lowermost position of the outer peripheral surface of the roller member 126 in FIGS. 3 and 4 is located below the conveyance path line of the recording material 15). At the same time, the rotation axis of the roller member 126 is
5 is stopped at a predetermined guide position located above the transport path line 5 in FIGS.

As shown, a pair of second transport rollers 146 for bending the transport direction of the recording material 15 is provided downstream of the guide rollers 104A and 104B in the loop forming portion capable of transporting the recording material 15 in the reverse direction. A guide plate member 148 for setting a curved transport path is arranged, and FIGS.
A transport path that continues downward from the left side toward is set.

Next, the recording material 15 constructed as described above is used.
The operation and operation of the loop forming unit capable of reverse transport will be described.

First, the long recording material 1 stored in the magazine 16 by the automatic loading mechanism of the image recording apparatus 10 is used.
When the conveyance of the recording material 15 is started, the loop forming portion capable of reversely conveying the recording material 15 is set at the position of the loading state shown in FIG.

Then, the recording material 15 pulled out of the magazine 16 is conveyed on the conveyance path and sent to the loop forming section in the loading state shown in FIG. In the loop forming section in the loading state, a fixed guide plate 106 and a movable guide plate 108 are set so as to sandwich a transport path line in a transport path portion close to the first transport roller 102.

The fixed guide plate 106 and the movable guide plate 108 form an entrance diverging toward the upstream side in the transport direction by the entrance guide portion 142 and the entrance guide plate portion 144, respectively.

Therefore, when the leading end of the recording material 15 is carried in from the first transport roller 102, the entrance guide portion 14
2 and the entrance guide plate portion 144, the entrance enters through the widened entrance, and the fixed guide plate 106 and the movable guide plate 108
And passes under the loop guide member 140, which is evacuated to the upper side of the fixed guide plate 106 from the conveyance path line, and extends below the conveyance path line, and further passes through the guide roller 104 </ b> A. , 104B, and is transported from the loop forming section to a transport path constituted by a guide plate member 148 and a pair of second transport rollers 146 on the downstream side in the transport direction.

Next, according to a control command from the control device 23,
When the movable guide plate 108 is driven and controlled, the dancer arm mechanism 110 and the rewind conveyance guide member 112 that follow the movable guide plate 108 are rotated downward from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. The loop formation state shown in FIG.

In the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3, the recording material 15 is pushed down while the loop guide roller 136 of the dancer arm mechanism 110 is in rolling contact with the plane of the recording material 15 to maintain a U-shaped slackened loop.

In the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3, the rewind transport guide member 112 which has turned downward
However, the portion below the center of the roller member 126 faces the transport path line.

Next, in the loop forming state shown in FIG. 3, when the control device 23 executes the rewinding process, the recording material 15 is conveyed backward to be stored in the magazine 16 by the automatic rewinding mechanism.

Then, the guide plate member 1 on the downstream side in the transport direction
48 and a pair of second conveying rollers 146 to guide rollers 104A and 104B in the loop forming section to record material 1
5 is carried in, is changed in direction by the guide rollers 104A and 104B, and is guided by the loop guide roller 136 of the dancer arm mechanism 110 to form a U-shaped loop. And transported further upstream.

At this time, the guide rollers 104A, 104
B, the long recording material 15 carried into the guide roller 10
When the recording material 15 extends in the direction of the first transport roller 102 as shown by a three-dot chain line in FIG. 3 without being bent around the periphery of 4A, the extended portion of the recording material 15 faces the transport path line below the center. The transfer direction is changed to the loop guide roller 136 side by rolling contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roller member 126 that has been moved.

Therefore, even when the recording material 15 is displaced from the guide roller 104A when the recording material 15 is conveyed backward in the loop forming section, the recording material 15 is fed on the conveyance path guided by the roller member 126 and rolled on the loop guide roller 136. Therefore, the recording material 15 can be maintained in a state where the U-shaped loop is appropriately formed in the loop forming section.

For this reason, the guide rollers 104A, 104
It can be effectively prevented that the recording material 15 extends from B and is caught by the first transport roller 102 to cause jamming.

Further, when the recording material 15 extended from the guide roller 104A is conveyed backward in the loop forming section, the recording material 15 is guided so that the roller member 126 changes its direction toward the loop guide roller 136. At this time, the roller member 12
6 is transferred to the surface of the recording material 15 so that the recording material 1
5 can be guided without damaging the surface.

The extension restraining member 124 disposed in the above-described loop forming portion, when the recording material 15 is conveyed in the reverse direction, extends around the guide roller 104A without being completely bent. Loop guide roller 13
Any configuration can be used as long as it can be guided and sent to the 6 side. For example, it can be configured by a curved guide plate or the like.

In the image recording apparatus configured as described above,
The control device 23 controls the control device 23 to automatically execute the control operation of executing the processing of each image forming process while transporting the recording material 15 drawn from the magazine 16 by a transport roller or the like that is driven to rotate by a pulse motor. It is configured.

Although not shown, the image recording apparatus 10
Are configured to be controllable by the control device 23 based on a command signal input by a user using various operation keys arranged in the image processing unit 20.

The control unit 23 of the image recording apparatus executes a process control of a process for performing various processes for recording an image on the ordinary recording material 15.

Next, a description will be given of processing control in a normal image forming process by the control device 23 of the image recording apparatus 10.

In the process control in the image forming process, the user waits until an order of the image forming process is inputted by using various operation keys arranged in the image processing section 20. Then, when the order of the image forming process is input, the image forming process is executed.

In this image forming process, the recording material 15 stored in the magazine 16 is
6, the width guide member 2 is pulled out from the outlet 100.
The conveyance unit 18 is guided in the conveyance state to convey the conveyance unit 18, and is stored in the first loop 30 by an appropriate length, and then the punch 32 disposed on the conveyance unit 18 on the downstream side of the first loop 30.
Is transported by a predetermined recording material 15 feed amount.

Then, in the punch 32, the recording material 1
5, a punch hole 31 for detecting position information and the like is formed. The recording material 15 having the punched holes 31 is conveyed to the exposure unit 42 by the conveyance roller 34 changing the conveyance direction by a substantially 90 ° angle along a curve having a relatively small radius of curvature.

In the exposure section 42, the recording material 15 is transported by the sub-scan transport device 44, and the light beam scanning device 46 two-dimensionally scans and exposes the recording material 15 with a light beam to form a latent image on the recording material 15.

After the printing exposure process in the exposure unit 42, the recording material 15 is temporarily stopped by a third loop 50, and then conveyed to the back print unit 58 by a predetermined recording material 15 feed amount. Various data such as the date of photographing the original film and the date of recording on the recording material 15 are recorded.

Further, the recording material 15 carried out from the back print section 58 is passed through the first cutter 66 and stored in the reservoir 24, and waits until the processing order in the processor section 14 comes.

The recording material 15 waiting in the reservoir 24 is transported from the reservoir 24 by the transport roller 68 and passed through the second cutter 72 when the order of the developing process is turned. After a proper length is stored in the processor unit 14, the final transfer roller 74 and the nip roller 76, which are to be supplied to the processor unit 14, pass through the transfer state detection unit 75, and are stored in the processor unit 14.
To the developing unit 78.

At this time, the conveyance state detecting means 75 transmits the position information and the like read from the punch holes 31 formed in the recording material 15 when the recording material 15 passes, to the control device 23, and the control device 23 The timing to start the next control can be set.

Next, in the processor section 14, the developing section 78
The exposed recording material 15 on which the latent image has been formed is developed, fixed and washed. Subsequently, the drying section 80 performs a drying process, and the third cutter 84 cuts and separates the long recording material 15 into a predetermined length for each image frame while feeding the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount. The cut prints are sorted and stored in a sorter unit 86.

As shown in FIG. 2, this image recording apparatus 10
Then, the long recording material 15 pulled out from the magazine 16
The first cutter 66 is a cutter that can be cut at the most upstream side on the transport unit 18 that transports the above for the above-described process processing.

For this reason, in the image recording apparatus 10, the recording material 15 corresponding to the input contents of the process is input.
After the image forming process is completed by the punch 32, the light beam scanning device 46, the printing device 62, and the like on the required portion of the long recording material 15 while the When the boundary between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion in 15 comes to the position of the first cutter 66 by feeding the recording material 15 by a predetermined feed amount,
The boundary between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion of the long recording material 15 is cut by the first cutter 66.

The processed portion of the recording material 15 is directly conveyed from the reservoir 24 to the processor section 14 at a predetermined timing, and the subsequent processing is continued.

The unprocessed leading end portion of the recording material 15 cut by the first cutter 66 is driven by a rewinding device (not shown) mounted on the magazine 16 to drive the shaft core member 21.
The recording material 15 pulled out from the recording material roll 19 is transported in the reverse direction by rotating the transport roller on the transport path in the reverse direction, and the recording material roll 1 is rotated.
After being rewound to the 9 side and stored, the process waits until the user next inputs a process processing order to the image recording apparatus 10.

At this time, the third loop 50 (if necessary, the first loop 30 or the second loop 40 is configured to rewind the recording material 15 in a rewinding process) so as to prevent the jamming during the rewinding process and to convey the recording material 15 in the reverse direction. In the case where the recording material 15 is configured as a loop forming portion that can reversely convey the recording material 15 while preventing the jamming during the processing, the same applies to these.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the image recording apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment, but may be applied to a printer using ordinary direct exposure, in addition to the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. Available. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to such a photo printer but also to various image recording apparatuses such as an image recording apparatus using a heat development recording material and a recording apparatus using a light and heat sensitive recording material.

[0123]

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the first transport roller is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction on the transport path of the recording material, and the second transport roller is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction.
When the recording material is reversely conveyed while the loop guide roller extrudes the recording material by a dancer arm mechanism disposed on the guide roller side located between the conveyance roller and the second conveyance roller to form a loop in the recording material. Then, the rewind conveyance guide member guides the portion where the recording material extends off the guide roller toward the loop guide roller.

Thus, the recording material is conveyed from the guide roller to the loop guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism, and is conveyed to the first conveyance roller in a state where an appropriate loop is formed. Therefore, when the recording material is conveyed in the reverse direction, the recording material can be prevented from extending from between the guide roller and the loop guide roller of the dancer arm mechanism and being jammed by being pinched by the first conveyance roller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an entire image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer section of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged side view showing a loop forming portion in a loop forming state in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged side view showing the loop forming unit in a loading state in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged plan view showing a loop forming portion in a loop forming state in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image recording device 12 printer unit 14 processor unit 15 recording material 16 magazine 18 transport unit 23 control device 26 transport roller device 30 loop 40 loop 50 loop 60 loop 66 cutter 70 loop 102 first transport roller 104A guide roller 104B guide roller 106 fixed Guide plate 108 Movable guide plate 110 Dancer arm mechanism 112 Rewind conveyance guide member 118 Guide protrusion 120 Interlocking arm member 122 Roll contact roller 124 Extension prevention member 126 Small columnar roller member (rewind conveyance guide roller) 128 Shaft bar 130 Shaft bar 134 Dancer arm 136 Loop guide roller 138 Shaft rod 140 Loop guide member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F103 AA04 BA04 BA33 3F104 AA04 FA01 FA08 FA11 KA01 3F105 AA05 AB03 BA18 CA14 CA15

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first transport roller disposed on the transport path of the recording material on the upstream side in the transport direction; and a second transport roller disposed on the transport path of the recording material on the downstream side of the first transport roller in the transport direction. A guide roller disposed between the first transport roller and the second transport roller, and movable by a loop guide roller to extrude the recording material to form a loop in the recording material. A dancer arm mechanism, when the recording material is reversely conveyed in a state where the dancer arm mechanism has formed a loop in the recording material,
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a rewind conveyance guide member that guides a portion of the recording material extending out of the guide roller toward the loop guide roller. 2. The rewind conveyance guide member includes a roller member that rolls and rolls so as to guide a portion of the recording material extended from the guide roller toward the loop guide roller. Item 2. The image recording apparatus according to Item 1. A first transport roller disposed on the transport path of the recording material on the upstream side in the transport direction; a guide roller disposed on the transport path of the recording material on the downstream side of the first transport roller in the transport direction; A dancer arm mechanism that is arranged on the guide roller side and is operable to move to a state where a loop guide roller extrudes the recording material to form a loop in the recording material, and a position between the first transport roller and the guide roller, A fixed guide plate disposed along a transport path line at the time of loading the recording material, and the recording material when the dancer arm mechanism reversely transports the recording material in a state where a loop is formed in the recording material. Is fixed so that the portion extending from the guide roller can be rotated to a position for guiding the portion toward the loop guide roller. A rewind conveyance guide member mounted on a rewinding plate, and a plurality of roller members that roll and contact the recording material to guide the recording material at intervals on a shaft rod mounted on a tip end of the rewind conveyance guide member. In the state where the recording material is prevented from being extended, and the rewind conveyance guide member is at a position where the recording material is guided to the guide roller toward a portion where the recording material extends off the guide roller. The fixed guide plate so as to guide the recording material so as not to protrude from a gap between the extension suppressing member and the fixed guide plate by interposing a portion of the extension suppressing member on the shaft bar where the roller member is not provided. An image recording apparatus, comprising: