JP2004330740A - Image recording method and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording method which enables an exposure operation by usable channels of a light source even when a quantity of light decrease or emission impossibility is brought about in the light source with a plurality of channels, and to provide an image recording device. <P>SOLUTION: According to the image recording method, at the time when image recording is carried out by exposing while scanning to a photosensitive material, light from the light source with the plurality of channels for emitting light of a plurality of colors of different wavelengths, it is monitored whether or not a quantity of light becomes not larger than a predetermined quantity of light by detecting the quantity of light of the light source for each channel. When it is detected that the quantity of light of the light source becomes not larger than the predetermined quantity of light and an abnormality is given rise to the channels, the exposure is carried out by changing a vertical scanning speed according to the number of usable channels of the light source. The exposure operation is thus enabled and the exposure can be continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording method and an image recording apparatus for recording an image by exposing a photosensitive material with a light source having a plurality of channels for emitting a plurality of colors having different wavelengths.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the prepress process, a proof (proofreading sample) is generally created to confirm a picture, a color tone, a sentence, a character, and the like to be printed out before performing a final printing operation. The image data for creating the proof is sent to an image recording device, and a plurality of channels are formed on a photosensitive paper made of a silver halide color photosensitive material wound around a drum in an exposure unit of the image recording device based on the input image data. Then, the photosensitive paper is peeled off from the drum, conveyed, developed by a developing unit, and output as a color proof (see Patent Document 1 below).
[0003]
Conventionally, when a decrease in the amount of light or an outage of the light source occurs in a plurality of channels of the light source, it is determined that the light source is abnormal, error information is notified, and the subsequent exposure operation cannot be performed. For this reason, the apparatus cannot be used until the repair of the light source in the image recording apparatus is completed, so that the use efficiency of the apparatus is reduced and the productivity is reduced.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-352813 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and provides an image recording method and an image recording apparatus capable of performing an exposure operation using a channel of an available light source even when a light source having a plurality of channels is reduced in light intensity or unable to emit light. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image recording method according to the present invention is directed to an image recording method that performs image recording by exposing light from a light source having a plurality of channels that emit a plurality of colors having different wavelengths to a photosensitive material while scanning the photosensitive material. Detecting the light amount of the light source for each of the channels and monitoring whether the light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount; and detecting that the light amount of the light source is equal to or less than the predetermined light amount and an abnormality has occurred in the channel. Detecting exposure, changing the sub-scanning speed according to the number of usable channels of the light source and performing exposure.
[0007]
According to this image recording method, the light emission amount of each channel of the light source is monitored, and when a decrease in the light amount including the inability of the light source to be detected is detected, a plurality of usable channels are selected, and sub-channels are selected according to the selected number of channels. The exposure operation can be performed by reducing the scanning speed, and the exposure can be continued.
[0008]
In the above-described image recording method, by selecting and using either the left or right side of the channel in which the abnormality has occurred and the side having a large number of usable channels, exposure can be performed more efficiently.
[0009]
In addition, by reducing the number of the plurality of channels to half and using the side on which no abnormality occurs, it becomes easy to control the exposure.
[0010]
In addition, it is preferable to reduce the number of channels for a color in which an abnormality has not occurred among the plurality of colors. Further, it is preferable to set a light amount value for detecting the abnormality.
[0011]
Further, when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified and exposure can be continued. Alternatively, when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified, and whether to stop exposure or to continue exposure can be selected.
[0012]
An image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source having a plurality of channels for emitting a plurality of colors having different wavelengths, and a light amount detecting unit for detecting a light amount of the light source, and scans light from the light source against a photosensitive material. An image recording apparatus that performs image recording while exposing while detecting the light amount of the light source for each channel by the light amount detection unit, and monitors whether the light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount. When it is detected that the light amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined light amount and an abnormality occurs in a channel, exposure is performed by changing a sub-scanning speed according to the number of usable channels of the light source.
[0013]
According to this image recording apparatus, the amount of light emitted from each channel of the light source is monitored, and when a decrease in the amount of light including the inability to emit light from the light source is detected, a plurality of usable channels are selected. The exposure operation can be performed by reducing the scanning speed, and the exposure can be continued.
[0014]
In the above-described image recording apparatus, by selecting and using either the left or right side of the channel in which the abnormality has occurred and the side having a large number of usable channels, exposure can be performed more efficiently.
[0015]
In addition, by reducing the number of the plurality of channels to half and using the side on which no abnormality occurs, it becomes easy to control the exposure.
[0016]
In addition, it is preferable to reduce the number of channels for a color in which an abnormality has not occurred among the plurality of colors. Further, it is preferable to set a light amount value for detecting the abnormality.
[0017]
Further, when the abnormality is detected, the error information is displayed, for example, on a display of the apparatus, so that the error can be notified and the exposure can be continued. Alternatively, when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified, and whether to stop exposure or to continue exposure can be selected. Further, it is preferable that the light source is constituted by a light emitting diode.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the entire image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view of the inside of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 3 is a main part plan view of the drum and the optical unit of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed from above.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an image recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment creates a color proof (proofing sample) for confirming a pattern, a color tone, a sentence, a character, and the like to be printed. An exposure unit 11 that exposes a silver halide color photosensitive material (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a “photosensitive material”) to form an image, and a developing unit 21 that develops the exposed photosensitive material.
[0020]
The exposure unit 11 includes a front panel 5 that can be opened and closed so that maintenance can be performed from the front, a display unit 2 including a display of various information and a touch panel, which can be input for operation of the entire apparatus, and a roll-shaped silver halide color inside. Loading portions 12 and 12 ′ which can load a cartridge 13 containing photosensitive paper as a photosensitive material after opening the paper feed covers 3 and 4. FIG. 1 shows a state before and after the cartridge 13 is loaded into the loading units 12 and 12 ′.
[0021]
The developing unit 21 includes an upper panel 6 that can be opened and closed for maintenance, and a replenishment panel 7 that can be opened and closed for replenishing a developing solution and the like on the front surface.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 includes loading units 12 and 12 for loading and housing a dedicated cartridge 13 containing photosensitive paper as a sheet-like photosensitive material wound in a roll shape. , A feeding unit 14 including a pair of conveying rollers 40, 41, 42 and the like for feeding photosensitive paper from the cartridge 13 loaded in the loading unit 12, 12 ′, and a photosensitive paper fed from the feeding unit 14. A drum 10 that rotates in the rotation direction R for main scanning while vacuum-sucking and holding S on the outer peripheral surface, and an optical unit 16 that exposes the photosensitive paper on the drum 10 to a light beam such as LED light or laser light. A sub-scanning unit 17 that conveys the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) H (FIG. 3) for sub-scanning, and a peeling member that peels off the photosensitive paper on the drum 10 after image recording. And 15. The exposed photosensitive paper is conveyed to the developing unit 21 through the outlet 19 and the connection unit 19a.
[0023]
The image recording apparatus 1 of FIG. 2 further includes a driven roller 31 that is disposed downstream of the pair of conveying rollers 42 and is driven and rotated in accordance with the conveyance of the photosensitive paper sent toward the drum 10, and the photosensitive paper between the driven roller 31 and the drum 10. A driven roller 31 to be conveyed, an accumulation guide member 18 for guiding the photosensitive paper when the photosensitive paper separated from the drum 10 by the separation member 15 is conveyed by the drum 10 and the driven roller 31, and a conveyance by the accumulation guide member 18. A transport roller pair 32 for further transporting the received photosensitive paper to the outlet 19, and an accumulator formed by opening a part of the accumulation guide member 18 to accumulate the photosensitive paper that has reached the transport roller pair 32. It includes a rate section 30 and a detection sensor 33 that is located near the downstream side of the transport roller pair 32 and detects the leading end of the photosensitive paper.
[0024]
A relatively narrow driven roller 43 disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the pair of conveying rollers 42 is driven to rotate with the movement of the recording sheet, and a rotary encoder (not shown) is coaxially connected to the driven roller 43. . The length of the photosensitive paper wound around the rotary drum 10 after passing through the transport roller pair 42 can be determined by measuring the amount of rotation by rotating the rotary encoder together with the driven roller 43. The transport roller pair 32 on the downstream side has a one-way clutch structure, and is rotatable in a direction in which the photosensitive paper is sent to the downstream side.
[0025]
In the vicinity of the downstream side of the pair of conveying rollers 40 and 41 in FIG. 2, cut portions 10a for cutting the photosensitive paper are arranged, and each cut portion 10a has a rotary cutter that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). The photosensitive paper is cut into a predetermined length based on the above-described length measurement of the photosensitive paper.
[0026]
The developing unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 performs wet development on the exposed photosensitive paper sent from the exposing unit 11, and includes a developing unit 23 for developing the photosensitive paper, a fixing unit 24 for performing the fixing process, and a stable unit. The image forming apparatus includes a stabilizing unit 25 that performs a process, a drying unit 26 that performs a drying process, and a discharge unit 27 that discharges the dried photosensitive paper to the outside by a pair of transport rollers 27a.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the drum 10 of the image recording apparatus 1 is configured such that the rotating shaft 14a of the rotating shaft portion 14 'and the rotating shaft 15a of the rotating shaft portion 18 can be rotated on the support bases 34a and 34b via bearings 33a and 33b. It is pivoted. A drive pulley 35a is provided on one rotating shaft 15a of the drum 10, and the drive pulley 35a is connected to an output pulley 35b of a drum drive pulse motor M6 by a belt 36, and the drum is driven by the drum drive pulse motor M6. 10 rotates. A rotary encoder 37 is provided on the rotation shaft 15a of the drum 10, and outputs a pulse signal for rotation to use for pixel clock control synchronized with the rotation of the drum.
[0028]
The other rotating shaft 14a of the drum 10 is connected to the suction blower P1. A large number of suction holes 31c are formed in the surface of the drum 10 so as to extend linearly in the direction of the rotation axis, and the inside of the drum 10 is depressurized by driving the suction blower P1, so that the photosensitive paper is suctioned to the surface of the drum 10. .
[0029]
The optical unit 16 is configured to be movable in parallel with the drum axis by the sub-scanning unit 17, and writes an image by exposing the photosensitive paper attracted to the drum 10 to a light beam. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical unit 16 includes an LED unit 320, an LED unit 321, and an LED unit 322 as light sources of three different wavelengths. Each of the LED units 320, 321, 322 includes a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on a substrate for 32 channels, and light beams from the LED units 320, 321, 322 are transmitted through mirrors 325, 326, 327. Then, the image is exposed from the condenser lens 331 to the photosensitive paper on the drum 10. The exposure shutter 332 is opened and closed by an exposure solenoid 333 to open and close an optical path at the start / end of exposure.
[0030]
The plurality of LED units 320, 321, and 322 are configured to emit, for example, B (blue) having a wavelength of about 450 nm, G (green) having a wavelength of about 540 nm, and R (red) having a wavelength of about 650 nm. When the silver halide color photosensitive material is exposed by each LED unit, Y (yellow) is emitted by B, M (magenta) is emitted by R, and C (cyan) is emitted by G, respectively.
[0031]
The optical unit 16 is fixed to the moving belt 340, and is provided so as to be guided by a pair of guide rails 341 and 342 in the sub-scanning direction H parallel to the drum axis and in the opposite direction H ′. The moving belt 340 is stretched over a pair of pulleys 343 and 344, and one pulley 344 is connected to an output shaft 345 of the sub-scanning motor M7. It moves in the direction H and the opposite direction H ′.
[0032]
Also, as shown in FIG. 3, a photometric unit 57 composed of a light receiving element such as a photodiode is disposed at an extended position parallel to the drum axis on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum 10, and is located at the home position shown in FIG. The optical unit 16 moves slightly in the direction H ′, and the light beams from the LED units 320 to 322 enter the photometric unit 57, so that the light amount of the light beam of each LED of each channel can be measured.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 3, the suction blower P1 sucks the inside of the drum 10 through the suction connection pipe 51 by an air suction pump, and makes the inside of the drum 10 a negative pressure before the exposure by the exposure unit 11 starts, so that the photosensitive paper is attracted to the outer peripheral surface. .
[0034]
Next, the LED units 320 to 322 and the photometric unit 57 will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which light beams from light sources for 32 channels constituted by a plurality of LED units 320 to 322 in FIG. 3 are arranged. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the spots of the light beams from the light sources of 32 channels in FIG. 4 are arranged on the light receiving surface of the photometric unit.
[0035]
When the light beams are emitted from the condensing lens 331 in FIG. 3 from the LEDs for each of the 32 channels, the plurality of LED units 320 to 322 correspond to the 32 channels from the left end channel 59a to the right end channel 59e as shown in FIG. The light beam 59 simultaneously irradiates the photosensitive paper on the drum 10, and at this time, a plurality of light beams of B, G, and R having different wavelengths can be emitted from the channels 59a to 59e. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the channels 59a to 59e of the light source are arranged substantially in parallel to the sub-scanning direction H, but may be arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the sub-scanning direction H.
[0036]
When the optical unit 16 of FIG. 4 moves to a position where each light beam from the plurality of LED units 320 to 322 can irradiate the photometric unit 57, light for 32 channels is placed in the light receiving surface 58 of the photometric unit 57 as shown in FIG. The beam 59 is irradiated. By driving each LED of each of the LED units 320 to 322 and sequentially emitting light from, for example, the leftmost channel 59a in FIG. 4, the light amount of the light beam of each channel 59a to 59e can be measured, and the constant light amount including the light emission failure The following channels can be detected.
[0037]
FIG. 6 shows a flow of image data in the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 5 and a block diagram of a control system of the image recording apparatus 1.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 4, the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 creates halftone image data from raster data with a RIP (Raster Image Processor) 49, which is an external image processing apparatus, to create a color proof. The halftone image data is transferred from the RIP 49 to the exposure unit 11.
[0039]
The exposure unit 11 temporarily stores the image data I / F unit 52 to which the dot image data from the external RIP 49 is input and the dot image data from the image data I / F unit 52 as shown in FIG. A data buffer 53 composed of a hard disk storage device or the like for outputting, a lookup table 54 for creating exposure data for exposure to photosensitive paper based on halftone image data from the data buffer 53, and an exposure from the lookup table 54 A plurality of D / A converters 55a, 55b, and 55c corresponding to the B, G, and R LED units 320 to 322 that convert a digital signal of data into an analog signal, and each of the D / A converters 55a to 55c. A plurality of drivers 56a that directly analog-modulate and drive each LED of each of the LED units 320 to 322 with an analog signal Including 56b, and 56c, the.
[0040]
4 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and the like, and controls an image data I / F unit 52, a data buffer 53, a look-up table 54, the display unit 2, and other device parts.
[0041]
Further, the control unit 50 receives the light beams from the respective channels 59a to 59e by the photometric unit 57 and generates a light amount decrease including a light emission failure based on a preset threshold based on the light amount measured for each channel. When the abnormal channel 59b in which the amount of light is reduced or the light emission cannot be detected as shown in FIG. 4 is detected, for example, the number of channels on either side of the abnormal channel 59b (the 13th channel from the left end) is determined. It is determined whether the number of channels is large, and the use of the channels 59c to 59e on the side A having the large number of usable channels is determined.
[0042]
The control unit 50 sets the sub-scanning speed of the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction H in FIG. 3 to be slower by an amount corresponding to a decrease in the number of channels from 32 channels to, for example, 19 channels. The sub-scanning motor M7 is controlled so as to perform sub-scanning. Further, the control unit 50 causes the display unit 2 to display error information relating to the occurrence of an abnormal channel of the light source.
[0043]
Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0044]
First, when the dot image data is input from the external RIP 49, the control unit 50 conveys the photosensitive paper from the loading unit 12 or 12 'to the drum 10 by the conveying roller pairs 40 to 42 or the like (S01). Then, the photosensitive paper cut to a predetermined length by the cut portion 10a is wound around the drum 10, and the suction blower P1 is operated to hold the photosensitive paper by suction.
[0045]
On the other hand, the optical unit 16 at the home position in FIG. 3 moves to the photometric unit 57, and the photometric unit 57 measures the light amount of each of the channels 59a to 59e in FIG. 4 (S02). As a result, as shown in FIG. When the abnormal channel 59b in which the light amount is reduced (or the light emission is disabled) is detected (S03), the use of the channels 59c to 59e on the side A having the larger number of usable channels is determined (S04), and the display unit 2 displays The error information of the occurrence of the abnormal channel is displayed (S05).
[0046]
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 50 of FIG. 6 sets the sub-scanning speed of the optical unit 16 to be lower by an amount corresponding to the decrease in the number of channels from 32 to 19 (S06). The sub-scanning of the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction H of FIG. 3 is started by the scanning motor M7 (S07), and the drum 10 is rotated in the main scanning direction (rotation direction R). The exposure of the photosensitive paper is started (S08).
[0047]
When the above-described exposure is completed (S09), the sub-scanning movement of the optical unit 16 is stopped, and then the optical unit 16 is moved in the direction H 'to the home position (S10). On the other hand, the photosensitive paper exposed by the exposure is peeled off from the drum 10 by the peeling member 15, conveyed to the outlet 19 by the conveying roller pair 32 or the like (S 11), sent to the developing unit 21 from the connection unit 19 a, and subjected to the developing process of the photosensitive paper. Is performed (S12), and then discharged to the discharge unit 28 (S13).
[0048]
As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment, before the exposure of the exposure unit 11, the light amount of the LED of the LED units 320 to 322 is reduced (or light emission is disabled) by detecting the light amount of the photometry unit 57. When the occurrence of the abnormal channel is detected, error information is notified, and the left or right side of the abnormal channel, which has a larger number of usable channels, is selected, and the sub-scanning of the optical unit 16 is performed according to the selected channel number. Since the exposure operation is continued at a reduced speed, the exposure operation can be performed without making the apparatus unusable. Therefore, the use of the image recording apparatus does not have to be stopped, so that the reduction in productivity can be kept to a certain limit.
[0049]
In FIG. 7, when the abnormal channel 59b in FIG. 4 is detected, the control is performed so that the channels 59c to 59e on the side A having the larger number of usable channels are used. As shown in FIG. 4, the control may be performed so as to use the channels 59d to 59e on the half side B where no abnormality has occurred. The use of 16 channels, which is half of 32 channels, makes it easy to control exposure.
[0050]
Next, another operation in the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation of FIG. 8 is such that when the occurrence of an abnormal channel is detected, it is determined whether or not to perform exposure.
[0051]
7, when the dot image data is input from outside, the photosensitive paper is conveyed toward the drum 10 (S21), and the photosensitive paper cut to a predetermined length is wound around the drum 10 and held by suction, while the photometry is performed. The unit 57 measures the light amount of each of the channels 59a to 59e in FIG. 4 (S22). As a result, when an abnormal channel 59b in which the light amount is reduced (or light emission is disabled) as shown in FIG. 4 is detected (S23), the display is performed. The error information of the occurrence of the abnormal channel is displayed on the section 2 (S24), and it is determined whether or not to perform the exposure (S15). This determination may be made by the control unit 50 based on the position or number of the channel in which the abnormality has occurred, but may be made by the user based on an error notification on the display unit 2 and operating the apparatus.
[0052]
In the case of performing the exposure, the use of the channels 59c to 59e on the side A having a large number of usable channels is determined as shown in FIG. 4 (S26), and the number of channels is reduced from 32 channels to 19 channels as shown in FIG. The sub-scanning speed of the optical unit 16 is set to be low only (S27), the sub-scanning of the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction H of FIG. 3 is started at the reduced sub-scanning speed (S28), and the drum 10 It is rotated in the scanning direction (rotation direction R), and exposure of the photosensitive paper is started with the light beam from the optical unit 16 (S29).
[0053]
When the above-described exposure is completed (S30), the sub-scanning movement of the optical unit 16 is stopped, and then the optical unit 16 is moved in the direction H 'to the home position (S31). On the other hand, the photosensitive paper exposed by the exposure is separated from the drum 10 and transported to the outlet 19 (S32), sent to the developing unit 21 to develop the photosensitive paper (S33), and discharged to the discharge unit 28 (S33). S34).
[0054]
If it is determined in step S25 that exposure is not to be performed, the photosensitive paper that has been transported to the drum 10 may be further transported and developed and then discharged, or the operation of the apparatus may be stopped as it is.
[0055]
As described above, the present invention has been described with the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made within the technical idea of the present invention. For example, it goes without saying that the image recording apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to other than the production of a color proof.
[0056]
Also, the number of channels of the light source is described as 32 channels, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of channels can be increased or decreased as appropriate, such as 16 channels, 64 channels, and 128 channels.
[0057]
In addition, FIG. 4 illustrates a case where one channel of the light source becomes abnormal. However, even when a plurality of channels become abnormal, exposure can be controlled in the same manner as described above, or as shown in FIG. Can be controlled so as to determine whether or not to perform exposure.
[0058]
Further, in the present embodiment, the light quantity measurement for each channel of the light source is performed before the start of the exposure, and the abnormal channel is detected. However, for example, the sub-scanning movement is performed to perform the exposure multiple times for each wavelength. In such a case, control may be performed such that photometry is performed each time the optical unit returns to the home position during the exposure operation.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the image recording method and image recording apparatus of this invention, an exposure operation | movement can be performed by the channel of an available light source, even when the light intensity fall or non-emission is produced | generated with the light source which has several channels.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an entire image recording apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a view of the inside of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from the front side.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of a drum and an optical unit of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed from above.
4 is a plan view showing a state in which light beams from light sources for 32 channels constituted by a plurality of LED units 320 to 322 in FIG. 3 are arranged.
5 is a plan view showing a state in which spots of light beams from a light source of 32 channels in FIG. 4 are arranged on a light receiving surface of a photometric unit.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of image data in an exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 and a control system of the image recording apparatus 1.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another operation in the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image recording apparatus 2 ... Display part 10 ... Rotary drum 16 ... Optical unit 50 ... Control part 57 ... Photometry part (light quantity measurement means)
59 ... 32 channels of light beams 59a to 59e ... channels 320, 321, 322 ... LED unit S ... photosensitive paper (silver salt color photosensitive material)

Claims (15)

An image recording method for exposing and scanning a photosensitive material with light from a light source having a plurality of channels that emit a plurality of colors having different wavelengths to perform image recording,
Monitoring the light amount of the light source for each channel and monitoring whether the light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount,
When detecting that the light amount of the light source is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount and an abnormality has occurred in a channel, performing exposure by changing a sub-scanning speed according to the number of usable channels of the light source. Image recording method. 2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein a side having a larger number of usable channels is selected and used on either the left or right of the channel in which the abnormality has occurred. 2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of channels is reduced by half, and a side where no abnormality occurs is used. 4. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the number of channels is also reduced for a color in which an abnormality has not occurred among the plurality of colors. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein a light amount value for detecting the abnormality is set. 6. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified and exposure is continued. 6. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified, and whether to stop exposure or continue exposure is selected. A light source having a plurality of channels for emitting a plurality of colors having different wavelengths; and a light amount detecting means for detecting a light amount of the light source, and performing image recording by exposing while scanning light from the light source onto a photosensitive material. An image recording device,
The light amount detection unit detects the light amount of the light source for each of the channels and monitors whether the light amount is equal to or less than a predetermined light amount. An image recording apparatus, wherein, upon detection, exposure is performed by changing a sub-scanning speed according to the number of usable channels of the light source. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein either the left or right of the channel in which the abnormality has occurred is selected and used. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the number of the plurality of channels is reduced by half, and a side on which no abnormality occurs is used. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the number of channels is also reduced for a color in which an abnormality has not occurred among the plurality of colors. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light amount detection unit sets a light amount value at which the abnormality is detected. 13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified and exposure is continued. 13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the abnormality is detected, error information is notified, and whether to stop exposure or continue exposure is selected. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode.

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