JP2005239362A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a miniaturized and inexpensive image recording device by shortening a conveying distance. <P>SOLUTION: During printing at a rear printing part 31, when a recording sheet reaches an image recording part 33, images are not recorded but are made to pass. When a recording sheet sensor 44 detects that a trailing end of the recording sheet passes through the rear printing part 31 and the printing is completed, a branch guide 41 is switched to a second condition in response to detected signals, and the recording sheet is conveyed in a reverse direction and fed to a buffer part 35. When the recording sheet sensor 49 detects that the trailing end of the recording sheet passes through a register part 32 and the entire recording sheet is returned to a front stage of the register part 32, the recording sheet is conveyed in a sequential direction again in response to the detected signals, and the images are recorded at the image recording part 33 after skews are corrected at the register part 32. By a switch-back control, the conveying distance between the rear printing part 31 and the image recording part 33 is shortened, so as to make the device miniature and inexpensive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus including an image recording unit that records an image on a recording surface of a recording material, and a back printing unit that prints predetermined information on an information printing surface opposite to the recording surface.

  As an image recording device, it is exposed to digital image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an image recorded on photographic film, or recording light that is intensity-modulated based on image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. 2. Description of the Related Art Printer processors having an exposure unit that exposes and records an image on a conductive recording paper and a processor that generates a print photograph by performing development and drying processing are widely used.

  In addition, the printer processor is provided with a so-called back printing device, and back-printing is performed to record various types of information such as a shooting date, a printing date, a frame number, and an ID on a surface of the recording paper on which no exposure recording is performed.

  However, if backprinting and exposure recording are performed at the same time, the backprint may affect the transport speed of the recording paper during exposure recording and cause uneven exposure. The conveyance distance to the exposure position by the unit has to be longer than the maximum length of the recording paper to be used.

  Therefore, in order to cope with a large size recording paper, it is necessary to increase the size of the apparatus, and problems such as an increase in manufacturing cost due to an increase in the number of conveyance rollers have occurred. In addition, in the case of performing exposure recording on a small size recording paper with a device corresponding to a large size recording paper, it must pass through a conveyance path corresponding to a large size, and thus processing time is required. A so-called skew is easily generated in which the recording paper is conveyed obliquely.

  Further, in the case where the recording paper is stored in the state of a recording paper roll wound in a roll shape and includes a cutting unit for cutting the recording paper, if the cutting of the recording paper roll and the exposure recording are performed at the same time, There is a risk that unevenness of exposure may occur due to the impact of the above, and causes the same problem as described above.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and shortens the conveyance path length from the exposure position by the exposure unit to the printing position by the back printing apparatus, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus and reducing the manufacturing cost. An object is to provide a recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus of the present invention includes an image recording unit that records an image on one surface of a recording material formed in a sheet shape, and a supply unit that supplies the recording material to the image recording unit A back printing unit that is provided between the supply unit and the image recording unit and performs printing on the other surface of the recording material, a discharge unit that discharges the recording material on which image recording has been performed, and the supply At least a part of the recording material branched from the conveyance path from the supply section to the discharge section via the back printing section and the image recording section, and the conveyance path between the supply section and the back printing section A first state in which the recording material is guided from the supply unit toward the back printing unit, and a second state in which the recording material is guided from the back printing unit toward the buffer unit. A branch guide that can be switched between, The recording material is fed from the supply unit to the back printing unit through the branch guide in the first state, and the branch guide is moved in response to the rear end of the recording material passing through the back printing unit. The recording material is switched to two states and the recording material conveyance direction is switched to send the recording material to the buffer unit, and in response to the leading edge of the recording material passing through the image recording unit, A control unit that performs a second conveyance step of switching the conveyance direction and feeding the recording material to the image recording unit, performing printing by the back printing unit during the first conveyance step, and during the second conveyance step In addition, image recording by the image recording unit is performed.

  An image recording unit that records an image on one surface of the recording material formed in a sheet shape, a supply unit that supplies the recording material to the image recording unit, and the recording material on which the image recording has been performed are discharged. A discharge portion, a back printing portion provided between the image recording portion and the discharge portion, for printing on the other surface of the recording material, and the image recording portion and the back printing portion from the supply portion. A first buffer unit that branches from the conveyance path between the back printing unit and the discharge unit and accommodates at least a part of the recording material, and the back printing unit A first branch guide that can be switched between a first state in which the recording material is guided from the back to the discharge portion and a second state in which the recording material is guided from the back printing portion toward the first buffer portion. And the recording material from the supply unit A first conveying step for feeding the recording material to the recording section and then feeding the recording material to the first buffer section via the first branch guide in the second state and a rear end of the recording material have passed the back printing section. In response to this, the recording material is switched in the conveying direction to feed the recording material to the back printing portion, and in response to the leading edge of the recording material passing through the back printing portion, the first branch guide is moved to the back printing portion. A control unit that performs a second conveyance step of switching to the first state and switching a conveyance direction of the recording material and feeding the recording material to the back printing unit, and performing the image recording unit during the first conveyance step It is good also as a structure which performs image recording and performs printing by the said back printing part during a said 2nd conveyance step.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 2, when the recording material is stored in the supply unit in a state of a recording material roll in which a long sheet-like material is wound, the supply unit and the image recording A cutting section for cutting the recording material roll into a predetermined length to form the recording material, and the conveying path between the cutting section and the image recording section. A second buffer unit that branches from the first buffer unit and stores at least a part of the recording material; a first state in which the recording material is guided from the cutting unit toward the image recording unit; and the second buffer unit from the image recording unit. A second branching guide that can be switched between a second state for guiding the recording material toward the part, and feeding the recording material roll from the supply unit to the cutting unit, and then in the first state The second branch gas The recording material roll is fed into the image recording unit via a recording medium and the recording material roll is cut into a predetermined length to form the recording material, and the rear end of the recording material has passed through the second branch guide. In response, the second branch guide is switched to the second state and the recording material conveyance direction is switched to feed the recording material into the second buffer, and the leading end of the recording material has passed through the image recording unit. In response to this, it is preferable that a third conveyance step of switching the conveyance direction of the recording material and feeding the recording material to the image recording unit is performed by the control unit.

  The back printing unit includes a print head for printing on the recording material, and a platen unit for sandwiching the recording material together with the print head at the time of printing, and the platen unit sandwiches the recording material. It is preferably movable between a clamping position and a retracted position for releasing the recording material, and the platen portion is preferably in the retracted position during image recording.

  According to the present invention, the conveyance distance between the back printing unit and the image recording unit can be made shorter than the maximum length of the recording material to be used, and the size and cost of the apparatus can be reduced. I can do it. In addition, when recording an image on a small size recording material, the processing time can be shortened by passing the shortened transport path, the processing capacity of the apparatus can be increased, and the transport path has been shortened. Therefore, the skew factor of the recording material can be reduced.

  In addition, if the present invention is applied to an image recording apparatus in which the back printing unit is provided downstream of the image recording unit and cuts a roll-shaped recording material, the transport distance between the supply unit and the image recording unit is increased. It can be shortened, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the printing head includes a print head for printing on the recording material, and a platen portion for sandwiching the recording material together with the print head at the time of printing. The platen portion releases the sandwiching position of the recording material and the sandwich of the recording material. Because it is movable between the retracted position, when the recording material passes through the back printing part without printing by switchback control etc., it is caught and rubbed between the narrow print head and the platen part. This prevents the influence on the conveyance speed when performing image recording, and the recording material from being scratched or soiled.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an image recording apparatus embodying the present invention. The printer processor 2 includes an image input device 3, an image processing device 4, a supply unit 5, a printer unit 6, a processor unit 7, and a discharge unit 8. Each unit constituting the printer processor 2 is connected to the control unit 9 via a wiring (not shown), and the control unit 9 controls the entire printer processor 2. The cut recording paper P, which will be described later, is moved along a conveyance path 10 formed in the supply unit 5, the printer unit 6, the processor unit 7, and the discharge unit 8 by a plurality of conveyance roller pairs including a driving roller and a nip roller. Be transported.

  The image input device 3 generates image data by photoelectrically reading projected light of an image recorded on a photographic film using an image sensor such as a CCD image sensor, or is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. Image data is acquired by reading out the image data. This image data is sent to the image processing apparatus 4 to perform predetermined image processing such as color balance correction and density correction. The image data that has undergone image processing is sent to the printer unit 6 and used in exposure recording described later.

  A magazine 21 for storing a long photosensitive recording paper 20 wound in a roll shape is set in the supply unit 5. The magazine 21 is provided with a drawing roller pair 22 for pulling out and transporting the photosensitive recording paper 20. In the present embodiment, one magazine 21 is provided. However, the number of magazines may be two or more. For example, the magazines may be divided for each print size such as 89 mm for L size and 127 mm for L size. You may overlap things.

  A cutter 23 for cutting the photosensitive recording paper 20 is provided at a position away from the outlet of the magazine 21 by a predetermined length. The cutter 23 is driven in response to a control signal from the control unit 9, and cuts the photosensitive recording paper 20 drawn out by a predetermined length according to the print size to form a cut recording paper P. Instead of providing the cutter 23, a sheet-like recording paper that has been formed in a predetermined size in advance may be provided in the supply unit 5, and this sheet-like recording paper may be supplied. As the size of the cut recording paper P, for example, A3 (305 × 460), A3W (323 × 505), A4 (305 × 250), six cuts (262 × 243), 2L (135 × 218), four cuts ( 262 × 345) and the like, and the print size information is stored in the control unit 9. In the present embodiment, the guillotine type cutter is used, but not limited to this, a known cutting means such as a rotary cutter using a rotary blade may be used.

  The printer unit 6 exposes and records an image with recording light that has been intensity-modulated based on image data while conveying a cut recording sheet cut to a length corresponding to the selected print size. 10, a branching unit 30, a back printing unit 31, a registration unit 32, an image recording unit 33, a sub-scanning receiving unit 34, and a buffer unit 35 branched from the conveyance path 10 by the branching unit 30. I have.

  The branching unit 30 includes a branching guide 41 and performs switching between conveyance to the back printing unit 31 and introduction to the buffer unit 35. The branch guide 41 is connected to an electric motor such as a motor, and has a first state (state indicated by a solid line in the drawing) in which the cut recording paper P fed from the supply unit 5 is guided toward the back printing unit 31, It is possible to switch between a second state (state indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) in which the cut recording paper P from the printing unit 31 is guided toward the buffer unit 35, and its operation is controlled by the control unit 9. .

  The back print unit 31 includes a back print head 42, a platen unit 43, and a recording paper sensor 44 that detects that the cut recording paper P has passed, and various prints such as a shooting date, a print date, a frame number, and an ID. A so-called back print is performed in which information is recorded on the non-photosensitive surface of the cut recording paper P, which is a photosensitive material. As the back print head 42, a known print head such as a dot impact head, an ink jet head, or a thermal transfer print head can be used as long as it has resistance to a wet development process to be performed later. The recording paper sensor 44 is, for example, an optical sensor composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, detects that the leading edge or trailing edge of the cut recording paper P has passed, and sends a detection signal to the control unit 9. Output.

  Since the space between the back print head 42 through which the cut recording paper P is inserted and the platen unit 43 is very narrow, the cut recording paper P is passed through the back print unit 31 without performing printing by the switchback control described later. There is a concern that the back print head 42 or the platen unit 43 may be rubbed to affect the transport speed of the cut recording paper P during exposure recording, or the surface of the cut recording paper P may be scratched or soiled. The Therefore, the platen unit 43 releases the nipping position where the cut recording paper P is nipped together with the back print head 42 to perform printing, and the nipping position when the cut recording paper P is passed through the back printing unit 31 without printing. It is possible to move between the retracted positions.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the back printing unit 31. The platen unit 43 includes a platen 50 that receives the back print head 42, an eccentric cam 51 that switches between a clamping position and a retracted position, a motor 52 that drives the eccentric cam 51, and a signal from the control unit 9. The motor controller 53 that controls the motor 52 based on the above and the spring 54 that urges the platen 50 toward the retracted position. The platen 50 is rotatably supported at one end by a shaft 50a, and the other end is biased toward the retracted position by a spring 54. The eccentric cam 51 supports the platen 50 against the spring 54. When the eccentric cam 51 is supported on its long end side as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the platen 50 is placed in the clamping position, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the eccentric cam 51 is on its short end side. When the platen 50 is being supported, the platen 50 is moved to the retracted position. Further, the eccentric cam 51 is connected to the rotating shaft of the motor 52, and the eccentric cam 51 is rotated by the motor controller 53 driving the motor 52 based on the signal from the control unit 9, so that the eccentric cam 51 is retracted. Switching to the position is performed. In addition, the movement method of the platen part 43 is not restricted above, For example, what is necessary is just to use a well-known method, such as connecting and moving the platen 50 to the movable iron core of a solenoid.

  The registration unit 32 corrects the inclination of the cut recording sheet P so as to make the leading edge of the cut recording sheet P coincide with the main scanning direction, so-called skew correction, and prevents the exposure position / angle deviation in the image recording unit 33. To do. The registration unit 32 abuts the cut recording paper P between a tilt resist that corrects skew by a roller pair that is rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the surface of the cut recording paper P, or between the pair of rollers in a sandwiched state. Various known methods such as a top resist that corrects skew by bending the paper P, and a side resist that corrects skew by abutting a side edge (an end in a direction orthogonal to the width direction) to a guide can be used. . The registration unit 32 is also provided with a recording paper sensor 49 similar to the back printing unit 31, and detects the passage of the cut recording paper P and outputs a detection signal to the control unit 9.

  The image recording unit 33 includes an exposure unit 45, sub-scanning roller pairs 46 and 47, and a recording paper sensor 48 that detects the passage of cut recording paper. The exposure unit 45 is connected to the image processing device 4, and when the recording paper sensor 47 detects that the leading edge of the cut recording paper P has passed, the intensity is modulated based on the image data sent from the image processing device 4. The red, green, and blue light beams are scanned in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and an image is recorded on the cut recording paper P. The sub-scanning roller pairs 46 and 47 are arranged upstream and downstream in the transport direction so as to sandwich the exposure position by the light beam, and transport the cut recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction (direction parallel to the transport direction) at a predetermined speed. . Note that the nip rollers of the sub-scanning roller pairs 46 and 47 can be switched between a position where the cut recording paper P is sandwiched and a position where the cut recording paper P is separated from the cut recording paper P. It is switched when the leading edge or the trailing edge is detected. As a result, the recording image is generated when the leading edge of the cut recording sheet P hits the downstream sub-scanning roller pair 47 or the trailing end slips out of the upstream sub-scanning roller pair 46, and the cut recording sheet P is excessively impacted. Can be prevented.

  The sub-scan receiving unit 34 includes a plurality of roller pairs that hold the leading end portion of the cut recording paper P that is fed from the image recording unit 33 during image recording, and cuts at the same speed as the conveyance speed of the image recording unit 33. The recording paper P is sent downstream. Each roller pair of the sub-scanning receiving portion 34 is composed of a driving roller and a nip roller capable of releasing the nip, and the nip roller moves in accordance with the end of the exposure recording at the rear end without nip the cut recording paper P during exposure recording. Then, the cut recording paper P is nipped and conveyed. This prevents the conveyance speed from fluctuating due to the leading edge of the cut recording paper P abutting.

  The buffer unit 35 includes a plurality of conveyance roller pairs including a driving roller and a nip roller. The buffer unit 35 conveys the cut recording paper P in a direction toward the end of the buffer unit 35 and in a direction toward the branch unit 30. At least part of the cut recording paper P is accommodated during the switchback control. In the drawing, the buffer portion 35 is formed linearly, but it is preferable that the buffer portion 35 has a shape that effectively uses the dead space in the printer processor 2 by cranking or the like.

  In the transport path 10, the cut recording paper P is transported between the branch unit 30 and the processor unit 7 in the forward direction toward the discharge unit 8 and in the opposite direction opposite thereto. Although it may be possible to transport the entire transport path 10 in the reverse direction, it is not preferable in consideration of simultaneously processing a plurality of cut recording sheets. Therefore, it is preferable that the cut recording paper P can be conveyed in the reverse direction only between the branching unit 30 and the processor unit 7.

  The processor unit 7 includes a development processing unit 60 and a drying processing unit 61. The development processing unit 60 includes a development tank 62, a bleach-fixing tank 63, and a first water washing tank 64 in order from the upstream in the transport direction (left side in the figure). , A second water rinsing tank 65, a third water rinsing tank 66, and a fourth water rinsing tank 67 are provided. The developing tank 62 contains a developer, the bleach-fixing tank 63 contains a bleach-fixing liquid, A predetermined amount of washing water is stored in each of the washing tank 64 to the fourth washing tank 67. The cut recording paper P on which the latent image has been recorded is transported through the processing tanks 62 to 67 by the transport path 10, whereby each processing of development, fixing, and washing is performed.

  The drying process part 61 is arrange | positioned above each process tank 62-67, and is comprised from the conveyance belt and the ventilation duct. The blower duct blows dry air heated by a heater toward the conveyance belt and presses the cut recording paper P toward the conveyance belt. In this state, the cleaning water adhering to the cut recording paper P is removed by allowing the air to pass over the air duct.

  The discharge unit 8 collectively outputs a plurality of cut recording papers P after the drying process for each print job.

  Next, the operation of the printer processor 2 will be described. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams schematically showing the operation of the printer processor 2. When printing is instructed, the control unit 9 pulls out the photosensitive recording paper 20 by a length determined according to the print size from the magazine 21 loaded in the supply unit 5, and cuts it with a cutter 23 to perform cut recording. Paper P is formed. As shown in FIG. 3A, the cut recording paper P formed into a predetermined print size by the cutter 23 is conveyed to the back printing unit 31 via the branch guide 41 of the branch unit 30 in the first state. Various information is printed on the non-photosensitive surface of the cut recording paper P by the back print head 42 and the platen unit 43 at the clamping position.

  While printing is being performed by the back printing unit 31, even if the cut recording paper P reaches the image recording unit 33, it passes through without performing exposure recording. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the recording paper sensor 44 detects that the trailing edge of the cut recording paper P has passed through the back printing unit 31 and printing has been completed, the back printing is performed in response to the detection signal. The platen unit 43 of the unit 31 is moved to the retracted position, the branch guide 41 of the branch unit 30 is set to the second state, the cut recording paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction, and the cut recording paper P is fed into the buffer unit 35. As shown in FIG. 4A, the recording sheet sensor of the registration unit 32 indicates that the leading end of the cut recording sheet P has passed through the registration unit 32 and the entire cut recording sheet P has been returned to the previous stage of the registration unit 32. When 49 is detected, the cut recording paper P is conveyed in the forward direction again in response to the detection signal.

  The cut recording paper P whose skew has been corrected by the registration unit 32 is conveyed to the image recording unit 33, and an image is scanned and exposed by a light beam modulated based on image data sent from the image processing device 4. It is preferable that the branch guide 41 of the branch unit 30 is returned to the first state in response to the end of exposure recording, and the platen unit 43 of the back print unit 31 is returned to the nipping position to prepare for the next cut recording paper.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the cut recording paper P on which exposure recording has been performed is conveyed toward the processor unit 7. The processor unit 7 performs processing such as development and fixing on the cut recording paper P that has been exposed and recorded to form a printed photograph, which is dried by the drying processing unit 61 and sent to the discharge unit 8. The discharge unit 8 collects a plurality of cut recording papers P for each print job and outputs them to the outside of the printer processor 2.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the conveyance distance between the back printing unit 31 and the image recording unit 33 can be made shorter than the maximum length in the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction) of the recording paper to be used. For example, when the largest recording paper to be used is a four-cut size, the length in the transport direction is 345 mm, and the transport distance between the back print unit and the image recording unit has conventionally been 345 mm or more. On the other hand, if this invention is applied, this can be suppressed to 345 mm or less, and size reduction and price reduction of an apparatus can be achieved.

[Second Embodiment]
Note that, as shown in FIG. 5A, the same effect can be obtained even when the back printing unit is provided downstream of the image recording unit 33 and the exposure recording is performed to switch back and perform printing. . Hereinafter, the switchback in the embodiment of FIG. 5A will be described. The cut recording paper P formed into a predetermined print size by the cutter 23 is conveyed to the image recording unit 33 through skew correction in the registration unit 32, and exposure recording is performed. While exposure recording is being performed by the image recording unit 33, even if the cut recording paper P reaches the back printing unit 31, it passes through without performing back printing, so the platen unit 43 of the back printing unit 31 is It is in the retracted position. The branch guide 55 of the branch section 36 is positioned to guide the cut recording paper P toward the buffer section 37 (position indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure), and the leading end of the cut recording paper P is the processor. It is prevented from being sent to the unit 7.

  The cut recording paper P for which exposure recording has been completed is conveyed in the reverse direction. When the recording paper sensor 44 of the back printing unit 31 detects that the leading edge of the cut recording paper P has passed through the back printing unit 31 and the entire cut recording paper P has been returned to the previous stage of the back printing unit 31, the detection is made. In response to the signal, the platen unit 43 of the back printing unit 31 is moved to the clamping position, and the branch guide 55 of the branch unit 36 is switched to a position (a position indicated by a solid line in the figure) for guiding toward the processor unit 7. The cut recording paper P is conveyed again in the forward direction and printed, and then sent to the processor unit 7.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A, when the transport distance between the cutter 23 and the image recording unit 33 is shorter than the maximum length (about 460 mm at the maximum) of the cut recording paper P, the cutter 23 is photosensitive. The impact at the time of cutting the recording paper 20 affects the transport speed during exposure recording, and causes so-called white stripes and black stripes. Further, if the distance between the cutter 23 and the image recording unit 33 is sufficient with respect to the maximum length of the cut recording paper P, the apparatus becomes undesirably large.

  As a method for solving the above problem, as shown in FIG. 5B, a branch unit 30 and a buffer unit 35 similar to those in the first embodiment are provided between the cutter 23 and the image recording unit 33. By performing the same operation as described in the first embodiment, the conveyance distance between the cutter 23 and the image recording unit 32 is made shorter than the maximum length of the cut recording paper P, and the cutter 23 is used during exposure recording. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of an impact due to.

  In the first and second embodiments, printing is performed when the cut recording paper P is conveyed in the forward direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cut recording paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction. Printing may be performed when

[Third Embodiment]
In addition to the method using the switchback shown in the first and second embodiments, the same effect can be obtained by loosening the cut recording paper P between the back printing unit and the image recording unit. . FIG. 6A shows a slack method when the back printing unit 31 is upstream of the image recording unit 33 corresponding to FIG. By continuing the conveyance with the leading edge of the cut recording paper P in contact between the rollers of the conveyance roller pair 70 stopped in the nipping state, and retracting one of the retraction roller pair 71 located upstream thereof as indicated by 71a. The cut recording paper P can be loosened. When the recording paper sensor 44 detects that the trailing edge of the cut recording paper P has passed through the back printing unit 31 and printing has been completed, the conveyance roller pair 70 starts to rotate in response to the detection signal, and the cut recording is performed. The paper P is fed into the resist unit 32. Since the recording paper is brought into contact with and loosened between the rollers of the conveying roller pair stopped in the sandwiched state, it is equivalent to the above-described top resist, so that the conveying roller pair 70 and the retracting roller pair 71 are registered with each other. It is good also as a part. The cut recording paper P whose skew has been corrected by the registration unit 32 is sent to the processor unit 7 through exposure recording in the image recording unit 33.

  The method of loosening the cut recording paper P is not limited to the above, and the cut recording paper P may be loosened by making the transport speed of the transport roller pair 70 slower than the transport speed of the upstream transport roller pair 72. In addition, as a method of retracting the conveyance roller pair 71, a known method such as moving with a motor may be used.

  FIG. 6B shows a slack method when the back printing unit 31 is downstream of the image recording unit 33 in correspondence with FIG. 5A and FIG. 6C shows FIG. 5B. Each can have the same effect.

  In order to improve the processing capability of the apparatus in the first to third embodiments, when the cut recording paper P is fed into the processor unit 7, a plurality of cut recording papers P may be arranged and conveyed in the main scanning direction. Good.

  In the above-described embodiment, a printer processor that generates a printed photograph by performing scanning exposure based on digital data has been described as an example of the image recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, projection from a film. The present invention can also be applied to other types of image recording apparatuses such as a printer processor that directly records an image with light, a thermal printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an inkjet printer.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the image recording device of this invention roughly. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a back printing part roughly. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a recording sheet conveyance procedure during switchback. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a recording sheet conveyance procedure during switchback. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically embodiment in case a back printing part exists in the downstream of an image recording part. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematically embodiment by the loosening method.

Explanation of symbols

2 Printer processor 10 Conveyance path 20 Photosensitive recording paper 31 Back printing section 32 Registration section 33 Image recording section 35, 37 Buffer section

Claims (4)

An image recording unit that records an image on one surface of a recording material formed in a sheet shape, a supply unit that supplies the recording material to the image recording unit, and a space between the supply unit and the image recording unit A back printing unit that performs printing on the other surface of the recording material, a discharge unit that discharges the recording material on which image recording has been performed, and a back printing unit and the image recording unit from the supply unit. In an image recording apparatus provided with a conveyance path to the discharge unit,
A buffer unit that branches from the conveyance path between the supply unit and the back printing unit and stores at least a part of the recording material;
Switchable between a first state in which the recording material is guided from the supply unit toward the back printing unit and a second state in which the recording material is guided from the back printing unit toward the buffer unit A guide,
The recording material is fed from the supply unit to the back printing unit through the branch guide in the first state, and the branch guide is moved in response to the rear end of the recording material passing through the back printing unit. A first conveyance step of switching to the second state and switching a conveyance direction of the recording material to send the recording material to the buffer unit; and in response to the leading edge of the recording material passing through the image recording unit A control unit that performs a second conveyance step of switching the conveyance direction of the recording material and feeding the recording material into the image recording unit,
An image recording apparatus, wherein printing is performed by the back printing unit during the first conveying step, and image recording is performed by the image recording unit during the second conveying step. An image recording unit that records an image on one surface of a recording material formed in a sheet shape, a supply unit that supplies the recording material to the image recording unit, and a discharge unit that discharges the recording material on which image recording has been performed And a back printing unit which is provided between the image recording unit and the discharge unit and performs printing on the other surface of the recording material, and from the supply unit via the image recording unit and the back printing unit In an image recording apparatus provided with a conveyance path to the discharge unit,
A first buffer unit that branches from the conveyance path between the back printing unit and the discharge unit and stores at least a part of the recording material;
Switchable between a first state in which the recording material is guided from the back printing unit toward the discharge unit and a second state in which the recording material is guided from the back printing unit toward the first buffer unit. First branch guide,
A first conveying step of feeding the recording material from the supply unit to the image recording unit and then feeding the recording material to the first buffer unit via the first branch guide in the second state; In response to the back end of the recording material passing through the back printing portion, the recording material is switched in the transport direction and the recording material is fed into the back printing portion, and the leading edge of the recording material has passed through the back printing portion. And a control unit that switches the first branch guide to the first state in response to the second conveyance step of switching the conveyance direction of the recording material and feeding the recording material to the back printing unit,
An image recording apparatus that performs image recording by the image recording unit during the first conveying step and performs printing by the back printing unit during the second conveying step. The recording material is stored in the supply unit in a state of a recording material roll in which a long sheet-shaped material is wound, provided in the conveyance path between the supply unit and the image recording unit, A cutting section for cutting the recording material roll into a predetermined length to form the recording material;
A second buffer unit that branches from the conveyance path between the cutting unit and the image recording unit and temporarily stores the recording material;
Switchable between a first state in which the recording material is guided from the cutting unit toward the image recording unit and a second state in which the recording material is guided from the image recording unit toward the second buffer unit. A second branch guide,
The recording material roll is fed from the supply unit to the cutting unit, and then the recording material roll is fed to the image recording unit via the second branch guide in the first state, and the recording material roll is set to a predetermined length. The recording material is cut to form the recording material, and the second branch guide is switched to the second state in response to the trailing edge of the recording material passing through the second branch guide, and the conveyance direction of the recording material is changed. The recording material is switched and fed to the second buffer unit, and the recording material is switched to the image recording unit by switching the conveying direction of the recording material in response to the leading edge of the recording material passing through the image recording unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third transporting step is performed by the control unit. The back printing unit includes a print head that performs printing on the recording material, and a platen unit that sandwiches the recording material together with the print head during printing,
The platen part is movable between a clamping position for clamping the recording material and a retracted position for releasing the recording material clamping, and the platen part is in the retracted position during image recording. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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