JP2005316465A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and efficient image recorder where respective component elements such as a cutter and a recording means are suitably arrayed as an image recorder used for a digital photo-printer or the like, which performs digital exposure and the recording of back print after cutting photosensitive material. <P>SOLUTION: The image recorder has the cutter, the recording means exposing the photosensitive material cut to predetermined length by deflecting and radiating recording light modulated in accordance with digital image data in a direction perpendicular to a scanning carrying direction at a predetermined recording position while scanning and carrying the cut photosensitive material, a carrying means for carrying the cut photosensitive material in a predetermined carrying path, and a back print means arranged on the upstream side of the recording position in the carrying direction of the cut photosensitive material and recording the back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of digital image recording apparatuses.

  At present, images shot on photographic films (hereinafter referred to as films) such as negative films and reversal films are baked onto photosensitive materials such as photographic paper, and the projection light of the film is incident on the photosensitive material. In this method, the photosensitive material is subjected to surface exposure, so-called direct (analog) exposure.

  On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal. A digital photo printer that produces image data, scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image data, records an image (latent image), performs development processing, and outputs it as a print (photograph) has been put to practical use. It was.

In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically, gradation correction and the like are performed by image (signal) processing, and exposure conditions are determined. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform various image processing such as composition of multiple images by image processing, image division such as image division, color / density adjustment, edge enhancement, etc. Can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, and can be stored in a recording medium such as a flexible disk.
Furthermore, according to the digital photo printer, it is possible to output a print with better image quality, which is superior in resolution, color / density reproducibility, and the like as compared with a conventional direct exposure print.

Such a digital photo printer basically includes an input device having a scanner (image reading device) and an image processing device, and an output device having a printing device and a developing device.
In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and this projection light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens. The image is read by photoelectric conversion and sent to the image processing apparatus as film image data (image data signal). The image processing device performs predetermined image processing on the image data sent from the scanner, and sends it to the printing device as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording.
For example, if the printing apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated in accordance with image data sent from the image processing apparatus, and the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction. By transporting the photosensitive material (printing paper) in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed (baked) by a light beam to form a latent image, and a backprint is recorded. In the developing machine, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process or the like to obtain a print in which an image photographed on the film is reproduced.

By the way, not only in such a digital photo printer, but also in a normal direct exposure photo printer, in the printing apparatus, unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape and stored in a light-shielding casing to form a magazine. The magazine is loaded into the printing apparatus, pulled out from the magazine, transported, and subjected to exposure or the like.
Here, in a normal photo printer, the photosensitive material is not cut in the middle, but after being exposed to a long length, recording a back print, developing processing, drying, etc., the photosensitive material is finally cut to a predetermined length. One print is made.

  However, in the apparatus for finally cutting the photosensitive material in this way, it is necessary to form frame information (punch) for indicating the boundary between each frame (each printed sheet) before or during exposure of the photosensitive material. . Therefore, the portion of the photosensitive material on which the frame information is formed is wasted, and a frame information forming unit having a punch, a sensor, and the like is required.

Furthermore, in order to record a high-quality image without unevenness in a digital exposure printing apparatus, it is necessary to scan and convey the photosensitive material during exposure with high accuracy and without stopping. At the time of formation, it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the photosensitive material, and the back print recording gives a load fluctuation to the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material.
In order to avoid these inconveniences, in the printing apparatus of the digital photo printer, the photosensitive material is bent (loop) between the exposure position and the frame information forming unit and between the exposure position and the back print recording unit. As a result, the photosensitive material conveyance area and conveyance control, such as the control of the amount (number of frames) of the photosensitive material in the loop and the exposure timing, are complicated, which causes an increase in apparatus cost and running cost. .

Therefore, in a digital photo printer, it is desired to realize a printing apparatus capable of performing exposure after cutting a photosensitive material corresponding to one print to form a cut sheet.
However, in reality, a digital printing apparatus that performs exposure after using a photosensitive material as a cut sheet has not yet been realized.

  An object of the present invention is an image recording apparatus for use in a digital photo printer or the like that performs digital exposure or back print recording after a photosensitive material is used as a cut sheet, and includes each component such as a cutter and a recording means. Is to provide a compact and efficient image recording apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material supply unit that stores a long photosensitive material in a roll shape, and the photosensitive material is predetermined according to the size of an image to be recorded. While scanning and conveying the cutter to be cut into a long length and the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length, the recording light modulated in accordance with the digital image data is deflected in a direction perpendicular to the scanning and conveying direction at a predetermined recording position. Recording means for exposing the cut photosensitive material by irradiation, transport means for transporting the cut photosensitive material through a predetermined transport path, and upstream of the recording position in the transport direction of the cut photosensitive material An image recording apparatus comprising: a back print unit which is disposed on a side and records a back print on a back surface of the photosensitive material.

  It is preferable that the transport unit transports the cut photosensitive material upward, and then transports the cut photosensitive material in a lateral direction to the next process. In this case, the next process is performed by a developing machine. Preferably, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a development process or a drying process. Further, it is preferable that the transport unit transports the cut photosensitive material so that a recording surface of the cut photosensitive material faces upward when transporting the cut photosensitive material in the lateral direction.

  Further, it is preferable that the back print unit is disposed in an upward conveyance path by the conveyance unit on the downstream side of the cutter in the conveyance direction. It is preferable that the back print unit is disposed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the cutter. The back print means is preferably a non-contact type printing apparatus.

  The image recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention preferably further includes a sorting unit that sorts the cut photosensitive material into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and the sorting unit includes: It is preferable to be provided downstream of the recording position in the transport direction.

  In order to achieve the above object, the second aspect of the present invention provides a photosensitive material supply unit in which a photosensitive material magazine storing a long photosensitive material in a roll shape is loaded, and a size of an image to be recorded. Accordingly, the long photosensitive material pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine is cut into a predetermined length to form a cut sheet photosensitive material, and the cutter is disposed above the cutter, and is placed on the back surface of the cut sheet photosensitive material. Back printing means for performing printing, sub-scanning conveying means arranged above the back printing means for scanning and conveying the cut sheet photosensitive material, and digital image data of the image to be recorded at a predetermined recording position By irradiating the cut sheet photosensitive material while deflecting the recording light modulated in accordance with the direction perpendicular to the scanning conveyance direction, the sub-scanning conveyance An exposure apparatus comprising an exposure optical unit that exposes the cut sheet photosensitive material that is sub-scanned and conveyed by the means, and the cut sheet photosensitive material is conveyed upward from the cutter and then conveyed laterally to a developing machine. Transporting means for transporting along a predetermined transport path to be supplied, wherein the back print means is downstream in the transport direction of the cutter and upstream in the transport direction of the exposure apparatus, and is moved upward by the transport means. Provided is an image recording apparatus arranged in a conveyance path.

  In the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the back print means is preferably a non-contact type printing apparatus, and the photosensitive material supply unit is loaded with one or two photosensitive material magazines. It is preferable that Furthermore, it is preferable to have a sorting unit that sorts the cut sheet photosensitive material into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  According to the present invention, a compact and efficient arrangement is made by suitably arranging a cutter for cutting the photosensitive material, a recording means for backprinting, a recording means for scanning and exposing the photosensitive material, or a sorting means for distributing the photosensitive material in the horizontal direction. A good image recording apparatus can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
The image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A (hereinafter referred to as the recording apparatus 10) is cut into a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material, and cut into a cut sheet, and then back printed. A device that performs recording (backside printing) and digital exposure and supplies the exposed photosensitive material Z to a developing machine (processor). The photosensitive material supply unit 12, the backprint unit 14 that records a backprint, and the recording (exposure) ) A recording unit having an exposure optical unit (hereinafter referred to as an exposure unit) 16 and a scanning conveyance unit (not shown in FIG. 1) for exposing the photosensitive material Z at the position X;
Further, the first buffer A is located between the back print unit 14 and the recording position X, and the second buffer B is located between the recording position X and the sorting unit 18, and the sorting unit 18 is downstream in the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material Z. The third buffer C is provided as a conveyance area for the photosensitive material Z (hereinafter referred to as downstream).

Here, the example shown in FIG. 1 has, as a preferred embodiment, a sorting unit 18 that sorts the photosensitive material Z into a plurality of rows by sorting the photosensitive material Z in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction in order to increase the processing capacity of the processor. The image recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and although the capability as a printer processor is reduced, the distribution means 18 may not be provided as an inexpensive specification.
In this case, not only the distribution means 18 but also a third buffer C which is a post-distribution buffer described later becomes unnecessary.

The example shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a backprint is recorded prior to exposure of the photosensitive material Z. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the backprint is recorded after exposure of the photosensitive material Z. It may be.
As an example of the basic configuration in this case, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the back print unit 14 positioned upstream of the first buffer A is positioned downstream of the second buffer B, and is further distributed downstream thereof. A configuration in which a front buffer is provided and the sorting unit 18 is located downstream thereof is illustrated.
In the configuration in which the back print is recorded after exposure, the back print unit 14 may be positioned downstream of the sorting unit 18, but this configuration corresponds to each row of the photosensitive material Z conveyed in a plurality of rows. Since it is necessary to provide a back print means (printer), it is preferable to arrange the back print unit 14 upstream of the distribution means 18 in consideration of the device cost and the space in the device.

In the recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material supply unit 12 includes magazines 20 and 22 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape with the emulsion surface (photosensitive surface) outside is housed in a light-shielding casing. Is configured to include a loading unit, a pair of drawing rollers 24 and 26, and a cutter 28.
The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus that can be loaded with two magazines 20 and 22, both of which are usually size (width), surface type (silk, mat, etc.), specifications (thickness, type of base, etc.), etc. Different types of photosensitive materials Z are stored. In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the number of magazines that can be loaded is not limited to two in the illustrated example, but may be one, or three or more magazines may be loaded. .

  In such a photosensitive material supply unit 12, the photosensitive material Z of the corresponding magazine is pulled out by the drawer roller pairs 24 and 26 and is conveyed to the downstream back print unit 14. This conveyance is stopped when the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutter 28 reaches a length corresponding to the print to be created, and then the cutter 28 is operated to cut the photosensitive material Z to a predetermined length. The cut sheet.

  The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A has a configuration in which the photosensitive material Z drawn from the two magazines 20 and 22 is cut by a common cutter 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in the example shown in FIG. 1B, the cutters 28a and 28b may be provided for the magazines 20 and 22, respectively.

The back print unit 14 is provided on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material Z on the date of photographing, date of printing, frame number, film ID number (symbol), ID number of the camera used for photographing, and ID of the photo printer. It is a part for recording various information such as numbers, so-called back print (back print).
In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the back print recording method (printer) in the back print unit 14 is not particularly limited, and the back print recording used in a known photo printer such as an ink jet printer, a dot impact printer, or a thermal transfer printer. Various methods are available. Among these, for the reasons described later, a non-contact type recording method such as an ink jet printer can be suitably used. In particular, an ink jet printer using a water-insoluble and solid hot-melt ink at room temperature is preferably exemplified. .
Further, it is preferable that the back print unit 14 is configured so as to be able to print two or more lines in accordance with the new standard Advanced Photo System.

In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, when the back print is recorded before the exposure of the photosensitive material Z as shown in the figure, the distance from the cutter 28 to the back print recording portion by the back print unit 14, Depending on the size and the like, the back print may be recorded before the photosensitive material Z is cut by the cutter 28, may be recorded after the cutting, or may be recorded before and after the cutting.
Further, by providing a cut buffer, which will be described later, between the cutter 28 and the back print unit 14, the back print may be recorded after the photosensitive material Z is cut. Alternatively, the back print unit 14 may be provided upstream, and the cutting may always be performed after the back print is recorded.

In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, exposure of the photosensitive material Z is performed by so-called digital raster scanning exposure that is performed by the recording light L that is modulated according to digital image data while scanning and conveying the photosensitive material Z.
The exposure unit 16 is an optical unit that performs such digital exposure. For example, the exposure unit 16 emits light beams corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material Z, respectively. A light source that emits light, modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data, and the modulated light beam in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning conveyance direction An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting, an fθ (scanning) lens for imaging a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a predetermined position on a recording position X (scanning line) with a predetermined beam system, and the like. This is a known light beam scanning device.

The exposure unit 16 used in the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to such a light beam scanning apparatus, and includes various light emitting arrays and spatial modulation element arrays that extend in a direction orthogonal to the scanning conveyance direction. Various digital raster exposure means can be used.
Specifically, digital using a PDP (plasma display) array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array, DMD (digital micromirror device) array, laser array, etc. An exposure means is exemplified.

There is no particular limitation on the scanning conveying means used in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, and various conveying means used for known digital scanning exposure are exemplified.
Specifically, scanning conveyance means using a pair of conveyance rollers arranged with the recording position X (scanning line) in between, an exposure drum for conveying the photosensitive material Z while holding it at the recording position X, and the recording position X A scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers that are sandwiched and abutted against the exposure drum is preferably exemplified.

The sorting unit 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a horizontal direction) orthogonal to the transport direction (corresponding to the transport direction by the developing machine).
Currently, in general silver salt photographic light-sensitive materials used for photographic printing, development processing and exposure are more time-consuming. Therefore, if continuous exposure is performed, the development processing is not in time, and stockers and It is necessary to temporarily store the exposed photosensitive material in a reservoir or the like.
The sorting unit 18 is arranged to eliminate this inconvenience. The sorting unit 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction to form a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction, thereby improving the processing capability in the developing device, for example, If it is two rows, it is possible to perform processing that is slightly less than twice that of a single row, and if it is three rows, it is possible to perform processing that is slightly less than three times, and offsets the processing time difference between development processing and exposure.

  The sorting method in the sorting means 18 is not particularly limited, and various sheet material sorting methods can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a sorting method using a turret 30 that rotates about a shaft 30a. An example is a method in which the conveying means for the photosensitive material Z is divided into a plurality of blocks, for example, three blocks, and the central block among them is moved and distributed in the lateral direction.

Furthermore, as a method of efficiently and quickly distributing the photosensitive material Z at a short distance in parallel with the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z, a belt conveyor and a cylinder are cut in the axial direction to form a plane on a part of the conveying surface. A sorter using a half-moon roller (D roller) is exemplified.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the sorting device 40. The sorting device 40 includes five belts arranged at intervals from each other, which are conveying means for conveying the photosensitive material Z in the downstream direction (the direction of arrow a in the figure). A pair of meniscus rollers 44 (44a, 44b, 44c and 44d) disposed between the conveyors 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e) and the belt conveyors 42 for sorting by conveying the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction. ).

As shown in FIG. 3B, when the photosensitive material Z is carried from the upstream (second buffer B in the example shown in FIG. 1) to the sorting device 40, each pair of half-moon rollers 44 The plane portions are in a state of facing each other. Here, the plane portion of the lower half-moon roller is set to be the same as or slightly below the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 42, so that there is no problem in conveying the photosensitive material Z by the belt conveyor 42 or the like.
When the photosensitive material Z is conveyed to a predetermined position, the half-moon roller pair 44 then rotates clockwise when the photosensitive material Z is distributed, that is, when the photosensitive material Z is distributed to the right in the figure, and conversely to the left. Rotates counterclockwise. As shown in FIG. 3C, when the half-moon roller pair 44 rotates, the lower half-moon roller conveyance surface protrudes above the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor 42, so that the photosensitive material Z is lifted from the belt conveyor 42, Next, the half-moon roller pair 44 sandwiches the photosensitive material Z, conveys it in the horizontal direction, and distributes it.

  Further, as another method of efficiently distributing the photosensitive material Z at a short distance in parallel with the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z, a belt conveyor as a conveying means in the downstream direction for placing and conveying the photosensitive material Z, Lifting means that lifts the photosensitive material Z by using a suction cup or the like and conveys it in the lateral direction. A method of conveying and distributing in the (downstream) direction is exemplified.

  The recording apparatus 10 of the present invention basically includes the above components. Here, in order to realize an appropriate action in each component such as each cutter 28 and recording means, it is necessary to eliminate the influence of the operation of other components, and therefore, each component is surely separated. In order to achieve this, a transport area, that is, a buffer for performing only the movement of the photosensitive material Z is required upstream and downstream of each component.

Specifically, the cutting of the photosensitive material Z by the cutter 28 needs to be performed after the conveyance is stopped, and if the photosensitive material is subjected to some load when the photosensitive material Z is cut, the cutting length of the photosensitive material Z is increased. It will change. Therefore, downstream of the cutter 28, it is necessary to provide a cut buffer for separating conveyance of the photosensitive material Z to be cut and for separating other components that give a load fluctuation to the photosensitive material Z.
In addition, fluctuations in scanning conveyance speed (scanning conveyance unevenness) of the photosensitive material Z at the time of exposure lead to unevenness of the recorded image. Therefore, in order to record a high-quality image, stop of the scanning conveyance during recording, It is necessary to avoid changing the load on the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material Z during exposure due to the recording of the back print or the cutting of the photosensitive material. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a pre-exposure buffer for separating components that affect the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material Z upstream of the recording position X, and a similar post-exposure buffer downstream.
Furthermore, although the apparatus of the illustrated example has the distribution means 18, as described above, since the distribution moves the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction, the distribution is performed when other components are acting. May not be possible. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a pre-sorting buffer for separating the sorting unit and other components upstream from the sorting unit 18 and a similar post-sorting buffer downstream.

  The image recording apparatus of the present invention is accurate and efficient by arranging various components such as the cutter 28, the back print unit 14, the exposure unit, the sorting unit 18 and the like in combination with these buffers. The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example includes the first buffer A, the second buffer B, and the third buffer C, and each of these buffers is configured.

The conveying means in each buffer is not particularly limited, and all known sheet material conveying methods such as a conveying roller pair, a nip belt, a belt conveyor, and a conveying means using a suction cup can be used. Of course, various guides, positioning means, and the like may be provided as necessary. If not necessary, the buffer need not have a conveying means.
However, the conveyance means disposed in the pre-exposure buffer and the post-exposure buffer is required to have an accuracy and a configuration (for example, formation of a loop described later) that does not cause load fluctuations in the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material.

The length of each buffer needs to be longer than the length in the conveyance direction of the maximum size print targeted by the recording apparatus 10 (hereinafter referred to as Lmax). If the buffer is too long, the conveyance path of the photosensitive material Z becomes long, resulting in an increase in apparatus cost and a decrease in efficiency.
Therefore, “Lmax + α” obtained by adding a margin α to Lmax is the basic buffer length. For example, if the maximum size print is panorama, the buffer length is basically 254 mm + α, and if it is cut into four, it is 305 mm + α. The margin α is appropriately determined according to the interval between the conveying rollers, and is preferably about 2 mm to 79 mm.

Here, the conveyance of the photosensitive material in the buffer does not need to be a straight line, and the photosensitive material in the upstream and downstream components sandwiching the loop is formed by forming a loop (deflection) of the photosensitive material Z in the buffer. The conveyance and operation of Z can prevent a load variation from being caused to the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z, and the linear distance of the buffer, that is, the interval between the portions sandwiching the buffer can be shortened.
The print size recorded by the recording apparatus 10 is various. In general photo printers, it is preferable to be able to cope with the L size from 89 mm to the four-cut 305 mm, but when forming the loop of the photosensitive material Z, The loop may be formed corresponding to only a large size print, or the loop may be formed even with a minimum size print.

The recording apparatus of the present invention is basically configured to have the five buffers (three if there is no sorting), but as is clear from the example shown in FIG. Each buffer can be shared or omitted depending on the back printer or sorting device used.
For example, as is apparent from FIG. 1, the first buffer A provided between the back print unit 14 and the recording position X includes an area for cutting the photosensitive material Z into a predetermined length, a recording position X, and its position. This is a region for separation from the upstream components (backprint unit 14 in the illustrated example), and serves as both a cut buffer and a pre-exposure buffer. Further, as described above, since the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z can be stopped during the recording of the back print, in other words, in the configuration as shown in the illustrated example in which the back print is recorded before the exposure, before the exposure, The buffer and back print unit 14 are cut buffers.
Further, the second buffer B arranged between the recording position X and the distributing means 18 is an area for separating the recording position X from the downstream components, that is, the distributing means 18, and is a post-exposure buffer. It also serves as a pre-sort buffer.

Further, by using a non-contact type printer such as an ink jet printer as the recording means in the back print unit 14, it is possible to eliminate the load fluctuation that the back print recording gives to the scanning conveyance. Therefore, if such a non-contact type printer is used, the back print unit 14 can be set in the pre-exposure buffer or the post-exposure buffer.
Specifically, in the illustrated recording apparatus 10, the back print unit 14 can be disposed in the first buffer A to shorten the conveyance path. Further, when the recording apparatus 10 is configured to record a back print after exposure, in the contact type printer, the back print unit is positioned downstream of the second buffer B as described above, and the downstream is distributed. Although it is necessary to increase the front buffer, if a non-contact type printer is used, the back print unit 14 may be arranged in the second buffer B with the same configuration as the downstream side from the recording position X in FIG. .

  Further, as the sorting means 18, the sorting device 40 using the belt conveyor and the half moon roller shown in FIG. Can be eliminated or greatly shortened.

In a photo printer that exposes a cut sheet, it is preferable to make the interval between the prints as narrow as possible in order to produce an efficient print. Therefore, the photosensitive material Z is continuously carried into the sorting unit 18. .
Here, in the sorting device using the turret as shown in FIG. 2 and the sorting device that moves the transport means sideways (in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction), the time for rotating the turret and moving the transport means is secured. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to change the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material Z, and therefore, a pre-sorting buffer and a post-sorting buffer are required in order to measure separation from the upstream and downstream components.

On the other hand, the sorting device 40 or the sorting device using the belt conveyor and the lift conveying means can quickly sort without changing the speed of carrying the photosensitive material into the sorting device.
That is, even if there is a slight error in the conveyance by the belt conveyor, since the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material Z is usually nipping conveyance using a roller pair or the like, the load fluctuation that this error gives to the scanning conveyance is so small that it can be ignored. Further, the conveyance speed in the sorting device does not necessarily need to coincide with the scanning conveyance speed. Therefore, for example, the photosensitive material Z that has been exposed can be accommodated in the sorting apparatus at the same speed as the scanning conveyance speed, and can be immediately sorted when the accommodation is completed. The photosensitive material Z can be conveyed to the substrate.
Accordingly, by using these sorting means, the sorting means can be arranged immediately after the recording position X, and can also serve as a post-sorting buffer in the transport after the sorting. Therefore, the pre-sorting buffer and the post-sorting buffer Or can be significantly shortened according to the configuration of the recording means, sorting device, developing machine, and the like.

  That is, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, a buffer is formed so that a loop can be formed, a non-contact type back print unit is used, and an example shown in FIG. By using this, it is possible to realize the most efficient apparatus by minimizing the conveyance length of the photosensitive material.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
Note that the image recording apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter referred to as the recording apparatus 50) is an example of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. However, the description will be mainly given of the materialized portion. Although not shown for the sake of clarity of the basic configuration of the apparatus, the recording apparatus 50 includes a conveying means for the photosensitive material Z such as a conveying roller, a conveying guide, a sensor for detecting the photosensitive material, and the like. Various members arranged in a known image recording apparatus are arranged as necessary.

  The recording apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 4 includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a back print unit 14, a recording unit 52, and a distribution unit 18.

The photosensitive material supply unit 12 includes loading units 54 and 56 for loading the magazines 20 and 22. The loading unit 54 has a drawer roller pair 24, the loading unit 56 has a drawer roller pair 26, and A cutter 28 a is arranged corresponding to the loading unit 54, and a cutter 28 b is arranged corresponding to the loading unit 56.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the recording apparatus 50, the loading unit 56 is disposed below the loading unit 54, and the recording position X is positioned above, so that the recording position X is positioned above the corresponding cutter 28. The distance to the back print unit 14 (recording position X) differs. In other words, the cut buffers corresponding to the cutters 28a and 28b have different distances from each other.

  The back print unit 14 is, for example, a printer 58 that uses an ink ribbon, and records a back print on the photosensitive material Z that is guided and conveyed by the guide 60.

The photosensitive material Z cut to a predetermined length and recorded with the back print is then conveyed to the recording unit 52 (sub-scanning conveying means 62).
The recording unit 52 includes the exposure unit 16 and the sub-scanning conveying unit 62. In the illustrated example, the exposure unit 16 records, for example, a light beam that is modulated in accordance with a recorded image and is deflected in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4) perpendicular to the scanning conveyance direction by the sub-scanning conveyance means 62. The light beam scanning apparatus described above exposes the photosensitive material Z as light L.
The sub-scanning conveyance means 62 includes a pair of conveyance rollers 64 and 66 arranged with the recording position X (scanning line) interposed therebetween, and an exposure conveyance guide 68 for holding the photosensitive material Z at the recording position X with high accuracy. The photosensitive material Z is held at the recording position X by the exposure conveyance guide 68 and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction by the conveyance roller pairs 64 and 66. Here, as described above, since the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material Z is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to form a latent image.

In this recording apparatus 50, the first buffer A corresponds to the area from the exit of the guide 60 of the back print unit 14 to the recording position X of the recording unit 52, which serves as both a cut buffer and a pre-exposure buffer. .
Further, as described above, since the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z can be stopped during the recording of the back print, from the viewpoint of the cut buffer, the cut buffer is from the cutters 28a and 28b to the recording position X. The distance is different from each other.

  The distribution unit 18 is arranged downstream of the recording unit 52, and the photosensitive material Z that has been exposed is distributed in the distribution unit 18 in a direction (lateral direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction and overlapped in the conveyance direction. And then transported to a developing device 72 by a pair of transport rollers 70, subjected to various processes such as a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a washing tank according to the photosensitive material Z, dried, and printed. .

Here, in the recording apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 4, as the distribution means 18, the distribution apparatus 40 using the belt conveyor and the half-moon roller described above or the distribution apparatus using the belt conveyor and the lift conveyance means is used. .
Accordingly, the second buffer B (in the illustrated example, from the recording position X to the entrance of the sorting means 18) serving as a post-exposure buffer and a pre-sorting buffer provided downstream of the recording position X, and a third buffer C serving as a post-sorting buffer. The distance (from the outlet of the sorting means 18 to the downstream conveying roller pair 70) can be made very short, and a compact and efficient apparatus is realized.

  The image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

(A) And (b) is a figure which shows the basic composition of an example of the image recording device of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the distribution means of the photosensitive material utilized for the image recording apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) and (c) are schematic views of another example of a photosensitive material distribution means used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein (a) is a top view, (b) and (C) is a side view. It is the schematic of an example of the image recording device of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 50 (Image) recording device 12 Photosensitive material supply part 14 Back print part 16 Exposure unit 18 Sorting means 20, 22 Magazine 24, 26 Pull-out roller pair 28, 28a, 28b Cutter 40 Sorting apparatus 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) Belt conveyor 44 (44a, 44b, 44c, 44d) Half-moon roller pair 52 Recording section 54, 56 Loading section 58 Printer 60 guide 62 Sub-scan transport means 64, 66, 70 Transport roller pair 68 Exposure transport guide

Claims (13)

A photosensitive material supply unit for storing a long photosensitive material in a roll shape;
A cutter for cutting the photosensitive material into a predetermined length according to the size of an image to be recorded;
While the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length is scanned and conveyed, the recording material modulated according to the digital image data is irradiated at a predetermined recording position while being deflected in a direction perpendicular to the scanning and conveying direction. Recording means for exposing the photosensitive material,
Conveying means for conveying the cut photosensitive material through a predetermined conveying path;
An image recording apparatus comprising: a back print unit that is disposed upstream of the recording position in the transport direction of the cut photosensitive material and records a back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit transports the cut photosensitive material upward, and then transports the cut photosensitive material in a lateral direction to the next process.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the next step is a step of performing a development process or a drying process on the exposed photosensitive material by a developing machine.   4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport unit transports the cut photosensitive material in a lateral direction so that a recording surface of the cut photosensitive material faces up. 5.   5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the back print unit is disposed in an upward conveyance path by the conveyance unit at a downstream side of the cutter in the conveyance direction. 6.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back print unit is disposed on a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the cutter.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back print unit is a non-contact type printing apparatus.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sorting unit that sorts the cut photosensitive material into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sorting unit is provided downstream of the recording position in the transport direction. A photosensitive material supply unit loaded with a photosensitive material magazine in which a long photosensitive material in a roll shape is stored;
According to the size of the image to be recorded, a cutter that cuts the long photosensitive material drawn out from the photosensitive material magazine into a predetermined length to form a cut sheet photosensitive material;
A back printing means disposed above the cutter and performing a back print on the back surface of the cut sheet photosensitive material;
Sub-scanning conveying means arranged above the back print means for scanning and conveying the cut sheet photosensitive material, and recording light modulated in accordance with digital image data of the image to be recorded at a predetermined recording position An exposure apparatus comprising an exposure optical unit that exposes the cut sheet photosensitive material that is sub-scan transported by the sub-scan transport means by irradiating the cut sheet photosensitive material while deflecting in a direction perpendicular to the scan transport direction;
Transporting the cut sheet photosensitive material upward from the cutter, and then transporting the cut sheet photosensitive material in a predetermined transport path that is transported laterally and supplied to the developing device;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the back print unit is arranged in a transport path downstream of the cutter and upstream of the exposure apparatus in the transport direction, and in an upward transport path by the transport unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the back print unit is a non-contact type printing apparatus.   12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the photosensitive material supply unit is configured to load one or two photosensitive material magazines.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a sorting unit that sorts the cut sheet photosensitive material into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

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