JP2006044879A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device capable of accurately positioning sheet-like media by the side-edge truing to an exposure part even with a dimensional error of the sheet-like media of each size. <P>SOLUTION: This image recording device has a conveying means capable of conveying sheet-like media of multiple sizes; an exposure means for scanning the conveyed sheet-like media to form latent images; a correcting means for correcting the position in an orthogonal direction to a conveyed direction of the sheet-like media to the scanning of the exposure means; and a control means for controlling the conveying means, exposure means and correcting means. The correcting means has a pair of engaging members 1, 2 normally and reversely movable in a direction X almost orthogonal to the conveyed direction of the sheet-like media and engaged with both ends of the sheet-like media to correct the position in the orthogonal direction to the conveyed direction, and a driving means for driving the engaging members. The control means has a detecting means 9 for detecting the deformation quantity of the sheet-like media F pressed in the almost orthogonal direction to the conveyed direction by the engaging members, and controls the normal and reverse moving timing of the engaging members based on the detected result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that scans a sheet-like medium to form a latent image and record an image.

  In an image recording device (imager) that exposes a photothermographic film by irradiating a photothermographic film at an exposure unit and visualizes the latent image by heat development at the development unit, the width direction position of the film conveyed to the exposure unit The film is positioned while being moved, and the film is exposed while being conveyed by a nip roller. In this exposure part, positioning is performed by locking the film tip with a nip roller in the previous stage or with a stopper that can be advanced and retracted, and there is an advantage that the number of parts for position correction (regulation) can be reduced. On the other hand, when the rotational drive is performed again after the position is restricted or when the stopper is retracted, the leading edge of the film is easily affected, and the image position with respect to the film sometimes fluctuates.

  On the other hand, using a pair of nip rollers capable of releasing the pressure bonding, the movement in the film conveying direction is applied at the same time as the pressure releasing and the weight of the roller or the like is applied, the movement in the conveying direction is suppressed, and the direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction. A method of correcting the position of the film by causing the width adjusting nail to act, and then pressing the pair of nip rollers and conveying the film to the exposure unit is preferable because the film position hardly changes after the position correction. In addition, as a conventional position regulation method, for example, both a one-side reference as in Patent Document 1 and a center reference as in Patent Document 2 are appropriately used.

  The conventional type imager was only the type that can process half-cut, large-angle, and large-quarter cuts of 14 inches in the width direction, but in recent years, an imager that can process six-cut and four-cuts simultaneously has been demanded. Patent Document 2 discloses an imager capable of processing from six to half cuts.

  Film is manufactured by cutting into various sizes from a wide raw fabric, but there is a possibility of errors in dimensions, so a certain amount of error is allowed. For example, in the JIS standard, an allowable width of ± 1 mm is allowed. There is. Therefore, the stroke for narrowing the film is set in consideration of the range 2 mm + α in both the one-side reference and center-reference methods. In addition, depending on the type of sheet-like medium to be width-adjusted and position-corrected, typically paper, medical film (PET base of around 170 μm) or phosphor plate rigidity, the width-shifting stroke (push-in amount) Is adjusted.

  In addition, a force that overcomes the resistance of the guide in contact with the sheet-shaped medium must be applied to the sheet-shaped medium, and depending on the overstroke setting, an excessive force may act on the sheet-shaped medium and the width nail. When there is a possibility that the sheet-like medium may be damaged, an overload relief portion is formed in the width-shifting claw or an elastic function in the driving system.

  In the case of a photothermographic film in which a sheet medium is coated with an emulsion on a PET base of about 170 μm and has a thickness of about 200 μm, the overhanging nail (including the drive system) is not overloaded and the film itself is bent. Or the elastic member is used together to alleviate the bending. Patent Document 1 is a combined type and Patent Document 2 is a type that is not used together.

However, when at least one pair of width-shifting claws is applied uniformly to each end face by the center reference method, particularly for each size of six cuts to half cuts, the film position may not be corrected in the same way.
JP 2003-167300 A JP 2004-099204 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art. An image recording apparatus capable of accurately positioning a sheet-shaped medium with respect to an exposure unit by shifting the width of the sheet-shaped medium even if there is a dimensional error. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveying unit capable of conveying a plurality of sizes of sheet-like medium, an exposure unit that scans the conveyed sheet-like medium to form a latent image, and An image recording apparatus comprising: a correcting unit that corrects a position in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet-like medium with respect to scanning of the exposing unit; and a control unit that controls the conveying unit, the exposing unit, and the correcting unit. The correcting means can move forward and backward in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like medium, engages with both ends of the sheet-like medium, and corrects the position in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. A deformation amount of the sheet-like medium pressed by the engagement member in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Detect to detect It comprises means, and controlling the timing of the forward and reverse movement of the engagement member based on the detection result.

  According to this image recording apparatus, the amount of deformation when the sheet-like medium is pressed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction for position correction is detected, and the forward / reverse movement timing of the engaging member is determined based on the detection result. Therefore, the amount of deformation at the time of pressing can be controlled to be constant regardless of dimensional accuracy, and the sheet-like medium can be maintained at a constant deflection (a constant energy) during position correction. For this reason, since the engaging member moves in the reverse direction of the pressing direction and the sheet-like medium returns from the state where the accumulated energy is deflected, it can be accurately positioned without causing violent displacement. Even if there is a dimensional error in the size of the sheet-like medium, the positioning of the sheet-like medium with respect to the exposure portion can be performed with high accuracy.

  In the image recording apparatus, it is preferable that the detection means is constituted by a position detection device (PSD).

  In addition, when the pressed sheet-like medium is deformed into a convex shape, the height of the convex shape is detected, and the detected height reaches a predetermined amount, the engagement member is reversed from the pressing direction. The drive means can be controlled to move in the direction.

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, even if there is a dimensional error in each size of the sheet-like medium, the positioning of the sheet-like medium with respect to the exposure unit can be performed with high accuracy.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing an exposure unit of the image recording apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 100 is loaded with a package in which a predetermined number of photothermographic films (hereinafter also referred to as “films”), which are sheet-like photothermographic materials, are packaged. And a second loading unit 11, 12, a supply unit 110 having a conveyance unit 5 </ b> A for conveying the film one by one for exposure and development, and exposing the film fed from the supply unit 110 to expose a latent image. An exposure unit 120 to be formed, a thermal development unit 130 to thermally develop a film on which a latent image is formed, and a cooling and conveyance unit including a densitometer 200 and a conveyance roller 144A that measure density of the developed film and obtain density information 150.

  The first and second loading units 11 and 12 of the supply unit 110 are loaded with films of different sizes, respectively, and the conveyance unit 5A, one film at a time from the first loading unit 11 or the second loading unit 12, It is conveyed in the arrow direction (1) of FIG. 1 by the conveying roller pair 139, 140, 141. A pair of transport rollers 139, 140, and 141 transports the film downward toward the exposure unit 120.

  Next, the film is horizontally transported by the transport roller pair 4 in the arrow direction (2), and further, sub-scan transported by the transport roller pairs 142 and 142 ′, and the exposure unit 120 emits laser light to form a latent image. .

  Next, the sheet is conveyed in the arrow direction (3) by the conveying roller pairs 146, 145, 144, and 143. A pair of transport rollers 146, 145, 144, 143 lifts and transports the film on which the latent image is formed toward the heat developing unit 130.

  Next, the latent image of the film is visualized by the heat developing unit 130, and the film is further conveyed by the conveying roller 144 </ b> A in the arrow direction (4), cooled by the cooling conveying unit 150, and then discharged to the discharging unit 160. The transport roller pair 4 is rotationally driven by a motor 149 (FIG. 5), and the other transport roller pairs 139, 141, 4, 142, 142 ′, 146, 145, 144, and 143 are similarly rotationally driven by the motor. .

  Next, the exposure unit will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure unit 120 deflects the laser light L, which has been intensity-modulated based on the image signal S, by the rotary polygon mirror 113 to perform main scanning on the film F, and converts the film F into the laser light L. On the other hand, it is sub-scanned by relative movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a latent image is formed on the film F using the laser beam L.

  A more specific configuration of the exposure unit 120 will be described below. In FIG. 2, image data output from an external image output device 121 is received via a network or the like, and an image signal S which is a digital signal of the image data is converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 122. , And input to the modulation circuit 123. Based on the analog signal, the modulation circuit 123 controls the driver 124 of the laser light source unit 110a to irradiate the laser beam L modulated from the laser light source unit 110a. These units 122 to 124 are controlled by the control unit 50 (FIG. 5).

  The laser light L emitted from the laser light source unit 110a passes through the lens 112, is converged only in the vertical direction by the cylindrical lens 115, and rotates on the rotary polygon mirror 113 that rotates in the arrow A 'direction in the figure. It is made to enter as a line image perpendicular to. The rotary polygon mirror 113 reflects and deflects the laser light L in the main scanning direction, and the deflected laser light L passes through an fθ lens 114 including a cylindrical lens formed by combining two lenses and then enters the optical path. Reflected by the mirror 116 provided extending in the main scanning direction, and on the surface to be scanned 117 of the film F conveyed (sub-scanned) in the arrow Y direction by the conveying roller pair 142, 142 ′. The main scanning is repeated in the direction of the arrow X. That is, the laser beam L is scanned over the entire surface to be scanned 117 on the film F. In this way, a latent image based on the image signal S is formed on the film F.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heat developing section 130 has a heating drum 14 that can be heated while holding the film F in close contact with the outer periphery, and the heating drum 14 is an inner sleeve made of a rotatable aluminum cylinder. It is heated to a predetermined temperature by energization control on a heater that is a heating source attached to the peripheral surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of counter rollers 16 having a smaller diameter than the heating drum 14 as guide members and pressing members are provided outside the heating drum 14. Are arranged in parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14.

  The heating drum 14 is formed on the film F by maintaining the film F at a predetermined heat development time above a predetermined minimum heat development temperature while rotating with the film F sandwiched between the opposing rollers 16. The latent image is formed as a visible image. Here, the minimum heat development temperature is a minimum temperature at which the latent image formed on the film F starts to be thermally developed, and is, for example, 95 ° C. or higher. On the other hand, the heat development time refers to a time that should be maintained at a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum heat development temperature in order to develop the latent image on the film F to a desired development characteristic. In addition, it is preferable that the film F is a thing which is not substantially thermally developed at 40 degrees C or less.

  Next, the film positioning mechanism in the exposure unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  3A and 3B are a main part plan view schematically showing the film positioning / conveying mechanism in the exposure unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a main part front view of the width adjusting member of the film positioning / conveying mechanism. FIG. 4 is a top view (a) and a side view (b) of the main part of the film positioning and conveying mechanism of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the film positioning and transporting mechanism includes a pair of first and first parts in which racks 1b and 2b are formed on side parts 1a and 2a that are substantially L-shaped and face each other in parallel. 2 width-adjusting members 1 and 2, a stepping motor 7 capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, a pinion 3 rotated by a stepping motor 7 via a gear 7a and meshed with the racks 1b and 2b of the width-adjusting members 1 and 2, and a sheet shape A pair of transport rollers 4 disposed on the upstream side of the width adjusting members 1 and 2 so as to transport the film F in the transport direction Y.

  3 and 4 is disposed upstream of the conveyance roller pair 142 for sub-scanning conveyance in the exposure unit 120 of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the pinion 3 rotates in the rotation direction r by forward rotation of the stepping motor 7, the first and second width-adjusting members 1 and 2 are crossed in the width direction X orthogonal to the transport direction Y. , Move toward both ends of the film F, engage with both ends of the film and widen the film F to correct the position in the width direction, and further press and press to form a convex shape To bend and deform. Further, when the pinion 3 rotates in the rotation direction r ′ due to the reverse rotation of the stepping motor 7, the first and second width-adjusting members 1 and 2 have a width direction X opposite to the width direction X orthogonal to the transport direction Y. 'Move away from each other. The film F can be positioned more accurately by pressing it in the width direction X to bend and deform it into a convex shape and then return it to its original flat state.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the light reflection type position sensor 6 is disposed above the upper end surface 2 c of the second width adjusting member 2. If the 2nd width adjustment member 2 moves to the home position 6a like Fig.4 (a), the position sensor 6 will detect the upper end surface 2c, and the stepping motor 7 will stop at the home position 6a by this detection signal. Since the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 are moved by the same amount of movement by the common pinion 3, when the second width adjusting member 2 is located at the home position 6a, the first width The closing member 1 is also at the home position.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the conveying roller pair 4 includes a driving roller 4a and a driven roller 4b. The driven roller 4b can be released from pressure bonding, and a nip capable of conveying a film at a solid line position with respect to the driving roller 4a. And the nip is released at the position of the broken line.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4A, the position detection device (PSD) 9 is disposed above the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2. The position detection device 9 is positioned approximately in the middle between the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 in the width direction X, and measures the height distance to the film between the width adjusting members 1 and 2. The amount of convex deformation generated when the film is pressed in the width direction X and bent between the width-adjusting members 1 and 2 to correct the position of the film can be measured.

  The position detection device (PSD) 9 is a distance measurement sensor that is composed of a position sensor whose output changes depending on the incident position of the spot light and can measure the distance from the reference surface to the reflection surface, and can obtain a continuous electric signal with a resolution.・ Excellent response.

  FIG. 7 shows the state (a) of measuring the distance to the film surface in the flat state with the position detection device in FIGS. 3 (b) and 4 (a), and the distance to the film surface in the state of being pressed and deformed into a convex shape. It is a principal part side view which shows typically a mode (b) measured.

  The position detection device measures the distance h1 to the film surface in a flat state before the film F is pressed as shown in FIG. 7A, and the film F is pressed as shown in FIG. 7B. Then, the distance h2 to the surface of the deformed portion Fy that has been bent and deformed into a convex shape is measured. The deformation height h of the deformation portion Fy of the film F is obtained by h1-h2.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when one of the films F 1, F 2, F 3 of a plurality of sizes is conveyed, the first and second width adjusting members 1, 2 are connected to the stepping motor 7. It moves so as to approach each other in the width direction X from the home position by rotation, and the film F is brought closer by being engaged with the side edge of the film F, and further, the film F is moved to the first and second widths at both ends. The film F is positioned at the target position by pressing and moving it so as to form a convex shape after coming into contact with the members 1 and 2 and then moving away from the width direction X ′ opposite to the width direction X. To do. At this time, the position detection device 9 detects the deformation amount of the convex shape when the film F is pressed by the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2, and the detected convex deformation height h (FIG. 7 (b)) reaches a predetermined height, the pressing of the film F in the width direction X by the width adjusting members 1 and 2 is stopped, and the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are moved in the opposite width direction X ′. The film F is separated from the film F by a certain distance.

  Next, the control system of the image recording apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main part of the control system of the image recording apparatus of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the image recording apparatus 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a control unit 50 including a central processing unit (CPU), and the control unit 50 includes a stepping motor 7 and a conveyance roller pair 4. For controlling the motor 149 and the units 122 to 124 of the exposure unit 120.

  Further, the control unit 50 controls the stepping motor 7 based on the deformation amount of the convex shape when the film F is detected detected by the position detection device 9, and the convex deformation height h has reached a predetermined height. When this is detected, the driving of the stepping motor 7 is stopped, the movement of the film in the width direction X by the width adjusting members 1 and 2 is stopped, and the stepping motor 7 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are reversed. Control is made to move in the width direction X ′ and away from the film F by a certain distance.

  The predetermined height, which is a criterion for determining the above-described convex deformation height h, is set to such an extent that the film is not exposed to misalignment due to energy release when the bent state is returned to the flat state. It is preferable to set the value different for each film size.

  Next, the positioning and transporting operation before exposure by the film positioning and transporting mechanism of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the image recording apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing steps (a) to (e) in which the film F at a biased position is transported by the film positioning transport mechanism of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the film F has a pair of transport rollers in the transport direction Y in a state where the side ends Fa and Fb are biased toward the side end Fb with respect to the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2. 4, the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 start moving in the width direction X from the home position 6 a by the rotation of the stepping motor 7 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the film F is moved to one side until the second width adjusting member 2 is engaged with the side end Fb of the film F and the first width adjusting member 1 is in contact with the side end Fa. Is moved in the width direction X at the side end Fb.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (d), the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 further move in the width direction X, and the first width adjusting member is not limited to the side end Fb side of the film F. 1 contacts the side end Fa. After the width adjusting members 1 and 2 come into contact with both end portions Fa and Fb of the film F as described above, the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are moved by a predetermined amount in the width direction X as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The film F is pushed in and bent into a convex shape as shown in FIG.

  Next, when the height h of the deformed portion Fy in FIG. 7B of the film F reaches a predetermined height, the stepping motor 7 is stopped and rotated in reverse, as shown in FIG. The second width adjusting members 1 and 2 are separated in the width direction X ′ opposite to the width direction X to return the film F to the original flat state. At this time, both ends Fa and Fb of the film F are in a state substantially along the width-shifting members 1 and 2, that is, in a state where the positions are restricted. The film F positioned at the target position in this way is conveyed to the conveyance roller pair 142 of the exposure unit 120 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the amount of deformation when the film is pressed in the width direction X substantially orthogonal to the transport direction Y for position correction is detected, and the width adjusting members 1, 1 are detected based on the detection result. 2 is controlled so as to be moved back in the width direction X ′, so that the amount of deformation when pressing the film can be controlled to be constant regardless of dimensional accuracy, and the film bends at a certain amount (constant energy) during position correction. Can be maintained. For this reason, when the film is bent and energy is accumulated, the film can be accurately positioned without causing a violent displacement when the film returns to the original flat state.

  In addition, the amount of movement when the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 are separated in the width direction X ′ in FIG. 6E may be a constant amount regardless of the size. , 2 may be a moving amount that is slightly wider than the width of each size film. That is, when the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are separated from each other in the width direction X ′, both end portions Fa and Fb of each size film approach each other along the width adjusting members 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. State. The separation is performed by moving the width adjusting members 1 and 2 at a predetermined speed, so that the accumulated energy is not released at a stretch. Film rampage is suppressed within the range of each gap with the parts Fa and Fb.

  As described above, when the film F is transported in a state of being biased or bent with respect to the width adjusting members 1 and 2, even if there is a dimensional error in each of the films F1 to F3 of FIG. Positioning members 1 and 2 can accurately position in the width direction, and each size film can be accurately transported to transport roller pair 142 of exposure unit 120. For this reason, the latent image by the laser beam can be formed at an accurate position of the film F in the exposure unit 120.

  Further, a film preferable for use in the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is six cuts (8 inches in the width direction) to half cuts (14 inches in the width direction) in size in the width direction.

  As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in FIG. 6, the width aligning operation has been described by taking the case where the film F is substantially parallel and biased with respect to the width aligning members 1 and 2, but the same operation is performed even when the film F is in a biased and bent position. The film can be accurately positioned.

It is a front view which shows the principal part of the image recording device by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematically the exposure part of the image recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a main part plan view (a) schematically showing a film positioning / conveying mechanism in the exposure unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a main part front view (b) of a width adjusting member of the film positioning / conveying mechanism. It is the principal part top view (a) and principal part side view (b) of the film positioning conveyance mechanism of FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a control system of the image recording apparatus in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a figure which shows typically the process (a) thru | or (e) which conveys the film F in the biased position by the film positioning conveyance mechanism of FIG. 3, FIG. Measuring the distance to the film surface in the flat state with the position detection device of FIG. 3B and FIG. 4A, and measuring the distance to the film surface in the state of being pressed and deformed. It is a principal part side view which shows each a mode (b) typically.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Width adjustment member (engagement member)
1b, 2b Rack 3 Pinion 4 Conveying roller pair (conveying means)
7 Stepping motor (drive means)
9 Position detection device (detection means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 12 Loading part 50 Control part 100 Image recording apparatus 120 Exposure part 130 Thermal development part 139,141,4,142,142 Conveyance roller pair F Film (sheet-like medium)
F1, F2, F3 Multiple size film F1 Large size film F2 Medium size film F3 Small size film Fa, Fb Side edge X Width direction X ′ Width direction X opposite to width direction X Conveyance direction h Deformation height

Claims (3)

Conveying means capable of conveying a plurality of sizes of sheet-like medium, exposure means for scanning the conveyed sheet-like medium to form a latent image, and orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-like medium with respect to scanning by the exposing means An image recording apparatus comprising: a correction unit that corrects a position in a direction; and a control unit that controls the transport unit, the exposure unit, and the correction unit,
The correction means can move forward and backward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet-like medium, engages with both ends of the sheet-like medium, and corrects the position in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. A combination member and drive means for driving the engagement member;
The control means includes detection means for detecting a deformation amount of the sheet-like medium pressed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction by the engagement member, and based on the detection result, the forward and reverse of the engagement member An image recording apparatus that controls the timing of movement.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a position detection device (PSD). When the pressed sheet-like medium is deformed into a convex shape, the height of the convex shape is detected, and the detected height reaches a predetermined amount, the engaging member is moved in the reverse direction from the direction in which the engaging member is pressed. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is controlled so as to be moved.

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