JP2006047675A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder capable of precisely positioning a sheet type medium to an exposure part by truing-up even when the size of the sheet type medium to be conveyed is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The image recorder is equipped with; a conveyance means capable of conveying the sheet type media F1 to F3 of a plurality of sizes; an exposure means for forming a latent image by scanning the conveyed sheet type medium; and a correction means for correcting the position of the sheet type medium in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction thereof relative to scanning by the exposure means. The correction means has; at least a pair of conveyance rollers 4 conveying the sheet type medium toward the exposure means and capable of releasing press-fitting; a locking means 5 capable of releasing press-fitting, preventing the movement of the sheet type medium in the conveyance direction by gravity when press-fitting, and allowing the movement thereof in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; and a pair of engaging members 1 and 2 capable of moving in the direction nearly orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet type medium, engaged with both ends of the sheet type medium and correcting the position thereof in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The locking means 5 is provided at a position nearest to the exposure means in the correction means. <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.

  Each size film allows a predetermined amount of error. For example, the JIS standard has an allowable width of ± 1 mm. 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. Further, the width adjusting stroke is adjusted in accordance with the type of the sheet-like medium to be aligned and position-corrected, typically, the rigidity of paper, medical film (PET base of around 170 μm) or phosphor plate. .

  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 an emulsion is coated on a PET base with a sheet medium 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 equally to each end face by the center reference method 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

  In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, the present invention is an image recording capable of accurately positioning the sheet-shaped medium with respect to the exposure unit by shifting the width even if the size of the conveyed sheet-shaped medium is changed. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  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 perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet-like medium with respect to scanning of the exposing unit, wherein the correcting unit directs the sheet-like medium toward the exposing unit. And at least one pair of nip rollers that can be conveyed and can be released from pressure bonding, and can be released from pressure bonding and prevent movement of the sheet-like medium in the conveying direction by its own weight during pressure bonding and can move in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The permissible locking means and the position that is movable in the direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet-like medium and engages with both ends of the sheet-like medium to correct the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. A pair and engaging member that, the, characterized in that said locking means is provided at a position closest to the exposure means of said correcting means.

  According to this image recording apparatus, even if the size of the sheet-like medium is changed, the locking means presses the sheet-like medium by its own weight and prevents the conveyance of the sheet-like medium in the conveyance direction by the nip roller. Acts almost in the same way on the tip of each size sheet-like medium, so that when twisting by the engaging member, the twist (energy storage state) of the sheet-like medium becomes substantially similar due to the size difference, Variations in the width correction due to the size are reduced, and the positioning of the sheet-like medium with respect to the exposure unit by the width adjustment can be performed with high accuracy.

  In the image recording apparatus, it is preferable that the locking unit includes a pair of rollers, and one of the rollers is pressure-bonded to the sheet-like medium by its own weight. In this case, each roller is preferably configured such that the axial length in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet-like medium is shorter than the width-direction size of the sheet-like medium.

  The plurality of sizes are preferably in the range of six cuts (8 inches in the width direction) to half cuts (14 inches in the width direction).

  According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, even when the size of the conveyed sheet-like medium is changed, 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 conveyance roller pairs 139, 141, 4, 142, 142 ', 146, 145, 144, and 143 are driven to rotate by a motor or the like.

  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.

  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 forward and reverse, 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 The pair of transport rollers 4 arranged on the upstream side of the width-shifting members 1 and 2 so as to transport the film F in the transport direction Y can be released from the pressure bonding, and the film F is moved in the transport direction Y by its own weight during the pressure bonding. And a locking roller 5 that prevents movement in the directions X and X ′ perpendicular to the conveyance direction.

  3 and 4 is disposed upstream of the conveyance roller pair 142 for sub-scanning conveyance in the exposure unit 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the locking roller 5 is closest to the conveyance roller pair 142. It is arranged at a close position.

  The locking roller 5 includes a pair of rollers 5a and 5b arranged so as to sandwich the film F as shown in FIG. 4B. The axial lengths of the rollers 5a and 5b are as shown in FIG. 4A. It is configured to be shorter than the size in the width direction of the size films F1 to F3. The rollers 5a and 5b can be separated from each other. When the locking roller 5 is released from pressure bonding, the roller 5b is separated to a non-crimping position as indicated by a broken line in FIG. The film F is crimped by its own weight at the crimping position as indicated by the solid line in b).

  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. To move toward each other, 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. 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.

  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 FIG. 4A, when one of the films F1, F2, and F3 having a plurality of sizes is conveyed, the roller 5b of the locking roller 5 is caused to move the film F with the roller 5a by its own weight. The first and second width-adjusting members 1 and 2 approach each other in the width direction X from the home position by the rotation of the stepping motor 7 while blocking the conveyance of the film F in the conveyance direction Y at the most downstream side. The both ends Fa and Fb of the film F are substantially aligned with the width adjusting members 1 and 2, that is, their positions are regulated by engaging the side edges of the film F and shifting the width of the film F. It becomes a state. At this time, since the axial length of the rollers 5a and 5b is shorter than the width direction size of the film, the film F can move in the width direction X.

  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 and 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing steps (a) to (d) in which the film F in the biased position is transported by the film positioning transport mechanism of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), 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, when the leading edge Fc of the film F is conveyed to the position of the locking roller 5, the roller 5 b in the non-crimping position moves to the crimping position by its own weight as shown in FIG. The movement in the transport direction Y is prevented, and the film F stops moving in the transport direction Y.

  With the movement of the film F in the transport direction Y stopped, as shown in FIG. 5B, the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 are moved from the home position 6a to the width direction X by the rotation of the stepping motor 7. Start moving to. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the film F is moved 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 engaged with the side end Fa. It is moved in the width direction X at the side end Fb on one side and partially width-adjusted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 further move in the width direction X, and the first width adjusting member is used not only on the side end Fb side of the film F. By engaging 1 with the side end Fa, the film F is positioned at the target position. Thereafter, the stepping motor is reversed in the direction in which the first and second width adjusting members 1 and 2 are separated from each other, and the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are returned to the home position (position setting may be different for each size) to be positioned. The film F is conveyed to the conveyance roller pair 142 of the exposure unit 120 as indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

  As described above, the film F can be positioned in the width direction while being positioned, but even if the size of the film F is changed as shown in FIG. When the film F is prevented from being transported in the transport direction Y by the transport roller pair 4, the roller 5 b is located closest to the transport roller pair 142 of the exposure unit 120, and the leading ends of the films F 1 to F 3 of each size Since it works in almost the same way, the twisting of the film (energy storage state) due to the difference in size when the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are aligned becomes substantially similar in each size, and there is little variation in the width alignment correction due to the size. Become.

  Note that the amount of movement when the first and second width-adjusting members 1 and 2 are separated from each other in the width direction X ′ (FIG. 4A) from the state of FIG. The amount of movement may be such that the width-adjusting members 1 and 2 are slightly wider than the width of each size film. That is, when the width-shifting members 1 and 2 are separated from each other in the width direction X ′, both end portions Fa and Fb of the respective size films are brought close to each other along the width-shifting members 1 and 2. This separation is performed by moving the width adjusting members 1 and 2 at a predetermined speed. Therefore, even if the film is bent and energy is accumulated, the width adjusting members 1 and 2 are not released at a stretch. , 2 and both end portions Fa, Fb of the film, the film is prevented from being violated within each gap.

  As described above, even if the film F is conveyed in a state of being biased or bent with respect to the width adjusting members 1 and 2, the widths of the films F1 to F3 of each size in FIG. The film can be accurately positioned in the direction, and each size film can be accurately conveyed to the conveyance roller pair 142 of the 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. 5, the width aligning operation has been described by taking the case where the film F is substantially parallel and deviated with respect to the width aligning members 1 and 2 as an example. 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. It is a figure which shows typically the process (a) thru | or (d) which conveys the film F in the biased position by the film positioning conveyance mechanism of FIG. 3, FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Width adjustment member (engagement member)
4 conveying roller pair 4a driving roller 4b driven roller 5 locking roller (locking means)
5a roller 5b roller 6 position sensor 6a home position 7 stepping motor 11, 12 loading unit 100 image recording device 120 exposure unit 130 heat developing unit 139, 141, 4 conveying roller pair 142, 142 ′ conveying roller pair 46, 145, 144, 143 Conveying roller pair F film (sheet-like medium)
F1, F2, F3 Each size film X Width direction Y Transport direction

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 means for correcting a position in a direction,
The correction means includes
At least one pair of nip rollers capable of conveying the sheet-like medium toward the exposure means and capable of releasing the pressure bonding;
A locking means capable of releasing the pressure bonding and preventing the movement of the sheet-like medium in the conveying direction by its own weight at the time of pressure bonding and allowing the movement in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction;
A pair of engaging members that are movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet-like medium and that engage with both ends of the sheet-like medium to correct the position in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. ,
An image recording apparatus characterized in that the locking means is provided at a position closest to the exposure means in the correction means.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit includes a pair of rollers, and one of the rollers presses the sheet-like medium with its own weight. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sizes are in a range of six cuts (8 inches in the width direction) to half cuts (14 inches in the width direction).

Images