JP2006056639A - Conveying device and image recording device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue the printing without stopping the entire system even when a sensor fails. <P>SOLUTION: A printer processor consisting of a printer unit to record a latent image on a photographic paper and a processor unit to perform the development or the like, comprises a first sensor to detect that the photographic paper is conveyed to an exposure unit in the printer unit, and a second sensor to detect the photographic paper conveyed immediately in front of an exposure head. The second sensor is provided on the downstream side of the first sensor in the conveying direction of the photographic paper. When the second sensor fails, the position of the photographic paper is specified by the conveying distance after the photographic paper is detected by the first sensor. When the second sensor fails, the exposure range is expanded in comparison with that in a normal state of the second sensor to prevent deviation of the exposure position by the conveying error and occurrence of a white edge in a recording surface of the photographic paper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device that detects a conveyance object by a sensor and detects the position of the conveyance object on a conveyance path, and an image recording apparatus using the conveyance device.

  A printer processor used in a photo processing laboratory cuts long photographic paper set in a magazine with a cutter according to the print size, conveys the photographic paper in the form of a cut sheet with a conveyance roller, and prints it at the printing section. Exposure. A print image is recorded as a latent image on the photographic paper and conveyed to the processor unit. The processor section is provided with a plurality of processing tanks each containing processing solutions for performing color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water and stabilization. The photographic paper on which the latent image is recorded is conveyed to each processing tank, and sequentially passes through each processing liquid to be printed.

  In a conventional printer processor, when a trouble such as a component failure or a paper jam occurs, the control unit of the system detects an error and stops the operation of the entire system. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that the printer processor cannot be used even if most of the system is normal. In view of this, the printer processor described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 can set an error level for each type of error, such as system immediate stop, system operation after warning confirmation, and error information display only. Thus, the system is not stopped except when a serious error occurs, and the operating rate of the printer processor can be improved.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-143501

  However, in order to increase the operating rate of the printer processor using the above-described conventional technology, it is necessary to distinguish in advance between a serious error that should stop the system and a minor error that allows the system to continue operating. When there are many types of serious errors, there is a problem that the operating rate cannot be substantially increased and the practicality of the above technique is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus that can reduce the types of serious errors that should stop the system, and an image recording apparatus using the same. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a transport apparatus according to the present invention includes a transport unit that transports a transported object along a transport path, and an upstream that is provided on an upstream side and a downstream side of the transport path and detects the transported object. A sensor and a downstream sensor, a storage means for storing a distance between the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor, a transport length measuring means for measuring a transport length in which the transported object is transported, and the downstream sensor has failed. A failure detection means for detecting that the transported object has been transported to an upstream position and a downstream position by the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor, and the upstream sensor. After detecting that the conveyed product is in the upstream position, the second detection unit detects that the conveyed product has been conveyed to the downstream position when the conveyance length reaches the distance between the sensors. There is provided a delivery detection means and a control means for operating the first transported object detection means in a normal state and operating the second transported object detection means when the downstream sensor fails. .

  In addition, an image recording apparatus of the present invention, the conveyance apparatus according to claim 1, an image recording unit that is provided downstream of the downstream sensor in the conveyance path and records an image on an image recording medium, and the image A recording control unit that controls the recording unit, wherein the recording control unit operates the image recording unit when transported to a recording start position set at a certain distance from the downstream sensor, and the first transport When the object detection means operates, control is performed to record an image based on the first image recording range, and when the second conveyance detection means operates, the first image recording range is wider than at least the first image recording range. Control for recording an image based on the image recording range 2 is performed.

  The first image recording range is set larger than the image recording medium. The image recording medium is a photosensitive recording medium, and the image recording unit exposes the first or second image recording range.

  According to the transport apparatus of the present invention, even if the downstream sensor provided in the transport path breaks down, the upstream sensor and the transport length measuring unit substitute for the downstream sensor, so image recording using a printer processor as an example. As a transport device provided in the apparatus or the like, it is not necessary to set a failure of the downstream sensor as a serious error, and the operating rate of the system can be increased. Further, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, since the range in which an image is recorded when the downstream sensor fails is widened, the timing at which recording is started by the upstream sensor and the conveyance length measuring means replacing the downstream sensor. Even if a deviation occurs, an image can be recorded satisfactorily.

  In FIG. 1, a printer processor 2 includes a printer unit 3 that exposes image light onto a photosensitive recording medium, and a processor unit 4 that performs development processing on the recording medium exposed to the image light. The printer unit 3 is provided with a magazine 5 in which strip-shaped printing paper LP is set and a cutter 6 that cuts the strip-shaped printing paper LP according to the print size. The photographic paper SP in the form of a cut sheet is conveyed to the back printing unit 7 and the exposure unit 8 along a conveyance path C1 indicated by a two-dot chain line. The back printing unit 7 records character information such as frame number information and image quality correction information on the back side of the photographic paper SP. The exposure unit 8 generates image light based on image data obtained by photoelectrically reading an image of a photographic film or image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, and exposes the image on the photographic paper SP. Record. The exposed photographic paper SP is sorted into a single row or a plurality of rows by the sorting unit 9 according to the print size and the print quantity, and is conveyed to the processor unit 4.

  The processor unit 4 includes a development processing unit 11, a squeeze unit 12, a drying unit 13, and a sorter unit 14. The development processing unit 11 includes, in order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the photographic paper SP (left side in the figure), a developing tank 16 in which a developer is stored, a bleach-fixing tank 17 in which a bleach-fixing solution is stored, and water for washing. The stored first to fourth water rinsing tanks 18 to 21 are provided. A transport rack 22 having a plurality of transport rollers is provided inside the developing tank 16 and the bleach-fixing tank 17, and transports the photographic printing paper SP in a substantially U shape within each tank. In the washing tanks 18 to 21, a conveyance roller pair 23 for conveying the photographic paper SP is provided.

  In the washing tanks 18 to 21, the photographic paper SP is sent to the next tank through the submerged squeeze portion 24 provided in the partition wall. The submerged squeeze section 24 allows the photographic paper SP to pass and prevents the washing water from flowing out. Water droplets are removed from the photographic paper SP sent out from the water rinsing tank 21 by the squeeze unit 12 composed of a plurality of squeeze roller pairs 25 and sent to the drying unit 13. In the drying unit 13, warm air is blown onto the printing paper SP, and drying is performed. The sorter unit 14 sorts the created print photographs for each order.

  In FIG. 2, the exposure unit 8 is provided with transport roller pairs 27 and 28. The conveyance roller pairs 27 and 28 have the same configuration, and include a driving roller 30a and a nip roller 30b, respectively. The conveyance motor 31 rotates the driving roller 30a by a driving force transmitted via a gear mechanism (not shown). The nip roller 30b rotates following the conveyance of the photographic paper SP by the rotation of the driving roller 30a. The nip roller 30b is displaced between a nip position where the printing paper SP is nipped with the driving roller 30a and a nip release position where the nip is retracted from the transport path C1 and the nip is released. The pressing roller 30c presses the printing paper SP toward the guide member 33 so that the conveyed printing paper SP is kept flat.

  The nip roller 30b is supported by a nip roller support member 35 so as to be swingable about a shaft 35a. A spring is incorporated in the shaft 35a, and the nip roller 30b is urged toward the nip position. An eccentric cam 36 is provided above the nip roller support member 35. The eccentric cam 36 has a shaft 36 a and is in contact with a receiving roller 30 d provided on the upper part of the nip roller support member 35. The eccentric cam 36 is driven to rotate about a shaft 36a by cam motors 38 and 39, respectively. The receiving roller 30d is pushed by the 180 degree rotation of the eccentric cam 36, the nip roller support member 35 is rotated, and the nip roller 30b is displaced to the nip releasing position. When the eccentric cam 36 is further rotated 180 degrees, the nip roller 30b is displaced from the nip release position to the nip position. Two eccentric cams 36 may be provided concentrically and rotated by one cam motor.

  The pressing roller 30c is supported by a pressing roller support member 37 so as to be swingable about a shaft 37a. The shaft 37a is coaxial with the nip roller 30b. A spring is incorporated in the shaft 37a, and the pressing roller support member 37 is urged in a direction in which the pressing roller 30c presses the photographic paper SP. The pressing roller support member 37 is provided with a projection 37b that contacts the shaft 35a of the nip roller support member 35. The protrusion 37b regulates the movement of the pressing roller support member 37, and moves the pressing roller support member 37 following the movement of the nip roller support member 35.

  Further, there is a backlash between the projection 37b and the shaft 35a, and the pressing roller support member 37 brings the pressing roller 30c into contact with the photographic paper SP before the nip roller 30b when the nip roller 30b is displaced to the nip position. When 30b is displaced to the nip release position, the pressing roller 30c is released from the photographic paper SP after the nip roller 30b is separated from the photographic paper SP. Thus, the pressing roller 30c acts to alleviate the impact of the nip roller 30b on the photographic paper SP at the time of nip and nip release, so that the photographic paper SP being exposed does not move unnecessarily.

  A first sensor 40a for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP is provided on the upstream side of the conveying roller pair 27 in the conveying direction. The first sensor 40a sends a signal indicating whether or not the infrared ray of the infrared diode 40b provided on the opposite side to the transport path C1 is detected to the control unit 41.

  Between the conveyance roller pair 27 and the conveyance roller pair 28, a second sensor 42a and an exposure head 43 are sequentially provided. The second sensor 42a detects the leading edge and trailing edge of the photographic paper SP immediately before the exposure head and measures the exact exposure start timing. The infrared diode 42b provided on the opposite side to the transport path C1. A signal indicating whether or not infrared rays are detected is sent to the control unit 41. The exposure head 43 performs exposure recording by irradiating the transported photographic paper SP with image light, and synchronizes the transport of the photographic paper SP by the transport roller pairs 27 and 28 with the laser beam LB. A laser scanning unit that scans in the width direction is used.

  The rotary encoder 44 is provided on the shaft of the driving roller 30 a of the conveying roller pair 27, measures the rotational speed of the driving roller 30 a, and sends the measured value to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 manages the electrical operation of the printer processor 2, receives the sensor signals of the first sensor 40a, the second sensor 42a, and the rotary encoder 44, and carries the transport motor 31, the cam motors 38 and 39, and the exposure head. 43 and the like are controlled according to a predetermined sequence. The distance information storage unit 45 stores in advance distance information on the transport path C1 necessary for specifying the position of the photographic paper SP by the first sensor 40a and the second sensor 42a. The distance information is stored by the control unit 41. Referenced. The distance information includes a distance D1 from the first sensor 40a to the conveying roller pair 27, a distance D2 from the first sensor 40a to the second sensor 42a, a distance D3 from the second sensor 42a to the exposure head 43, and a second sensor 42a. There is a distance D4 from the roller pair 28 to the transport roller 28.

  Next, the operation of the printer processor 2 will be described. The control unit 41 checks whether or not each unit operates normally during the startup process when the printer processor is turned on. For example, in the case of the first sensor 40a and the second sensor 42a, it is determined whether or not they are operating normally based on signal outputs when the infrared diodes 40b and 42b are turned on and off, respectively. When the first sensor 40a detects infrared rays, it sends an infrared detection signal to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 determines that the first sensor 40a is functioning normally based on the infrared detection signal. Similarly, when the infrared diode 42b is turned on, the control unit 41 receives an infrared detection signal from the second sensor 42a and determines that the second sensor 42a is normal.

  When it is confirmed that there is no abnormality in each section and the printing process is started, the photographic paper LP stored in the magazine 5 is pulled out and supplied to the transport path C1. The photographic paper LP is transported along the transport path C <b> 1 in a state where it is arranged in a single row or in a plurality of rows in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and sent to the cutter 6. The photographic paper LP is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 6 and conveyed as the photographic paper SP. The photographic paper SP is sent to the back printing unit 7, and character information relating to the photographic image to be printed is printed on the back side of the recording surface.

  In FIG. 3, the control unit 41 sends a drive signal to the carry motor 31, and the drive roller 30 a of the carry roller pair 27 and 28 is driven. When the photographic paper SP reaches the exposure unit 8 and is conveyed to the position of the first sensor 40a, the infrared rays emitted from the infrared diode 40b are blocked by the photographic paper SP, and an infrared cut-off signal is sent from the first sensor 40a to the control unit 41. Sent. The control unit 41 detects that the photographic paper SP has been conveyed to the position of the first sensor 40a by the infrared cut-off signal, measures the conveyance length based on the count value of the rotary encoder 44, and detects the leading edge of the photographic paper SP. Start tracking for.

  When the conveyance length of the photographic paper SP reaches the distance D1 from the first sensor 40a to the conveyance roller pair 27, the control unit 41 drives the cam motor 38. As the eccentric cam 36 rotates, the nip roller support member 35 rotates about the shaft 35a. Since the pressing roller support member 37 spring-biased on the shaft 37a is in contact with the protrusion 37b, the pressing roller 30c contacts the photographic paper SP earlier than the nip roller 30b, and lightly presses the photographic paper SP. After the pressing roller 30c presses the photographic paper SP, the nip roller 30b contacts the photographic paper SP, and the photographic paper SP is nipped by the drive roller 30a and the nip roller 30b.

  When the transport length of the photographic paper SP reaches the distance D2 from the first sensor 40a to the second sensor 42a, the infrared light of the infrared diode 42b is blocked by the photographic paper SP, and the second sensor 42a sends an infrared cut-off signal to the control unit 41. Send. The control unit 41 detects that the photographic paper SP has been transported to the position of the second sensor 42a based on the infrared cut-off signal, refers to the count value of the rotary encoder 44, and starts measuring the transport length again. The leading edge of the paper SP is tracked.

  After the leading edge of the photographic paper SP is detected by the second sensor 42a, when the transport length reaches a distance (D3-α) smaller than the distance D3 from the second sensor 42a to the exposure head 43, the control unit 41 The exposure head 43 is operated, and the exposure head 43 starts irradiating image light immediately before the printing paper SP reaches the position of the exposure head 43. That is, the exposure head 43 irradiates image light so that an exposure range having a larger area than the recording surface of the photographic paper SP is formed. In addition, (alpha) is a value between 0.5-1 mm, for example. The exposure head 43 sequentially irradiates three colors of image light line by line in synchronization with the conveyance of the photographic paper SP, and an image for one screen is exposed and recorded as a latent image on the photographic paper SP.

  After the leading edge of the photographic paper SP is detected by the second sensor 42a, when the transport length reaches the distance D4 from the second sensor 42a to the transport roller pair 28, the control unit 41 sends a drive signal to the cam motor 39. The nip roller support member 35 of the conveyance roller pair 28 is rotated by the eccentric cam 36. Similar to the transport roller pair 27, after the pressing roller 30c contacts the photographic paper SP, the nip roller 30b contacts the photographic paper SP, and the nip roller 30b of the transport roller pair 28 is displaced to the nip position.

  While the image is recorded on the photographic paper SP, when the rear end of the photographic paper SP passes through the first sensor 40a, the infrared ray of the infrared diode 40b that has been blocked is detected by the first sensor 40a, and the first sensor 40a is controlled. An infrared detection signal is sent to the unit 41. Based on this infrared detection signal, the control unit 41 detects that the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP has passed through the first sensor 40a. The control unit 41 starts tracking the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP.

  After the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP is detected by the first sensor 40a, when the transport length reaches the distance D1 from the first sensor 40a to the transport roller pair 27, the control unit 41 drives the cam motor 36 of the transport roller pair 27. The nip roller support member 35 of the conveying roller pair 27 rotates in a direction to retract the nip roller 30b to the nip release position, retracts the nip roller 30b from the photographic paper SP, and presses the photographic paper SP only by the pressing roller 30c. . When the nip roller support member 35 further rotates, the pressure roller support member 37 rotates and the pressure roller 30c moves away from the photographic paper SP and retracts from the conveyance path C1.

  When the infrared ray of the infrared diode 42b is detected by the second sensor 42a, an infrared detection signal is sent from the second sensor 42a to the control unit 41, and the control unit 41 passes the second sensor 42a at the rear end of the photographic paper SP. Detect that. When the conveyance length after the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP is detected reaches a distance (D3 + α) larger than the distance D3 from the second sensor 42a to the exposure head 43, the control unit 41 operates the exposure head 43. Is stopped, and the image light irradiation is terminated. That is, the irradiation of the image light is terminated immediately after the photographic paper SP has passed through the exposure head 43. As a result, the exposure head 43 irradiates image light over a range wider than the size of the photographic paper SP, and the photographic paper SP is printed without margins around the image.

  The control unit 41 drives the cam motor 39 when the transport length reaches the distance D4 from the second sensor 42a to the transport roller pair 28. The eccentric cam 36 rotates the nip roller support member 35, and the nip roller 30b moves away from the photographic paper SP by retracting the conveyance path C1. At this time, the photographic paper SP is pressed only by the pressing roller 30c. When the nip roller support member 35 further rotates, the pressure roller support member 37 rotates, and the pressure roller 30c moves away from the photographic paper. The photographic paper SP on which the latent image is recorded is sent to the processor unit 4 via the distribution unit 9. In the processor unit 4, the photographic paper SP is subjected to development processing and the like to be finished into a printed photograph, and is sent to the sorter unit 14.

  Next, a case where the second sensor 42a has failed will be described. When the controller 41 detects a failure of the second sensor 42a by the startup process described above, the controller 41 notifies the outside that the second sensor 42a is abnormal. As a means for notifying abnormality, for example, there is a means for outputting a warning display and a warning sound to a personal computer connected to the control unit 41. In addition, there is an Internet communication with a service center or the like that performs maintenance of the printer processor 2. There is a system that notifies that repair is necessary, and automatically requests repair at the same time as a failure occurs.

  The control unit 41 switches from the normal sequence to the sequence at the time of failure of the second sensor 42a, and continues the printing process. As in the normal state, the photographic paper LP pulled out from the magazine 5 is cut by the cutter 6, and character information is printed by the back printing unit 7. The photographic paper SP conveyed to the exposure unit 8 is detected by the control unit 41 when the leading edge of the photographic paper SP reaches the first sensor 40a. The control unit 41 starts measuring the conveyance length, and drives the cam motor 38 when the conveyance length reaches D1. The photographic paper SP is pressed by the pressing roller 30c, and the nip roller 30b of the conveying roller pair 27 is displaced to the nip position.

  When the transport length of the photographic paper SP reaches a distance (D2 + D3-β) that is smaller than the distance (D2 + D3) from the first sensor 40a to the exposure head 43, the control unit 41 operates the exposure head 43 to expose the exposure head 43. Starts image light irradiation. Note that β is larger than α described above. In addition, the exposure head 43 enlarges the image by making the range in which the image light is irradiated onto the photographic paper SP larger than when the second sensor 42a is normal. The control unit 41 performs control to increase the exposure magnification of the image light by the exposure head 43 according to the increase in the distance from the position where the leading edge of the photographic paper SP is detected to the exposure head 43, and the error in the transport distance is increased. When this occurs, it prevents white margins from occurring on the recording surface of the photographic paper SP.

  When the conveyance length of the photographic paper SP reaches the distance (D2 + D4) from the first sensor 40a to the conveyance roller pair 28, the control unit 41 drives the cam motor 39 to displace the nip roller 30b of the conveyance roller pair 28 to the nip position. Let While the image is recorded on the photographic paper SP, when the rear end of the photographic paper SP passes through the first sensor 40a, the infrared rays of the infrared diode 40b are detected by the first sensor 40a. The first sensor 40a sends an infrared detection signal to the control unit 41, and the control unit 41 detects the trailing edge of the photographic paper SP.

  When the conveyance length after the trailing edge detection of the photographic paper SP reaches the distance D1 from the first sensor 40a to the conveyance roller pair 27, the control unit 41 moves the nip roller 30b of the conveyance roller pair 27 to the nip release position as described above. Displace to When the transport length reaches a distance (D2 + D3 + β) larger than the distance (D2 + D3) from the first sensor 40a to the exposure head 43, the control unit 41 stops the operation of the exposure head 43 and ends the irradiation of the image light. Let When the transport length reaches (D2 + D4), the control unit 41 displaces the nip roller 30b of the transport roller pair 28 to the nip release position. The photographic paper SP on which the latent image is recorded is sent to the processor unit 4 through the sorting unit 9, and is subjected to development processing and the like, and then sent to the sorter unit 14 as a printed photograph.

  As described above, even when the second sensor 42a or the infrared diode 42b fails, it is not necessary to detect the photographic paper SP using the first sensor 40a and stop the operation of the entire system of the printer processor 2.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the conveyed product is not limited to a sheet-like object such as photographic paper, but may be a three-dimensional object such as a box. As the conveying means, other conveying means such as a belt conveyor may be used in addition to those using rollers. Further, as the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor, in addition to the infrared sensor, a photo sensor that detects light, a sensor that detects electromagnetic waves of other wavelengths may be used, and a touch sensor or other physical quantity that comes into contact with a transported object may be used. It is possible to use a general sensor to detect. In measuring the transport length of the transported object, not only the rotary encoder 44 provided on the shaft of the driving roller 30a, but the position of the transported object may be specified by measuring the transport time, and is driven as a transport motor. In the case of using a stepping motor that rotates by a predetermined step angle by inputting a pulse, the conveyance length can be measured by counting drive pulses.

  Further, the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor are not limited to those using the first sensor 40a and the second sensor 42a provided in the exposure unit 8, and the photographic paper LP is drawn from the magazine 5 as the upstream sensor. The sensors provided in the cutter 6 and the back printing unit 7 can be used as upstream sensors, and the sensors provided on the downstream side can be used as downstream sensors. In addition, the present invention is not limited to a printer processor, and can be applied to a transport apparatus other than a printer using various recording media such as a thermal printer and an inkjet printer, and a printing device.

2 is a schematic diagram of a printer processor. FIG. It is a block diagram of an exposure part. It is a flowchart at the time of exposure recording.

Explanation of symbols

2 Printer Processor 8 Exposure Unit 27, 28 Transport Roller Pair 30a Drive Roller 30b Nip Roller 31 Transport Motor 40a First Sensor 40b, 42b Infrared Diode 41 Control Unit 42a Second Sensor 43 Exposure Head 44 Rotary Encoder 45 Distance Information Storage Unit

Claims (4)

A transport means for transporting a transported object along the transport path;
An upstream sensor and a downstream sensor provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the transport path, respectively, for detecting the transport object;
Storage means for storing an inter-sensor distance between the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor;
A transport length measuring means for measuring a transport length by which the transported object is transported;
A failure detection means for detecting a failure of the downstream sensor;
First transport object detection means for detecting that the transport object is transported to an upstream position and a downstream position by the upstream sensor and the downstream sensor,
After detecting that the transported object is in the upstream position by the upstream sensor, the second sensor detects that the transported object has been transported to the downstream position when the transport length reaches the distance between the sensors. Conveying object detection means,
A transfer apparatus comprising: a switching control unit that operates the first transported object detection unit when operating normally and operates the second transported object detection unit when the downstream sensor fails. The conveyance device according to claim 1, an image recording unit that is provided on the downstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the downstream sensor, and that records an image on an image recording medium, and a recording control unit that controls the image recording unit Prepared,
The recording control unit operates the image recording unit when transported to a recording start position set at a certain distance from the downstream sensor, and a first image recording range when the first transported object detection unit operates. And controlling to record an image based on a second image recording range wider than the first image recording range when the second transport detection means is operated. A characteristic image recording apparatus.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first image recording range is wider than a recording surface of the image recording medium. 4. The image recording according to claim 2, wherein the image recording medium is a photosensitive recording medium, and the image recording unit exposes the photosensitive recording medium based on the first or second image recording range. apparatus.

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