JP2007072389A - Image recording method and image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording method and an image recording apparatus that can achieve high productivity when a plurality of images are sequentially allocated and recorded on the same recording material. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording method is characterized in that when automatic allocation recording is performed to sequentially allocate and record image data which are sequentially received on the same recording material, main scanning is continued until allocation of images on the same recording material becomes impossible after the main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensionally recording images is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording method and an image recording apparatus that perform automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material.

  In general, when producing a color printed matter, it may be required to perform color calibration at the stage of an original film. In such a case, C (cyan) plate, M (magenta) plate, Y (yellow) ) And proof plates (color proofs) using each color separation network original film color-separated into K (black) version, before preparing the actual printing plate, the layout and color of the original film, In addition, the finished quality of the final printed matter including the presence / absence of errors related to characters, etc. is confirmed.

  In recent years, with the spread of DTP (Desk Top Publishing) and the like, the work of image editing and page imposition on computer software has become common, and full digital editing has become rare. In such a process, aiming at further efficiency, image setter output that directly outputs image data after page editing to film, CTP (Computer To Plate) output that directly outputs to a printing plate, and a printing machine CTC (Computer To Cylinder) is performed to directly output an image to a printing plate wound on a cylinder.

  In this case, it is necessary to perform film output and printing plate output only for calibration confirmation, and there is a problem that labor and time equivalent to or more than the final printed matter creation, and waste of the film and printing plate are generated.

  Therefore, particularly in the process of creating and editing a full digital image by such a computer, color proof is created by using digital image data called DDCP (Direct Digital Color Proof) or DCP (Digital Color Proof). There is a need for a system that directly outputs and obtains a color image.

  Such DDCP records digital image data processed on a computer on a plate-making film with an image setter or the like, performs a final printing operation for directly producing a printing plate with CTP, or a printing machine with CTC. Before performing image recording directly on the printing plate wound on the cylinder of the machine, create a color proof that directly outputs the digital image processed on the computer and reproduces the print finish quality, its supply pattern, It is designed to check the color, text, characters, etc.

Also, in the calibration process in such plate making and printing processes,
1) Internal school for confirming mistakes inside the work site 2) Outer school submitted to the orderer and designer for confirmation of finishing 3) Printing provided as a sample of the final printed matter to the printing press master Proofs are created and used for three main uses of the sample.

  In the proofreading process, for in-school and some out-of-school applications, DDCP using proofreading materials that cannot reproduce halftone images due to needs such as shortening of delivery time and cost reduction, that is, sublimation transfer method, inkjet, electrophotography In some cases, the output product is used mainly as a proof for appearance confirmation, but the reproducibility of highlights, fine details, and the presence or absence of inappropriate interference fringes in the halftone image called moire during printing, etc. In the proof application used for quality confirmation and as a printing sample, a proof output that faithfully reproduces a printing halftone dot is desired.

  As a DDCP satisfying such needs, there is a type that performs image exposure on a silver salt photosensitive material using a high-power heat mode laser and transfers it to a printing paper. However, such a system capable of reproducing a high-quality halftone dot has a drawback that the cost of the apparatus and the silver salt photosensitive material is increased.

  On the other hand, in recent years, DDCP using a silver salt color light-sensitive material capable of further confirming a halftone image at low cost has begun to spread. A method using a silver salt color photosensitive material (hereinafter also referred to as “silver salt photosensitive material”) is, for example, a light spot synthesized by combining a plurality of lights having different wavelengths of R, G, and B, for example, C The silver salt light-sensitive material composed of the color-developing layers of M, Y, and Y is exposed to color each dot of C, M, and Y to form a halftone color image.

In the image recording apparatus as described above, high productivity and low running cost are required, and an image recording apparatus having a function of arranging a plurality of images on the same recording material is known as a function that meets this requirement. For example, there is an image recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1 below. This image recording apparatus increases productivity by suppressing the number of times of paper feed processing and paper discharge processing when a predetermined number of images are recorded, but main scanning and sub scanning in units of recording images. Is started or stopped.
JP 2003-270882 A

  The present invention provides an image recording method and an image recording apparatus capable of realizing high productivity when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material in view of the above-described problems of the prior art. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first image recording method according to the present invention is an image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material. The main scanning is continued after the main scanning and the sub-scanning for three-dimensional recording until the image cannot be arranged on the same recording material.

  According to the first image recording method, when another image can be recorded on the same recording material after one image is recorded, the main scan is not continued and stopped. Can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A second image recording method according to the present invention is an image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material, and includes main scanning and two-dimensional recording for images. After the sub-scanning, the main scanning is continued until image placement on the same recording material becomes impossible or a reception interval for sequentially receiving the image data passes a predetermined time.

  According to the second image recording method, when another image can be recorded on the same recording material after one image is recorded, the main scan is not continued and stopped. Can be reduced. Further, the main scanning can be continued until the reception interval of each image data has passed a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time has passed, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait more than necessary for the reception, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A third image recording method according to the present invention is an image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material, and includes main scanning and two-dimensional recording for images. After the sub-scanning, the main scanning is continued until image arrangement on the same recording material becomes impossible, or until there is no recording-waiting image data stored in the image data storage unit. .

  According to the third image recording method, when another image can be recorded on the same recording material after one image is recorded, main scanning is not continued and stopped. Can be reduced. Further, the main scanning is continued until there is no stored image data to be recorded, and when there is no image data to be recorded, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. Even if there is no image data, there is no need to wait unnecessarily, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A fourth image recording method according to the present invention is an image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which image data sequentially received from a host device is arranged and recorded sequentially on the same recording material, and is transferred to and from the host device. After exchanging information on the presence / absence of waiting image data, and after main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensional recording, image arrangement on the same recording material becomes impossible or image data obtained by the exchange The main scanning is continued until it is determined that there is no recording-waiting image data based on the presence / absence information.

  According to the fourth image recording method, when another image can be recorded on the same recording material after one image is recorded, the main scan is not continued and stopped. Can be reduced. Furthermore, the main scanning can be continued until there is no image data waiting to be transferred on the host device side. When there is no image data waiting to be transferred on the host device side, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. Since there is no image data to be transferred to the host device side, there is no need to wait unnecessarily, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  In the first to fourth image recording methods, the main scanning can be performed by rotating a drum holding a recording material on the outer surface. In this case, the main scanning is performed by continuing and stopping the rotation of the drum. Continue.

  Further, when the main scanning is continued, the recording of the next image can be started by moving the optical head for exposing the recording material to the next sub-scanning position.

  A first image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material, and is mainly used for two-dimensional recording of images. Main scanning means for performing scanning, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and exposure control means for controlling an image recording head based on the image data, The scanning control means controls to continue the scanning by the main scanning means until image arrangement on the same recording material becomes impossible.

  According to the first image recording apparatus, when the first image recording method can be executed and another image can be recorded on the same recording material after recording one image, the main scanning is continued and stopped. Therefore, the number of activations of the main scanning means for performing the main scanning can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A second image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material, and is mainly used for two-dimensional recording of images. Main scanning means for performing scanning, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and exposure control means for controlling an image recording head based on the image data, Receiving interval monitoring means for monitoring the reception interval of the image data, wherein the scanning control means is unable to place an image on the same recording material or the receiving interval by the receiving interval monitoring means. Until the predetermined time elapses, the main scanning means is controlled to continue scanning.

  According to the second image recording apparatus, when the second image recording method can be executed and another image can be recorded on the same recording material after recording one image, the main scanning is continued and stopped. Therefore, the number of activations of the main scanning means for performing the main scanning can be reduced. Further, the main scanning can be continued until the reception interval of each image data has passed a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time has passed, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait more than necessary for the reception, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A third image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material, and is mainly used for two-dimensional recording of images. Main scanning means for performing scanning, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and exposure control means for controlling an image recording head based on the image data, Image data storage means capable of storing at least two pages of the image data, and the scanning control means is unable to place an image on the same recording material or is stored in the image data storage means. Control is performed so as to continue scanning by the main scanning means until there is no stored image data to be recorded.

  According to the third image recording apparatus, when the third image recording method can be executed and another image can be recorded on the same recording material after one image is recorded, the main scanning is continued and stopped. Therefore, the number of activations of the main scanning means for performing the main scanning can be reduced. Further, the main scanning can be continued until there is no stored image data to be recorded, and when there is no image data to be recorded, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. There is no need to wait unnecessarily when there is no next image data, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  A fourth image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording image data sequentially received from a host device on the same recording material, and two-dimensionally recording an image. Main scanning means for performing main scanning, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and exposure control for controlling the image recording head based on image data And information exchange means for exchanging information on presence / absence of transfer-waiting image data between the host device and the scanning control means, the image cannot be arranged on the same recording material, or Control is performed so that scanning by the main scanning unit is continued until the image data waiting for transfer is eliminated by the information exchange unit.

  According to the fourth image recording apparatus, when the fourth image recording method can be executed and another image can be recorded on the same recording material after recording one image, the main scanning is continued and stopped. Therefore, the number of activations of the main scanning means for performing the main scanning can be reduced. Furthermore, the main scanning can be continued until there is no image data waiting to be transferred on the host device side. When there is no image data waiting to be transferred on the host device side, the main scanning can be stopped and the next development step can be performed. Since there is no image data to be transferred to the host device side, there is no need to wait unnecessarily, and the waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  In the first to fourth image recording apparatuses, the main scanning unit may include a drum that performs main scanning by rotating while holding a recording material on an outer surface. In this case, the drum continues to rotate. The main scan is continued without stopping. Further, it is preferable that an optical head that is sub-scanned and conveyed in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum to expose the recording material.

  The present invention particularly sensitizes a color silver halide light-sensitive material with a plurality of light sources having different wavelengths based on halftone dot image data processed by a RIP (raster image processor) or a halftone dot conversion processor. The present invention is preferably applied to an image recording method / image recording apparatus for creating a color proof for confirming in advance the finish of printed matter.

  According to the image recording method and the image recording apparatus of the present invention, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a printing system including an image recording apparatus capable of creating a color proof according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system inputs image data such as PS (PostScript) data from a client terminal 1A of a printing factory to a RIP (Raster Image Processor) 2A that is an image processing apparatus, and the RIP 2A rasterizes PS data. Data converted to image and raster image converted by RIP2A is sent to CTP (Computer-to-Plate) 3A, which is a device for creating a digital original directly for printing, while images such as PS data The data is sent to a host device 100 having an image processing function for creating a color proof, binary halftone image data is generated and transmitted to the image recording device 1, and the image recording device 1 is based on this halftone image data. Is configured to create a color group.

  The host device 100 can be constituted by, for example, a personal computer, and constitutes an image recording system 101 together with the image recording device 1 as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, and this image recording system 101 creates a color group as described above. System.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the entire image recording apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view of the inside of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2 as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part of the drum and the optical unit of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 11 that exposes a silver salt photosensitive material to form an image, and a developing unit 21 that develops the exposed silver salt photosensitive material.

  The exposure unit 11 includes a front panel 5 that can be opened and closed so that maintenance can be performed from the front side, an input display unit 2 that includes various information displays and a touch panel and can input various types of information for operation of the entire apparatus, and a roll shape inside. First and second loadings in which a cartridge 13 containing photosensitive paper (hereinafter also referred to as “photosensitive material”), which is a sheet-like silver salt photosensitive material wound around, can be loaded after the paper feed covers 3 and 4 are opened. Parts 12 and 12 '. FIG. 2 shows a state before the cartridge 13 is loaded in the first loading unit 12, and a state after the cartridge 13 is loaded in the second loading unit 12 '.

  The development unit 21 includes an upper panel 6 that can be opened and closed for maintenance, and a replenishment panel 7 that is provided on the front surface so as to be opened and closed for replenishment of a developing solution or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 includes a pair of conveying rollers 40, 41, and 42 for feeding the photosensitive material from the cartridge 13 loaded in the first and second loading sections 12 and 12 ′. A drum 10 that rotates in the rotation direction (main scanning direction) R for main scanning while vacuum sucking and holding the photosensitive material S fed from the feeding unit 14 to the outer peripheral surface; An optical unit 16 that exposes a light beam such as LED light or laser light to the photosensitive material on the drum 10 to form a latent image on the photosensitive material, and the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction (the surface of FIG. A sub-scanning unit 17 that conveys in the vertical direction) and a peeling member 15 that peels off the photosensitive material on the drum 10 after image recording. The exposed light-sensitive material is conveyed to the developing unit 21 through the outlet 19 and the connecting portion 19a.

  The image recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 3 further includes a driven roller 43 that is arranged on the downstream side of the pair of conveying rollers 42 and rotates following the conveyance of the photosensitive material that is sent toward the drum 10, and the photosensitive material between the drum 10. The driven roller 31 to be conveyed, the guide member 18 that guides the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material peeled off from the drum 10 by the peeling member 15 is conveyed by the drum 10 and the driven roller 31, and the guide member 18 are sent. A pair of conveying rollers 32 that further conveys the photosensitive material to the outlet 19, an accumulation rate portion 30 for accumulating the photosensitive material that has reached the conveying roller pair 32, and a feeling disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the conveying roller pair 32. A light reflection type detection sensor 33 for detecting the tip of the material.

  A relatively narrow driven roller 43 disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the conveying roller pair 42 is driven to rotate along with the movement of the photosensitive material, and a rotary encoder 58 is connected coaxially to the driven roller 43. By rotating the rotary encoder 58 together with the driven roller 43 and measuring the rotation amount, the length of the photosensitive material wound around the drum 10 through the pair of conveying rollers 42 can be obtained. Further, the downstream conveying roller pair 32 has a one-way clutch structure, and can freely rotate the photosensitive material in the delivery direction to the downstream side.

  Also, cut portions 10a for cutting the photosensitive material are arranged in the vicinity of the downstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers 40 and 41 in FIG. 3, and each cut portion 10a has a rotary cutter that is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). And the photosensitive material is cut into a predetermined length based on the above-described measurement of the photosensitive material length.

  The developing unit 21 shown in FIG. 3 performs wet development on the exposed photosensitive material sent from the exposure unit 11 to visualize a latent image of the photosensitive material. The developing unit 23 performs a photosensitive material developing process, and a fixing process. The image is visualized by the fixing unit 24 that performs the stabilization process, the stabilization unit 25 that performs the stabilization process, the drying unit 26 that performs the drying process, the discharge unit 27 that discharges the dried photosensitive material to the outside by the conveying roller pair 27a and the like. And an accumulating unit for accumulating the discharged photosensitive material.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the drum 10 of the image recording apparatus 1, the rotating shaft 14a of the rotating shaft portion 14 'and the rotating shaft 15a of the rotating shaft portion 18' can rotate to the support bases 34a and 34b via the bearings 33a and 33b. Is pivotally supported. One rotating shaft 15a of the drum 10 is provided with a driving pulley 35a, which is connected to an output pulley 35b of a drum driving pulse motor M6 by a belt 36 and driven by the drum driving pulse motor M6. 10 rotates. The rotary shaft 15a of the drum 10 is provided with a rotary encoder 37, which outputs a pulse signal for rotation and is used for pixel clock control synchronized with the rotation of the drum.

  The other rotating shaft 14a of the drum 10 is connected to the suction blower P1. A large number of suction holes 31c are formed on the surface of the drum 10 so as to extend linearly in the direction of the rotation axis. The inside of the drum 10 is depressurized by driving the suction blower P1, and the photosensitive material is sucked onto the surface of the drum 10. .

  The optical unit 16 is configured to be movable in parallel with the drum axis by the sub-scanning unit 17, receives a digital image signal, exposes the photosensitive material adsorbed on the drum 10 with a light beam, and writes an image. As shown in FIG. 4, an LED unit 320, an LED unit 321, and an LED unit 322 are arranged in the optical unit 16 as light sources for three wavelengths, for example, B, G, and R light sources. The light beams from the LED units 320, 321, and 322 expose an image on the photosensitive material on the drum 10 from the condenser lens 331 via the mirrors 325, 326, and 327. The exposure shutter 332 is opened / closed by an exposure solenoid 333 to open / close the optical path at the start / end of exposure.

  The sub-scanning unit 17 includes a moving belt 340, a pair of guide rails 341 and 342, a pair of pulleys 343 and 344, and a sub-scanning motor M7. The optical unit 16 is fixed to a moving belt 340, and is guided by a pair of guide rails 341 and 342 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the drum shaft. The moving belt 340 is stretched over a pair of pulleys 343 and 344, and one pulley 344 is connected to the output shaft 345 of the sub-scanning motor M7, and the optical unit 16 moves in parallel with the drum shaft by driving the sub-scanning motor M7. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the suction blower P <b> 1 sucks the inside of the drum 10 through the suction connection pipe 51 by the air suction pump, and makes the inside of the drum 10 have a negative pressure before the exposure by the exposure unit 11 to adsorb the photosensitive material to the outer peripheral surface. . Further, when the photosensitive material is wound around the drum 10 and conveyed, the suction blower P1 is operated to suck the photosensitive material.

  Next, a control system of the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of main parts of a flow of image data in the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4 and a control system of the image recording apparatus 1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the image recording apparatus 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 receives halftone image data transmitted from the host apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 by the exposure unit 11, and based on the received halftone image data. To create a color proof.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the exposure unit 11 includes an image data I / F unit 52 to which halftone image data from the external host device 100 in FIG. 1 is input, and halftone image data from the image data I / F unit 52. For the exposure of the light-sensitive material by associating the data buffer 53 composed of a hard disk storage device or the like which stores the image once and read and outputs it as needed, and the light source drive value for the YMCK halftone dot image data read from the data buffer 53 An exposure lookup table (exposure LUT) 54 for setting the exposure amount of the light source, and B, G, R LED units 320 to 322 for converting the digital signal of the exposure data from the exposure lookup table 54 into an analog signal Each LED is obtained by analog signals from a plurality of D / A converters 55a, 55b, and 55c and D / A converters 55a to 55c. Including each LED knit 320-322 directly to a plurality of drivers 56a to analog modulation drive, 56b, and 56c, a.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control system of the image recording apparatus 1 includes a control unit 50 including a central processing unit (CPU). The control unit 50 includes an image data I / F unit 52, a data buffer 53, an exposure. The look-up table 54, the drum driving pulse motor M6 shown in FIG. 4, the sub-scanning motor M7, and other devices are controlled. A data buffer 53 including a hard disk storage device has a capacity capable of storing at least two pages of image data.

  The control system in FIG. 5 allocates a plurality of image data sequentially received by the image data I / F unit 52 on the same photosensitive material and automatically arranges images, and from the host device 100 in FIG. The reception interval monitoring unit 62 that monitors the reception intervals of a plurality of image data sequentially received by the image data I / F unit 52, and information on the presence / absence of transfer-waiting image data in the host device 100 of FIG. And an information exchanging unit 63 for exchanging. Further, the control unit 50 in FIG. 5 monitors the presence / absence of recording-waiting image data in the data buffer 53.

  Next, the image automatic arrangement unit 61 of FIG. 5 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing a light-sensitive material for explaining the function of the image automatic arrangement unit 61 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image automatic arrangement unit 61 records the image I1 on the photosensitive material S having the width W and the length L, records the image I2 on the right side of the image I1, and shows the image I1. A plurality of images I1, I2, I3, and I4 are allocated on the same photosensitive material S and automatically arranged so that an image I3 is recorded on the lower side and an image I4 is recorded on the right side of the image I3. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the automatic image placement by the automatic image placement unit 61 described above includes the width W and the length L of the photosensitive material S, the widths of the images I1, I2, I3, I4, and I5 (for example, the image I1). The width m) and each length (for example, the length n of the image I1) and the margin between the images and the dimensions of the margin between the photosensitive material edge and the image are appropriately recorded on the same photosensitive material S. This can be done by determining whether it is possible. For example, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 6, regarding the image I5 after the plurality of images I1, I2, I3, and I4, the width dimension of the image I5 is a recordable size, but the length dimension cannot be recorded. Because of the size, it is determined that the image I5 cannot be arranged, and the image I5 is not recorded on the photosensitive material S in FIG.

  Next, the first to fourth operations of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 10, respectively.

  <First operation>

  A first operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, when the image recording apparatus 1 sequentially receives image data from the host apparatus 100 by the image data I / F unit 52 (S01), the image data is sequentially stored in the data buffer 53 (S02). .

  The photosensitive material S is conveyed from the cartridge 13 loaded in the loading unit 12 or 12 ′ to the drum 10 through the feeding unit 14, and the photosensitive material S is vacuum sucked and held on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 10. Then, the image data is read from the data buffer 53 (S03), the main scanning is started by rotating the drum 10 by driving the drum driving pulse motor M6, and the optical unit 16 is moved to the drum axis by driving the sub scanning motor M7. Sub-scanning is started by moving in parallel (S04), and the photosensitive material on the drum 10 is exposed with the light beams from the LED units 320 to 322 on the optical unit 16 based on the image data described above. (S05). By these main scanning / sub scanning and exposure, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive material wound on the drum 10 based on the image data described above.

  Next, the image data I / F unit 52 in FIG. 5 reads out the next received image data from the data buffer 53, and the image automatic arrangement unit 61 determines whether or not the image data can be arranged on the same photosensitive material. If it is determined (S06) and the image can be arranged, the driving of the drum driving pulse motor M6 is continued and the main scanning is continued without stopping the rotation of the drum 10 (S07).

  Then, after moving the optical unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction so that each LED unit 320 to 322 can start exposure to the photosensitive material on the drum 10 from the next sub-scanning start position based on the next image data (S08). ), Returning to step S04, a latent image is formed on the same photosensitive material on the drum 10 based on the next image data by the main scanning / sub-scanning and exposure.

  As described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of images I1 to I4 are arranged on the same photosensitive material S to form a latent image. However, the image I5 cannot be arranged on the same photosensitive material S. If it is determined (S06), each operation of scanning and sub-scanning is stopped (S09), and then the exposed photosensitive material is peeled off from the drum 10 by the peeling member 15, conveyed through the guide member 18, and conveyed. A pair of rollers 32 conveys from the outlet 19 to the developing unit 21 through the connecting portion 19a, and sequentially performs development processing and drying in the developing portion 23, the fixing portion 24, the stabilizing portion 25, and the drying portion 26 (S10) and then developing The sensitized material is discharged to the outside through the discharge unit 27 and output to the stacking unit 28 (S11).

  As described above, according to the first operation of the image recording apparatus 1, when another image can be recorded on the same photosensitive material after one image is recorded, the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 is continued and not stopped. For example, in FIG. 6, the image I1 is two-dimensionally recorded on the photosensitive material S by the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 and the sub-scanning by the parallel movement of the optical unit 16 with respect to the drum axis. When recording on top, the optical unit 16 is moved to the sub-scanning start position of the next image data, and the drum 10 is kept rotating without stopping, so that the main scanning / sub-scanning is started / stopped in units of images. Compared with the image recording apparatus, the number of rotations of rotation of the drum 10 that performs main scanning can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same photosensitive material.

  <Second operation>

  Next, the second operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The second operation is basically the same as the first operation of FIG. 7, but the interval at which the image recording apparatus 1 receives image data from the host apparatus 100 by the image data I / F unit 52 is monitored (S12). ), Except that a step (S13) for determining whether images can be arranged on the same photosensitive material based on the reception interval is added.

  That is, the reception interval of the image data received by the image data I / F unit 52 from the host device 100 of FIG. 1 is monitored by the reception interval monitoring unit 62 (S12), and whether or not the reception interval has passed a predetermined time. Judgment is made (S13). If the reception interval has passed the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S09, where the scanning and sub-scanning operations are stopped, the exposed photosensitive material is developed (S10), and output is performed (S11).

  On the other hand, when the predetermined interval has not passed (S13), it is determined in the determination step S06 whether the image data can be arranged on the same photosensitive material.

  As described above, according to the second operation of the image recording apparatus 1, when another image can be recorded on the same photosensitive material after one image is recorded, the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 is continued and is not stopped. Compared to a conventional image recording apparatus that starts and stops main scanning and sub-scanning in units of images, the number of times of starting rotation of the drum 10 that performs main scanning can be reduced. Furthermore, when the reception interval of each image data has passed a predetermined time, the process proceeds to the next step S09, and main scanning / sub-scanning is stopped, so there is no need to wait more than necessary for reception of the next image data. The waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  <Third operation>

  Next, a third operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The third operation is basically the same as the first operation in FIG. 7, but a step (S14) for determining whether there is image data waiting to be recorded in the data buffer 53 of the image recording apparatus 1 is added. Different points.

  That is, it is determined whether there is no image data waiting to be recorded in the data buffer 53 for storing and storing the image data received from the host device 100 of FIG. 1 (S14). If there is no image data waiting to be recorded in the data buffer 53, the process proceeds to step S09, the scanning and sub-scanning operations are stopped, the exposed photosensitive material is developed (S10), and output is performed ( S11).

  On the other hand, if image data waiting to be recorded remains in the data buffer 53 (S14), it is determined in the determination step S06 whether the image data can be arranged on the same photosensitive material.

  As described above, according to the third operation of the image recording apparatus 1, when another image can be recorded on the same photosensitive material after one image is recorded, the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 is continued and is not stopped. Compared to a conventional image recording apparatus that starts and stops main scanning and sub-scanning in units of images, the number of times of starting rotation of the drum 10 that performs main scanning can be reduced. Further, when there is no image data waiting to be recorded in the data buffer 53, the process proceeds to the next step S09, and main scanning and sub scanning are stopped, so that there is no need to wait unnecessarily even if there is no next image data. , Can reduce the waiting time. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  <Fourth operation>

  Next, a fourth operation of the image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The fourth operation is basically the same as the first operation in FIG. 7, but the presence / absence information of image data waiting for transfer is received from the host device 100 in FIG. 1 (S15), and the host device 100 waits for transfer. The difference is that a step (S16) for determining whether there is image data is added.

  That is, the information exchanging unit 63 of the image recording apparatus 1 in FIG. 5 receives the presence / absence information on whether there is transfer-waiting image data in the host apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 (S15), and based on the presence / absence information. It is then determined whether there is transfer-waiting image data in the host device 100 (S16). If there is no image data waiting to be transferred in the host apparatus 100, the process proceeds to step S09, where the scanning and sub-scanning operations are stopped, the exposed photosensitive material is developed (S10), and output is performed (S11). .

  On the other hand, if there is image data waiting to be transferred in the host device 100 (S14), it is determined in the determination step S06 whether or not the image data can be arranged on the same photosensitive material. For this determination, size information of transfer-waiting image data is added to the presence / absence information from the host device 100.

  As described above, according to the fourth operation of the image recording apparatus 1, when another image can be recorded on the same photosensitive material after recording one image, the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 is continued and not stopped. Compared to a conventional image recording apparatus that starts and stops main scanning and sub-scanning in units of images, the number of times of starting rotation of the drum 10 that performs main scanning can be reduced. Further, when there is no image data waiting to be transferred on the host apparatus 100 side, main scanning is stopped and the process proceeds to the next step S09. Therefore, there is no need to wait unnecessarily even if there is no image data to be transferred to the host apparatus 100 side. The waiting time can be reduced. Therefore, high productivity can be realized when a plurality of images are recorded while being sequentially arranged on the same recording material.

  As described above, according to the image recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when another image can be recorded on the same photosensitive material after one image is recorded, the main scanning by the rotation of the drum 10 is continued and not stopped. By simply configuring, it is possible to obtain an image recording apparatus capable of realizing high productivity without changing the main configuration of the image recording apparatus. In addition, the waiting time can be reduced because the waiting time for receiving the next image data is not longer than necessary, and the waiting time is unnecessary even though there is no next image data, and the print productivity of the image recording apparatus can be reduced. Can be increased.

  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, the image data input to the host device 100 in FIG. 1 may be image data in various formats. For example, the vector system may be PDF, EPS, etc. in addition to PS (PostScript) data. Further, the raster system may be TIFF, TIFF / IT, and other dedicated formats, and the binary data may be TIFF bitmap, other dedicated formats, and the like. Furthermore, data that has undergone raster-image conversion processing by the RIP 2A may be input as indicated by the dashed arrows in FIG.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a printing system including an image recording apparatus capable of creating a color proof according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the whole image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 by this Embodiment. It is the figure which looked at the inside of the image recording device of Drawing 1 and Drawing 2 from the front side. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part when the drum and the optical unit of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 2 are viewed from above. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a flow of image data in the exposure unit 11 of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4 and a control system of the image recording apparatus 1. It is a top view which shows typically a photosensitive material in order to demonstrate the function of the image automatic arrangement | positioning part 61 of FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the 1st operation | movement of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the 2nd operation | movement of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the 3rd operation | movement of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a fourth operation of the image recording apparatus 1 of FIGS.

Explanation of symbols

1 image recording device 10 drum (main scanning means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Exposure unit 16 Optical unit 17 Subscanning part (subscanning means)
21 Development Unit 50 Control Unit 53 Data Buffer (Image Data Storage Unit)
61 Image Automatic Arrangement Unit 62 Reception Interval Monitoring Unit 63 Information Exchange Unit 100 Host Device 101 Image Recording System I1, I2, I3, I4 Multiple Images M6 Drum Driving Pulse Motor (Main Scanning Means)
M7 Sub-scanning motor (sub-scanning means)
R Rotation direction, main scanning direction S Photosensitive material, photosensitive paper, sheet-like silver salt photosensitive material (recording material)

Claims (12)

An image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material,
An image recording method characterized by continuing the main scanning after main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensional recording of an image until image placement on the same recording material becomes impossible. An image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material,
After main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensional recording of an image, the image placement on the same recording material becomes impossible, or until the reception interval for sequentially receiving the image data passes a predetermined time. An image recording method characterized by continuing main scanning. An image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which sequentially received image data is sequentially arranged and recorded on the same recording material,
After main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensional recording of an image, until image placement on the same recording material becomes impossible, or until there is no recording-waiting image data stored in the image data storage unit, An image recording method, wherein the main scanning is continued. An image recording method for performing automatic arrangement recording in which image data sequentially received from a host device is arranged and recorded sequentially on the same recording material,
Exchange the presence / absence information of image data waiting to be transferred with the host device,
After main scanning and sub-scanning for two-dimensional recording of an image, image placement becomes impossible on the same recording material, or recording waiting image data based on presence / absence information of the image data obtained by the exchange The image recording method is characterized in that the main scanning is continued until it is determined that there is no more.   The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the main scanning is performed by rotating a drum holding a recording material on an outer surface.   The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein an optical head that exposes the recording material moves to a next sub-scanning position when the main scanning is continued. An image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material,
Main scanning means for performing main scanning for two-dimensional recording, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and an image based on the image data Exposure control means for controlling the recording head,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning control unit controls the main scanning unit to continue scanning until the image cannot be arranged on the same recording material. An image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material,
Main scanning means for performing main scanning for two-dimensional recording, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and an image based on the image data Exposure control means for controlling the recording head, and reception interval monitoring means for monitoring the reception interval of the image data,
The scanning control unit is controlled to continue scanning by the main scanning unit until an image cannot be arranged on the same recording material or a reception interval by the reception interval monitoring unit has passed a predetermined time. An image recording apparatus. An image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording sequentially received image data on the same recording material,
Main scanning means for performing main scanning for two-dimensional recording, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and an image based on the image data Exposure control means for controlling the recording head, and image data storage means capable of storing the image data for at least two pages,
The scanning control means continues scanning by the main scanning means until image arrangement on the same recording material becomes impossible or until there is no recording-waiting image data stored in the image data storage means. An image recording apparatus characterized in that the control is performed. An image recording apparatus having an automatic arrangement recording function for sequentially arranging and recording image data sequentially received from a host device on the same recording material,
Main scanning means for performing main scanning for two-dimensional recording of images, sub-scanning means for performing sub-scanning, scanning control means for controlling the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means, and image recording based on image data Exposure control means for controlling the head, and information exchanging means for exchanging the presence / absence information of image data waiting to be transferred with the host device,
The scanning control means controls to continue scanning by the main scanning means until the image cannot be arranged on the same recording material or until the information exchange means eliminates the transfer waiting image data. A characteristic image recording apparatus.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main scanning unit includes a drum that performs main scanning by rotating while holding a recording material on an outer surface. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an optical head that is sub-scanned and conveyed in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the drum in order to perform exposure on the recording material.

Images