JP2513116Y2 - Copier with multiple light sources - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to improvement of a control unit of a light source in a copying machine provided with a plurality of light sources for exposing a plurality of originals.

(B) Prior Art In a general copying machine, an original table made of transparent hard glass and a light source for exposure are provided below the original table, and the original on the original table is scanned by moving the light source. The light reflected from the original is guided to the photosensitive material. By the way, in recent years, with the diversification of copiers, there are some which are capable of copying (printing) a slide film. This is equipped with a light source for exposing the slide film separately from the light source for exposing the original,
The light transmitted through the slide film is guided to the photosensitive material by partially sharing the optical path of the reflected light of the original. The apparatus for exposing the slide film (slide projector) is detachably provided in the main body of the copying machine, and is attached when necessary.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention As described above, the slide projector is detachably provided in the main body of the copying machine, and it is desirable that the apparatus itself be made as compact as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine in which the number of parts of the sliding projector can be reduced and the size of the copying machine can be made compact by sharing a dimmer for controlling a light source in the copying machine body and the sliding projector.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention, in which a first light source for exposing a first original and a second light source for exposing a second original (slide film) are shown. And a dimmer that adjusts the power to the light source. The output of the dimmer is selectively supplied to the first light source or the second light source by the switching means.

(E) Action Either one of the first document and the second document is exposed during image formation. That is, the two light sources are not used at the same time. Therefore, even if only one dimmer is used, its output can be sufficiently dealt with by selectively supplying it to the light source on the side of use.

(F) Example FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus including a pressure developing device.

An original table 1 made of a transparent hard glass body is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body. The document A to be copied is placed on the document table 1 with the document surface facing down. Platen 1
An optical system is provided below. The optical system 2 has light sources (first light sources) 2a and 2b, mirrors 2c to 2f, a lens 2g, and a filter 2h. The document A on the document table 1 is exposed by light sources 2a and 2b, and the reflected light is guided to an exposure point described later via mirrors 2c to 2f, a lens 2g, and a filter 2h. The filter 2h has a plurality of filters having different transmission wavelengths, and performs color correction of the document reflected light by adjusting the amount of each filter inserted into the optical path. The insertion amount of the filter is determined according to the sensitivity characteristics of the media sheet, the image color desired by the user, and the like.

A slide projector 3 is provided on the right side of the main body of the image forming apparatus.
However, it is provided detachably. The slide projector 3 includes a light source (second light source) 3a, a slide holder 3b, and a lens 3c.
have. A slide film to be printed is inserted into the slide holding section 3b. On the other hand, the mirror 2f of the optical system for reflected light of the document is rotatable, and is rotated by about 90 degrees by rotating a knob provided on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus. Figure 4 shows this mirror
It is a perspective view showing a configuration near 2f.

The mirror 2f can be rotated in the directions of arrows D and E by operating the knob 21, and can be moved to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. At this time, a part of the mirror 2f comes into contact with the actuator of the switch SW1, and the switch SW1 is turned on. A ratchet 23 is coaxially provided on the shaft 22 that connects the knob 21 and the mirror 2f. Above the ratchet 23, a pawl fixed to the actuator of the solenoid SOL1 is provided.
24 are facing each other. When the solenoid SOL1 is driven, the claw 24 moves downward and engages with the ratchet 23, thereby restricting the rotation of the mirror 2f by operating the knob 21. When the mirror 2f is rotated (indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 5), the transmitted light of the slide film inserted in the slide holding portion 3b is guided to the exposure point via the lens 3c. This lens
The 3c is also equipped with a color correction filter.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part of the control section of this copying machine.

Switch SW1 to CPU31 via I / O interface 34
ON data of is input. A program that defines the operation of the CPU 31 is written in advance in the ROM 62 connected to the CPU 31, and the CPU 61 follows the program and the motor driver 35, the solenoid driver 36, the copy lamp regulator (CLR) 37, the relay switch (switching means) 38.
Control data is output to. At this time, a part of the memory area of the RAM 33 is assigned to the working area.

The CLR 37 adjusts the electric power supplied to the light sources 2a, 2b or the light source 3a, and adjusts the electric power supplied to the light source according to the density of the formed image desired by the user, fluctuations in external voltage, and the like. The light sources 2a, 2b and the light source 3a are connected in parallel, and the operation of the relay switch 38 supplies the power from the CLR 37 to the light sources 2a, 2b or the light source 3a. Motor driver 35 is the main motor
Controls the rotation speed of M1. The solenoid driver 36 selectively drives the solenoid SOL1. The main motor M1 supplies a rotational force to a pressure developing roller, a paper feeding roller, a glossing device roller, and the like, which will be described later, by a transmission mechanism (not shown).

A mounting portion for a media sheet is provided on the left side in the image forming apparatus main body. The media sheet 4 is made of a light-curable material,
It is coated with microcapsules having a particle size of about 10 to 20 μm enclosing a coloring dye or the like. The microcapsules are hardened by exposure and destroyed by pressure, causing the chromogenic dye to flow out. This media sheet becomes a photosensitive and pressure-sensitive sheet in combination with a receiver sheet described later. The receiver sheet is obtained by applying a thermoplastic resin and a developing material (which develops the coloring dye) onto paper.

The media sheet 4 is wound around a supply shaft 51, housed in a storage chamber R of a media cartridge 5 made of a light shielding material, and protected from external light and external pressure. The supply shaft 51 can be locked by a ratchet mechanism including a solenoid. The media cartridge 5 also includes a take-up shaft 52, and a used media sheet is taken up on the take-up shaft 52. Winding shaft
52 is always urged in the winding direction to prevent the media sheet 4 from becoming loose. Replacement of the used media sheet 4 is performed for the entire cartridge 5.

The replacement of the media cartridge 5 is performed by taking the media cartridge 5 in and out. The bucket 6 is provided so as to be pulled out along the sliders 61, 61 on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, and the media cartridge 5 can be inserted from above. A tractor roller 62 is provided at the upper right end of the bucket 6. A pin 62a is provided around the end of the tractor roller 62. On the other hand, in the new media cartridge 5, the leading end of the media sheet 4 is slightly pulled out from the opening 53 of the storage chamber R. This is pulled out by hand and hooked on the tractor roller 62. A leader sheet, which is strongly stiff and slightly wider than the media sheet, is attached to the end of the media sheet, and the holes formed at both ends of the leader sheet are the pins of the tractor roller 62.
It can be hung on 62a. When the leader sheet is hooked on the tractor roller 62 and the bucket 6 is pushed into the image forming apparatus main body, the bucket sensor S1 is turned on, and when the front cover of the image forming apparatus main body is closed, the cover switch S2 is turned on. When both of them are turned on, automatic loading of the media sheet (automatic setting of the media sheet) is performed.

An exposure table 7, a buffer roller 8, and a pressure developing device 9 are provided on the right side of the media sheet mounting portion. The media sheet hung on the tractor roller 62 at the time of initial setting is taken up by the take-up shaft 52 through the exposure table 7, the buffer roller 8 and the pressure developing device 9 by auto loading. The above-described document reflected light or slide transmitted light is guided to the exposure point P1 on the exposure table 7 to expose the media sheet 4. Then, a latent image (an image in which a partial microcapsule is hardened) corresponding to the document or the slide image is formed on the media sheet 4. Reference numeral 71 denotes a heater that is turned on at the time of exposure, and the media sheet 4 is provided to keep the light sensitivity constant because the light sensitivity changes depending on the temperature.

The pressure developing device 9 has upper and lower pressure rollers 91 and 92. The pressure developing point P2 is between the upper and lower pressure rollers 91 and 92. Above the upper pressure roller 91, a backup roller that applies a downward biasing force to the upper pressure roller 91 that is uniform in the axial direction.
91a and 91b are provided. Further, the upper and lower pressure rollers are adapted to perform pressurization, adjustment of pressurizing force and pressure release by a spring and a cam (not shown). The upper and lower pressure rollers 91, 92 are pressurized with an appropriate pressure only during pressure development, and are in a pressure released state at other times.

The buffer roller 8 is provided so as to be movable in the directions of arrows B and C in the figure. This movement is performed by a motor (not shown). In this image forming apparatus, the pressure development step is performed after the exposure step is completed. This is because the exposure speed and the pressure development speed are set separately, so that the image quality can be improved. The buffer roller 8 is used to change the transport speed of the media sheet.
In the exposure step, exposure is performed while moving the backup roller 8 in the direction of arrow B. Then, the media sheet 4 on which the latent image is formed is stored in the buffer unit at the upper right of the exposure table. When the exposure is completed, the backup roller 8
Moves in the direction of arrow C and sends out the media sheet 4 on which the latent image has been formed to the pressure developing device 9. At this time, the receiver sheet is overlaid on the latent image of the media sheet 4 and pressed together.

A paper cassette 10 is provided on the right side of the image forming apparatus main body. The sheet cassette 10 stores the receiver sheet 11 and is sent out by the sheet feeding device 12. The receiver sheet 11 is temporarily stopped by the timing roller 13 and is fed at the timing of being superimposed on the latent image on the media sheet. If the leading edge of the latent image on the media sheet 4 and the leading edge of the receiver sheet 11 reach the pressure development point P2, both sheets
4 and 11 are temporarily stopped, and the upper and lower pressure rollers 91 and 92 are pressed. When the pressure is sufficiently applied, the upper and lower pressure rollers 91 and 92 rotate to perform pressure development. At this time, as described above, the buffer roller 8 also moves in the direction of arrow C by the motor. If the media sheet 4 and the receiver sheet 11 are overlaid and pressurized, the uncured microcapsules are broken and the chromogenic dye flows out. The dye develops a color with the developing material and forms an image on the receiver sheet. After this, the two sheets are peeled off, the media sheet 4 is wound around the winding shaft 52, and the receiver sheet 11 is sent to the glossing device 14.

The glossing device 14 heats and pressurizes the receiver sheet 11 to soften the resin on the sheet to cover the image surface and further smooth the image surface. This gives the image a gloss. Further, this heating accelerates the color forming reaction of the color forming dye. The image thus formed is discharged to the discharge tray 15 on the left side surface of the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the main part of the control section of the copying machine.

After the completion of the initial processing, the CPU 31 waits for the operation of the print switch (n1, n2). During this period, if the slide film is copied, the slide projector 3 is set and the knob 21
The rotation of the mirror rotates the mirror 2f. When the print switch is operated, the solenoid SOL1 is driven (n3). By driving the solenoid SOL1, the knob 21 is fixed, and the position of the mirror 2f does not change. Then switch SW1
Is checked (n4), and if the switch SW1 is on, the relay switch 38 is switched to the second light source 3a side to perform the exposure processing of the slide film (n5 →
n6), when the switch SW1 is off, the relay switch 38 is switched to the first light source 2a, 2b side to perform the exposure process of the document A on the document table 1 (n7 → n8). During exposure of the slide film, the slide holding portion 3b is moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure in the optical path of the light source 3a to scan the slide film. When the document A is exposed, the light source unit (light sources 2a and 2b and the mirror 2c) and the mirror unit (mirrors 2d and 2e) are moved at a predetermined speed to scan the document. Then, these reflected lights are guided to the exposure point P1.

When the predetermined number of copies is completed, the solenoid SOL1 is turned off and the mirror 2f can be returned to its original position.

Although the relay switch 38 that is switched by turning on SW1 is shown as the switching means in this embodiment,
For example, the switches may be switched directly by rotating the mirror 2f, or the relay switch 38 may be operated by inputting the switching from the operation panel.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of light sources are provided, the dimmer is also used, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Further, the slide projector can be made compact by omitting the space for the dimmer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential parts of a copying machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure thereof, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the entire copying machine, and FIG. 5 is a mirror diagram that is moved when switching. 37 ... Copy lamp regulator, 38 ... Relay switch, 2a, 2b ... First light source, 3a ... Second light source, A ... Original (first original), 3b ... Slide film.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A copier having a first light source for exposing a first document and a second light source for exposing a second document, wherein the power supplied to the first light source or the second light source is adjusted.
A copying machine having a plurality of light sources, which is provided with one dimmer and a switching means for selectively supplying the supply power adjusted by the dimmer to the first light source or the second light source. .