JP2714186B2 - Photosensitive sheet exposure equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus that exposes a predetermined area on a photosensitive sheet in a copying machine that forms an image using a photosensitive sheet having photosensitive pressure sensitivity.

(B) Prior Art In a copying machine in which an image is formed using a photosensitive sheet having photosensitive pressure sensitivity, a latent image is formed by exposing the photosensitive sheet with image forming light such as original reflected light. When the image receiving sheet is superimposed on the latent image and pressed, the dye flows out in the unexposed areas, and an image is formed on the image receiving sheet. When the image receiving sheet is superimposed on the photosensitive sheet, a fixed position is set on the photosensitive sheet according to the size of the image receiving sheet, and the image receiving sheet is in the width direction (= direction orthogonal to the image receiving sheet and the conveying direction of the photosensitive sheet). Is superimposed on the fixed position.

By the way, a thermoplastic resin is applied to the image receiving sheet in advance, and after the image is formed, the sheet surface is coated with the resin by applying heat and pressure to give gloss to the image.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of this heating device. The heating device includes a heat roller 1 having a heater therein, a tension roller 2 disposed downstream of the heat roller 1, a glosser belt 3 stretched between the heat roller 1 and the tension roller 2, and a glosser belt 3. And a pressure roller 4 that presses against the heat roller 1. The image receiving sheet 5 is first heated and pressed between the glosser belt 3 (heat roller 1) and the pressure roller 4, so that the thermoplastic resin is softened and smoothed. Thereafter, the image receiving sheet 5 is further conveyed downstream along the glosser belt 3 and separated from the glosser belt 3 when sufficiently cooled. Thus, a glossy image can be formed on the image receiving sheet 5.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventionally, there has often occurred a problem that streak-like dirt along the conveyance direction adheres to a sheet on which an image has been formed. In the stain, the dye attached to the edge of the image receiving sheet 5 at the time of the previous image formation adheres to the surface of the glosser belt 3 as streak-like stain 6 (see FIG. 5). It has been found that this is caused by offsetting the sheet. The dye adhering to the edge portion of the image receiving sheet is easily transferred to the glosser belt 3 side when pressed between the glosser belt 3 and the pressure roller 4, and a line-like stain is formed on a portion corresponding to the edge portion of the image receiving sheet. 6 had occurred.

In the case of a copying machine, a white cover is put on a document to be copied. However, light is diffusely reflected at the edge of the document due to the thickness of the document, so that light does not reach the photosensitive sheet. Therefore, in the case of 1: 1 copying, the dye adheres to the edge portion of the image receiving sheet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent a streak-like stain from adhering to a position corresponding to an edge portion of an image receiving sheet on the surface of a glosser belt, thereby preventing a streaky stain from being generated in a formed image. The purpose is to provide.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention relates to a method for dyeing a non-exposed area on a photosensitive sheet by superposing and pressing the image receiving sheet on a fixed position on the photosensitive sheet set for each size of the image receiving sheet. Is transferred onto an image receiving sheet, and further, the image receiving sheet is heated in close contact with the image receiving sheet, at a position facing each side edge portion at a fixed position for each size on the photosensitive sheet, a few mm based on a side edge line. A side lamp for exposing the inner and outer areas is provided, and a detector for detecting a size of an image receiving sheet on which an image is formed, and means for operating any one of the side lamps according to the detected image receiving sheet size are provided. It is characterized by the following.

(E) Function In the present invention, the size of the image receiving sheet on which an image is formed is detected by the detector. Then, one of the side lamps provided for each image receiving sheet size is operated according to the detected image receiving sheet size, and the position where the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet is overlapped is exposed. Thus, the dye does not adhere to the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet. In addition, since the side lamp exposes several mm inside and outside with reference to the side edge line, even if the position of the image receiving sheet is slightly shifted when the photosensitive sheet is superimposed on the image receiving sheet, the side edge portion is within the exposure range. And the dye does not adhere to the side edges of the image receiving sheet.

(F) Embodiment FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a copying machine provided with the exposure apparatus of the present invention.

The media cartridge 11 is located on the left side of the center of the copying machine.
Are provided detachably. Media cartridge 11
Contains a rolled photosensitive sheet 12.
The photosensitive sheet 12 is formed by applying microcapsules enclosing a photocurable material and a dye on a support made of a resin film. The microcapsules harden when exposed to light and are not destroyed when pressed, but when not exposed, they are destroyed by pressure and allow the enclosed dye to flow out. The photosensitive sheet 12 is pulled out of the media cartridge 11, and is exposed to an exposure part P1 and a pressure development part P on the copier body side.
2. It is returned to the media cartridge 11 again via the buffer roller 22. The buffer roller 22 is movable in the directions of arrows A and B. When the buffer roller 22 moves in the direction of the arrow A, the photosensitive sheet is pulled out of the media cartridge 11, and at this time, the photosensitive sheet 12 is exposed to the later-described original reflected light or light transmitted through the slide film in the exposure section P1. When the exposure processing is completed, the buffer roller 22 moves in the direction of arrow B, and the exposed photosensitive sheet 12 is
It is sent to the media cartridge 11 via P2. In the pressure developing section P2, an image receiving sheet described later is superimposed on the photosensitive sheet 12 and pressed. As a result, the unexposed microcapsules are destroyed, the dye flows out, and an image is formed on the image receiving sheet.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a lamp for exposing an inter-image area on the photosensitive sheet 12. The image forming process on the photosensitive sheet is started by exposing the photosensitive sheet in the exposure section P1, and the exposed area is changed to the pressure development section.
It ends when passing P2. Therefore, the pressure developing section
No image is formed between P2 and the exposed portion P1. The lamp 21 is a lamp for exposing the image area and an image area several mm from the image area.Because the lamp 21 is exposed by this lamp, the lamp 21 is provided at the leading edge and the trailing edge of the image receiving sheet. Has no dye attached.

An original table 13 made of hard transparent glass is provided on an upper surface of the copying machine main body, and an original 13a to be copied is placed thereon. An optical system with a light source, mirror, and lens below the platen 13
The scanning unit 14 scans the original 13a on the original table and guides the reflected light to the exposure unit P1. A slide projector 19 is provided above the right side surface of the copying machine main body. The slide projector 19 includes a light source and a lens, and guides light transmitted through the slide film 19a to the exposure unit P1. At this time, the mirror 14a of the optical system 14 rotates, and the slide projector 1
The transmitted light from 9 is not blocked. In this manner, the photosensitive sheet 12 is exposed to the original reflected light or the slide film transmitted light in the exposure section P1, and a latent image is formed. Note that an exposure table 20 is provided on the photosensitive sheet rear side of the exposure section P1. The exposure table 20 is made of a material having a high light reflectance, for example, an aluminum plate. On the other hand, the support of the photosensitive sheet 12 is a transparent resin film such as polyester, and the light once transmitted by the exposure table 20 is reflected to expose the photosensitive sheet, and the photosensitive sheet is efficiently exposed.

A manual feed cassette 15a and paper cassettes 15b and 15c are provided at the lower part on the right side of the copying machine main body, and an image receiving sheet 16 is stored therein. The paper cassettes 15b and 15c are detachably provided in the copying machine main body, and each paper cassette stores an image receiving sheet of a predetermined size (B5R, B5, A4R...). On the front surface of the paper cassette, a display indicating the size of the received image receiving sheet is provided. An image receiving sheet of any size is stored in the manual feed cassette 15a. The sensor S1 is located below the manual feed cassette 15a.
Are arranged, and sensors S2 and S3 are arranged at the mounting portions of the paper cassettes 15b and 15c on the copying machine main body side, respectively. The sensor S1 detects the size of the image receiving sheet 16 stored in the paper cassette 15a. A well-known technique is used for this detection method. For example, the detection can be performed by a movable guide plate provided in the width direction and a microswitch provided in the transport direction. S2 and S3 are paper cassettes 15a and 15b.
And detects the display on the front surface of the paper cassette.

With such a configuration, the size of the image receiving sheet stored in the manual feed cassette 15a or the paper cassettes 15b and 15c is detected. During copying, one of the manual cassette 15a and the paper cassettes 15b and 15c is selected by the operation unit on the copying machine body, and the image receiving sheet is fed to the pressure developing unit P2 from the selected cassette. This paper feed is a photosensitive sheet
This is performed at the timing when the latent image on 12 and the leading end of the image receiving sheet are overlapped. Then, in the pressure developing section P2, both sheets are pressurized, and the dye in the unexposed area on the photosensitive sheet is transferred onto the image receiving sheet.

The image receiving sheet 16 to which the dye has been transferred is heated and pressurized by a heating device 17 and then discharged to a discharge tray 18 on the left side of the copying machine main body.

An exposure device 7 according to the present invention is arranged near the exposure section P1 so as to face the photosensitive sheet 12. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion related to an exposure device of a copying machine.

In the figure, reference numeral 12a shows a cross section of the photosensitive sheet in the width direction.
When the photosensitive sheet 12a is exposed to original reflected light or slide transmitted light, the exposure area is determined by the size of the image receiving sheet. For example, when the size of the image receiving sheet to be fed is B5R, the area indicated by `` B5R '' in the figure is exposed, and when the size is B5 or B4R, the area indicated by `` B5, B4R '' in the figure is exposed. If it is the size, the area indicated by the "slide film" in the figure is exposed. Side lamps 71, 71, 72, 72, 73, 73, 74, 74 are arranged at side edge portions of the exposure area corresponding to each size.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the side lamp 73 among them.
The side lamp 73 is a lamp that exposes a position corresponding to the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet when forming images of the sizes of B5, B4R and the slide film. The width of the image receiving sheets of B5 and B4R is 257 mm, and the side edge portion is located at the position of 73c. The width of the image receiving sheet for slide film is 26
1 mm, and the side edge portion is located at the position of 73b. The side lamp 73 exposes a range 73d several millimeters outside the side edge line 73b to several millimeters inside the side edge line 73c. The side lamp 73 has a lamp 73f in a resin case 73e that blocks light.
And an opening 73g is formed below the resin case 73e to irradiate the photosensitive sheet 12 with light. In the drawing, the resin case is shown as transparent to show the configuration of the side lamp.

As described above, since one side lamp 73 exposes the side edge portions of the image receiving sheets of two different sizes, the number of side lamps can be reduced. At this time, since the side edge portions of both sizes are close to each other, the exposure range does not become too wide, and there is no fear that the image is erased. Other side lamps 71, 72, 74 are side lamps
73, but each exposes a single size side edge. That is, in the case of the side lamp 71, the inside and outside are exposed several mm at a time from the side edge portion of the B5R size. By exposing the area slightly wider than the side edge line with the side lamp in this way, when the image receiving sheet is superimposed on the photosensitive sheet 12, the superimposed position of the image receiving sheet slightly shifts in the width direction. However, the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet does not deviate from the side lamp exposure area. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the dye from being attached to the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet.

Each side lamp 71, 72, 73, 74 is a driver 71
a, 72a, 73a, 74a. Driver 71a-74a
Is controlled by the microcomputer 75. The microcomputer 75 receives input data from the sensors S1, S2, S3 and data for cassette selection from an operation unit on the main body of the copying machine. The microcomputer 75 determines the side lamp to be operated according to these inputs. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure.

The microcomputer 75 reads the inputs from the sensors S1 to S3 and the operation panel, and obtains the size of the image receiving sheet on which the image is formed (n1 → n2). Then, the determined size of the image receiving sheet is determined (n3 to n7), and a side lamp to be turned on is determined according to the size (n8 to n11). For example, if the size of the image receiving sheet is B5, B4R and the size of the slide film (n5, n6), 73 side lamps are set (n10). In this way, the side lamp to be turned on is determined, and when forming an image, the side lamp is turned on to expose a side edge portion.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the dye does not adhere to the side edge portions of the image receiving sheet, and the occurrence of streak-like offset due to the glosser belt can be prevented. Further, since the dye is not attached to the edge portion of the image receiving sheet, the appearance of the image itself can be improved. Further, since the inside and outside of the side edge line are exposed within a few mm, even when there is a slight shift in the position of the image receiving sheet with respect to the photosensitive sheet, it is possible to prevent the dye from adhering to the side edge portion of the image receiving sheet. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a photosensitive sheet exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an exposure area by the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main part processing procedure of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a copying machine provided with the apparatus,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a heating device for the image receiving sheet. 7 Exposure device for photosensitive sheet, 12 Exposure device for photosensitive sheet, 16
Image receiving sheet, 17 ... Heating device, 71-74 ... Side lamp, 71a-74a ... Driver, S1, S2, S3 ... Size detection sensor, P1 ... Exposure unit, P2 ... Pressure development unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Matsuyama 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (56) References JP-A-63-157152 (JP, A) 60142 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image receiving sheet is superimposed on a predetermined position on a photosensitive sheet set for each size of the image receiving sheet, and the dye is transferred from the non-exposed area on the photosensitive sheet onto the image receiving sheet by applying pressure. Further, in a copier that closely heats the image receiving sheet, a side lamp that exposes a range of several mm inside or outside the side edge line at a position facing each side edge portion at a fixed position for each size on the photosensitive sheet. And a detector for detecting the size of the image receiving sheet on which an image is formed,
Means for operating one of the side lamps according to the detected image receiving sheet size.