JP2748123B2 - Contact exposure equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to originals which have been subjected to development after post-exposure (hereinafter sometimes referred to as separation net originals or separation net original films).
Is accurately placed at a predetermined position, and is exposed to a positive color or negative color photosensitive material a plurality of times, one for each document, and is exposed a plurality of times to make a color image copy of the same color arrangement as the print finish and a separation net document for making a printing plate. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus, among techniques for directly inspecting the presence or absence of abnormalities in the apparatus. Further, the present invention relates to an exposure apparatus for producing a poster using a color photosensitive material by using the separated net document.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an exposure device irradiates a light source light onto a document surface and enlarges it.
There are a method of forming an image on a photosensitive material with a projection lens having a function of reduction or equal magnification, and a method of overlapping a document and the photosensitive material and irradiating light with light from a light source to perform contact exposure.

In addition, there are scanning exposure and static exposure as light source light irradiating means, while the former realizes a compact exposure apparatus with a relatively small light source, while the latter generally uses a relatively high-luminance light source and uses In order to obtain parallelism and uniformity, the distance from the light source to the exposure surface is taken, so that a large-sized exposure apparatus is required.

In the field of plate making, in the process from continuous tone images such as reversal film, color negative film, paper, etc., to printing plates composed of halftone dots, color separation is performed using a large amount of film. , Images and the like. For this reason, the work becomes complicated, and very many mistakes such as incorrect characters and layouts occur. Further, since a change in characters such as a price, a layout change, a color change, and the like from the client (orderer) come in various ways, it is easy to forget to fix it. In addition, the desired color tone,
It is also necessary to check in advance whether the printed matter is finished at the gradation. These are collectively called calibration.

Therefore, various systems other than test printing called proof printing have been announced and sold for the purpose of confirming these.
For example, a method using a CRT, a method using a non-silver salt photosensitive material such as a photopolymer or diazo, a method using a dry toner to form an image, and an electrophotographic method are used. However, these calibration systems generally take a long time to raise one sheet of calibration, and have problems such as high material costs and poor workability, and cannot be a practically sufficient system.

On the other hand, as another method for obtaining a proof, there is a method in which a separation net document is printed on a color photosensitive material using color separation light.
For example, JP-A Nos. 62-280746, 62-280747, 62-28
No. 0748, No. 62-280749, No. 62-280750, No. 62-2808
No. 49, No. 60-42760 and the like describe a method of obtaining a calibration material on a color photosensitive material in a photographic system using a projection lens. These are large devices, but they are so-called "light room specifications" that can be used in a normal room, and the exposure operation is performed in a dark room while the photosensitive material itself is held in the device. It can be performed under normal lighting without any lighting. Therefore, color proofing can be performed easily and inexpensively in a short time, and has characteristics superior to other proofing systems. However, since the system is a photographing system, influences such as flare of a lens are generated, and deterioration in gradation reproducibility is observed. That is, due to flare or the like, small dots on the net tend to fly and large dots tend to be crushed.

On the other hand, another method of similarly obtaining a proof (color proof) from a color light-sensitive material is described in Chesley F. Carlson Co.
mpany from The Carlson Proofmaster System, Kreonite, I
There is a contact exposure type as sold by nc. under the name of Color Proofing System. In these methods, since a separation net original is directly brought into close contact with a color photosensitive material and exposed, the reproducibility of the gradation is greatly improved as compared with the photographing method. On the other hand, since the color photosensitive material has a photosensitive region in the entire visible region, it cannot be handled in a bright room, and has a drawback that a groping operation in a dark room is required.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the close-contact system is superior to the photographing system in the gradation reproducibility of the separation net document.

In order to achieve this by static exposure, a large light source device is required, which increases the installation space of the device and makes it difficult to handle. The light source can be reduced in size if a uniform slit light is scanned and the entire surface is exposed so that the entire surface of the image forming area to be contact-exposed is uniformly exposed.

Usually, in a scanning exposure apparatus such as a copier,
Light parallelism and uniformity are not so important. On the other hand, in an apparatus for producing a color proof using a separated halftone original in the field of printing plate making, reproduction of halftone is an important problem. If the small dots are skipped or the large dots are crushed, it will be difficult to fully grasp the gradation of the disassembled halftone document on the proof, and it will be necessary to confirm it again on the film. In addition to this, it is extremely difficult to grasp accurate tone reproducibility and color reproducibility due to color mixture.

Further, when color separation exposure is performed on a negative separation net document on a negative color photosensitive material, one original film may be brought into close contact with the photosensitive material. However, when color separation exposure is performed on a positive separation net document on a positive color photosensitive material, Even recently, it is necessary to adhere two separation net films, one of the color plates (Y, M, C plates) and the black plate, to the photosensitive material, and one of the two separation net films is equivalent to one sheet. The photosensitive material is exposed through the base thickness. Further, in the case of exposing a positive separation network film for printed matter, in which printing with a special ink called a special color is performed at the same time, it is necessary to simultaneously expose two or more separation network films. In these systems, the parallelism and uniformity of light greatly affect the reproducibility of the image. If these are insufficient, sufficient gradation reproducibility cannot be obtained even with close contact exposure. Image quality degradation such as fogging occurs. In addition, it is most important to maintain the flatness, especially when the separation net original film and the photosensitive material are in close contact with each other. Therefore, it is necessary to cover the transparent cover sheet and apply suction inside the covered area to obtain the flatness. Is being done. However, it is not easy to cover the transparent cover sheet in a smooth state without wrinkles. It is a very difficult task even if a person squeezes by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and to provide a small contact exposure apparatus capable of forming an image with high halftone dot reproducibility, that is, high gradation on a halftone original, and which is easy and reliable in a bright room operation. To the purpose.

[Means for solving the problem]

This object is achieved by opening and closing a first chamber in which light-tightness with external light is turned on and off by an openable light-shielding cover having one end of a transparent cover sheet fixed to an opening, and a light-shielding curtain provided in a boundary area between the first chamber. A second chamber is provided so that the light-tight relationship between the two chambers is turned on and off, a tension member to which the other end of the transparent cover sheet is fixed and an exposure section are provided in the first chamber, and the photosensitive material is automatically supplied to the second chamber. A light-sensitive material mounting table in which the photosensitive material surface can be moved to the boundary area in a plane shape, and a document is positioned and mounted on the boundary area of the first chamber via a light-shielding curtain; The light-shielding cover is closed, the curtain is opened, the photosensitive material mounting table is advanced to the boundary area, the photosensitive material, the document, and the transparent cover sheet are overlapped. Contact exposure apparatus characterized in that scanning of the object is operated. Thus it is achieved.

〔Example〕

1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a side view, FIG. 3 is a top view, FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, and FIG. This will be described with reference to the cross-sectional views of the exposure section and the squeeze roller section in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

The color proof creation system uses the separation screen original films separated into C, M, Y and Black plates before producing a production printing plate. This is a device for obtaining a proof (color proof) for checking the finish of printed matter in advance by checking whether there are any characters or errors in characters. By creating a proof (color proof) using the color photosensitive material by overlaying it on the color photosensitive material and performing multiple contact exposures, you can detect errors in the original document and check the print finish in advance, It is designed to take the action of manuscript correction.

The main body 100 is a main body frame 10 supported by legs 102.
A light guide cover 120 having an upper surface 141 for mounting a document positioning pin bar (registration pin) 143 and a lower surface 142 on the upper side of the document table 1 and a dark room as a first room is provided on the upper surface thereof. It is provided to be able to open and close around 121.

The first chamber is provided with an exposure unit 300 for scanning and exposing the contact exposure surface of the document table. One or a plurality (three in this embodiment) of tubular light source lamps 302A and 302
B, 302C is a drum-shaped internal reflecting mirror 306 fixed to a housing 316.
And the transmission window 304. A polygonal cylinder 301 concentrically with the central portion is formed on the outer side of the polygonal cylinder 301 with B, G, R, N
A filter such as D is provided rotatably, and the filter surface and the transmission window face the contact exposure surface. A shutter 308, a rotary solenoid 312 for operating the shutter 308, and an exposure window or slit 310
And a light diffusing plate fixedly attached to the light source side of the slit
A housing 316 having 328 is provided.

The exposure unit 300 can run on the rails 317A and 317B for scanning.

Therefore, it is necessary that the light uniformized by the light diffusing plate is then narrowed down by a slit and the effect of the diffused light is suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, the light diffusion plate must always be located on the side opposite to the photosensitive material with respect to the slit. Further, the light diffusing plate may be held in contact with the slit or may be held apart therefrom, but it is preferable to keep the light diffusing plate at a certain distance from the photosensitive material. The preferred distance between the diffusion plate and the photosensitive material is 30 mm or more. A narrow slit is preferable in order to suppress the influence of diffused light, and a preferable slit width is less than 30 mm.

Inside the body frame 101, as the second chamber,
00 is provided. The photosensitive material mounting table 201 is driven by a motor (not shown) and can be moved up and down.

On the other hand, the light blocking curtain 240 is a chain 246 running symmetrically on both sides.
And a light-shielding cloth 248 attached to bars 249 provided at both ends of the attachment link 247 and held at equal intervals. The light-shielding cloth 248 has an area at least as large as the cross section of the light-sensitive material mounting table moving area.

The chain 246, which is driven by a motor (not shown) on the sprockets 241, 242A, 243, and 244, reciprocates to open and close the window 144 when the photosensitive material mounting table 201 is fitted into the document table 140. It becomes possible. Such a light shielding screen 240 is provided on the platen lower surface 142.
The light-shielding curtain travels on a slightly lower surface, that is, a boundary area between the first and second chambers, thereby switching the formation and release of light tightness of the first chamber of the second chamber in which the photosensitive material mounting table 201 is stored. It is provided to be.

The long roll 402 of the silver halide color light-sensitive material is
01 to form a photosensitive material loading section 400, the leading end of the photosensitive material long roll is sent out by a clamping roller 511,
The leading end is aligned with the cutter unit 510 and stands by. Further, the leading end is fed to the left end of the fixing base 527 by the holding roller 511, the leading end is sucked by the suction cup 523, and the traveling head 522 having the suction cup is guided by the traveling rails 521 on both sides of the rollers 525, 526 and exposed to light. The material moves to a position where a predetermined length of the material is measured and stops. The photosensitive material is provided in a cutter section 51.
The photosensitive material is cut at 0 and further moved so that the leading end of the photosensitive material is located at a predetermined position on the photosensitive material mounting table 201. After the suction of the suction head of the traveling head has been canceled, the traveling head 522 returns to the original position.

Here, the traveling head 522 has solenoids 535 attached to both sides thereof via a bracket 534, a frame 531 is fixed to the movable iron core 536, and the traveling head 522 and the suction plate 523 coupled to the hose 524 are attached to the frame 531. A holding pipe 537 of the suction plate is provided so as to pass through a guide hole formed in the head and the frame, is fixed to the frame in a thrust direction, and is slidably mounted along the hole in the head. Then, it floats from the exposure table surface via a helical spring 532 inserted between the traveling head 522 and the frame 531. When the solenoid is energized and the suction valve is further opened, the suction cup descends to adsorb the photosensitive material, and then the solenoid is de-energized to raise the suction cup and convey the photosensitive material.

When the photosensitive material is conveyed and placed on the photosensitive mounting table 201 in this way, the suction pressure is applied to the suction hole opened on the photosensitive material mounting table by driving the blower 204A via the flexible hose 205, The photosensitive material is closely fixed on the photosensitive material mounting table. This tightly fixed state is maintained until all the exposures are completed a plurality of times and the photosensitive material starts to be conveyed to the developing section.

In this state, the light-shielding curtain 240 is in the light-shielding position, so that the second room having the light-sensitive material mounting table remains in a state where a dark room is formed.

Here, the first chamber is illuminated with outside light by peeling off the upper light-shielding cover 120, and a registration pin (pin bar) 143 set on the upper surface 141 is disassembled into a disassembled net document (one of black plate and YMC).
(For example, one of Y plate, or one of Y, M, C, and black plates, or some or all of them), and the majority of the original is reinforced with the light shielding cloth 248 and the light shielding cloth 248. In a state of being placed on a light-shielding curtain constituted by a bar 249 to be used.

In this state, the light-shielding cover 120 is closed, the first chamber is darkened to make it light-tight, the light-sensitive material mounting table is raised slightly below the light-shielding curtain, and then the light-shielding curtain is moved and released. Then, in a state where both the first room having the upper surface of the document table and the second room having the light-sensitive material mounting table become a common dark room, the light-sensitive material mounting table 201 is raised to coincide with the exposure surface, that is, the separation net document reference surface. At this time, the airtight packing 201c provided on the abutting surface 216b around the photosensitive material mounting table in the second chamber is in close contact with the lower surface 142 of the original document table 140 in the first chamber, and the photosensitive material mounting table is inserted into the opening 144. The gap formed by the surface 201d forms the suction channel groove 204, and the airtightness between the original and the photosensitive material sandwiched between the original table surface and the photosensitive material mounting table surface and the transparent cover sheet is maintained.

That is, one end of the transparent cover sheet 275 is fixed to a plate 124 of the cover which is detachably provided in the vicinity of an opening when the light-shielding cover 120 is opened and closed, and the other end is provided below the hinge 121 in the first chamber. It is fixed to the provided tension member 277.

The tension member may be a simple spring, but in this embodiment, a torsion bar is fixedly provided, and a cover sheet is wound therearound by about one turn and fixed.

The torsion bar is urged by a torque spring in a direction in which the cover sheet is wound.

By doing so, when the light-shielding cover 120 is opened and closed, or in the middle thereof, the linear distance between the fixed positions of both ends of the transparent cover sheet absorbs a geometrically different event, so that the cover sheet is always closed. It is possible to keep a state close to a plane and a state where the tension is uniformly and appropriately applied.

When the light-shielding cover 120 is closed in such a state of setting the transparent cover sheet, both ends of the cover sheet are slightly lower than the surface of the original table, so that the original on which the original screen film and the photosensitive material are placed is inevitably placed. The transparent cover sheet is pressed against the surface of the table or the photosensitive material mounting table.

Then, in this state, the squeeze roller 276 squeezes and the air between the transparent cover sheet and the document table is evacuated by a depressurizing blower or a vacuum pump.

In this embodiment, the squeeze roller is provided in the exposure unit 300 and the light-shielding cover 120 is covered, and the exposure unit 300 reciprocates. The movable iron core of the solenoid 284 acts on the portion 282B of the swing lever 282A that rotates around the rotation axis of the shaft 283 by energization, and the roller is pressed on the transparent cover sheet 275 to complete the squeezing.

When there is no squeeze, the roller 276 is energized and the spring 286 operates without operating the solenoid, so that the squeeze roller floats up from the document placing surface or the document table surface.

In addition, the transparent cover sheet 275 is the registration pin 1
A window is opened in the cover sheet in a region close to the portion touching 43, and an elastic rubber sheet 278 as shown in FIG.

Then, when the transparent cover sheet 275 is covered, the cover sheet surface is prevented from being deformed or torn by the registration pins, and furthermore, the suction pressure reduction effect when suction is applied can be sufficiently achieved without hindrance. is there.

Further, it is important to clean the transparent cover sheet 275, and by removing the plate 124 to which one end of the sheet is fixed from the light-shielding cover 120, it is possible to easily wipe off dirt on the front and rear surfaces.

Further, since both ends of the gas spring 122 are pivotally fixed to the bracket 126 of the main body and the bracket 127 of the light-shielding cover, the light-shielding cover can be smoothly and lightly operated.

In any case, when the squeeze is completed, the blower 206 as a decompression device works and the suction holes formed in the photosensitive material mounting table 201 are formed.
Via a suction hose 207 connected to 201f, air is sucked through the flow channel 204 and intervenes between the photosensitive material mounting table and the platen upper surface and the cover sheet, and the photosensitive material, each document and the cover sheet are sucked. Are superimposed and closely held in a planar shape. However, the suction hole 201f may be a hole formed in the document table.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface 141 of the original table 140 and the upper surface 201a of the photosensitive material mounting table 201 are flush with each other so that the abutting surface 201b, the airtight packing 201c attached thereto, and the original table 140 are flush with each other. The dimensional relationship between the lower surfaces 142 has been adjusted. By doing so, the air flow between the transparent cover sheet, the document table, and the photosensitive material mounting table is smoothly performed from the flow channel, and the cover sheet, the document, and the photosensitive material are formed into a correct planar shape. Is achieved. Further, the photosensitive material mounting table may be located at a position slightly lower than the document table.

Then, in this state, the exposure unit 300 again guides the rail 317A,
Scanning exposure is performed by running on the 317B, and the first color exposure by the filter is completed. Of course at this time squeeze roller
The reference numeral 276 is turned off when the power is turned off so as not to interrupt the exposure.

Next, in order to perform the second image exposure using a filter of another color, the transparent cover sheet is returned to the original position, and the photosensitive material mounting table is lowered slightly below the travel path of the light shielding curtain, where air is blown by the nozzle 215, When the blower 206 is switched to the blowing side and air is blown into the flow channel 204 to further close the light shielding curtain, the original and the photosensitive material are easily and completely separated. The order of blowing the blower and lowering the photosensitive material mounting table may be reversed or simultaneous. When the light-shielding cover 120 is opened, the first room is in a bright room state, but the second room is light-tight and a dark room is formed with respect to the first room.

At the same time, the transparent cover sheet 275, one end of which is fixed to the light shielding cover 120, opens the light shielding cover and is lifted obliquely upward, so that the next original film can be easily loaded.

In this state, the second manuscript (black plate and one of Y, M, C, for example, M plate, or one of Y, M, C, black plate, or some or all of them) After setting it on the registration pin and covering the light-shielding cover, open the light-shielding curtain and raise the photosensitive material mounting table to the original table surface, the transparent cover sheet is automatically re-covered, and the squeeze roller attached to the exposure unit 300 is Squeezing is performed by reciprocating, suction is applied, each sheet is brought into close contact, the polygonal cylinder 301 is turned, the cylinder surfaces provided in other filters are opposed to each other, and scanning contact exposure is performed by moving the exposure unit using the second color filter. And the second exposure is completed.

Similarly, a third manuscript (black plate and one of Y, M, and C, for example, C plate, or one of Y, M, C, and black plates, or some or all of them) and Exposure by the corresponding filter is performed in the same procedure, and the third exposure is completed. In this way, if necessary, one to several exposures are repeated.

When a blower having a strong suction force is used, substantially the same flat surface effect can be obtained even when the squeezing means and the suction means are synchronized.

Finally, the photosensitive material mounting table is lowered to the lowermost position, the suction state of the photosensitive material is released by releasing the suction, and the leading end of the photosensitive material is fed to the holding roller 552 by the travel of the suction cup 523.

The photosensitive material whose leading end has reached the holding roller 552 is sent to the left developing section 600. When the internal latent image type direct positive photosensitive material is used, the fogging exposure is performed by the second exposure unit 350 during the transportation in the color developing tank 601. Then, the photosensitive material passes through a bleach-fixing tank and a stabilizing tank, is dried while being conveyed in a drying unit 680, and is collected at the right end of the apparatus.

The exposing agent photosensitive material starts to be conveyed through the development processing unit 600, and the photosensitive material mounting table is opened, and the subsequent photosensitive material is conveyed onto the photosensitive material mounting table 201, measured and measured by the cutter unit 510. After being cut at
It is repeated as described above.

The photosensitive material requires the second exposure when using the internal latent image type direct positive photosensitive material, but does not require the second exposure when using the negative color photosensitive material and the solarization type direct positive photosensitive material, and is kept off. . When other photosensitive materials such as dye-bleached color photosensitive materials, color reversal, and diffusion transfer are used, exposure and development can be performed by a similar system by providing a processing bath suitable for each of them. .

Of course, for the exposure of the direct positive photosensitive material, the black plate is superimposed on each of the Y, M, and C originals, and B is used for the Y and black plates, and G is used for the M and black plates. , C plate and black plate are exposed three times in correspondence with the R filter. For exposure to a negative color photosensitive material, originals of Y plate, M plate and C plate are placed on the photosensitive material. Y alone
The plate is B, the M plate is G, the C plate is R, and the R filter is exposed three times, and the black plate is overlapped the fourth time, and the ND filter is supported, and if necessary, the color filter for color correction is supported. And expose.

Further, if necessary, in addition to the above-described respective color separation exposures, a basic color suitable for a printing ink may be obtained by further performing exposure using light equivalent to a different color separation.
Further, in order to previously blend light equivalent to different color separations, processing such as blending of BGR-colored light or exposure using a combination of filters may be performed. Similarly, in order to reproduce colors suitable for special inks other than the standard inks of Y, M, C, and black, which are generally referred to as special colors, repeated exposure, blending of colored light, combination of filters, or the like may be performed. In this case, depending on the case, it is necessary to use a decomposed netting film called a special color plate, or to combine another film with a decomposed netting film for a special color. It is necessary to perform close baking.

There are high-sensitivity materials and non-high-sensitivity materials.
A plurality of light source lamps 302 of the polygonal cylinder 301 of 0 may be provided, and a large number of light sources may be turned on to enhance the exposure.

In addition, by using the treatment for lowering the scanning speed and the treatment for varying the opening and closing of the exposure window 310 together or independently, it is possible to perform high-quality exposure without deteriorating the reciprocity failure condition.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a contact exposure apparatus and a color proof making apparatus equipped with the same can be operated in a bright room and are compact, and furthermore, a transparent cover sheet and an original film can be securely and accurately adhered to a photosensitive material without wrinkles, and flatness can be obtained. As a result, the reproducibility of halftone dots, that is, the gradation of the image, in the contact multiple exposure of each of the separated halftone original films to the photosensitive material is improved, and an image equivalent to a printed matter is quickly formed on the color photosensitive material, so that an accurate original is obtained. Inspections can be performed accurately, and high-quality posters using photosensitive materials can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a color proof forming apparatus equipped with a contact exposure apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the contact exposure apparatus of the color proof forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the contact exposure apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a positional relationship between a document table and a photosensitive material mounting table. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an exposure section and a squeeze roller section. 100: Color proof creation device body 120: Light shielding cover, 121: Hinge 124: Plate, 140: Platen 143: Resist pins (pin bar) 144: Window, 240: Light shielding curtain 275: Transparent Cover sheet 276 Squeeze roller 277 Tension member (torsion bar) 284 Solenoid 282A Swing lever 300 Exposure unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A light-shielding curtain provided in a boundary area between a first chamber in which light-tightness with external light is turned on and off by an openable light-shielding cover having one end of a transparent cover sheet fixed to an opening. A second chamber is provided so that the light-tight relationship between the two chambers is turned on and off by opening and closing, a tension member to which the other end of the transparent cover sheet is fixed and an exposure section are provided in the first chamber, and a photosensitive material is provided in the second chamber. A photosensitive material mounting table is provided, which is automatically placed and fixed in a planar shape so that the surface of the photosensitive material can be moved to a boundary area, and a document is positioned and placed on the boundary area of the first chamber via a light shielding curtain. The light-shielding cover is closed and the curtain is opened, the photosensitive material mounting table is advanced to the boundary area, the photosensitive material, the original, and the transparent cover sheet are overlapped, and the overlapping surface is squeezed to perform close suction. A contact exposure apparatus characterized in that scanning of the exposure section is activated. .