JP3415305B2 - Exposure equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure device used in an image recording device or an image reading device. Specifically, it is possible to suitably perform the necessary light amount adjustment and shading correction, and even when a large light amount is required for exposure,
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus that can sufficiently deal with the situation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, or an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, the target original image is usually a reflection original such as a printed matter or a photograph. However, with the recent diversification of image information recording, in addition to reflective originals such as printed matter, slides, proofs,
An image recording apparatus and an image reading apparatus capable of using a transparent original such as a microfilm or a negative film as an original image have been put into practical use.

In an image recording (reading) apparatus for a reflected original such as a printed matter, the reflected original is irradiated with light emitted from a light source, and the reflected light carrying the original image reflected by the original is recorded on a recording material such as a photosensitive material. The original image is recorded by forming an image on and exposing the original image, or the original image is read by forming an image on a line sensor such as a CCD sensor and photoelectrically reading the image. On the other hand, in an image recording (reading) device for a transparent original such as a negative film, light emitted from a light source is incident on the transparent original, and the photosensitive material is similarly exposed by the transmitted light carrying the original image transmitted through the original. Then, the image is recorded or the image is read using a CCD sensor or the like.

Further, in these apparatuses, a rod-shaped light source and a slit extending in the same direction as the light source are used in view of downsizing of the exposure optical system and the fact that a large light source with a large amount of light is unnecessary. Slit scanning the original in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slit, and expose the image receiving element such as the recording material or the CCD sensor with slit-like transmitted light or reflected light.
Slit scanning exposure is often used.

In the slit scanning exposure apparatus, various light sources such as a rod-shaped halogen lamp and a fluorescent lamp are used.
Generally, the light source has a light amount unevenness so-called shading in which the light amount decreases from the center of the irradiation position toward the outside, and in the case of a rod-shaped light source, the light amount in the central portion is usually high,
Since the both end portions are low, it is impossible to illuminate the original with uniform light over the entire surface. Therefore, when image recording or reading is performed using the rod-shaped light source as it is, the recorded or read image has uneven density in the longitudinal direction of the slit. Therefore, so-called shading correction is performed to correct the unevenness of the light amount.

[0006]

Shading correction is usually carried out by disposing a correction filter having a light transmittance distribution opposite to that of shading in the optical path to reduce the light amount at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the light source. There is. That is, the shading correction basically involves a decrease in the light amount, and it is necessary to improve the light amount of the light source in an exposure apparatus that can use a document or a photosensitive material that requires a large light amount.

For example, when a 35 mm negative film or the like is used as a manuscript, since it is intended for those photographed by an unspecified number of general users, the photographed state of the manuscript is not constant, and a negative film with an excessive exposure amount is also used. Many are used as manuscripts. Therefore, in order to obtain a print on which an appropriate image has been formed corresponding to a negative film original in various shooting conditions, even if the film is a negative film with excessive exposure and high density, the amount of transmitted light sufficient to expose the image receiving element is sufficient. Therefore, a light source with a large amount of light is needed. However, as described above, the shading correction basically involves a light amount loss, and therefore it is necessary to use a light source having a large amount of light.

Further, a normal exposure apparatus is usually adapted to cope with a plurality of sizes of originals. For example, in the above-mentioned apparatus using a negative film as an original, various kinds of sizes from 35 mm size to Bronnie size are used. For size film. Therefore, it is necessary to use the rod-shaped light source with a length corresponding to the maximum size original, but the longer the length of the rod-shaped light source, the larger the difference in light amount between the central portion and the both ends, that is, shading. Is required to be greatly reduced, and when a small-sized original is used, the light amount is lost more than necessary.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. In an exposure apparatus used for an image recording apparatus or an image reading apparatus, necessary exposure light amount adjustment and shading correction are suitably performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an exposure apparatus capable of performing exposure with a sufficient amount of light by preventing a decrease in the amount of light due to shading correction when a large amount of light is required.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention scans an original with light from a light source extending in one direction, and reflects light reflected by the original or the original. An exposure device used for an image recording device or an image reading device, which exposes an image receiving element with transmitted light that has been transmitted, wherein the exposure device is inserted into a light path from the light source to the image receiving element in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the light source. Freely configured, and the light transmission amount decreases as the insertion amount increases in the insertion direction.
Along with the aperture pattern, there is a sheer in the longitudinal direction of the light source.
A pattern that becomes the pattern for wading correction
With the light control member formed, the amount of insertion of the light control member into the optical path decreases as the amount of light required for exposure of the image receiving element increases, and the light control member is retracted from the optical path as necessary. An exposure apparatus is provided.

Further, in the exposure apparatus, it is preferable that the light control member having the light amount adjusting means and the shading correcting means is a filter having a pattern represented by the following formula (1).

[Equation 2] In the above formula 1, w: pattern width W at position (x, y); pattern pitch L; maximum width from filter center D; filter base density C; shading correction amount (density) f; shading correction width

[0012]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a slit scanning exposure apparatus used in an image recording apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and the like, in which a light source of a light source is provided in an optical path from a rod-shaped light source to an image receiving element such as a photosensitive material or a CCD sensor. A dimming member that is configured to be insertable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and in which a light amount adjusting unit and a shading correcting unit that integrally reduce the passing light amount gradually toward the upstream of the insertion direction are arranged, and is used for exposure. As the required light amount increases, the insertion amount of the light control member into the optical path is reduced, and the light control member is retracted from the optical path as necessary.

That is, in this light control member, a light amount adjustment, that is, a diaphragm pattern in which the light transmission amount decreases as the insertion amount increases in the lateral direction of the light source (slit lateral direction = scanning direction), and The light amount adjustment pattern should be a pattern for shading correction in the longitudinal direction of the light source.
It is formed such that the amount of transmitted light in the central portion is low. Therefore, the exposure light amount can be adjusted and the shading correction can be appropriately performed according to the insertion amount of the light control member. Moreover, according to this configuration, when the exposure amount of light is improved by reducing the insertion amount of the light amount adjusting unit, the insertion amount of the shading correction unit is also reduced at the same time, and the decrease in the light amount due to this is also reduced. If necessary, the light control member is removed from the optical path, that is, the shading correction means is retracted from the optical path together with the light amount adjusting means.
Therefore, when a large amount of light is required, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of light due to shading correction, which was inevitable in conventional devices, and to maximize the amount of light that the light source has.
Even when using a 35 mm negative film or the like that requires a large amount of light for exposure, suitable image exposure can be performed. Therefore, according to the exposure apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to suitably perform the necessary exposure light amount adjustment and shading correction, and further, when a large light amount is required, prevent a decrease in the light amount due to the shading correction, It is possible to perform exposure with a sufficient amount of light, and it is possible to stably perform high-quality image recording and reading according to the original document, the photosensitive material, and the like.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The exposure apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus using the exposure apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagrammatic sectional view of the internal structure, and FIG. 3 is its slit scanning exposure apparatus. And Figure 2 shows a schematic schematic cross section of a film scanning unit. The image forming apparatus of the illustrated example is an apparatus using a photothermographic material that requires a heat development step as a photosensitive material and transfers and forms an image on an image receiving material having an image receiving layer in the presence of an image forming solvent such as water. Yes, not only reflective originals such as printed matter and photographs and transparent positive originals such as 135 size slides and proofs but also original images of transparent negative originals such as 35mm negative film are positive-positive photosensitive materials corresponding to the originals. And an apparatus capable of recording an image on a negative-positive photosensitive material.

The image forming apparatus 10 has a box shape as a whole, and a front door 14 and a side door 16 are attached to the apparatus body 12. The inside of the apparatus main body 12 can be exposed by opening each door. Note that each door is provided with a safety device by a so-called interlock mechanism (not shown) so that the power of a predetermined portion can be turned off at the same time when the door is opened.

A platen cover 17 for pressing an original placed on a platen (original plate) is detachably attached to the upper part (left side in the drawing) of the main body 12 of the image forming apparatus 10. In addition, at the upper part (right side in the figure) of the device body 12,
A film scanning unit 18 for copying a negative film of mm size to Bronie size, or a small transparent original such as a slide is detachably mounted. This film scanning unit is related to the exposure apparatus of the present invention. When copying a relatively large transparent document such as a 4 × 5 size slide, proof, or sleeve, the platen cover 17 is removed or opened to copy the transparent document at a predetermined position on the upper surface covering the platen. A light source unit for use is mounted. Further, on the upper side of the apparatus main body 12 of the image forming apparatus 10, behind the film scanning unit 18,
Prior to exposure of the photothermographic material, a monitor 19 for displaying a document image read by a line sensor 160 described later is arranged.

The apparatus main body 1 of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
2 inside, the photosensitive material magazine 20 is located below the central portion.
And a photosensitive material roll 22 in which the photothermographic material A is wound in a roll shape is housed inside. The photothermographic material A is wound and housed so that its photosensitive (exposure) surface faces downward when pulled out. A drawing port for the photothermographic material A is formed in the upper right portion of the photosensitive material magazine 20 in the figure, and a pair of drawing rollers 24 for drawing and conveying the photothermographic material A from the photosensitive material magazine 20 are arranged in the vicinity thereof. ing.

Photothermographic material A of pull-out roller pair 24
The cutter 2 is provided downstream (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream”) in the conveying direction of the sheet.
6 is arranged to cut the photothermographic material A drawn from the photosensitive material magazine 20 into a predetermined length. The cutter 26 is composed of, for example, a fixed blade and a movable blade, and cuts the photothermographic material A by vertically moving the movable blade by a known means such as a cam and engaging with the fixed blade. After the operation of the cutter 26, the pull-out roller pair 24 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the photothermographic material A is fed back to the extent that the leading end is slightly sandwiched by the pull-out roller pair 24. Further, after the reverse feeding, the nip of the photothermographic material A by the pull-out roller pair 24 may be released to prevent damage to the tip portion.

On the downstream side of the cutter 26, a pair of conveying rollers 28 and 3 are arranged so as to convey the photothermographic material A upward.
No. 0, conveyance guide plates 32, 34 and 36 are arranged to convey the photothermographic material A to the exposure section 38. The exposure unit 38 is set between the pair of transport rollers 38a and 38b, and an exposure device 40 is provided on the upper portion. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the photothermographic material A is exposed in the exposure unit 40 while being conveyed while being defined at a predetermined position by the conveyance roller pairs 38a and 38b in the exposure unit 38.
Alternatively, slit scanning exposure is performed by the slit light carrying the document image information from the film scanning unit 18.
The exposure device 40 and the film scanning unit 18 will be described in detail later.

A conveyance guide plate 42 is provided on the side of the exposure section 38.
a and a switchback unit 4 having a transport roller pair 44
2 is provided, and a water coating section 46 is installed below the exposure section 38. The photothermographic material A, which is drawn out from the photosensitive material magazine 20 and conveyed, and exposed imagewise in the exposure section 38, is once carried into the switchback section 42 by the conveying roller pair 44 and the like, and then the conveying roller pair 44 is reversed. Is discharged from the switchback unit 42, guided by the conveyance guide plate 48, and conveyed to the water application unit 46.

The water coating section 46 has a coating tank 50 filled with an image forming solvent, and a guide member 52 arranged so as to face the coating tank 50. In addition, the water application section 4
The photothermographic material A at the upstream end of the coating tank 50 of No. 6
A supply roller 54 for carrying the toner into the coating tank 50, and a squeeze roller pair 56 for removing excess water from the photothermographic material A are arranged at the downstream end thereof. The photothermographic material A exposed in the exposure unit 38 is supplied to the supply roller 5
4, the water as the image forming solvent is applied by passing between the application tank 50 and the guide member 52, and is sandwiched and conveyed by the squeeze roller pair 56 to remove excess water.

On the bottom surface of the coating tank 50, that is, on the surface of the photothermographic material A facing the exposed surface, a plurality of rows of ribs are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the photothermographic material A. The frictional resistance when the photosensitive material A passes is reduced, and at the same time, the heat-developable photosensitive material A is prevented from being scratched at a certain position. The guide member 52 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, is rotatably supported coaxially with the supply roller 54, and is configured to be contactable with and separable from the coating tank 50.

A thermal development transfer section 58 is arranged downstream of the water application section, and the photothermographic material A from which excess water has been removed by the application of water and the squeeze roller pair 56 is fed.

On the other hand, an image receiving material magazine 60 is arranged on the right side of the photosensitive material magazine 20 in the drawing, and an image receiving material roll 62, in which the image receiving material B is wound in a roll shape, is housed inside. The image receiving material B is wound and stored so that the image transfer surface of the image receiving material B faces upward. Further, the image receiving material B is formed to have a smaller dimension in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the transport direction) than the photothermographic material A in order to facilitate peeling after thermal development described later. An outlet for the image receiving material B is formed in the lower left portion of the image receiving material magazine 20 in the figure, and a pull-out roller pair 64 that pulls out and conveys the image receiving material B from the image receiving material magazine 60 is arranged in the vicinity thereof. After the image receiving material B is drawn by the drawing roller pair 64, the drawing roller pair 64 releases the nipping of the image receiving material B and prevents the leading end from being damaged.

A cutter 6 is provided downstream of the pair of pull-out rollers 64.
6 is arranged and the image receiving material B pulled out from the image receiving material magazine 60 is cut into a predetermined length. Cutter 66
Is composed of, for example, a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the movable blade is moved up and down by a known means such as a cam to engage with the fixed blade to cut the image receiving material B. The image receiving material B is cut into a shorter length than the photothermographic material A in order to facilitate peeling after the heat development described later.

Downstream of the cutter 66, a pair of conveying rollers 6 is provided.
8, 70 and 72 and conveyance guide plates 774, 76 and 78 are arranged, and the image receiving material B cut into a predetermined length is conveyed from below the photosensitive material magazine 20 to above and is carried into the heat development transfer section 58. Here, the pair of conveying rollers 72 also serves as a registration roller for correcting so-called skew of the conveyed image receiving material B, whereby the image receiving material B has its skew corrected and the thermal development transfer portion 58.
Be delivered to.

A laminating roller 80 for laminating the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B is arranged downstream of the squeeze roller pair 56 and the conveying roller pair 72.
The bonding roller 80 is a roller whose outer peripheral surface is covered with silicon rubber (for example, thickness 2.53 mm, hardness about 40 degrees), and is urged by a predetermined force (for example, about 9 kg) at both ends in the axial direction. It is pressed against the heating drum 82 of the heat development transfer section 58. The laminating roller 80 is connected to the drum motor 84 by a known driving force transmission system (not shown), and the driving force of the drum motor 84 is transmitted to rotate the laminating roller 80. In the copying machine 10 of the illustrated example, the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B by the bonding roller 80 are used.
The conveyance speed by the squeeze roller pair 56 and the conveyance roller pair 72 is slightly (for example, about 2%) with respect to the conveyance speed of
The photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are set to be late, and are conveyed by the bonding roller 80 while receiving a slight back tension.

The photothermographic material A comprises a squeeze roller pair 8
6 is carried in between the laminating roller 80 and the heating drum 82, while the image receiving material B is the photothermographic material A.
When the photothermographic material A is carried in by a predetermined length in advance, the photothermographic material A is carried in between the bonding roller 80 and the heating drum 82, and both are superposed. As described above, the photothermographic material A has a size slightly longer than the image receiving material B in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction (conveying direction). The image receiving material B is projected.

A cam 86 and a filler 88 are fixed to the side surface of the heating drum 82 of the heat development transfer section 58.
The cam 86 is configured to be engageable with peeling claws 90 and 92 of the heating drum 82, which will be described later, and is sequentially engaged with the peeling claws 90 and 92 to rotate by the rotation of the heating drum 82. The filler 88 is used to detect the alignment of the heating drum 82 with the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B.

Inside the heating drum 82, a pair of halogen lamps 82a and 82b are arranged. The halogen lamps 82a and 82b are each, for example, 400
It has outputs of W and 450 W, and raises the surface of the heating drum 82 to a predetermined temperature (for example, 82 ° C.). In the image forming apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, both halogen lamps 82a and 82b are used when the temperature of the heating drum 82 is raised,
In normal operation after the heating drum 82 reaches a predetermined temperature,
Only the halogen lamp 82a is used.

A roller 94 is provided around the heating drum 82.
An endless belt 96 stretched around five rollers a, 94b, 94c, 94d and 94e is pressed against the rollers. The endless belt 96 has a structure in which a woven fabric material is covered with rubber.
The rollers 94a, 94b, 94c and 94d are each made of stainless steel, and the roller 94e is made of rubber.
The outer side of the endless belt 96 between 4a and 94e is pressed against the outer circumference of the heating drum 82. Further, the roller 94c is
Both ends in the axial direction have a shape in which the diameter gradually increases toward the outside of the axis, and the heating drum 82 is provided at both ends in the axial direction.
It is urged by a force of about 2 kg in a direction away from.
As a result, the endless belt 96 is kept at a constant tension to maintain the pressure contact force to the heating drum 82, and the endless belt 96 is prevented from being biased due to rotation.

As described above, the roller 94e is a rubber roller and is connected to the drum motor 84 by a known driving force transmission system (not shown). That is, the copying apparatus 1 in the illustrated example
At 0, the endless belt 96 is rotated by rotating the roller 94e, and the rotational force is transmitted by the frictional force between the endless belt 96 and the heating drum 82, and the heating drum 82 is driven.

The drum motor 84 has a plurality of driving parts, that is, a driving force transmission system (not shown), which is known in the art.
The roller 94e, the laminating roller 80, the squeeze roller pair 56, and the bending guide roller 97, the peeling roller 98, the photosensitive material discharge roller pairs 100 and 102, the image receiving material discharge roller pairs 104, 106 and 108, which will be described later, are driven together. ing.

The heat-developable photosensitive material A and the image receiving material B adhered by the adhering roller 80 are kept in the superposed state and are spread over almost 2/3 of the heating drum 82 (between the rollers 94a and 94e). , Heating drum 8
2 and the endless belt 96 are nipped and conveyed. In the apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the heating drum 82 rotates (that is, the roller 94 in the state where the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are completely housed between the heating drum 82 and the endless belt 96).
(rotation of e) is stopped, and the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are heated for a predetermined time. In the image formation of the illustrated example,
The photothermographic material A releases a movable dye when heated, and at the same time, this dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material B, and a visible image is formed on the image receiving surface of the image receiving material B. .

A bending guide roller 97 is arranged downstream of the roller 94e in the rotation direction of the heating drum 82. The bending guide roller 97 is a roller made of silicon rubber, and is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 82 with a predetermined force, so that the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B conveyed by the heating drum 82 and the endless belt 96 are transferred. Further convey.

The peeling claw 9 is provided downstream of the bending guide roller 97.
0 and pinch roller 110 are arranged. The peeling claw 90 is rotatably supported at its central portion, and is rotated by the action of the above-mentioned cam 86, so that the heating drum 82 is rotated.
It is possible to approach and separate from the surface of. Also, pinch roller 1
10 is normally contacted with the bending guide roller 97 with a predetermined pressure, and when the peeling claw 90 comes into contact with the heating drum 82 in accordance with the rotation of the peeling claw 90, it is separated from the bending guide roller 97. Composed.

When the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are conveyed to the position of the peeling claw 90, the peeling claw 90 is brought into contact with the heating drum 82 by the action of the cam 86, and they are superposed on each other by a predetermined length in advance. The tip of the photothermographic material A is engaged with the peeling claw 90 to heat the photothermographic material A to the heating drum 82.
Peel from. When the predetermined length of the tip of the photothermographic material A is peeled from the heating drum 82, the peeling claw 90 is separated from the heating drum 82 by the action of the cam 86, and at the same time, the pinch roller 110 is brought into contact with the bending guide roller 97. The peeled end of the heat-developable photosensitive material A to the pinch roller 1
It is sandwiched by 10 and the bending guide roller 97. Therefore, the photothermographic material A separated from the heating drum 82
Is pinched and conveyed downward by the pinch roller 110 and the bending guide roller 97.

Downstream of the pinch roller 110 and the bending guide roller 97, a pair of photosensitive material discharge rollers 100 and 1 are provided.
02, a plurality of guide rollers 112, a conveyance guide plate 114
Is arranged, and the photothermographic material A separated from the heating drum 82 is conveyed downward, and further conveyed leftward in the drawing,
It is configured to be accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 116. Here, the pair of photosensitive material discharge rollers 100 and 102
Is 1 to 1 than the peripheral speed of rotation of the heating drum 82.
The heat-developable photosensitive material A is set so as to be delayed by about 3% so as not to apply an excessive tension to the photothermographic material A. Further, a drying fan 124 is arranged near the transport guide plate 114 to accelerate the drying of the photothermographic material A.

A peeling roller 98 and a peeling claw 92 are arranged downstream of the bending guide roller 97 and the peeling claw 90 in the rotation direction of the heating drum 82. The peeling roller 98 is a roller made of silicon rubber having a surface roughness of 25 S or more, is brought into contact with the outer periphery of the heating drum 82 at a predetermined pressure, and is rotated by the action of the drum motor 84 as described above. On the other hand, the peeling claw 92
Is rotated by the action of the cam 86 described above, and is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 82. When the photothermographic material A is peeled off and only the image receiving material B is conveyed by the heating drum 82, the peeling claw 92 is caused by the action of the cam 86.
Comes into contact with the heating drum 82 to peel off the front end of the image receiving material B, and also comes into contact with the heating drum 82 at the peeling roller 98.
And the peeling claws 92 bend and guide the image receiving material B downward.
Transport.

Downstream of the peeling roller 98, a pair of image receiving material discharging rollers 104, 106 and 108, and a conveyance guide plate 1 are provided.
17 and 118 are arranged, and the image receiving material B separated from the heating drum 82 is conveyed further downward and leftward in the drawing,
The sheet is discharged onto a tray 126 fixed to the left side surface of the apparatus body 12. Here, the drum fan 120 is disposed near the transport guide plate 117, and accelerates the drying of the image receiving material B together with the heating by the heating drum 82. It should be noted that the drum fan 120 operates only when necessary in accordance with the atmospheric conditions in order to make the temperature distribution of the heating drum 82 uniform. Further, a ceramic heater 122 is arranged on the transport guide plate 118 to further accelerate the drying of the image receiving material B.
The temperature of the ceramic heater 122 is around 70 ° C.

The heat-development transfer section 5 having the above structure.
8 is configured as one unit as a whole, and is configured to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 12 in the direction opposite to the water application section 46. Therefore, after the side door 16 of the apparatus main body 12 is opened, the heat development transfer portion 58 is moved to be opened so that the jamming process and the like can be easily performed.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10
The exposure device 40 and the film scanning unit 18 will be described. The exposure device 40 is basically an exposure optical system used when copying a reflective original such as a printed matter or a photograph, and copying an image of a relatively large transparent original such as a proof or a sleeve. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 12 of the image forming apparatus 10, a platen (original plate) 130 such as transparent glass for placing a reflective original and a reflective original are fixed to the original table 130. A detachable platen cover (original pressure plate) 17 is arranged. Also,
When copying an image of a relatively large transparent original such as a proof or a sleeve, the platen cover 17 is removed, and a transparent original light source unit for illuminating the transparent original placed on the original table 130 from above is predetermined. Placed in the position.

Below the document table 130, a light source 134 for exposure when copying an image of a reflection document and a reflector 13 are provided.
6 and the mirror 138 are integrally arranged in the light source unit. In the apparatus of the illustrated example, the reflector 136 also serves as a slit that regulates the width in the scanning direction of the reflected light (or the transmitted light of the transmissive original) reflected by the reflective original emitted by the light source 134. The light source unit moves the lower surface of the document table 130 in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow a, and irradiates the reflection document with the light source 134. When copying a large transparent original using the transparent original light source unit, the light source unit scans the lower surface of the original table 130 without turning on the light source 134, and the transmitted light of the transparent original passes through the slit. .

The reflected light emitted from the light source 134, reflected by the reflective original, passed through the slit and reflected in the predetermined direction by the mirror 138, is then reflected by the two mirrors 140a.
And 140b are incident on a mirror unit configured integrally, and are reflected in a predetermined direction along the optical path L. This mirror unit is configured to move in the same direction as the above-mentioned light source unit at a speed of 1/2.

At the downstream of the mirror unit in the optical path L, there is arranged a lens unit 142 in which an imaging lens and a variable diaphragm for adjusting the amount of light (that is, density) are integrally formed. The variable diaphragm is composed of, for example, two light-shielding plates which are arranged so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the optical path L and which can be inserted into the optical path. adjust.

A color filter unit is arranged downstream of the lens unit 142. The color filter unit includes, for example, a Y (yellow) filter 144Y, an M (magenta) filter 144M, and a C (cyan) filter 144Y.
The color balance of the reflected light is adjusted by adjusting the insertion amount of each color filter plate into the optical path L.

Downstream of the color filter unit in the optical path L,
Mirrors 146, 148 and 150 that reflect the reflected light in a predetermined direction are arranged. The reflected light traveling along the optical path L is reflected by each of these mirrors in a predetermined direction,
And the image is formed on the photothermographic material A, which is scanned and conveyed in the exposure section 38, for exposure. Here, the mirror 148 is configured to be rotatable, and in image recording of a reflective original and a large transparent original using the exposure device 40, FIG.
In image recording of a small transparent original T such as a color negative film using the film scanning unit 18, it is moved to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.

Further, the exposure device 40 is provided with an image sensor (not shown) for measuring the amount of reflected light for each of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a document image is prescanned to obtain an original image. After reading, the variable diaphragm of the lens unit and the insertion amount of each color filter plate of the color filter unit into the optical path L are determined.

The image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example is an apparatus capable of recording an image of a small transparent original such as a negative film of 35 mm size to a Bronie size, a slide, or the like. A film scanning unit 18 which constitutes a slit scanning exposure optical system for copying an image of a small transparent original T is detachably mounted, and a slit scanning of the transparent original T is provided inside an exposure device 40 below the film scanning unit 18. The zoom lens 152 and the mirror 154 which constitute the exposure optical system, and further, the moving mirror 156 and the imaging lens 15 for measuring the light quantity and color of the transmitted light of the transparent original T.
8, line sensor 160 is arranged.

The film scanning unit 18 irradiates light from the rod-shaped light source 162 to the transparent original T that moves in synchronization with the conveyance of the photothermographic material A, transmits the transparent original T, and passes through the slit 164. The transmitted light is magnified to 200% to 850% by the zoom lens 152 and the photothermographic material A is expanded.
The image on the transparent original T is copied by exposing the photothermographic material A with the transmitted light of the transparent original T by projecting the image on the transparent original T. As described above, the film scanning unit 18 is related to the exposure apparatus of the present invention.

The light source 162 is a rod-shaped light source extending in one direction, and its longitudinal direction coincides with a slit 164 described later. In the illustrated example, its longitudinal direction coincides with the direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. Are arranged. The light source 162 may be any color light source such as a halogen lamp or a flash lamp. Further, a light source 162 is inserted inside, and a reflector 166 for reflecting the light from the light source 162 to the transparent original T side is arranged to improve the light efficiency. The reflector 166 has an opening formed at the lower end for passing light, and an opening for inserting a color filter of the filter portion is formed on the left side surface in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light source 162 is arranged above the reflector 166, and inside the reflector 166 downstream of the light source 162, the space in which the light source 162 is arranged and the space below are separated. An infrared absorption filter (hereinafter referred to as an IR filter) 168 for cutting infrared rays and protecting the transparent original T from damage due to heat is arranged.

Downstream of the IR filter 168, light in the vicinity of the optical axis of the zoom lens 152 is condensed to improve the light collection efficiency, and the light incident on the transparent original T, the diffusion glass 182 described later, etc. in the vertical direction. Lens 20 for increasing
2 is arranged, and further downstream thereof, a filter unit for adjusting the color balance of the light illuminating the transparent original T and adjusting the color balance of the formed image is arranged. The filter unit includes a Y filter 174Y, an M filter 174M, and a C filter 17
4C 3 color filter plates, and each filter to the optical path L
and a driving device 176 to be inserted at t. The driving device 176 is composed of a driving source such as a pulse motor and a known moving (transmitting) means such as a rack and pinion. When the image forming conditions are set, the color adjustment amount by the user, the exposure correction condition of the transparent original T, and the like are set. According to the color adjustment amount, each color filter is inserted in the optical path Lt by the set insertion amount. In this way, the color balance of the light irradiating the transparent original T, that is, the light exposing the photothermographic material A is adjusted by each color filter, and the color balance of the formed image is adjusted.

Downstream of the opening of the reflector 166, a light control member 184 for adjusting the light quantity (light intensity) of the light illuminating the transparent original T and for correcting the shading of the light source 162.
Are placed. FIG. 4 is a view conceptually showing the plane of the light control member 184 (a view seen from the light traveling direction). The light control member 184 is the most characteristic member of the present invention, and is a filter in which the shaded portion is shielded and the transmitted light amount of light is different in the two-dimensional direction. A diaphragm pattern is formed, and a shading correction pattern of the light source 187 is formed in the arrow x direction orthogonal to the arrow y direction. The shading correction pattern is moved by the driving device 186 in the arrow y direction and inserted into the optical path Lt. By moving in the opposite direction and retracting from the optical path Lt, and adjusting the insertion amount of the light control member 184 into the optical path Lt, the transparent original T
Adjust the amount of light incident on.

More specifically, the dimming member 184 has the light source 184 in the direction of the arrow y, which is the direction of insertion into the optical path Lt.
In the short side direction (short side direction of the slit 164 = scanning direction), an aperture pattern is formed in which the light transmission amount decreases as the insertion amount increases, and this aperture pattern is in the arrow x direction, that is, the length of the light source 184. In the direction, a shading correction pattern is formed such that the amount of transmitted light in the central portion is low and the amount of transmitted light increases toward both ends. Therefore, the larger the amount of light required for exposure, the smaller the amount of insertion of the light control member 184 into the optical path Lt.
In the film scanning unit 18 according to the present invention,
When a large amount of light is required, such as when a negative film that is overexposed is used as the transparent original T, the light control member 184 (the light amount reduction portion) is retracted from the optical path Lt.

As described above, in the slit scanning exposure apparatus using the rod-shaped light source, in order to perform image recording (reading) with high image quality without density unevenness, the light amount at the central portion of the light source is reduced to make it uniform. However, since the shading correction basically involves a decrease in the light quantity, and when a large light quantity is required for exposure, the light quantity of the light source 184 needs to be improved. Further, in a normal scanning exposure apparatus, various sizes of originals, for example, films of various sizes from 35 mm to Bronnie size in the illustrated example are targeted, but the light source 184 is the maximum size original, that is, the illustrated example. In that case, it is necessary to use a length corresponding to a Bronze size manuscript.
However, as is clear from FIG. 5, the longer the length of the rod-shaped light source is, the larger the shading is. Therefore, it is necessary to greatly reduce the light amount in the central portion, and as a result, the light amount is lost more than necessary for a small document. Will end up. Moreover, as will be described in detail later, the reason why a large amount of light is required is mainly a 35 mm negative film that uses the central part of the light source, so a large decrease in the amount of light in the central part causes a large loss.

On the other hand, in the film scanning unit 18 according to the present invention, during normal exposure, the amount of exposure light is adjusted by adjusting the insertion amount of the light control member 184, and shading correction is also suitable. Done,
High-quality image recording can be performed. Moreover, when the exposure amount of light is improved by reducing the insertion amount of the light control member 184, the insertion amount of the shading correction means is also reduced together with the aperture, and the reduction of the light amount due to the shading correction is reduced, and the maximum light amount is required. In this case, the light control member 184
(The light amount reduction portion) is retracted from the optical path Lt. Therefore, when a large amount of light is required, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of light due to shading correction, which was inevitable with conventional devices, and to maximize the use of the amount of light of the light source. Suitable image exposure can be performed even when a document requiring a large amount of light is used, such as a negative film.

By the way, in the film scanning unit 18 according to the present invention, when exposure is performed with the maximum light amount, image formation is performed without performing shading correction. However, there is no practical problem for the following reason.

As described above, the film scanning unit 18
Can form an image using a transparent original T having a size of 35 mm to a Bronie size. Here, since the 35 mm negative film is intended to be taken by an unspecified number of general users, the shooting state of the original is not constant, and a large number of negative films with excessive exposure are also used as the original. In such a negative film having an excessive amount of exposure, the maximum density of the original is about 5 steps, so that the transparent original T is irradiated with a large amount of light in order to obtain an appropriate print image, and the photothermographic material A is exposed. It is necessary to obtain a sufficient amount of transmitted light of the transparent original T. On the other hand, transparent originals other than 35 mm negative film such as positive films such as slides and negative films of bronze size are mostly used by those who have professional knowledge or technology for business use or so-called mania, Most were taken under the right conditions. Therefore, the maximum density is also about two steps, and it is not necessary to make a large color / density correction at the time of exposure for obtaining a print image, and it is possible to obtain a sufficiently appropriate print image with a normal light amount. That is, in the film scanning unit 18, the light control member 184
Is exposed from the optical path Lt and is exposed with the maximum amount of light only when a 35 mm negative film having a high density due to an excessive amount of exposure is used as the transparent original T. In other cases, the adjustment is performed. The light amount adjustment and shading correction are performed by the light member 35 to perform the exposure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the shading of a rod-shaped light source, in which the vertical axis represents the amount of light and the horizontal axis represents the position of the light source 162 in the longitudinal direction (that is, the arrow x direction in FIG. 4). As described above, the rod-shaped light source 162 has the highest light amount in the central portion, and the light amount decreases toward both ends. Here, when the 35 mm negative film is used as the transparent original T, the length of the light source 162 is about 36 mm at the maximum, and when the Bronnie size is used as the transparent original T, the length is 6 mm.
A maximum length of 0 mm is required. Therefore, in the illustrated apparatus, the light source 162 having a length of about 60 mm is used. Therefore, when a 35 mm negative film is used, exposure is performed using a high light amount portion at the center of the light source 162, but the shading in this area is ΔL ₁ , which is greater than the shading ΔL ₂ up to both ends. Significantly smaller. That is, as the transparent document T, 35
When using a mm negative film, the shading of the light source 162 is very small and a high light amount can be used, and if the shading characteristics near the center of the light source 162 are designed to be the minimum necessary, shading correction can be performed. Even if it is not performed, no problem occurs in practical use. Also,
As described above, when the transparent original T of a Bronie size or the like is used up to both ends of the light source 162, the shading correction is basically performed.

For ordinary shading correction, a filter having an amount of transmitted light opposite to the shading of the light source is inserted,
This is done by reducing the light quantity in the central part and making the light quantity in the whole area flat at both ends. In such cases,
It is of course possible to increase the light amount of the light source 162 to cope with a high density 35 mm negative film or the like, but if the total light amount is increased, the light amount at both ends of the light source which is not actually used in the high light amount is also improved. There is a lot of waste. On the other hand, according to the exposure apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to perform light amount adjustment and shading correction when necessary,
Moreover, the light amount near the center of the light source 162 required for the high density 35 mm negative film is improved without increasing the unnecessary peripheral light amount for the high density negative of the Bronie size which is not actually used.

In the exposure apparatus of the present invention, the method for forming the filter pattern of the light control member 184 which is a filter having a diaphragm and a shading correction pattern is as follows.
As a specific example, the method according to the following formula (1) is exemplified.

[Equation 3]

The filter represented by the above equation (1) is shown in FIG.
Is a comb-teeth type filter in which sharp-edged sharp-edged patterns are repeatedly formed at a fixed pitch, and the above formula (1) is defined by the center in the longitudinal direction of the light source 162 at the end on the upstream side in the insertion direction. Is the origin O (see FIG. 4), and at a certain position (x, y) in the longitudinal direction, that is, the arrow x direction and the insertion direction of the light control member 184, that is, the arrow y direction, how much width w of a constant pitch is It is to calculate whether to block light (or reduce light quantity). In Equation (1), w is the width of the pattern at the position (x, y); W is the pattern formation pitch; L is x from the center of the filter.
The maximum width in the direction, that is, the pattern formation length from the origin O in the direction of FIG. 4x; D is the filter base density, that is, the density of the portion with the lowest light transmittance (or the light shielded portion); Large amount; f
Is a parameter corresponding to the width (area) in the x direction for shading correction; Like the device in the illustrated example, 3
If the device uses 5 mm to Brownie size as a document, for example, W = 0.5 mm, L = 27.3 mm, D =
Numerical values of about 2.0, C = 0.24, and f = 300 may be used.

The filter represented by the above equation (1) uses the error function of x, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is a comb-shaped filter similar to the following equation ( A filter using cos x shown in 2) is also preferably used.

[Equation 4] In the above formula (2), H is the maximum pattern height in the y direction (inserting direction of the light control member 184), and if the above conditions are satisfied, for example, H = 35.3 mm is exemplified. The other parameters are the same as those in the above-mentioned formula (1).

In the above equations (1) and (2),
The pattern in [] indicates a pattern as a diaphragm in the insertion direction, and the envelope connecting the vertices of the comb teeth corresponds to the pattern for shading correction. It is needless to say that the numerical values exemplified in the above formula are appropriately changed according to the shading characteristics of the light source of the apparatus actually used, the corresponding document size, document type, and the like.

In the film scanning device 18 according to the exposure apparatus of the present invention, the light control member 184 is basically a filter in which the diaphragm function and the shading correction function are integrally formed. When is extremely wide, the shading correction amount may differ depending on whether the magnification is high or low. In that case, the diaphragm (light amount adjusting means) and the shading correction means are separately formed, and not only the diaphragm but also the shading correction means which is normally fixed is movable so that it can be inserted into the optical path Lt. By adjusting the insertion amount of the shading correction means into the optical path Lt according to the image recording magnification, the most appropriate shading correction can be performed at each magnification, and when a large amount of light is required, an aperture and a shading correction means are used. Together with optical path L
It may be configured to retract from t.

In this case, as long as the diaphragm can be completely retracted from the optical path Lt, various known light amount adjusting means can be used. Further, as the shading correction means, a filter represented by the following formula (3) is exemplified.

[Equation 5]

The above equation (3) is an application of the above equation (1), and each parameter is the same as the equation (1). Further, the function C (y) is a function of the correction density performed by the shading correction adapted to the high magnification to the low magnification, and for example, the function represented by the following formula is exemplified. C (y) = c (1-y / H × 0.5) The function C (y) is such that, for a certain fixed value c, the correction amount at half magnification is half that at high magnification. .

In the shading correction by the light control member 184 expressed by the above formula, a light-shielding portion mountain is formed only in the central portion as shown in FIG. 4 so as to reduce the light amount in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the light source 162. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and peaks of the light shielding portion may be formed not only in the central portion but also in the peripheral portion.

As described above, the apparatus of the illustrated example uses the transparent original T
Image of 200% to 85% by the zoom lens 152.
The image is expanded to 0% and projected onto the photothermographic material A to expose the photothermographic material A. However, depending on the characteristics of the zoom lens, the shape of shading on the photothermographic material A may vary depending on the magnification. It can be very different. In this case, usually, a relationship is established between the range exposed in the photothermographic material A and the required shading width. Therefore, according to the relationship, for example, the error function of the equation (1) is By setting a plurality of points with their origins shifted, a light-shielding peak is formed not only in the central portion of the light control member 184 but also in the peripheral portion thereof, which corresponds to the shape of shading correction according to the image recording magnification. May be.

As described above, the drive unit 186 has the same structure as the drive unit 176, and moves the light control member 184 to move the optical path Lt according to the density adjustment amount such as the exposure correction condition of the transparent original T. When the transparent original T is a high-density negative film or the like, the light control member 184 is retracted from the optical path Lt. Thus, the photothermographic material A
Exposure light amount, that is, the density of the formed image is adjusted, and shading correction is performed. Insertion amount of each filter into the optical path by the driving device 176 and the driving device 186
The amount of light control member 184 inserted into the optical path by
78.

Downstream of the light control member 184, a UV cut filter 170 for cutting ultraviolet rays, and a BG notch filter 172 for separating blue light and green light,
Diffusing glass for diffusing and mixing the light whose color has been adjusted by the filter portion and whose light amount (density) has been adjusted by the light control member 184, and which is made to enter the transparent original T vertically as uniform light without color unevenness or illumination unevenness. 180 and Fresnel lens 182 are arranged.

The transparent original T is loaded on the scan table 188 arranged downstream of the Fresnel 182. The scan table 188 holds the transparent original T at a predetermined position and conveys the transparent original T in the arrow direction in the figure in synchronization with the conveyance of the photosensitive material A in the exposure device 40.
The transparent original T is scanned. Scan table 1
The method of moving the transparent original T by 88 is not particularly limited,
Any known conveying means such as screw transmission, winding transmission, rack and pinion, etc. can be used. Further, the moving speed of the transparent original T is 1 when the conveying speed of the photosensitive material A is 1 and the copying magnification by the film scanning unit 18 is n.
/ N.

The transmitted light that has passed through the transparent original T passes through the slit 164 that determines the width of the exposure slit for the photothermographic material A, travels along the optical path Lt, and enters the zoom lens 152 arranged in the exposure device 40. Incident. Zoom lens 15
2 enlarges the transmitted light of the transparent original T which has passed through the slit 164 to 200% to 850% and forms an image at the exposure position of the exposure unit 38.

The transmitted light of the transparent original T that has passed through the Zumm lens 152 is deflected by about 90 ° in the optical path by the mirror 154, and is incident on the mirror 150 while the optical path L of the reflected light from the reflective original is aligned with the optical path. As described above, when the image of the transparent original T is copied using the film scanning unit 18, the mirror 148 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in the figure.

The transmitted light of the transparent original T which is incident on the mirror 150 and reflected downward is similar to the reflected light from the reflective original, and a predetermined amount of the photothermographic material A which is scanned and conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 38a and 38b. An image is formed at the exposure position of, and this is subjected to slit scanning exposure. Here, the transparent original T moves by the scan table 188 in synchronization with the scanning and conveying speed of the photothermographic material A, that is, when the enlargement magnification of the projection optical system is n, it is 1 / n of the photosensitive conveying speed. As a result, the transparent original T moves over the entire image area, so that the entire image of the transparent original T is scanned and exposed on the photothermographic material A.

The apparatus of the illustrated example reads the image of the transparent original T by performing a prescan before recording the image of the transparent original T, and the exposure amount at the time of image recording, that is, the Y filter 174Y, the M filter 174M in the filter portion, and the Optical path Lt of three color filter plates of C filter 174C
The amount of insertion into the optical path Lt of the light control member 184 (or the retreat) is determined.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Zunemu lens 1
Upstream of 52, the mirror 1 that can be inserted into the optical path Lt
56 are arranged. The mirror 156 is inserted in the optical path Lt as shown by the dotted line in the drawing during pre-scanning, and deflects the transmitted light of the transparent original T by 90 °. Mirror 15
The transmitted light whose optical path is deflected by 6 is the photometric lens 15
The focus is adjusted by 8, and the line sensor 160 is made incident and forms an image.

The line sensor 160 is composed of three rows of line sensors: a line sensor having an R filter, a line sensor having a G filter, and a line sensor having a B filter. Each line sensor is, for example, a 256-pixel MOS (NMOS or CMOS) line sensor, and an image of the transparent original T is displayed with a resolution of 256 pixels per line for each color of R, G, and B. Can be read.

The image data signal output of the line sensor 160 is transferred to the control device 178, and the control device 178 uses the image signal read by the line sensor 160 to display the reproduced image on the monitor 19 and to display these images. The image feature amount is obtained from the signal, the appropriate exposure condition is obtained, the image feature amount of the designated main part is obtained as necessary, the exposure condition is corrected, and these exposure condition and the corrected exposure condition Determine the exposure conditions with manual adjustment of color and / or density added to. The controller 178
Then, the adjustment amount of color and / or density according to the obtained exposure condition, modified exposure condition or manually adjusted exposure condition, that is, color filters 174C, 174M, 174Y.
And / or the amount of insertion of each light control member 184 into the optical path Lt is calculated, or when it is determined that the maximum amount of light is required for exposure, it is determined that the light control member 184 is retracted from the optical path Lt. Information signal of the insertion amount of the color filter 174
To the driving device 176 of the dimmer 184 and the driving device of the scan table 188.
The drive control of the image recording apparatus of the illustrated example is performed.

The image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and the operation will be described below by taking a typical example when copying an image of the transparent original T. The operator first loads the transparent original T on the scan table 188, sets the copy magnification, and then presses the start button. Then, the light source 162 is turned on, the scanning of the transparent original T is started by the scan table 188, and the prescan is started.

The light emitted from the light source 162 passes through the IR filter 168 to be cut into infrared rays, and the light in the vicinity of the optical axis is condensed by the condenser lens 202, and the UV cut filter 170 and the BG notch filter 172. After passing through the diffusion glass 180 and the Fresnel lens 182, the light enters the transparent original T and becomes the transmitted light that carries the image information of the transparent original T and passes through the slit 164. At this time, the color filters 174Y to 174C and the light control member 184 are retracted from the optical path Lt. Alternatively, these are set to the optical path Lt according to the standard exposure condition of the transparent original T.
May have been inserted into.

The transmitted light passing through the slit 164 is as shown in FIG.
Is deflected by 90 ° by a moving mirror inserted in the optical path Lt as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1, imaged on the line sensor 160 by the imaging lens 156, and photometry is performed for each color of R, G, and B. , The image of the transparent original T is separated into each color of R, G and B, and the image of the transparent original T is read with a resolution of 256 pixels per line.

The output from the line sensor 160 is transferred to the control device 178, and the control device 178 processes this output as described above, performs correction processing by, for example, LATD, and reproduces the original image read on the monitor 19. It is displayed as an image (a positive image if the transparent original T is a negative film). The operator observes the image displayed on the monitor and designates a main portion by a main portion designating means such as a mouse as necessary. The control device 178 has a designated main part and LAT.
Various image feature amounts are determined from D, and the exposure conditions, that is, the insertion amount of each color filter plate 174Y to 174C into the optical path Lt and the insertion amount of the light control member 184 into the optical path Lt in the filter unit are determined from the image feature amounts. Or the withdrawal of the light control member 184 from the optical path Lt is determined, and an instruction is issued to the drive devices 176 and 186.

In accordance with the exposure conditions thus determined, the driving devices 176 and 186 cause the color filter plates 174Y to 174C and the light control member 184 to move the optical path L.
When t is inserted, the moving mirror 156 moves to the position shown by the solid line in the drawing and retracts from the optical path Lt, and the light source 162
Is turned on and scanning of the transparent original T is started, and main scanning, that is, image exposure of the transparent original T is started. As described above, the scanning speed at this time depends on the scanning speed of the photothermographic material A in the exposure section 38 and the image recording magnification.

The light emitted from the light source 162 passes through the IR filter 168, and the light in the vicinity of the optical axis is the condenser lens 2.
02, the color and density (light amount) are adjusted by the color filters 174Y to 174C and the light control member 184 inserted according to the exposure conditions as described above, and the UV cut filter 170 and the BG notch filter are provided. 172, diffusion glass 180, and Fresnel lens 182
The light passes through the slit 164 and enters the transparent original T, becomes transmitted light that carries image information of the transparent original T, and passes through the slit 164.
The light that has passed through the slit 164 is magnified to a set magnification by the zoom lens 152 and reflected by the mirror 154. Here, as described above, since the mirror 148 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3 during the image recording of the transparent original T, the transmitted light is reflected by the mirror 150, and the above operation is performed. An image is formed on the photothermographic material A that is drawn out from the photothermographic material magazine 20 at the same timing, cut into a predetermined length, and conveyed by the exposure unit 38, and this is subjected to slit scanning exposure.

Photothermographic material A subjected to slit scanning exposure
Is once conveyed to the switchback unit 42, then conveyed in the opposite direction and then conveyed to the water application unit 46, and after the water application unit 46 is coated with water as the image forming solvent, the above operation and timing are adjusted. The image receiving material B, which has been pulled out from the image receiving material magazine 60, cut into a predetermined length and conveyed, is bonded by the bonding roller 80 and is carried into the heat development transfer section 58. The photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B, which have been conveyed by being nipped and conveyed by the endless belt 96 and the heating drum 82, are first peeled from the heating drum 82 by the peeling claw 90, Next, the image receiving material B on which the image is transferred is peeled off from the heating drum 82 by the peeling claw 92. The peeled photothermographic material A is guided by the transport guide plate 114 or the like and carried into the waste photosensitive material storage box 116, while the image receiving material B on which the image is transferred is guided by the transport guide plate 118 or the like. Tray 1
It is discharged to 26 and made into a hard copy.

The above description is an example in which the exposure apparatus of the present invention is used in the film scanning unit 18 for copying a small transparent original such as a negative film. However, the present invention is not limited to this and the reflection is performed. The exposure apparatus of the present invention can also be preferably used for the optical exposure apparatus 40 for copying an original or the like, and the above-mentioned transparent original light source unit that is used by being placed on the original table when copying a large transparent original. Further, not only the direct exposure type copying apparatus as shown in the drawing but also an image reading apparatus such as a scanner or a reading unit of a digital copying apparatus can be suitably used.

Although the exposure apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

[0091]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the necessary adjustment of the exposure light amount and the shading correction can be suitably performed, and the original is a negative film or the like having a high density. If a large amount of light from the light source is required, prevent a decrease in the amount of light due to shading correction,
It is possible to perform exposure with a sufficient amount of light, and it is possible to stably perform high-quality image recording and reading according to the original document, the photosensitive material, and the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus using an exposure apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an exposure device and a film scanning unit of the image recording device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view conceptually showing an example of a light control member in the exposure apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining an example of the effect of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Image recording device 12 Device body 18 Film scanning unit 19 monitors 38 Exposure Department 40 exposure equipment 42 Switchback section 46 Water application section 58 heat development transfer section 80 Laminating roller 82 heating drum 90,92 peeling nail 96 endless belt 134,162 Light source 152 zoom lens 156 moving mirror 158 Imaging lens 160 line sensor 162 Bar light source 164 slit 168 IR (infrared absorption) filter 174C Cyan filter 174M Magenta Filter 174Y Yellow filter 176,186 drive device 178 Controller 184 Variable aperture 188 scan table 202 Condensing lens A photothermographic material B Image receiving material

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus or image, wherein a document is scanned with light from a light source extending in one direction, and an image receiving element is exposed by reflected light reflected by the document or transmitted light transmitted through the document. An exposure device used in a reading device, which is configured to be insertable in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the light source in an optical path from the light source to the image receiving element, and which increases light amount when an insertion amount increases in an insertion direction. The light control member has a diaphragm pattern that reduces the amount of transmission and a pattern that forms a shading correction pattern in the longitudinal direction of the light source, and increases the amount of light required for exposing the image receiving element. Accordingly, the exposure apparatus is characterized in that the amount of the light control member inserted into the optical path is reduced, and the light control member is retracted from the optical path as necessary. 2. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light control member having a light amount adjusting means and a shading correcting means is a filter on which a pattern represented by the following formula (1) is formed. [Equation 1] In the above formula 1, w: pattern width W at position (x, y); pattern pitch L; maximum width from filter center D; filter base density C; shading correction amount (density) f; shading correction width