JP3753519B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, a roll-shaped photosensitive material stored in a magazine or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material obtained by cutting the roll-shaped photosensitive material into a predetermined length is supplied to the photosensitive material. The present invention belongs to the technical field of image recording apparatuses that perform digital image recording and analog image recording for printing images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, when an image taken on a photographic film (hereinafter referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is baked onto a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, the projection light transmitted through the film is incident on the photosensitive material. This is performed by so-called direct (analog) exposure in which the photosensitive material is surface-exposed with projection light.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent years, an image recording apparatus that performs printing on a photosensitive material using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal. Performs image processing to record image data, scans and exposes the photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image data, records an image (latent image), performs development processing, and outputs it as a print (photograph) A digital photo printer was put into practical use.
[0004]
In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically, gradation correction and the like are performed by image (signal) processing, and exposure conditions are determined. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform various image processing such as composition of multiple images by image processing, image division such as image division, color / density adjustment, edge enhancement, etc. Can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, and can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk.
Furthermore, according to the digital photo printer, it is possible to output a print with better image quality, which is superior in resolution, color / density reproducibility, and the like as compared with a conventional direct exposure print.
[0005]
Such a digital photo printer basically includes an input device having a scanner (image reading device) and an image processing device, and a printing device that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light to print an image (latent image). An image recording apparatus and a development processing apparatus are included.
In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and the projection light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens. Then, the image is read by photoelectric conversion and sent to the image processing apparatus as film image data (image data signal). The image processing device performs predetermined image processing on the image data sent from the scanner, and sends it to the printing device as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording.
[0006]
For example, if the printing apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated in accordance with image data sent from the image processing apparatus, and the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction. Back print that prints various information on the back side by transporting the photosensitive material (photographic paper) in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the scanning direction to form a latent image by scanning exposure (baking) of the photosensitive material with a light beam. (Back side printing) is performed. In the development processing apparatus, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined development process and the like to form a print on which a photographed image is reproduced.
[0007]
By the way, not only in such a digital photo printer but also in an ordinary direct (analog) exposure photo printer printing apparatus, an unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape and stored in a light-shielding casing, and magazine Each magazine is loaded into an image recording apparatus, pulled out from the magazine, conveyed, and subjected to exposure or the like.
Here, in a normal photo printer, the photosensitive material is not cut in the middle, but after the exposure, back print, development processing, water washing, drying, etc. are finished in a long length, the photosensitive material is finally cut to a predetermined length. One print is made.
[0008]
However, in the photo printer that finally cuts the photosensitive material in this way, it is necessary to form frame information (punch) for indicating the boundary of each frame (each printed sheet) before or during exposure of the photosensitive material. is there. Therefore, the portion of the photosensitive material on which the frame information is formed is wasted, and a frame information forming unit and a reading unit having a punch and a sensor are required.
[0009]
Furthermore, in order to record a high-quality image without unevenness in a digital exposure printing apparatus, it is necessary to scan and convey the photosensitive material during exposure with high accuracy and without stopping. At the time of formation, it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the photosensitive material, and at the time of recording the back print, a load fluctuation is applied to the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material.
In order to avoid these disadvantages, in the image recording apparatus of the digital photo printer, the photosensitive material for the buffer is provided between the exposure position and the frame information forming unit and between the exposure position and the back print recording unit. A flexure (loop) is formed, and the structure of the photosensitive material conveyance area and the conveyance control method, such as the control of the amount of photosensitive material (number of frames) in the loop and the exposure timing, are complicated, and the size of the apparatus increases. This is a cause of soaring equipment costs and running costs.
[0010]
Therefore, in a digital photo printer, it is desired to realize an image recording apparatus that can perform exposure after a photosensitive material is cut into a size corresponding to one print to form a cut sheet.
However, at present, a digital image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a cut sheet type image recording apparatus) that performs exposure after using a photosensitive material as a cut sheet has not yet been realized.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a digital exposure image recording apparatus, in order to record a high-quality image free from unevenness and misalignment at a predetermined position of the photosensitive material, the photosensitive material to be exposed is positioned with high accuracy and the scanning conveyance is highly accurate. And must be done without stopping.
For this reason, in conventional image recording devices, in order to position the photosensitive material at an accurate position, exposure is started, such as a width guide that is movable according to the size of the photosensitive material and simultaneously regulates both sides of the photosensitive material. A photosensitive material resist device comprising a device for positioning the front end of the photosensitive material is provided at a position where the photosensitive material is to be moved.
[0012]
However, in such a configuration in which the photosensitive material is positioned by the resist device provided with the width guide that simultaneously regulates both end faces of the photosensitive material, it is difficult to reduce the cost because the resist device is required. Since an installation space is required, it is difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus, and there is a problem that it is not possible to sufficiently reduce the size of the apparatus and reduce the apparatus cost.
[0013]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of an apparatus by a resist mechanism having a simple configuration capable of accurately positioning a side end face of a photosensitive material without providing a special registration apparatus for regulating both end faces of the photosensitive material. The present invention provides an image recording apparatus that can reduce the cost and apparatus cost.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention supplies a roll-shaped photosensitive material stored in a magazine or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material obtained by cutting the roll-shaped photosensitive material into a predetermined length. An image recording apparatus that conveys these photosensitive materials, performs imagewise exposure at a predetermined recording position, and discharges the photosensitive material to the next processing apparatus, and is disposed upstream of the predetermined recording position, A guide plate in which a shape perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material is formed asymmetrically at a bent portion of a conveyance path for conveying the photosensitive material to the predetermined recording position, and an entrance side of the guide plate is provided. An image recording apparatus comprising: an inlet side roller pair; and an outlet side roller pair provided on an outlet side of the guide plate. In the present invention, the roll-shaped photosensitive material or the sheet-shaped photosensitive material is scanned and conveyed, and exposure is performed at a predetermined recording position with recording light modulated in accordance with digital image data of an image to be recorded. The present invention can be applied to an image recording apparatus that discharges to the next processing apparatus, or an image recording apparatus that performs surface exposure and discharges to the next processing apparatus at a predetermined recording position.
[0015]
Here, the guide plate is formed such that an end portion on the exit side is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material, and the guide plate has a different radius of curvature in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. Preferably, the end of the guide plate on the outlet side is inclined such that the end on the side with the smaller radius of curvature is short.
Further, the outlet side roller pair is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material and / or provided substantially in parallel with the end portion of the guide plate, and preferably on the downstream side of the outlet side roller pair. Further, a width guide for registering one side end face of the photosensitive material is provided on the side where the end portion of the guide plate is formed short. Is provided It is preferable.
Furthermore, it is preferable that when the photosensitive material is nipped by the outlet side roller pair, the nipping of the inlet side roller pair is released.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus that performs digital exposure to which the present invention is preferably applied.
An image recording apparatus 10 (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus 10) shown in FIG. 1 is cut into a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material Z to form a cut sheet, and then back printing (back printing). ) And digital exposure, and the exposed photosensitive material Z is supplied to a developing device (processor) 72, and includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a back print unit 14, an image recording unit 52, and a sorting device 18. Details of the developing device 72 are omitted.
[0018]
Although not shown for the sake of clarity of the basic configuration of the apparatus, the recording apparatus 10 includes a conveying means for the photosensitive material Z such as a conveying roller, a conveying guide, a sensor for detecting the photosensitive material, and the like. Various members arranged in a known image recording apparatus are arranged as necessary. Here, the interval between the conveying rollers provided as the conveying means is set to be smaller than the minimum length that can be taken by the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z after cutting so that the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z is not hindered.
[0019]
The photosensitive material supply unit 12 is loaded with magazines 20 and 22 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape with the emulsion surface (photosensitive surface) outside is housed in a light-shielding casing. The loading sections 54 and 56 are arranged, the drawer section 54 corresponds to the loading section 54, the drawer roller pair 26 corresponds to the loading section 56, and the cutter 28 a corresponding to the loading section 54 corresponds to the loading section 56. The cutter 28b is disposed close to the downstream side of the drawing roller pairs 24 and 26, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the recording apparatus 10, the loading unit 56 is disposed below the loading unit 54, and the image recording position X is located on the upper side. Therefore, the recording unit 10 moves upward from the corresponding cutters 28 a and 28 b. The distances between the back print unit 14 and the image recording position X are different.
[0020]
The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus in which two magazines 20 and 22 can be loaded. Usually, the two magazines 20 and 22 have a size (width), a surface type (silk, mat, etc.), and specifications. The photosensitive materials Z of different types such as (thickness, type of base, etc.) are stored.
In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the number of magazines that can be loaded is not limited to two in the illustrated example, and may be one, or may be one in which three or more magazines are loaded. Good.
[0021]
In such a photosensitive material supply unit 12, the roll-shaped photosensitive material Z is pulled out from the corresponding magazine by the drawing roller pairs 24 and 26 and conveyed downstream. This conveyance is stopped when the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutters 28a and 28b reaches a length corresponding to the size of the image to be recorded, and then the cutters 28a and 28b are operated to activate the photosensitive material. By cutting Z, a cut sheet having a predetermined length is obtained.
[0022]
The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with cutters 28a and 28b for each of two magazines 20 and 22, and the photosensitive material Z drawn from these magazines 20 and 22 is separated by separate cutters 28a and 28b. Although it is set as the structure cut | disconnected respectively, this invention is not limited to this, It is good also as a structure cut | disconnected by one common cutter.
Thus, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z drawn and cut from the photosensitive material supply unit 12 is conveyed to the back print unit 14.
[0023]
The back print unit 14 is provided on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the sheet-like photosensitive material Z on the date of photographing, date of printing, frame number, film ID number (symbol), ID number of the camera used for photographing, photo This is a part for performing so-called back printing (back printing) in which various information such as a printer ID number is described.
The back print unit 14 is, for example, a dot impact printer type printer 58 as a contact type printing apparatus, and records the back print on the photosensitive material Z conveyed by being guided by the guide 60. The print recording method (printer) is not limited to this, and various back print recording methods used in known photo printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal transfer printer can be used.
Further, it is preferable that the back print unit 14 is configured so as to be able to print two or more lines in accordance with the new standard Advanced Photo System.
[0024]
The back print unit 14 can be arranged at any position in the conveyance path, and the position is not particularly limited. However, when the back print unit 14 is arranged on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the distribution device 18, the back print unit 14 corresponds to the distribution column. Since it is necessary to provide a large number of back printers, it is preferable to arrange the back printer upstream in the transport direction.
Further, it is preferable to arrange the back print unit 14 on the upstream side of the recording unit 52 in the conveying direction. In this case, the image recording unit 52 is reached from the position where the photosensitive material supply unit 12 and the cutters 28a and 28b are arranged. The empty space along the transport path up to this point can be used effectively, the transport path on the downstream side of the image recording unit 52 can be simplified, and space saving can be achieved.
The photosensitive material Z thus cut into a predetermined length and back-printed is then conveyed to the image recording unit 52 (sub-scanning conveying means 62).
[0025]
In the illustrated recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material Z is conveyed in the upward direction through the photosensitive material supply unit 12 and the back print unit 14 provided below, bent at the upper left portion of the recording apparatus 10, and bent to the right in the figure. And reaches the recording unit 52. A resist mechanism 30 for the photosensitive material Z is provided at the bent portion.
[0026]
The resist mechanism 30 uses the bent portion of the photosensitive material Z to make the photosensitive material Z closer to the registration mechanism 30 and is shown in FIG. 2 (plan view), FIG. 3 (front view), and FIG. 4 (perspective view). As shown, the entrance side roller pair 32 that supplies the photosensitive material Z to the registration mechanism 30 and the shape of the left and right sides in the figure (direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material Z) that bends the photosensitive material Z and narrows it in a predetermined direction. Are asymmetrically formed guide plate 34, a pair of exit side rollers 40 for unloading the photosensitive material Z widened by the asymmetrical guide plate 34, and the position of the widened photosensitive material Z, that is, one side end surface. It consists of a width guide 42 for regulating the position.
[0027]
The entrance-side roller pair 32 is a normal nip roller that conveys the photosensitive material Z, and is configured to be able to release the nip as necessary.
The asymmetric guide plate 34 is a guide member for bending the photosensitive material Z conveyed in the upward direction and carrying it out in the horizontal direction while narrowing the photosensitive material Z, and winds at least the outside of the bent portion. An outer guide plate 36 is formed. The outer guide plate 36 has different radii of curvature on both sides in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material Z, and on the right side and the left side in the drawing. In the illustrated example, the curvature radius A at the right end in the conveyance direction is minimized and proceeds to the left side. The radius of curvature gradually increases and becomes the maximum radius of curvature B at the left end. The end C on the outlet side is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the transport direction. In the illustrated example, the right side in the transport direction is the shortest and the left side is the longest.
A guide plate 38 can be provided on the inner side of the asymmetric guide plate 34 so that the photosensitive material Z is guided from both sides. The inner guide plate 38 preferably has an appropriate clearance for guiding the photosensitive material Z between the inner guide plate 38 and the outer guide plate 36.
[0028]
The outlet side roller pair 40 is preferably inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the photosensitive material Z, and more preferably provided substantially parallel to the end of the asymmetric guide plate 34 on the outlet side. The photosensitive material Z having been widened by 34 is carried out while being further widened, and the nip pressure is lowered so that axial slip can be generated in the sandwiched photosensitive material Z, or Use short rollers as shown.
Further, instead of providing the outlet side roller pair 40 with an inclination, the outlet side roller pair 40 is formed in a taper shape in which the diameter on the right side in the conveying direction is small, or the nip pressure on the right side in the conveying direction is greater than the nip pressure on the left side. The nip pressure may be varied so as to increase.
The width guide 42 is for accurately regulating the position of the photosensitive material Z that has been widened by the asymmetric guide plate 34 and the outlet roller pair 40, and is fixed to a fixing member (not shown) so as not to move. Yes.
[0029]
Since the registration mechanism 30 is configured as described above, the photosensitive material Z is shifted to the right side by the difference in the radius of curvature of the asymmetric guide plate 34, and further, the roller of the exit side roller pair 40 is inclined and tapered. The photosensitive material Z is shifted to the right by the difference in the roller shape or nip pressure.
Therefore, the photosensitive material Z supplied by the inlet-side roller pair 32 is transported while being shifted toward the right side in the transport direction (the side with the smaller radius of curvature) in the drawing while passing through the asymmetric guide plate 34. .
Then, the photosensitive material Z is further shifted to the right in the transport direction by the outlet side roller pair 40 and is carried out, so that one side end surface of the photosensitive material Z is in contact with the width guide 42 at the position of the width guide 42. The photosensitive material Z that has been sufficiently width-adjusted and is conveyed is positioned at an accurate position in the width direction by restricting one end face thereof by the width guide 42, and the recording material (sub-scanning conveying means) 52 It is carried out toward.
[0030]
When the photosensitive material Z is regulated by the width guide 42, the nip pressure is lowered or an axial slip occurs in the exit side roller pair 40 using a short roller, so that one side end face of the photosensitive material Z is the width guide 42. To prevent the edge of the photosensitive material Z from being scratched or bent.
Further, when the nip of the entrance roller pair 32 is opened, the photosensitive material Z is increased in the degree of freedom in the asymmetric guide plate 34 and is brought closer to the width guide 42 without applying an excessive force. Can do.
[0031]
Of course, the illustrated example is exaggerated for the purpose of explanation, and thus the radius of curvature and the inclination angle are not necessarily appropriate. However, the appropriate radius of curvature and inclination are not limited to the thickness or surface of the photosensitive material Z. Therefore, it is preferable to determine an appropriate value experimentally.
[0032]
As described above, in this embodiment, the width is adjusted by both the asymmetrical guide plate 34 and the outlet side roller pair 40. It is clear that there is no.
That is, when the width of the outlet side roller pair 40 is adjusted only by the asymmetrical guide plate 34, the exit side roller pair 40 may be a normal nip roller. Can be a guide plate of a normal bent portion.
[0033]
When this registration mechanism 30 is used, the photosensitive material Z is positioned at an accurate position in the width direction and supplied to the image recording unit 52 (sub-scanning transport means) 62, so that positioning in the width direction is not necessary, and the transport direction is not necessary. It is sufficient to detect the front end, hold it with reference to the position of the front end, and scan and convey it with an exposure (sub-scanning) conveyance guide 68, which will be described later. This eliminates the need to provide a detection and positioning device, and has a great effect in reducing the size and cost of the device.
[0034]
The image recording unit 52 (printing apparatus) includes the exposure optical unit 16 (hereinafter referred to as the exposure unit 16) and the sub-scanning conveying unit 62 shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, image recording by the exposure unit 16 is modulated in accordance with digital image data while scanning and conveying the sheet-like photosensitive material Z, and is in the main scanning direction (which is perpendicular to the scanning and conveying direction by the sub-scanning conveying means 62 ( This is performed by so-called digital scanning exposure in which a light beam deflected in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is used as recording light L, and the photosensitive material Z is exposed at a recording (exposure) position X.
[0035]
The exposure unit 16 is an optical unit that performs such digital exposure. For example, the exposure unit 16 emits light beams corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material Z, respectively. A light source that emits light, modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data, and the modulated light beam in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning conveyance direction An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting, an fθ (scanning) lens for imaging a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a predetermined position on a recording position X (scanning line) with a predetermined beam system, and the like. This is a known light beam scanning device.
[0036]
The exposure unit 16 is not limited to such a light beam scanning device, and various types of digital exposure means using various light emitting arrays and spatial modulation element arrays extending in a direction perpendicular to the scanning conveyance direction can be used. Is possible.
Specifically, digital using a PDP (plasma display) array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array, DMD (digital micromirror device) array, laser array, etc. An exposure means is exemplified.
[0037]
The sub-scanning conveyance means 62 has a pair of conveyance rollers 64 and 66 arranged with the recording position X (scanning line) in between, and an exposure conveyance guide 68. The photosensitive material Z is transported in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction by the transport roller pairs 64 and 66 while being held at the recording position X. Here, as described above, since the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material Z is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to form a latent image.
[0038]
There is no particular limitation on the scanning conveying means used in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, and various conveying means used for known digital scanning exposure are exemplified.
Specifically, in addition to the scanning conveying means using two pairs of conveying rollers arranged with the recording position X (scanning line) interposed therebetween, an exposure drum that conveys the photosensitive material Z while holding it at the recording position X; Preferred examples include a scanning conveyance unit that uses two nip rollers that contact the exposure drum across the recording position X, a scanning conveyance unit that includes an endless belt and two nip rollers, and a scanning conveyance unit that includes only an endless belt. .
[0039]
The sorting device 18 is disposed further downstream of the image recording unit 52.
In the process of exposure and development of silver salt photographic light-sensitive materials that are currently used for general photography, development requires more time than exposure. Accordingly, when a plurality of photosensitive materials are continuously exposed and developed, development cannot be performed in time for exposure, and thus it is necessary to temporarily store the exposed photosensitive material in a stocker or the like. That is, the exposure / development process is generally rate-determined by the development process.
[0040]
The sorting device 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z, which is normally transported in a single row, into a plurality of rows in the transport direction as necessary, and supplies the plurality of rows of photosensitive materials to the developing device (processor) 72 in parallel. In order to absorb the difference in processing time between exposure and development by improving the processing capability of the developing device 72, in the illustrated example, a belt conveyor 74, an auxiliary belt conveyor 76, and suction means not shown. Two suction units 78 and 80 each having two suction cups connected to each other.
[0041]
The photosensitive material Z that has been exposed is not sandwiched and conveyed by the belt conveyor 74 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 76, but is placed on the belt conveyor 74 and conveyed downstream. The conveyance speed of the photosensitive material Z by the belt conveyor 74 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 78 is set slightly higher than the scanning conveyance speed. Thereby, the influence which the drive of the belt conveyor 74 and the auxiliary | assistant belt conveyor 76 has on the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material Z can be excluded more reliably.
[0042]
The auxiliary belt conveyor 76 is arranged on the center line in the width direction of the belt conveyor 74 with a slight gap from the belt conveyor 74. The auxiliary belt conveyor 76 suppresses curling (curving) of the photosensitive material Z, assists conveyance by the belt conveyor 74 and adsorption holding of the photosensitive material Z by the adsorption units 78 and 80, and is the photosensitive material Z having the minimum size in the width direction. Even so, it is preferable to use a narrow endless belt that can be sucked and held by the suction units 78 and 80.
[0043]
The suction units 78 and 80 are respectively arranged on both sides of the auxiliary belt conveyor 76 in the width direction. The suction unit 78 on the near side of the illustrated example releases the photosensitive material Z from the sub-scan transporting means 62 and transports it to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 74, and then sucks and holds the photosensitive material Z and lifts it slightly. It moves to the right (in the illustrated example, the front side) diagonally downstream with respect to the conveyance direction, releases the suction, and distributes the photosensitive material Z to the right side. Similarly, the suction unit 80 on the back side in the illustrated example distributes the photosensitive material Z to the left side.
[0044]
For example, the photosensitive material Z can be distributed in three rows by sequentially repeating the rightward distribution by the suction unit 78, the leftward distribution by the suction unit 80, and the linear conveyance without the distribution. The photosensitive material Z can be distributed in two rows by alternately performing the horizontal distribution by the suction units 78 and 80. Further, the photosensitive material Z can be supplied to the developing device (processor) 72 in a single row by performing only linear conveyance without performing sorting.
[0045]
The moving means of the suction units 78 and 80 are not particularly limited. For example, a moving means using a link, a moving means using a cam, a moving means using a guide rail or a guide hole, and these moving means are appropriately used. Various known methods such as combined moving means can be used.
[0046]
Also, the sorting unit 18 is not particularly limited, and various methods of sorting the sheet material into a plurality of rows can be used. For example, sorting using a circular turret that rotates around an axis, and a conveying means for the photosensitive material Z can be used. Examples include a plurality of blocks, for example, three blocks in the transport direction, and a central block among them is moved and distributed in the lateral direction. Alternatively, the distribution unit 18 may be omitted, and the photosensitive material Z may be supplied to the developing device 72 in a single row.
[0047]
Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material Z of all sizes is not necessarily arranged in a plurality of rows, and a large size photosensitive material Z that cannot be processed in a plurality of rows is developed as a single row without sorting. It may be carried into the device 72. Further, when performing the sorting, the entire size is not sorted into the same number of rows, but according to the size of the photosensitive material Z, for example, the L size is sorted into three rows, and the six cuts are sorted into two rows. You may sort the numbers.
[0048]
The photosensitive materials Z that have been distributed in the horizontal direction in the distribution unit 18 into a plurality of rows are supplied to the developing device 72 via the discharge port 84 by the conveying roller pair 82. In the developing device 72, for example, when developing a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, a latent image is visualized by performing predetermined development processing corresponding to the light-sensitive material Z such as a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a water washing tank. After that, it is dried to obtain a finished print, and is again collected in a single row in the print creation order (exposure order) and discharged to a sorter or the like.
[0049]
The above illustrated example is an example of an image recording apparatus that performs digital exposure. However, as described above, the present invention can also be applied to an image recording apparatus that performs analog exposure.
FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus that performs analog exposure to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. The image recording apparatus 100 shown below (hereinafter referred to as the recording apparatus 100) is cut into a predetermined length according to a print for producing a long photosensitive material to form a cut sheet, and then surface exposure and back printing (back printing) ) And supplies the exposed photosensitive material Z to the photosensitive material processing device 172 (processor), and includes a photosensitive material supply unit 112, a recording unit 152, a back print unit 114, and a sorting device 118.
[0050]
The photosensitive material supply unit 112 is provided with a loading unit 154 in which a magazine 120 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape is stored in a light-shielding casing is loaded, and a digital image recording apparatus The configuration is basically the same as that of the ten photosensitive material supply units 12. Further, a cutter 128 is disposed close to the downstream side of the loading unit 154.
A registration mechanism 130 is provided above the cutter 128. Since the cutter 128 and the registration mechanism 130 are basically configured in the same manner as the cutters 28a and 28b and the registration mechanism 30 of the digital image processing apparatus 10, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0051]
The recording unit 152 includes a light source unit 160, a reflection mirror 161, a negative carrier 162, a lens 164, a shutter 166, and the like. The light emitted from the light source unit 160 is bent by approximately 90 ° by the reflection mirror 161, and the negative carrier 162. By passing through the film set on the film, the projection light is irradiated through the lens 164 to the photosensitive material Z set at a predetermined exposure position for a time when the shutter 166 is opened according to the exposure density of the film. It is configured to perform so-called surface exposure. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which performs the color correction by a color filter, and exposure amount adjustment by an ND filter.
[0052]
The back print unit 114 performs back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material Z, and is basically configured similarly to the back print unit 14 of the digital image recording apparatus 10.
The distribution device 118 distributes the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction into a plurality of rows, thereby improving the processing capability of the photosensitive material processing device 172 and canceling the processing time difference between the development processing and the exposure. The belt conveyor 174, the auxiliary belt conveyor 176, and the suction units 178 and 180 are basically the same as the sorting device 18 of the digital image recording apparatus 10.
The photosensitive material processing device 172 is a development processing device that performs processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, water washing, and drying on the photosensitive material Z on which a latent image is formed. The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit 188 having a fixing tank 191, washing tanks 192a, 192b, 192c and 192d, a drying unit 194, and a sorter 196.
[0053]
In such a recording apparatus 100, exposure of the photosensitive material Z is basically performed in the following manner.
First, the photosensitive material Z is pulled out and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 128 to obtain a cut sheet. Next, the sheet-like photosensitive material Z is shifted by the registration mechanism 130, conveyed to the recording unit 152, and set at a predetermined exposure position. At this time, the shutter 166 is closed.
On the other hand, in the recording unit 152, when the film is set at a predetermined position by the negative carrier 162, light is emitted from the light source unit 160 to the film, and the projection light is passed through the lens 164 as shown in FIG. The photosensitive material Z is irradiated for the time when the shutter 166 is opened according to the exposure density of the film, and the photosensitive material Z is exposed.
[0054]
The photosensitive material Z that has been exposed in this manner and has a latent image formed thereon is conveyed to the back print unit 114, and after various information is back printed, it is conveyed in the horizontal direction and conveyed to the sorting device 118. . Here, as described above, the photosensitive material Z is distributed in a direction (lateral direction) perpendicular to the conveying direction by the belt conveyor 174 and the suction units 178 and 180 and arranged in a plurality of rows and conveyed to the photosensitive material processing apparatus 172. Is done.
[0055]
The photosensitive material Z thus carried into the photosensitive material processing apparatus 172 is subjected to various processes such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing in the developing unit 188, dried in the drying unit 194, printed, and sorted. It is discharged to 196. Also in this case, as in the case of the digital recording apparatus 10, by using the asymmetric guide plate, the exit roller pair, and the width guide, the photosensitive material is carried out while being narrowed. Miniaturization and low cost can be realized.
[0056]
In the above description, both the digital and analog image recording apparatuses have described the cut sheet type image recording apparatus that cuts the photosensitive material Z and conveys it as a cut sheet. However, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has a long photosensitive structure. It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to the conventional image recording apparatus that transports the material in a long length in the same manner. Therefore, description of an image recording apparatus of a type that conveys a long photosensitive material is omitted here.
[0057]
The image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a photosensitive material is obtained by using an asymmetric guide plate having a simple structure, a pair of exit side rollers, and a width guide that regulates only one end face of the photosensitive material. The photosensitive material is positioned at an accurate position in the width direction and supplied to the recording unit (sub-scanning transport means), so no further positioning in the width direction is required, and the leading edge in the transport direction is detected. Therefore, it is sufficient to hold it with the position of the tip as a reference, and to scan and convey with the exposure conveyance guide. As in the prior art, both ends of the complex structure for detecting and positioning the photosensitive material in the exposure conveyance guide This eliminates the need to provide a resist device having a regulation width guide, and has a great effect on downsizing and cost reduction of the device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital image recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a registration mechanism used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the registration mechanism shown in FIG. 2;
4 is a perspective view of the registration mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a basic configuration diagram of an example in which the present invention is applied to an analog image recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
10,100 (image) recording device
12,112 photosensitive material supply unit
14,114 Back print section
16 exposure units
18,118 Sorting device
20, 22, 120 magazines
24, 26 drawer roller pair
28a, 28b, 128 cutters
30,130 Registration mechanism
32 Inlet roller pair
34 Asymmetric guide plate
36 Outer guide plate
38 Inner guide plate
40 Outlet roller pair
42 width guide
52,152 Recording unit
54, 56, 154 loading section
58,158 printer
60 Guide
62 Sub-scanning conveying means
64, 66, 70, 84, 86 Pair of transport rollers
68 Exposure transport guide
72,172 Development device (processor)
74,174 belt conveyor
76,176 Auxiliary belt conveyor
78, 80, 176, 180 Suction unit
82 Pair of transport rollers
84 Discharge port
160 Light source
161 reflection mirror
162 Negative carrier
164 lens
166 shutter
188 Development section
190 Developer tank
191 Fixing tank
192 Flush tank
194 Drying section
196 Sorter

Claims (6)

A roll-shaped photosensitive material stored in a magazine or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material obtained by cutting the roll-shaped photosensitive material into a predetermined length is supplied, and the photosensitive material is conveyed, An image recording apparatus that performs imagewise exposure at a recording position and discharges the image to the next processing apparatus,
The shape in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material is formed asymmetrically at the bent portion of the conveyance path that is arranged upstream of the predetermined recording position and conveys the photosensitive material from the magazine to the predetermined recording position. A guide plate, an inlet side roller pair provided on the inlet side of the guide plate, and an outlet side roller pair provided on the outlet side of the guide plate ,
An image recording apparatus, wherein the entrance-side roller pair is configured to release the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material is sandwiched between the exit-side roller pair .   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate is formed such that an end portion on an exit side is inclined with respect to a conveyance direction of the photosensitive material.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide plate is formed to have different radii of curvature in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the photosensitive material.   4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the end of the guide plate on the outlet side is inclined such that the end on the side with a small radius of curvature is short.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outlet-side roller pair is provided to be inclined with respect to a conveyance direction of the photosensitive material.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width guide for registering one side end surface of the photosensitive material is provided on the downstream side of the exit side roller pair.

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