JP3775242B2 - Laser exposure apparatus and photo processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser exposure apparatus and a photographic processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A laser exposure apparatus that performs exposure of a color image has a laser generator that generates laser beams of R, G, and B colors, and the laser light emitted from each laser generator is converted into image data by a laser light modulator. Accordingly, the light is modulated by a half mirror or the like, scanned in the width direction of the photosensitive material by a polygon mirror, and the optical path length is made constant by an fθ lens to form a color image on the surface of the photosensitive material.
[0003]
In such a laser exposure apparatus, the laser beams of R, G, and B colors have different wavelengths, so that chromatic aberration occurs when they pass through the fθ lens, and the exposure width per scan on the photosensitive material surface does not match. was there. In order to prevent the mismatch of the exposure widths of the laser beams of the respective colors, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the frequency of the exposure scanning clock signal for determining the exposure timing of one pixel data of the laser beams of the R, G, B colors is set to R, The exposure width per scan on the photosensitive material surface of each color laser beam was made to coincide with values suitable for G and B colors (R is αMHZ, G is βMHZ, and B is γMHZ).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the exposure scanning clock signal for each color laser beam is not synchronized with the sync pulse that is output every scan and serves as a reference for the start of exposure only by setting the frequency of the exposure scanning clock signal for each color laser beam to an appropriate value. The exposure start position does not match. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the time T1 from when the previous synchronization pulse is output until the clock corresponding to the pixel data of the first dot of the exposure scanning clock signal of R laser light is output, for example, Since the time T2 from when the synchronizing pulse is output until the same clock is output is not constant, there is a problem that the exposure start position by the laser light of each color is shifted.
[0005]
In order to solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 10, the exposure start position shift is generated by uniformly delaying the clock corresponding to the first dot of each color laser beam by a certain amount with respect to the output of the synchronization pulse. I was trying to prevent it.
[0006]
However, if the clock corresponding to the first dot of the laser beam of each color is uniformly matched with the clock (1) of the synchronization pulse, the optical influence due to the difference in the wavelength of the laser beam of each color is taken into consideration. As a result, the exposure start position could not be completely matched.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides a laser exposure apparatus and a photographic processing apparatus capable of matching the exposure start positions on the photosensitive material surface even when laser beams having different wavelengths are emitted. The purpose is to do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Invention]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is the image data of each color read out in synchronization with each exposure scanning clock from the data storage unit storing the image data for a plurality of colors. In a laser exposure apparatus that performs color image exposure by modulating laser light from each laser generator having a wavelength of λ and scanning the photosensitive material surface with each modulated light through an optical scanning unit and an optical unit having an fθ lens A sync signal generating means for detecting a laser beam emitted from a laser generator of a specific color among the plurality of laser generators for each scan and outputting it as a sync signal; and an image of each color from the generated sync signal Exposure start instruction signal generating means for generating an exposure start instruction signal for each color instructing the start of data reading, and the exposure start instruction signal generating means is used when passing through the fθ lens. 1 for the time set by the amount of deviation in the scanning direction of the exposure position on the photosensitive material surface due to the chromatic aberration of each laser beam and the scanning speed of the laser beam on the photosensitive material surface. exposure Remaining to start instruction signal exposure Each delay means for relatively delaying the start instruction signal, The delay means delays the synchronization signal so that a shift amount of less than one dot is corrected, and synchronizes the exposure scanning clock with the delayed sync signal so that the shift amount in units of one dot is corrected. The remaining exposure start instruction signal is delayed by counting the number of pulses of the exposure scanning clock. .
[0009]
According to this configuration, the synchronization signal generation unit detects one of the plurality of laser beams and generates a synchronization signal. With this synchronization signal as a reference, the other laser beams are transmitted by the delay unit to fθ. Since the exposure start instruction signal is delayed and output for a time set by the amount of deviation of the exposure start position on the photosensitive material surface due to the chromatic aberration caused by the lens and the scanning speed of the laser beam on the photosensitive material surface, The deviation of the exposure start position on the photosensitive material of the laser beam of each color is corrected.
[0010]
Also, according to this configuration, Since the exposure scanning clock delay means outputs the exposure scanning clock of the other laser beam with respect to the exposure scanning clock of one laser beam with a delay of a predetermined clock according to the deviation amount of the exposure start position. The deviation of the light exposure start position can be corrected.
[0011]
Furthermore, according to this configuration, By the delay means, the exposure scanning clock is output after being delayed by a predetermined time, thereby correcting the shift amount of the exposure start position of less than one dot, and the exposure scanning clock is delayed by the predetermined clock and output by the exposure scanning clock delay means. As a result, the shift amount in units of one dot is corrected, so that highly accurate shift correction can be performed.
[0012]
Claims 3 The described invention Claim 1 or 2 In the described invention, the laser generation unit includes three laser generation units for generating red, blue, and green laser beams. According to this configuration, since the laser generating section is composed of three that emit red, blue, and green, which are the three primary colors of light, a color image can be formed.
[0013]
Claims 4 The invention described is a photosensitive material unit for storing a photosensitive material, and a claim. 1-3 The laser exposure apparatus according to any one of the above, a developing unit that exposes and stabilizes a latent image of the photosensitive material exposed by the laser exposure apparatus, and develops the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material unit through the exposure apparatus in the previous period. A photographic processing apparatus comprising a conveyance system that leads to a unit. According to this configuration, a photographic processing apparatus provided with the laser exposure apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 can be provided.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a photographic processing apparatus 1 to which a laser exposure apparatus 10 according to the present invention is applied. The photographic processing apparatus 1 scans and exposes image data of each frame of a film taken from a scanner (not shown) or image data input from a computer (not shown) onto a photosensitive material P surface which is a photographic printing paper. , A laser exposure device 10 for forming an image on the photosensitive material P, a photosensitive material storage device 20 for setting the photosensitive material P so that the photosensitive material P can be sent out, and processing (developing, bleaching) the photosensitive material P exposed by the laser exposure device 10. (Fixing processing, stable processing) and the developing device 30 and a drying device 40 for drying the stably processed photosensitive material P, and a roller pair disposed between the components that convey the photosensitive material P. It has the conveying apparatus 50 comprised.
[0015]
The photosensitive material storage device 20 is provided in a predetermined magazine mounting portion above the laser exposure device 10 and is equipped with two photosensitive material magazines 21 and 22. Each photosensitive material magazine 21 and 22 contains a photosensitive material P wound in a roll shape in a light-shielded state.
[0016]
The developing device 30 develops, bleach-fixes, and stabilizes the photosensitive material P exposed by the laser exposure device 10 by immersing it in the processing solution 32 stored in the developing rod 31. The drying device 40 is for drying the photosensitive material P that has been developed, bleach-fixed and stabilized by the developing device 30. A discharge unit 41 such as a sorter for supporting the discharged photosensitive material P, that is, photographs, in a stacked state is provided at the top of the drying device 40.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser exposure apparatus 10. The laser exposure apparatus 10 includes three laser generation units 101R, 101G, and 101B for three primary colors that are built in appropriate positions in a light-shielded housing. The laser generator 101R is constituted by, for example, a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits R (red) laser light having a wavelength of 680 nm. The laser generator 101G includes a semiconductor laser and a second harmonic generator (SHG) that converts laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser into B (blue) laser light having a wavelength of 473 nm, for example.
[0018]
On the output side of the laser generators 101R, 101G, and 101B, acousto-optic modulators (hereinafter referred to as AOMs) 102R, 102G, and 102B, which are examples of laser light modulators, are provided for light shielding. Slits 103R, 103G, and 103B formed at appropriate positions in the housing are respectively arranged correspondingly, and mirrors 104R, 104G, and 104B that constitute the scanning optical system, the reflection mirror 105, the lens 106, and the direction A in the figure. And a polygon mirror 107 for rotating the incident laser beam in the S direction within a predetermined range.
[0019]
The AOM drivers 16B, 16G, and 16R drive and control the AOMs 102R, 102G, and 102B based on the image data, and modulate the laser light. The AOMs 102R, 102G, and 102B can adjust the output of laser light within a range of approximately 100% to 0%.
[0020]
The mirror 104R is a total reflection mirror, and the mirrors 104G and 104B are half mirrors. In the above arrangement, the laser light emitted from the AOM 102R is totally reflected by the mirror 104R and combined with the laser light emitted from the AOM 102G and the mirror 104G. Thereafter, the laser light emitted from the AOM 102B and the mirror 104B are further combined to combine the three colors of laser light.
[0021]
An fθ lens 108 is disposed on the exit side of the polygon mirror 107. The polygon mirror 107 rotates in the direction of the arrow A, and the laser beam scanned in the main scanning direction (S direction) by this rotation passes through the fθ lens 108 and is being conveyed in the sub scanning direction (depth direction in the drawing). The photosensitive material P is irradiated and the photosensitive material P is exposed. Further, a mirror 109a is disposed on the exit side of the fθ lens 108 and immediately upstream of the image exposure region. A synchronization sensor (synchronization signal generation unit) 109 including a light receiving element that receives reflected light of the R laser beam is disposed at a position immediately downstream of the end region of the image exposure region. The R laser beam reflected by the mirror 109 a is guided to the synchronization sensor 109. When the sync sensor 109 receives the R laser beam, it outputs a sync pulse to the clock controller 11.
[0022]
The external input device 15 inputs an input value corresponding to the amount of misregistration of dots on the photosensitive material of the G and B color laser beams based on the R color to the clock control unit 11. As the input value, the deviation amount of the exposure start position of each of the B and G laser beams is measured with reference to the exposure start position of the R laser beam, and the measured value is input as the input value. The measurement value can be input in a shift amount of 1/10 unit of 1 dot such as “1.3”. In this case, the shift amount in dot units is input as the first input value n1, and the shift amount less than 1 dot is input as the second input value n2. The external input device 15 to which the first and second input values n1 and n2 are input, synchronizes the first input value n1 to the counter 114 of the clock control unit 11 and the second input value n2 to the clock control unit 11. Output to the signal delay circuit 111.
[0023]
The clock control unit 11 controls the timing at which the R, G, and B exposure scanning clocks are output to the image processing unit 12, and the exposure scanning clock that determines the exposure timing of the pixel data on the photosensitive material. Occurs for each of R, G, and B. Further, the clock control unit 11 receives an input value input from the external input device 15 and controls the output timing of the exposure scanning clock to determine the exposure start position on the photosensitive material of the R, G, B color laser beams. Match.
[0024]
The image processing unit 12 stores image data to be printed, and outputs image data for one main scan to the memory unit 13 for each of R, G, and B.
[0025]
The memory unit 13 includes memories 13B, 13G, and 13R prepared for each of R, G, and B colors. The memory unit 13 temporarily stores image data for at least one main scanning of each color output from the image processing unit 12, and is synchronized with the exposure scanning clocks for R, G, and B colors from the clock control unit 11. Each pixel data for one main scan is output to the D / A converters 14B, 14G, and 14R. In this case, the memory unit 13 receives the exposure scanning start signal from the clock control unit 11 and starts outputting one pixel data.
[0026]
The D / A converters 14B, 14G, and 14R D / A convert each pixel data output from the memory units 13B, 13G, and 13R, and output analog image signals to the AOM drivers 16B, 16G, and 16R. .
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the clock control unit 11. The clock control unit 11 includes a synchronization signal delay circuit 111, an exposure scanning clock reset circuit 112, an exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113, and a counter 114. The synchronization signal delay circuit 111 to the counter 114 of the clock control unit 11 are provided for each of R, G, and B colors.
[0028]
The synchronization signal delay circuit 111 generates a delay signal B obtained by delaying the synchronization pulse A output from the synchronization sensor 109 by a time corresponding to the deviation set by the second input value n2.
[0029]
The exposure scanning clock reset circuit 112 receives the delay signal B from the synchronization signal delay circuit 111 and generates a reset signal C that instructs the exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113 to start outputting the exposure scanning clock for each scanning. Is.
[0030]
The exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113 generates a pulse signal (exposure scanning clock D) having a predetermined frequency that determines the exposure timing of the pixel data on the photosensitive material. One clock of the exposure scanning clock D corresponds to one pixel on the photosensitive material. The exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113 outputs the generated exposure scanning clock D to the counter 114 and the memory unit 13.
[0031]
The counter 114 counts up the exposure scanning clock D. When the counter value reaches the first input value n1, the counter 114 outputs an exposure start instruction signal (enable signal) to the memory unit 13.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a simplified view of a test print for detecting the amount of deviation of each laser beam in the main scanning direction. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the exposure start position of the R, G, and B laser beams of the test print of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the exposure start position of each laser beam is shifted due to chromatic aberration when passing through the fθ lens 108. Here, the exposure start position of the G color laser light is shifted by 1.3 dots upstream of the R color laser light in the main scanning direction, and the exposure start position of the B color laser light is relative to the R color laser light. Is shifted by 2.5 dots upstream in the main scanning direction.
[0033]
FIG. 6 shows a clock signal for correcting the deviation of the exposure start position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with respect to the synchronization pulse A, the delay signal B, the reset signal C, the exposure scanning clock D, and the exposure start instruction signal E. 4 is a timing chart showing the control performed by the control unit 11; (a) shows a timing chart of various signals of R color, (b) of G color, and (c) of B color. In the following description, for each of the delay signal B to the exposure start instruction signal E, for the R laser beam, for example, “R” is added like the delay signal RB, and for the G laser beam. Will be described with “G” added, for example, as a delayed signal GB, and “B”, for example, added with a delayed signal BB for a B-color laser beam.
[0034]
A timing chart of the R laser beam in FIG. 6A will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The synchronization pulse A output from the synchronization sensor 109 is input to the synchronization signal delay circuit 111. In this embodiment, since the R laser beam is used as a reference, the synchronization pulse A is input to the exposure scanning clock reset circuit 112 without being delayed by the synchronization signal delay circuit 111 and is synchronized with the falling edge of the synchronization pulse A. A reset signal RB is generated. The generated reset signal RB is output to the exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113, and an exposure scanning clock RD synchronized with the falling edge of the reset signal RB is generated. The generated exposure scanning clock RD is output to the memory unit 13 and the counter 114. Upon receiving the exposure scanning clock RD, the counter 114 counts up the exposure scanning clock RD to 100 and generates an exposure start instruction signal RE. The generated exposure start instruction signal RE is output to the memory unit 13R. Upon receiving the exposure start instruction signal RE, the memory unit 13R outputs pixel data in synchronization with the exposure scanning clock RD. Thereby, exposure to the photosensitive material is started.
[0035]
Next, the G color timing chart of FIG. 6B will be described with reference to FIG. The pulse signal A from the synchronization sensor 109 is output to the synchronization signal delay circuit 111, and is used to correct a 0.3 dot shift, which is a shift amount of the G color laser beam of less than 1 dot with respect to the R color laser beam. A delay signal GB delayed by 3 dots is generated.
[0036]
The generated delay signal GB is output to the exposure scanning clock reset circuit 112, and a reset signal GC synchronized with the delay signal GB is generated. The reset signal GC is output to the exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113, and an exposure scanning clock signal GD synchronized with the falling edge of the reset signal GC is generated.
[0037]
The counter 114 to which the exposure scanning clock signal GD is input counts up the exposure scanning clock signal GD by 101 to correct the deviation of one dot with respect to the R laser beam, and generates an exposure start instruction signal GE. The exposure start instruction signal GE is output to the memory unit 13. In response to the exposure start instruction signal GE, the memory unit 13 starts outputting pixel data in synchronization with the exposure scanning clock.
[0038]
In one-dot shift correction, the exposure scanning clock signal GD, which has been corrected for shifts of less than one dot, is delayed by a clock corresponding to the shift amount in dot units with respect to the R laser beam, and an exposure start instruction signal GE is output. Thus, the exposure start position of the G color laser light coincides with the exposure start position of the R color laser light.
[0039]
Thus, the shift amount of less than 1 dot is 0.3 by delaying the delay signal GB, and the shift amount of 1 dot is output by delaying the pulse of the exposure scanning clock GD by one pulse and outputting it. A shift of 1.3 dots of the color laser light with respect to the R color laser light is corrected.
[0040]
The B color timing chart of FIG. 6C will be described. In the B color laser light, the exposure start position for the R color laser light is shifted by 2.5 dots upstream in the main scanning direction (see FIG. 4). In order to correct 0.5 dots of the deviation amount, the synchronization signal delay circuit 111 delays the synchronization pulse A of the R laser beam by a time corresponding to 0.5 dots. BB is generated.
[0041]
The delay signal BB is output to the exposure scanning clock reset circuit 112, and a reset signal BC synchronized with the delay signal BB is generated. The reset signal BC is output to the exposure scanning clock generation circuit 113, and an exposure scanning clock BD synchronized with the falling edge of the reset signal BC is generated.
[0042]
The exposure scanning clock BD is output to the counter 114 and the memory unit 13B. The counter 114 corrects the deviation of 2 dots, and outputs an exposure start instruction signal BE to the memory unit 13B when the exposure scanning clock signal BD is counted up by 102 clocks. The memory unit 13B receives the exposure start instruction signal BE and outputs one pixel data in synchronization with the exposure scanning clock BD.
[0043]
As described above, the deviation amount 0.5 of less than one dot delays the delay signal BB, and the deviation amount of 2 dots is output after being delayed by two exposure scanning clocks GD. The deviation of 2.5 dots with respect to the R laser beam is corrected.
[0044]
As described above, with reference to the sync pulse A of the R color laser beam, the correction of the shift amount of less than one dot of the laser beam of each of B and G is performed by using the delay signals GB and BB as the second input value. This is done by delaying according to n2. Further, the correction of the shift amount in units of one dot is performed by incrementing the exposure scanning clocks GD and BD of the laser beams of G and B in accordance with the first input value n1, and then outputting the exposure start instruction signals GE and BE. It is done by doing.
[0045]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the clock control unit 11 according to another embodiment. This block diagram includes a counter 111a, an exposure scanning clock generation circuit 112a, a delay circuit 113a, and a reference clock generation circuit 114a, which are prepared for R, G, and B colors, respectively. The counter 111a corrects the shift amount in dot units, and the delay circuit 113a corrects the shift amount less than one dot. Hereinafter, the block diagram of the G color laser light in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. Assume that the exposure start position of the G color laser light is shifted to the upstream side in the 1.3-dot main scanning direction with respect to the R color laser light (see FIG. 4).
[0046]
The synchronization pulse H of the R color laser beam output from the synchronization sensor 109 is input to the counter 111a. The counter 111a counts up to the first input value n1 until the start of exposure based on the clock signal of the reference clock generation circuit 114a. Up. The counter 111a counts one clock more than the count value of the R laser beam in order to correct one dot of the amount of deviation of the G laser beam dot with respect to the R laser beam, and then generates an exposure scanning clock generation signal. Generate a GI. The exposure scanning clock generation signal GI is output to the exposure scanning clock generation circuit 112a based on the clock signal of the reference clock generation circuit 114a and generates an exposure scanning clock GJ that is synchronized with the exposure scanning clock generation signal. The exposure scanning clock GJ is output to the delay circuit 113a. In order to correct the amount of deviation of 0.3 dots of the G color laser light from the R color laser light, a delayed exposure scanning clock GK delayed by the time set by the input value n2 is generated.
[0047]
The delayed exposure scanning clock signal GK is output to the memory unit 13G. The memory unit 13G outputs data of one pixel synchronized with the delayed exposure scanning clock and starts exposure.
[0048]
As described above, even in the circuit configuration according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the deviation of the exposure start position can be corrected. For the B laser beam, similarly to the G laser beam, the exposure start position is output by outputting the delayed exposure scanning clock BK and the exposure start instruction signal BL with reference to the synchronization pulse H of the R laser beam. The deviation can be corrected.
[0049]
The present invention can employ the following embodiments.
[0050]
In this embodiment, the exposure start position deviation is corrected by delaying the output of the exposure start instruction signal of the B and G laser beams with reference to the synchronization pulse of the R laser beam. The present invention is not limited to this, and the deviation of the exposure start position may be corrected based on the synchronization pulse of the B or G laser beam. In this case, the light receiving element of the synchronization sensor 109 may generate a synchronization pulse in response to the G laser beam or generate a synchronization pulse in response to the B laser beam.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the synchronization signal generating means detects one of the plurality of laser beams and generates a synchronization signal, and the other laser beams are delayed with reference to the synchronization signal. By means, the exposure start instruction signal is delayed by a time set from the amount of deviation of the exposure start position on the photosensitive material surface due to chromatic aberration caused by the fθ lens 108 and the scanning speed of the laser beam on the photosensitive material surface. Therefore, the deviation of the exposure start position on the photosensitive material of the laser light of each color can be corrected.
[0052]
Claims 1 According to the described invention, the exposure scanning clock delay means delays the exposure scanning clock of the other laser beam by a predetermined clock according to the deviation amount of the exposure start position with respect to the exposure scanning clock of one laser beam. Therefore, the deviation correction of the exposure start position of each laser beam can be performed.
[0053]
Claims 1 According to the invention described above, the exposure scanning clock is output by delaying the exposure scanning clock by a predetermined time, thereby correcting the shift amount of the exposure start position of less than one dot, and the exposure scanning clock is generated by the exposure scanning clock delaying means. Since the shift amount is corrected in units of one dot by delaying the output by a predetermined clock, highly accurate shift correction can be performed.
[0054]
Claim 3 According to the described invention, since the laser generating section is composed of three beams that emit red, blue, and green, which are the three primary colors of light, a color image can be formed on the surface of the photosensitive material.
[0055]
Claim 4 According to the described invention, the claims Described in any one of 1-3 It is possible to provide a photographic processing apparatus provided with the above laser exposure apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of photographic processing to which a laser exposure apparatus according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a laser exposure apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a clock control unit.
FIG. 4 is a simplified view of a test print for detecting the amount of laser beam misalignment in the main scanning direction.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the exposure start position of each color laser beam of the test print of FIG. 4;
6 is a timing chart showing how the clock control unit 11 controls R, G, and B synchronization pulses A, a delay signal B, a reset signal C, an exposure scanning clock signal D, and an exposure start instruction signal E. FIG. Yes, (a) shows a timing chart for various signals of R color, (b) for G color, and (c) for B color.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a clock control unit according to another embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a synchronization pulse H and an exposure scanning clock generation signal GJ according to another embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a conventional exposure scanning clock signal for R, G, and B colors and a synchronization pulse.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between a conventional R, G, B exposure scan clock and a sync pulse, and main scans the R, G, B exposure scan clock for the sync signal edge. The pixel data pulses corresponding to the first dot are uniformly matched.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Laser exposure equipment
11 Clock controller
111 Synchronous signal delay circuit
111a counter
112a Exposure scanning clock generation circuit
112 Exposure Scanning Clock Reset Circuit
112a Exposure scanning clock generation circuit
113 Exposure Scan Clock Generation Circuit
113a delay circuit
114 counter
114a Reference clock generation circuit
12 Image processing unit
13 Memory part
14 D / A converter
15 External input device
101 Laser generator
102 AOM
103 slit
104 mirror
107 polygon mirror
108 fθ lens
109 Synchronous sensor
109a mirror
16 AOM driver
20 Photosensitive material storage device
30 Developer
40 Drying equipment
50 Transfer device

Claims (4)

Modulating the laser light from each laser generator having a wavelength of the corresponding color with the image data of each color read out in synchronization with each exposure scanning clock from the data storage unit storing image data for a plurality of colors, In a laser exposure apparatus that performs exposure of a color image by scanning each photosensitive light through a light scanning unit and a light guide unit having an fθ lens and scanning a photosensitive material surface,
Synchronization signal generating means for detecting a laser beam emitted from a laser generator of a specific color among the plurality of laser generators for each scan and outputting as a synchronization signal;
Exposure start instruction signal generating means for generating an exposure start instruction signal for each color instructing the start of reading image data of each color from the generated synchronization signal,
The exposure start instruction signal generating means includes a deviation amount in the scanning direction of the exposure position on the photosensitive material surface due to chromatic aberration of each laser beam when passing through the fθ lens, and a scanning speed of the laser beam on the photosensitive material surface. only time set from a includes the delay means for relatively delaying each of the remaining exposure start instruction signal to one of an exposure start instruction signal,
The delay means delays the synchronization signal so that a shift amount of less than one dot is corrected, and synchronizes the exposure scanning clock with the delayed sync signal so that the shift amount in units of one dot is corrected. A laser exposure apparatus characterized in that the remaining exposure start instruction signal is delayed by counting the number of pulses of the exposure scanning clock. An external input to which a first input value indicating a shift amount of one dot unit of the remaining exposure start signal with respect to the one exposure start signal and a second input value indicating a shift amount of less than one dot are input. Further comprising a device,
  The delay means is
  A synchronization signal delay circuit that generates a delay signal obtained by delaying the synchronization signal by a time corresponding to a shift amount indicated by the second input value;
  An exposure scanning clock reset circuit that generates a reset signal instructing output start of the exposure scanning clock in synchronization with the delay signal generated by the synchronization signal delay circuit;
  An exposure scanning clock generating circuit that generates the exposure scanning clock and starts outputting the exposure scanning clock according to a reset signal generated by the exposure scanning clock reset circuit;
  2. The laser exposure according to claim 1, further comprising: a counter that counts the number of pulses of the exposure scanning clock for a time corresponding to the shift amount of the first input value and outputs an exposure scanning start signal. apparatus. It said laser generator is red, blue, green laser exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in that it consists of three laser generator for emitting respective laser light. A photosensitive material unit that houses a photosensitive material, the laser exposure apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , a developing unit that exposes and stabilizes a latent image of the photosensitive material exposed by the laser exposure apparatus, and A photographic processing apparatus comprising: a conveyance system for guiding a photosensitive material from the photosensitive material unit to the developing unit through the exposure device.

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