JPH01179970A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a need of a private filter for switching of the wavelength of the exposure light to produce an image recorder more inexpensively by providing a filter which is moved and positioned together with each of plural masks by a moving and positioning device and allows the light required for recording of an image corresponding to each mask to pass through but intercepts the unnecessary light. CONSTITUTION:A color original is divided into three systems, namely, a cyan color system, a magenta color system, and a yellow color system, and three kinds of mask 42, 44, and 46 having the same shapes as images belonging to three systems are formed at the time of recording one color original. A moving film 56 whose red area 92, green area 84, and blue area 96 are dyed in three colors constitutes the filter, and a filter position required for image recording is moved and positioned to an exposure position simultaneously with movement and positioning of masks 42, 44, and 46. Thus, the device is more simplified and is produced more inexpensively in comparison with the method where filters are switched by a private switching mechanism.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus for recording color images.

2. Description of the Related Art Apparatuses for recording images by exposing a photosensitive medium include those that expose the photosensitive medium using transmitted light from an original document and those that expose the photosensitive medium using reflected light from the original document. Among such image recording devices that record color images, a color document is divided into multiple color systems, and multiple masks having shapes necessary to record images belonging to each color system are used. There are some methods in which the photosensitive medium is exposed multiple times for each mask. These masks are made of a light-blocking material in devices that expose photosensitive media with transmitted light, and of non-reflective materials in devices that expose photosensitive media with reflected light, and are selected at the exposure position by a moving positioning device. It is moved all at once and then positioned.

A photosensitive medium used to record a color image has, for example, multiple types of coloring agents that develop different colors in response to light of different wavelengths; in this case, the image corresponding to each mask is , it is necessary to expose the photosensitive medium to light of a different wavelength for each mask so that it is recorded with the color of the family to which the mask belongs.

Therefore, the applicant's patent application filed in 1986-102
The image recording apparatus described in No. 182 uses a plurality of types of light sources that generate light of different wavelengths, and performs exposure by switching the light sources for each mask. but,
If a plurality of light sources are used in this way, the cost of the device increases and the device inevitably becomes larger.

In contrast, the image recording apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application No. 113877/1980 uses a plurality of types of filters that transmit light of different wavelengths, and the filters are switched for each mask.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention In this way, the cost of the device can be reduced compared to the case where multiple light sources are provided, but it is necessary to provide a switching mechanism equipped with a motor etc. to switch the filters. This still makes the equipment complex and expensive.

An object of the invention is to provide an image recording apparatus having a filter that is switched by a mask movement positioning device instead of a filter that is switched by a dedicated switching mechanism.

The inventions of claims 2 and 3 have been made to solve the above problem and to omit a filter dedicated to wavelength switching.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a method for moving and positioning each of a plurality of masks by a moving positioning device that moves and positions the masks.
The present invention is characterized in that a filter is provided that transmits light necessary for recording an image corresponding to each mask, but cuts off unnecessary light.

In addition to the features of the invention of claim 1, the invention of claim 2 is such that the mask blocks unnecessary light for recording and transmits only light necessary for recording, and supports the mask. The mask support plate is characterized in that it also serves as a filter.

Furthermore, the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the features of the invention of claim 1, the mask support plate that supports the mask is moved by a moving belt, and the moving belt also serves as a filter. do.

Functions and Effects In the image recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, the moving positioning device is provided from the beginning for one movement positioning of the mask, and moves the mask alternatively to the exposure position, It is designed for positioning. Therefore, if a filter is provided that is moved and positioned by such a moving positioning device, switching of the filter is performed by a moving positioning device of the mask, compared to a case where a filter is provided that is switched by a dedicated switching mechanism. The device becomes simple and can be manufactured at low cost.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the mask support plate that supports the mask also serves as a filter, and further, according to the invention of claim 3, the moving belt that moves the mask support plate that supports the mask is a filter. Therefore, there is no need for a dedicated filter for switching the exposure wavelength, and the image recording apparatus can be manufactured at a lower cost.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image recording apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. This image recording device includes a laser scanner unit 12, a xerography unit 14. Mask movement and positioning unit 16. Exposure unit 18. An image recording supply unit 20 and the like are provided.

The laser scanner unit 12 is provided at the upper part of the frame 10 and includes a polygon mirror 24 rotated by a motor 22 and a semiconductor laser 26 that irradiates the polygon mirror 24 with laser light. After passing through the fθ lens 28, the light reflected by the plane mirror 30 is reflected by the plane mirror 30, and the light is reflected by the photosensitive drum 32 of the xerography unit 14 provided below.
has been reached.

The photosensitive drum 32 has a spectral sensitivity enhanced to a near-infrared region around 800 nm, and is provided so as to be rotatable clockwise in the figure. A charger corotron 34 is disposed at a portion of the photosensitive drum 32 on the rear side in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 32 from the portion of the photosensitive drum 32 where the reflected light from the plane mirror 30 reaches. After being charged, it receives reflected light (laser light) from the plane mirror 30. By receiving this laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 32. In the laser scanner unit 12,
A controller unit (not shown) replaces digital image data with an optical signal based on text or graphic information, and the photosensitive drum 32 is scanned at high speed to create a latent image (in this embodiment, an image) based on the image data. A latent image corresponding to the area is formed.

Note that this technique is well known and is used in the optical systems of many commercially available laser printers, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Since the photosensitive drum 32 cannot be rotated at a constant speed, a latent image is formed by laser light, and a toner case 36 is disposed in the front side in the rotational direction from the part where the latent image is formed. ing. A black toner 38 that is a light-shielding substance is housed in the toner case 36 , and a developing sleeve 40 is attached so as to be rotatable counterclockwise around an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 32 . The developing sleeve 40 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 32 , and winds up the toner 38 in the toner case 36 and applies it onto the photosensitive drum 32 . The toner 38 is charged with the same sign as the charge on the unexposed portion of the photosensitive drum 32, and adheres to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 32 due to electrostatic repulsion to form a developed image corresponding to the latent image. That is, a positive mask 42 having the same shape as the image to be recorded is formed. In the image recording device of this embodiment,
Color images are recorded by dividing color originals into three systems: cyan, magenta, and yellow, and each color original is recorded in the same shape as the image belonging to each of the three systems. Three types of masks 42, 44, and 46 are formed.

Note that a transfer roller 50 is provided directly below the photosensitive drum 32 so as to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 32 . This transfer roller 50 is connected to the photosensitive drum 3.
At the same time, a high voltage having a polarity different from that of the toner 38 is applied by a high voltage power source (not shown). Further, a toner collection case 52 is disposed on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 32 from the side on which the toner case 36 is disposed. The toner collection case 52 is provided with a toner scraping member 54 that contacts the photosensitive drum 32, and
After toner 38 remaining on the photosensitive drum 32 is scraped off and collected after the toner 2, 44, 46 is transferred to a moving film 56, which will be described later. Furthermore, an erase lamp 58 is provided between the toner collection case 52 and the charger corotron 34 to remove residual charges from the photosensitive drum 32.

A mask movement and positioning unit 16 is provided below the photosensitive drum 32. The mask moving and positioning unit 16 moves the masks 42, 44.4 by means of the moving film 56.
This is a device for moving and positioning 6. The moving film 56 is made of polyethylene terephthalate, has flexibility and light transmittance, and has a thickness of 70 to 200 μm.
The thickness of the photosensitive paper 60 is approximately the same as that of the photosensitive medium, and the width thereof is larger than the width of the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60, which is a photosensitive medium. This moving film 56 has an endless heald shape and is wound around a driving roller 62 and a driven roller 64. These rollers 62,6
4 is rotatably provided around a center line parallel to the rotational center line of the photosensitive drum 32, and is sent in the direction indicated by arrow A when the drive roller 62 is rotated by a motor (not shown).

The moving film 56 has three types of masks 4 on its upper running part 66.
2, 44, and 46 can be transferred, and a portion near one end in the longitudinal direction of the upper running portion 66 is located at a transfer position directly below the photosensitive drum 32.

The transfer roller 50 is provided below the upper running part 66 at the transfer position, and presses the upper running part 66 against the photosensitive drum 32, and transfers the masks 42, 44° 46 formed on the photosensitive drum 32 to the upper running part. 66. In this embodiment, the moving film 56 constitutes a mask support plate.

Further, a toner collection case 70 is provided below the longitudinally central portion of the upper running portion 68 . The toner collection case 70 includes a cleaning blade 72 that extends obliquely in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the moving film 56 and contacts the moving film 56.
Collect the masks 42, 44, and 46 transferred to.

The exposure unit 18 is disposed above the part of the moving film 56 that is farthest from the photosensitive drum 32, and the three types of masks 42, 4 that are moved by the moving film 56 are
4.46, one of which is positioned at the exposure position directly below the exposure Unisol 1-18. The exposure unit 18 includes a light source 74 with a wide wavelength band including blue to red. As the light source 74, for example, a white fluorescent lamp, a halogen lamp, or the like is used. 76 is a reflector that focuses the light emitted from the light source 70 onto the moving film 56.

A photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper supply unit 20 that supplies photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 60 is provided on the side of the portion of the moving film 56 that is positioned at the exposure position together with the mask. The photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 60 is for color recording, has a sheet shape, and has three types of microcapsules on its surface, namely 650
Microcapsules C that are photocurable to light with a wavelength λC of about 550 nm, microcapsules M that are photocurable to light with a wavelength λ of about 550 nm, and microcapsules Y that are photocurable to light of a wavelength λY of about 450 nm are coated. It's faded. These microcapsules C, M, and Y contain a photosensitive resin 1 polymerization initiator, etc., and microcapsule C contains a colorless dye that develops a cyan color, and microcapsule M contains a magenta color. A colorless dye that develops a color is contained in the microcapsules Y, and a colorless dye that develops a yellow color is contained in the microcapsules Y. Photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 6
0 is further coated with a color developer that reacts with the colorless dyes and causes them to develop color. This photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 60 is of a self-coloring type.

The photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60 is placed in a case 78 as shown in FIG.
A pair of paper feed rollers 80
They are sent out one by one. Photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60
After being sent out from the case 78, the moving film 56 is guided by a guide plate 82 provided between the upper running part 66 and the upper running part 68, and is positioned directly below the upper running part 66.

The positioned photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60 is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the upper running part 66 by a pressure plate (not shown), and is exposed to light transmitted through the moving film 56.

The guide plate 82 is connected to the case 78 of the moving film 56.
Developing unit 8 provided on the opposite side to the side provided with
6 to guide the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60.

The developing unit 86 includes a pair of pressure rollers 88 and 90 that rotate around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the moving film 56.
．． A paper feeding mechanism (not shown) is provided, and the exposed photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 60 is developed under pressure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the moving film 56 is divided into six pieces at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction and colored in the order of red, green, and blue. Red area 92, green area 94.
Two blue regions 96 are provided in each region. When recording a color image in this image recording apparatus, three types of masks 42, 44, 46 are formed in the xerography unit 14.
46 and feeding of the moving film 56, a cyan-based mask is transferred to the red area 92 of the moving film 56, a magenta-based mask is transferred to the green area 94, and a yellow-based mask is transferred to the blue area 96. This is done so that the mask of the system is transferred.

Boundary marks 98 made of a light-shielding material are provided at the boundary portions of the three types of regions 92, 94, and 96, respectively, and a sensor 100 for detecting the boundary marks 98 is provided on the frame 10. The sensor 100 is a photoelectric switch having a light emitting part and a light receiving part, and has a boundary mark 9.
8 enters between the light emitting part and the light receiving part to prevent the light receiving part from receiving light, thereby detecting the boundary mark 98. sensor 10
0 is provided at a position where the boundary mark 98 is detected when one of the regions 92, 94, 96 is located at the exposure position, and the movement of the moving film 56 is stopped based on the detection τ. , one of the six areas is positioned at the exposure position with the mask transferred to that area. The boundary mark 98° sensor 100 etc. is connected to the moving film 5.
6. Drive roller 62. Together with the morph and the like that drive the roller 62, the mask moving and positioning unit 16 is constituted.

In the image recording apparatus configured as described above, latent images are formed on the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60 in the order of cyan color system, magenta color system, and yellow color system. In this case, a cyan-based mask is first formed in the xerography unit 14 and transferred to the red area 92 of the transfer film 56. A mask corresponding to the magenta image is then formed, and the mask is transferred to the moving film 56.
is transferred to the green area 94 of . Cyan color mask 4
6 is positioned at the exposure position, the transfer of the mask 44 to the green area 94 is completed, and the movement of the moving film 56 is stopped.

Thereafter, light is irradiated from the light source 74, and the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60 is exposed through the moving film 56.

In this case, it is the red area 92 that holds the mask;
Of the light emitted from the light source 74, only light with a wavelength around 650 nm is transmitted through a portion of the moving film 56 other than the portion where the mask 46 is transferred, and exposes the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60. As a result, three types of microcapsules C, M, and Y are applied to a portion of the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60 that does not correspond to the mask 46.
Among them, the microcapsules C containing cyan colorless dye are cured, and the microcapsules C in the part corresponding to the mask 46 are not cured, so this part is
After multiple exposures, when the microcapsules C are developed in the developing unit 86, the microcapsules C are crushed and a cyan image is recorded. The moving film 56 constitutes a filter that transmits only the light necessary to record the image corresponding to the mask 46 and blocks unnecessary light.

After exposure by the mask 46 transferred to the red area 92, the moving film 56 is moved to position the green area 94 at the exposure position. In this case, out of the light emitted from the light source 74, only light with a wavelength around 550 nrrl passes through the portion of the moving film 56 other than the portion where the mask 44 is transferred, and exposes the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60. As a result, the microcapsules M are not hardened in the portion corresponding to the mask, and the microcapsules M are crushed during development, so that the image is recorded in magenta color. In addition, when the blue region 96 is positioned at the exposure position, only light with a wavelength of around 450 nm passes through the portion of the moving film 56 other than the portion where the mask 42 is transferred and exposes the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60. A yellow image is recorded in the portion corresponding to .

In this way, in the image recording apparatus of this embodiment, the moving film 56 colored in three colors constitutes a filter, and the filter necessary for recording an image is exposed to light as well as the movement and positioning of the masks 42, 44, and 46. Since the filter is moved and positioned, the device is simpler and can be manufactured at a lower cost than when the filter is switched by a dedicated switching mechanism. Also,
In this embodiment, since the moving film 56 also serves as a mask support plate, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced in this respect as well.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a mask 106 is formed on a sheet 108 serving as a mask support plate, and a moving belt 110 for moving the sheet 108 also serves as a filter.

The mask 106 is printed on sheet 1 by a monochrome printer 112.
Formed in 08. The monochrome printer 112 includes a laser scanner unit 116. Xerography unit 118
etc., and is installed on the color image recording device 120. Laser scanner unit 116. A xerography unit 118 is connected to the laser scanner unit 12.
It is the same as the xerography unit 14, and corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations will be omitted. The sheet 108 is made of a light-transmitting material such as plain paper or a transparent sheet, and is housed in a case 122. The sheet 108 is transferred from the case 122 to the paper feed roller 1.
The masks 106 are fed out one by one by the photosensitive drum 24 and brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 32, where the mask 106 is transferred. After the mask 106 is fixed on the transferred sheet 108 by a fixing roller 126, the sheet 108 is transferred to a shooter 128. The image is sent to the color image recording device 120 by a feed roller 130. Note that when this monochrome printer 112 is used for black and white printing,
The sheet after fixing is discharged to the discharge tray 132. 13
3 is a manual feed tray for feeding the sheet 108 from the outside separately from the shooter 128.

The color image recording device 120 includes a mask movement value W determining unit 134. n optical unit 136. Photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper supply unit 138. Developing unit 140, color developing paper supply unit 142. A heat fixing unit 144 and the like are provided.

The moving belt 110 is provided on the top of the color image recording device 120 and constitutes a mask moving and positioning unit 134. The moving belt 110 is connected to the moving film 5.
Like 6, it is made of polyethylene terephthalate and has light transparency. The moving helmet 110 is seat 3
It has a length slightly larger than the length of one sheet, forms an endless heald, and has a pair of driving rollers 146 and a driven roller 1.
It is wrapped around 48.

The upper running portion 150 between the two driven rollers 148 of the moving belt 110 is slightly longer than the sheet 108, and is sent in the direction shown by arrow B when the driving roller 146 is driven. The moving belt 110 is charged with a corotron, a conductive brush, etc., and is configured to attract the sheet 108 on the lower surface of the upper running portion 150. Note that after exposure, the suction by the movable belt 110 is released, and the sheet 108 is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 152.

Light 'tA1 is moved by a moving device (not shown) between the upper running part 150 and the upper running part 154 of the moving belt 110.
56 is provided to constitute an exposure unit 136. The light source 156 has a wide wavelength band similarly to the light source 74, and illuminates the sheet 1 via the moving belt 110.
Irradiate 08. The portion between the two driven rollers 148 is the exposure position.

A photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper supply unit 138 is provided below the mask movement and positioning unit 134.

The photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 158 of this embodiment contains three types of microcapsules C that develop colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
It is of a transfer type that has M and Y but no color developer, and is wound around a supply reel 160 to form a roll. Photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 158 drawn from supply reel 160
is guided by the guide rollers 162 and 164 to the upper running part 1.
50. The exposed photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 158 is taken up on a take-up reel 166, and a developing unit 140 is provided in front of the take-up reel 166.

The developing unit 140 has two pressure rollers 168° and 170°.
The photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 158 is a color developer paper.The color developer paper 174 supplied from the case 172 of the supply unit 142 is
After being superimposed on each other, pressure is applied by pressure rollers 168 and 170.

The color developer paper 174 is coated with a color developer that reacts with the colorless dye contained in the microcapsules of the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 158 using polyvinyl alcohol as a binder, and when the microcapsules C7M and Y are crushed by pressure. , when the image is transferred to the color developer paper 174 and heated in the heat fixing unit 144 after development, a color developer,
The polyvinyl alcohol melts or softens, and the image recording surface becomes smooth and glossy, and the transferred image is fixed. After this gloss treatment, the developer paper 174
is discharged onto the developer paper discharge tray 176.

In this embodiment, the moving bell 110 is divided into three parts at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction, and each part is colored red, green, and blue. The sheet 108 that supports each of the three types of masks 106 formed by the monochrome printer 112 is moved by the moving belt 110 as described above, and the sheet 108 on which the cyan-colored mask 106 is formed is moved by the moving belt 110. ) 110, the sheet 108 on which the magenta-colored mask X06 is formed is moved by the green-colored portion, and the sheet 108 on which the yellow-colored mask 106 is formed The parts colored blue are attracted to each other, moved, and positioned. The sheet 108 fed through the shooter 128 has its leading edge position determined by a sheet edge aligning roller 178, and is laterally positioned with respect to the photosensitive and pressure sensitive paper 158 by a positioning device (not shown). It is inserted between the upper running portion 150 of the moving belt 110 and the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 158 as it is fed.

The moving belt 110 that has absorbed the sheet 108 is the sheet 10
8 to the exposure position is detected by a boundary mark and a sensor as in the previous embodiment, although not shown, and the movement of the moving bell 110 is stopped at that position.

In the image recording apparatus of this embodiment, the moving belt 110 colored in three colors functions as a filter, and the light 1.15
Of the light irradiated from the mask 108 positioned at the exposure position, only the light of the wavelength necessary to record the image corresponding to the mask 108 is transmitted. By being exposed to light, a color latent image for recording a desired color image is formed.

Note that the sheet 108 may be colored instead of the moving belt 110, in which case the sheet 108 will function as a filter.

In addition, a filter is prepared separately from the moving belt and seat.
The filter may be sandwiched between a moving belt and a sheet, moved, positioned at an exposure position, and exposed.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the mask is a positive mask having the same shape as the image, but it may also be a negative mask having the shape of a portion other than the image. In this case, the color of the sheet supporting the mask, the moving film, and the moving belt should be such that the light necessary to record the image in areas other than the mask is transmitted.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the moving film 56 and the moving belt 110 are colored to function as a filter. All you have to do is make it transparent.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an apparatus has been described in which an image is recorded by exposing the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 60, 158 having a photocurable photosensitive resin to transmitted light. The present invention can also be applied to devices that record images using photosensitive and pressure-sensitive paper containing resin, devices that form a mask on a reflective surface using a non-reflective material, and expose the photosensitive and pressure-sensitive paper to reflected light. Can be done.

Although not illustrated in detail, the present invention can be implemented in various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a moving film of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view (partially) showing the inside of the image recording apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the photosensitive pressure sensitive paper supply unit and the developing unit. FIG. 4 is a front view (partially) showing the inside of an image recording apparatus which is another embodiment of the present invention. 16: Mask moving and positioning unit 42.44.46: Mask 56: Moving film 60: Photosensitive pressure sensitive paper 62: Drive roller 92: Red area 94: Green area 96
: Blue area 98: Boundary mark 100: Sensor 10
6: Mask 108: Sheet 110: Moving belt 134: Mask moving and positioning unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A moving positioning device moves multiple masks, which have the shapes necessary to record images belonging to multiple color systems of a color original and are made of light-shielding or non-reflective materials, to the exposure position. In an image recording apparatus that records a color image by selectively positioning a photosensitive medium multiple times with transmitted light or reflected light corresponding to each mask, An image recording device characterized by being provided with a filter that is moved and positioned and that transmits light necessary for recording an image corresponding to each mask but blocks unnecessary light. (2) The image according to claim 1, wherein the mask blocks light unnecessary for recording and transmits only light necessary for recording, and a mask support plate supporting the mask also serves as the filter. Recording device. (3) The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask support plate supporting the mask is moved by a moving belt, and the moving belt also serves as the filter.