JPH01303427A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To satisfactorily adjust gradation by an inexpensive simple mechanism by adjusting the gradation of a copied image by means of auxiliary exposure before and/or after exposure made by a reference plate for correcting color and a dimming device. CONSTITUTION:To adjust gradation, the color correcting reference plate such as a white reference plate for adjusting white balance, which is always arranged in a color copying device, and a variable diaphragm 230 are mainly used. Said diaphragm 230, a 1st color filter plate 227, a fixed diaphragm plate 228, and a 2nd color filter plate 229 comprise the dimming device. Light reflected from the color correcting reference plate such as the white reference plate is set at 1/50-1/100 of normal exposure light through the use of the variable diaphragm 230 of the dimming device, and preliminary exposure is carried out to adjust gradation before and/or after photosensitive material is main exposed. Gradation can thus be adjusted by the inexpensive, simple mechanism.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a copying apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a copying apparatus that can easily adjust gradation using a simple mechanism in a copying apparatus that copies an original image by exposing a photosensitive material.

<Prior Art> In a copying apparatus that copies an original image by exposing a photosensitive material, a method of adjusting the gradation of the image is known as one method of adjusting the image quality of the obtained copied image.

Normally, methods for adjusting gradation in such a copying device include methods of changing exposure conditions such as the light intensity of the exposure light source and exposure time, methods of changing development conditions such as development processing temperature and development processing time, and various methods in the exposure optical path. A method of inserting a filter, and a method of changing the photosensitive material used are known.

Furthermore, in wet-type copying apparatuses, a method of changing the processing liquid of the developer τ, and in transfer-type copying apparatuses, a method of changing the transfer pressure is also used.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, these various gradation adjustment means are expensive and expensive.
Many of them have problems in terms of workability, etc.

In other words, it is difficult to control the gradation by changing the light intensity of the exposure light source, the exposure time, the development processing time, the development processing temperature, and the transfer pressure in transfer type copying devices. When performing accurate adjustment according to gradation, there is a problem in terms of cost and the like. Also,
The degree of freedom in gray level and one adjustment is low, making it difficult to adjust the desired gradation, and more complex control is required in order to perform adjustment with a high degree of freedom.

The method of changing the photosensitive material or various processing liquids in a wet-type copying machine requires replacing the photosensitive material or processing liquid each time the gradation is changed, which is extremely inefficient. Furthermore, in order to adjust the desired gradation, a large number of expensive photosensitive materials and processing solutions must be prepared at all times, and this method cannot be said to be advantageous in terms of cost.

In addition, the method of inserting various filters into the exposure optical path not only requires a separate filter for gradation adjustment in addition to the filter for color correction, but also requires a filter insertion device and a control device for this purpose to be installed in the copying machine. However, it is not an advantageous method in terms of cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a copying apparatus that is inexpensive, can perform desired gradation adjustment with a simple mechanism, and has good operability.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have made extensive studies and have developed a method for color correction such as a white reference plate for white balance adjustment, which is normally arranged in color copying machines. Using a reference plate and a device diaphragm consisting of various color correction filters, diaphragms, etc., the reflected light from the color correction reference plate such as a white reference plate is used to adjust the light control device. By using a diaphragm to set the amount of light to about 1/5 to 1/100 of the normal exposure light and performing sub-exposure before and/or after the main exposure of the photosensitive material, it is easy to use and has good workability. We discovered that it is possible to adjust the gradation to
The present invention has been accomplished.

That is, the present invention provides a copying apparatus that copies an original image onto a photosensitive material by scanning exposure, and the copying apparatus uses sub-exposure using a color correction reference plate and a light control device before and/or after the scanning exposure of the original image to copy the copied image. This is a copying apparatus characterized by adjusting the gradation of the image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a silver salt photographic color copying apparatus which is an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, exposure for image formation and sub-exposure for tone adjustment are performed by slit scanning exposure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 11 of the copying apparatus 1o includes:
A photosensitive material supply unit 12 is provided on the right side, an exposure unit 14 is provided above, and a processing unit 16 is provided below.

Further, the processing section unit 16 includes a processing section l7 in the upper right corner,
It has a drying section 18 on the upper left side thereof, and a reserve liquid storage section 19 below which stores a supply bottle for replenishing a preliminary processing liquid.

The photosensitive material supply section unit 12 has a photosensitive material conveyance path within the photosensitive material supply section frame 100, and magazines 20 and 22 containing roll-shaped photosensitive materials 24 and 26 are detachably attached to the magazine 20. An opening/closing lid 101 is provided on the outside of the .22.

The photosensitive materials stored are, for example, a photosensitive material 24 that is most suitable for copying a color photo original, and a photosensitive material 26 that is most suitable for copying a color print original.

In front of each photosensitive material magazine (hereinafter, "front" refers to the front of the photosensitive material conveyance path), a conveyance roller 1o4 degree 106 is placed in front of the magazine 2 degree corresponding to the photosensitive material 24 in the magazine 2 degree.
Conveying rollers 142 and 144 correspond to the photosensitive material 26 of No. 2.
The hooks are each placed in a horizontal state and are pivoted to the photosensitive material supply section frame 100.

By the way, the shafts of the conveyance rollers 104 and 142 are accommodated in elongated holes (not shown) formed in the photosensitive material supply section frame 100, and are movable in directions toward and away from the conveyance rollers 106 and 144. While the opening/closing M101 is open, these conveyor rollers 104, 142 are urged by an unillustrated urging means in a direction away from the conveyor rollers 106, 144, respectively, and the magazines 20, 22
is attached and the opening/closing lid 1o1 is closed, the conveyance rollers 1o4.142 move through the elongated holes and press the conveyance rollers 106 and 144, respectively.

These transport rollers 104, 106 and 142.14
Cutters 108 and 146 are arranged in front of the cutters 108 and 146, respectively, and a photosensitive material conveyance guide 110 is arranged between the cutters 108 and 146 and the exposure section 28 to transport the cut photosensitive materials 24 and 26. is guided to the exposure section 28.

Conveyance roller pair 11 of cutter 108 and cutter 146
3, 115, conveyance rollers 112 and 114 are arranged on both sides of the conveyance guide 110, and the cutter 1
The photosensitive material 24 (26) sent from 08 (146) is sent upward within the conveyance guide 110, and conveyance rollers 116 and 118 are arranged above it for the same purpose.

The upper part of the conveyance guide 110 has a substantially U-shape that opens downward, and guides the photosensitive material 24 (26) downward to the exposure section 28.

The exposure section 28 is a part that defines the exposure position of the photosensitive material 24 (26), and in this exposure section 28, a glass plate 124 constituting a transparent guide plate is fixed facing the lens unit 205 of the exposure section unit 14. This glass plate 12
A pressure plate 126 constituting a rear guide plate is crimped to the rear side guide plate 4.

A pair of transport rollers 128 and 130 sandwich the exposure section 28.
A pair of transport rollers 132 and 134 are provided, each of which transports the photosensitive material 24 (26) vertically downward. That is, the photosensitive material 24 (26) is conveyed through the exposure section 28 while being held between the pair of conveyance rollers 128, 130 and the pair of conveyance rollers 132, 134, and is scanned and exposed at the exposure position 28a.

A conveyance guide 136 is arranged vertically below the exposure section 28 to guide the exposed photosensitive material 24 downward.

A switching guide 78 is provided at the lower part of the conveyance guide 136, and the photosensitive material 24 (26) fed vertically downward within the conveyance guide 137 is transferred to a branching completion guide 140 which is communicated with the processing section unit 16 when necessary. It is now possible to change direction. This switching guide 78 has a support shaft 78a.
It can be rotated around the photosensitive material 24 (26).
When conveying the photosensitive material 24 (26) vertically downward into the conveyance guide 137, it rotates in the direction of the arrow to convey the photosensitive material 24 (26) vertically downward.

The photosensitive material 24 (2
The conveying speed in step 6) is synchronized with the scanning speed of the original 32 by the light source unit 36 of the imaging optical system 80. Further, the conveyance rollers 112, 113, and 116 are also driven by the same motor, but the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller 116 is bridged so that it is slightly faster than the completion speed of the conveyance rollers 130 and 134 in the exposure section 28. Ru. The secondary conveyance roller 116 feeds the photosensitive material 24 (26) to the conveyance roller 130 faster than the feed speed of the general conveyance roller 130, 134, so the photosensitive material 24, 26 is bent before the conveyance roller 130. It's starting to look like this. As a result, the conveyance rollers 130 and 134 are replaced by the conveyance roller 116.
Regardless of the feed speed of the transport rollers 130 and 134, the photosensitive material 24 (26) is fed to the exposure section 28 at the feed speed of the conveyor rollers 130 and 134 to enable accurate slit scanning exposure.

In this case, as shown in FIG.
Rotating guide 154 supported by pin 156 at the rear of 30
rotates in the direction of the arrow so that the photosensitive material is deflected easily.

The photosensitive material 2 is drawn out from the macazine 20 (22) and sent to the exposure section 28 through the photosensitive material supply unit 12.
4 (26) is an image of the color original 32 on the transparent original platen 30 provided above the exposure unit 14, or is subjected to slit scanning exposure using the imaging optical system 80 that scans in synchronization with the photosensitive material 24 (26). It is now possible to do so.

Here, on the left side of the document table 30 is a white reference plate 20 which serves as a reference plate for white balance correction and, in the present invention, for color correction, which is also used for sub-exposure together with a light control device, which will be described later.
0 is placed.

The color original 32 is pressed onto the original table 30 by the original holder 34, and is irradiated by a light source 38 in a light source unit 36.

The irradiated light is reflected by the color original 32, and this reflected light is reflected by the mirror 39 in the light source unit 36,
The light is reflected by two mirrors 40 and 41 that move at 1/2 the speed of the light source unit 36.

The reflected light reflected by the mirror 41 is transmitted to the lens unit 2 which moves at the same speed as the light source unit 36 and is composed of a light control device having color filters and various apertures, and an imaging lens.
When the shutter 44 is opened, an image is formed on the photosensitive material 24 (26) in the exposure section 28, and the photosensitive material 24 (26) is exposed at the exposure position 28a. . The lens unit 205 will be detailed later.

Note that during sub-exposure, the light source unit 36 and mirror 4
0.41 moves the white reference plate 200 to a position where it can be irradiated, and the light #t38 irradiates the white reference plate 200. This reflected light passes through the same path, and the light intensity is adjusted to about 1150 to 17100 by a light control device in the lens unit 205, and sub-exposes the photosensitive material 24 (26).

During pre-scanning, white balance correction, etc., the shutter 44 is closed as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and the image of the color original 32 or the image of the white reference plate 200 is reflected by the shutter 44 and is manually applied to the image sensor 45 for exposure. Modification conditions are now determined.

The photosensitive material is transported inside the photosensitive material supply unit 12 and is placed at the exposure position 2.
The photosensitive material 24 exposed by the imaging optical system 80 at 8a
(26) represents the switching guide 78 and the branch conveyance guide 1.
40 to the processing section unit 16.

In the processing section unit 16, a developing tank 4 is provided in the processing section 17.
6. A bleach/fix tank 48 and a washing tank 50, 52 are provided in series, and the photosensitive material 24 (26
) is sent to the drying section 18.

In the drying section 18, the photosensitive material 24 (26) after being washed with water is dried and sent onto a take-out tray 54.

Next, in the copying apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, the lens unit 205 having a light control device for adjusting the amount and quality of exposure light will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The lens unit 205 includes a front group 225 and a rear group 226 of lenses as imaging lenses, and a first color filter plate 227, a fixed diaphragm plate 228, and a second color filter plate 2 are arranged between them.
29 are arranged in order. Further, behind the rear group 226, a pair of aperture plates 230a and 230b are used to adjust the reflected light from the white reference plate 200 to about 1150 to 1/100 of the normal exposure light during sub-exposure. A variable aperture 230 consisting of is arranged.

Here, the light control device includes a first color filter plate 227, a fixed diaphragm plate 228, a second color filter plate 229, and a variable diaphragm 2.
30, and in the present invention, this light control device is used not only for main exposure but also for sub-exposure for gradation adjustment together with the white reference plate 200.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the first color filter plate 227
has an anti-reflection coating on the back surface (here, the back surface refers to the rear surface with respect to the direction in which the exposure light travels) as a preferred embodiment, and the transparent glass plate extending in the longitudinal direction of the slit 222a of the slit plate 222 A cyan filter film 227a and a yellow filter 227b are formed on both sides by vapor deposition, leaving the center portion intact. In addition,
Here, it is preferable that the central portion has an antireflection coating on both sides.

This first color filter plate 227 is attached to a filter frame 240 that moves in the longitudinal direction of the slit 222a. This filter frame 240 has a rack 259 and a straight groove 250 formed therein. A stepping motor 241 is connected to this rack 259 via a reduction gear 258.
A gear 242 connected to the straight groove 25 is in mesh with the straight groove 25
A fixing pin 243 is loosely fitted into 0. Then, the stepping motor 241 rotates to move the filter frame 240 according to the degree of adjustment of the light quality, and inserts each color filter film into the exposure optical path. In the example shown in FIG. 2, when the stepping motor 241 rotates clockwise, the cyan filter film 227a is inserted into the exposure optical path according to the amount of rotation, and when the stepping motor 241 rotates counterclockwise, the yellow filter film 227b is inserted into the exposure optical path according to the amount of rotation.

In addition, the second color filter plate 229 is also connected to the first color filter 229.
Similarly to 7, a preferable embodiment is one having an antireflection coating on at least the back surface, and a cyan filter film 229a and a magenta filter film 229a are provided on both sides of the transparent glass plate.
229b is formed. Since this second color filter plate 229 has the same structure as the first color filter plate 227, only the reference numeral is given and the explanation thereof will be omitted. Further, it is preferable that the second color filter plate 229 has an anti-reflection coating on both sides of the central portion, similarly to the first color filter plate 227.

In the second color filter plate 229, when the stepping motor 248 rotates clockwise, the cyan filter film 229a is inserted into the exposure optical path according to the amount of rotation.
When the magenta filter film 229b is rotated counterclockwise, the magenta filter film 229b is inserted into the exposure optical path according to the amount of rotation.

A fixed aperture 228 is arranged between the color filter plates 227 and 229. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the fixed diaphragm 228 has a circular opening 228a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the position where the fixed diaphragm is recorded is not limited to between the color filter plates 227 and 229, but it is the position where the luminous flux of the lens in the lens structure is most focused. Needless to say, it is preferable to arrange it in

Further, it is preferable that the color filter plate is also placed as close as possible to the position where the light beam of the lens in the lens structure is most focused.

Basically, a pair of aperture plates 230a are located behind the rear lens group.
and 230b, and the aperture plates 230a and 230b
A variable diaphragm 230 consisting of a plate cam 235 for vertically moving the diaphragm 230 is arranged. In the copying apparatus of the present invention, the variable diaphragm not only adjusts light during exposure, but also adjusts the amount of light during sub-exposure.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the aperture plate 230a has fixed bins 252a and 252a', and the aperture plate 230b has fixed bins 252b and 252b'. This is used to adjust the amount of light. In addition, this aperture provisional 2
30a and 230b are movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit 222a, but are fixed in the longitudinal direction of the slit 222a by means not shown.

The plate cam 235 has inclined grooves 235a, 235a', 235b and 235b' into which the fixed bins are inserted.
is formed, and further includes a rack 231. In the example shown in FIG. 2, this slope (:i
The grooves 235a and 235a' are sloped to the lower right, and the grooves 235b and 235b' are sloped to the upper right. A fixed bottle 252a is placed in the inclined groove 235a, a fixed bottle 252a' is placed in the inclined groove 235a', and a fixed bottle 252b is placed in the inclined groove 235b.
However, the fixed bins 252b' can be inserted into the inclined grooves 235b'.

In addition, a reduction gear 254 is attached to the rack 231 of the plate cam 235.
A pinion 251 driven by a stepping motor 255 meshes through the pinion.

In the variable diaphragm 230 shown in FIG. 1, by rotating the stepping motor 255, the fixed pins of the pair of diaphragm plates 230a and 230b move up and down along the inclination of the slanted grooves. 230b and adjusts the amount of light by adjusting the interval between them. Here, when the stepping motor 255 rotates clockwise, the aperture plates 230a and 230b move apart according to the amount of rotation, and conversely, when the stepping motor 255 rotates counterclockwise, the aperture plates 230a and 230b approach each other according to the amount of rotation. .

The amount of light is adjusted by the aperture plates 230a and 230b during main exposure according to the measurement results of the image sensor 45 and the intended use of the copied image, and during sub-exposure for front barrel adjustment, according to the degree of gradation adjustment. The exposure light amount for the sub-exposure is adjusted to 1150 to 1/100 of the normal main exposure.In addition, in the present invention, not only the main exposure
Each color filter of the first color filter plate 227 and the second color filter plate 229 may be inserted during sub-exposure, thereby making it possible to adjust the gradation for each color.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the variable diaphragm 230 is configured as described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various known variable diaphragms can be applied.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the variable aperture 230
is disposed behind the rear group 226 of the lens, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the variable diaphragm 230 may be disposed in front of the front group 225, for example.

<Operation of the Invention> The copying apparatus according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and its operation will be explained below.

It has a lens unit 205 shown in FIG. 1st
In the reproduction apparatus 10 shown in the figure, the magazine 20.2
When the opening/closing lid 101 is closed after the photosensitive material 2 is attached, the conveyance rollers 104 and 142, which had been moving upward until now, move downward along the long holes (not shown) and come into contact with the conveyance rollers 106 and 144, respectively, and the photosensitive material 24.Pinch the tip of 26.

Here, when the operator places the color original 32 on the original platen 30, closes the original holder 34, and specifies the degree of gradation adjustment using various switches (not shown), etc., and then presses a copy button (not shown), Light source unit 36
The light source 38 inside is turned on, the light source unit 36 scans the white reference plate 200 and the document 32, and pre-scanning is started. At this time, the lens unit 205 moves at the same speed, and the mirrors 40 and 41 move at 1/2 the speed in the same direction as the light source unit 36.

During pre-scanning, the shutter 44 is placed at the position indicated by the dotted line, and the reflected light is reflected by the shutter 44 and enters the image sensor 45, where the amount of light, three color components, etc. are measured, and the amount of adjustment of the amount of light and light quality is determined. The photosensitive material to be used is determined according to the original document 32.

Note that this photosensitive material selection can be done manually by the user.
The configuration may be such that it is not possible to select according to the two types.

For example, when the pre-scan ends and the photosensitive material 24 is selected, the conveyance rollers 104 and 106 feed the photosensitive material 24, and a sensor (not shown) sends out the photosensitive material 24.
4 is detected, the cutter 108 cuts the photosensitive material 24 to a predetermined length.

Thereafter, the photosensitive material 24 is conveyed while being held between conveyance rollers 112° 114 and conveyance rollers 116 and 118, and is conveyed 1f12 to the exposure section 28.

At the same time, in the imaging optical system 80, the shutter 4
4 rotates to the position shown by the solid line, and the light 1 source unit 36 and the mirrors 40 and 41 move to a position where the white base γ1 sail plate 200 can be irradiated.

Next, when the leading end of the photosensitive material 24 is transported to a predetermined position, the teacher 38 in the light source unit 36 lights up and irradiates the white reference plate 200, and the reflected light is sent to the lens unit 20.
The amount of light is adjusted to about 1150 to 1/100 using the variable diaphragm 230 of the light control device 5, depending on the level of gradation adjustment, and the photosensitive material 24 is sub-exposed at an exposure value m28a.

In other words, the photosensitive material 24 is transported by the transport rollers 128, 130
The light reflected from the white reference plate 200 is conveyed by the t-feeding rollers 132 and 134, and the amount of light is adjusted by the light control device of the lens unit 205, and is scanned and exposed at the exposure position 28a for sub-exposure. be.

Note that normally, during sub-exposure, the central transparent part of each color filter plate of the light control device is inserted into the exposure optical path, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as described above, various color filters can be inserted. The gradation may be adjusted for each color by inserting a film into the optical path.

During sub-exposure, the branching guide 78 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, so the photosensitive material 24 is transported vertically downward within the transport guide 137.

When the sub-exposure is completed, the conveyance rollers 128° 130 and the conveyance rollers 132, 134 are reversed, the photosensitive material 24 rises within the conveyance guide 136, a part of it is conveyed into the conveyance guide 110, and the leading end is moved to the conveyance roller. in the opposite direction (upstream of the exposure position 28a)
rearward).

At the same time, the light source unit 36, mirrors 4° and 41
, the lens unit 205 returns to the initial position, and in the lens unit 205, the insertion amount of each color filter and the aperture amount of the variable aperture 230 are adjusted according to the measurement results of the image sensor 45, and main exposure is started.

In the main exposure, light (
The original unit 36 and the lens unit 205 scan the original IF 432 at a scanning speed, and the mirrors 40, 41 move at 1/2 the scanning speed. In this way, the image from the color original 32 is transferred to the exposure position 28a of the exposure section 28.
The photosensitive material 24 is exposed to light.

At the time of exposure, the conveyance rollers 116 and 11 send out the rear of the photosensitive material 24 sandwiched between the conveyance rollers 128 and 130.
8 feeds out the photosensitive material 24 at a faster feed speed than the feed speed of the conveyance rollers 128°130. At the same time, a solenoid (not shown) is activated, and the rotation guide 154 partially expands the loop guide shape of the conveyance guide 110.
The photosensitive material 24 is bent at the artificial part of the transport rollers 128, 130 to form a loop part.

Therefore, the conveyance rollers 128 and 130 can convey the photosensitive material at the conveyance speed of the conveyance rollers 130 and 134 without being affected by the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller 116 upstream thereof.

As this exposure progresses, the photosensitive material 24 is transferred to the transport roller 13.
2,134, and is sent downward through the conveyance guide 136. In this case, since the switching guide 78 is rotating in the direction of the arrow as in the sub-exposure, the photosensitive material 24 sent from the exposure section 28 moves vertically downward within the transport guide 137. Therefore, when the exposed photosensitive material 24 is fed into the processing section 17 of the processing section unit 16, there is no slack in the intermediate portion of the photosensitive material 24 due to the speed difference between the photosensitive material supply section unit 12 and the processing section 17.

When all the main exposures are completed, the 122 feed rollers 12B, 130 and the conveyance rollers 132 and 134 are reversed in the same way as during the sub exposure, and the photosensitive material 24 rises inside the q2 feed guide 136, and its tip reaches the switching guide. It is conveyed in the opposite direction until it comes to the rear of 78.

Thereafter, the conveyance rollers 128, 130 and conveyance rollers 132, 134 rotate normally again.

In this case, since the switching guide 78 is arranged at the position indicated by the solid line, the leading end of the photosensitive material 24 is
6 and sent out to a branch conveyance guide 140.
Therefore, the tip of the photosensitive material 24 is connected to the branch conveyance guide 140.
The data is sent to the processing section 17 of the processing section unit 16 through the.

In the processing section 17, the photosensitive material 24 is developed, bleached, fixed, and washed with water, and then sent to the drying section 18, and after drying, is taken out onto the take-out tray 54. Also, depending on the type of color original 32 placed on the original platen 30, the magazine 22
The same operation as described above is repeated when the photosensitive material 26 inside is selected.

In the above example, the sub-exposure was performed before the main exposure, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sub-exposure may be performed after the main exposure.

Further, in the above example, sub-exposure was performed only once, but in the present invention, sub-exposure may be performed multiple times. At this time, it goes without saying that when adjusting the amount of light using the variable diaphragm 230 and inserting various color filters, the type thereof may be changed.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the white reference plate 200 is used as the color correction reference plate, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various achromatic colors can be used as the color correction reference plate. It may also be used as a board. In this case, if the amount of light reflected from the color correction reference plate is sufficiently small that it can be used as sub-exposure light, the variable diaphragm 230 may be fully opened.

Although the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various improvements and changes in design are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

<Effects of the Invention> As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the gradation of a copied image can be adjusted before exposure using a color correction reference plate and a light control device that are normally arranged in a color copying machine. and/or during sub-exposure performed later.

Therefore, in the copying apparatus of the present invention, the gradation adjustment mechanism is only W3, and it is possible to realize a copying apparatus that can perform good gradation adjustment without increasing cost.

Furthermore, since the gradation is adjusted by sub-exposure using a color correction reference plate and a light control device, there is a high degree of freedom and the desired gradation can be easily adjusted.

Further, since there is no need to replace the photosensitive material or various processing solutions when adjusting the gradation, workability is also good.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a copying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lens unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. Description of symbols 10... Copying device, 11... Apparatus main body, 12... Photosensitive material supply section unit, 14... Exposure section unit, 16... Processing section unit, 17... Processing section, 1 8...*Drying section, 19... Reserve liquid storage section, 28... Exposure section, 36... Light screening unit, 40. 41... Mirror, 80... Imaging optical system , 128, 130. 132. 134...1 general feed roller, 200...white reference plate, 205...lens unit, 225...lens front group, 226...lens rear fff. 227...First filter plate, 228...Fixed aperture plate, 229...Second filter plate, 230...Variable aperture

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a copying device that copies an original image onto a photosensitive material by scanning exposure, before and/or after the scanning exposure of the original image, the gradation of the copied image is A copying device characterized by adjusting the key.