JPH02247632A - Slit scanning and exposing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a slit scanning and exposing device capable of forming an image which is overall even in a hue and free from color unevenness by inserting a color filter into an optical path in the direction of the shorter side of a slit, that is, in an exposing and scanning direction. CONSTITUTION:In the slit scanning and exposing device composed of an expos ing light source 166, a lens unit 156 including plural mirrors and image-forming lenses 178 and 180, etc., a first color filter plate 182 and a second color filter plate 186 arranged between the lenses of the lens unit 156 are made to move in the direction of the shorter side of the slit and to insert into an optical path L. A cyan filter 200C is fixed at the first color filter 182 and an yellow filter 200Y is fixed at a frame body 182 A. For inserting the filter plate 200Y into the optical path L, a motor 228 is made to rotate counterclockwise and a driving member 230 is made to move clockwise. Simultaneously, transmitting members 226a and 226b are turned counterclockwise around fulcrums 224a and 224b respectively and the yellow filter 200Y is inserted into the optical path L from an upside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a slit scanning exposure device that is applied to various copying machines, printers, etc. For more information,
Slit scanning exposure system that can perform good light quality adjustment using color filters (prior technology) Exposure systems used in various copying machines, printers, printing machines, etc. Slit scanning exposure is often used for the following reasons: (1) The exposure area can be made smaller and the exposure apparatus can be made more compact; (2) The amount of light from the light source can be made smaller.

For example, a slit scanning exposure device commonly used in copying machines basically consists of an exposure light source that illuminates a document placed on a document table, and multiple mirrors that reflect light reflected from the document in a predetermined direction. and a lens unit having an imaging lens;
It is composed of a slit or the like placed in front of the exposure position where this reflected light forms an image.

In such a slit scanning exposure device, an exposure light source illuminates the document while scanning at a predetermined speed.

Reflected light from the original (hereinafter referred to as reflected light) is reflected by at least one movable mirror, travels along a predetermined optical path, and enters the lens unit.

The reflected light incident on the lens unit is adjusted by the imaging lens so that it forms an image at a predetermined exposure position, passes through a slit placed in front of the exposure position, forms an image at the exposure position, and is used for exposure. The photosensitive material transported in synchronization with the scanning of the light source is exposed.

By the way, in a normal slit scanning exposure device, in order to adjust color balance, color density, etc., various color filters are arranged in the light source unit, lens unit, etc., and are inserted into the optical path of the reflected light. Adjust the light quality.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which such a color filter is arranged within a lens unit.

The lens unit 500 shown in FIG. 6 includes a front group 502 and a rear group 504 of imaging lenses, a first color filter 506 having a cyan filter and a yellow filter,
A second color filter 508 having a cyan filter and a magenta filter, a fixed aperture 510, and a pair of aperture plates 5
A variable aperture 516 having a diameter of 12.514 mm.

The reflected light that has traveled along the optical path passes through the lens unit 500.
The light passes through a slit 518, where the quantity and quality of the light are adjusted, and then passes through a slit 518 placed in front of the exposure position, forming an image at the exposure position and exposing a photosensitive material or the like.

The illustrated color filter, using the first color filter 506 as an example, is one in which a cyan filter 520C and a yellow filter 520Y are formed on a colorless and transparent glass plate 520 by vapor deposition or the like, and these are assembled into a frame 522. be.
Further, a rack 524 is formed on the frame body 522, and a gear 524 is formed on the frame body 522.
A motor 530 is arranged via 26,528.

The first color filter 506 moves the frame 522 in the longitudinal direction of the slit 518 indicated by the arrow, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, as the motor 530 rotates.
Insert each filter into the optical path.

That is, when the motor 530 rotates clockwise, the cyan filter 520C is inserted into the optical path, and when the motor 530 rotates counterclockwise, the yellow filter 520Y is inserted into the optical path along the longitudinal direction of the slit 518. Adjust the amount of filter insertion to dim the reflected light.

Similarly, the second color filter 508 is also formed using a transparent glass plate 5.
32, a cyan filter 532C and a magenta filter 532M are formed.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Here, in the conventional slit scanning exposure apparatus, including the first color filter 506 and the second color filter 508 described above, the color filters for adjusting light quality are arranged perpendicularly to the scanning direction. The slit is inserted in the longitudinal direction of the slit, and the reflected light is adjusted in accordance with the amount of insertion.

However, the inventors of the present invention have developed a method of adjusting light by inserting a color filter for adjusting light quality into the optical path of a slit scanning exposure device in the longitudinal direction of the slit as described above. However, it has been found that there is a problem in that color unevenness occurs in the resulting images.

As mentioned above, the light quality is adjusted not only by the type of color filter inserted, but also by the amount inserted into the optical path. Therefore, as a matter of course, there are parts of the light flux that have passed through the color filter and parts that have not passed through the color filter, and the light that has passed through the color filter is modulated and enters the exposure position to expose the photosensitive material, but the color filter The light that has passed through the position where the light is not inserted enters the exposure position without being modulated at all and exposes the photosensitive material.

In slit scanning exposure, the exposure scan is performed in the short direction of the slit, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the color filter. Therefore, it is not possible to expose the entire surface with controlled light; There are areas on the material that are exposed to light that is modulated and areas that are exposed to light that is not modulated.

Therefore, the resulting image does not have a uniform color tone over the entire surface, but has uneven color.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and to provide a slit scanning exposure apparatus that inserts a color filter in the optical path and adjusts the light quality according to the amount of insertion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slit scanning exposure device capable of forming a suitable image with uniform hue over the entire surface and without color unevenness.

Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an exposure light source;
Provided is a slit scanning exposure device comprising a plurality of mirrors, an imaging lens, and at least one color filter, the color filter being inserted into an optical path in the scanning direction. do.

<Operation of the Invention> The slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention is a slit scanning exposure apparatus that has at least one color filter that can be inserted into the exposure optical path, and adjusts the exposure light according to the insertion amount of the color filter, The color filters are inserted in the lateral direction of the slit, that is, in the exposure scanning direction.

Therefore, unlike conventional slit scanning exposure equipment in which color filters are inserted in the longitudinal direction of the slit (perpendicular to the exposure scanning direction), the entire surface of the photosensitive material can be exposed to light controlled by the color filters. It is possible.

Therefore, by applying the slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to form a suitable image with a uniform tone and no color unevenness.

The slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention can be suitably applied to any type of slit scanning exposure apparatus, including a light source moving type and a document table moving type.

<Embodiments> Hereinafter, a slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a slit scanning exposure apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a scanning exposure apparatus) of the present invention.

A scanning exposure device 150 shown in FIG. 1 uses a pressing plate 56 to transfer an image of a document 130 placed on a document table 80 made of glass or the like and fixed to the document table 80 by a document holder 15 onto a glass plate 50. The photosensitive material A, which is scanned and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 58 and 60 while being pressed by the exposure position 46a, is subjected to slit scanning exposure at the exposure position 46a.

The scanning exposure apparatus 150 includes a light source unit movable in the scanning direction indicated by arrow a, which includes an exposure light source 166, a reflector 168, and a mirror 170, and mirrors 174, 17.
6, a mirror unit 156 that moves at 1/2 the speed in the same direction as the light source unit 156, a lens unit 156 that has an imaging lens, various apertures, and color filters, and a shutter 15.
8, the sensor 160, and the exposure section 46 immediately before the partition wall 162 (hereinafter, "front" refers to the upstream direction in the traveling direction of the reflected light)
The slit 192 is arranged in the slit 192.

The exposure light source 166 of the light source unit is a halogen lamp,
Fluorescent lights, etc. Further, the reflector 168 reflects the light from the exposure light source 166 onto the original 130, and has slits 1 and 2 through which reflected light from the original 130 (hereinafter referred to as reflected light) passes.

This light source unit includes an exposure light source 166, a reflector 1
68 and a mirror 170 are integrally formed, and are configured to be movable on the lower surface of the document table 80 in the scanning direction indicated by arrow a by means not shown.

The mirror unit consists of two mirrors 1 arranged integrally.
74 and 176, and moves in the same direction as the light source unit at 1/2 the speed of the light source unit by means not shown, and reflects the reflected light in a predetermined direction indicated by the optical path.

The lens unit 156 is a combination of an imaging lens and a light control device that adjusts the amount and quality of reflected light.

Such a lens unit 156 is shown in FIG.

The lens unit 156 includes a front lens group 1 which is an imaging lens.
78 and the rear lens group 180, and arranged from the front of the optical path between the front lens group 178 and the rear lens group 180,
It consists of a first color filter plate 182, a fixed diaphragm 184, a second color filter plate 186, and a variable diaphragm 188 that is arranged behind the rear lens group 180 and has a pair of diaphragm plates 188a and 188b. .

The first color filter 182 plate includes a colorless transparent glass 200 and a cyan filter 200C and a yellow filter 200C.
Similarly, the N two-color filter plate 184 is made by forming a cyan filter 202C and a magenta filter 202M on a colorless transparent glass 202, and fixing it to a frame 182A. Frame body 184
It is fixed at a.

This first color filter plate 182 and second color filter plate 1
86 moves in the scanning direction, that is, in the lateral direction of the slit 192 to insert each color filter into the optical path, and the first color filter plate 182 is moved downward in the lateral direction of the slit 192 in the figure (hereinafter referred to as "downward"). ), second color filter plate 1
86 moves above (hereinafter referred to as above) the slit 192 in the lateral direction to insert each color filter into the optical path. The filter plates for each color will be explained in detail later.

The fixed diaphragm 184 adjusts the amount of light, and has a circular aperture 184a in the illustrated example.

Further, a variable aperture 1 disposed behind the rear lens group 180
88 denotes the aperture plates 188a, 188b and the plate cam 188.
．． It consists of c.

In the illustrated example, two wooden pins 204 provided on the rear surface of the aperture plate 188a and two wooden pins 206 provided on the rear surface of the aperture plate 188b are connected to four inclined grooves 208 formed in the plate cam 188c. A rack 210 is formed on the plate cam 188C, and a gear 212
．． A stepping motor 2!6 is engaged via 2-14.

When the stepping motor 216 rotates clockwise, the variable slit 188 moves the plate cam 188C in the longitudinal direction of the slit 192 to the right in the figure.
88a and 188b are separated and the slit width becomes wider;
Further, when the stepping motor 216 rotates counterclockwise, the plate cam 188c moves to the left, and the aperture plates 188a and 188b are brought closer together to narrow the slit width.

FIG. 3a shows an example of the aforementioned first color filter plate 182 and its driving mechanism.

The first color filter plate 182 is made of glass 200 as described above.
A cyan filter 200C and a yellow filter 200Y are formed using a method such as vapor deposition, and then fixed to a frame 182A.

In the illustrated example, the cyan filter 200C is
00 and the yellow filter 200Y are formed in the upper right corner (the horizontal direction in the figure is the longitudinal direction of the slit 192 in FIG. 2), and a gap is provided between them to accommodate the play of the drive mechanism described later. have

In addition, in the illustrated example, the aperture 184a of the fixed diaphragm 184 is
is circular, so if the cyan filter 200C and the yellow filter 200Y are made into squares in which the opening 184 is inscribed, it is possible to downsize the color filter plate.

Bins 218a and 218b, which are engaged with a drive mechanism, are arranged near both left and right ends of the frame 182A.

The drive mechanism for the first color filter 182 basically consists of a support member 2 in which an inverted U-shaped guide groove 220a is formed.
22a and a support member 222b in which a similar guide groove 220b is formed, and a fulcrum 22 formed in the support member 222a.
A transmission member 226a rotatably supported by the support member 226a and a transmission member 226b rotatably supported by a fulcrum 224b formed on the support member 222b are engaged with both transmission members, and the rotation of the motor 228 It is composed of a driving member 230 that drives both.

Support members 222a and 222b are fixed by a fixing means (not shown).

The bottle 218a is placed in the guide groove 220a formed in the support member 222a, and the guide groove 2 is placed in the guide groove 220a formed in the support member 222b.
By inserting the pin 218b into 20b, the frame 182 is supported so as to be vertically movable along the guide grooves 220a and 220b.

The guide groove 220a formed in the support member 222a is an inverted U-shaped opening as described above, and has a parallel portion at the top in consideration of the play of the entire drive mechanism.

Here, since the guide groove 220a is bilaterally symmetrical, the shape of the illustrated guide groove 220a will be explained using the left half as an example. , then a straight line downward. In other words, when the bottle 218a moves to the left and deviates from the parallel portion, the lower left corner of the yellow filter 200Y descends from the apex of the opening 184a along the outer periphery of the guide groove 220a, and this lower left corner becomes the leftmost part of the opening 184a. After descending to this point, the shape then descends vertically.

Further, the symmetrical right side has a shape such that when the bin 218a moves to the right, the lower right corner of the cyan filter 200C similarly moves.

Therefore, the gap between the cyan filter 200C and the yellow filter 200Y described above is the distance between the parallel portions of the tops of the guide grooves 220a.

In addition, in the present invention, it is not necessary to provide play in the drive mechanism in the guide groove, and naturally in this case, the cyan filter 200
The gap between C and the yellow filter 200Y becomes zero.

Further, the guide groove 220b formed in the support member 222b also has the same shape as the guide groove 220a.

In the illustrated example, a lower fulcrum 224 is provided at the center of the lower left and right sides of the support members 222a and 222b, respectively.
a and 224b are formed.

A transmission member 226a is rotatably supported on such a fulcrum 224a. A long hole 232a is formed above the transmission member 226a, and the previous bottle 218a is inserted into this long hole 232a. Further, a pin 23 for engaging the drive member 230 is provided near the lower end of the transmission member 226a.
4a is fixed.

The elongated hole 232a is formed along the longitudinal direction of the transmission member 226a, and has a shape in which the bottle 218a fits loosely and does not interfere with its movement. Further, its length may be sufficient as long as it is sufficient for raising and lowering the frame body 182A.

On the other hand, a fulcrum 224 formed on the other support member 222b
A transmission member 226b having a similar elongated hole 232b and a pin 234b is rotatably supported in the elongated hole 232b, and a pin 218b is inserted into the elongated hole 232b.

The illustrated driving member 230 has long holes 236a and 236b into which the bottles 234a and 234b are inserted.
Transmission members 226a and 226b are formed vertically at equal intervals with the bins 218a and 218b of the frame body 182A.
engaged with. This drive member 230 has a rack 238
is formed and engaged with motor 228 via gear 240.

In other words, the drive member 230 moves left and right B in accordance with the rotation of the motor 228, tilts the transmission members 226a and 226b, moves the bins 218a and 218b along the guide grooves 220a and 220b, respectively, and moves the color filter Either one of them is lowered along the outer periphery of the aperture 184a of the fixed diaphragm 184 and inserted into the optical path.

Note that as the motor 228, a pulse motor, a stepping motor, etc. are suitably used.

The operation of the first color filter plate 182 and its driving mechanism will be described below.

When inserting the filter plate 200Y into the optical path, the third b
As shown in the figure, the motor 228 rotates counterclockwise, and the drive member 230 moves rightward in accordance with the amount of rotation.

By moving the drive member 230 to the right, the bin 2
Transmission members 226a and 226b, which are engaged to the drive member via 34a and 234b, respectively
It rotates to the left around 24a and 224b in accordance with the amount of movement of the drive member.

When the transmission members 226a and 226b rotate, the bottles 218 are inserted into the long holes 232a and 232b.
The driving force is transmitted to a and 218b, and the frame 182A moves to the left.

Bins 218a and 218b are each attached to support member 22.
2a and 222b (7) Guide grooves 220a and 220
b, so the bins 218a and 218b move along the guide grooves 220a and 220b.

Here, since the guide grooves 220a and 220b have the shape described above, the bottles 218a and 21
8b is moving in the parallel portion of the guide grooves 220a and 220b, the frame 182A moves in parallel to the left toward the end, and when it leaves the parallel portion, the lower left corner of the yellow filter 200Y moves to the outer periphery of the opening 184a. move along and descend,
The yellow filter 200Y rotates an amount corresponding to the amount of rotation of the motor 228 from above (above the lateral direction of the slit) at the opening 1.
84a and is inserted into the optical path.

As described above, when the bottles 218a and 218b move out of the curved portion of the guide grooves 220a and 220b, the frame 182A moves, that is, the yellow filter 200Y is inserted vertically downward.

Furthermore, when inserting the cyan filter 200C, the motor 228 rotates clockwise, the drive member 230 moves to the left, and the transmission members 226a and 226b rotate to the right, as shown in FIG. 343c. Bin 2 as shown in
18a and 218b are moved along guide grooves 220a and 220b, respectively, a cyan filter 200C is applied to the opening 184a, and the cyan filter 200C is inserted into the optical path.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the second color filter plate 186 and its driving mechanism.

The second filter plate 186 is the first color filter plate 18 described above.
2, a cyan filter 202C and a magenta filter 2 are applied to a colorless transparent glass 202 by steaming or other methods.
02M and fixed to the frame 186A. In the illustrated example, a cyan filter 202C is placed at the lower left of the glass 202, and a magenta filter 202 is placed at the lower right.
2M is formed.

Further, the drive mechanism for the second color filter plate 186 is formed in the support member 252a by a support member 252a having a guide groove 250a, a support member 252b having a guide groove 250b, and a support member 252b having a guide groove 250b, similar to the drive mechanism of the first color filter plate 182. A transmission member 256a rotatably supported on a fulcrum 254a and a fulcrum 254b similarly formed on a support member 252b.
The transmission member 256b is rotatably supported by the transmission member 256b, and the drive member 280 engages with both transmission members and drives both by the rotation of the motor 258.

Here, the second color filter 186 and its driving mechanism shown in FIG. Since this is an inverted version, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

However, while the first color filter plate 182 allows each color filter to act on the optical path from above, the second color filter 186 inserts each color filter into the optical path from below.

In other words, as the motor 258 rotates clockwise, the drive member 260 moves to the left, each transmission member rotates to the right, and the bins 262a and 262b move toward the guide groove 250.
a and 250b to the right, the cyan filter 202C acts on the opening 184a. On the contrary, motor 25
8 rotates counterclockwise, the drive member 260
moves to the right, each transmission member rotates to the left, and the pins 262a and 262b move in the guide grooves 250a and 250.
b to the left, the magenta filter 202M acts on the opening 184a.

In the slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention, each color filter is inserted into the optical path in the scanning direction, that is, in the lateral direction of the slit, by the driving mechanism as described above, for example.

Therefore, compared to a conventional scanning exposure device in which a color filter is inserted in the longitudinal direction of a slit, it is possible to form a good image without color unevenness.

Note that the drive mechanism for the color filter plate applied in the slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the link mechanism described above, and may include a rack and pinion, a drive screw, and a traveling nut. Various types of 8-movement means in the x-y directions, such as a combination of the following, are applicable. Further, in this case, it is needless to say that the number of drive sources such as a motor used for driving does not need to be one, and a plurality of them may be used.

Slit scanning exposure apparatus 150 of the present invention shown in FIG.
A shutter 158 is arranged behind the lens unit 156 in the optical path.

The shutter 158 switches the optical path to the sensor 160 side via the mirror 194 and to the exposure position 46a side, and is rotatable on a support shaft 190 to the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the dotted line in the figure. Supported.

During normal exposure, this shutter 158 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in the figure to direct the optical path to the exposure position 46a, and during pre-scanning, white balance adjustment, etc., it is placed at the position shown by the dotted line in the figure. Rotate to detect the optical path sensor 1
Switch to 60 side.

The sensor 160 measures the amount of light, light quality, etc. during pre-scanning and white balance, and depending on the measurement results, changes the type and type of color filter in the lens unit 156 described above.
The amount of insertion, etc., and the amount of light intensity adjustment with the variable aperture are determined,
be adjusted.

Further, a slit 192 is arranged in the optical path in front of the rear partition wall 162 of the shutter 158 to block excess light and regulate reflected light at the exposure position 46a.

As described above, the slit exposure device 150 of the present invention inserts a color filter for adjusting light quality in the lateral direction of the slit. Therefore, it is possible to expose the entire surface of the photosensitive material A with light controlled by a color filter, and it is possible to form a good image with uniform color tone and no color unevenness over the entire surface. .

FIG. 5 shows a scanning exposure apparatus 150 of the present invention as described above.
An example of application to a silver halide photocopying device is shown.

A silver halide photocopying apparatus 10 (hereinafter referred to as the copying apparatus 10) shown in the figure includes a photosensitive material supply unit 16 on the right side, an exposure unit 18 above it, and a processing unit 20 below it. ing.

Here, the exposure unit 18 is the scanning exposure device 1 described above.
50 is commonly used.

The photosensitive material supply section unit 16 has a photosensitive material conveyance path within the photosensitive material supply section frame 28, and a pair of magazines 30.32 are detachably attached to the upper and lower sides, and photosensitive materials 34.38 are stored inside these magazines. are housed in a roll, respectively, and are taken out from the tip to the photosensitive material supply unit 16. - For example, 34 is a photosensitive material most suitable for copying a color printed original, and 36 is a photosensitive material most suitable for copying a color photographic original.

In front of the magazine 30, a conveying roller 42 for drawing out the photosensitive material 34 and a cutter 44 for cutting the photosensitive material 34 into a predetermined length are arranged.

Between this cutter 44 and the exposure 15548 are photosensitive material conveyance guides 48a, 48b, 48c and a conveyance roller 50.
．． 52 is arranged to expose the cut photosensitive material 34 to the exposure section 4.
6.

The exposure section 46 is a part that defines an exposure position 46a of the photosensitive material 34, and in this exposure section 46, the exposure section unit 18
A glass plate 54 is fixed facing the imaging optical system, and a press plate 56 is pressed to this glass plate 54.

A pair of conveyance rollers 58 and a pair of conveyance rollers 60 are provided on the upstream side (upper side) and the downstream side (lower side) of the exposure section 46, respectively.
is provided.

A conveyance guide 62 that guides the exposed photosensitive material 34 downward is arranged vertically below the exposure section 46, and a conveyance guide 66 that branches the conveyance path of the photosensitive material 34 (36) is arranged in the vertically intermediate part thereof. A switching guide 64 is provided for switching to the processing section unit 20 through the switching section.

On the other hand, the magazine 32 disposed below the magazine 30 also has a conveyance roller 68 and a cutter 70 corresponding to the photosensitive material 36, and in front thereof, a conveyance guide 72a, a flap 2b, and a conveyance roller 74 are disposed to expose the photosensitive material. The material 36 is transported to the transport guide 48a.

Since the exposure section unit 18 uses the above-described slit scanning exposure device 150 in the exposure section frame 98, the same members are given the same numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

The processing section unit 20 includes a processing section 22 and a drying section 24. A developing tank 102, a bleaching/fixing tank 104, and a washing tank 106 and 108 are successively provided in the processing section 22,
The processing liquid filled inside these allows for development, bleaching,
The photosensitive material 34 (36) that has been fixed and washed with water is sent to the drying section 24.

In the drying section 24, the photosensitive material 34 (36) after being washed with water is dried and sent onto the take-out tray 110.

Hereinafter, the operation when copying the original 130 using such a copying apparatus 10 will be explained.

First, the original 130 is placed on the original table 80, and the original presser 1
5 is closed.

Next, when the copy magnification is set and a copy start button (not shown) of the copying device 10 is pressed, the exposure light source 166 is turned on.
lights up, the light source unit starts scanning, and pre-scanning begins.

The reflected light enters the mirror 170, is reflected, is reflected by each mirror of the mirror unit that moves in the same direction as the light source unit at 1/2 the scanning speed, passes through the lens unit, and is reflected by the shutter 158. and enters the sensor 160, image information is read by the sensor 160, and exposure correction conditions are set.

After the pre-scan ends, the light source unit and mirror unit return to the scan start position.

In addition, in the lens unit 156, the first color filter plate 182 and the second color filter plate 186 move as described above, and each color filter is applied in a suitable amount to the short side of the slit 192 according to the exposure correction conditions. Insert into the optical path in the direction.

Further, the variable aperture 188 is also adjusted to have an aperture width according to the exposure correction conditions.

On the other hand, while the above-described prescanning and color filter and aperture correction are being performed, a photosensitive material necessary for copying according to the original is selected.

- For example, when the original 130 is a color photographic original, the photosensitive material 36 is selected, and when the transport motor (not shown) is driven, the transport rollers 68 and 74 move the photosensitive material 36
The cutter 70 feeds out the photosensitive material 3 by a predetermined length.
6 is cut to the required length.

Thereafter, the conveyance motor is driven again to transport the photosensitive material 36.
is sent to the exposure section 46 and waits just before the exposure position 48a.

When the shutter 158 rotates to the position indicated by the solid line to enable exposure and the light source unit starts main scanning of the original 130,
At the same time, the conveyance rollers 58 and 60 of the exposure section 46 start scanning and conveying the photosensitive material 36 in synchronization with the scanning speed of the light source unit.

During main scanning, the reflected light that is irradiated to the light source 166 of the light source unit and reflected by the mirror 170 is 1/1/2 of the light source unit.
The light is reflected by each mirror of the mirror unit moving in the same direction at a speed of 2, passes through the lens unit 156 whose color and aperture are suitably adjusted, then passes through the slit 192, and is imaged at the exposure position 46a. , a pair of rollers 58 and 60 expose the photosensitive material 36 that is scanned and conveyed in synchronization with the light source unit. Here, since the copying apparatus 10 applies the scanning exposure apparatus 150 of the present invention,
As described above, each color filter is inserted in the scanning direction, that is, in the lateral direction of the slit, and the entire surface of the photosensitive material 36 is exposed with suitably dimmed light without color unevenness.

As this exposure progresses, the photosensitive material 36 is transferred to the conveying roller 58.
and 60, passing through the conveyance guide 6z and being sent downward. In this case, the switching guide 64 does not act on the photosensitive material transport path, and the photosensitive material 36 sent from the exposure section 46 moves vertically downward within the transport guide 62.

When the exposure is completely completed, the shutter 158 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5 to block the optical path. Next, each conveyance roller temporarily rotates in the opposite direction, and the exposed photosensitive material 36 moves up the conveyance guide 62, and a part of the exposed photosensitive material 36 moves up the conveyance guide 48.
sent into c.

This reverse conveyance is stopped when the leading end of the photosensitive material 36 is upstream of the switching guide 64.

Thereafter, each conveyance roller is rotated again in the same direction as the initial conveyance direction. In this case, the switching guide 64 acts on the photosensitive material conveyance path and sends out the leading end of the photosensitive material 36 to the branch conveyance guide 66. Therefore, if the tip of the photosensitive material 36
f is sent to the processing section 22 of the processing section unit 20 through the branch conveyance guide 66.

The exposed photosensitive material 36 sent into the processing section 22 is transferred to the developing tank 1.
02, bleached and fixed in a bleaching/fixing tank 104, thoroughly washed with water in washing tanks 106 and 108, and then sent to a drying section 24. After drying, it is transferred to a takeout tray 11.
It is taken out above 0.

Although the slit scanning exposure apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various improvements and changes in design can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

<Effects of the Invention> The slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention is a slit scanning exposure apparatus that has at least one color filter that can be inserted into the exposure optical path, and adjusts the exposure light according to the insertion amount of the color filter, The color filters are inserted in the lateral direction of the slit, that is, in the exposure scanning direction.

Therefore, unlike conventional slit scanning exposure equipment in which color filters are inserted in the longitudinal direction of the slit (perpendicular to the exposure scanning direction), it is possible to expose the entire surface of the photosensitive material with light controlled by the color filter. It is possible.

Therefore, by applying the slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention to various image forming apparatuses, it is possible to form a suitable image with a uniform color tone and no color unevenness.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a lens unit applied to the slit scanning exposure apparatus of the present invention. 3a to 3C are schematic front views of a first color filter plate applied to the lens unit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a first color filter plate applied to the lens unit shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a two-color filter plate. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an example in which the scanning exposure device shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a silver halide photocopying apparatus. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a lens unit applied to a conventional slit scanning exposure apparatus. Explanation of symbols 10... Copying device, 12... Apparatus body, 15...
Document holder, 16... Photosensitive material supply section unit, 18... Exposure section unit, 20... Processing section unit, 22... Processing section, 24... Drying section, 28... Photosensitive material supply Part frame, 30.32...Magazine, 34.36...Photosensitive material, 38...Opening/closing lid, 42.
68... Conveyance roller, 46... Exposure section, 46a...
・Exposure position, 54...Glass plate, 56...Press plate,
58.60... Conveyance roller, 64... Switching guide,
80...Original table, 98...Exposure section frame,! 02
...Developing tank, 104... Bleaching/fixing tank, 106.108... Washing tank, 110... Take-out tray, 130... Document, 150... Slit scanning exposure device, 156.500. ... Lens unit, 158 ... Shutter, 160 ... Sensor, 162 ... Partition wall, 166 ... Exposure light source, 168 ... Reflector, 170.174, 176.194 ... Mirror 172.
192,518...slit, 178.502...
Front lens group, 180.504... Rear lens group, 182.506... First color filter, 182A, 18
6A, 522...Frame body, 184.510...Fixed aperture, 184a...Aperture, 186.508...Second color filter, 188.516
...Variable aperture, 1 88a, 1 88b, 5 1 2. 5
1 4...-Aperture plate, 188c...Plate cam, 200.202,520,532...Glass, 200
C, 202C, 520C, 532C... Cyan filter, 200Y, 520Y... Yellow filter, 200M
, 532M...Magenta filter, 208...Slanted groove, 210.238...Rack, 212.214,240...Gear, 216.228,258...Motor, 204.206
, 218a, 218b, 234a, 234b, 262a
, 262b--bin, 220a, 220b, 250a
, 250b... Guide groove, 222a, 222b, 252a, 252b... Support member, 224a, 224b, 254a, 254b... Support shaft, 226a, 226b, 256a, 256b
...Transmission member, 230.260...Driving member, 232a, 232b, 238a, 236b
...Nagao September 8, 1999

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An exposure light source, a plurality of mirrors, an imaging lens,
1. A slit scanning exposure apparatus comprising at least one color filter, wherein the color filter is inserted into an optical path in the scanning direction.