JPH03203727A - Alignment device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the alignment device which has the improved stability to environmental conditions and consists of inexpensive and simple constitution by changing the feed method of a mask original plate from a transparent belt to two sets of roller pairs. CONSTITUTION:The above-mentioned device has two sets of the roller pairs 32, 33 which transport a mask original plate 15 and align the transporting direction thereof, a transparent plate member 34 disposed between two sets of these roller pairs 32 and 33 and a frame 113 which can be moved relative to the body of the image recording device. The device has also two sets of transverse moving means 115, 116 which move the alignment frame 113 in the direction nearly perpendicular to the transporting direction of the mask original plate 15 and a control means which controls two sets of the roller pairs 32, 33 and two sets of the transverse moving means 115, 116 according to the outputs of sensors. As to the transporting direction, the alignment in the transporting direction is executed by the roller pairs 32, 33 and the alignment in the direction perpendicular to the transporting direction is executed by transverse moving means 115, 116. The sure transportation of the mask original plate 15 by two sets of the rollers pairs 32, 33 is executed in this way and since the constitution is simple, the cost is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a positioning device for an image recording apparatus that obtains an image by closely exposing a light-shielding mask original to photosensitive paper based on image information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as an alignment device for this type of image recording apparatus, there has been proposed a device shown in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-256000 filed by the present applicant. In that device, the mask original plate was attached to a transparent PET belt using static electricity, and the mask original plate was transported and aligned.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, attaching a mask original plate to a transparent PET belt using static electricity has poor stability against changes in the environment, and the adhesion force of the mask original plate becomes weak especially when humidity becomes high. There was also the problem that processing the transparent belt into an endless shape, coating it with scratch-resistant coating, etc. would make it quite expensive.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by changing the method of feeding the mask original from a transparent belt to two pairs of rollers, it increases stability against environmental conditions, and is inexpensive and simple. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a positioning device having a configuration that is similar to the above.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to achieve this object, the alignment device of the present invention has the following features:
A sensor that reads the alignment marks on the mask original, and 2 that transports the mask original and aligns it in the transport direction.
A pair of rollers, a transparent plate-like member disposed between the two pairs of rollers, and a position where the two pairs of rollers and the transparent plate-like member are attached and are movable relative to the main body of the image recording apparatus. An alignment frame, two sets of lateral movement means for moving the alignment frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the mask original, two sets of roller pairs, and two sets of lateral movement means in a circular direction of the sensor. It is equipped with a control means for controlling accordingly.

[Function] In the present invention having the above configuration, the alignment mark on the mask original is read by a sensor, and the mask original is transported and aligned by a pair of rollers in the transport direction, and the direction perpendicular to the transport direction is ( Move the positioning frame a) using the yellow direction moving means. Regarding tilting, two sets of lateral moving means are operated separately to tilt the positioning frame to perform positioning.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a monochrome laser printer 1 and a color image recording device 20 in a combined arrangement.

First, a monochrome laser printer 1 is mounted on top of a color image recording device. In the laser printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates a charged photoreceptor 3 with laser light, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. Electrostatic/11
One image is developed by a developing device 4, transferred as a toner image onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Typically, the monochrome laser printer 1 records data transmitted from a host computer.

The output from the laser printer 1 is sent to the paper bus switching unit 10, and if a black and white image is required, the output is sent to the monochrome paper output tray 11.
Or, if a color image is required, the ADF tray 12 is sent to the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF tray 12).
After being sent to the color image recording device 20, the image is taken into the color image recording device 20.

The sheets sent to the ADFI-ray 12 are taken one by one into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feeder D-131, and three sheets of monochrome printed sheets output from the laser printer 1 are combined into one set. The mask original plate 15 (15R, 15G, 15
It is used as B).

Next, the configuration of the color image recording device 20 will be explained.

A positioning device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the color image recording device 20, and the ADF tray 12 and the positioning device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. On both the left and right sides of the positioning device 31 are roller pairs 22 whose rotational direction can be controlled. 23. 24, 25, 26, 27, gates 28, 29, and mask original storage section 102 are arranged.

A pair of glue curler rollers 101 is arranged in the middle of the mask original transport path 21 to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1.

On the outside of the pair of rollers 26 and 27, there is a mask original plate 15 used
There is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the original mask.

The configuration of the alignment device 31 will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the alignment device 31.
FIG. 3 is a plan view.

The O-RA pairs 32 and 33 that move the mask original 15 in the transport direction (in the direction of arrow G) are configured to be driven by a motor 111 as a drive source via a plurality of gears and shafts. The roller pairs 32 and 33 are rotatably attached to a positioning frame 113 that is movably attached to a frame 112 of the apparatus main body within a plane.

The positioning frame 113 has a link 114 and lateral movement links 115 and 11 relative to the frame 112 of the device main body.
The position is regulated by 6.

The lateral movement links 115 and 116 are configured to be movable in the directions of arrow H and arrow 1, respectively, by the driving force of lateral movement motors 117 and 118 and gears.

A glass plate 34 is attached to the center of the alignment frame 113 so that the guide of the mask original between the pair of rollers 32 and 33 and the exposure light from below are transmitted therethrough. Also, near the roller pair 32, the sensor is attached to a member 119.
is located and attached to the frame 112 of the main body of the device. An alignment mark 120 is printed near the left end of the mask original 15 at the same time as the image information when the mask original 15 is created. For sensor installation, reflective optical sensors (not shown) are attached to 11 members, and the sensor reading positions 121, 122, 1 of the alignment mark 120 are respectively attached.
It is reading around 23.

In addition, the distance l between the roller pairs 32 and 33 is 15
It is installed so that it is shorter than the length of.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31, and this exposure device 41 is connected to the alignment device 3.
It is movable in the left and right direction along 1. The exposure device 4
1 is a linear white light source (hereinafter simply referred to as a lamp) 42;
A reflecting plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 4
It is composed of a filter unit 44 consisting of 4B.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-14304.
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known from Publication No. 4, and includes a photocurable resin that hardens when exposed to light of red, gray, and blue wavelengths, and cyan, magenta, and cyan. Microcapsules containing a yellow l material precursor are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is housed in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light. The photosensitive recording medium 50 pulled out from the cartridge 51 is passed between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, and then passed through the buffer 55, the separation roller 64, the pressure developing device 70, and the drive roller 57 before being sent to the take-up roller 5.
It is wound up in 4. The exposure table 52 is connected to the exposure device 4
When exposed by 1, it is lowered by cam 53,
As a result, the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 by the roller pair 32 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other. Further, the fixed roller 56 is located near the left end of the exposure table 52, and when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a specific position, it is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 and transfers the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the mask originals 15R, 15G, 15B. Exposure stage 52 during exposure
Fixed to.

The color developer sheet 60 is constructed by applying the color developer disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739 onto a base paper, and two layers of the color developer are placed in the cassette 61 so that the color developer faces downward. It is set.

The developer sheets 60 are taken out one by one from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62 that is intermittently driven by a drive source (not shown) and supplied to the pressure developing device 70.

Then, the color developer sheet 60 is pressed by a pair of pressure rollers 71 of the pressure developing device 70 while superimposed on the exposed photosensitive recording medium 50, whereby the color developer sheet 60 is pressed onto the photosensitive recording medium 50 by exposure. The formed latent image is visualized on the developer sheet 60.

The heat fixing device 80 includes an endless belt installed between a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, and rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 and rollers 87, 88 for conveying the color developer sheet 60 in the lower part. Consists of 89.

The color developer sheet 60 separated from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by the separation roller 64 from the pressure developing device 70 is transferred to the thermal tube device 8.
After polishing is performed by 0, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 63.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the operation when obtaining a plurality of color outputs from one set of mask originals will be described next.

First, the monochrome laser printer 1 creates a red mask original 15R. This mask original plate 15R is contained in microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50.
This is a mask original plate with toner as a light-shielding image placed on other areas to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor.

At this time, the mask original plate 15R outputted from the monochrome laser printer 1 is sent to the IADF tray 12, and fed into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller. It passes through the original transport path 21 and is sent to the positioning device 31 by roller pairs 24 and 22. At this time, gate 2
8, the curl of the mask original 15 is corrected by the recurler roller 101 while it is at the position indicated by the solid line.

Next, in the alignment device 31, the alignment mark 120 of the mask original 15R is attached to the sensor attachment part 119. The mask original 15R is accurately positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the frame of the main body of the apparatus by reading it with a sensor and driving the motor 111 and the motor 117.11g according to the output of the sensor.

Immediately before positioning, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by the cam 53, and the left end of the exposure table 52 comes into contact with the fixed roller 56, fixing the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52, after the positioning is completed. The exposure table 52 is further lowered by the cam 53 and comes into contact with the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31, bringing the mask original 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 into close contact.

When the exposure table 52 or positioning device 31 is in close contact with the lamp 4
2 lights up, and the exposure device 41 performs scanning exposure in the six directions of arrows in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light through the mask original 15R through the red filter 44R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 4 is turned off.
1 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42.

While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52 is raised by the rotation of the cam 53, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved upwards by the positioning device 3.
1 and the mask original 15R.

At this time, pack tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 50 at the center of roll rotation of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 is lowered, a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is applied. is the storage cartridge 51
drawn out from within. Also, when the exposure is finished, the exposure table 52
When the recording medium 50 rises, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

After the exposure by the red mask original 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position by the cam 53. At this time, the photosensitive recording medium remains fixed to the exposure table 52 with the fixed roller 56 in contact with the left end of the exposure table 52.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the monochrome laser printer 1, the ADF tray 12, the ADF paper feed roller 13, the recurler roller 101, the mask original transport path 2
1 and just before the roller pair 24, the roller pairs 22, 24, 25, 27 and the roller pairs 32, 33 of the positioning device 31 rotate in the direction of conveying the mask original 15 to the right, thereby transporting the mask original 15R. At the same time as being sent out from the alignment device 31, the mask original 15G is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines, and the exposed mask original 15R is held between the pair of rollers 27, and when the rear end has passed through the gate 29, the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 is stopped and held. Ru.

After alignment is performed with respect to the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the same manner as in the case of the mask original 15G guided by the alignment device 31, the exposure table 52 is lowered, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 and the mask original 15G are aligned. is the alignment device 31
After that, the lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed through the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. As the exposure device 41 moves back to its original position, the filter unit 44 moves to position the blue filter 44B above the lamp.

Next, the blue mask original plate 15B created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is similarly transferred to the color image recording device 20.
, and is conveyed just before the roller pair 24.
Roller pairs 24, 22, 25° 26 and alignment device 3
1 roller pair 32. 33 rotates in a direction to convey the mask original 15 to the right, and at the same time, the mask original 15G is sent out from the alignment device 31, and at the same time, the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position shown by the solid line, and the gate 29 is located at the position shown by the broken line, and the exposed mask original 15G is held between the pair of rollers 26 and with its rear end passing through the two gates, the mask master 15G is moved by the roller R, j 27. The rotation is stopped and held.

The mask original 15B guided to the alignment device 31 is exposed to dense blue light onto the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the same manner.

Through the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50. Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position. At this time, the fixed roller 56 and the exposure table 5
The drive roller 57 moves the left end of the photosensitive recording medium 50 away, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of the arrow E, and the unexposed area of the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure stage 52. It stops when the leading end of the upper latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70.

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, a developer sheet 60 is sent out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62, and is stopped at a position where the leading edge of the developer sheet corresponds to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. go up

Next, the pressure developing device 70 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 71 is pressed while rotating in the direction of the arrow.

At this time, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position again, and the left end of the exposure table 52 comes into contact with the fixed roller 56 to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is overlapped with the color developer sheet 60 and is fed under pressure, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and the latent particles on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed. A color image corresponding to the image is developed on the developer sheet 50.

As the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of the arrow F.

The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 when its leading edge reaches the separation roller 64, and the color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50.
You will be guided in the direction of

In the thermal shield device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by circulating air heated by a motor 81 inside a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth and the color developer sheet 1-6
The surface of No. 0 has a moderate gloss.

The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to color development and gloss treatment is discharged to a paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-described series of development and coloring/glossy processing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is held and fixed by the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56, so while the development processing for one screen is being performed,
On the exposure table 52, exposure processing of a latent image of another color image can be performed.

When exposing two color images, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent out to the left and held at the position of the roller pair 27. In order to send the mask original plate 15R to the alignment device 31, roller pairs 24, 2
2, 25. 27 and positioning device 310 roller pair 32.
33 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15 to the left. At this time, game) 28 and 29 are located at the position of the solid line. The mask original plate 15B is held between a pair of rollers 24, and at a position where its rear end passes through a gate 28, the rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped and held. The mask original 15 sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and placed on the photosensitive recording medium 5.
0 is closely exposed to red light. Subsequently, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent out to the left and is held at the position of the roller pair 26. Align the original mask plate 15G)
a pair of rollers 2B for feeding into the loading device 31, 22.
2526 and the roller pair 32 of the alignment device 31. 3
3 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15 to the left. At this time, gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by broken lines. The mask original plate 15R is held between the roller pair 23 and the gate 2
The rotation of the pair of rollers 23 is stopped and held at the position where the rear end of the roller 8 has passed. The mask original 15G sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50.
is closely exposed to green light. Subsequently, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent out to the right and is held at the position of the roller pair 24. Positioning device 3 for mask original plate 15B
1, a color latent image is formed on the photosensitive recording medium 50, and a color image is formed on the color developer sheet 60. By repeating similar operations, a predetermined number of color images can be output from one set of mask originals.

After producing the required number of color images from the same mask original 15, each mask original 15 is discharged from the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26 to the paper discharge tray 30.

In addition, if the next set of mask originals 15 is output from the monochrome laser printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, it is temporarily stored in the ADF tray 12 and as soon as the exposure of the previous set is completed. The ADF paper feed roller 13 feeds the sheets one by one into the color image recording apparatus 20 .

Also, mask original plate 1 output from another monochrome printer
5 or the previously used mask master plate 15 again,
By setting it on the ADF tray 12, the mask original can be manually input.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, the mask original can be reliably conveyed by the two roller pairs, the stability against environmental conditions is improved, and the conventional device Compared to this, it has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and can keep costs low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording apparatus using a positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an alignment device according to an embodiment. In the figure, ] 5 is a mask original, 20 is a color image recording device,
32.33 is a pair of rollers, 34 is a transparent plate member, 41 is an exposure device, 113 is an alignment frame, 115.11
6 is a lateral movement means; 11 is a sensor mounting member; 120
are alignment marks.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus equipped with a mask original plate on which a light-shielding image and a mark for alignment are formed based on image information, and a means for closely exposing the mask original plate to photosensitive paper. , a sensor for reading the alignment mark on the mask original, and a sensor located near both ends of the mask original, arranged so that the interval therebetween is narrower than the length of the mask original, and capable of moving the mask original in the feeding direction. Two possible roller pairs, a transparent plate member disposed between the two roller pairs, and an image forming apparatus main body to which the two roller pairs and the transparent plate member are attached. includes a relatively movable alignment frame, a lateral movement means for moving the alignment frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the mask original, the two roller pairs, and the lateral movement means. A positioning apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a control means for controlling according to an output of the sensor.