JPH03253836A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve working efficiency by temporarily housing a mask original plate in a mask original plate housing means when the mask original plate is erroneously aligned, carrying it in an alignment device again and aligning it. CONSTITUTION:The mask original plate 15R is detected by a sensor 46a. In such a case, when a prescribed count is attained, a belt system moving motor is stopped and returned to an initial position by a CPU. Then, the mask original plate is carried to a mask original plate carrying device 21 and the carried mask original plate is carried to a housing tray 26 or a housing tray 27. Besides, it is carried to the alignment device 31 again. Then, it is returned to the preceding process. Thus, an image recorder becomes easy-to-use for a user and a photosensitive recording medium or time is prevented from being wasted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image using a mask original created based on image information.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as an image recording apparatus of this type, there is an apparatus shown in the specification and drawings attached to Japanese Patent Application No. 105843/1983, which was previously filed by the applicant of the present application. In this device, three original mask plates corresponding to the three primary colors of light output from a monochrome printer section are successively exposed in close contact onto a photosensitive recording medium, thereby forming a color latent image on the photosensitive recording medium. . Furthermore, a color image is formed on the color developer sheet by overlapping the color developer sheet with the photosensitive recording medium and applying pressure by a pressure developing device.

Furthermore, the applicant of this application has previously filed a patent application filed in 1982-25.
In the specification and drawings attached to the application No. 6000, an image recording apparatus was proposed in which a mask original is transported to an exposure position using a transport belt and aligned at a predetermined position.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described apparatus, when the mask original is inserted into the apparatus, the mask original moves skewed, and the alignment device in the apparatus has to align the mask original at a predetermined position. If this could not be done, the device would be stopped as a positioning error. Therefore, if a positioning error occurs, the device must be reset, which is very inconvenient.

Also, for example, after the exposure of two mask originals has been completed,
When an alignment error occurs with the first mask master, the process, photosensitive recording medium, and time spent up to that point are wasted when the device is reset, resulting in inefficiency. .

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an image recording device that is easy for users to use and is efficient without wasting photosensitive recording media or time. There is.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve this object, the image recording device of the present invention records an image using a mask original created based on image information, and the image recording device records an image using a mask original created based on image information. information means provided on the top and having information for positioning; detection means for detecting the information from the information means; and positioning the mask original in a predetermined position based on the information detected by the detection means. a positioning means for positioning; a plurality of storage means for storing the mask masters one by one; and, when the positioning means fails to align the mask masters, temporarily transporting the mask masters to the storage means. let me,
and control means for causing the positioning means to perform the positioning operation again.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the detection means reads information for positioning provided on the mask original from the information means. Next, the positioning means positions the mask original at a predetermined position based on the output of the detection means. If the alignment means fails to align the mask master,
The control means temporarily transports the mask original to the storage means, and then causes the positioning means to perform the positioning operation again.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a monochrome laser printer (hereinafter referred to as laser printer) 1 and an image recording device 20 coupled and arranged.

First, the laser printer is mounted on top of the image recording device. A polygon scanner 2 in a laser printer draws an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a charged photoreceptor 3 with laser light. The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by a developing device 4, and the toner image is transferred onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Laser printers typically record data transmitted from a host computer.

If a black and white image is required, the output from the laser printer is sent to the paper output tray 11 or 12 at the paper path switching unit 10, and if a color image is required, the output is sent to the paper output tray 11 or 12.
After being delivered to the paper discharge tray 12, it is taken into the image recording device 20.

The leading end of the paper output tray 12 is rotatable between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the chain line in FIG. is taken into the image recording device 2o, and three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer form a set to be used as a mask original plate 15 (1) of the image recording device 20.
5R, 15G, 15B).

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

At the top of the main body of the image recording device 20, there is a positioning device 31.
, a mask original transport device 21 in which a circulation guide 25 and two storage trays 26 and 27 located in parallel are connected in an annular manner.
is located.

The positioning device 31 of the mask original transport device 21 and the storage trays 26 and 27 are connected to the ejection tray 12 of the laser printer 1 via a guide member 22, and the paper (mask) output from the laser printer 1 is An original) is introduced into the mask original transport device 21.

A gate 23 is disposed in the mask original conveying device 21, and this gate 23 allows the mask original 15, which has been guided and conveyed by the guide member 22, to be placed on the alignment device 31 side or on the discharge tray 30 side. Can be sorted. In addition, a circulation guide 25 and two storage trays 26,
A gate 28 is disposed between the gate 27 and the mask original plate 15 guided by the circulation guide 25 and transported by the gate 28 to either the upper storage tray 26 side or the lower storage tray 27 side. Can be sorted. On the other hand, the mask original 15 inserted from the manual feed tray 29 is guided into the mask original transport device 21 via the gate 24.

The alignment device 31 is shown in FIG.

The alignment device 31 is made of a dielectric material (
For example, a belt 32 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is processed into an endless shape and stretched between two belt rollers 33a and 33b. Of the two belt rollers 33, the belt roller 33a on the entrance side of the mask original 15 is made of a conductive material (for example, the shaft is metal and the outer periphery is made of conductive rubber), and the belt roller 33b on the discharge side is made of a conductive material. The outer periphery is made of rubber and is rotationally driven by a belt feed motor 34, and as the shaft rotates, the belt 32 is driven to circulate in the direction shown in FIG.

Both ends of the belt rollers 33a, 33b are supported by side frames 35a, 35b and side auxiliary frames 35c, 35d of the belt system frame 35. It is integrally molded with a contact auxiliary plate 36 made of acrylic resin. The belt system frame 35 has a belt system support link 37 and a belt system moving means 38 for the fixed system.
Belt system moving links 39a and 39b for a and 38b
It is supported in the horizontal direction by a horizontally movable vertical support means (not shown) which is movable in the horizontal direction.

The belt-based moving links 39a, 39b are driven by belt-based moving motors 40a, 40b of the belt-based moving means 38a, 38b.

The surface of the belt 32 is charged by a charging device (for example, a corotron) not shown, and is configured to attract the mask original 15 by electrostatic attraction. Further, near the belt 32, a sensor 46a for positioning,
A sensor par 45 on which 46b and 46c are placed is provided, and is configured to read alignment marks printed at predetermined positions on the mask original 15 and set the mask original 15 at a predetermined position.

An exposure device 41 is arranged above the alignment device 31, and the exposure device 41 is movable in the left-right direction along the alignment device 31.

The exposure device 41 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter simply referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflecting plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and is arranged to surround the lamp 42 and the reflecting plate 43, and includes a red filter 44R and a green filter. 44
Color separation filter 44 consisting of G and blue filter 44B
It is composed of.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-143044.
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known in the publication, and the photocurable resin is cured by light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, and cyan, magenta, and yellow. Microcapsules containing each of the dye precursors are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is inserted into the cartridge 5 (so as not to be exposed to light).
It is stored in 1. The photosensitive recording medium 50 pulled out from the cartridge 51 passes between the belt 32 and the exposure table 52, and then passes between the fixed roller 56 and the slack remover 55.
Then, it passes through the movable guide 64, the pressure developing device 70, and the drive roller 57, and is then wound onto the take-up roller 54. When the exposure table 52 is exposed by the exposure device 41, the cam 5
3, and thereby the mask original plate 15 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 and 0 conveyed by the belt 32 are brought together. Further, the fixed roller 56 clamps and fixes the exposed photosensitive recording medium 50 while the pressure developing device 70 performs the developing process. Furthermore, the slack removing device 55 prevents the photosensitive recording medium 50 from sagging while the pressure developing device 70 performs the development process, and the driving roller 57 prevents the photosensitive recording medium 50 from being sagged at a constant speed. can.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by coating a base paper with a developer disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer-applied surface faces downward. It is set.

The developer sheets 60 are taken out one by one from the cassette 61 by a paper feed roller 62 that is intermittently driven by a drive source (not shown) and are 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 5Q, 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.

1 The heat fixing device 80 includes a heat roller 82 with a built-in heater 81.
, auxiliary roller 85, its heat roller 82 and auxiliary roller 85
The color developer is composed of an endless belt 84 installed between the belt 84 and a presser roller 83 that is pressed against the heat roller 82 via the endless belt 84, and is guided and conveyed by the movable guide 64 from the pressure developing device 70. sheet 6
0 is polished by the heat fixing device 80 and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 63.

The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained next.

First, it is assumed that the laser printer 1 has now created a mask original plate 15R for red color. This mask original version 15
R is a mask original plate on which toner, which is a light-shielding image, is placed on other parts of the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50 in order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor.

At this time, the paper discharge tray 12 of the laser printer 1 is in the position shown by the solid line, and the mask original 15R2 is guided by the guide member 22. Image recording device 20
The original mask is guided into the mask original conveying device 21 .

At this time, other mask originals 15 are placed in the positioning device 31.
If the sensor of the alignment device 31 confirms that there is no mask, the mask original 15R is conveyed to the alignment device 31 by the gate 23.

Next, the alignment device 31 attracts the mask original 15R to the belt 32 using electrostatic adsorption force and transports it to the appropriate exposure device position, and then aligns the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with the sensor par 45. While the sensors 46a, 45b, 46c provided above are reading, the belt feed motor 34 and the belt-based moving motors 40a, 4
0b, the entire alignment device 31 moves relative to the image recording device 20, thereby aligning the mask original 15R to a predetermined position. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a portion related to alignment. As shown in the figure, the control section 3 is composed of a microcomputer centered on a CPU 90, ROM 91, and RAM 92. Based on the outputs of sensors 46a, 46b, and 46c, this microcomputer operates the belt feed motor 34, belt The system movement motors 40a and 40b are driven. The microcomputer also includes a counter 93 and a belt-based moving motor 40a.
, 40b is counted.

Next, positioning control will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 4, focusing on the case where a positioning error occurs.

The mask original 15R is detected by the sensor 46a (
Step 1 and subsequent steps are referred to as S1. The same goes for the others.

YES). When the conveyance of the mask original 15R to the alignment device 31 is almost completed, the outputs of the sensors 46a, 46b, and 46c are detected by the CPU 90, and if the predetermined output is not obtained (32NO), the CPU 90 starts moving the belt feed motor 34 and the belt system. The motors 40a and 40b are driven one step (S3).

The movement step 4 of the belt system moving motors 40a, 40b is counted by the counter 93, and if the predetermined count has not been reached (84 NO), the process returns to step 2.

If the predetermined count is reached (S4YES), the CPU 90
S5) stops the belt-based moving motors 40a, 40b and returns the belt-based moving motors 4Qa, 40b to their initial positions.
, the mask original 15R is transported by the mask original transport device 21,
The transported mask original 15R is transported to the storage tray 26 or the storage tray 27, and then transferred to the alignment device 3 again.
1 (S6), and then returns to S2. Here, if the mask original 15 is already stored in the storage trays 26 and 27, for example, the mask original 15 in the storage tray 26 is passed through the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15R that has just been conveyed is The original mask 15 is stored in the storage tray 26 and further conveyed to the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15 that was initially in the storage tray 26 passes through the alignment device 31 and is stored in the storage tray 26 again. Before the count 93 reaches a predetermined count, the sensors 46a, 46b, 46
The CPU 90 detects that the output of C has become a predetermined output. (S2YES), the alignment process is finished,
Start the exposure process. S7゜Next, the fixed roller 56 presses down the photosensitive recording medium 50,
A drive source (not shown) rotates the cam 53 by a predetermined angle and pushes the exposure table 52 upward, so that the photosensitive recording medium 50 comes into close contact with the belt 32 of the positioning device 31 while sandwiching the mask original 15R.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42 is turned on, and the exposure device 41 is activated to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light through the red filter 44R and the mask original 15R. Scanning exposure is performed in the direction of arrow A. 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 exposure device 41
The filter 44 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and a green filter 44G is located in the optical path directly below the lamp 42. While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52
The rotation of the photosensitive recording medium 50 lowers the photosensitive recording medium 50 and separates it from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 15R or 6.

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

When the exposure by the red mask original 15H is completed and the lowering of the exposure table 52 is confirmed, the belt 32 of the alignment device 31 rotates, and the mask original 15R is moved to the circulation guide section 25.
After passing through, it is guided to the storage tray 26 by a gate 28.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the laser printer 1 passes through the guide member 22 and then passes through the gate 23.
is guided to the alignment device 31 by.

Then, as in the case of the mask original 15R, alignment with respect to the photosensitive recording medium 50 is performed.

7 Next, the exposure table 52 is raised, the photosensitive recording medium 50 and the mask original 15G are brought into close contact with the belt 32 of the alignment device 31, and then the lamp 42 is turned on and the green light is emitted through the green filter 44G. Exposure is performed. After exposure, the exposure table 52 is lowered, the mask original 15G is guided upward through the circulation guide section 25, the gate 28 is rotated, and the mask original 15G is guided to the storage tray 27. When the exposure device 41 returns to its original position, the filter cylinder 44 rotates and the blue filter 44B is positioned directly below the lamp.

Similarly, the blue mask original 15B created by the laser printer 1 is transported by the mask original transport device 21 and aligned at a predetermined position by the alignment device 31. Thereafter, the exposure device 41 exposes the photosensitive recording medium 50 to blue light.

Through the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, as the exposure table 52 descends, the fixed roller 8 roller 56 separates, the drive roller 57 rotates, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is wound up in the direction of arrow C. At this time, the buffer 55 for taking up the slack of the photosensitive recording medium 50 and the movable guide member 64 are at the positions shown by solid lines. Further, the pressure rollers 71 of the pressure developing device 70 are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, during the winding operation, the microcapsules of the photosensitive recording medium 50 are not damaged or destroyed.

The drive roller 57 stops when the rear end portion of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 .

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, the developer sheet 60
is sent out from the cassette 61 by the paper feed roller 62,
The front end of the color developer sheet 60 stops at a position corresponding to the rear end of the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, by a drive device (not shown), the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is pressed against the photosensitive recording medium 50 while rotating in the direction of the arrow, and the fixed roller 56 again clamps and fixes the photosensitive recording medium 50 . As a result, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is overlapped with the color developer sheet 60 and sent in the direction of the arrow while being pressurized, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is A color image corresponding to the latent image on the recording medium 50 is developed on the developer sheet 60.

As the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the slack removing device 55 moves in the direction of the arrow E and absorbs the slack of the photosensitive recording medium 50. When the slack removing device 55 moves in the direction of arrow E, the movable guide 64 moves to the position shown by the chain line by a mechanism not shown, and peels off the leading end of the color developer sheet 60 from the photosensitive recording medium 50, and also removes the tip of the color developer sheet 60 from the photosensitive recording medium 50. I will guide you in the direction of 80.

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 receives thermal energy from the heater 81 via the rotating heat roller 82 and the endless belt 84, thereby promoting color development of the color image. At the same time, the color developer sheet 60
The binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is thermally melted and has a smoothness that corresponds to the smoothness of the surface of the endless belt 84, so that the surface of the color developer sheet 60 has a moderate gloss. get.

The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to the coloring and gloss treatment is separated by the curvature from the endless belt 84 and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 63.

Then, each mask original 15 is guided to the paper discharge tray 30.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, when a mask original alignment error occurs, the mask original is temporarily stored in the mask original storage means, and then the alignment device is operated again. By transporting the mask master inside the machine, aligning the mask original, and continuing the operation without stopping the device, it is easy for the user to use, and it is possible to record images efficiently without wasting photosensitive recording media or time. This has a significant industrial effect in that it is possible to provide a device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show embodiments embodying the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a configuration 1 of an image recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a mask original plate and a sensor bar, and FIG.
This figure is a diagram schematically showing the hardware configuration of a portion related to alignment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of alignment processing. In the figure, 15 is a mask original, 20 is an image recording device, 41 is an exposure device, 50 is a photosensitive recording medium, and 90 is a CPU.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an image recording device that records an image using a mask original created based on image information, information provided on the mask original and having information for positioning. means, a detection means for detecting the information from the information means, a positioning means for positioning the mask master at a predetermined position based on the information detected by the detection means, and positioning the mask master one by one. a plurality of storage means for storing; and when the alignment means fails to align the mask original, the mask original is temporarily transported to the storage means, and then the alignment means is made to perform the alignment operation again. An image recording device characterized by comprising a control means.