JPH04104152A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent color slurring by altering the driving force of a driving- force applying means according to an amount of remaining wrapped photosensitive recording medium. CONSTITUTION:By the rotation of a motor 71, a driving force in the rewinding direction is applied to a roller 38a for use with the photosensitive recording medium 38. A rotation detecting sensor 75 is disposed in such a configuration as to face an encoder 74 fitted around the shaft of the motor 71. When the medium 38 is drawn from the roller 38a in a cartridge 37, around which the medium 38 is wrapped, the rotation of the encode 74 is detected by the sensor 75, and the detected signal is outputted to a control circuit 76. The circuit 76 counts the rotation detecting signal transmitted from the sensor 75, calculates an amount of the remaining medium wrapped around the roller 38a, and controls the driving of the motor 71 according to the amount of the remaining wrapped medium 38. Thus, color slurring is prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a photosensitive recording medium in which a photosensitive recording medium stored in a wound state on a roller is pulled out from the roller and exposed to light, and a latent image is formed by the exposure. The present invention relates to an image recording device that develops a medium to obtain an output image.

[Prior Art] Generally, in this type of Wi image recording device, a moving force in the rewinding direction is applied to the photosensitive recording medium upstream of the exposure position of the fog light means to move the photosensitive recording medium to a predetermined position. It is necessary to maintain the recording medium in a tensioned state, but since the portion of the photosensitive recording medium located upstream of the fog light position is unexposed, it is not possible to directly apply a strong moving force in the rewinding direction to this portion. could not.

For this reason, in conventional image recording apparatuses, a driving force is applied to the roller that stores the photosensitive recording medium in a wound state in the direction of rewinding the photosensitive recording medium to maintain the photosensitive recording medium in a predetermined tension state. It was supposed to be held in place.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this conventional image recording apparatus, a constant driving force is always applied to the roller for the photosensitive recording medium in the rewinding direction of the photosensitive recording medium. Therefore, as the photosensitive recording medium stored in the wound state on the roller is used and the remaining amount of the wound image gradually decreases, the tension of the photosensitive recording medium fluctuates and the image forming position changes. There is a problem that a shift occurs, and in particular, when a color image is formed using a mask original, there is a problem that a shift occurs in one color.

This invention has been made by focusing on the problems existing in the conventional technology as described above, and its purpose is to use a photosensitive recording medium wound on a roller. Even if the remaining winding amount gradually decreases, the tension of the photosensitive recording medium will not change, and the image formation position may shift or color shift may occur when forming a color image using a mask original. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device that can reliably prevent the possibility of occurrence of such problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a photosensitive recording medium stored in a wound state on a roller and a photosensitive recording medium pulled out from the roller are exposed to light. In an image recording apparatus equipped with an exposing means for forming a latent image and a developing means for making the exposed photosensitive recording medium visible, tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium on the feeding side from the fog light position of the exposing means. and a driving force applying means for applying a driving force to the roller in the rewinding direction of the photosensitive recording medium so as to be opposite to the tension applied to the photosensitive recording medium by the tension applying means. and a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the photosensitive recording medium to be wound on the roller, and control for changing the driving force of the driving force applying means in accordance with the amount of the remaining amount of the photosensitive recording medium to be wound, which is detected by the detection means. 4 [Function 1] In the image recording apparatus configured as described above, when the photosensitive recording medium stored in a wound state on the roller is gradually used, the detection means is provided. The remaining amount of the photosensitive recording medium to be wound on the roller is detected, and a driving force is applied to the roller in the rewinding direction of the photosensitive recording medium in accordance with the detected amount of the photosensitive recording medium that is left to be wound. The driving force of the driving force applying means is changed so that the photosensitive recording medium is always maintained in a constant tension state.

Therefore, even if the photosensitive recording medium stored on the roller is used and the amount remaining to be wound gradually decreases, the tension of the photosensitive recording medium will not change and it will shift to the position where one image is formed. It is possible to reliably prevent the possibility of color shift occurring or color shift occurring when forming a color image using a mask original.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a color image recording apparatus embodying the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 1 is formed into a substantially box shape, and a monochrome laser printer 2 is mounted on the upper part thereof. In the laser printer 2, a polygon scanner 3 irradiates a charged photoreceptor 4 with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image. The photoreceptor 4 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by the developing device 5, and the toner image is transferred onto plain paper or OHP sheets fed from the paper feed cassette 6, and then the toner image is transferred to the fixing device 7. It will be established. Note that this laser printer 2 records data normally transmitted from a host computer.

A monochrome paper output tray 8 is provided on the laser printer 2, and when a monochrome image is required, a paper bus switching section 9 is provided.
By switching, the output paper from the laser printer 2 is delivered onto the monochrome paper output tray 8. An automatic document feeder tray (ADF tray) 10 is provided on the main body 1 of the apparatus, and when a color image is required, the output paper from the laser printer 2 is transferred to this ADF by switching the paper bus switching unit 9. It is sent out on the ray 10. And A
The output paper sent onto the DF tray 10 is taken into the main body 1 one by one by the paper feed roller 11, and a set of three monochrome printed papers output from the laser printer 2 is formed into a color print. It is used as a mask original 12 (12R, 12G, 12B) of an image recording device.

Next, regarding the internal structure of the apparatus main body 1, the alignment device 15 is disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body 1, and between the alignment device 15 and the ADF tray 10, a mask original transport path 16 is provided. The four-positioning device 15, which is provided with each pair of rollers 17 and 18, includes a glass plate 19, and each pair of rollers 20 and 21 disposed close to each other on both sides of the glass plate 19.
It is composed of sensors and the like (not shown). A pair of glue curler rollers 22 is provided in the middle of the mask original transport path 16, and the curls of the mask original 12 sent out from the laser printer 2 are removed by the recurler rollers 22.

The mask original storage section 23 is arranged parallel to the mask original transport path 16, and a pair of rollers 24 and a gate 25 are provided between the mask original storage section 23 and the alignment device 15.
is provided. A mask original discharge tray 26 for discharging used mask originals 12 is disposed outside the apparatus main body 1, and a pair of rollers is provided between the mask original discharge tray 26 and the alignment device 15. 27.28.29
and a gate 30 are provided. The rotation direction of each of the rollers 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 27°, 28, 29 can be controlled in reverse.

The exposure device 33 as an exposure means is connected to the alignment device 15.
It is disposed below the glass plate 19 so as to be able to move laterally along the lower surface of the glass plate 19. The exposure device 33 includes a rod-shaped white light source (lamp) 34, a reflector 35 that reflects light from the lamp 34, and a filter unit 36.
- The filter unit 36 has a red filter 3.
6R, green filter 36G and blue film, ri36
B is provided.

The cartridge 37 is removably attached to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, and a long photosensitive recording medium 38 is stored inside the cartridge 37 in a state where it is wound on a roller 38a so as not to be exposed to light. After being pulled out from the cartridge 37, the photosensitive recording medium 38 passes between the glass plate 19 of the alignment device 15 and the exposure table 39, and also passes through a buffer device 40, a pressure developing device 41, a separating roller 42, and a driving roller 43. The film is then routed onto a take-up roller 44 through the winding roller 44.

Note that the photosensitive recording medium 38 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-1
Similar to the well-known structure shown in 43044, the main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator, red,
Microcapsules containing a photocurable resin that hardens when exposed to light of green and blue wavelengths and cyan, magenta, and yellow dye precursors are coated onto a base sheet.

The exposure table 39 is disposed facing the glass plate 19 of the alignment device 15, and is moved up and down by a cam 45. Then, by lowering the exposure table 39 to a position where it joins with the glass plate 19, the mask original 12 that has been conveyed onto the glass plate 19 and the photosensitive recording medium 38 are brought into close contact.

The fixed roller 46 is disposed to face one end of the exposure table 39, and when the exposure table 39 is lowered to a predetermined position, it comes into pressure contact with the one end of the exposure table 39, and presses against the one end of the exposure table 39 to prevent the photosensitive recording medium from being exposed during the exposure of the mask original 12. 38 is clamped and fixed between the exposure table 39 and the exposure table 39.

The cassette 47 is removably attached to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 above the mask original discharge tray 26, and a number of color developer sheets 48 are stored in a stacked state inside the cassette 47. This color developer sheet 48 is, for example, JP-A-58-8
Similar to the well-known structure shown in Japanese Patent No. 8739, it has a structure in which a color developer is coated on a base paper, and is set in the cassette 47 so that the surface coated with the color developer faces downward. A feeding device 49 equipped with a suction cup etc. is a cassette 47.
The color developer sheets 48 are fed one by one from inside the cassette 47 by this feeding device 49 .

The buffer device 40 constitutes a buffer means, and the photosensitive recording medium 38 on which a latent image is formed by the fog light from the fog light device 33.
The latent and @formation areas are temporarily stored in this buffer device 40. The pressure developing device 41 constitutes a developing means and includes a pair of pressure rollers 50 therein. The latent image forming area of the photosensitive recording medium 38 stored in the buffer device 40 and the color developer sheet 48 fed from the cassette 47
are overlapped between the pressure rollers 50 of this pressure development device 41 and pressure developed.

The heat fixing device 53 is disposed above the pressure developing device 41, and includes a casing 5 that includes a heater 54 and an impeller 55.
6, a plurality of conveyor rollers 57, 58, 59 arranged below the gauging 56, and a conveyor belt 61 installed between the pair of rollers 60. An output sheet discharge tray 62 is provided outside the main body 1 of the apparatus, and after the color developer sheet 48 on which an image is formed is heat-fixed in a thermal fixing device 53, it is discharged onto this discharge tray 62.

Next, the photosensitive recording medium 3 in the cartridge 37
Regarding the configuration for detecting the remaining winding amount and the configuration for applying rewinding driving force in No. 8, as shown in FIG. Gear 72.73 due to rotation of 71
A driving force in the rewinding direction is applied to the roller 38a for the photosensitive recording medium 38 through the roller 38a. The encoder 74 is provided on the motor shaft of the motor 71.
A rotation detection sensor 75 as a detection means is disposed opposite to the rotation detection sensor 4 . Then, the roller 3 in the cartridge 37
When the photosensitive recording medium 38 is pulled out from above 8a, the rotation of the encoder 74 is detected by the rotation detection sensor 75, and a detection signal is output to the control circuit 76.

The control circuit 76 constitutes a control means, counts the rotation detection signal inputted from the rotation detection sensor 75, and controls the roller 38 in the cartridge 37 based on the count value.
The remaining amount of the photosensitive recording medium 38 remaining on a is calculated. The control circuit 76 drives and controls the DC motor 71 in accordance with the remaining amount of the photosensitive recording medium 38 to be wound.

Next, the driving structure of the buffer device 40 and the tension applying structure of the photosensitive recording medium 38 will be described. As shown in FIG. A buffer roller 40a of a buffer device 40 is attached between both timing belts 79. A step motor 81 serving as a driving means is disposed on one side of the buffer device 40 and rotatably supported by its stator or machine frame, and a timing pulley 80 on one side is fixed to the rotor. The step motor 81 is driven and controlled by the control circuit 76.

The arm 82 projects from above the stator of the step motor 81, and its tip is opposed to the stopper 83.

A spring 84 serving as a tension applying means is provided between the arm 82 and the machine frame, etc., and rotates the stator of the step motor 81 in the clockwise direction in FIG. photosensitive recording medium 3
It is designed to add tension to 8.

Next, the operation of the color image recording apparatus configured as described above when forming a plurality of color images from one set of mask originals will be described.

Now, when forming this color image, first, the monochrome laser printer 2 is used to form the red mask original plate 12R.
is created and sent out on the ADF)-ray 10. This mask original plate 12R has toner, which is a light-shielding image, placed on other parts of the mask original plate 12R so as to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor in the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 38. .

Then, the mask original 12R is fed into the apparatus main body 1 from above the ADF lay 10 by the paper feed roller 11, passes through the mask original transport path 16, and is sent into the alignment device 15 by rollers 17 and 18. Also, this mask original version 1
During the transfer of 2R, the curl of the mask original 12R is corrected by the recurler roller 22. At this time, the gate 25 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in FIG.

Further, the mask original 12R is transported to the vicinity of the exposure position by the roller 20 of the alignment device 15, and then moved to a predetermined position and aligned based on the reading of the alignment mark on the mask original 12R by a sensor (not shown). be done. Immediately before this positioning, the exposure table 39 is placed on the cam 45.
The photosensitive recording medium 38 is lowered to a predetermined position by pressing the fixed roller 46 against one end of the exposure table 39, and the photosensitive recording medium 38 is clamped and fixed between the exposure table 39 and the exposure table 39.

At this time, the buffer device 40 has been moved in advance to a position P3 where the photosensitive recording medium 38 is pulled out a little, as shown by the broken line in FIG. In this state, the drive roller 43 is fixed so as not to rewind, and the buffer device 40 is moved in the direction of arrow C from the position 23 in FIG. 1 by the step motor 81 shown in FIG. 3 or the control circuit 76. driven by Then, since both ends of the photosensitive recording medium 38 are in a substantially fixed state, the buffer device 40
The stator side of the step motor 81 is not moved from the position, but the stator side of the step motor 81 is rotated together with the arm 82 against the biasing force of the spring 84 due to the reaction force. This arm 82 is a stopper 83.
When the photosensitive recording medium 38 is separated from the photosensitive recording medium 38, a predetermined tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 depending on the expansion/contraction state of the spring 84. Note that the tension of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is desirably maintained at 1 to 2 kgf in the case of a 223 mm wide photosensitive recording medium 38.

After the alignment of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is completed, the exposure table 39 is further lowered by the cam 45 and bonded to the glass plate 19 of the alignment device 15, and the mask original 12R is bonded to the glass plate 19 of the alignment device 15.
and the photosensitive recording medium 38 are brought into close contact. At this time, the change in the path length of the photosensitive recording medium 38 due to the lowering of the exposure table 39 is as follows.
This is absorbed by moving the buffer device 40 from the P3 position to the P2 position in FIG. Further, even during absorption by the photosensitive recording medium 38, a predetermined tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 by the spring 84.

After that, the lamp 34 of the exposure device 33
6R, the exposure device 33 is run in the direction of arrow A in FIG. be done. When this exposure is completed, the lamp 34 is turned off and the exposure device 33 is returned in the direction of arrow B in the figure. At this time, the filter unit 36 of the exposure device 33 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 36G is disposed above the lamp 34 to face it.

Also, during the return movement of the exposure device 33, the exposure table 3
9 is raised to a predetermined position by the cam 45, and the photosensitive recording medium 38 is separated from the glass plate 19 of the alignment device 15 and the mask original 12R.

At this time, the buffer device 40 moves from the P2 position to the P3 position to remove the slack in the photosensitive recording medium 38 that occurs as the exposure table 39 rises.
Absorbed by being moved into position. Even when the slack of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is absorbed, since a predetermined tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 by the spring 84, the photosensitive recording medium 38 is quickly and reliably separated from the mask original 12R.

On the other hand, since pack tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 in the rewinding direction by the roller 38a for the photosensitive recording medium 38 in the cartridge 37, the exposure table 39 is lowered prior to exposure. When
A photosensitive recording medium 38 having a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 39 is pulled out from inside the cartridge 37, and the exposure table 39
is raised after the end of frost exposure, the photosensitive recording medium 38
is rewound into the cartridge 37 to absorb the slack. Further, the pack tension of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is set by driving and controlling the DC motor 71 according to the amount of the photosensitive recording medium 38 remaining on the roller 38a by a control circuit 76, as will be described later. The tension is always adjusted to be equal to the tension applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 by the spring 84 from the buffer device 40 side. Therefore, the photosensitive recording medium 38 is accurately positioned with respect to the exposure table 39 without any positional deviation.

Note that even after the exposure using the red mask master plate 12R is completed as described above, the exposure table 39 is maintained in a raised state at a predetermined position, and the photosensitive recording medium 38 is placed at one end of the exposure table 36. It is held in a fixed state relative to the exposure table 39 by a fixed roller 46 pressed against it.

Next, a green mask original 12G is created by the monochrome laser printer 2, and is fed into the apparatus main body 1 through the ADF tray 10 and paper feed roller 11. Then, when the mask original 12G is conveyed through the recurler roller 22 and the mask original transport F#116 to just before the roller 17, the mask original is moved by the rollers 17, 18, 27, 29 and the rollers 20, 21 of the alignment device 15. At the same time as the exposed mask original 12R is rotated in the direction of conveyance to the right and sent out from the exposure position on the alignment device 15,
A new mask original 12G is sent to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 30 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the exposed mask original 12R is
The roller 29 is held between the rollers 29, and when the rear end portion passes through the gate 30, the roller 29 is stopped and the roller 29 is held in that state.

The green mask original plate 12G sent to the alignment device [15] is the red mask original plate 12G sent to the alignment device [15].
As in the case of R, after being aligned with the photosensitive recording medium 38, the exposure table 39 is lowered to come into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 38. In this state, the lamp 34 of the exposure device 33 is turned on, the exposure device 33 is run, and the mask original 1 is exposed to green light that has passed through the green filter 36G.
Exposure is performed via 2G. After the exposure is finished, the exposure table 39 is raised to a predetermined position, the exposure device 33 is moved back, the filter unit 36 is moved, and the blue filter 36B is placed above the lamp 34 to face it.

Next, the blue mask original 12B created by the monochrome laser printer 2 is fed into the apparatus main body 1 in the same way as in the above case, and when it is conveyed to just before the roller 17, the roller 17, 18, 27 °28 and alignment device 15
The rollers 20 and 21 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original to the right, and the exposed mask original 12G is sent out from the exposure position on the alignment device 15, and at the same time, a new mask original 12B is sent to the exposure position. and stopped. At this time, one gate 25 is placed at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and the other gate 30 is placed at the position shown by the broken line in the same figure.
2G is held between the rollers 28 and held in that state by stopping the rollers 28 when its rear end passes through the gate 30.

Then, the blue mask original 12B sent to the alignment device 15 is transferred to the photosensitive recording medium 3 as in the above case.
8 and are brought into close contact. In this state, the mask original 12B is illuminated by blue light passing through the blue filter 36B.
A latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 38 by zero or more exposure operations.

Thereafter, the exposure table 39 is raised to the initial position by the cam 45, the fixed roller 46 is separated from one end of the exposure table 39, the fixation of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is released, and the buffer device 4o is moved as shown in FIG. The photosensitive recording medium 38 is moved in the direction of arrow C toward the P5 position, and the unexposed portion of the photosensitive recording medium 38 is pulled out from inside the cartridge 37 to a position below the exposure table 39. When the photosensitive recording medium 38 is pulled out, the rotation of the encoder 74 is detected by the rotation detection sensor 75 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Accordingly, the amount of remaining winding of the photosensitive recording medium 38 on the roller 38a is calculated (steps 81 to S3). Then, the DC motor 71 is driven according to this remaining winding amount.
A predetermined pack tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 in the rewinding direction (step S4).

Further, the photosensitive recording medium 38 is conveyed by the rotation of the drive roller 43, and when the front end of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 50 portion of the pressure developing device 41, the conveyance is stopped. Then, in synchronization with the conveyance of this photosensitive recording medium 38, the feeding device 4
9, the developer sheet 48 is sent out from the cassette 47, and the developer sheet 48 is placed at the leading end of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 38.
When the leading end of the color developer sheet 48 reaches the developer sheet 48, the conveyance of the color developer sheet 48 is stopped.

In this state, the pressure roller 50 of the pressure developing device 41 is rotated by a drive device (not shown), and the photosensitive recording medium 38 is transferred while being pressed while being superimposed on the color developer sheet 48. The uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 38 are destroyed by pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 38 is transferred to the developer sheet 48.
developed on top. Also, prior to this development, the exposure table 39
is again lowered to the predetermined grain level 1, and the fixed roller 46 is pressed against one end of the exposure table 39, so that the photosensitive recording medium 38 is clamped and fixed between the exposure table 39 and the fixed roller 46.

When the exposure table 39 is lowered, the buffer device 40
By moving from the position to the P4 position, changes in the path length of the photosensitive recording medium 38 are absorbed.

When the pressure roller 50 of the pressure developing device 41 rotates, the buffer device 40 is operated in synchronization with the rotation of the pressure roller 50 shown in FIG. It is moved in the direction of the arrow from the position toward the P1 position.

After development, the color developer sheet 48 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 38 by the separation roller 42 and transferred to the heat fixing device 53.
You will be guided in the direction of In the heat fixing device 53, the developer sheet 48 is heated by hot air heated by the heater 54 and circulated within the gauging 56 by the impeller 55, thereby promoting color development of the color image.

At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developer to the base paper on the color developer sheet 48 is melted by heat, and the surface becomes smooth, so that the surface of the color developer sheet 48 has a suitable amount. Provides gloss. The color developer sheet 48 that has undergone the color development and gloss treatment is discharged onto the output sheet output tray 62. During the series of development and color development and gloss treatment described above, the exposed photosensitive recording medium 38 is The photosensitive recording medium 38 is stored in the buffer device 40 in a state where it is held and fixed by the photosensitive recording medium 39 and the fixed roller 46, and the change in the path length of the photosensitive recording medium 38 caused by the elevation and descent of the exposure table 39 is absorbed by the movement of the buffer device 40. , While the development and color development gloss processing for one exposed screen is being performed, the exposure processing of the latent image of the next color image can be performed at the exposure position.

In other words, when exposing the second color image,
First, the rollers 17, 18, 27, 29 and the rollers 20, 21 of the alignment device 15 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original to the left, and the blue mask original 12B at the exposure position is sent out to the left. At the same time, the red mask original 12R held at the position of the roller 29 is sent to the exposure position. At this time, both gates 25 and 30 are placed at the positions shown by solid lines in FIG. Once it has passed, the roller 17 is stopped to maintain that state.

Then, the red mask original plate 12R sent to the alignment device 15 is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 3 as in the above case.
8 and are brought into close contact. In this state, the mask original 12R is exposed to red light passing through the red filter 36R.
Exposure is performed through the.

Next, the rollers 24.18, 27.28 and the rollers 20, 21 of the alignment device 15 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original to the left, and the red mask original 12R at the exposure position is sent out to the left. At the same time, the green mask original 12G held at the position of the roller 28 is sent to the exposure position. At this time, both gates 25.30
is arranged at the position shown by the broken line in FIG. It is held in that state by stopping.

Then, the green mask original 12G sent to the alignment device 15 is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 38, and in this state, green light passing through the green filter 36G causes the green mask original 12G to pass through the mask original 12G. Exposure is performed.

Further, in almost the same manner as described above, the green mask original plate 12G at the exposure position is sent out to the right, and at the same time, the blue mask original plate 12B held at the position of the roller 17 is sent to the exposure position. It will be done. Then, with this mask original plate 12B in close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 38, blue light passing through the blue filter 36B causes
A latent image of a color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 38 by 0 or more operations of exposure through the mask original plate 12B, and based on this latent image, the pressure developing device 4
A color image is formed on the color developer sheet 48 by the color developer sheet 48, the heat fixing device 53, and the like.

In this way, three mask original plates 12R and 12G.

By repeatedly performing the exposure operation using 12B, a predetermined number of color images can be continuously output from one set of mask originals 12. After the required number of color images have been output, each mask master plate 12R, 12G, 12
B is discharged onto the mask original discharge tray 26 through the rollers 28 or 29.

Further, when the next mask original plate 12 is output from the monochrome laser printer 2 while a series of color images are being exposed, the mask original plate 12 is temporarily stored on the ADF (ADF) ray 10 and placed. After the exposure of the previous set is completed, the sheets are fed into the main body 1 of the apparatus one by one from the ADF tray 10 by the sheet feeding roller 11. Furthermore, if you want to reuse a mask original output from another monochrome laser printer or a previously used mask original, you can feed it into the device main body 1 by setting it on the ADF)-ray 10. can.

[Another Embodiment] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the fifth country.

In this embodiment, as a driving means for the buffer device 40,
A DC motor 8 is used instead of the step motor 81 in the above embodiment.
7 is provided, and the rotation of this DC motor 87 is detected by an encoder 88 and a rotation detection sensor 89. Based on the rotation detection signal detected by the rotation detection sensor 89, the control circuit 76 controls the drive of the DC motor 87 via the motor driver 90.5. A predetermined feeding amount and a predetermined tension are applied to the photosensitive recording medium 38 via the buffer device 40 . Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the same effects as in the previous embodiment in which the step motor 81 is widened can be obtained.

Note that this invention is not limited to the configurations of each of the embodiments described above. For example, the gist of this invention can be realized by appropriately changing the configurations of the tension applying means, driving force applying means, detection means, etc. It is also possible to arbitrarily change and embody the configuration of each part without departing from the above.

[Effects of the invention] Since this invention is configured as explained above,
Even if a photosensitive recording medium wound on a roller is used and the amount remaining after winding gradually decreases, the tension of the photosensitive recording medium will not fluctuate and the image forming position will not shift. It has an excellent effect in that it can reliably prevent the risk of color shift occurring or color shift occurring when forming a color image using a mask original plate6.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a color image recording device embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration for detecting the remaining winding amount of a photosensitive recording medium in a cartridge and a configuration for applying rewinding driving force. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure for applying tension to a photosensitive recording medium in a buffer device;
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of detecting the remaining winding amount of the photosensitive recording medium and the operation of changing the rewinding driving force, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the structure for applying tension to the photosensitive recording medium in the buffer device. . 33... Exposure device as exposure means, 38... Photosensitive recording medium, 38a... Roller, 41... Pressure developing device as developing means, 71... DC motor as driving force applying means, 75... Rotation detection sensor as detection means, 76... Control circuit as control means, 84...
・Spring as a means of applying tension. Patent applicant Brother Industries Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent Attorney On 1) Jungi (and 1 other person) 12II!

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive recording medium (38) stored in a wound state on a roller (38a), and a photosensitive recording medium (38) pulled out from the roller (38a).
38) to form a latent image; and a developing device (41) to visualize the exposed photosensitive recording medium (38), the exposing device comprising: A tension applying means (84) for applying tension to the photosensitive recording medium (38) on the feeding side than the exposure position of (33);
a driving force applying means (71) that applies a driving force to the roller (38a) in the rewinding direction of the photosensitive recording medium (38) so as to face the tension applied to the roller (38); Photosensitive recording medium (38) on top
a detection means (75) for detecting the remaining winding amount of the recording medium (75), and a photosensitive recording medium (75) detected by the detection means (75).
38) A control means (76) for changing the driving force of the driving force applying means (71) according to the remaining amount of winding.