JPH0420951A - Exposure device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To position an appropriate color filter on a light source and to reduce costs by engaging a driving pinion with a movable rack, attending on the scanning exposure operation of the device main body and imparting the torque to a mobile mechanism. CONSTITUTION:In order to position the appropriate color filters 108R, 108G, and 108B, on a lamp 104, the driving pinion 123 is first made to engage with the movable rack 124 when a carriage 103 is moved (for scanning exposure) by a motor. In such a manner, a color filter unit 108 is moved so that the appropriate color filters 108R, 108G, and 108B, are positioned on the lamp 104. Additionally, since the color filter unit 108 is moved by making use of the driving force of the motor 124 which moves the carriage 103, the driving force of the motor 124 is effectively used.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a method for bringing a mask original created based on image information into close contact with a photosensitive recording medium and exposing the photosensitive recording medium to light to form an image. Related to exposure equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, color image recording apparatuses that form the following color images are known. First, a laser printer prints an original color image of red (R), green (G), and blue (
An image from which the component B) is extracted is formed in black, that is, mask master plates for three types of red, green, and blue are created. Three types of mask originals are for red, green,
The images are fed one by one to the image recording device in the order for blue.

The fed three types of mask originals are each transported to an exposure position, where a photosensitive recording medium is pulled out from the cartridge. The photosensitive recording medium is exposed to red light while facing the red mask master, then when the green mask master is transported to the exposure position, it is exposed to green light, and then the blue mask master is exposed to green light. is transported to the exposure position and exposed to blue light. Exposure of a photosensitive recording medium with red light, green light, and blue light is carried out using an exposure device. , a color filter unit having color filters for green and blue; a motor for moving the color filter unit to position the appropriate color filter at the light source; and a motor for moving the color filter unit to the color filter unit. It consists of an electromagnetic clutch, etc. to cut off the power.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in such conventional exposure equipment,
In order to position the appropriate color filter at the light source, the color filter unit is moved by a motor, and an electromagnetic clutch is used to cut off the drive from the motor to the color filter unit, which requires an expensive motor or electromagnetic clutch. Because of these parts, the overall cost was high. Furthermore, in order to scan and expose a photosensitive recording medium with an exposure device, the exposure device is moved by a motor separate from the motor described above. For this reason, the driving force of this separate motor is not effectively used as a driving source for moving the color filter unit, and this also poses a problem in that costs increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus that can position an appropriate color filter at a light source without requiring expensive motors, electromagnetic clutches, or other components.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a color filter unit that is arranged in an optical path where light from a light source is focused and has a plurality of color filters, and a color filter unit that has a plurality of color filters when subjected to rotational force. an exposure apparatus main body having a moving mechanism that moves the color filter to position an appropriate color filter on the light source; a drive pinion provided in the moving mechanism for applying the rotational force; and a scanning exposure path of the exposure apparatus main body. a movable rack disposed at and capable of engaging with the drive pinion, and when the drive pinion engages with the movable rack as the exposure apparatus main body scans exposure, rotational force is applied to the moving mechanism. The configuration is as follows.

[Effect]

In order to position an appropriate color filter on the light source, a drive pinion is meshed with a movable rack when the exposure apparatus main body is scanned and exposed by a drive source.

This moves the color filter unit to position the appropriate color filter over the light source.

Therefore, an expensive motor for moving the color filter unit and an expensive electromagnetic clutch for cutting off the drive of the color filter unit from this motor are not required.

〔Example〕

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below 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, the monochrome laser printer l is mounted on top of the color image recording device 20. In the laser printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates a charged photoreceptor 3 with laser light, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by a developing device 4, and the torch image is transferred onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Monochrome laser printers typically record data transmitted from a host computer.

The way out of the laser printer is through the paper path switching unit 10.
If a black and white image is required, it is fed to the monochrome output tray 11 or the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADFa) tray 12, and if a color image is required, it is fed to the ADF.
After being delivered to the tray 12, it is taken into the color image recording device 2o.

The sheets fed to the ADF tray 12 are taken into the color image recording device 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13, and three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer 1 form a set. Thus, they are used as mask originals (15R, 15G, 15B) for the color image recording device 20.

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 ray 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, there are pairs of rollers 22, 23, 24 whose rotational direction can be controlled. 25.
26. 27, gate 28
.

29 and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged. In the middle of the mask original transport path 21, a pair of recurler rollers 101 is arranged to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1. roller pair 26
．． On the outside of 27, there is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15.

The positioning device 31 includes a sensor (not shown), a pair of rollers 32 and 33 placed near both left and right ends, a glass plate 34 placed between them, and the like. An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31.

When the exposure device 41 is shown in FIG. 2, the reference numeral 103 is a carriage that moves in parallel in the horizontal direction in the figure, and a lamp 104 as a linear white light source is mounted on this carriage 103 at approximately right angles to the parallel movement direction. A reflecting plate 105 having a substantially arcuate cross section is provided below the lamp 104 in the figure.

Above the lamp 104 is a pair of guide members 106°10.
A color filter unit 108 is placed through the lamp 104, and the color filter unit 108 includes a red filter 108R, a green filter 108G, a blue filter 108B, and a filter 108R for red, a filter 108G for green, and a filter 108B for blue, which are arranged substantially parallel to the lamp 104.
have. Further, on the lower surface side of the color filter unit 108, a pair of racks 109a are arranged in the direction of movement.
109b is formed. Racks 109a, 109b
A pair of pinion gears 110a and 110b are in mesh with each other, and these pinion gears 110a and 110b are fixed to a pinion gear shaft 111 installed on the carriage 103 so as to rotate together with the pinion gear shaft 111.
A coiled spring 112 is attached that constantly biases the body to rotate in the direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially cylindrical cam member 113 is fixed to the pinion gear shaft 111 so as to rotate integrally therewith.
3a is formed. Further, a pawl member 114 is attached to the pinion gear shaft 111 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and a cam member 1 is attached to the base plate portion 114a of the pawl member 114.
A claw 115 is provided that can fit into the stepped portion 113a of No. 13 and is rotatable only in the direction of the arrow.

A tension spring 116 is tensioned between the claw member 114 and the carriage 103, and the tension spring 116 pulls the claw 115 in the direction of the arrow so that the claw 115 disengages from the stepped portion 113a. A solenoid 117 is provided on the carriage 103 via a wire 118 so that the pawl 115 engages with the stepped portion 113a against a force. In addition, the rack 109 a
.

109b, the pinion gears 110a and 110b, the pinion gear shaft 111, the coiled spring 112, and the like constitute a moving mechanism as a whole.

The carriage 103 is attached to the casing 11 as shown in FIG.
The carriage 103 is engaged with a guide shaft 120 provided in the parallel movement direction (left-right direction) at 9, and the carriage 103 is guided in the parallel movement direction by this guide shaft 120. A wire 121 is attached to the carriage 103,
This wire 121 is wound around a pulley 122 and attached to a drive shaft 123. The drive shaft 123 is rotated by a motor 124, and this rotation moves the carriage 103 in the direction of arrow AB (scanning exposure). Further, a drive pinion 123 is fixed to a pinion gear shaft 111 protruding from an end of the carriage 103 so as to rotate together with the pinion gear shaft 111 . Movement range of drive pinion 123 (
casing 119 (in the scanning exposure path of the carriage 103)
, there is a movable lug 1 that meshes with this drive pinion 123.
24 is attached via a support shaft 125, and the movable rack 1
24 swings in the vertical direction in the figure around a support shaft 125 by the operation of a solenoid 126, and meshes with a moving drive pinion 123 when positioned downward.

In addition, the carriage 103, the guide members 106°107,
color filter unit 108, rack 109a,
109b, pinion gear 110a.

110b, pinion gear pongee 111, coiled spring 112 cam member 113, claw member 114, tension spring 116,
The solenoid 117 and the like constitute the main body of the exposure apparatus as a whole.

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 in Publication No. 4, and includes a photocurable resin that cures with light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, and cyan, magenta, Microcapsules containing yellow dye precursors 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 passes from inside the cartridge 51 between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, and passes through the buffer 55, separation roller 64, and pressure developing device 70.
It is routed through the drive roller 57 to the take-up roller 54. The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53, and the mask original 1 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 is placed on the exposure table 52.
5 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other. The fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position, and is arranged so as to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52 during exposure of the mask original 15. has been done.

The color developer sheet 60 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739.
It is constructed by applying the color developer shown in the above publication onto a base paper, and is set in a cassette 61 with the developer coated side facing downward. At the top of the cassette 61,
Suction cup 6 for feeding the color developer sheet 60 one by one
2 is placed.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure, and a pair of pressure rollers 71 for overlapping a color developer sheet 60 and developing it under pressure.

The heat fixing device 80 is constructed between a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, rubber rollers 84 and 85° 86 for conveying the color developer sheet 60 in the lower part, and rollers 87 and 88. A paper ejection tray 63 is attached to the outside of the heat fixing device 80.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the operation when obtaining a plurality of color images 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 version 15R is
In order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor among the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50, this mask original plate has toner as a light-shielding image placed on other parts. At this time, the mask original 15R outputted from the monochrome laser printer 1 is sent to the ADF tray 12 and fed into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13. Color image recording device 20
The mask original 15R fed inside passes through the mask original transport path 21 and is sent to the positioning device 31 by the roller pair 24, 22.

On the way, the curl of the mask master plate 15R is corrected by the curler roller 101. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to an appropriate exposure position by the pair of rollers 32, and then, while reading the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor, moves the mask original 15R by a drive source (not shown).
Move 5R to the specified position.

Immediately before positioning, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by the cam 53, and the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52. After the alignment 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, and the mask original 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are exposed.
and bring them into close contact.

The exposure device 41 first performs a preliminary operation. That is, when the solenoid 117 is de-energized, the claw member 114 is disengaged from the state in which the claw 115 is engaged with the stepped portion 113a of the cam member 113 by the tension spring 116, and the pinion gear shaft 111 is moved away from the state in which the claw member 115 is engaged with the stepped portion 113a of the cam member 113. It is rotated in the direction of arrow C by the force. pinion gear shaft 11
1 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, the pinion gear 11
The color filter unit 108 moves in the right direction H in FIG. 2 via the racks 109a and 109b and is stopped by a stopper (not shown).

At this time, the color filter unit 1 is
08 is out of position.

Further, the drive pinion 123 is located at a position separated from the movable rack 124, and the movable rack 124 is located at an upper position due to the operation of the solenoid 126, that is, at a position where it does not mesh with the drive pinion 123.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the positioning device 31, the carriage 103 is once moved in the direction of the arrow B by the drive of the motor 124 via the cable 121, and then in the direction of the arrow B. At this time, solenoid 126
When energized, the movable rack 124 rotates and is positioned downward, the drive pinion 123 meshes with the movable rack 124, and the pinion gear shaft 111 is rotated in the direction of arrow F to move the color filter unit 108 in the direction of arrow G. the red filter 108R is placed on the lamp 104.
is located. At this time, the solenoid 117 is energized to move the pawl member 114 in the direction of arrow E, causing the pawl 115 to move.
is engaged with the stepped portion 113a, the rotation of the pinion gear shaft 111 is stopped, and the red filter 1 is placed on the lamp 104.
Keep 08R.

When the red filter 108R is held on the lamp 104, the movable rack 124 is moved by the solenoid 126.
is located upward and is in a position where it does not mesh with the drive pinion 123. Next, the lamp 104 is turned on, and red light is emitted onto the photosensitive recording medium 50 through the red filter 108R.
In order to expose through the mask original plate 15R, the motor 1
24, the carriage 103 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow (scanning exposure). When the exposure is completed, the lamp 104
goes out, and the carriage 103 is moved in the direction of arrow B by the motor 124.

At this time, the movable rack 124 is positioned downward by energizing the solenoid 126, the movable rack 124 and the drive pinion 123 mesh with each other, the pinion gear shaft 111 is rotated in the direction of arrow F, and the color filter unit 108 is rotated.
moves in the direction of arrow G, and a green filter 108G is positioned above the lamp 104. pinion gear shaft 11
When cam member 1 is rotated F in the direction of arrow F, cam member 1
13 is in contact with a pawl 115, and since the pawl 115 is rotatable in the direction of the arrow ■, the pinion gear shaft 111
is rotatable in the direction of arrow F. The cam member 113 rotates half a turn, the pawl 115 engages with the stepped portion 113a, the rotation of the pinion gear shaft 111 is stopped, and the green filter 108G is held on the ramp 104. With the green filter 108G held on the lamp 104, the carriage 103 is at the initial position to the right of the casing 119 in FIG.

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 separated from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 15R. At this time, 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 descends,
A length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is pulled out from the storage cartridge 51, and the exposure table 52 is pulled out after exposure is completed.
2 rises, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

Even after the exposure of the red mask master plate 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 only rises to a predetermined position, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved to the exposure table 52 by a fixed roller 56 pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52. remains fixed.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is placed in the ADF tray 12,
When the sheet passes through the F paper feed roller 13, recurler roller 101, and mask original transport path 21, and reaches just before the roller pair 24,
Roller pair 22.24°25.27, positioning device 31
The pair of rollers 32 and 33 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15R to the right, and at the same time the mask original 15R is sent out from the alignment device 31, the mask original 15G is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, game) 28.
29 is located at the position of the solid line, and is the exposed mask original plate 15.
R is held between the pair of rollers 27 and with its rear end passing through the gate 29, by stopping the rotation of the pair of rollers 27.

The mask original 15G guided by the alignment device 31 is aligned with the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the same manner as the mask original 15R, and then the exposure table 52 is lowered to align the mask original 15G with the photosensitive recording medium 50. Being brought into close contact. Next, the lamp 104 lights up, and the green filter 108
The carriage 103 is moved in the direction of the arrow A (scanning exposure) in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the green light via the mask original 15G.

When the exposure is completed, the lamp 104 turns off and the carriage 1
03 moves back in the direction of arrow B, but the drive pinion 123 is rotated by the movable rack 124 in the same manner as described above, and the blue filter 108B is positioned above the lamp 104. Blue filter 108B on the lamp 104
The carriage 103 is moved to the initial position while the carriage 103 is held.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the color image recording device 20, and while being conveyed just before the roller pair 24, the blue mask original 15B is moved to the roller pair 24, 22.degree. 25. 26 and roller pairs 32 and 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15G to the right, and the mask original 15G is sent out from the alignment device 31 and the mask original 1
5B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the solid line position, the gate 29 is located at the broken line position,
The exposed mask original 15G is sandwiched between a pair of rollers 26,
The roller pair 27 is held in a state in which the rear end has passed through the gate 29 by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 27.

The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a similar operation. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original plate 15B- in the same manner as described above. After exposure, solenoid 117
When the current is cut off, the tension spring 116 causes the claw 115 to disengage from the step 113a.

The pinion gear shaft 111 is rotated in the direction of arrow C by the coiled spring 112, and the color filter unit 108 moves in the direction of arrow H. When the movement of the color filter unit 108 is completed, the solenoid 117 is energized to bring the claw member 114 into contact with the cam member 113. carriage 10
3 is moved back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the drive pinion 123 is rotated by the movable rack 124 in the same manner as described above, and the red filter 108 is placed on the lamp 104.
With R held, the carriage 103 is positioned at the initial position.

Thus suitable color filter 108R.

In order to position 108G and 108B on the lamp 104, the drive pinion 123 is first brought into mesh with the movable rack 124 when the carriage 13 is moved by the motor 124 (scanning exposure).

As a result, the color filter unit 108 is moved and a suitable color filter 108R is placed on the lamp 104.
108G and 108B are located.

Therefore, an expensive motor for moving the color filter unit 108 and an expensive electromagnetic clutch for cutting off the drive from this motor to the color filter unit 108 are not required, thereby reducing the cost of this exposure apparatus. I can do it. Furthermore, since the color filter unit 108 is moved using the driving force of the motor 124 that moves the carriage 103, the driving force of the motor 124 is effectively used. Note that when the power supply to the exposure device is cut off, the claw member 114 releases the tension spring 11.
6 in the direction of the arrow, and the claw 115
13a is disengaged from the engagement. Then, the color filter unit 108 is connected to the lamp 104 by the coiled spring 112.
It is possible to protect the color filter unit 108 from the residual heat of the lamp 104 by retracting it from above.

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, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated from each other, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow E to remove the unexposed portions of the photosensitive recording medium 50. is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. Drive roller 57
The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed and stopped when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 710 of the pressure developing device 70.

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, the developer sheet 60 is fed out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62 until the tip of the developer sheet 60 corresponds to the tip of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. After being transported, it stops.

Next, the pressure developing device 70 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 71 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. At this time, by lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position again, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved onto the exposure table 52.
Fixed.

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

By rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow F. The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a separation roller 64 and guided toward the heat fixing device 8o.

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by a heater 81 and heated by air circulating in 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 surface of the color developer sheet 60 has a moderate gloss. can get. 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 series of development and color gloss processing described above, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is clamped and fixed by the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56, so that while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the following Exposure processing of a latent image of a color image can be performed.

When exposing the second color image, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15R held at the position of the roller pair 27 is sent to the alignment device 31 by the rollers. vs. 24, 22, 2
5.27 and the roller pair 32.33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated so as to convey the mask original 15R to the left. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines. The mask original 15B is held between the pair of rollers 24, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped at the position where the rear end passes through the gate 28. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 5o. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to red light through the mask original 15R.

Next, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 is aligned with the roller pairs 22, 23, 25, and 26 in order to be sent to the alignment device 31. The roller pair 32, 33 of the device 31 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left. At this time, game) 28.29 is located at the position of the broken line. Mask original plate 15R has 2 roller pairs
It is held by stopping the rotation of the a-ra pair 23 at the position where the rear end passes through the gate 28. Mask original plate 15G sent to alignment device 31
is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to green light through the mask original 15G.

Next, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent out to the right, and the same operation is performed to send the mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 to the alignment device 31, and the color is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent image of the image is formed to form a color image on the developer sheet 60.

By repeating the same operation, one set of mask originals 1
5, a predetermined number of color images can be output.

After obtaining 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 mask original 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 the exposure of the previous set is completed. Then, the ADF paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper sheets one by one into the color image recording apparatus 20.

Further, when a mask original output from another monochrome laser printer or a previously used mask original is to be used again, the mask original can be input by setting it on the ADF tray 12.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the driving pinion engages with the movable rack as the exposure apparatus main body scans and exposes the exposure apparatus, thereby applying rotational force to the moving mechanism. In order to provide this, the driving force of the drive source for scanning and exposing the exposure apparatus body is effectively used, eliminating the need for expensive motors, electromagnetic clutches, etc.
The color filter unit can be moved to position a suitable color filter at the light source, thereby reducing the cost of this exposure apparatus.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing one embodiment of an exposure device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image recording apparatus equipped with this exposure device, and FIG. FIG. 3, which is an overall perspective view of the exposure apparatus, is a perspective view of the pinion gear shaft and the like. 103... Carriage, 106. 107... Guide member, 108... Color filter unit, 109a. 109 b...Rack, 110a, 110b-...
Pinion gear, 111... Pinion gear shaft, 112...
... Winding spring, 113 ... Cam member, 114 ... Claw member, 123 ... Drive pinion, 124 ... Movable rack. Applicant's representative: Yasushi Ishikawa

Claims (1)

[Claims] A color filter unit disposed in an optical path where light from a light source is focused and having a plurality of color filters, and a moving mechanism that moves this color filter unit when receiving rotational force to position a color filter appropriate for the light source. an exposure apparatus main body, a drive pinion provided in the moving mechanism for applying the rotational force, and a movable rack disposed in a scanning exposure path of the exposure apparatus main body and capable of engaging with the drive pinion. . An exposure apparatus, characterized in that the drive pinion engages with the movable rack as the exposure apparatus main body scans and exposes, thereby applying rotational force to the moving mechanism.