JPH0460536A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust brightness greatly corresponding to sensitivity over a wide range by increasing an exposure speed and thus adjusting the brightness when the sensitivity of a photosensitive recording medium increases. CONSTITUTION:When the start of image forming operation is indicated on a console panel 16, the photosensitive recording medium is exposed according to an original while conveyed at a new image forming process speed B switched by a control part 12, thereby forming a latent image. Consequently, the quantity of exposure of the photosensitive recording medium is varied without varying the quantity of light of a light source and the brightness of an output image is adjusted. Consequently, a 2nd brightness adjusting means 27 including a data read sensor 13 varies the exposure speed corresponding to the kind of the photosensitive recording medium in use to handle a large difference in the sensitivity of a different kind of photosensitive recording medium without varying the quantity of light of the light source.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that uses a long photosensitive recording medium, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus that uses an elongated photosensitive recording medium. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with functions.

2. Prior Art] Image forming apparatuses such as copiers that use long photosensitive recording media have to deal with differences in sensitivity of the photosensitive recording media and the preferences of operators who operate the image forming apparatus. To this end, a brightness adjustment means is generally provided for adjusting the brightness of the output image stepwise or linearly.

This brightness adjustment means normally adjusts by increasing or decreasing the amount of light from a light source that exposes the photosensitive recording medium. This is done automatically based on the sensitivity data of the medium, and sometimes it is done manually by an operator using an operation panel or the like provided on the image forming apparatus.

In other words, even if the photosensitive recording media are of the same type, there are slight differences in their individual sensitivities. Therefore, when one photosensitive recording medium is set in an image forming apparatus, the sensitivity data written on this photosensitive recording medium is read, and the reference value for brightness adjustment is corrected using the read sensitivity data. The brightness of the output image is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of light from the light source that exposes the recording medium.

However, since images are formed many times using a long photosensitive recording medium, it is not always necessary to produce images with a certain brightness each time, and the operator's preference for operating the image forming apparatus may vary. So, 1
The brightness of images formed on two photosensitive recording media can be manually adjusted.

This manual adjustment is performed by the operator pressing a brightness ('a) adjustment button provided on the operation panel.

5. Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, if the photosensitive recording media are of the same type, there is no big difference in sensitivity. Showa 58-8873
Recently, the sensitivity of photosensitive recording media, such as the microcapsule paper disclosed in Publication No. 9, has been significantly improved. It coexists with a recording medium and can be used freely. The difference in sensitivity between multiple types of photosensitive recording media is very large (about 10 times the difference in conventional sensitivity) and exceeds the brightness adjustable range using the brightness adjustment means described above, so it cannot be corrected. Depending on the type of photosensitive recording medium used, there may be a problem in which the brightness of the output image cannot be adjusted to an appropriate value.

In addition, as a solution to this problem, the light intensity variable range of the light source that can be adjusted by the brightness adjustment means described above may be set to be large, corresponding to the maximum and minimum sensitivity differences of multiple types of photosensitive recording media with different sensitivities. Conceivable. However, if the light intensity of the light source can be adjusted over a wide range, there is a problem that the life of the light source, such as a Haloken lamp, will be shortened. First, brightness adjustment over such a wide range is usually done step by step in multiple steps, but in this case, increasing the number of adjustment steps will result in fine brightness adjustment for each photosensitive recording medium. However, there is a problem in that the number of operations required by the operator increases depending on the number of steps, resulting in poor operability.

Another method is to adjust the exposure amount by installing an aperture mechanism between the light source and the photosensitive recording medium exposed by the light source, but in this case, the amount of light from the light source that is blocked by the aperture mechanism is wasted. , it is uneconomical.

This invention was made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to enable the use of multiple types of photosensitive recording media with greatly different sensitivities, and to easily adjust the f2 brightness according to the sensitivity of the photosensitive recording medium. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can effectively use the amount of light from a light source to expose a photosensitive recording medium and form an appropriate image.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an exposure unit that exposes a photosensitive recording medium to light using a light source based on image information while conveying the photosensitive recording medium along a predetermined path. , a) a first brightness adjustment unit that adjusts the brightness of the output image by increasing or decreasing the amount of light from the light source, and b) adjusting the conveyance speed of the photosensitive recording medium in the exposure section in accordance with the sensitivity of the photosensitive recording medium. and second brightness adjustment means for changing the brightness.

[Function] According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, fine adjustment of the brightness due to slight sensitivity differences between the same type of photosensitive recording media or operator's preference can be performed by adjusting the light intensity of the light source by the first brightness adjustment means. This is done in the same way as before by increasing or decreasing . In addition, when the photosensitive recording medium is replaced with a photosensitive recording medium having a significantly different sensitivity, the second brightness adjustment means adjusts the exposure area to a level corresponding to the sensitivity of the replaced photosensitive recording medium.
The brightness is adjusted by changing the conveyance speed (exposure speed) of the photosensitive recording medium. Specifically, when the sensitivity of the photosensitive recording medium increases, the exposure speed is increased to adjust the brightness. This makes it possible to significantly adjust the brightness without wasting the light amount of the light source, and to accommodate a wide range of sensitivities. It goes without saying that the brightness of the replaced photosensitive recording medium can also be finely adjusted by the first brightness adjustment means in the same way as was done for the photosensitive recording medium before replacement.

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

The image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 1 includes a long photosensitive recording medium 1.
A latent image formed by exposure to light is pressure developed on a cut note-shaped recording paper 2 corresponding to the photosensitive recording medium I to form an image.

In this embodiment, microcapsule paper is used as the photosensitive recording medium I. Microcapsules are coated on the surface of the paper, and the microcapsules contain a dye precursor or the like that reacts with the color developer of the color developer paper, which will be described later. Further, in this embodiment, color developer paper B is used as the recording paper 2.

A color developer on the surface develops color by reacting with a dye precursor, or this color developer is used, for example, in U.S. Pat.
Since it is described in the specification of No. 209 and is well known, detailed explanation will be omitted.

A cartridge 5 containing a photosensitive recording medium 1 wound around a cartridge shaft 4 is removably disposed approximately in the center of the image forming bag 3. The photosensitive recording medium drawn out from the cartridge 5 is an exposure table 7, a drive shaft 8, a pressure developing device 9, and a photosensitive recording medium which forms an exposure section.
The film is wound up onto a pick-up roll 11 that is integrally disposed outside of the cartridge 5.

Between the cartridge 5 and the exposure table 7, there is an empty sensor 12 that detects the presence or absence of a photosensitive recording medium 1, and a data reader Q that reads the sensitivity data and type of the photosensitive recording medium 1.
A sensor 13 is installed respectively. The data reading sensor 13 is written on a league part (not shown) at the leading end of the photosensitive recording medium l when the cartridge 5 is set in the device 3 and the photosensitive recording medium 1 is pulled out.
Optically read sensitivity data and its type.

Further, a transparent document table 14 and its cover 15 are installed on the upper part of the device 3, and an operation panel 18 is installed next to the document table 14. Cartridge 5 and document table 14 in device 3
An optical system 18 including a light source 17 for exposing the photosensitive recording medium 1 to light based on the original 28 is disposed between them. Further, below the cartridge 5, there is a heat fixing device 19 and a paper feed device 20 that feeds the recording paper 2 one sheet at a time to the pressure developing device 9.
A control section 2I that performs various controls on image formation based on input signals from each sensor 12, 13, etc. is also provided.

The control section 21 performs various controls on image formation, such as the process shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, for example. That is, the control section 21 includes a process speed data switching section 22 that selects any one of a plurality of image forming process speed data AB and D stored in memory corresponding to a plurality of types of photosensitive recording media 1 having different sensitivities; External process execution unit 23 based on the selected process speed data
A process control circuit section 24 that outputs a control signal for process execution is built into the device. The process speed switching section 22 is
As will be described later, image forming process speed data A, B, . . . are obtained using input signals from the data reading sensor 13.
... D is selected and outputted to the process control circuit section 24, and constitutes the main part of the second brightness adjustment means 27, which is a feature of the present invention. In addition to the data of the second brightness adjustment means 27, the process control circuit section 24 also includes data from the operation panel 1.
Since the data from the first brightness adjustment means 26 corresponding to the conventional brightness adjustment means using 6 is input, the control circuit section 24 controls the process execution section 23 based on these two data.

The operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be explained. The photosensitive recording medium 1 is stored in the device 3, the cartridge 5 is set, and when an instruction to start image formation is given by the operation channel 16, the cartridge 5 is activated by a drive control signal from the control section 21h. An unexposed photosensitive recording medium 1 is pulled out from the recording medium 1, passes over an exposure table 7, and is automatically fed to a pick-up roll 11. At the initial stage of this automatic sheet feeding, the sensitivity data and type of the photosensitive recording medium l are determined by the control unit 21 via the data reading processor 13, and the process speed data switching fi22 of the control unit 21 is determined based on the determined fni data. If necessary, any one of the plurality of image forming process speed data A, B,...D is selected, for example, data A, and the conveyance speed of the photosensitive recording medium I is adjusted by the drive shaft 8 based on this data A. etc. to the drive system. This instruction is given in conjunction with a brightness adjustment instruction input manually from the operation panel 16.

The automatically fed photosensitive recording medium 1 is exposed to light by an optical system 18 equipped with a light source 17 on an exposure table 7 to form a latent image. That is, whether the light emitted from the light source 17 or the original platen 1
The reflected light passes through the optical system 18 and exposes the photosensitive recording medium 1, and a latent image corresponding to the image of the original 28 is formed on the photosensitive recording medium 1. The photosensitive recording medium 1 on which the latent image has been formed is superimposed on the recording paper 2 from the manual paper feeder 20 of the pressure developing device 9, and then transferred to the pressure developing device 9.
The latent image on the photosensitive recording medium I is pressure-developed onto the recording paper 2 by being pressurized by a pair of pressure rollers 29 and 30. After development, the recording paper 2 is transferred to a photosensitive recording medium I by a separation roller 10.
After being separated from the sheet, the sheet is sent to a thermal fixing device 19 where the image is fixed, and then discharged from the device 3 to a sheet discharge tray 31.

On the other hand, the photosensitive recording medium 1 after development is wound up on a pick-up roll 11.

The above image forming operation is repeated until the rear end of the photosensitive recording medium 1 passes the empty sensor 12, and during this time, the conveying speed of the photosensitive recording medium l, in other words, the exposure speed is set to a predetermined speed by the control section 21. Set. However, the photosensitive recording medium 1 is always exposed to light at the set speed, and image formation is repeatedly performed with f=brightness depending on the exposure speed. In this case, subtle brightness adjustment of the output image is done as before.
A first brightness adjustment means 26 using the operation panel 16,
This can be done by increasing or decreasing the amount of light from the light source 17. This fine adjustment of brightness is made in a minute range according to the subtle sensitivity differences between the same type of photosensitive recording media and the operator's preference.
Since changes in the light amount of the light source 17 are small, even if a part of the light amount is blocked using the diaphragm mechanism, the wasted amount of light is not a problem.

When the rear end of the photosensitive recording medium 1 passes the empty sensor 12, an empty display of the photosensitive recording medium 1 is displayed on the operation panel 16, and the entire photosensitive recording medium 1 is wound up on the pick-up roll 11. Then, the operator looks at the empty display, takes out the empty cartridge 5 together with the photosensitive recording medium 1 and the wound up tick-up roll 11, sets a new cartridge 5 and tick-up roll 11 in their place, and automatically passes the cartridge. Let the paper do it. Then, the data reading sensor 13 reads the sensitivity data and type of the photosensitive recording medium 1 of the new cartridge 5. If this read data is the same as the data on the previous photosensitive recording medium, the control unit 2
1 does not switch the image forming process speed data AB, -.D, and automatically passes a new photosensitive recording medium I at the same automatic paper passing speed as the previous time.

However, if the data read by the data reading sensor 13 is different from the previous data, the process speed switching unit 22 of the control unit 21 transfers the image forming process speed data A, B, . . . For example, the image forming process speed data is switched to image forming process speed data B corresponding to the medium 1. Specifically, in the case of the microcapsule paper IA, the conveyance speed of the exposure table (exposure section) 7 is 10 mm/
sec, for example, microcapsule paper IA 10
Microcapsule paper IB, which has twice the sensitivity, can increase the transport speed to 50 mm/sec or more.

When the start of image forming work is instructed from the operation panel 16, the control unit 21 switches to a new image forming process speed B to covertly expose the original 28 while the photosensitive recording medium l is being conveyed. A latent image is formed. As a result, without changing the light intensity of Moeki light source +7,
Change the amount of exposure to the photosensitive recording medium and adjust the brightness of the output image.

In other words, by changing the exposure speed according to the type of photosensitive recording medium I used by the second brightness adjustment means 27 including the data reading processor 13, different types of lightness can be used without changing the light intensity of the light source 17. It is possible to deal with large differences in sensitivity of photosensitive recording media.

By the way, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and in particular, in addition to the above-mentioned example, the second brightness adjustment means may include, for example, a switch for changing image forming process speed data on the operation panel 16, etc. The image forming process speed data can also be changed manually by the operator using this changeover switch. Also,
By changing the shape of the cartridge 5 that houses the photosensitive recording medium 1 depending on the type of the photosensitive recording medium 1, and reading the difference in the shape when the cartridge 5 is set in the device 3,
It may also be possible to automatically switch to image forming process speed data corresponding to the type of photosensitive recording medium 1.

C. Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above explanation, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following effects.

In other words, even if multiple types of photosensitive recording media with significantly different sensitivities are used, the exposure speed is changed by the second brightness adjustment means, and an appropriate image can be formed without changing the light amount of the exposure light source. It is economical, does not waste light, and is highly versatile. In addition, subtle adjustments to the image are made by adjusting the amount of light from the light source using the first brightness adjustment means, as in the past, based on the exposure speed set by the second brightness adjustment means, resulting in good operability. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration and operation example of a brightness adjustment control section. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Photosensitive recording medium, 7...Exposure table (exposure part), ]7 Light source, 21 Control part, 22 Process speed switching part, 26 First brightness adjustment means, 27 Second brightness adjustment manual permission

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming apparatus including an exposure unit that exposes a photosensitive recording medium to light using a light source based on image information while conveying the photosensitive recording medium along a predetermined path, the brightness of the output image being finely adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of light from the light source. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first brightness adjustment means for adjusting; and a second brightness adjustment means for changing the conveyance speed of the photosensitive recording medium in the exposure section in accordance with the sensitivity of the photosensitive recording medium.