JPH046535A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a color image even in the case of making an error in reading a bar code by providing an abnormal time controlling means for controlling a set value which is set in advance so that it may be set as the number of outputted sheets in the case that data for showing the number of outputted sheets is not detected by a detecting means. CONSTITUTION:When the bar code data for showing the number of outputted sheets which is printed on a mask negative is detected by the detecting means 103, the number of outputted color image sheets is set based on the detection result detected by the controlling means 91. In the case of making the error in reading the bar code data by the detecting means 103, the set value which is set in advance is set as the number of outputted sheets by the abnormal time controlling means 91. Thus, even in the case of making the error in reading the data on the number of the outputted sheets which is arranged on the mask negative, outputting the image is not stopped and at least one color image can be obtained because the numerical value set in advance is set as the number of outputted sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that forms a color image using a color-separated monochromatic mask original plate.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of image recording apparatus, a set of three mask originals color-separated according to the three primary colors of light is sequentially superimposed on a photosensitive recording medium, and photosensitive recording is performed by exposing the top of the mask to a light source. Expose the medium to correspond to the mask image of the mask original plate,
2. Description of the Related Art An image recording apparatus is known that records a color image by hardening microcapsules on the surface of a photosensitive recording medium. In this device, image information corresponding to each color is provided in the image area on the mask master, and in the non-image area, there are positioning marks for aligning the mask master in a predetermined position and each plate. An identification mark and barcode data indicating the number of color images to be outputted are provided, and the number of outputted sheets is set by reading the barcode data indicating the number of outputted sheets using an image recording device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when reading the barcode data provided on the mask original, if the mask original is shifted or the barcode data is printed incorrectly, it may be difficult to read the barcode data accurately. There were times when it could not be read, causing a reading error. In such a case, it is necessary to stop outputting the color image and start over from the beginning, which poses a problem in that it is extremely troublesome for the user to output even one color image.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording device that can obtain at least one color image even if a barcode reading error occurs.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording device of the present invention separates image information into a plurality of mask original plates formed with monochromatic light-shielding images, and specifies a photosensitive recording medium. , a contact means for bringing the mask original plate and the photosensitive recording medium into close contact with each other, and an exposure means for performing color separation exposure through the mask original plate. a detection means for detecting data indicating the number of output sheets of the image provided above; a control means for controlling to set the number of output sheets based on the detection result of the detection means; and a control means for indicating the number of output sheets by the detection means. An abnormality control means is provided for controlling the number of output sheets to be set to a preset value when no data is detected.

[Operations] According to the present invention having the above configuration, barcode data indicating the number of output sheets printed on the mask original is detected by the detection means. Then, the control means sets the number of output color images based on the detected result. If the detection means fails to read the barcode data, the abnormality control means sets a preset value as the number of output sheets.

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

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

First, the laser printer 1 is mounted on top of the 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 photoconductor 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. Normal laser printer 1
records data transmitted from the host computer.

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

The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken into the image recording device 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13, and the three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer 1 form a set to form an image. Mask original plate 15 (15R) of recording device 20.

15G, 15B).

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

An alignment device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the image recording device 20, and the ADF ray 12 and the alignment device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. On both the left and right sides of the alignment device 31 are roller pairs 22 whose rotational direction can be controlled. 23. 24. 25.26,27, Gate 2
8.29 and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged. In the middle of the mask original transport path 21, a laser printer 1 is installed.
A pair of glue curler rollers 101 for removing curls from the mask original plate 15 discharged from the mask original plate 15 and a sensor 103 for detecting barcode data M6 indicating the number of output sheets of the image recording device 20 printed on the mask original plate 15 are arranged. has been done. The sensor 103 is, for example, a light reflection type sensor using a combination of an LED and a photodiode. Outside the roller pair 26, 27, there is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15.

The alignment device 31 includes a sensor bar 35, a pair of rollers 32 and 33 arranged near both left and right ends, and a glass plate 34 arranged between them.

FIG. 2 shows the sensor bar 35 and the mask original 15. Marks M, M, for aligning the mask original 15 to a predetermined position, marks Ms, Mt for plate identification, barcode data M5 indicating the number of output sheets, etc. are printed on the non-image area 15a of the mask original. has been done. On the other hand, sensor bar 3
5, marks M, , M, , M, on the mask original plate 15 are shown.
, M4, positioning sensors S=, S2 . Ss
and version identification sensor S4. S5 is provided. All of the sensors are light reflective sensors using a combination of an LED and a photodiode, for example.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below 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 referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflection plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and a filter unit 44 that includes a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44B. It is configured.

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 is routed from inside the cartridge 51, passing between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, passing through a buffer 55, a separating roller 64, a pressure developing device 70, and a driving roller 57, to the take-up roller 54. . The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53 and is configured to bring the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 into close contact.

Further, 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.
The photosensitive recording medium 50 is placed on the exposure table 5 during exposure of the mask original 15.
It is arranged to be fixed at 2.

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.

At the top of the cassette 61, a suction cup 62 for feeding the developer sheets 60 one by one is arranged.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a pair of pressure rollers 71 and the like that superpose the photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure and the developer sheet 60 and develop the image 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, 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 a plurality of color images are obtained from one set of mask originals will be described below.

First, a mask original plate 1 for red is printed using a laser printer 1.
5R is created. This mask original plate 15R is a mask original plate in 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. be.

At this time, the mask original plate 1 outputted from the laser printer 1
5R is delivered to the ADF tray 12 and fed into the image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13. The mask original plate 15R fed into the image recording device 20 is decurled by a pair of recurler rollers 101, and barcode data M indicating the number of output sheets printed on the mask original plate 15R by a sensor 103;
is detected, and the number of output sheets is set in the image recording device 20. Then, the mask original 15R is transferred to the mask original transport path 2.
1 and is sent to the alignment device 31 by roller pairs 22, 24.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to the appropriate exposure position by the roller pair 32, and then uses the sensors S, S, S, to detect the alignment marks Ms, M2 printed on the mask original 15R. While reading, the mask original 15R is moved to a predetermined position by a drive source (not shown).

Immediately before alignment, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by a cam 53, and a fixed roller 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed 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 the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31
The mask original plate 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42
lights up, and the exposure device 41 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light via the red filter 44R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 41 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41
A green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42, which is moved by a drive source (not shown).

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 roll rotation of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 is lowered, a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is applied. Saga storage cartridge 5
It is pulled out from inside 1, and it is also pulled out from ``exposure end exposure stage 5''.
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, when the green mask original 15G created by the laser printer 1 passes through the ADF)-ray 12, the ADF paper feed roller 13, the recurler roller pair 101, and the mask original transport path 21, and reaches just before the roller pair 24. , the roller pairs 22, 24, 25, 27, and the roller pair 32, 33 of the alignment device 31 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 original 15G is transported to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, gate 28. 29
is located at the position indicated by the solid line, and the exposed mask original 15R 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. after that,
The lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. The exposure device 41 is moved back to the original position, and the filter unit 44 is moved so that the blue filter 44B is positioned above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the image recording device 20, and is conveyed just before the roller pair 24.
4, 22, 25, 26 and the roller pair 3 of the alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15G to the right, and the mask original 15G is aligned with the alignment device 31.
At the same time, the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position indicated by the solid line, and the gate 29 is located at the position indicated by the broken line, and the exposed mask original 15G is sandwiched between the roller pair 26 and the gate 29
The rotation of the pair of rollers 26 is stopped in a state in which the rear end has passed.

The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50 by the same operation. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original 15B.

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 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 a suction cup 62, and is conveyed to a position where the leading edge of the color developer sheet 60 corresponds to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50, and then stopped.

Next, by a drive device (not shown), the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 7o 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 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table 52. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed while being pressed while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 60, and the photosensitive recording medium 50
The upper uncured microcapsules are destroyed by pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is developed on the color developer sheet 60.

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 separated from the photosensitive recording medium 5o by a separation roller 64 and guided toward the heat fixing device 8o.

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 6o is heated by a heater 81 and by air circulating in a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. Along with this, a binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60
is thermally melted, the surface becomes smooth, and the surface of the color developer sheet 6o has an appropriate gloss. The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to color development and gloss treatment is discharged to a paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-described series of development and coloring/glossy processing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is held and fixed between the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56. Therefore, while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the next exposure point is It is possible to perform exposure processing on the latent image of a color image.

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, 25
．． 27 and the pair of rollers 32 and 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 plate 15B is sandwiched between the roller pair 24 and the gate 28
The rotation of the roller pair 24 is stopped at the position where the rear end has passed, and the mask original is held in the mask original transport path 21 functioning as a mask original storage section. 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 roller pair 26 is moved to send the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 to the alignment device 31.
2, 23, 25, 26 and the roller pair 3 of the alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left.

At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by broken lines. The mask original plate 15R is sandwiched between the roller pair 23 and the gate 2
It is held by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 23 at the position where the rear end passes through the roller pair 8. The mask original 15G sent to the 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 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.

Next, regarding the control of reading the barcode data Ms,
The electrical configuration and its control details will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control system includes an electronic control circuit 90. The electronic control circuit 90 includes a CPU 91 that executes arithmetic processing for various controls, and a ROM 92 in which control programs and initial data necessary for the CPU 91 to perform arithmetic processing are pre-recorded (the CPtJ91 performs the arithmetic processing). A RAM 93 in which data used for execution is temporarily stored, an input circuit 94 that receives detection signals from the sensor 103, a display section 96 of the operation panel, an output circuit 95 that outputs control signals to various actuators, etc. It is equipped with

Next, a process related to reading the barcode data M5 executed by the electronic control circuit 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the mask original 15 is fed by the ADF paper feed roller 13 (step 401, hereinafter referred to as 5401; the same applies to other steps), it is determined whether the sensor 103 has detected the mask original 15 ( S 402).

If the mask original 15 is not detected, the determination process is repeated until it is detected (8402: No). When the mask original 15 is detected (8402: YES), the timer determines whether a certain period of time has elapsed (S403), and when it is determined that the certain period of time has elapsed (8403: YES), the sensor 103 detects the mask original 15 is read (S404). The read barcode data M is processed by the CPU 91 as -
After the data is stored in the RAM 93, it is compared with the data recorded in the ROM 92 to determine whether it is the data for the number of sheets to be output (S405). If it is determined that the data is the number of output sheets (S405: NO), the read data of the number of output sheets is set as the number of output sheets, and the number of output sheets is displayed on the display section 96 of the operation panel (S406).

Barcode data M read by sensor 103
, does not match any data recorded in the ROM 92 (S405: YES), the preset value for the number of output sheets (usually 1) is set as the number of output sheets, and a reading error occurs. This information is displayed on the display section 96 of the operation panel, and the number of output sheets 1 is also displayed (S407). After that, alignment processing of the mask original 15 is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments detailed above, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

For example, in this embodiment, the preset value is 1, but it may be any number, or may be set to any number by the user using the operation panel.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, even if an error occurs in reading the data of the number of output sheets provided on the mask original, a preset value is output. Since the number of sheets is set as the number of sheets, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus that can obtain at least one color image without stopping image output, which is an industrially advantageous effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show embodiments embodying the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the structure of an image recording device;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mask original and the sensor bar, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the part related to reading barcode data, and Fig. 4 shows the processing of the part related to reading barcode data. It is a flowchart. In the figure, 15 is a mask original, 20 is an image recording device, 31 is a positioning device, 41 is an exposure device, 50 is a photosensitive recording medium, 90 is an electronic control circuit, and 103 is a sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Aligning means for positioning a plurality of mask originals formed by color-separating image information to form monochromatic light-shielding images at specific positions on a photosensitive recording medium; In an image recording apparatus comprising a contact means for bringing the photosensitive recording medium into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium, and an exposure means for performing color separation exposure through the mask master, data indicating the number of output sheets of an image provided on the mask master; a control means for controlling to set the number of output sheets based on the detection result of the detection means; and a control means for controlling to set the number of output sheets based on the detection result of the detection means; An image recording apparatus comprising: abnormality control means for controlling the set value to be set as the number of output sheets.