JPH0476545A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the waste of a photosensitive recording medium and to reduce a running cost by returning a photosensitive recording medium from a peeling position to a development position by the use of a buffer which stores tentatively an exposed photosensitive recording medium. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive recording medium 50 by one picture exposed first out of two pictures stored in a storage means 55 is supplied to a developing means 70. Then, the accumulating means 55 is controlled in such a manner that the photosensitive recording medium 50 supplied to the developing means 70 is fed from a peeling means 64 to the developing means 70, in the reverse direction of the supplying direction. During a series of process of developing, coloring and glossing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is interposed to be fixed between the exposure pedestal 52 and the fixing roller 56. Therefore, during the period of time when a latent image for a first sheet is subjected to a development process by one picture, during the period of time when the buffer moves from (I), through (j), to (J), exposure for the subsequent color- picture can be performed in the exposure part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus using a photosensitive recording medium.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an image recording apparatus that exposes a photosensitive recording medium in a fixed manner, the photosensitive recording medium is continuously supplied to an exposure table, and the photosensitive recording medium on the exposure table is exposed. The exposed photosensitive recording medium was stored in a buffer for two screens, and of the two images stored in the buffer, the first exposed image was supplied to the pressure developing device by the buffer. Thereafter, the photosensitive recording medium supplied to the exposure table is exposed to light while being pressure developed with the color developer sheet by a pressure developing device. Thereafter, the developed photosensitive recording medium is separated from the developer sheet by a separation device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the exposed photosensitive recording medium is supplied to the pressure developing device by the buffer and then separated from the developer sheet in the peeling device, the photosensitive recording medium is stored in the buffer. In order to prevent the later-exposed image from being supplied to the developing position among the two images, it is necessary to provide an interval between the two images on the photosensitive recording medium by the length from the developing position to the peeling position. There are problems such as the photosensitive recording medium that is not imaged is wasted and running costs increase.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by returning the photosensitive recording medium from the peeling position to the development position using a buffer that temporarily stores the exposed photosensitive recording medium, Eliminate waste of photosensitive recording media,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording device that can reduce running costs.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording device of the present invention develops a photosensitive recording medium for one image that has been exposed first among the two images stored in the storage means. and control means for controlling the storage means so as to feed the photosensitive recording medium supplied to the developing means from the peeling means to the developing means in a direction opposite to the supply direction. .

[Function] In the image recording apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the control means controls the development of the photosensitive recording medium for the first exposed image out of the two images stored in the storage means. after developing the image by the developing means,
The accumulating means is controlled so that the photosensitive recording medium supplied to the developing means is fed from the peeling means to the developing means in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.

[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 1 and a color image recording device 20 in a combined arrangement.

First, the monochrome laser printer 1 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 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. Typically, the monochrome laser printer 1 records data transmitted from a host computer.

The output from the laser printer 1 is sent to the paper path switching unit 10.
If a black and white image is required, it is fed to the monochrome output tray 11 or automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12; if a color image is required, it is fed to the ADF.
) After being sent to the ray 12, it is taken into the color image recording device 20. The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken one by one into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF sheet feed roller 13, and are outputted from the laser printer 1 as three sheets or a set of monochrome printed sheets. Mask original plate 15 (15R) of color image recording device 20
, 15iG, 15B).

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 tray 12 and the positioning device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21.

On both left and right sides of the alignment device 31, roller pairs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 whose rotational directions can be controlled, gates 28, 29, and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged.

A pair of glue curler rollers 101 is arranged in the middle of the mask original transport path 21 to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1. roller vs 2
On the outside of 6.27, 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, and this exposure device 41
It is movable in the left and right direction along 1. The exposure device 4
1 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflecting plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44.
It is composed of a filter unit 44 consisting of B.

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 from Publication No. 4, and includes a photocurable resin that hardens against light of each wavelength of red, gray, and blue, and cyan, magenta, and cyan. 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 the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 is placed on the exposure table 52.
and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

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.
2. It is arranged so as to be fixed. Also buffer 5
5 is controlled by a control unit 100 via a driving means such as a stepping motor.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by coating a base paper with a developer described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer-coated 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 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 installed 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.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the control configuration of this image recording apparatus.

The control unit 100 includes a buffer 55, a pressure roller 71, a cam 53, an exposure device 41, and a buffer 55, a pressure roller 71, a cam 53, an exposure device 41, A lamp 42 and a drive roller 57 are connected.

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 below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, a red mask original plate 15R is created by the monochrome laser printer 1. 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,
Gate 28 is located at the solid line position.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to an appropriate exposure position by the roller pair 32, and then uses a drive source (not shown) to read the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor. move it into place.

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.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 4
2 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 mask original 15R 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 exposure device 41
The filter unit 44 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and a green filter 44G is located above the lamp 42.

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,
F paper feed roller 13. When the recurler roller 101 passes through the 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 a direction to convey 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, gate 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. Thereafter, the lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After exposure,
The exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. Exposure device 4
1 is moved back to the original position and moves the filter unit 44 so that the blue filter 44B is located above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the monochrome laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the color image recording device 20, and in a state where it is conveyed just in front of the roller pair 24, the roller pair 24.22.25. 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 15B.

Through the above operations, a latent image of the desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50, and in step SL (hereinafter simply referred to as SL; the same applies to other steps), it is determined that the RGB exposure is complete. Ru.

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, and S2
is executed, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved by the drive roller 57.
is conveyed and stopped when the leading edge of the latent image comes just in front of the pressure roller 71. Next, step 83 is executed to move the buffer 55 from position K to position J, thereby storing the exposed photosensitive recording medium 50 on the buffer 55.

At this time, the unexposed portion of the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52 by the operation of the drive roller 57 and the buffer 55 . buffer 55
When the exposure table 52 is stopped at the position J, the exposure table 52 is lowered again to a predetermined position, 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 5.
It is fixed at 2. Further, when the buffer 55 is at position J, the rear end of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is located at the right end of the exposure table 52. Once the latent image is fixed, the next color image is exposed again. After the drive roller 57 stops, 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 developer sheet 60 corresponds to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. ,Stop.

Next, at 84, a second color image is exposed. 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 using the roller pairs 24, 22, 25, 27 and the alignment device. 31 roller pairs 32 and 33 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 50. 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 pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the device 31 are 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. Mask original plate 15R has roller pair 23
It is held by stopping the rotation of the pair of rollers 23 at a position where the rear end passes through the gate 28.

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 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. Forms a latent image of the image. As described above, it is determined in S4 whether the RGB exposure is completed.

Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position again, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated, and the S
At step 5, the buffer 55 is moved from position J to position 1, so that the second exposed photosensitive recording medium 50 is stored on the buffer 55 again. At this time, the photosensitive recording medium 5
The unexposed area of 0 is located below the exposure table 52 in the cartridge 5.
It is drawn out again from within 1. When the buffer 55 stops at position 1, the exposure table 52 is lowered again to a predetermined position, and the fixed roller 5 is attached to the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table.

Next, by a drive device (not shown), the pressure roller 71 of the pressure development device 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow and pressed against the pressure roller 71 to execute S6. Then, the -th exposed photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed under pressure while being overlapped with the previously fed color developer sheet 60, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are When destroyed by pressure, a color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is developed on the developer sheet 60. At the same time as the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow,
The buffer 55 moves in the direction of F, and S7 is executed.

The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a separation roller 64 and guided toward a heat fixing device 80 . In S8, when the buffer 55 is located at J, the development of the previously exposed image is completed, and the pressure roller 71 of the pressure development device 70 is separated while being rotated in the direction of the arrow, and S9 is executed. After development is completed, S
10, when the buffer is at position j, the color developer sheet 60 is separated from the photosensitive recording medium 5 by the separation roller 64.
Peeling from 0 is completed. When the rear end of the color developer sheet 60 is completely peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of E in S11 and removes the second latent image at the position of the separation roller 64. The photosensitive recording medium 50 at the leading end is moved to the position of the pressure developing device 70. S1
2, when the buffer is located at position J, the leading edge of the second latent image is at the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70. .

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.

When the pressure development of the -th sheet is completed, the developer sheet 60 for the next image is fed. Further, the buffer 55 is located at J, and the leading end of the latent image on the second sheet is located at the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70.

After the leading edge of the color developer sheet 60 has been conveyed to the position corresponding to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50, if the exposure in S13 is not performed, the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is used to expose the sheet to light. The recording medium 50 and the color developer sheet 60 are subjected to pressure development, and S14 is executed. At the same time that the pressure development of the latent image on the second sheet starts, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position, and the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated.

After the buffer 55 reaches the initial position K during the two-sheet pressure development, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pulled out from the cartridge 51 again. After pressure development, the color developer sheet 60 is guided to a thermal fixing device 80 and thermally fixed. 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 color gloss processing, 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 of the -th latent image is being performed. , while the buffer 55 is moving from I to J to J, exposure processing for the next color image can be performed at the exposure location. If the photosensitive recording medium 50 has been exposed when starting the development of the second sheet, it is determined as YES in S13, and the second sheet is not developed and the exposure stage 52 and the fixed roller 56 are exposed. Keep the recording medium stationary. After the RGB exposure by 84 is completed, the buffer 55 is moved from J to I again in the same way as when exposing two images, and the previous image is developed after storing two images.

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 to the paper discharge tray 30 using the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26.

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.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, exposed photosensitive recording media for two images are stored, and the previously exposed photosensitive recording medium for one image is transferred to the developing means. By using the supply storage means to return the photosensitive recording medium supplied to the developing means from the peeling position to the development position, it is possible to eliminate wastage of the photosensitive recording medium and reduce running costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 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 block diagram showing the control section, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart. In the figure, 20 is a color image recording device, 41 is an exposure device, and 5
0 is a photosensitive recording medium, 52 is an exposure table, 55 is a buffer, 5
6 is a fixed roller, 6o is a color developer sheet, 64 is a separation roller, 70 is a pressure developing device, and 100 is a control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Photosensitive recording medium (50) supplied to exposure table (52)
a fixing means (56) for fixing the fixing means (56);
an exposure means (41) for exposing the photosensitive recording medium (50) fixed by the photosensitive recording medium (50);
); and a storage means (55) for storing the storage means (
A developing means (7) for developing the photosensitive recording medium (50) accumulated on the photosensitive recording medium (55) onto the supplied color developer sheet (60).
0) and a peeling means (64) for peeling off the photosensitive recording medium (50) developed by the developing means (70) from the developer sheet (60), Among the two images stored in the means (55), the photosensitive recording medium (50) for one image that was exposed earlier is supplied to the developing means (70), and the photosensitive recording medium (50) is supplied to the developing means (70). The photosensitive recording medium (50) is removed by the peeling means (64).
) to the developing means (70) in a direction opposite to the supplying direction.