JPH0493932A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make constitution simple and to reduce the error rate of reading a bar code by allowing a read sensor to read the bar code when the trailing edge of a mask original plate is detected by a paper sensor. CONSTITUTION:The mask original plate for red is formed by a monochrome laser printer 1. The bar code designating red light is printed on the mask original plate. The mask original plate outputted from the printer 1 is transferred to an ADF tray 12 and fed to a color image recorder 20 by an ADF paper feeding roller 13. When the trailing edge of the mask original plate 15 is detected by the paper sensor with the feed of the mask original plate, at such a time, a bar code sensor reads the bar code printed on the mask original plate 15 to store that it is the original plate 15 which is exposed to the red light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that obtains an image using a mask original.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of image recording device, a paper sensor for detecting a jam of a mask original and a barcode reading sensor are installed with almost no distance between each other, and A barcode was printed nearby. The barcode is read after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the paper sensor detects the leading edge of the mask original, that is, when the mask original is transported, the barcode is read as the barcode on the rear end of the mask original. The barcode was read after the sensor was compatible.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the barcode is read after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the paper sensor detects the leading edge of the mask original, an error is likely to occur in the distance conveyed within the predetermined time, and the bar code is I often misread the code.

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 has a simple configuration and has a low rate of misreading barcodes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a paper sensor for detecting the trailing edge of the mask original, and a paper sensor that is arranged at a predetermined distance from the paper sensor in the conveying direction of the mask original. and the barcode reading sensor arranged apart from each other.

[Operation] In the image recording apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration, when the paper sensor detects the trailing edge of the mask original, the reading sensor reads the barcode.

[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. Monochrome laser printer 1
Inside, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates laser light onto the charged photoconductor 3, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The photoreceptor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed in a developing device 4, and is then developed on plain paper or OHP paper fed from a paper feed cassette 5.
The toner image is transferred onto the sheet and fixed by a fixing device 6.

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

If a black and white image is required, the output from the monochrome laser printer 1 is fed to a monochrome output tray 11 or an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12 at the paper bus switching unit 10, where a color image is output. If necessary, the image is sent to the ADF)-ray 12 and then 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 paper feed roller 13, and a set of three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the monochrome laser printer 1 is formed. The original mask 15 (15R, 15G) of the color image recording device 20
, 15B).

The ADF is provided with a paper sensor 103 that detects a jam etc. of the mask original 15 along the conveyance path of the mask original 15, and a barcode sensor 104 that reads a barcode 108 printed on the mask original 15. 1
03 and the barcode sensor 104 are installed separated by a length, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mask original plate 15 includes alignment marks 105 for alignment, color-separated image data 106, and a position that is a distance from the rear end of the mask original plate 15. Barcode 1 placed towards the edge
08 is printed on each. The barcode 10
8 records the color of light for exposing the original mask 15 and the number of copies to be made using the original mask 15.

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 the left and right sides of the positioning device 31, there are pairs of rollers 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, whose rotational direction can be controlled.
Gates 28 and 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 monochrome laser printer 1. The used mask original plate 15 is placed on the outside of the roller pair 26 and 27.
There is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the original mask.

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.
The device photosensitive recording medium 50 constituted by the filter unit 44 consisting of
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.

Further, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 has been lowered to a predetermined position, and is configured to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52 during exposure of the mask original 15. It is located.

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, 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 that overlay a color 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 obtaining a plurality of color images from one set of mask originals 15 will be described next.

First, a mask original plate 15R for red is created using a monochrome laser printer l. A barcode 108 instructing red light is printed on this mask original plate 15R. 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 5o in order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor. be.

At this time, the mask original 15R output from the monochrome laser printer 1 is sent to the ADF tray 12, and
The paper is fed into the color image recording device 20 by the F paper feed roller 13. At this time, when the paper sensor 103 detects the rear end of the mask original 15 as the mask original 15R is fed, the barcode sensor 104 reads the barcode 108 printed on the mask original 15 (see FIG. 3). ), the mask original plate 15 is to be exposed to red light.

In this embodiment, as soon as the paper sensor 103 detects the rear end of the mask original 15, the barcode sensor 104 reads the barcode 108 printed on the mask original 15. The probability of misreading the barcode 108 is low. Furthermore, since the paper sensor 103 that detects the rear end of the mask original 15 also serves as a sensor that detects jams, etc., no special sensor is required.

Mask original plate 1i fed into color image recording device 20
5R passes through the mask original transport path 21 and passes through the roller pair 24.2.
2 to the alignment device 31. in the middle,
The curl of the mask original 15R is corrected by the recurler 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 uses a drive source (not shown) to read the alignment mark 105 printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor, and then Move 15R 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.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42 is turned on, and the exposure device 41 moves in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light via the red filter 44R and the mask original 15R. Scanning exposure is performed in the direction of . When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 41 moves back in the direction of arrow B. And the exposure device 4
1 filter unit 44 is moved by a drive source (not shown), and above the lamp 42 is a green filter 44G.
is located.

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 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. On the way, mask original version 15
As G is fed, the paper sensor 103 detects the mask original 1.
5, the barcode sensor 104 reads the barcode 108 printed on the mask original 15 in the same way as the mask original 15R, and memorizes that the mask original 15 is to be exposed with green light. . At this time,
The gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines, 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. be done.

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 is conveyed just before the roller pair 24. 22.degree. 25.26 and the roller pair 32.degree. 33 of the positioning 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 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. During the feeding of the mask original 15B, when the paper sensor 103 detects the rear end of the mask original 15, the barcode sensor 104 detects the barcode 108 printed on the mask original 15 in the same manner as the mask original 15R. is read and stored as the mask master plate 15 to be exposed with Brun's light.

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. It is held by stopping the rotation of 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 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 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 roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is pressed against the roller 71 while being rotated in the direction of the arrow by a well-known drive device (not shown). 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 fixed to the exposure table 52. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is the developer sheet 6
The uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is formed on the 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 a heat fixing device 80.

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 6o 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 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, 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 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 mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 is sent to the alignment device 31, and the same operation is performed to place the mask original 15G on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent color image is formed on the developer sheet 60, and a color image is formed on the developer sheet 60.

By repeating the same operation, one set of mask originals 1
5, a predetermined number of color images indicated by the barcode 108 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.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, a paper sensor for detecting the trailing edge of the mask original plate and a paper sensor separated from the paper sensor by a predetermined distance in the conveying direction of the mask original plate are provided. Since the barcode reading sensor is provided, when the paper sensor detects the rear end of the mask original plate, the reading sensor can read the barcode. This has the excellent effect of reducing the error rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show embodiments embodying the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mask original. 3 is a diagram showing the output waveforms of the paper sensor and the barcode sensor. 15 ・ 20 ・ 41 ・ 50 ・ 103 ・ 104 ・ 108 Mask original color image recording device Exposure device Photosensitive recording medium Paper sensor barcode Sensor barcode Patent applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. President Yoshihiro Subaru

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an image recording device using a mask original plate on which a bar code indicating image information and information on the color of light to be exposed, etc. is printed at a predetermined position: An image recording apparatus comprising: a paper sensor; and a barcode reading sensor disposed at a predetermined distance from the paper sensor in the conveyance direction of the mask original.