JPH05164982A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the image recorder inexpensive, to enhance aging stability and to enable processing in a relatively light room by using a light beam source which emits recording light having specific wavelength. CONSTITUTION:A light beam scanning part 12 deflects the recording light L in a main scanning direction shown by an arrow (a) and a conveyance part 14 conveys a photosensitive material A in a subscanning direction (arrow b) almost at right angles to the main scanning direction to scan the photosensitive material A with the recording light L in two dimensions, thereby recording an image over the entire surface of the photosensitive material A. In this case, the light beam scanning part 12 deflects the recording light L, modulated according to image information, in the main scanning direction and makes it incident on the photosensitive material A, and is basically constituted by arranging various optical elements on a base 11. The recording light L is a light beam of 400-440nm in wavelength and emitted by the light beam source 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses recording light having a wavelength of 400
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus which applies a light beam in the visible light region of ˜440 nm and records an image on a photosensitive material having sensitivity to the light beam in this wavelength region.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing plate making apparatus, a laser beam printer,
As an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, various studies and practical use have been made of an image recording apparatus of a so-called raster scan system in which a light beam deflected one-dimensionally is applied.

In such an image recording apparatus, recording light carrying image information emitted from a light source such as a semiconductor laser or a gas laser is deflected in a main scanning direction by an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror or a galvanometer mirror. It is incident on the photosensitive material. On the other hand, the photosensitive material includes
It is conveyed in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction by moving (conveying) means of an image recording device such as an exposure drum. Therefore, as a result, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned by the recording light, and the entire surface of the photosensitive material is exposed to perform image recording.

As the photosensitive material applied to such an image recording apparatus, various photosensitive materials such as a silver salt photographic photosensitive material and an electrophotographic photosensitive material are used. In particular, in recent years, in addition to high image quality, attention has been paid to photopolymer photosensitive materials in terms of ease of handling such as development and stability of photosensitive materials, and application to printing plate making equipment such as laser direct plate making system. Is being considered.

[0005]

In an image recording apparatus to which such a raster scan is applied, a chemically and physically stable and inexpensive sensitizer or polymerization initiator can be used, and it is relatively bright. It is desirable to use a light-sensitive material having sensitivity to visible light, especially to a low wavelength side close to the ultraviolet region, for reasons such as enabling work in a room.

As an image recording apparatus for exposing a light-sensitive material having sensitivity in the visible region by raster scanning, a system in which an Ar ⁺ laser for emitting a light beam having a wavelength of 488 nm is used as a light source for recording light has been known. And has been variously developed as an image recording device for the above-mentioned photopolymer photosensitive material.

However, since the Ar ⁺ laser is large,
The image recording device itself becomes large. Further, since the luminous efficiency is low, the power consumption is large and a large amount of heat is generated, so that a cooling means such as a water cooling device is required.

Furthermore, in an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a photopolymer photosensitive material using an Ar ⁺ laser as a light source, the wavelength of 488 nm is longer than the photosensitive wavelength originally possessed by the photopolymer, so that it is expensive and complicated. A sensitizer is required, which leads to a decrease in temporal stability of the photopolymer photosensitive material and an increase in cost.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. By applying a light beam light source which emits recording light having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm, it is inexpensive and has excellent stability over time. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus which enables use of a light-sensitive material excellent in handling workability, which enables good workability and cost reduction of image formation. Preferably, by using a light beam light source composed of a semiconductor laser and a wavelength converter that resonates the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser inside the SHG element to perform wavelength conversion, downsizing of the device and low cost can be achieved. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of realizing high power consumption and low power consumption.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light beam light source for emitting recording light, and an optical deflector for deflecting the recording light emitted from the light beam light source in the main scanning direction. , And moving means for moving the photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material is moved in the sub-scanning direction, and two-dimensionally by the recording light deflected in the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus for recording an image on this photosensitive material by scanning the light beam, wherein the light beam light source is a light beam light source for emitting recording light having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm. I will provide a.

Further, it is preferable that the light beam light source is composed of a semiconductor laser for emitting a light beam and a wavelength converter for resonating the light beam inside the SHG element for wavelength conversion.

Further, it is preferable to apply a photopolymer photosensitive material as the photosensitive material.

[0013]

The image recording apparatus of the present invention two-dimensionally scans the photosensitive material which moves in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction by the light beam (recording light) deflected in the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus that applies so-called raster scanning, which performs image recording, is a light beam light source that emits recording light having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm as a light beam light source, for example, a semiconductor laser and a semiconductor laser A light beam light source configured by a wavelength converter that resonates the emitted light beam inside the SHG element to perform wavelength conversion is applied.

Therefore, it is possible to work in a relatively bright room by using a cheap sensitizer or a polymerization initiator which is chemically and physically stable and is inexpensive as a light-sensitive material. It is possible to use a photosensitive material having excellent sensitivity to visible light, particularly to a low wavelength side close to the ultraviolet region, and it is possible to perform image recording with excellent workability and cost performance using an inexpensive photosensitive material.

In particular, the image recording apparatus of the present invention is capable of recording high-quality images and is easy to handle. Even when it is used for a photopolymer photosensitive material expected to have a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm. Is very close to the photosensitizing wavelength of the photopolymer, and it is possible to use an inexpensive photopolymer photosensitive material having excellent stability over time without using an expensive and complicated sensitizer or polymerization initiator.

Further, it is preferable to use, as the light beam light source, a semiconductor laser and a wavelength converter that resonates the light beam inside the SHG element to perform wavelength conversion, whereby the apparatus is downsized and the cost is reduced. Further, it is possible to realize an image recording apparatus that can be made more compact and consume less power.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 conceptually shows a perspective view of an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. The image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as the recording apparatus 10) is an image recording apparatus to which raster scanning is applied, which basically includes a light beam scanning unit 12 and a conveying unit 14. In such a recording apparatus 10, the recording beam L is deflected by the light beam scanning unit 12 in the main scanning direction indicated by an arrow a in the drawing,
On the other hand, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned by the recording light L by transporting the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction by the transport unit 14.
Image recording is performed on the entire surface of the photosensitive material A.

The light beam scanning unit 12 deflects the recording light L modulated in accordance with image information in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material A
And is basically configured by arranging various optical elements on the base 11.

In the illustrated recording apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the recording light L is a light beam having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm, which is emitted from the light beam light source 16. With such a structure, that is, by applying a light beam having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm as recording light, it is possible to apply a light-sensitive material that is inexpensive, has excellent stability over time, and has excellent handling workability, and has good workability and image quality. As described above, the recording apparatus 10 capable of reducing the cost of formation can be realized.

As such a light beam light source, various ones capable of emitting a light beam of the above wavelength are applicable, but the light beam light source 16 of the illustrated example emits a light beam La as a preferable mode. A semiconductor laser and an SHG of potassium niobate (KNbO ₃ ) etc.
It is composed of a wavelength converter that resonates inside the element to perform wavelength conversion. That is, in this light beam light source, the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser is incident on the SHG element to obtain the second harmonic of the light beam, and the light beam is resonated inside the SHG element. ,
A light beam (laser light) of a short wavelength is obtained with high output.

By applying the light beam light source 16 having the above structure, wavelengths 400 to 440, which could not be obtained using a gas laser such as an Ar ⁺ laser in the related art.
A light beam (laser light) with a short wavelength of nm can be obtained with a small and inexpensive light source and high output.

FIG. 2 conceptually shows an example of such a light beam light source 16. Light beam source 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a semiconductor laser 18 (hereinafter referred to as LD 18) that emits a light beam La, a lens 20, a ring resonator 22 formed in a bulk structure using an SHG element,
PZT for allowing the ring resonator 22 to be slightly changed
The element 24 and the second harmonic emitted from the ring resonator 22 are transmitted to form the recording light L, and the fundamental wave (light beam La) of the LD 11 which is the leakage light from the ring resonator 22 is reflected. For dichroic mirror 2 for feedback
6, the photodetector 28 for detecting the light beam La reflected by the dichroic mirror 26, the optical signal detected by the photodetector 28, and the PZT element 24 based on the signal obtained by the signal processing. Drive the ring resonator 2
Signal processing circuit 3 that slightly changes 2 to change the optical path length
It consists of 0 and.

Although not shown, it is preferable that the optical system is assembled on a base material such as Super Invar, which has almost no thermal expansion. As a result, the signal processing circuit 30 may not be necessary at all in an environment where the temperature does not change much.

Although the LD 18 generally uses a single vertical mode, it has a vertical / horizontal mode / multimode LD.
It is also possible to use a single mode obtained by injection locking. By using this method for a multimode laser with high emission intensity, a vertical single-mode light beam with high intensity can be obtained. Light wavelength conversion is proportional to the square of the light intensity. Therefore, by applying the LD 18 that oscillates in the multimode as described above, the intensity of the oscillated light can be increased, so that the highly efficient second harmonic can be obtained.

In the light beam light source 16 of the illustrated example, the light beam La emitted from the LD 18 is made incident on the ring type resonator 22 using an SHG element crystal such as KNbO _{3 and} the second harmonic of the light beam La. Get the waves. For example, LD
A GaAlAs diode laser having an oscillation wavelength of about 860 nm is used as 18, and KNbO ₃ is used as the SHG element of the ring resonator 22 to obtain about 430 nm.
It is possible to emit (blue) light having a wavelength of from the ring resonator 22 and use it as the recording light L.

The operation of maximizing the resonance internal power of the resonator in this configuration will be described. The light beam La emitted from the LD 18 passes through the lens 20 and the ring type resonator 2
It is incident on 2 and resonates. As a result, since the internal power becomes high, the optical wavelength La of the light beam La is converted into the second harmonic with high efficiency in the SHG element crystal. Of the light emitted from the ring resonator 22, the leak light (that is, the light beam La that is the fundamental wave) leaking from the ring resonator 22 is reflected by the dichroic mirror 26 and enters the photodetector 28. On the other hand, only the second harmonic is the dichroic mirror 26.
And transmitted as the recording light L.

The photodetector 28 sends a signal corresponding to the intensity of the obtained light beam La to the signal processing circuit 30, and the signal processing circuit 30 keeps the ring type resonance so that the light intensity of the laser beam is always constant. The PZT element 24, which is provided on the back surface (or bottom surface) of the container 22 and finely adjusts the position of the mirror, is controlled to eliminate the fluctuation of the optical path length due to the fluctuation of air on the optical path of the light beam La so that the optical path length is constant. Adjust so that The signal processing circuit 30 is achieved by using a known technique capable of stabilizing control.

Here, the ring type resonator 22, which is a main part of the light beam light source 16, will be described below.

The ring type resonator 22 in the illustrated example has a bulk type resonance structure. The ring type resonator 22 having the bulk type resonator structure has various modes. First, as shown in FIG. 3, two SHG elements are joined by optical cement 32 to form a ring type bulk resonator structure. The type resonator 22A is exemplified.

In this structure, by joining the two SHG element portions with the optical cement 32, Fresnel reflection is caused by the difference in the refractive index between the optical cement 32 and the SHG element, and the return light Lb to the LD 18 is generated. Is generated. By applying such return light Lb, the emission wavelength of the light beam La emitted from the LD 18 can be stabilized. Inside the resonator, the second harmonic of the light beam La is reflected, and the ring resonator 2
Resonance occurs through a predetermined optical path inside 2A, that is, optical paths A _1, A _2, A _{3, and} A ₄ .

As another example of the ring type resonator, a bulk type resonator structure shown in FIG. 4 is exemplified. The ring resonator 22B has glass portions 36 and 38 having end faces of a predetermined shape made of optical glass on both sides of the core of the SHG element 34.
And the return light Lb is generated by the SHG element 34.
Surface H ₁ between the glass and the glass portion 36 and the SHG element 34
Is generated from the joint surface H ₂ between the glass part 38 and the glass part 38. In this example, since the SHG element 34 has a simple shape, there is an advantage that the bulk resonator structure can be easily formed. Further, since the mirror is made of the glass portions 36 and 38, the processing is easy and the cost can be reduced.

As another example of the ring resonator, a hemispherical V-shaped ring resonator 22C shown in FIG. 5 is exemplified. The ring resonator 22C is obtained by processing a SHG element, for example, KNbO ₃ into a hemispherical shape.

The light beam La from the LD18 is incident on the ring resonator 22C, first is reflected by the spherical surface through the optical path A _1, the return light path A _1, is internally reflected then in plane optical path A _It travels back and forth through ₂ , passes through the spherical surface again through the optical path A ₁ , and becomes emitted light. At this time, a part of the light that resonates in a V shape inside becomes the return light Lb.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the ring resonator. The ring resonator 22D shown in FIG. 6 is designed so that the SHG element has a predetermined resonator shape, and light is incident on the internal reflection surface at a critical angle to be totally reflected. Diffraction grating 4 for generating return light Lb on the upper surface
0 is provided. The diffraction grating 40 is a phase type grating (gla) that returns 100% of incoming light.
ting) is preferably used.

A mechanism for generating the return light Lb in the diffraction grating 40 shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. At the internal reflection surface of the resonator shown in FIG. 7, when light is incident at a critical angle and is totally reflected, an evanescent wave is transmitted from the resonator side to the external space side. Therefore, the light internally reflected can be interpreted as being reflected to some extent from the reflection surface (boundary surface) to the outside (external space side). In this case, by disposing the diffraction grating 40 at a predetermined minute distance h outside the resonator at a position corresponding to the reflection surface, light energy is transmitted to the diffraction grating 40 by the tunnel effect and is incident on the reflection surface. Part of the emitted light becomes return light with a predetermined efficiency. The generation efficiency of the return light Lb can be controlled by adjusting the size of the minute distance h.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the ring type resonator 22 is used.
The light beam La incident on D is reflected by the internal reflection paths A ₁ , A ₂ ,
The second harmonic wave is emitted to the outside of the resonator through A ₃ and A ₄ . The return light Lb is generated by the diffraction grating 40 when changing from the path A ₂ to the path A _3, and the internal path B ₁ ,
It is emitted to the outside of the resonator through B ₂ .

The position where the diffraction grating 40 is arranged is shown in FIG.
However, the ring resonator 22E shown in FIG. 8 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 8, since the coating layer provided on the end face from which the second harmonic wave of the laser light is emitted slightly transmits light (for example, about 2%), optical energy is transmitted to the diffraction grating 40. Return light is generated by the diffraction grating 40. The return light generation efficiency is
It can be adjusted by appropriately controlling the reflection efficiency of the diffraction grating.

Further, in the structure shown in FIG. 7, the light beam La incident on the ring type resonator 22E passes through the internal reflection paths A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ and A ₄ to the second harmonic outside the resonator. Emitted as a wave. The return light Lb is generated by the diffraction grating 40 when changing from the path A ₁ to the path A _2, and is emitted to the outside of the resonator through the internal path.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the ring resonator. The ring type resonator 22F shown in FIG. 9 has an SHG element having a predetermined resonator shape, and further has a reflectance of 80 to 99.9% with respect to the fundamental wave (light beam La) on the end face on which the light beam La is incident. The coating layer 42 having a reflectance of 80 to 100% for the second harmonic,
A coating layer 44 having a reflectance of 80 to 99.9% for the light beam La and a reflectance of 80 to 99.9% for the second harmonic is formed on the end face from which the second harmonic is emitted. ..

Coating layer 4 having such special properties
By providing 2 and 44, the ring resonator 22
In this structure, the light beam La is resonated inside F and the second harmonic generated by the resonance of the light beam La is also resonated. Therefore, the phase of the second harmonic is uniform, the spectral density is high, and the second harmonic is emitted by a single reflection of the ring, and the second harmonic is also emitted by multiple reflections. In addition, it is possible to obtain the second harmonic of high-power laser light having a high energy density, a narrow band width, and the desired direction.

It is needless to say that such a coating layer may be formed on the ring type resonator shown in FIGS. Further, the ring type resonator 22 of the illustrated example
In a preferable mode of F, the diffraction grating 40 similar to that in the example shown in FIG. 6 is arranged on the internal reflection surface on which the coating layer is not provided.

Recording light L emitted from the light beam light source 16
Then enters an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 50,
It is modulated according to the recorded image. A memory 52 and a CPU 54 are connected to the AOM 50. The signal of the recorded image is input to the CPU 54, and the image signal is transferred to the memory 52. The memory 52 transfers the modulation signal corresponding to the image signal to the AOM 50, and the recording light L is transmitted by the AOM 50.
Are modulated according to the recorded image.

Recording light L modulated by AOM50
Is then collimated by the beam collimator 51 and reflected in a predetermined direction by the mirrors 53, 56 and 58, and the polygon mirror 6 which is an optical deflector.
It is incident on 0 and is deflected in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow a).
The optical deflector applied to the image recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the polygon mirror 60, and various known optical deflectors such as a resonant scanner and a galvanometer mirror can be applied.

The recording light L deflected in the main scanning direction is fθ
The image forming position is adjusted by the lens 62, and the long mirror 6
4 is reflected upward by the cylindrical mirror 66.
It is reflected downward while the optical path is adjusted by the base 11
The light enters the photosensitive material A through the slit 68 formed in the.

The photosensitive material A is transported by the transport unit 14 in the sub-scanning direction (arrow b direction) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction (arrow a direction). Therefore, as a result, the recording light L two-dimensionally scans the photosensitive material A, and it becomes possible to record an image on the entire surface.

In the conveying section 14 of the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the photosensitive material A is fixed at a predetermined position on the exposure table 70, and the exposure table 70 is moved in the sub scanning direction by a screw transmission device. The photosensitive material A is sub-scanned and conveyed.

The screw transmission device includes a motor unit 72 including a motor, a speed reducer, a coupling, etc., a screw shaft 74, a nut screwed to the screw shaft 74 arranged on the lower surface of the exposure table 70, and its fixing. When the motor unit 72 rotates the screw shaft 74 at a predetermined speed, the nut, that is, the exposure table 70 moves at a predetermined speed in the sub-scanning direction, and conveys the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction.

The method of fixing the photosensitive material A to the exposure table 70 is not particularly limited, and any known method such as suction method, electrostatic attraction, magnet application method, various jig methods and the like can be used. Applicable. Further, the moving means of the exposure table 70 is not limited to the one using the screw transmission device of the illustrated example, and a rack and pinion, a winding transmission device, etc.
Any known exposure table moving means can be applied.

The conveying unit 14 of the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention is not limited to the one using the exposure table 70 as shown in the drawing, but a known conveying apparatus using nip rollers, a method of applying an exposure drum, and the like. Any of the sheet-shaped material conveying devices can be applied. Further, the photosensitive material A is not limited to a sheet-like material, and needless to say, may be an image recording apparatus to which an electrophotographic photosensitive member such as an ordinary electrophotographic copying machine or a photosensitive drum is applied. Is.

The image recording apparatus 10 thus exposes the photosensitive material A with the recording light L having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm to record an image. This makes it possible to use the photosensitive material A that is inexpensive, has excellent stability over time, and has excellent handling workability, and enables good workability and cost reduction of image formation.

As the applicable photosensitive material A, a photopolymer photosensitive material, a silver salt photographic photosensitive material, a photoresist,
Known photosensitive materials having sensitivity in this wavelength region, such as electrophotographic photosensitive materials, or various photosensitive materials to which a sensitizer or the like is added if necessary can be used. In addition, the photopolymer photosensitive material is preferably applied in terms of easiness of handling such as development and stability of the photosensitive material.

The photopolymer is a polymer compound which changes from a monomer (monomer) to a polymer (polymer) upon irradiation with light, and is usually a photopolymerizable monomer or prepolymer (ie, (A dimer, a trimer and an oligomer), or a mixture thereof and a copolymer thereof (hereinafter collectively referred to as a photopolymerizable compound) to which a sensitizer or a polymerization initiator is added. Is. The photopolymer light-sensitive material is a material in which such a photopolymer layer is formed on a support such as aluminum.

The applicable photopolymerizable compound is not particularly limited, and various known compounds can be applied.
As an example, at least one terminal ethylenically unsaturated bond is used.
The main component is a monomer having one, preferably two or more, a prepolymer (that is, a dimer, a trimer and an oligomer), or a mixture thereof, and a copolymer thereof.

Examples of such a photopolymerizable compound include:
Esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids (for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, maleic acid, etc.) with aliphatic polyhydric alcohol compounds,
Examples thereof include amides of unsaturated carboxylic acids and aliphatic polyamine compounds.

Specific examples of the monomer of the ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol compound include acrylic acid esters such as ethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,
3-butanediol diacrylate, tetramethylene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, trimethylolbutane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane (acryloyloxypropyl) ether, trimethylolethane triacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, etc .;

Methacrylic acid esters include tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, neopentyl glycol methacrylate, trimethylolpropane methacrylate,
Trimethylolethane trimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, hexanediol dimethacrylate,
Pentaerythritol dimethacrylate etc .;

As the itaconic acid ester, ethylene glycol diitaconate, propylene glycol diitaconate, 1,3-butanediol diitaconate,
1,4-butanediol diitaconate, tetramethylene glycol diitaconate, pentaerythritol diitaconate, etc .;

As the crotonic acid ester, ethylene glycol dicrotonate, tetramethylene glycol dicrotonate, pentaerythritol dicrotonate,
Sorbitol tetradicrotonate, etc .;

Examples of the isocrotonic acid ester include ethylene glycol diisocrotonate, pentaerythritol diisocrotonate, sorbitol tetraisocrotonate and the like;

Suitable examples of the maleic acid ester include ethylene glycol dimaleate, triethylene glycol dimaleate, pentaerythritol dimaleate and sorbitol tetramaleate.

On the other hand, specific examples of the amide monomer of an aliphatic polyvalent amine and an unsaturated carboxylic acid include methylenebis-acrylamide, methylenebis-methacrylamide, 1,6-hexamethylenebis-acrylamide,
Preferable examples are 1,6-hexamethylenebis-methacrylamide, diethylenetriaminetrisacrylamide, xylylenebisacrylamide, xylylenebismethacrylamide and the like.

As the photopolymerizable compound, Japanese Patent Publication No.
One molecule obtained by adding a vinyl monomer having a hydroxyl group represented by the following general formula [A] to a polyisocyanate compound having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule disclosed in JP-A-8-41708. Preferable examples are vinyl urethane compounds containing two or more polymerizable vinyl groups. CH ₂ ═C (R) COOCH ₂ CH (R ′) OH [A] (In the above formula [A], R and R ′ represent H or CH _3. )

Further, urethane acrylates disclosed in JP-A-51-37193 and JP-A-48-64 are disclosed.
No. 183, Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-431191, Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-
Polyfunctional acrylates and methacrylates such as polyester acrylates and epoxy acrylates obtained by reacting an epoxy resin with (meth) acrylic acid, which are disclosed in each publication of No. 30490, are also suitably applicable. Also, Japan Adhesive Association magazine vol.20 No.7 300-30
The photocurable monomers and oligomers disclosed on page 8 (1984) are also suitably applicable.

A photopolymer is formed by mixing such a photopolymerizable compound with various solvents and sensitizers described later, if necessary, and the compound is used in an amount of 5 relative to all components. It is about 50% by weight, preferably about 10-40% by weight.

The photopolymer is formed by mixing the above-mentioned various photopolymerizable compounds with a polymerization initiator, a sensitizer, etc., which are added if necessary. The polymerization initiator and sensitizer to be applied may be appropriately selected according to the wavelength of the recording light L and the photopolymerizable compound and are not particularly limited. However, wavelength 400-4
Since the light beam of 40 nm is used as the recording light L, even if the light beam of the wavelength of 488 nm emitted from the conventional Ar ⁺ laser is used as the recording light, the composition is simple and stable, and the polymerization can be initiated at a low cost. Of course, the agents and sensitizers are applicable.

For example, as described above, in the light beam light source 16, the LD 18 is a G having an oscillation wavelength of about 860 nm.
When KNbO ₃ is used as the SHG element of the ring type resonator 22 and an optical beam of about 430 nm is used as the recording light L, the sensitizer is a benzophenone derivative, a thioxanthone derivative, a cyanine group, a merocyanine group, Various types of dyes such as a system, a coumarin type, and a xanthene type can be applied. In particular,
Preferable examples are 9-phenylacridine and compounds represented by the following formula.

[0068]

[Chemical 1]

In this case (when the light beam of about 430 nm is used as the recording light L), the polymerization initiator is a trihalomethyl-S-triazine compound, an aromatic onium salt,
Organic peroxide, hexaarylbiimidazole derivative,
A borate compound and the like are preferably exemplified.

Specifically, as the trihalomethyl-S-triazine compound, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japa by Wakabayashi et al.
n, 42, 2924 (1969), for example, 2-phenyl-4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2- (p-chlorophenyl) -4,6-bis (trichloromethyl). ) -S-Triazine, 2- (p-methoxyphenyl) -4,6-bis (trichloromethyl)
-S-triazine;

The compounds disclosed in British Patent No. 1388492, such as 2-styryl-4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2- (p-methylstyryl) -4,6-bis. (Trichloromethyl)-
S-triazine, 2- (p-methoxystyryl) -4,
6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2-
(P-Methoxystyryl) -4-amino-6-trichloromethyl-S-triazine;

The compounds disclosed in JP-A-53-133428, such as 2- (4-methoxy-naphth-1-yl) -4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2- (4 -Ethoxy-naphth-1-yl) -4,
6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine, 2-
[4- (2-Ethoxyethyl) -naphth-1-yl]-
4,6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine,
2- (4,7-dimethoxy-naphth-1-yl) -4,
6-bis (trichloromethyl) -S-triazine; and the like are preferably exemplified.

Further, as the aromatic onium salt, an element of groups 5B, 6B and 7B of the periodic table, specifically,
Aromatic onium salts of N, P, As, Sb, Bi, O, S, Se, Te and I are applicable, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-
No. 14277, No. 52-14278, No. 52-142
Examples thereof include compounds represented by the following formulas, which are disclosed in each publication of No. 79.

[0074]

[Chemical 2]

As the organic peroxide, "O-
Almost all organic compounds having one or more “O” bonds are applicable, and specifically, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, cyclohexanone peroxide,
3,3,5-Trimethylcyclohexanone peroxide, methylcyclohexanone peroxide, acetylacetone peroxide, 1,1-bis (tert-butylperoxy) -3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone, 2,2-bis (tert- Butyl peroxy) butane,
Examples thereof include tert-butyl hydroperoxide, succinic acid peroxide, and benzoyl peroxide.

As the hexaarylbiimidazole derivative, 2,2'-bis (o-chlorophenyl) -4,
4 ', 5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,
2'-bis (o-bromophenyl) -4,4 ', 5
5'-Tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2'-bis (o, p-dichlorophenyl) -4,4 ', 5,5'-
Tetraphenyl biimidazole, 2,2'-bis (o-
Chlorophenyl) -4,4 ', 5,5'-tetra (m-
Methoxyphenyl) biimidazole, 2,2'-bis (o, o'-dichlorophenyl) -4,4 ', 5,5'
-Tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2'-bis (o
-Nitrophenyl) -4,4 ', 5,5'-tetra (m
-Methoxyphenyl) biimidazole, 2,2'-bis (o-trifluoromethylphenyl) -4,4 ', 5
Examples include 5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole and the like.

Further, as the borate compound, compounds represented by the following general formula can be preferably applied.

[0078]

[Chemical 3]

(In the above general formula, R¹ , R² , R³ 
And R^Four Can be the same or different from each other, which
Substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted, respectively
Aryl group, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl group, substituted
Or an unsubstituted alkynyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted
Represents a heterocyclic group. R¹ , R² , R³ And R^Four Haso
Two or more groups of the above may combine to form a cyclic structure.
However, R¹ , R² , R ³ And R^Four At least of
One is an alkyl group. Also, Z⁺ Is an alkali metal
Indicates a thione or quaternary ammonium cation. )

Examples of such borate compounds include US Pat. Nos. 3,567,453 and 4,343,891,
European Patent Nos. 109,772 and 109,773
Compounds disclosed in each specification of the publication, compounds represented by the following formula, and the like are exemplified.

[0081]

[Chemical 4]

As described above, various polymerization initiators can be applied, but the compound having the following structure is preferably applicable as the polymerization initiator.

[0083]

[Chemical 5]

Further, in a usual photopolymer, a polymerization initiator and the above-mentioned sensitizer are used in combination, but when the following compounds are used as the polymerization initiator, the sensitizer is not necessary and the photopolymer is not used. It is more preferable in terms of temporal stability and price of the light-sensitive material.

[0085]

[Chemical 6]

The photopolymer is constituted by adding a polymerization initiator and a sensitizer to the above-mentioned photopolymerizable compound, and if necessary, a binder, various additives and a solvent. May be.

A linear organic high molecular polymer is preferably exemplified as the binder to be applied. As the linear organic high molecular polymer, any linear organic high molecular polymer having compatibility with the photopolymerizable compound to be applied can be applied, but preferably an acrylic acid copolymer or a methacrylic acid copolymer. ,
Preferable examples thereof include itaconic acid copolymer, crotonic acid copolymer, maleic acid copolymer, partially esterified maleic acid copolymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethylene oxide.

If necessary, a thermal polymerization inhibitor such as hydroquinone or p-methoxyphenol may be added as an additive in order to prevent thermal polymerization of the photopolymer.

Further, when the photopolymer is coated on the support, it may be dissolved in various organic solvents. As applicable solvents, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, etc., such as the above-mentioned photopolymerizable compounds and the like, may be appropriately selected.

In the photopolymer photosensitive material A, a photopolymer layer containing a photopolymerizable compound, a sensitizer and a polymerization initiator is coated on the support and dried to form a photopolymer layer on the support. It is formed. As the support, any of various materials applied to the support of various light-sensitive materials can be applied, and plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, metals such as aluminum (alloy thereof), zinc and copper, or plastics and Examples include metal laminates.

Further, a protective layer of polyvinyl alcohol, acidic cellulose or the like may be formed on the photopolymer layer of the photopolymer photosensitive material A in order to prevent the polymerization inhibiting action of the photopolymer due to oxygen in the air or the like.

As described above, the photopolymer photosensitive material on which an image is recorded by the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention is conveyed to the next step, is developed according to the photopolymer, and is used as a printing plate or the like. It

The image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described above in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you can go.

[0094]

As described in detail above, the image recording apparatus of the present invention is inexpensive and excellent in stability over time by applying a light beam light source which emits recording light having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm. It is possible to use a photosensitive material that is excellent in handling workability such as work in a relatively bright room, and it is possible to achieve good workability and reduce the cost of image formation such as production of a printing plate. It is preferable that the semiconductor laser and the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser be SHG.
By using a light beam light source composed of a wavelength converter that resonates inside the element to perform wavelength conversion, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the device and further reduce the power consumption. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view conceptually showing an example of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view conceptually showing a light beam light source applied to the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing an example of a ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram conceptually showing another example of the ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

5 is a view conceptually showing another example of the ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

6 is a view conceptually showing another example of the ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram for explaining the action of the diffraction grating in the ring resonator shown in FIG.

8 is a view conceptually showing another example of the ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

9 is a view conceptually showing another example of the ring resonator applied to the light beam light source shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 image recording device 11 base 12 light beam scanning unit 14 transport unit 16 light beam light source 18 semiconductor laser (LD) 20 lens 22 ring resonator 24 PZT element 26 dichroic mirror 28 photodetector 30 signal processing circuit 32 optical cement 34 SHG element 36, 38 Glass part 40 Diffraction grating 42, 44 Coating layer 50 Acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 51 Beam splitter 52 Memory 53, 56, 58 Mirror 54 CPU 60 Polygon mirror 62 fθ lens 64 Long-length mirror 66 Cylindrical 68 Slit 70 exposure table 72 motor unit 74 screw shaft A photosensitive material

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G03F 7/027 7/20 511 7818-2H H01S 3/18 9170-4M H04N 1/04 104 A 7251 -5C

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light beam light source for emitting recording light, an optical deflector for deflecting the recording light emitted from the light beam source in a main scanning direction, and a photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Image recording for recording an image on the photosensitive material by moving the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning direction and two-dimensionally scanning by the recording light deflected in the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus, wherein the light beam light source is a light beam light source that emits recording light having a wavelength of 400 to 440 nm. 2. The image recording according to claim 1, wherein the light beam light source comprises a semiconductor laser that emits a light beam and a wavelength converter that resonates the light beam inside an SHG element to perform wavelength conversion. apparatus. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a photopolymer photosensitive material is applied as the photosensitive material.