JPH06115172A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to record a color image with a high quality without color fluctuation and density fluctuation by providing a light adjusting means adjusting the amt. of the light beam on a color photosensitive material in a light beam path in accordance with the difference between the actual wave length of each light beam and the set wave length in an image recording apparatus. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of light beams each with a narrow zone wave length in accordance with a spectrosensitivity distribution or a color photosensitive material are polarized in the main scanning direction and a color photosensitive material relatively moving in the sub-scanning direction crossing approximately at right angle to the main scanning direction is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed. In the image recording apparatus, the vol. of the light beam on the color photosensitive material is adjusted in accordance with the difference between the actual wave length of each light beam and the set wave length in the image recording apparatus. A light vol. adjusting means 2 consisting of a l/2 sheet 26 and a polarized beam sprinter 24 is provided between a light beam source 14 and the color photosensitive material. As a result, a color image with a high quality without color fluctuation and density fluctuation can be recorded without sacrificing the dynamic range of the exposed light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a raster scan image recording apparatus for two-dimensionally scanning and exposing a color photosensitive material with a plurality of light beams to record a color image. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of recording a high quality image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in printing, printing, copying, etc., an image recording apparatus has been used which scans and exposes a color photosensitive material having spectral sensitivity with wavelength dependency for recording / reproducing a color image by raster scanning. There is. In such an image recording apparatus, a plurality of light beams corresponding to the spectral sensitivity distribution of the color photosensitive material, specifically, each of the three primary colors (photosensitive layers) formed on the photosensitive material, such as cyan (C) and magenta, are used. The light-sensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by three or four light beams having different narrow band wavelengths corresponding to respective colors of (M) and yellow (Y) and modulated according to a recorded image. By doing so, an image is recorded on the photosensitive material.

More specifically, three or four light sources which emit a light beam having a narrow band wavelength corresponding to each color of the photosensitive material,
For example, by using a light beam light source such as a semiconductor laser and modulating the drive pulse width of this light source according to the recorded image, or by modulating the intensity of the light beam emitted from each light source according to the recorded image. , Obtain a light beam modulated according to the recorded image. This light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction by an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror, and fθ
It is adjusted by a lens to form an image with a predetermined beam diameter at a predetermined position on the photosensitive material, and the light is incident on a predetermined scanning position of the photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material includes an exposure drum, a nip roller, and 2.
Since the pair of nip roller pairs conveys the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally modulated by the light beam modulated in accordance with the recorded image and deflected in the main scanning direction. Scanning exposure is carried out, and an image is recorded.

[0005]

In such an image recording apparatus, in order to record a high quality image, it is necessary to develop each color of the photosensitive material at a predetermined density corresponding to the recorded image. In an image recording device using a raster scan, the color density of each color of the photosensitive material is basically controlled by the exposure amount (light beam light amount and exposure time). In image recording by pulse width modulation, the light beam output By controlling the light emission time of each light beam, and in an image recording apparatus using intensity modulation, by adjusting the output of each light beam or the light amount of each light beam emitted from the light source, A color image is recorded by developing each color with a predetermined density.

Since the photosensitive material has a spectral sensitivity characteristic, the color density is also affected by the wavelength of the light beam. Therefore, if the wavelength of each light beam is not a predetermined value, an image having a predetermined color density cannot be recorded, resulting in an image having color unevenness or density unevenness. FIG. 3 conceptually shows an example of the spectral sensitivity distribution of the color light-sensitive material.

As shown in FIG. 3, the color density of each color of the photosensitive material varies depending on the wavelength of the light (light beam) to be exposed even if the exposure amount is constant, and the image recording apparatus has a spectral sensitivity of each color. Using a plurality of light beams having a narrow band wavelength corresponding to the output of the light-sensitive material according to the spectral sensitivity of the light-sensitive material, each light beam is modulated to an exposure amount according to the color density of the image to be recorded, and the light-sensitive material is changed. A color image is recorded by scanning exposure.

When a semiconductor laser is used as a light source, the wavelength of the emitted light beam is usually ± 10n at maximum.
Since there is an error of about m, and the color density of each color of the photosensitive material has a spectral sensitivity characteristic, if the wavelength of the light beam that exposes each color is different from the set wavelength, even if the exposure amount is the same, the color develops. The concentration will be different. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the set wavelength of the light beam corresponding to the exposure of M is x (in the design stage of the apparatus), it is emitted from the semiconductor laser actually loaded in the image recording apparatus. When the wavelength of the light beam is x _a which is shorter by Δλ, a difference of Δd occurs in the color density even if the exposure is performed with the same exposure amount. When the color density of M is low in this way, the recorded image becomes greenish.

In particular, in a light-sensitive material intended for image recording with high image quality such as a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, a spectral sensitivity distribution is provided in order to prevent color mixture caused by the development of a plurality of colors by one light beam. The photosensitive material (each color) is designed so that the (curve) becomes steep. Therefore, even if the error in the wavelength of the light beam is slight, the color density is greatly changed, and the recorded image has large color unevenness and density unevenness.

Moreover, not only the problem of the spectral sensitivity but also the reflection efficiency and the transmission efficiency of the mirrors and lenses provided in the image recording apparatus differ depending on the wavelength of the light beam. Therefore, the image recording apparatus is designed so that a predetermined amount of light beam reaches the surface of the photosensitive material when the light beam of the set wavelength is used. Therefore, if there is an error in the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser used as the light source, the reflection efficiency of the optical member and the like will be different, and the light amount itself of the light beam on the photosensitive material surface will be different from the design value. Color unevenness and density unevenness occur in the recorded image.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the light beam output from the light source is adjusted to the spectral sensitivity of the photosensitive material by adjusting the drive current of the light source such as a semiconductor laser according to the wavelength of the light beam. However, since the dynamic range of the light beam modulation is changed by this adjusting method, there is a possibility that the exposure amount corresponding to the maximum density set in the photosensitive material cannot be realized.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, and even when the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source such as a semiconductor laser actually used is different from a predetermined value. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of recording a high-quality color image without color unevenness or density unevenness without sacrificing the dynamic range of exposure.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention deflects a plurality of light beams having narrow band wavelengths according to the spectral sensitivity distribution of a color photosensitive material in the main scanning direction,
An image recording apparatus which two-dimensionally scans and exposes the color photosensitive material that moves relatively in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, wherein the actual wavelength of each light beam and the image recording apparatus are set. Image recording, characterized in that light amount adjusting means for adjusting the light amount of the light beam on the color photosensitive material according to the difference with the set wavelength is provided between the light beam light source and the photosensitive material. Provide a device.

Further, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the light quantity adjusting means comprises a λ / 2 plate and a polarization beam splitter arranged in an optical path of a corresponding light beam.

[0015]

The image recording apparatus of the present invention uses a plurality of light beams having narrow band wavelengths corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of each color of the color light-sensitive material, modulates each light beam according to the recorded image, and the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus by so-called raster scan, which records a color image by two-dimensionally scanning and exposing a color photosensitive material which is relatively deflected in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main-scanning direction. Depending on the difference between the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source actually loaded in the device and the set wavelength set in the image recording device, that is, the error in the wavelength of the light beam, the light beam on the color photosensitive material The light amount adjusting means for adjusting the light amount of the image is arranged in the light beam optical path from the light beam light source to the color photosensitive material. Those that made it possible to.

As described above, the color light-sensitive material has a spectral sensitivity characteristic, and the reflection and transmission efficiencies of the optical members provided in the image recording apparatus also have wavelength dependence. for that reason,
When the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source actually used is different from the set wavelength at the design stage of the device, that is, when image recording is performed with a light beam having a wavelength error, each light beam has a predetermined exposure amount. Even if is modulated, the color density of a color (photosensitive layer) exposed by a light beam having a wavelength other than the set wavelength does not reach a predetermined density, resulting in an image having color unevenness or density unevenness. Especially in silver salt photographic light-sensitive materials,
Since the spectral sensitivity distribution is made steep in order to prevent color mixture and perform high-quality image recording, even if there is a slight difference between the actual wavelength and the set wavelength, a large difference occurs in color density. The recorded image becomes an image in which color unevenness and density unevenness are conspicuous.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, the drive current of the light source is adjusted according to the wavelength of the light beam to adjust the light beam output to the spectral sensitivity of the photosensitive material. In the method, there is a possibility that the dynamic range of the light beam modulation is changed and the exposure amount corresponding to the maximum density (D _max ) cannot be realized.

On the other hand, the image recording apparatus of the present invention has means for adjusting the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive material according to the error of the wavelength of each light beam,
According to the spectral sensitivity of each light beam at the actual wavelength and the efficiency of the optical system, a light amount adjusting means for adjusting the light amount of each light beam on the photosensitive material is provided in the optical path of each light beam. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 described above, when the spectral sensitivity by the wavelength of the light beam that actually performs M (magenta) exposure is lower than the spectral sensitivity by the light beam of the set wavelength, the photosensitive material The light quantity adjusting means adjusts so that the light quantity of the light beam on the upper side becomes higher, and also for other light beams, according to the change of the spectral sensitivity (and the efficiency of the optical system) due to the difference between the predetermined wavelength and the actual wavelength. The light quantity adjusting means adjusts the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive material, and enables recording of a high quality image in which each color is developed with a predetermined density.

As the light quantity adjusting means, a method using an ND filter is preferably exemplified, but in particular, a light quantity composed of a λ / 2 plate arranged in the optical path of the corresponding light beam and a deflecting beam splitter. Adjusting means are preferably used. The method using the ND filter has various preferable points such that the light amount of the light beam can be adjusted without increasing the size of the device. However, in this method, a large number of types can be selected depending on the individual difference of the light source and the efficiency of the optical system. It is necessary to facilitate and select the filter, and this may be disadvantageous in terms of labor and cost. On the other hand, according to the method using the λ / 2 plate and the polarization beam splitter, the light amount can be continuously adjusted by rotating the λ / 2 plate. It is possible to finely adjust the light amount according to individual differences of the light source. In addition, the size of the device is not increased.

Therefore, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
Even if the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source such as a semiconductor laser actually used in the apparatus is not the set wavelength, without sacrificing the dynamic range of exposure,
It is possible to perform high-quality image recording without density unevenness or color unevenness.

[0021]

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 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. Image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
Deflects the light beams LC, LM, and LY having narrow band wavelengths and light outputs for developing C (cyan), Y (yellow), and M (magenta), respectively, in the main scanning direction (direction a in the figure). Then, the photosensitive material A conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of the arrow b in the drawing) is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to perform image recording, and three kinds of light beams are emitted from the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 12. The light beams are made incident on the substantially same point at slightly different angles, are deflected in the main scanning direction, and are imaged at different positions on the same main scanning line on the photosensitive material A such as a silver salt photographic photosensitive material. By the different-angle incidence optical system (non-multiplexing type optical system) that sequentially scans on the same main scanning line, the conveying means that conveys the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning, and the control means of the different-angle incidence optical system (not shown). Composed.

In such an image recording apparatus 10, a folding mirror 24 for folding the optical path is arranged between the light source of the light beam and the polygon mirror 12, and three light beams L (LC, LC,
(LM, LY) is reflected (folded back) in a predetermined direction by the folding mirror 24 and enters the polygon mirror 12. The folding mirror 24 is a deflection beam splitter, and a λ / 2 plate 26 (26M, 26) described later is used.
Y, 26C), and also serves as a light amount adjusting means for the light beam L on the photosensitive material A. Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the light beam L from the light source to the folding mirror 24 is
The light source, the folding mirror 24, the polygon mirror 12 and other optical members are arranged so that the optical path of the light beam L and the optical path of the light beam L deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 12 intersect in the same plane. The optical path is constructed to reduce the size of the device.

The image recording apparatus 10 is a light beam light source that emits light of a predetermined narrow band wavelength as a light beam light source.
Three semiconductor lasers (hereinafter, LD) 14C, 14
Y, and 14M. For example, C on the photosensitive material A
The LD 14C for coloring the dye emits a light beam LC having a wavelength of 750 nm, and the Y of the photosensitive material A emits the light beam LY having a wavelength of 810 nm for the LD 14Y emits a light beam LY of the photosensitive material A. The LD 14M for coloring the dye is a light beam LM with a wavelength of 670 nm.
The one that injects is used. These LD14
(14C, 14M, 14Y) are controlled by an electric control system (not shown).

It should be noted that the LD 14 normally has a maximum wavelength ± (±) depending on the individual difference of the LD to be used.
There is an error of about 10 nm, which causes color unevenness and density unevenness in the recorded image. In the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, each light on the photosensitive material A is moved by the λ / 2 plate 26 and the folding mirror 24 in accordance with the error between the wavelength of the light beam L actually emitted and the above-mentioned set wavelength. The light quantity of the beam L is adjusted. This point will be described later in detail.

As mentioned above, the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention.
Is due to the different angle incidence optical system, each light beam L
C, LM, and LY are incident on the substantially same point on the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 22 at slightly different angles. Therefore, the LDs 14C, 14Y, and 14M each of the light beams L emitted by the LDs 14C, 14Y, and 14M are incident on the polygon mirror 12 at a predetermined angle, and are imaged on the same main scanning line on the photosensitive material A at different angles. The scanning lines are arranged at slightly different angles so that the same main scanning line is sequentially scanned at intervals.
The image recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the one using such a different-angle incident optical system, and three dichroic mirrors or the like are used to overlap the optical paths of three light beams to enter the optical deflector. A so-called multiplexing optical system may be used.

Each light beam emitted from the LD 14 is arranged in correspondence with each collimator lens 16 (1
6C, 16M, 16Y). The collimator lens 16 shapes each of the light beams L emitted from the LD 14 into parallel light.

Each of the light beams made into parallel light then enters a cylindrical lens arranged corresponding to each light beam. The cylindrical lens constitutes a surface tilt correction optical system that corrects the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 12 together with a cylindrical mirror 18 described later.

In the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the cylindrical lens is a two lens having a lens power in the direction corresponding to the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b in FIG. 1) (direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the LDs 14 in FIG. 1). In the illustrated example, the two lenses are arranged so as to sandwich the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror 12. Specifically, a cylindrical concave lens (hereinafter referred to as a concave lens) 20 arranged on the upstream side (hereinafter, referred to as upstream or downstream) with respect to the traveling direction of the light beam.
And a cylindrical convex lens (hereinafter referred to as a convex lens) 22 on the downstream side. That is, the concave lens 20C and the convex lens 22 correspond to the light beam LC.
C is the concave lens 20M and the convex lens 22M corresponding to the light beam LM, and C is the concave lens 20 corresponding to the light beam LY.
Y and the convex lens 22Y are arranged to form a cylindrical lens corresponding to each.

As described above, the cylindrical lens is composed of a plurality of separated lens groups such as the concave lens 20 and the convex lens 22, so that the interval between the concave lens 20 and the convex lens 22 is adjusted, and the cylindrical lens composed of both is formed. The focal length and lens power of can be adjusted arbitrarily. Moreover, the concave lens 20 and the convex lens 2
Since the optimum lens power and focal length corresponding to each light beam L can be obtained by adjusting the distance between the two and
It is possible to record a high-quality image by performing an optimal surface tilt correction according to each light beam L with an inexpensive configuration using only one kind of lens.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
Cylindrical lens is a separate concave lens 2
It is needless to say that the cylindrical lens is not limited to the one configured by 0 and the convex lens 22 and may be configured by an integrated lens group or a single lens.

On the downstream side of each concave lens 20 in the traveling direction of the light beam L (hereinafter referred to as the downstream side), a λ / 2 plate 26 constituting the light quantity adjusting means of each light beam, specifically,
The λ / 2 plate 26M is provided downstream of the concave lens 20M, and the λ / 2 plate 26Y is provided downstream of the concave lens 20Y.
A λ / 2 plate 26C is arranged on the downstream side of C. This λ /
The operation of the two plates 26 will be described later in detail.

(Cylindrical lens) Concave lens 20,
The respective light beams L that have passed through the λ / 2 plate 26 and the (cylindrical lens) convex lens 22 then enter different positions of the folding mirror 24, are reflected in a predetermined direction, and enter the polygon mirror 12. Here, the folding mirror 24 has a function as a deflecting beam splitter that reflects only a predetermined deflection direction of the light beam L and transmits the other, and together with the λ / 2 plate 26 described above, It constitutes a light quantity adjusting means.

As described above, due to the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive material A and the wavelength dependence of the optical efficiency provided in the image recording apparatus 10, the color density of the photosensitive material differs depending on the wavelength of the light beam L. Even if the light beam is modulated so that the exposure amount is the same, the color density of the photosensitive material A differs depending on the wavelength of the light beam L. Further, as described above, the wavelength of the light beam L emitted from the LD 14 has an error of about ± 10 nm at maximum.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the set wavelength of the light beam LM corresponding to M exposure is x (670 nm), the actual wavelength of the light beam LM is Δλ lower x due to the error of the LD 14M. _In the case of _a , even if the exposure amount is the same, a difference of Δd occurs in the color density D. In particular, in a light-sensitive material intended for image recording with high image quality such as a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material, the spectral sensitivity distribution is steep to prevent deterioration of image quality due to color mixture, and therefore the color density is large even if the wavelength is slightly different. There will be a difference. Therefore, in the conventional image recording apparatus, color unevenness or density unevenness occurs due to the wavelength error of the light beam, which is an obstacle to recording a high quality image as described above.

On the other hand, the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention
Is a difference (error) between the wavelength of each light beam L emitted from the light source 14 actually used and the set wavelength of the light beam, depending on the wavelength error of the light beam L. In accordance with the changes in the spectral sensitivity of the corresponding color and the reflection and transmission efficiencies of the optical system, the light amounts of the three types of light beams on the photosensitive material A are adjusted to account for the changes in the spectral sensitivity and the efficiency of the optical system. By making up for it, regardless of the wavelength error of the light beam L,
This makes it possible to record a high-quality image in which each of the colors C, M, and Y is developed to a predetermined density without color unevenness or density unevenness. In the illustrated apparatus, a λ / 2 plate 26 and a polarization beam splitter function are provided. A light amount adjusting means is constituted by the folding mirror 24 having.

FIG. 2 conceptually shows the optical system from the LD 14 to the folding mirror 24. The light beams LC and L
Since the optical systems formed corresponding to M and LY are basically the same, individual description will be given only on different points. As described above, the light beam L emitted from the LD 14 is formed into parallel light by the collimator lens 16, passes through the concave lens 20, the λ / 2 plate 26, and the convex lens 22 and enters the folding mirror 24.

The λ / 2 plate 26 is a birefringent plate made so that the phase difference between the ordinary ray and the extraordinary ray is λ / 2, and is indicated by an arrow c with the optical axis of the light beam L as the center of rotation. By rotating in the direction shown, the polarization direction of the light beam L can be continuously changed. On the other hand, the folding mirror 24 is not a simple reflection mirror but has a function as a polarization beam splitter. The polarization beam splitter has a characteristic of reflecting light of a predetermined polarization component and transmitting the other light according to the polarization direction of the light beam L. Therefore, the λ / 2 plate 2
By rotating 6 in the direction of arrow c to adjust the polarization direction of the light beam L, the light amount of the light beam L reflected by the folding mirror 24 can be continuously adjusted, and each incident on the photosensitive material A can be adjusted. The light quantity of the light beam L can be continuously adjusted. Further, according to this method, a space is not required unlike the variable diaphragm and the size of the apparatus is not increased.

In the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the spectral sensitivity of M color development corresponding to the wavelength of the light beam LM is M by the light beam of the set wavelength.
If it is lower than the spectral sensitivity of exposure, the λ / 2 plate 26 is rotated in the direction of arrow c so that the light amount of the light beam L reflected by the folding mirror 24 increases in order to compensate for the decrease in the spectral sensitivity. Then, the light amount of the light beam L incident on the photosensitive material A is adjusted according to the change in the spectral sensitivity.

In the illustrated apparatus, the folding mirror 2
Although the light beam L reflected by 4 is used for image recording, the present invention is not limited to this, and the folding mirror 2 as a polarization beam splitter may be used depending on the configuration of the optical system.
The light beam transmitted through 4 may be used for image recording. Further, the folding mirror 24 for adjusting the optical path is not limited to the one having the function of the polarization beam splitter, and a separate polarization beam splitter may be provided.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the light amount adjusting means of the light beam L on the photosensitive material A is λ in the illustrated example.
The method of using the / 2 plate and the polarization beam splitter is not limited, and a method of using an ND filter or the like for adjusting the light amount may be used. In this case, as described above, it is necessary to facilitate a large number of types of ND filters in order to appropriately adjust the light amounts of all colors of C, M, and Y. Further, the light quantity adjusting means may be configured by using a polarizer and an analyzer.

The respective light beams reflected by the folding mirror 24 in a predetermined direction and adjusted in the amount of light are then incident on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 12, which is an optical deflector, at substantially the same point at slightly different angles. , And is deflected in the main scanning direction.

The optical deflector used in the present invention is not limited to the polygon mirror 12 of the illustrated example, and any known optical deflector such as a galvanometer mirror or a resonant scanner can be applied.

The fθ lens 36 is for correctly forming an image of each light beam L at any position on the main scanning line, and a plurality of lenses 36a, 36b (combined lenses) and 36c are combined. It is composed of The light beam L that has passed through the fθ lens 36 is then reflected by the long cylindrical mirror 18 in a predetermined direction. The cylindrical mirror 18 includes the above-mentioned cylindrical lens (concave lens 20 and convex lens 2).
In addition to forming a surface tilt correction optical system together with 2), each light beam L is reflected upward and made incident on a long falling mirror 38.

Here, the image recording apparatus 10 has an optical path of the light beam L from the LD 14 to the folding mirror 24,
The optical path of the light beam L deflected in the main scanning direction by the polygon mirror 12 is configured to intersect, and in the illustrated example, the light beam L intersects between the fθ lens 36 and the cylindrical mirror 18. Therefore, the optical members provided in this optical system, especially the LDs 14C, 14Y, 14M,
The folding mirror 24 and the polygon mirror 12 are provided in the image recording device 10 so as to satisfy them.

As described above, in the image recording apparatus using the different-angle incidence optical system, the folding mirror 24 is arranged in the optical path of the light beam L from the LD 14 to the polygon mirror 12.
By making the optical path of the light beam in the meantime not a straight line but a folded state, the size of the apparatus can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional apparatus.
As shown in 0, by setting the optical path of the light beam L so that the light beam L from the LD 14 to the folding mirror 24 and the light beam L deflected by the polygon mirror 12 intersect, the image recording device 10 (that The space of the optical system) can be used without waste, and a smaller image recording apparatus can be realized.

The light beam L reflected upward by the cylindrical mirror 18 is reflected downward by the falling mirror 38, and the light beam L is directed downstream of the fθ lens 36.
And then enters the photosensitive material A. Photosensitive material A
Is a pair of nip rollers arranged to sandwich the scanning line SL of the light beam L, and a sub-scanning conveying means such as a nip roller sandwiched between the exposure drum and the scanning line SL to be pressed by the exposure drum. Direction), the light beam L is deflected in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow a).
Results in two-dimensional scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A to record an image. Here, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, since the light amount of each light beam is adjusted so as to compensate for the change in the spectral sensitivity and the efficiency of the optical system in accordance with the wavelength error, it is possible to obtain a high level without unevenness in color or density. Image recording with high image quality can be performed.

Although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course it's good.

[0049]

As described in detail above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source actually loaded in the image recording apparatus is not the light beam of the set wavelength. Even in the case of having a wavelength error, it is possible to correct the change in the spectral sensitivity and the change in the reflection and transmission efficiency of the optical system due to the wavelength error for each light beam without sacrificing the exposure dynamic range. It is possible to perform high-quality image recording without density unevenness or color unevenness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

2 is a view conceptually showing an optical system from a semiconductor laser to a folding mirror of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of spectral sensitivity distribution of a color photosensitive material.

[Explanation of Codes] 10 Image Recording Device 12 Polygon Mirror 14 (14C, 14Y, 14M) Semiconductor Laser (L
D) 16 (16C, 16M, 16Y) Collimator lens 18 Cylindrical mirror 20 (20C, 20M, 20Y) Cylindrical concave lens 22 (22C, 22M, 22Y) Cylindrical convex lens 24 Folding mirror 26 (26C, 26M, 26Y) λ / 2 plate 36 fθ lens 38 Falling mirror 40, 42 Nip roller L (LC, LM, LY) Light beam A Photosensitive material

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light beam having a narrow band wavelength according to a spectral sensitivity distribution of a color light-sensitive material is deflected in a main scanning direction and relatively moved in a sub scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus for two-dimensionally scanning and exposing a color light-sensitive material, wherein the color light-sensitive material of the light beam is responsive to a difference between an actual wavelength of each light beam and a wavelength set in the image recording apparatus. An image recording apparatus, characterized in that light quantity adjusting means for adjusting the above-mentioned light quantity is provided between a light beam light source and a color photosensitive material. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light quantity adjusting means comprises a λ / 2 plate and a polarization beam splitter arranged in the optical path of the corresponding light beam.