JPH06313962A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record plural images on a recording medium limited in size with good spatial efficiency. CONSTITUTION:An output machine is a device for successively recording plural images on a photosensitive film. When the arraying direction of the image on the photosensitive film is designated from a control panel, in this recorder, the recording start position P(Xc, Yc) of the image is decided based on the designated arraying direction (horizontal arrangement or vertical arrangement) and the recording size (x, y) of the image. Then, the image is recorded from a decided recording start position by an exposing part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, especially
The present invention relates to an image recording device that sequentially records a plurality of images on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image recording apparatus for plate making called an image setter or an output scanner sequentially exposes and records a plurality of images on a photosensitive film (hereinafter, simply referred to as a film) which is a recording medium. Since the recording sizes of these images are different, if the recording positions of the images are not determined in consideration of the recording sizes of the images, the area where the image is not formed increases, and as a result, the wasteful portion of the film is lost. Will increase.

Therefore, the image recording apparatus is provided with a memory capable of recording a large amount of image data, a plurality of image data is temporarily stored in the memory, and the recording positions of the plurality of images are determined by the recording size of the image data. Then, it is conceivable that the images are sequentially recorded according to the determined recording position. However, this requires a large-capacity memory, and the recording position cannot be determined unless the sizes of all the plurality of images are known, so that it takes a long time to start recording.

Therefore, in the conventional image recording apparatus, the image forming area of the film is divided in one direction, and a plurality of images are sequentially arranged and recorded along the divided area. In other words, by fixing the arrangement direction of the recorded images on the film,
Images are sequentially allocated along the arrangement direction.

[0005]

However, in the conventional image recording apparatus, since the arrangement direction of the recorded images is fixed, the unrecorded area where the image is not formed increases and the film is wasted depending on the recording size of the image. There are cases. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of image data I1 to I
8 When the print sizes in each one direction (for example, the main scanning direction Y) are almost the same and the sizes in the other direction (for example, the sub scanning direction X) are different, as shown in FIG. When the recorded images I1 to I8 are arranged in sequence, the unrecorded area indicated by hatching is larger than the effective area EA of the film, and the useless portion is increased. Therefore, only six images I1 to I6 can be recorded on one film, and the remaining two images I7 to I8 must be recorded on the next film. Therefore, the film is wasted.

When an image having a size as shown in FIG. 8 is recorded, as shown in FIG. 10, the image I1 is printed in the sub-scanning direction X.
By arranging ~ I8, the unrecorded area indicated by hatching, that is, the useless portion of the film is reduced, and all the images I1 to I8 can be recorded on one film. An object of the present invention is to enable effective use of a recording medium without waste when recording a plurality of images on a recording medium having a limited size.

[0007]

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for sequentially recording a plurality of images on a recording medium, and comprises an array direction acquisition means, a start position determination means, and a recording means. . The arrangement direction acquisition means obtains the arrangement direction of the images on the recording medium. The start position determining means determines the image recording start position based on the arrangement direction obtained by the arrangement direction obtaining means and the image recording size. The recording means records an image from the recording start position determined by the start position determining means.

[0008]

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, when the plurality of images are sequentially recorded on the recording medium, when the arrangement direction obtaining means obtains the arrangement direction of the images on the recording medium, the start position determining means The recording start position of the image is determined based on the obtained array direction and the recording size of the image. Then, the recording means records the image from the recording start position determined by the start position determining means.

Here, since the image arrangement direction is obtained and the image start position is determined according to the obtained arrangement direction and the image recording size, the image is recorded on the recording medium. Images can be efficiently arranged on the medium, and useless portions of the recording medium can be reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Configuration of Image Recording Apparatus FIG. 1 shows an output machine 50 for plate making as an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The output device 50 is a box-shaped main body case 51, a film supply section 52 arranged on the back side (front side in FIG. 1) of the main body case 51, and a film supplied from the film supply section 52 is exposed to form a film. It mainly has an exposure unit 53 for recording an image. As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure unit 53 includes a cylinder 1 for mounting the supplied film 2 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, a motor 12 for rotationally driving the cylinder 1 in the main scanning direction Y, and a cylinder 1 for holding the same. An exposure head 3 that exposes the formed film 2 with light according to image data and a head moving mechanism 15 that drives the exposure head 3 in the sub-scanning direction X are formed. A film attaching / detaching mechanism (not shown) is arranged between the cylinder 1 and the film supply unit 52. The film attaching / detaching mechanism supplies and discharges the film to and from the cylinder 1.

The exposure head 3 has an LED array 4 having a plurality of light emitting elements, a zoom lens 5 for forming an image of the light emitting elements of the LED array 4 on the film 2, and the LED array 4 and the zoom lens 5 are fixed. It is composed of a movable table 7 which is operated. The head moving mechanism 15 includes the motor 1
0 and a ball screw 8 that is driven to rotate by a motor 10.
And a pair of rails 9 arranged parallel to the sub-scanning direction X.
(Only one is shown), and a ball nut (not shown) fixed to the moving table 7 and screwed into the ball screw 8. The moving mechanism 15 drives the motor 10 to move the exposure head 3 in the sub-scanning direction X.

The motors 10 and 12 drive signals VX and VY.
In response to this, drive control is performed, and encoder signals EX and EY are output from the encoders 11 and 13 provided respectively. The encoder signals EX and EY indicate the X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the exposure position by the exposure head 3, respectively.
With the above structure, the cylinder 12 is rotated in the main scanning direction Y by the motor 12, the exposure head 3 is moved in the sub scanning direction X by the motor 10, and the LED array 4 is controlled to emit light based on the image data. An image can be exposed in the effective image area 20 of the film 2. The film 2 on which the image is exposed is developed by a developing machine (not shown). Configuration of Control Unit of Output Machine FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the output machine 50.

The output device 50 records the image data IM output from the system 60 including an image reading device or an image database on the film 2. This image data IM is represented in the raster format. Also,
The output device 50 and the system 60 are connected via the interface 40. The output device 50 is a control CPU
Has 30. The CPU 30 has a system bus 36
The RAM 31, the ROM 32, and the interface 40 are connected via the, and the CPU 30 controls each load based on various data stored in the RAM 31 and a control program stored in the ROM 32.

The various data stored in the RAM 31 are the LAYOUT flag ("H" when horizontally arranged, which indicates the arrangement direction of the recorded images input from the operation panel 33,
In the case of vertical arrangement, “V”), the interval α in the sub-scanning direction of the recorded image, the interval β in the main-scanning direction of the recorded image, the recording start position coordinate P (Xc, Yc), and the exposure position coordinate Q of the exposure head 3.
(Xh, Yh). Here, the arrangement direction of the image may be set by the operator according to the size of the image,
When the sizes of a plurality of recorded images are uniform in the main scanning direction, the array in the sub-scanning direction may be selected, and when the sizes in the sub-scanning direction are uniform, the array in the sub-scanning direction may be selected.
Further, the intervals α and β indicate the intervals of the cutting margins required to separate each of the plurality of images recorded on one film 2, and can be variably set by the operator. Further, the coordinates P of the recording start point are set by the calculation described later, and the exposure position coordinates Q are the encoders 11 and 13.
Are always detected by the encoder signals EX and EY from.

Each load controlled by the CPU 30 includes a memory control unit 41 and an LE connected via a system bus 36.
The D drive unit 43 and the motors 10 and 12 connected via the system bus 36 and the respective drivers 35. The memory control unit 41 controls the writing of the image data IM input from the system 60 via the interface 40 into the image memory 42 and reads the image data IM from the image memory 42 to read the LED drive unit 43.
And control to output to. The LED drive unit 42 is
The light emission of the LED array 4 is controlled according to the image data IM output from the memory control unit 41. Also,
An operation panel 33 and encoders 11 and 13 are also connected to the CPU 30 via respective interfaces 34 and system buses 36.

As described above, the CPU 30 controls the motor 10,
The drive signals VX and VY are output to 12 to drive and control the motors 10 and 12, respectively, and to control the memory control unit 41 and the LED drive unit 43. Schematic operation With such a configuration, when the CPU 30 receives the size x of the image data in the sub-scanning direction and the size y of the main scanning direction from the system 60, the arrangement direction of the recorded images set in advance and this size x, The recording start point P of the image is determined by y and the motors 10 and 12 are driven so that the exposure position Q of the exposure head 3 is located at this recording start point P. Then, based on the image data IM, the LED array 4
The light emission is controlled to expose the image at the determined position. Allocation of recorded images In FIG. 4, a plurality of images having different recording sizes are displayed in the sub-scanning direction X.
An example of allocation in the case of arranging and recording in the following is shown.

Here, image data of a plurality of images sequentially output from the system 60 is IM (n) (where n =
1, 2, ...), the size of the image data IM (n) in the sub-scanning direction is x _n , the size in the main scanning direction is y _n , the size of the effective image area of the film 2 in the sub-scanning direction is Lx, the main scanning direction. Is Ly, the space between adjacent print images in the sub-scanning direction is α, and the space between adjacent print images in the main scanning direction is β.

A recorded image R based on the image data IM (1)
IM (1) is exposed in an area having the origin (0,0) as the recording start point P ₁ . Next recording image RIM based on the image data IM (2) (2) is is being exposed to the area indicated by the recording start point P _2, wherein, Y coordinates of the recording start point P2 is the recording start point It is the same as P ₁ , and the X coordinate is a point shifted by the coordinate obtained by adding the interval α to the size x ₁ of the image data IM (1) in the sub-scanning direction X. That is, P ₂ : (x ₁ + α, 0). As a result, the recorded image RIM (1) and the recorded image R
The intervals of IM (2) in the sub-scanning direction X are separated by a distance α.

Next, the recorded image RIM (3) based on the image data IM (3) is recorded in the next second main scanning region R2 because the free space of the first main scanning region R1 is small. Here, a print image in which the coordinates of the print start point P in the main scanning direction Y are the same as the m-th main scanning region Rm (m is a positive integer) is formed and divided by a dividing line parallel to the sub-scanning direction. In the case of FIG. 4, the first main scanning region R1 is a region of the recorded image RI.
M (1) and RIM (2), and the second main scanning area R2 includes recorded images RIM (3), RIM (4) and R2.
This is an area including IM (5). Therefore, the recording start point P ₃ is P ₃ : (0, Ymax (1)) = (0, y1 + β) where Ymax (1) is the entire recording image area recorded in the first main scanning area R1. Is the maximum coordinate in the main scanning direction plus the interval β, and is hereinafter referred to as the main maximum coordinate. This is the first main scanning area R1 and the second main scanning area R2.
This is because there is at least a space β between the recorded image and the recorded image.

Thereafter, similarly, the image data IM
(4), IM (5) image data recording start points P ₄ , P
_{5, P 4: (x 3 +} α, y 1 + β) P 5: (x 3 + x 4 +2 · α, y 1 + β) becomes. Further, when the image data IM (6) is recorded on the film 2, if the formula of Ly-Ymax (2) ≧ y ₆ is satisfied, the image can be recorded in the third main scanning region R3, but if it is not satisfied, an effective image is obtained. Since it cannot be recorded in the area, it is recorded on a new film 2. Processing Flow FIG. 5 shows a processing flow according to an embodiment of the present invention. This processing flow shows the contents of the control program stored in the ROM 32.

First, in step S1, initial setting is performed.
Here, the LAYOUT flag is set to "horizontal arrangement (H)",
The exposure head 3 and the cylinder 1 are arranged at the origin. The recording start point P (Xc, Yc) is set at the origin (0, 0). In step S2, an interval α in the sub-scanning direction X between adjacent recorded images input from the operation panel 33,
The interval β in the main scanning direction Y and the arrangement direction of the recorded images (LAY
OUT) is received and the received data is stored in the RAM 31.

In step S3, the film supply unit 52 and the film attaching / detaching mechanism are controlled to move the film 2 into the cylinder 1
Attach to. In step S4, it is determined whether or not an instruction to eject the film 2 is input from the operation panel 33. If the instruction to eject the film 2 is given, the process proceeds to step S5, and the film 2 is ejected from the cylinder 1. This processing flow ends.

If there is no instruction to eject the film 2, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S6. Step S6
Then, the system 60 waits for an instruction to record an image. When it is determined that the image recording instruction is issued from the system 60, the process proceeds to step S7, and the size x in the sub scanning direction and the size y in the main scanning direction of the image data IM is received from the system 60. In step S8, the arrangement direction of the recorded images is referred to the LAYOUT flag of the RAM 31, and in the case of horizontal arrangement (arrangement in the sub scanning direction) (LAYOUT flag =
“H”) moves to step S9, and in the case of vertical arrangement (main scanning direction arrangement) processing (LAYOUT flag = “V”), moves to step S10 to perform image recording. When these processes are completed, the process returns to step S4 and waits for an instruction to eject the film or an instruction to record the next image.

FIG. 6 shows details of the horizontal arrangement processing flow of step S9. First, in steps S21 and S22, it is determined which of the following three cases the recording start position corresponds to. These three cases are when recording an image on the next film. When recording an image in a main scanning area different from the previously recorded image.

When an image is recorded in the same main scanning area as the previously recorded image. And the case of satisfying the expression Yc + y> Ly (Yes in step S21), the case of satisfying the expression Yc + y ≦ Ly and Xc + x> Lx (No in step S21 and No in step S22), the expression Yc +
When y ≦ Ly and Xc + x ≦ Lx are satisfied, the case (Yes in step S22) is determined.
Here, Xc and Yc are the coordinate positions of the recording start point P on the assumption that the image is recorded in the same main scanning area as the previously recorded image.

In the case of No. 2, since the film 2 currently mounted on the cylinder 1 has little free space, recording is performed on the next film. Therefore, steps S21 to S2 are performed.
3, the film 2 attached to the cylinder 1 is discharged, and a new film 2 is attached to the cylinder 1 in step S24. Further, in step S25, the recording start point P is changed to the origin, and in step S26 image exposure is performed. Next, in step S27, it is assumed that the next print image is printed in the same main scanning area as the print image recorded in step S26 this time, and the X coordinate Xc of the print start point P is set (Xc is x + α). , And the main maximum coordinate Yma
Let x be y + β. However, the Y coordinate Yc of the recording start point P
Need not be changed.

In the case of the above, since there is little free space in the main scanning area containing the previously recorded recording image, steps S22 to S30 for recording in the next main scanning area.
Then, the recording start point P is set to point (0, Ymax), and image exposure is performed in step S31. Here, the main maximum coordinate Ymax is a value obtained by adding the interval β to the maximum coordinate in the main scanning direction of the recorded image in the previous main scanning area. Next, in step S32, the X coordinate Xc of the recording start point P is set on the assumption that the next image is recorded in the same main scanning area as the recording image recorded in step S31 this time (Xc is defined as x + α). Then, the main maximum coordinate Ymax is set to Yc + y + β. However, the Y coordinate Yc of the recording start point P does not need to be changed as in the case of.

In the case of, in order to record in the same main scanning area as the main scanning area including the previously recorded image, the process moves from step S22 to step S28 and the coordinates (X
c, Yc) is directly used as the recording start point P to perform image exposure. Next, in step S29, assuming that the next image is recorded in the same main scanning area as the recording image recorded in step S29 this time, the X coordinate Xc of the next recording start point P is set (Xc is set to Xc + x + α), and the main maximum coordinate Ymax is set to the maximum coordinate in the main scanning direction of all the recorded images in the main scanning area plus the interval β.

FIG. 7 shows details of the vertical arrangement processing flow in step S10. The vertical alignment process is the same as the horizontal alignment process of steps S21 to S32 in steps S41 to S52, and the X coordinate and the Y coordinate in the horizontal alignment process flow are exchanged. Here, in steps S41 and S42, it is determined which of the following three cases the recording start position corresponds to. These three cases are when recording an image on the next film.

When an image is recorded in a sub-scanning area different from the previously recorded image. When recording an image in the same sub-scan area as the previously recorded image. And the case where the expression Xc + x> Lx is satisfied (Yes in step S41), the case where the expressions Xc + x ≦ LX and Yc + y> Ly are satisfied (No in step S41 and No in step S42), the expression Xc +
When x ≦ Lx and Yc + y ≦ Ly are satisfied, the case (Yes in step S42) is determined.

In the case of, from step S41 to step S
In step 43, the film 2 mounted on the cylinder 1 is discharged as in the case of the side-by-side processing flow, and a new film 2 is mounted on the cylinder 1 in step S44. Further, in step S45, the recording start point P
Is changed to the origin, and image exposure is performed in step S46. Next, in step S47, the next image is the current image in step S4.
The Y coordinate Yc of the recording start point P is set to y + β, and Xmax is set to x + α on the assumption that the image is printed in the same sub-scan area as the printed image printed in 6. Where Xma
x corresponds to the main maximum coordinate Ymax in the side-by-side processing, and is hereinafter referred to as the sub maximum coordinate.

In the case of, from step S42 to step S
In step 50, the recording start point P is set to point (Xmax, 0) as in the case of the side-by-side processing flow, and image exposure is performed in step S51. Where the sub-maximum coordinate X
max is a value obtained by adding the interval α to the maximum coordinate in the sub-scanning direction of the recorded image in the front sub-scanning area. Next in step S52
Then, the Y coordinate Yc of the recording start point P is set to y + β on the assumption that the next image is printed in the same sub-scanning region as the print image recorded in step S51 this time, and the sub maximum coordinate Xmax is set. Be Xc + x + α.

In the case of, from step S42 to step S
In step 48, image exposure is performed using the coordinates (Xc, Yc) as is as the recording start point P, as in the case of the side-by-side processing flow. Next, in step S49, the coordinates (Xc, Yc) of the recording start point P are set on the assumption that the next image is printed in the same sub-scanning area, and the sub-maximum coordinate Xm is set.
As ax, a value obtained by adding the interval α to the maximum coordinate in the sub-scanning direction among the recorded images in this sub-scanning area is set. [Other Embodiments] In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to an output machine for plate making, but the present invention is also applied to other image recording devices such as an image output device for a mask pattern of a printed circuit board for recording a plurality of images. The invention can be applied.

[0034]

As described above, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the image arrangement direction is obtained, the image start position is determined according to the obtained arrangement direction and the image recording size, and the image is recorded on the recording medium. Since the image is recorded on the recording medium, the image can be recorded on the recording medium having a limited size without waste.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an output machine for plate making as an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an exposure unit.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of an output machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a layout state of a plurality of images.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of a main process of the CPU.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of a side-by-side process.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart of vertical alignment processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of recording sizes of a plurality of images.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when images are vertically arranged.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when images are arranged side by side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 CPU 33 Operation panel 50 Output machine 53 Exposure unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for sequentially recording a plurality of images on a recording medium, an array direction obtaining means for obtaining an array direction of the images on the recording medium, and an array obtained by the array direction obtaining means. A start position determining means for determining a recording start position of each image based on a direction and a recording size of the image; and a recording means for recording the image from the recording start position determined by the start position determining means. Image recording device.