JPH07248294A - Device for measuring density of recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute highly accurate density measuring work while certainly positioning and holding a recording material at a density measuring position by simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:A curved feed route 62 forcibly feeding a film F in a curved state, the feed roller pair 64 for feeding the film F and the guide means 66 for guiding the film F are provided. Further, the density measuring means 68 for measuring the density gradation of a part of the film F pressed and held to an outside guide member 70 is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a density measuring device for a recording medium for measuring density gradation recorded on the recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image recording / developing device is used for recording a predetermined image on a recording material (recording body) such as a photographic light-sensitive material. This type of image recording / developing device is generally
While irradiating the light beam modulated based on the image signal on the photosensitive material in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction to expose and record a predetermined image, The photosensitive material on which this image is recorded is developed.

By the way, in this type of image recording / developing apparatus, for example, the diameter of a light beam emitted from a light source such as a semiconductor laser varies, and the number of times of use of the developing solution increases, so that the developing condition changes. It may be difficult to obtain the same density gradation for the same image signal. Therefore, it is not possible to record a high quality image,
If a change in density gradation occurs as described above when a medical image is recorded, the problem that an erroneous diagnosis may occur may be exposed.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application arranges at least a pair of rollers for conveying the photosensitive material on which a predetermined density gradation is recorded, and a predetermined distance to guide the photosensitive material to the density measuring means. An image density measuring mechanism has been proposed in which a set of guide members provided is provided, and thereby the photosensitive material can be conveyed smoothly and accurately (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-41840).

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the photosensitive material is conveyed along the linear conveying path, means for holding the photosensitive material at the measuring position by the density measuring means is provided. Not not. Therefore,
The photosensitive material may move between a pair of guide members, which causes a positional shift in the photosensitive material, which lowers the accuracy of density measurement. Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce the distance between the pair of guide members as much as possible in accordance with the thickness of the photosensitive material, but this makes the photosensitive material in contact with each guide member and easily damaged.

The present invention is intended to solve this kind of problem, and the recording medium can be reliably positioned and held at the density measuring position with a simple structure, and high-precision density measuring work can be easily performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a density measuring device for a recording medium that can be used.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a density measuring device for measuring density gradation recorded on a recording medium, wherein the recording medium is forcibly curved and conveyed. A curved transport path having a substantially arcuate path for transporting, a pair of transport rollers for transporting the recording body along the curved transport path, and guiding the recording body along the curved transport path. And a density measuring means for measuring the density gradation of the recording medium, the guide means having a substantially circular arc shape on the curved transport path. The recording medium has an outer guide member that abuts on a part of the curved outer peripheral surface of the recording body to hold the recording body, and the density measuring unit is abutted and held on the outer guide member of the recording body. Place a part of density gradation at a position where it can be measured. Is the fact characterized.

[0008]

In the density measuring apparatus for a recording medium according to the present invention, when the recording medium is guided by the guide means under the driving action of the pair of conveying rollers and is forcibly conveyed along the curved conveyance path, the recording is performed. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion of the body is pressed against and held by the outer guide member constituting the guide means. Then, the density measuring means measures the density gradation of a part of the recording medium held by the outer guide member. For this reason, the portion where the density gradation is measured is not held in contact with the outer guide member and does not cause positional displacement, and the highly accurate density measurement work can be easily and efficiently performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The density measuring apparatus for a recording material according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates an image recording / developing apparatus incorporating the density measuring apparatus according to this embodiment. The image recording / developing device 10 includes an image recording unit 12 and
An automatic developing unit 14 integrally provided above the image recording unit 12 is provided.

A chamber 16 is defined in the image recording unit 12, and a first tray base 18 and a second tray 18 are provided on the upper side of the chamber 16.
The tray base 20 and the tray base 20 are arranged vertically in parallel. The first and second tray trays 18 and 20 are configured so as to be drawn out from the image recording unit 12, and the unexposed film F having a predetermined size is provided in each of the first and second tray trays 18 and 20. Multiple sheets are stacked and stored.

The chamber 16 includes a first tray tray 1 and a second tray tray 1
A single-wafer mechanism including suction plates 22 and 24 is provided adjacent to the suction plates 8 and 20, respectively, and the suction plates 22 and 24 are respectively subjected to the vacuum suction operation of the suction trays 22 and 24, respectively. The film F is adsorbed and guided to the conveying system 30 constituted by a plurality of roller pairs 26 and a guide plate 28.

The transfer system 30 is provided with a switching plate 32 which can switch the carrying-out path between the first tray base 18 and the second tray base 20, and is curved downward after being directed vertically downward, and further extends in the horizontal direction. Then, it is directed vertically upward again. Transport system 30
Two pairs of rollers 34 and 36 forming a sub-scanning conveyance mechanism are disposed in the horizontal portion of the roller pair 34, 36.
Holds the film F and conveys it in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow A) at a constant speed.

A laser scanning mechanism 38 is disposed between the roller pair 34, 36 and the second tray base 20, and is led out from the laser scanning mechanism 38 to extend in the main scanning direction (direction substantially orthogonal to the sub scanning direction). The laser beam L deflected to (1) is applied to the intermediate portion of the roller pair 34, 36 to record an image on the film F.

A roller pair 26 and a guide plate 28, which constitute a conveying system 30, are arranged vertically upward in a chamber 40 of the automatic developing unit 14 arranged above the image recording unit 12. A developing unit 42 is provided near the uppermost guide plate 28, and a fixing unit 44 and a water washing unit 4 are provided near the developing unit 42.
6 and 6 are arranged in parallel. The developing unit 42, the fixing unit 44, and the water washing unit 46 are provided with a rack (not shown) including a plurality of rollers and a guide plate for sequentially immersing and transporting the film F in a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water. It is set up.

A plurality of squeeze roller pairs 48 are provided above the water washing section 46, and the roller pairs 48 squeeze the moisture attached to the washed film F and convey the film F to the film drying section 50. . The film drying unit 50 includes a roller group 52 including a plurality of rollers arranged alternately,
A plurality of air blowing pipes 54 arranged alternately are provided, and the concentration measuring device 60 according to the present embodiment is mounted on the outlet side of the film drying unit 50.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the density measuring device 60 includes a curved conveyance path 62 having a substantially arcuate trajectory for forcibly conveying the film F in a curved manner, and the film F is curved. A plurality of conveying roller pairs 64 for conveying along the conveying path 62, guide means 66 for guiding the film F along the curved conveying path 62, and a portion provided on the curved conveying path 62. , A density measuring means 68 for measuring the density gradation of the film F.

The roller pair 64 is separated from the roller 6 by a predetermined distance along the curved conveyance path 62, and one roller 6 is provided.
4a is rotationally driven, and the other roller 64b, which is a nip roller, is configured to be movable back and forth with respect to the one roller 64a. Since the film F is transported along the curved transport path 62, the nip force of the other roller 64b is set to be smaller than that for linear transport.

The guide means 66 has an outer guide member 70 which holds a part of the film F by coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface side of the film F curved in a substantially arcuate shape on the curved conveyance path 62. The member 70 is arranged corresponding to the top of the curved portion of the curved conveyance path 62. Outer guide member 70
An inner guide member 72 is provided so as to face the outer guide member 70, and guide members 74, 74 for guiding the outer peripheral surface of the film F are arranged on both sides of the outer guide member 70.

The concentration measuring means 68 is provided in the curved conveyance path 62.
The light source 76 disposed on the peripheral side and the outside of the curved conveyance path 62
And a light receiving element (light receiving portion) 78 arranged on the circumferential side.
As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 76 is attached via a mounting member 80.
It is fixed to the inner guide member 72, and is
A plurality of color density correction filters 8 are provided between the side guide members 72.
2 is inserted. The inner guide member 72 has a light source 76
Measurement light L derived from ₀To irradiate film F with
The hole portion 84 is formed.

The light receiving element 78 is fixed to the outer guide member 70 via a mounting member 86, and a diffusion plate 88 is mounted on the light receiving surface side of the light receiving element 78. The outer guide member 70 receives the measurement light L ₀ derived from the light source 76 and a light receiving element 78.
An opening 90 for leading to the light receiving surface of is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, a position detecting means 92 is provided in parallel with the concentration measuring means 68. The position detecting means 92 is for detecting a position reference mark (described later) of the film F, and is substantially provided on the light source 94 such as an LED fixed to the inner guide member 72 and the outer guide member 70. Photodetector 9 such as a fixed phototransistor
6 and 6.

Next, the operation of the thus constructed density measuring device 60 will be described in relation to the image recording and developing device 10.

First, before the recording operation of a desired image on the film F is started by the image recording / developing apparatus 10, a density gradation pattern is recorded on the film F, and the density measuring apparatus 6
When 0, the density gradation is measured and the density is corrected.

That is, the first and second tray bases 18,
Among the plurality of films F, for example, a plurality of films F stacked and stored in the first tray stand 18 out of 20, one film F is adsorbed by the suction plate 22 under the driving action of the sheet-fed mechanism and is sent out to the transport system 30 side. Be done. The film F reaches the lower side of the chamber 16 via the transport system 30, is sandwiched by the pair of rollers 34, 36, and is transported at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow A). Here, the laser scanning mechanism 38 is driven, and the laser light L emitted from the laser scanning mechanism 38 is deflected in the main scanning direction of the film F and is irradiated onto the film F. As a result, a plurality of density gradation patterns for inspection and position reference marks are exposed and recorded on the film F at predetermined intervals, as will be described later.

Next, the film F after the completion of exposure recording is
It is conveyed upward through the conveyance system 30 and carried into the chamber 40 of the automatic developing section 14. This film F is used in the developing section 4
2, the fixing section 44 and the water washing section 46 are sequentially passed through, and the water adhering to the rollers is squeezed by the roller pair 48 and introduced into the film drying section 50. In the film drying unit 50, the film F is conveyed through the roller group 52, and the film F is provided with a plurality of air blow-out pipes 5 along the way.
Moisture adhering to both surface portions is evaporated by the hot air blown from No. 4.

The film F which has been subjected to the drying treatment is
It is transported into the concentration measuring device 60 according to the example. At that time,
As shown in FIG.
Concentrations in the transport direction of the
Density gradation pattern PT with different gradation₁To PT_nIs recorded
Each density gradation pattern PT₁To PT _n
Position reference mark M with constant density on the side of₁To M_nIs written
It is recorded.

In the density measuring device 60, one roller 64a constituting the roller pair 64 is rotated under the action of a rotary drive source (not shown), and the film F sandwiched between the one roller 64a and the other roller 64b is , Guide means 66
Under the guiding action of, the sheet is forcibly conveyed along the curved conveyance path 62. At that time, a part of the film F has its outer peripheral surface pressed against the outer guide member 70 forming the guide means 66 (see FIG. 2).

Therefore, when the measuring light L ₀ is derived from the light source 76 which constitutes the density measuring means 68, this measuring light L
₀ passes through the color density correction filter 82, passes through the hole portion 84 of the inner guide member 72, and is irradiated onto the film F.
Therefore, the measurement light L ₀ passes through the density gradation patterns PT _{1 to} PT _n of the film F, and then reaches the light receiving element 78 via the diffusion plate 88, so that each of the density gradation patterns PT _{1 to} PT _n . The density gradation is measured. At the same time, the position detecting means 92 is driven to detect the position reference marks M _{1 to} M _n recorded on the film F.

To briefly explain this, when the detection light emitted from the light source 94 is blocked by the position reference marks M _{1 to} M _n , the light amount input to the photodetector 96 falls below the reference light amount, and the sampling timing The signal is obtained. Then, the analog output of the light receiving element 78 is continuously input to the sample hold circuit to which this sampling timing signal is input, and after this analog output is sampled and held corresponding to the position reference marks M _{1 to} M _n. , Digitized and stored in memory (JP-A-63-23)
468). Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the densities of the density gradation patterns PT _{1 to} PT _n corresponding to the position reference marks M _{1 to} M _n .

After the density gradation of each density gradation pattern PT _{1 to} PT _n of the film F is measured, the data of the conversion table is corrected based on this measurement result and input to the modulation circuit via the conversion table. The converted image signal is converted.

In this case, according to this embodiment, the film F
Is forcibly conveyed along a curved conveyance path 62 having a substantially arcuate path, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the film F is arranged corresponding to the top of the curved portion of the curved conveyance path 62. It is pressed and held by the outer guide member 70 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the light source 7 mounted on the inner guide member 72
Since the measuring light L ₀ is irradiated from 6 to the light receiving element 78 mounted on the outer guide member 70, the measuring light L ₀ passes through a part of the film F pressed and held by the outer guide member 70.

Therefore, in the film F, the portion through which the measuring light L ₀ is transmitted (that is, the measuring portion) is always pressed and held by the outer guide member 70, and the displacement of the measuring portion of the film F is surely prevented. be able to. As a result, the density gradation patterns PT _{1 to} PT _n of the film F are
It is possible to obtain the effect that the measurement work of the density gradation is performed with high accuracy and efficiency.

Further, since the film F is curvedly conveyed along the curved conveyance path 62, the structure of the entire concentration measuring device 60 is not complicated, and the manufacturing cost can be prevented from rising. It will be possible. Further, there is an advantage that the distance between the outer guide member 70 and the inner guide member 72 constituting the guide means 66 does not need to be narrowed so much, and the film F can be effectively prevented from being damaged.

By the way, after the density correction is completed in the image recording and developing apparatus 10, the first and second tray bases 18,
A plurality of unexposed films F stored in 20 are selectively sent to the transport system 30 one by one. Then, the film F is irradiated with the laser light L modulated based on a predetermined image signal while being driven by the laser scanning mechanism 38 while being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction under the action of the roller pairs 34 and 36, and is exposed and recorded. Is done. Further, the film F passes through the automatic developing section 14 and is led out from the density measuring device 60 to a stacking section (not shown). As a result, an image having a desired density gradation is recorded on the film F that has undergone the image recording and development steps.

In this embodiment, only the outer guide member 70 is provided to press and hold a part of the outer peripheral surface of the film F, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. A relatively short outer guide member 70a is arranged in the width direction of the film F, and
The guide rollers 100a and 100b, which are other outer guide members, may be provided on both sides of the outer guide member 70a.

Further, in this embodiment, one roller 64a constituting the roller pair 64 is automatically rotated under the action of a rotary drive source (not shown), but this roller pair 64 is manually operated. It can be rotated. Furthermore, the light source 76 constituting the concentration measuring means 68 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the curved conveyance path 62. The light source 76 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the curved conveyance path 62, and the light receiving element 7 is arranged.
8 can be arranged on the inner peripheral side of the curved conveyance path 62.

[0038]

The density measuring device for a recording material according to the present invention has the following effects.

When the recording medium is guided by the guide means under the driving action of the conveying roller pair and is forcibly conveyed along the curved conveyance path, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the curved portion of the recording body is guided by the guide means. And is held by being pressed against the outer guide member. Then, the density measuring means measures the density gradation of a part of the recording medium held by the outer guide member. For this reason, a part of which the density gradation is measured is not always brought into contact with and held by the outer guide member to cause a positional deviation and the like, and highly accurate density measurement work can be easily and efficiently performed. Moreover, the recording body is only forced to be curvedly conveyed along the curved conveyance path, and it is possible to effectively avoid a complicated structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an image recording / developing apparatus incorporating a density measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the concentration measuring device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a film, density measuring means, and position detecting means for performing density gradation measurement by the density measuring device.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of another guide means.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Image recording / developing apparatus 12 ... Image recording section 14 ... Automatic developing section 18, 20 ... Tray stand 22, 24 ... Suction board 30 ... Conveying system 34, 36 ... Roller pair 38 ... Laser scanning mechanism 42 ... Developing section 44 ... Fixing Part 46 ... Washing part 50 ... Film drying part 60 ... Concentration measuring device 62 ... Curved conveying path 64 ... Roller pair 66 ... Guide means 68 ... Concentration measuring means 70, 70a ...
Outer guide member 72 ... Inner guide member 76 ... Light source 78 ... Light receiving element 92 ... Position detecting means 100a, 100b ... Guide roller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A density measuring device for measuring density gradation recorded on a recording medium, comprising: a curved conveyance path having a substantially arcuate locus for forcibly curved conveyance of the recording medium; A pair of transport rollers for transporting the recording body along the curved transport path, a guide unit for guiding the recording body along the curved transport path, and a guide means provided on the way of the curved transport path, Density measuring means for measuring the density gradation of the recording medium, wherein the guide means is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface side of the recording medium which is curved in a substantially arcuate shape on the curved conveyance path, In addition to having an outer guide member for holding the recording body, the density measuring means is arranged at a position where the density gradation of a part of the recording body that is held in contact with the outer guide member can be measured. Characteristic recording medium density measuring device.