JPH09216446A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform the replacing work of a color material cassette by arranging a transmission member to the transmission member of the bracket arranged next on the deep side in a color material cassette detaching direction so as to bring the same into contact therewith on the upstream side in an open direction. SOLUTION: An opening lever is moved upwardly and a fixing bar is pushed by a pushing part to release the engagement of the fixing bar and a pawl 173. By this constitution, a first bracket 140 is revolved in the direction shown by an arrow (c) by a torsion spring 146 to make a first cassette 148 detachable and replaceable. At the same time, a transmission means 170 is pushed by a transmission means 154 to also revolve a second bracket 142 in the direction shown by the arrow (c). The second bracket 142 is further revolved in the direction shown by the arrow (c) to set the first bracket 140 and a second cassette 166 to a non-overlapped state and, by this constitution, the second cassette 166 is made easily detachable and replaceable. Thereafter, the second bracket 142 is revolved in the direction reverse to the direction shown by the arrow (c) until the pawl 173 is engaged with the fixing bar.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the technical field of a printing apparatus for recording characters, symbols, images, etc. using a color material cassette such as an ink ribbon cassette or an inkjet head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic printing apparatus which exposes an image photographed on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film onto a photosensitive material (photographic paper) and prints it, for each photographic image (one print), Various information related to printing, such as frame number, film number, date of photography of photographic film, date of printing film image on photosensitive material, etc., code of laboratory (laboratory) and other data The so-called back printing is performed, in which is recorded on the back side of the print. Further, such back printing is usually performed by transfer using an ink ribbon cassette and a serial dot head or a thermal transfer head, a method using an inkjet head, or the like.

By the way, such back printing has conventionally been one line. However, in recent years, it has been desired to record more information on a print, and it has been considered to make the back print into two lines or a plurality of lines.

[0004]

As described above, back printing in a photo printing apparatus is performed by a recording method using a cassette (color material cassette) that holds color materials such as an ink ribbon cassette and an inkjet head. Recording is performed while relatively moving the recording material, that is, the photosensitive material, the ink ribbon cassette, the recording head, and the like. Therefore, in order to efficiently perform back printing of a plurality of lines, it is necessary to arrange the ink ribbon cassettes, the recording heads, the inkjet heads, etc. in the number corresponding to the number of lines to be recorded.

Here, considering the space inside the apparatus and the number of parts such as a sensor for detecting the recording start position, the color material cassette is arranged in the recording direction (arrow a) as shown in FIG.
Direction) is arranged in a state of overlapping in the direction orthogonal to. However, as is well known, attachment and detachment of a normal coloring material cassette is
This can only be done in this array direction. Therefore, the color material cassette can be replaced with a color material cassette (holding member) so that the color material cassette does not overlap the housing of the apparatus main body, various members, and other color material cassettes (holding members) for each color material cassette. After it is moved, it is necessary to replace it and load it again at a predetermined position, which is a troublesome work. Moreover, inside the photo printing apparatus, not only the color material cassette but also various members are usually arranged in a limited space, which makes replacement work more and more troublesome. Further, if all the color material cassettes are not loaded at predetermined print positions, jamming of the recording material (that is, the photosensitive material in the case of a photo printing apparatus) may occur.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus used for back printing of a photographic printing apparatus or the like, which records a plurality of lines of characters and the like by using a plurality of color material cassettes such as ink ribbon cassettes and ink jet heads. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of easily performing a replacement work of a color material cassette such as an ink ribbon cassette and mounting all color material cassettes at a predetermined print position easily and reliably.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording material on which a plurality of color material cassettes for recording at least one selected from an image, a symbol and a character are loaded. A printing apparatus for performing image recording of at least one line in a relative conveying direction of a recording material and a coloring material cassette using the coloring material cassette, wherein the coloring material cassette can be loaded freely, A plurality of brackets arranged in the orthogonal direction, which are rotatable about a direction parallel to the conveyance direction and orthogonal to the transport direction, holding means for holding each bracket at a predetermined print position, and brackets formed by the holding means. An opening means for releasing the holding and allowing the bracket to rotate in a predetermined opening direction, and a protrusion provided from each bracket toward the adjacent bracket, and provided. And a transmission member for transmitting the rotational power to the adjacent brackets, the transmission member contacting the transmission member of the adjacent bracket on the depth side in the color material cassette removal direction from the upstream side in the opening direction. Provided is a printing apparatus, which is arranged so as to be in contact with each other.

Further, it is preferable that the printing apparatus of the present invention further has a biasing means for rotating at least one bracket in the opening direction.

Further, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that at least one bracket is further provided with a click stop for restricting a rotation angle in the opening direction.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, basically, a plurality of brackets, on which color material cassettes such as ink ribbon cassettes and ink jet heads can be mounted, are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the recording direction, and each bracket is arranged. Is rotatable about the same axis extending in the arrangement direction, and holding means for holding each bracket (that is, color material cassette) at a predetermined printing position, and the holding means are opened to rotate the bracket in a predetermined opening direction. Opening means to allow movement,
Each of the brackets has a transmission member which projects toward the adjacent bracket and is arranged in each bracket to transmit the rotational force to the adjacent bracket. Further, the transmission member arranged in each bracket is a bracket on the back side in the ink ribbon cassette removal direction. The transmission member is configured to abut on the upstream side in the opening direction.

In such a printing apparatus of the present invention, the holding of the bracket is opened by the opening means, and the bracket is rotated by a predetermined angle in the opening direction, so that the coloring material cassette is not disturbed by the housing and other members. Can be exchanged. Further, due to this rotation, all the brackets are rotated by the predetermined angle by the action of the transmitting means and can be freely rotated in the opening direction. Therefore, the bracket for which the color material cassette needs to be replaced is further rotated manually. Then, the ink ribbon cassette can be easily replaced in a state where the other bracket does not overlap the color material cassette. Also, when loading the bracket (color material cassette) at the recording position,
By rotating the innermost side bracket in the opposite direction to the opening direction, all the brackets can be rotated in the same direction by the action of the transmitting means and held by the holding means, and all the color material cassettes can be easily and easily It can be surely loaded at a predetermined print position.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a printing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photoprinting developing machine (photoprinter) using the printing apparatus of the present invention for recording back prints. The photoprinting and developing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 photoelectrically reads an image recorded on a film and converts it into a digital signal, and then performs image processing to determine an exposure condition to obtain image information for recording. It is used in a digital photo printer that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to information to record an image, and is an exposure condition (printing condition) read by a film scanner or the like and determined by a setup device. In response to the,
The light-sensitive material A is exposed by light beam scanning exposure to print a film image. Compared to conventional direct exposure (film projection) devices, such digital photo printers do not require the operator to determine exposure conditions, adjust filters, etc., and can print in a short time. In addition to being constant according to the above, there are various advantages such as an editing layout such as image composition, and image processing such as color / density adjustment and scaling can be freely performed. Such digital photo printers are described in detail in JP-A-6-217091, JP-A-6-233052, and JP-A-6-245062.

The photographic printing developing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a device corresponding to an integrated type device (minilab) that performs exposure (printing), development processing, and cutting / sorting of the photosensitive material A in one device. Therefore, basically, a printing / conveying device 22, a light beam scanning device 24, and a printing device 12 having an electrical equipment section 20 for accommodating a control board, a power supply section and the like, and a developing apparatus 14.
The drying device 16 and the discharging device 18 are combined to form a single device to produce a finished print.

FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged schematic view of the printing apparatus 12. This partially enlarged view mainly shows the printing and conveying device 22. The printing / transporting device 22 pulls out the photosensitive material A wound in a roll and transports the photosensitive material A in a predetermined path,
An apparatus for recording image position information, image exposure (printing), back printing, etc., which is a photosensitive material supply unit 26, an image position information forming unit 28, an exposure unit 30, a back printing unit 32 using the printing apparatus of the present invention, It has a reservoir 34, a photosensitive material discharging section 36, and a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material A on a predetermined path through these portions.

The photosensitive material supply unit 26 is loaded with a (photosensitive material) magazine 38 in which the photosensitive material A wound in a roll is housed in a light-shielding case, and the photosensitive material A is pulled out from the magazine 38. A part for supplying, and a printing / conveying device 2
A loading unit 39 of a magazine 38 located on the upper side of the exposure device 30 including the exposure unit 30 and the light beam scanning device 24 on the upper side of the exposure unit 30.
And downstream of the photosensitive material A in the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as downstream).
A drawer roller pair 40, a sensor 42,
It has a guide 44 and the like.

The pull-out roller pair 40 pulls out the photosensitive material A from the magazine 38. The draw-out roller pair 40 is configured to be able to hold and open the photosensitive material A by being brought into contact with and separated from each other by a solenoid or the like.
8 facilitates removal of the magazine and insertion of the photosensitive material A at the time of replacement or the like. The sensor 42 detects the front end of the photosensitive material A and the presence or absence of the photosensitive material A when rewinding the photosensitive material A or loading the photosensitive material A (initial paper passing) at the time of magazine exchange or the like. The sensor used in the photoprinting and developing machine 10 of the present invention, including this sensor 42, is not particularly limited, and a known sensor used for detecting a sheet-like material such as an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor. All sensors are available. The guide 44 is configured to change its width in accordance with the width of the photosensitive material A to be loaded. Regarding this point, guides 58a, 58b, 7 to be described later are provided.
The same applies to 8, 90 and 108.

A first loop forming section 46 is arranged downstream of the photosensitive material supplying section 26. The first loop forming unit 46 includes:
By forming a loop (slack) of the photosensitive material A,
The drive roller 48 is a portion that absorbs the stop of the conveyance of the photosensitive material A when the downstream image position information forming unit 28 operates.
And guide rollers 50 and 52 and the like. In the first loop forming section 46, when the photosensitive material A is loaded, the photosensitive material A is guided by the guide rollers while the photosensitive material A is being imaged by the drive roller 48 and the like.
Transport to 8. After the loading is completed, a loop of the photosensitive material A is formed according to the conveyance of the photosensitive material A between the image position information forming unit 28 and the pull-out roller pair 40.

An image position information forming section 28 is arranged downstream of the first loop forming section 46. In a normal photoprinting and developing machine, the photosensitive material A is not cut in the middle of the process, and is continuously exposed and developed in the form of a strip, and finally cut by the discharge section 18 sheet by sheet. The finished print is made. Therefore, for cutting of the photosensitive material A, exposure, and positioning of back printing, position information for each print (so-called frame information), position information for each unit number of sheets such as one film (so-called sort information), etc. It is necessary to form the image position information of The image position information forming unit 28 is a portion that forms the frame information and / or sort information, and forms a frame information and the like by punching a position corresponding to the leading end of one print (frame) and the sort conveyance direction. To do.

In the illustrated example, the image position information forming section 28
It has a punch 56 for punching frame information and the like, guides 58a and 58b on the upstream and downstream sides of 56, a sensor 60 for detecting the leading end of the photosensitive material A, and a conveying roller pair 62. In the image position information forming unit 28, when the print image is confirmed, the photosensitive material A corresponding to one print is conveyed,
The punch 56 operates to form frame information and the like.

In the apparatus of the illustrated example, the punch 56 is used to punch the photosensitive material A to form the frame information and the like, but other than this, various recording such as thermal transfer using an ink ribbon or ink jet is performed. The frame information and the like may be formed by recording marks such as lines and dots using a means. In this case, a back print unit 32 by a printing apparatus of the present invention described later may be arranged at the position of the image position information forming unit 28, and this may have a function of forming frame information and the like.

Downstream of the image position information forming section 28, a second
The exposure unit 30 including the loop forming unit 64, the sub-scanning transport system 66, and the third loop forming unit 68 is arranged. In the illustrated apparatus, the exposure unit 30 and the exposure unit 30 in the drawing
And an optical beam scanning device 24 arranged on the left side of the optical beam scanning device 24. The light beam scanning device 24 modulates the light beam L in accordance with the recorded image information and the main scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). Deflection scanning is performed while the photosensitive material A is held at a predetermined exposure position by the sub-scanning transport system 66, and the photosensitive material A is transported in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b in the figure) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Thus, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam L to record a latent image.

The light beam scanning device 24 uses a red (R) exposure,
It is configured by including a light source that emits a light beam corresponding to green (G) exposure and blue (B) exposure, modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator), an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror, and an fθ lens. This is a known light beam scanning device. on the other hand,
The sub-scanning conveyance system 66 of the exposure unit 30 holds the photosensitive material A at a predetermined exposure position and conveys it in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction. Two nip rollers 72 and 74 pressed against the exposure drum 70 with the exposure position (scanning line) interposed therebetween, a sensor 76 for detecting frame information and detecting an image recording position,
The photosensitive material A includes a guide 78, and the photosensitive material A is formed by the exposure drum 70 and the nip rollers 72 and 74.
Sub-scanning is carried.

When the photosensitive material A is conveyed and the frame information is detected by the sensor 76, the light beam scanning device 24 starts to operate, and when the recording start position is further conveyed to the exposure position, the light beam L The scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A is started. Here, the light beam L is deflected in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material A is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. As a result, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned by the light beam L. And the entire surface is exposed.

The error in the sub-scanning conveyance at the time of exposure directly leads to the deterioration of the image quality such as the unevenness of the image. Therefore, in order to obtain a print on which a high-quality image is recorded, it is necessary to transport the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning transport system 66 with high accuracy. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the second loop forming portion 64 is provided on the upstream side of the sub-scanning conveyance system 66 and the third loop forming portion 64 is provided on the downstream side of the sub-scanning transport system 66.
Each has a loop forming portion 68, and has a sub-scanning conveyance system 66.
A loop of the photosensitive material A is formed between the upstream and downstream transport means (transport roller pairs 62 and 84) and the sub-scan transport system 66. By having both loop forming parts, the adverse effect of the conveying means arranged upstream and downstream, that is, so-called back tension or pulling, on the sub-scanning conveyance by the sub-scanning conveyance system 66 is eliminated, and the high precision Scanning conveyance becomes possible. The second loop forming unit 64 also absorbs the stop of the photosensitive material conveyance at the time of punching in the image position information forming unit 28.

A back print unit 32 is arranged downstream of the exposure unit 60. In the photoprinting and developing machine 10 used in a photo printer, various kinds of print data such as the shooting date of the original film and the recording date on the photosensitive material A are recorded on the back side of the print, so-called back printing of information on the back side. In the apparatus shown in the figure, the back print unit 32 does this. This back print section 32
Uses the printing apparatus of the present invention, and performs back printing on a plurality of lines, in the illustrated example, two lines in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material A indicated by an arrow a. The back print unit 32 includes a sensor 86, a printing device 88 that is the printing device of the present invention, and a guide 90.

The sensor 86 detects previously formed frame information, and the printing device 88 performs back printing on the back surface (non-exposed surface) of the photosensitive material A in accordance with the detection result of this frame information. .

The printing apparatus 88 in the illustrated example performs back printing by thermal transfer using an ink ribbon cassette as a coloring material cassette. This printing apparatus according to the present invention uses two ink ribbon cassettes and two ink ribbon cassettes.
Backprint lines. In addition, the guide 90 serves as a platen (support) for back printing together with the guide of the photosensitive material A. As described above, in recent years, it has been desired to record more information in a back print, and it is considered that the back print has two or more lines. Further, in the future, back printing will be standardized to 2 lines or more with 40 characters or more per line as a standard of APS (Advanced Photo System). The printing apparatus of the present invention is capable of recording such a large number of lines of characters, symbols, images and the like, and can easily replace a color material cassette such as an ink ribbon cassette.

In the present invention, the coloring material cassette is not limited to the ink ribbon cassette, and various coloring material cassettes such as ink jet heads are also preferably exemplified. The present invention is applicable to various printing apparatuses using these. Can also be suitably used.

A schematic perspective view of the printer 88 is shown in FIG. The printing device 88 is basically the first bracket 1 arranged on the front side in the removal direction of the ink ribbon cassette.
40, the second bracket 142 on the rear side, and an opening means 144 (see FIG. 4) for holding and opening both brackets,
A torsion spring (torsion coil spring) that rotates the first bracket 140 in the opening direction indicated by the arrow c in the figure.
And 146. It should be noted that the opening means 144 is omitted in FIG. 3 and is shown in FIG. 4 in order to clarify the configuration of the printer 88.

A first ink ribbon cassette (hereinafter referred to as a first cassette) 148 is attachable to the first bracket 140 by a known means, and the first cassette 1 is also attached.
A recording head 150 for recording an image by means of a recording medium 48 and an ink ribbon feeding means (not shown) of the first cassette 148 are arranged, and are parallel to the surface of the photosensitive material A and in the recording direction indicated by the arrow a (the photosensitive material A). Is rotatably supported by a shaft 152 extending in a direction orthogonal to the (transport direction). The first bracket 140 is located on the side where a worker replaces each cassette. In the printing apparatus 88 of the illustrated example, all known methods using an ink ribbon cassette can be used as a recording method.
Therefore, as the recording head 150, various recording heads such as serial dot heads and thermal transfer heads can be used according to the type of ink ribbon.

Above the end of the first bracket 140 on the side opposite to the photosensitive material A, the turning force in the opening direction by the torsion spring 146 is transmitted to the second bracket 142, and the opening given to the second bracket 142 is provided. A plate-shaped transmission means 154, to which the turning force in the opposite direction is transmitted, is fixed so as to project toward the second bracket 142 side.

Below the transmission means 154, a projection 155 for fixing the torsion spring 146 is fixed. The torsion spring 146 constitutes an urging means for rotating the first bracket 140 in the opening direction, and as shown in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 146 holds the projection 155 and the holding member 156 in a state of being held by the shaft 152. The first bracket 140 is biased in the direction of arrow c. The holding member 156 is not limited to the rod-shaped body in the illustrated example, and a bracket that holds another member or a beam arranged in the printing apparatus 12 may be used. Further, the means for rotating the first bracket 140 is not limited to the torsion spring 146 in the illustrated example, and various known means such as a spring for pushing or pulling the first bracket 140 in the direction of arrow c, a torsion bar, etc. can be used. Is.

At the lower end of the first bracket 140 on the side of the photosensitive material A, a regulating member 15 for regulating the opening angle of the first bracket 140 in the opening direction and for making the opening a predetermined angle.
8 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 3, the restricting member 158 protrudes toward the second bracket 142 and extends toward the locking portion 1.
58a is formed, and as conceptually shown in FIG. 5, the engaging portion 158a abuts on the abutting portion 160 arranged between the first bracket 140 and the second bracket 142. The rotation of the 1 bracket 140 in the direction of the arrow c is set at a predetermined angle. That is, the restriction member 158 and the contact portion 160 constitute a click stop. As the contact portion 160, a bracket that holds another member, a beam arranged in the printing apparatus 12, or the like may be used. It should be noted that such a rotation restricting means is not limited to the illustrated example, and various known methods can be used.

First regulated by click stop
The rotation angle of the bracket 140 depends on the other members of the device (printing device 12 in the illustrated example) in which the printing device of the present invention is arranged, the housing, etc. The detachable angle in the direction may be appropriately determined.

Like the first bracket 140, the second bracket 142 is also rotatably supported by the shaft 152, and the second ink ribbon cassette (hereinafter referred to as the second cassette) 166 is mounted by a known means. The recording head 168 and an ink ribbon feeding means (not shown) are arranged. Further, below the second bracket 142 on the side of the photosensitive material A, the fixing bar 162 of the opening means 144 is provided.
The claw 173 engaging with (see FIG. 4) is fixed. In the illustrated apparatus, the claw 173 and the opening means 144 are provided.
A holding means for holding both brackets, that is, the cassette at a predetermined recording position is constituted by the above. In the illustrated example, the claw 173 has a substantially L-shape that projects toward the photosensitive material A side, and the lower end has a tapered shape that rises toward the photosensitive material A side. The structure of the opening means 144 will be described later with reference to FIG.

A transmission means 170 corresponding to the transmission means 154 of the first bracket 140 and engaged therewith is fixed to the end of the second bracket 142 opposite to the photosensitive material A. As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission means 170 is arranged so as to project toward the first bracket 140 side and abuts on the downstream side of the transmission means 154 in the arrow c direction by the rotation of each bracket (that is, the first bracket). 140 transmission means 15
Reference numeral 4 denotes a plate-shaped member that is arranged so as to come into contact with the upstream side of the transmission means 170 in the arrow c direction). Therefore, due to the action of the torsion spring 146, the second bracket 1
42 is biased in the direction of arrow c together with the first bracket 140, and when the opening means 144 is opened, both brackets are rotated in the direction of arrow c. On the contrary, when the turning force in the direction opposite to the arrow c direction is applied to the second bracket 142, the first bracket 140 is rotated together with the second bracket 142 in the direction opposite to the arrow c direction. Further, since the transmission means 170 is in contact with only the downstream side of the transmission means 154 in the direction of the arrow c, when the holding by the opening means 144 is released, the second bracket 142 becomes the first bracket 14.
It is rotatable in the direction of arrow c with respect to 0.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the opening means 144. As described above, the claw 173 is arranged below the second bracket 142 on the side of the photosensitive material A. The releasing means 144 holds and releases the claw 173,
Both brackets are held at predetermined positions or are rotatable in the opening direction (direction of arrow c). The opening means 144 basically includes the fixing bar 16 that engages with the claw 173.
2, a release lever 172, a connecting member 174, and a pushing member 176.

The fixing bar 162 is held by a long hole or the like formed in a bracket (not shown) so as to be movable in the arrow d ₁ direction and the opposite d ₂ direction in FIG. 4 by a biasing means (not shown). It is biased in the d ₂ direction. Therefore, the fixing bar 162 is located at the end of the elongated hole in the d ₂ direction in a normal state where no action is taken. In the state where the fixed bar 162 and the claw 173 are engaged, both brackets (both cassettes) are engaged with the first bracket 140 and are biased in the direction of arrow c by a torsion spring 146, which is opposite to the direction of arrow c. The fixing bar 162 and the claw 173 of the second bracket 142 are prevented from rotating to the side.
The position in the direction of the arrow c is defined by and and is held at a predetermined print position.

The opening lever 172 is a plate-like member extending in the direction of arrow e (up and down direction) in FIG. 4, and by the locking shafts 178a and 178b inserted into the elongated hole 172a extending in the direction of arrow e, It is held so as to be movable in the direction of arrow e. Further, as is clear from FIG. 4, the opening lever 17
The upward movement of 2 is regulated by the locking shaft 178a, and the downward movement thereof is regulated by the locking shaft 178b. The downward movement is made by gravity or further by a biasing means such as a spring. ing. Therefore, the opening lever 172 is located at the lowermost position defined by the locking shaft 178b in a normal state where there is no action.

In the vicinity of the lower end of the opening lever 172, the shaft 1
A connecting member 174 is rotatably supported by 74a, and the end of the connecting member 174 opposite to the shaft 174a is
The pushing member 176 is fixed by a known method such as a screw 174b. The pushing member 176 is rotatably held by a bearing (not shown), and has a rotating shaft 176 a that is parallel to the fixed bar 162 and is located below the fixed bar 162, and is fixed to the rotating shaft 176 a. More arrow d
_{The second} side has a pushing portion 176b extending upward to the height of the fixed bar 162.

That is, the connecting member 174 is the rotating shaft 176.
It is rotatably supported by a in the direction of arrow f, and rotates the rotary shaft 176a in the direction of arrow f in accordance with the vertical movement of the opening lever 172. Here, since the pushing portion 176b is fixed to the rotating shaft 176a, the pushing portion 176b also rotates in the arrow f direction as the rotating shaft 176a rotates. Therefore, by moving the opening lever 172 upward, the pushing portion 176b pushes the fixed bar 162 in the direction of the arrow d ₁ to release the engagement between the fixed bar 162 and the claw 173. Further, as described above, in the normal state, the release lever 172 is
There has been moved downward, so that pushing portion 176b is shown in FIG. 4, not prevent any movement of the arrow d ₂ direction of the fixed bar 162.

The replacement work of the first cassette 148 and the second cassette 166 in the printer 88 will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the normal state (during back printing), the printing device 88 is in the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 5A, and the photosensitive material A is conveyed in the direction of arrow a while the first cassette is on the back surface thereof. Two lines of back print are printed by 148, the recording head 150, the second cassette 166, and the recording head 168.

As mentioned above, the first bracket 140 is
The torsion spring 146 is urged in the direction of arrow c, but in this state (during back printing), the claw 173 of the second bracket 142 is engaged with the fixed bar 162, so that the first bracket 140 is transmitted. Means 170
It is pressed down by and does not rotate,
The first cassette 148 and the second cassette 166 are held at predetermined print positions. In other words, the printing device 88, in this state, the first cassette 148, the second cassette 166, and the recording heads 150, 168 so that the brackets, the claw 173,
The fixed bar 162 and the like are configured.

In the printing apparatus 12 of the illustrated example, for example, the housing is located as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5, and the first cassette 148 is removed toward the front while the cassette is in a printable position, It is difficult to exchange. Further, the second cassette 166 overlaps the first bracket 140, and it is difficult to exchange the second cassette 166 in this state. At the time of exchanging the cassette, the opening lever 172 is moved upward in the direction of arrow e, and as described above, the fixed bar 162 is pushed in the direction of arrow d ₁ by the pushing portion 176b, and the fixed bar 162 and the claw 173 are moved. Release the engagement. As a result, the first spring 140 is rotated in the direction of arrow c by the torsion spring 146, and
As shown in (b), the first cassette 148 is ready for removal / replacement. At the same time, the transmission means 154 pushes the transmission means 170, and the second bracket 142 is also rotated in the arrow c direction together with the first bracket 140. It should be noted that the rotation of both brackets is stopped at a predetermined angle by the restriction member 158 contacting the contact portion 160.

In this state, the second bracket 142 is
It is rotatable in the direction of arrow c. Therefore, when exchanging the second cassette 166, for example, an operator manually rotates the second bracket 142 in the direction of the arrow c and, as shown in FIG.
By setting the 0 and the second cassette 166 so that they do not overlap with each other, the second cassette 166 can be easily removed and replaced. In the present invention, a biasing member such as a spring that engages with the second bracket 142 is used so that the second bracket 142 automatically rotates to a position where the second cassette 166 can be replaced. It is also possible. In addition, the second bracket 142 may be configured so as not to rotate in the arrow c direction by a predetermined angle or more by various kinds of restriction members.

After the cassette is replaced, the second bracket 142 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow c direction until the claw 173 engages with the fixing bar 162. Thereby, the transmission means 1
70 pushes the transmission means 154 to move the first bracket 140.
Since it is also rotated in the same direction as the second bracket 142, loading of the first cassette 148 and the second cassette 166 into predetermined positions can be easily performed in one operation. Since the lower end of the claw 173 is tapered as described above, the engagement between the fixed bar 162 and both claws can be performed very easily.

The printing device 88 in the illustrated example performs back printing of two lines, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more brackets are arranged, and the transmission means 154 and the transmission means are provided in each bracket. By fixing the member corresponding to 170, back printing (image recording) of three lines or more may be performed.

Although the back print unit 32 is arranged downstream of the exposure unit 30 in the illustrated example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the back print unit 32 is arranged upstream of the exposure unit 30. May be. However, the aforementioned exposure unit 3
For the same reason as 0, the back print unit 32 is set to the exposure unit 30
However, even if it is arranged upstream, it is preferable that it is arranged downstream from the image position information forming unit 28.

At the downstream side of the back print section 32, there is arranged a bent portion 96 consisting of a conveying roller 92 and an endless belt 94 which is stretched over the rollers 94a, 94b and 94c and pressed by the conveying roller 92, and the downstream thereof. Has
The sensor 98 and the first cutter 100 are arranged. First
The cutter 100 is not used in a normal operating state, and is used, for example, for discharging all exposed photosensitive material A stored in a reservoir described later after the exposure operation is completed, and the sensor 98. Then, the sorting information is detected and the first cutter 100 is operated to cut the photosensitive material A.

A reservoir 3 is provided downstream of the first cutter 100.
4 are arranged. The reservoir 34 is a place that temporarily stores the exposed photosensitive material A and absorbs the processing speed difference between the printing device 12 and the developing device 14. By having the reservoir 34, high-quality prints can be efficiently produced. That is, in the photoprinting developing machine,
Since the photosensitive material A is cut and printed at the end,
From the exposure to the completion of the development process, the process is performed in a strip shape, but usually the development process takes longer than the exposure. In particular, a photographic printing developing machine 1 for digital exposure
In 0, the exposure condition is predetermined by the setup device, and the correction according to the shooting condition of the film has already been performed by the image signal processing in the setup device. Therefore, this correction is performed in the actual exposure of the photosensitive material A. Since it is not necessary to perform it, and the exposure time per image is constant according to the image size, the exposure processing time is faster than that of the developing device 14. In addition, since the amount of exposure light is higher in digital exposure as in the illustrated example than in surface exposure, if development processing is performed immediately after exposure, there is a problem that a so-called latent image regression occurs in which color / density balance is lost.

Therefore, by having such a reservoir 34, the exposed photosensitive material A, which is not developed in time, is exposed.
Can be stored here, and it is possible to continuously perform the exposure work without having to stop the exposure work in response to the delay of the development with respect to the exposure. Further, by storing a certain amount of exposed photosensitive material A here, the development processing of the print can be continued even if unattended, and highly efficient print production can be performed. In addition, by keeping the exposed photosensitive material A in the reservoir 34 for a predetermined time or more, the regression of the latent image can be prevented, and a high-quality image can be obtained.

At the downstream side of the reservoir 34, a conveying means 104 composed of rollers 106 and guides 108 is arranged. The photosensitive material A is conveyed by the conveying means 104 to the reservoir 34.
From the discharge unit 36.

The discharging section 36 is composed of the second cutter 110 and the fourth loop forming section 112 downstream thereof. The second cutter 110 is a cutter for urgently cutting off the photosensitive material A in the case of a trouble or the like. For example, when a trouble occurs in the developing device 14 or the like, the second cutter 110 causes the photosensitive material A to be cut.
By cutting off, the exposed photosensitive material A stored in the reservoir 34 is prevented from being adversely affected. The fourth loop forming portion 112 is a portion that forms a loop for preventing the photosensitive material A from being unnecessarily pulled by the developing device 14 and being damaged, and the guide roll 11 is directed toward the downstream side.
4. Conveying means 118 having a conveying means 118 and a sensor 120
A loop is formed in accordance with the transport speed of 18 or the processing speed of the developing device 14 and the transport speed of the transport unit 104.

In the photoprinting and developing device 10 shown in the drawing,
The photosensitive material A is discharged from the printing device 12 by the discharging portion 36 and carried into the developing device 14. The developing device 14 is a wet development processing device according to the type of the photosensitive material A to be used. For example, when the photosensitive material A is a silver salt photographic photosensitive material, as shown in FIG. Which has a bleach-fixing tank 124 and washing tanks 126a, 126b, 126c and 126d, and which has been exposed,
Is transported by a transport roller or the like, successively dipped in each processing tank, subjected to predetermined processing in each processing tank, and developed to visualize the latent image. The developed photosensitive material A is then dried in the drying device 16 by a known method, and conveyed to the discharging device 18.

The discharging device 18 includes a cutting section 128 and a sorter 1.
It consists of 30 and. The cutting unit 128 detects the frame information and cuts the photosensitive material A in accordance with the frame information to obtain a finished print. On the other hand, the sorter 130 is a normal sorter having a large number of shelves, and the sorting information by the cutting unit 128 is used. By rotating or sliding the shelves for storing the finished prints, the predetermined number of finished prints according to the sort information is sorted and stored.

The above-mentioned example is an example in which the printing apparatus of the present invention is used in a photographic printing and developing apparatus using digital exposure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a conventional photographic printing and developing apparatus using surface exposure is also used. It is also applicable to a printing apparatus of a system in which the printing apparatus and the developing apparatus are separate bodies. Further, the printing apparatus of the present invention can be suitably used for various apparatuses such as a printer such as a word processor or a computer, as well as a photographic printing apparatus, as long as an image recording of a plurality of lines is performed using an ink ribbon cassette. .

Although the printing apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the back of a photographic printing apparatus for recording a plurality of lines of characters and the like by using a plurality of color material cassettes such as ink ribbon cassettes and ink jet heads. In a printing apparatus used for printing or the like, a color material cassette such as an ink ribbon cassette can be easily replaced, and all the color material cassettes can be easily and reliably mounted at predetermined print positions. A printing device is realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a photographic printing and developing machine using a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the photographic printing developing machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of opening means of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

5 (a), (b) and (c) are respectively FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an ink ribbon cassette replacement operation in the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Photographic Printing Developing Device 12 Printing Device 14 Developing Device 16 Drying Device 18 Ejecting Device 20 Electrical Equipment Part 22 Printing Transfer Device 24 Light Beam Scanning Device 26 Photosensitive Material Supplying Part 28 Image Position Information Forming Part 30 Exposure Part 32 Back Printing Part 34 Reservoir 36 Ejection section 38 (photosensitive material) magazine 39 Loading section 40 Pull-out roller pair 42, 60, 76, 86, 98, 120 Sensors 44, 58a, 58b, 78, 90, 108 Guide 46 First loop forming section 48 Drive roller 50, 52, 72, 74 Nip roller 56 Punch 62, 84 Conveying roller pair 64 Second loop forming unit 66 Sub-scanning conveying system 68 Third loop forming unit 70 Exposure drum 88 Printing device 92, 106 Conveying roller 94 Endless belt 96 Bending portion 100th 1 cutter 110 2nd cutter 112 1st Loop forming part 114 Guide roller 118 Conveying means 122 Color developing tank 124 Bleaching and fixing tank 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d Washing tank 128 Cutting part 130 Sorter 140 First bracket 142 Second bracket 144 Opening means 146 Torsion spring 148 First cassette 150 , 168 Recording head 152 Shaft 154, 170 Transmission means 155 Projection 156 Holding member 158 Control member 160 Abutment part 162 Fixed bar 164 Spring 166 Second cassette 172 Release lever 173 Claw 174 Driven lever 176 Connecting member 178 Pushing member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording material is loaded with a plurality of color material cassettes for recording at least one selected from an image, a symbol and a character, and the recording material and the color material cassette are used by using the color material cassettes. Is a printing apparatus for recording at least one line of image in a relative transport direction, wherein the color material cassette can be loaded, and the color material cassette is rotated about a direction parallel to the recording material surface and orthogonal to the transport direction. Flexible,
A plurality of brackets arranged in the orthogonal direction, holding means for holding each bracket at a predetermined print position, and holding of the brackets by the holding means are released so that the brackets can be rotated in a predetermined opening direction. And a transmission member that is arranged so as to project from each bracket toward the adjacent brackets and that transmits a given rotational force to the adjacent brackets, wherein the transmission member is the color material cassette. A printing apparatus, which is arranged so as to come into contact with a transmission member of an adjacent bracket disposed on the depth side in the removal direction from the upstream side in the opening direction. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus further includes a biasing unit that rotates at least one bracket in the opening direction. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket provided with a click stop for restricting a rotation angle in the opening direction.