JPH0996876A - Exposure device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an exposure device capable of realizing high-quality image exposure by drastically reducing the influence of dust in the case of recording an image on photosensitive material by using a liquid crystal panel. SOLUTION: As for the liquid crystal panel 31; the light incident surface 41A and the light outgoing surface 41B of a picture display part (liquid crystal part) 41 are respectively coated with glass plates 55 and 57 in a hermetically sealed state. Therefore, even if the dust adheres to the glass plates 55 and 57, it exists at a position separated from the incident surface 41A and the outgoing surface 41B (that is, a focal surface). Therefore, in the case exposure light projected to the panel 31 is formed into an image on photographic paper, the dust is in what is called an out-of-focus state and its influence on the image surface is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus that uses a liquid crystal panel and exposes an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel onto a photosensitive material by an exposure lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among exposure apparatuses, an exposure apparatus that uses a liquid crystal panel and exposes an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel onto a photosensitive material at a predetermined magnification with an exposure lens is used, for example, in a printer processor.

In this printer processor, an exposure section for exposing the image recorded on the negative film and a processor section for developing the exposed photographic paper are integrated, and the image on the negative film is exposed at the exposure section. It is configured so that it is enlarged to a certain size and printed on a continuous continuous printing paper, and further, the continuous printing paper on which the image of the negative film is printed is conveyed to the processor section and developed, and finished as a photographic print.

Further, in the exposure section of the printer processor, a light source such as an LED and a liquid crystal panel are arranged facing the photographic paper, and an exposure lens is arranged between the photographic paper and the liquid crystal panel. . The image exposure light emitted from the LED is projected on the image of the liquid crystal panel, and the image is further imaged at a predetermined magnification on the photographic paper via the exposure lens to record the image.

When an image is exposed on a photographic printing paper using such a liquid crystal panel, if dust adheres to the liquid crystal panel, it becomes dirt and forms an image on the photographic printing paper and is recorded on the photographic printing paper. This was the cause of the deterioration of image quality.

In this case, in the liquid crystal panel, since the light transmittance, the contrast and the like change depending on the incident angle of the projected exposure light, it is usual to irradiate the surface with parallel light rays. Therefore, in particular, when dust as described above adheres to the light incident surface of the liquid crystal panel, it is more easily affected than in the case where a scattering light source is used, and the image quality is greatly reduced. There was a long-awaited countermeasure.

[0007]

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention significantly reduces the influence of dust when an exposure light projected on a liquid crystal panel is exposed on a photosensitive material through an exposure lens to record an image. An object of the present invention is to obtain an exposure apparatus that can reduce and expose a high-quality image.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus, wherein parallel light for image exposure is projected onto a liquid crystal panel and an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel is exposed by an exposure lens at a predetermined magnification. In the exposure apparatus for exposing the liquid crystal panel, a transparent cover member that hermetically covers the liquid crystal panel is provided at a position apart from the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the liquid crystal panel.

In the exposure apparatus according to the first aspect, the light incident surface and the light emitting surface of the liquid crystal panel are covered with a transparent cover member in a hermetically sealed state at positions apart from the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. Here, if dust adheres to the surface of the liquid crystal panel, that is, the transparent cover member, the dust exists at a position separated from the light incident surface or the light emitting surface (that is, the so-called focus surface) of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, when the exposure light projected on the liquid crystal panel is imaged on the printing paper at a predetermined magnification through the exposure lens, the dust is in a so-called out-of-focus state,
The influence on the image plane is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image from deteriorating.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to the first aspect, at least one of the transparent cover members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is polarized. It is characterized by being a plate.

Here, since the polarizing plate is generally weak against heat, maintenance such as replacement may be necessary. In this case, in the exposure apparatus according to the second aspect, since the polarizing plate is also used as the transparent cover member, the maintenance becomes easy, the number of parts is reduced, and the assembling property is improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to the first aspect, at least one of the transparent cover members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is exposed. It is characterized by being a lens.

In the exposure apparatus according to the third aspect, the exposure lens is also used as the transparent cover member, so that the number of parts is reduced and the assembling property is improved.

An exposure apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an exposure apparatus which projects parallel light for image exposure onto a liquid crystal panel and exposes an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel onto a photosensitive material at a predetermined magnification by an exposure lens. A cover for sealing at least a portion including the liquid crystal panel is provided, and the exposure incident light and the outgoing light pass through the cover at a position separated from the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the liquid crystal panel. The feature is that the portion to be formed is a transparent member.

In the exposure apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the liquid crystal panel and the peripheral parts (for example, the exposure lens) including the liquid crystal panel are covered with a cover in a hermetically sealed state, and further, the light incident surface and the light emission of the liquid crystal panel in the cover. The transparent member is located at a position separated from the surface and through which the exposure incident light and the outgoing light pass.

Here, if dust adheres to the exposure incident light surface and the emission light surface of the cover, that is, the surface of the transparent member, the dust is the light incident surface or the light emitting surface (that is, a so-called focus surface) of the liquid crystal panel. Will be present at a position greatly separated from. Therefore, when the exposure light projected on the liquid crystal panel is imaged on the printing paper at a predetermined magnification through the exposure lens, the dust is in a so-called out-of-focus state, and the influence on the image surface is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image from deteriorating.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to the fourth aspect, at least one of the transparent members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is a polarizing plate. It is characterized by being.

Here, since the polarizing plate is generally vulnerable to heat, maintenance such as replacement may be necessary. In this case, in the exposure apparatus according to the fifth aspect, since the polarizing plate is also used as the transparent member, maintenance is facilitated, the number of parts is reduced, and the assembling property is improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to the fourth aspect, at least one of the transparent members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is an exposure lens. It is characterized by being.

In the exposure apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the exposure lens is also used as the transparent member, so that the number of parts is reduced and the assembling property is improved.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a printer processor 10 to which an exposure apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
Is shown.

The printer processor 10 is covered with a casing 12 on the outside, and a printer section 58 for exposing a main print and a sub-print on the photographic paper and a developing, fixing, rinsing, and rinsing process for the exposed photographic paper. And a processor unit 72 that performs each process of drying.

First, the structure of the printer unit 58 will be described.
A work table 14 protruding from the casing 12 to the left in FIG. 1 is installed in the printer processor 10, and a negative film 16 is provided on the upper surface of the work table 14.
There are arranged a negative carrier 18 for setting and a keyboard 15 for the operator to input commands, data and the like.

A main exposure light source section 36 is installed below the work table 14. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, a light source 38 is installed in the main exposure light source section 36.
The light emitted from 8 is a color correction filter (hereinafter, Color-
Correction Filter (referred to as CC filter) 40 and diffusion tube 42 to reach the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18. The CC filter 40 is composed of three sets of filters of C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), and each filter is a CC filter controller 39.
The light emitted from the light source 38 can be projected and retracted on the optical axis.

A cover 44 is formed on the downstream side of the negative carrier 18 (upper side in FIG. 1).
A main exposure optical system 46 and a sub-printing section 22 that exposes sub-prints such as index prints are provided therein.

A half mirror 43 is arranged at the lowermost part of the main exposure optical system 46, and the light transmitted through the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 reaches it. An exposure lens 48 for changing the magnification of an image to be exposed and a black shutter 50 for blocking the exposure light are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the optical path passing through the half mirror 43. A mirror 51 that reflects the exposure light in a substantially right-angled direction is arranged on the downstream side of the black shutter 50, and the exposure light reflected by the mirror 51 is applied to a photographic printing paper 54 set in an exposure chamber 52. By negative film 1
6 images can be exposed on the photographic paper 54.

On the other hand, a photometric lens 45 for changing the magnification of the photometric image is arranged on the downstream side of the optical path reflected by the half mirror 43. A mirror 47 is arranged. A scanner 108 composed of an image sensor or the like is arranged in the direction in which light is reflected by the half mirror 47.
Further, the scanner 108 is connected to an image signal processing unit 102 that performs predetermined image processing on the image data of each image portion of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 108.

A simulator 104 as an image display device is connected to the image signal processing unit 102, and the simulator 104 prints each image pattern of the negative film 16 when it is produced based on the set conditions. The simulation image of is displayed.

An image memory 106 for storing image data is connected to the image signal processing unit 102, and the image signal processing unit 102 stores the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 108. It can be stored in the image memory 106.

A negative density measuring section 56 for measuring the image density of each image area of the negative film 16 is provided on the downstream side of the optical path through the half mirror 47, and the negative density measuring section 56 has an image. A scanner 56B including a sensor and the like, and a negative density measuring device 5 for measuring the image density of each image pattern of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 56B.
6A is installed.

On the other hand, the sub-printing section 22 has a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as B-LED) 25 for emitting a blue component of light and a light emitting diode for emitting a red component (hereinafter, referred to as a light emitting diode) as a light source for exposure of the index print. An R-LED) 26 and a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as G-LED) 27 that emits a green component are provided, and their operations are controlled by the light source controller 24. B-
The LED 25 is arranged on the exposure optical axis X, and the B-LE
A dichroic mirror 28 is arranged on the downstream side in the traveling direction of the light emitted from D25, and the optical axis of the red light emitted from the R-LED 26 and the optical axis of the green light emitted from the G-LED 27 are exposed light. It is aligned with the axis X.

At the downstream side of the dichroic mirror 28 in the direction of travel of light, the end of the optical path (a position that does not affect the image)
A light source light sensor 29 for measuring the light amount of the light emitted from the light source is arranged in the direction in which the mirror 30 reflects light.

Downstream from the position where the mirror 30 is disposed,
The liquid crystal panel 31 is arranged on a surface perpendicular to the exposure optical axis X. The liquid crystal panel 31 has an image display section (liquid crystal section).
A polarizing plate 49 and a polarizing plate 53 are provided on the light incident surface 41A and the light emitting surface 41B of 41, respectively. In the image display section (liquid crystal section) 41 of the liquid crystal panel 31, a large number of pixels whose light transmittance can be controlled by electrical means are regularly arranged. The image display unit 41 is capable of expressing multi-step gradations. For example, in the case of 8-bit data, it is possible to express 256-step gradations.
In the case of analog control, gradation can be expressed steplessly (infinitely).

Further, the liquid crystal panel 31 is provided with a glass plate 55 as a transparent cover member at a position separated from the light incident surface 41A of the image display section 41, and further, a light exit surface 41B of the image display section 41. A glass plate 57 as a transparent cover member is provided at a position separated from. For this reason, the image display unit 41 of the liquid crystal panel 31 has the glass plate 5
5 and the glass plate 57 are hermetically covered.

A liquid crystal panel driver 32 for driving the liquid crystal panel 31 is connected to the liquid crystal panel 31, and the liquid crystal panel driver 32 has a sub control unit 23 for monitoring and controlling various processing states in the sub printing unit 22. It is connected. The sub control unit 23 includes a CPU, a RAM, and an R (not shown).
It is composed of an OM, an input / output controller and the like, and is connected to the above-mentioned image memory 106 via the input / output controller.

The sub-control unit 23 reads out the image data of each image pattern of the negative film 16 stored in the image memory 106, forms one index image data in which frame images are arranged according to a predetermined rule, and forms the index image data. The liquid crystal panel driver 32 causes the liquid crystal panel 31 to display images corresponding to image data of a predetermined number of frames, for example, five frames (one column) of the index image data for one case. In addition, among the image data for one column, R color, G
An image corresponding to the image data of only the color components of the colors B and B can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31.

On the downstream side of the position where the liquid crystal panel 31 is arranged, a mirror 34 is provided at the end of the optical path (position that does not affect the image).
Is disposed, and a transmitted light amount sensor 33 for measuring the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 31 is disposed in the direction in which light is reflected by the mirror 34.

On the downstream side of the arrangement position of the mirror 34,
An exposure lens 35 for changing the magnification of the image of the sub-print to be exposed is arranged, and the image of the index print displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 by the exposure lens 35 and projected by the exposure light is printed on the photographic paper 54 in a predetermined manner. This is a configuration in which an image is formed (exposed) at a magnification.

The size of the index print exposed on the photographic paper 54 through the liquid crystal panel 31, the exposure lens 35, etc. is the size of the print exposed directly on the photographic paper 54 by the exposure lens 48, the mirror 51, etc. It is set to be larger than.

Further, the light source control unit 24, the light source light amount sensor 29, and the transmitted light amount sensor 33 described above are further connected to the sub control unit 23, and the sub control unit 23 measures the R measured by the light source light amount sensor 29. , G, and B, the appropriate light amount correction amount is calculated based on the light amount values, and the B-LED 25,
The light source control unit 24 corrects the amount of light emitted from the R-LED 26 and the G-LED 27. Similarly, the sub-control unit 23 controls the liquid crystal panel driver 32 based on the transmitted light amount value measured by the transmitted light amount sensor 33 to adjust the density of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 so as to obtain an appropriate transmitted light amount. I do.

Similar to the sub controller 23, the main controller 20 that controls and monitors the entire printer processor 10.
Is provided below the exposure chamber 52. The main control unit 20 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, a ROM, an input / output controller, and the like. The main control unit 20 includes:
The above-described CC filter control unit 39 and the negative density measuring device 56
A, the image signal processing unit 102 and the sub control unit 23 are connected, and monitor and control the operation of each of these components.

A mounting portion 60 is provided at the upper right corner of the casing 12, and the photographic paper 54 is attached to the mounting portion 60.
A paper magazine 64 for accommodating reels 62 wound in layers is mounted.

A roller pair 66 is disposed near the mounting portion 60, and holds the photographic printing paper 54 in a horizontal state to expose the exposure chamber 52.
Transport to The photographic paper 54 is covered with the roller 6 in front of the cover 44.
It is wound around 7, turned 90 degrees, and hangs down. A first stock unit 69 is provided between the roller 66 and the roller 67 to guide and stock the photographic paper in a substantially U-shape.

A roller 68 is provided below the exposure section of the exposure chamber 52.
A, 68B, and 68C are arranged, and the printing paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 is printed in the exposure chamber 52 is turned by approximately 90 degrees by each of the rollers 68A, 68B, and 68C, and is turned to a processor unit 72 described later. Conveyed.

A cutter 71 is arranged on the downstream side of the roller 68A, and the cutter 71 cuts the rear end of the printing paper 54 after the exposure processing. The printing paper 54 that has been cut by the cutter 71 and left in the exposure chamber 52 can be rewound into the paper magazine 64 again. Also, the roller 68
A between the printing paper 54 and the roller 68B.
There is provided a second stock portion 73 for guiding and stocking in a substantially U shape. In the second stock unit 73,
By stocking the printing paper 54, the printer unit 58
And the difference in processing time between the processor unit 72 and the processor unit 72 is absorbed.

Next, the configuration of the processor section 72 will be described. The processor section 72 is provided with a color developing processing tank 74 storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing processing tank 76 storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a plurality of rinsing processing tanks 78 storing a washing processing liquid. The photographic printing paper 54 is sequentially transported through the color developing tank 74, the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the plurality of rinsing tanks 78, so that the developing, fixing, and rinsing processes are sequentially performed. Photographic paper 54 that has been washed
Is transported to the drying section 80 adjacent to the rinsing tank 78,
In the drying section 80, the photographic paper 54 is wound around rollers and exposed to high-temperature air to be dried.

The photographic printing paper 54 is nipped by a pair of rollers (not shown), and is discharged from the drying section 80 at a constant speed after the completion of the drying process. A cutter unit 84 is provided on the downstream side of the drying unit 80, and the cutter unit 84 has a cut mark sensor 86 for detecting a cut mark applied to the photographic printing paper 54.
A paper density measuring unit 90 for measuring the density of the printing paper 54 and a cutter 88 for cutting the printing paper 54 are installed. The cut mark sensor 86, the paper density measuring unit 90, and the cutter 88 are respectively the main control unit 20.
It is connected to the. In the cutter unit 84, the photographic printing paper 54 can be cut by the cutter 88 for each image frame.

A stacking unit 92 is provided on the side of the cutter unit 84 so that the photographic paper 54 (photographic prints) cut by the cutter 88 into image frames can be continuously stacked.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the exposure process of the main print in the printer unit 58 of the printer processor 10 will be described. With the black shutter 50 closed, the negative film 16 on which the image to be printed is recorded is set on the negative carrier 18, the light source 38 is turned on, and the image of the negative film 16 formed by the light transmitted through the negative film 16 is displayed. The density is measured by the negative density measuring unit 56. Based on the measured image density of the negative film 16, the main control unit 20 sets appropriate exposure conditions (for example, the amount of each filter of the filter unit 40 inserted). Next, the black shutter 50 is opened, and the image on the negative film 16 is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54 based on the set exposure conditions.

Next, as the exposure process of the sub-print in the printer unit 58, a case where the sub-print unit 22 exposes a frame image similar to the main print will be described.

The negative film 16 on which the image to be printed is recorded is set on the negative carrier 18, the light source 38 is turned on, and the image of the negative film 16 formed by the light transmitted through the negative film 16 is read by the scanner 108. The read image data is stored in the image memory 106 by the image signal processing unit 102. The sub-control unit 23 reads the image data from the image memory 106, and an image corresponding to the blue image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel so that the blue component of the image data (hereinafter referred to as the blue image) is formed on the photographic paper 54. 31 is displayed, and the B-LED 25 is lit for a time corresponding to the exposure condition set above. As a result, the blue image of the image data is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54. Thereafter, similarly, the red component (red image) and the green component (green image) of the image data are also displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31, and the R-LED 26 and the G-LED 27 are turned on to display the red image of the image data, The green image is exposed on the photographic paper 54. As a result, the image to be printed (image as the index print) is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54.

Here, when the image is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54 using the liquid crystal panel 31, the liquid crystal panel 31 is used.
The effect of dust adhering to is greatly reduced. That is, the liquid crystal panel 31 has the glass plate 55 at a position where the light incident surface 41A and the light emitting surface 41B of the image display unit 41 are separated from each other.
Also, since dust is adhered to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 31, that is, the glass plate 55 and the glass plate 57, the dust is adhered to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 31, that is, the light incident surface 41A and the light exit surface of the image display unit 41. 41B (ie,
It exists at a position apart from the so-called focus surface. Therefore, when the exposure light projected on the liquid crystal panel 31 (image display unit 41) is imaged on the photographic printing paper 54 through the exposure lens 35 at a predetermined magnification, the dust is in a so-called out-of-focus state, and the image surface is blurred. The influence on is reduced. This prevents the quality of the image from deteriorating.

After the image to be printed is exposed on the printing paper 54 as described above, the printing paper 54 is processed by the color development processing tank 74 of the processor section 72, the bleach-fixing processing tank 76, and the plurality of rinse processing tanks. By sequentially transporting 78, the photographic printing paper 54 is sequentially subjected to development, fixing, and washing processing. The photographic printing paper 54 that has been washed with water is conveyed to the drying unit 80 and is dried with high temperature air. The photographic printing paper 54 that has been dried is conveyed to the cutter unit 84, and the cutter 88
By this, each image frame is cut and becomes a photographic print.

The completed photographic prints are discharged from the cutter section 84 to the stacking section 92 and are continuously stacked in the stacking section 92. The photographic prints accumulated in the accumulating section 92 are subjected to a predetermined inspection work. After the defective prints such as so-called out-of-focus images are extracted by this inspection work, the normal photographic prints are returned to the customer together with the negative film.

As described above, in the printer processor 10 to which the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment is applied, the glass plate 55 and the light entrance surface 41A and the light exit surface 41B of the liquid crystal panel 31 are separated from each other. Since it is covered with the glass plate 57 in a hermetically sealed state, when an image is formed on the printing paper 54 through the exposure lens 35 at a predetermined magnification, the dust attached to the liquid crystal panel 31 becomes a so-called out-of-focus state.
The influence on the image plane is reduced. This prevents the quality of the image from deteriorating.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those of the first embodiment are basically assigned the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal panel 110 applied to the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment.

In the liquid crystal panel 110, the polarizing plate 49 provided on the light incident surface 41A of the liquid crystal panel 31 according to the above-described first embodiment is omitted, and instead of the glass plate 55, a transparent cover member is used. The polarizing plate 112 is provided. Therefore, the image display unit 4 of the liquid crystal panel 110
1 is covered with a polarizing plate 112 and a glass plate 57 in a sealed state.

In this liquid crystal panel 110, a polarizing plate 112
Is also used as a transparent cover member that covers the image display unit 41 in a hermetically sealed state. Here, since the polarizing plate is generally vulnerable to heat, it may be necessary to perform maintenance such as replacement. In this case, in the liquid crystal panel 110, sharing the polarizing plate 112 with the transparent cover member facilitates maintenance, reduces the number of parts, and improves the assembling property.

The polarizing plate 112 as the transparent cover member is not limited to the structure provided on the light incident surface 41A side of the liquid crystal panel 110 as described above, but conversely, the polarizing plate in the liquid crystal panel 31 is provided. 53 may be omitted, and instead of the glass plate 57, a polarizing plate as a transparent cover member may be provided on the light emitting surface 41B side.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the liquid crystal panel 120 applied to the exposure apparatus according to the third embodiment.

In the liquid crystal panel 120, the glass plate 57 provided on the light emitting surface 41B side of the liquid crystal panel 31 according to the first embodiment described above is omitted, and the glass plate 57 is replaced with a transparent cover. An exposure lens 35 that is shared as a member is provided. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 12
The image display unit 41 of 0 has a glass plate 55 and an exposure lens 35.
It is a structure to be covered in a hermetically sealed state.

In this liquid crystal panel 120, the exposure lens 3
5 is also used as a transparent cover member that covers the image display portion 41 of the liquid crystal panel 120 in a hermetically sealed state. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced and the assembling property is also improved.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus 130 according to the fourth embodiment.

In the exposure apparatus 130, the support frame 132
Is provided with a slide shaft 134, and a liquid crystal panel 136 and an exposure lens 138 are attached to the slide shaft 134. The liquid crystal panel 136 is provided with a polarizing plate 140 and a polarizing plate 142 on the light incident surface and the light emitting surface, respectively. On the other hand, the exposure lens 138 is the slide shaft 1
34 is slidable on the exposure lens 35 described above.
The focus and magnification can be adjusted similarly to.

Further, the support frame 132 has a cover 14
4 are provided. The cover 144 covers the liquid crystal panel 13.
6 and the exposure lens 138 are attached to the support frame 132 in a hermetically sealed state, and the exposure incident light and the outgoing light pass through at a position apart from the light incident surface and the light exit surface of the liquid crystal panel 136. Opening 1 at the site
46 and 148 are formed. Each opening 146, 148
A glass plate 150 and a glass plate 152, which are transparent members, are provided in each.

In this exposure apparatus 130, the liquid crystal panel 13
6 and the exposure lens 138 and peripheral parts including the same are covered with a cover 144, a glass plate 150, and a glass plate 152 in a hermetically sealed state.

Here, if dust adheres to the exposed incident light portion and the emitted light portion (openings 146 and 148) of the cover 144, that is, the surfaces of the glass plate 150 and the glass plate 152, this dust will be reflected by the light of the liquid crystal panel 136. It is located at a position largely separated from the entrance surface or the light exit surface (that is, the so-called focus surface). Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 13
When the exposure light projected on 6 is imaged on the photographic printing paper at a predetermined magnification via the exposure lens 138, the dust is in a so-called out-of-focus state, and the influence on the image surface is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image from deteriorating.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus 160 according to the fifth embodiment.

In the exposure apparatus 160, the liquid crystal panel 136 in the exposure apparatus 130 according to the above-mentioned fourth embodiment.
Instead of this, a liquid crystal panel 162 is provided. The liquid crystal panel 162 has a configuration in which the polarizing plate on the light exit surface is omitted. Further, in the exposure apparatus 160, the glass plate 15 in the exposure apparatus 130 according to the above-described fourth embodiment.
Instead of 2, the polarizing plate 1 as a transparent member is provided in the opening 148.
64 is provided. Therefore, the liquid crystal panel 162, the exposure lens 138, and peripheral components including the same are covered with the cover 144, the glass plate 150, and the polarizing plate 164 in a hermetically sealed state.

In this exposure apparatus 160, the polarizing plate 164
Is also used as a transparent member that covers the liquid crystal panel 162, the exposure lens 138, and the like in a sealed state. Here, since the polarizing plate is generally vulnerable to heat, it may be necessary to perform maintenance such as replacement. In this case, in the exposure device 160,
By sharing the polarizing plate 164 with the transparent member, maintenance is facilitated, the number of parts is reduced, and the assemblability is improved.

As described above, the polarizing plate on the light emission surface side of the liquid crystal panel 162 is omitted and the light emission side opening 148 is formed.
The configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the polarizing plate 164 as the transparent member is provided on the opposite side. Conversely, on the contrary, the polarizing plate 140 on the light incident surface side of the liquid crystal panel 162 is omitted and the light incident side opening 146 is provided.
Alternatively, a polarizing plate may be provided as a transparent member.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus 170 according to the sixth embodiment.

In the exposure apparatus 170, the glass plate 152 provided on the light emitting side of the exposure apparatus 130 according to the above-described fourth embodiment is omitted, and the glass plate 152 is also omitted.
Instead of the exposure lens 138, which is also used as a transparent member.
Is provided. For this reason, the liquid crystal panel 136 is covered with the cover 144, the glass plate 150 and the exposure lens 138 in a hermetically sealed state.

In this exposure apparatus 170, the exposure lens 13
8 is also used as a transparent member that covers the liquid crystal panel 136 in a sealed state. Therefore, the number of parts is reduced and the assembling property is also improved.

[0076]

As described above, the exposure apparatus according to the present invention significantly reduces the influence of dust when the exposure light projected on the liquid crystal panel is exposed on the photosensitive material through the exposure lens to record an image. It has an excellent effect that a high quality image can be exposed by reducing it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a printer processor to which an exposure apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer unit in the printer processor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal panel applied to a sub printing unit of the printer processor according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal panel applied to the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a liquid crystal panel applied to an exposure apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an exposure apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer Processor 22 Sub-Printing Part (Exposure Device) 25 B-LED 26 R-LED 27 G-LED 31 Liquid Crystal Panel 35 Exposure Lens 41 Image Display 41A Light Incident Surface 41B Light Emitting Surface 49 Polarizing Plate 53 Polarizing Plate 54 Printing Paper 55 glass plate (transparent cover member) 57 glass plate (transparent cover member) 110 liquid crystal panel 112 polarizing plate (transparent cover member) 120 liquid crystal panel 130 exposure device 136 liquid crystal panel 138 exposure lens 140 polarizing plate 142 polarizing plate 144 cover 150 glass plate (Transparent member) 152 Glass plate (transparent member) 160 Exposure device 162 Liquid crystal panel 164 Polarizing plate 170 Exposure device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An exposure apparatus which projects parallel light for image exposure onto a liquid crystal panel and exposes an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel onto a photosensitive material at a predetermined magnification by an exposure lens, comprising: a light incident surface of the liquid crystal panel; An exposure apparatus comprising a transparent cover member that hermetically covers the liquid crystal panel at a position separated from a light emitting surface. 2. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transparent cover members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is a polarizing plate. 3. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transparent cover members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is an exposure lens. 4. An exposure apparatus which projects parallel light for image exposure onto a liquid crystal panel and exposes an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel onto a photosensitive material with an exposure lens at a predetermined magnification, at least a portion including the liquid crystal panel. In addition to providing a cover for hermetically sealing, a portion of the cover, which is separated from the light incident surface and the light emitting surface of the liquid crystal panel and through which the exposure incident light and the emitted light pass, is a transparent member. An exposure apparatus. 5. The exposure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the transparent members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is a polarizing plate. 6. The exposure apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the transparent members provided on the light incident surface side and the light exit surface side is an exposure lens.