JPH10268437A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an inexpensive, compact and efficient image recorder constituted so that the path length of a photosensitive material is short by providing it with a buffer deflecting the photosensitive material cut to prescribed length as necessary as the carrying area of the photosensitive material between a cutter and a recording position. SOLUTION: The image recorder is provided with the buffer 30 forming the loop of the photosensitive material Z, a non-contact type back printing part 14 and a short-length sorting means 18. That means, such constitution that a cut buffer and a pre-exposure buffer are united is obtained by arranging the buffer 30 between the cutter 28 and the recording position X. Besides, an effect mutually exerted by the cutter 28 and a scanning and carrying action is eliminated and the linear distance of the buffer 30 is shortened by constituting the recorder so that the loop of the material Z is formed in the buffer 30 as necessary. Since the carrying action of the material Z can be stopped if it is in the midst of the recording action of the printing part 14, the buffer 30 and the printing part 14 are used as the cut buffer in other words.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of digital image recording devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is printed on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper by projecting light of the film onto the photosensitive material. The exposure is performed by so-called direct (analog) exposure in which the photosensitive material is surface-exposed with the projection light.

On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, the read image is converted into a digital signal, and then various image processing is performed. 2. Description of the Related Art A digital photo printer that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image data, records an image (latent image), develops the image, and outputs it as a print (photograph) is used as image data for recording. It was put to practical use.

[0004] In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically, gradation correction is performed by image (signal) processing, and exposure conditions are determined. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform editing of a print image such as synthesis of a plurality of images by image processing and image division, and various image processing such as color / density adjustment and contour enhancement. Can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, and can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk. Further, according to the digital photo printer, it is possible to output a print with better image quality, which is excellent in resolution, color / density reproducibility, etc., as compared with the conventional direct exposure print.

[0005] Such a digital photo printer basically includes an input device having a scanner (image reading device) and an image processing device, and an output device having a printing device and a developing device. In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and this projection light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens. The image is read by photoelectric conversion, and is sent to an image processing device as film image data (image data signal). The image processing apparatus performs predetermined image processing on the image data sent from the scanner, and sends the image data to the printing apparatus as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. For example, if the printing apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the printing apparatus modulates the light beam according to image data sent from the image processing apparatus, deflects the light beam in the main scanning direction, and By transporting the photosensitive material (photographic paper) in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed (printed) by a light beam to form a latent image, and a back print is recorded. In the developing machine (processor), the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process or the like, and an image photographed on a film is reproduced.

[0006]

Incidentally, not only in such a digital photo printer but also in a photo printer by ordinary direct exposure, in a printing apparatus, an unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape to form a light-shielding material. The magazine is housed in a housing, and is loaded into a printing apparatus together with the magazine, pulled out of the magazine, transported, and subjected to exposure and the like. Here, with a normal photo printer,
The photosensitive material is not cut in the middle, and after exposure, back print recording, development processing, drying, etc. are performed while keeping the length, the photosensitive material is finally cut into a predetermined length to form one print.

However, in the apparatus for cutting the photosensitive material last, before or at the time of exposing the photosensitive material, frame information (frame punch) for indicating a boundary of each frame (for each print) is formed. There is a need. for that reason,
The photosensitive material in the part where the frame information is formed is wasted, and a means for forming frame information having a punch, a sensor, and the like is required.

Further, in a printing apparatus for digital exposure, in order to record a high-quality image without unevenness, it is necessary to carry out scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material during exposure with high precision and without stopping. When forming the frame information, it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the photosensitive material, and the recording of the back print causes a load variation in the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material. In order to avoid these inconveniences, in a printing apparatus of a digital photo printer, a deflection (loop) of a photosensitive material is caused between an exposure position and a frame information forming unit and between an exposure position and a recording unit for back print. The transport area and transport control of the photosensitive material, such as the control of the amount (frame number) of the photosensitive material in the loop and the timing of exposure, are complicated, which causes an increase in apparatus cost and running cost. .

Therefore, a digital photo printer is also required to realize a printing apparatus which can perform exposure after cutting a photosensitive material corresponding to one print into a cut sheet. Here, in order to realize an inexpensive, compact, and efficient printing apparatus, it is desirable that the transport length (so-called path length) of the photosensitive material from the magazine to the developing machine be short. After that, in a digital printing apparatus that performs exposure, an efficient apparatus with a short path length has not yet been realized.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus (printing apparatus) used for a digital photo printer or the like, which performs digital exposure, back print recording, and the like after forming a photosensitive material into a cut sheet. Path length is short,
An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, compact, and efficient image recording apparatus.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cutter for cutting a long photosensitive material into a predetermined length, and a cutter for scanning and transporting the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length. At a predetermined recording position, a recording unit that exposes the photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to digital image data, and a backprint unit that records a backprint on the back surface of the photosensitive material without contacting the photosensitive material,
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a buffer provided between the cutter and a recording position as a photosensitive material conveyance area, and configured to form a flexure of the photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length as needed. .

Further, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, furthermore, a photosensitive material conveying means for receiving the photosensitive material discharged from the recording position at the scanning conveying speed, and a conveying area of the photosensitive material within the conveying area by the conveying means. It is preferable to have a sorting device having a sorting means for sorting the exposed photosensitive material in a direction orthogonal to the direction of conveyance by the conveying means to form a plurality of rows.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. An image recording device 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a recording device 10) shown in FIG. 1A is cut into a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material, and cut into a cut sheet. A device that performs recording (back printing) and digital exposure, and supplies the exposed photosensitive material Z to a developing machine (processor). The photosensitive material supply unit 12, a back print unit 14 for recording a back print, and recording (exposure) A) a recording unit for exposing the photosensitive material Z at the position X, which has an exposure optical unit (hereinafter, referred to as an exposure unit) 16 and a scanning and conveying unit (omitted in FIG. 1); Further, a buffer 30 for forming a loop (flexure) of the photosensitive material A as necessary is provided between the back print unit 14 and the recording position X as a transport region for the photosensitive material Z.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 1, as a preferred embodiment, in order to increase the processing capacity of the processor, a short-length sorting device 18 for sorting the photosensitive material Z into a plurality of rows in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction is provided. However, the image recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this. Although the capability as a printing / developing machine (printer processor) is reduced, the image recording apparatus includes the short / long sorting device 18 as an inexpensive mode. Alternatively, the photosensitive material Z may be discharged in a single row.

The example shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a back print is recorded before exposing the photosensitive material Z. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the back print is performed after exposing the photosensitive material Z. It may be recorded. As an example of a basic configuration in this case, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the back print unit 14 located downstream of the cutter 28 is located between the recording position X and the short / long sorting device 18. Is exemplified. In a configuration in which a back print is recorded after exposure, the back print unit 14
May be located downstream of the short and long sorting device 18. However, in this configuration, it is necessary to provide a back print unit (printer) corresponding to each row of the photosensitive material Z conveyed in a plurality of rows. Considering the cost and space inside the equipment,
Again, it is preferable that the back print unit 14 be arranged upstream of the short / long sorting device 18.

In the recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive material supply unit 12 winds a long photosensitive material Z in a roll shape with an emulsion surface (photosensitive surface) on the outside and stores it in a light-shielding housing. And a drawer roller pair 24 and 26, and a cutter 28. The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus capable of loading two magazines 20 and 22. Both of them generally have a size (width), a surface type (silk or mat, etc.), a specification (thickness, type of base, etc.), etc. This is a magazine for storing different types of photosensitive materials Z. In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the number of magazines that can be loaded is not limited to two in the illustrated example, but may be one, or three.
More than one magazine may be loadable.

In the photosensitive material supply section 12, the corresponding photosensitive material Z of the magazine is drawn out by the draw-out roller pairs 24 and 26, and is conveyed to the downstream back print section 14. This conveyance stops when the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutter 28 has a length corresponding to the print to be made, and then the cutter 28 operates to cut the photosensitive material Z to a predetermined length. It is a cut sheet.

The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
Material Z drawn from the two magazines 20 and 22
Is cut by one common cutter 28,
The present invention is not limited to this, and cutters 28a and 28b may be provided for each of the magazines 20 and 22, as in the example shown in FIG.

The back print section 14 includes a photographing date, print printing date, frame number, film ID number (sign), camera ID number used for photographing, This is a part for recording various information such as a printer ID number, so-called back print (back print).

In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the recording method (printer) of the back print in the back print unit 14 includes an ink jet printer or the like.
A non-contact recording method in which recording is performed without directly contacting the photosensitive material Z is used. In particular, an ink jet printer using a water-insoluble, heat-meltable ink that is solid at room temperature is preferably exemplified. Also, the back print unit 1
4 is a new standard new photo system (Advanced Photo System
According to m), it is preferable that the printing apparatus can be configured to print two or more lines.

In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, when the back print is recorded before the exposure of the photosensitive material Z as shown in the figure, the distance from the cutter 28 to the recording portion of the back print by the back print unit 14 and the creation of the back print. The back print may be recorded before the cutting of the photosensitive material Z by the cutter 28, may be recorded after the cutting, or may be recorded before and after the cutting, depending on the size of the print to be performed. Also,
The back print unit 14 may be provided upstream of the recording position X (downstream of the buffer 30) so that the back print is always performed after the photosensitive material Z is cut.
Conversely, the back print unit 14 may be provided upstream of the cutter 28, and the cutting may always be performed after recording the back print.

In the recording apparatus 10 shown in the figure, a buffer 30 is provided between the back print section 14 and the recording position X as a transport area for the photosensitive material A. The buffer 30 forms a loop (flexure) of the photosensitive material Z as necessary according to the length (print size) of the photosensitive material A and the like. The print size recorded by the recording device 10 is various, and in a general photo printer, an L size of 8 is used.
Although it is preferable to be able to handle from 9 mm to the above-mentioned quartered 305 mm, the buffer 30 may be arranged such that a small size print advances linearly and forms a loop corresponding to only a large size print. Alternatively, a loop may be formed even with a minimum size print. The operation of the buffer 30 will be described later in detail.

As described above, when a back print is recorded after exposure, the buffer 30 is provided between the cutter 28 and the recording position X, and the back print unit 14 is positioned before the recording position X. In such a case, the buffer 30 is provided between the cutter 28 and the back print unit 14.

In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the exposure of the photosensitive material Z is performed by the recording light L modulated according to digital image data while scanning and transporting the photosensitive material Z.
This is performed by so-called digital raster scanning exposure. The exposure unit 16 is an optical unit that performs such digital exposure, and emits light beams corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material Z, for example. A light source that modulates a light beam emitted from the light source in accordance with digital image data, such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator), and applies a modulated light beam in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction. It has an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting, an fθ (scanning) lens for forming an image of a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a predetermined position on a recording position X (scanning line) by a predetermined beam system, and the like. A known light beam scanning device having the configuration is exemplified.

In the present invention, the exposure unit 1
6, various types of digital raster exposure means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation element arrays extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction can be used in addition to the light beam scanning device. is there. Specifically, PDP
(Plasma display) array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array,
A digital raster exposure unit using a DMD (digital micromirror device) array, a laser array, or the like is exemplified.

There is no particular limitation on the scanning / conveying means used in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, and various conveying means used for known digital scanning exposure are exemplified. More specifically, a scanning and conveying unit using a pair of conveying rollers disposed with a recording position X (scanning line) interposed therebetween, an exposure drum for conveying the photosensitive material Z while holding the recording material X at the recording position X, A scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers, which are in contact with the exposure drum, is preferably exemplified.

The short / long sorting device 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (corresponding to the conveying direction by the developing machine) (hereinafter referred to as a lateral direction). At present, in general silver halide photographic materials used for photographic printing, development processing and exposure require more time for development processing. Need to be temporarily stored in a reservoir, stocker, or the like. The short and long sorting device 18
This is arranged to solve this inconvenience. The photosensitive material Z is distributed in the horizontal direction and is arranged in a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction, so that the processing capacity of the developing device can be improved. For example, it is possible to perform less than twice the processing of a single row and to perform less than three times the processing of a single row, to offset the processing time difference between the development processing and the exposure, and to improve the performance as a printing and developing apparatus.

Here, in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, a photosensitive material transporting means for receiving the photosensitive material Z discharged from the recording position X at a scanning transport speed, and a photosensitive material Z
Is completely carried into the conveying means, and a short / long sorting apparatus 18 having a sorting means for sorting the photosensitive material in a plurality of rows in the horizontal direction in the conveying area is used. As will be described later in detail, by using such a short / short sorting device 18, the short / short sorting device 18 is arranged immediately after the recording position X (when printing back print after exposure, the back print unit 14). Thus, the path length of the photosensitive material Z can be shortened, and an efficient recording apparatus 10 can be realized.

As an example of such a short and long sorting device 18, a belt conveyor and a half-moon roller (D roller) formed by cutting a cylinder in the axial direction to form a flat surface on a part of the conveying surface are provided.
An example of an apparatus using the above is shown. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of one example. The short and long sorting device 18 is a transport unit that transports the photosensitive material Z in the downstream direction (the direction of the arrow a in the figure).
5 belt conveyors 4 spaced apart from each other
2 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e)
And a pair of half-moon rollers 44 (44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d) disposed between the belt conveyors 42 and serving as sorting means for sorting the photosensitive material Z by transporting the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction. .

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the photosensitive material Z is carried into the short / long sorting device 18 from the upstream (scanning / conveying means), each half-moon roller pair 44 has a flat surface portion. It is in the state of facing. Here, since the plane portion of the lower half-moon roller is set to be the same as or slightly below the transport surface of the belt conveyor 42, the belt conveyor 4
There is no problem in transporting the photosensitive material Z by 2 or the like. Photosensitive material Z
Is completed, and is conveyed to a predetermined position on the belt conveyor 42. Then, the half-moon roller pair 44
In other words, when the photosensitive material Z is to be distributed to the right in the drawing, it rotates clockwise, and when it is distributed to the left, it rotates counterclockwise. As shown in FIG.
When the half-moon roller pair 44 rotates, the conveying surface of the lower half-moon roller projects above the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 42, so that the photosensitive material Z is lifted from the belt conveyor 42,
Next, the half-moon roller pair 44 sandwiches the photosensitive material Z, and conveys and distributes the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction.

As the short and long sorting device 18, the photosensitive material Z is placed on a belt conveyor as a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material Z in the downstream direction, and the photosensitive material Z is lifted up using a suction cup or the like and transported in the lateral direction. A short and long sorting device 18 that uses a lift transporting means as a sorting means for sorting is also preferably exemplified. In the short and long sorting device 18, when the photosensitive material Z has been exposed and is conveyed to a predetermined position on the belt conveyor, the lift conveying means is operated to lift the photosensitive material Z and move it horizontally or diagonally (downstream). Side) direction and sort.

Although the reason will be described later, in such a short and long sorting device 18, it is not always necessary to make the transport speed of the belt conveyor coincide with the scanning transport speed of the photosensitive material Z.

The recording apparatus 10 of the present invention basically has the above components. Here, each cutter 2
In order to realize the proper operation of each component such as the recording device 8 and the recording means, it is necessary to eliminate the influence of the operation of the other components. Therefore, in order to surely separate each component,
A transport area for basically moving only the photosensitive material Z, that is, a buffer is required upstream and downstream of each component.

More specifically, the photosensitive material Z by the cutter 28
It is necessary to carry out the cutting of the photosensitive material Z during the cutting, and if any load is applied to the photosensitive material Z at the time of cutting, the cutting length of the photosensitive material Z changes. It is necessary to provide a cut buffer for separating other components that affect the operation. In addition, fluctuations in the speed of scanning and transporting during scanning (unevenness in scanning and transporting) lead to uneven streaks and the like in the recorded image. It is necessary to provide a pre-exposure buffer for separating the influencing components and a similar post-exposure buffer downstream. Further, the apparatus in the illustrated example distributes the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction and supplies the photosensitive material Z to the developing device in a plurality of rows.
As described above, since the sorting moves the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction, the sorting may not be performed when other components are operating. Therefore, other components may be arranged upstream of the sorting device. , It is necessary to provide a pre-distribution buffer for separating the same and a similar post-distribution buffer downstream.

Here, in the buffer, this Lmax corresponds to the length in the transport direction of the maximum size print targeted by the recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as Lmax).
“Lmax + α”, which is obtained by adding a margin α to the above, is the basic buffer length. For example, if the largest print is a panorama, the buffer length is basically 254mm
+ Α, and 305 mm + α in the case of four cuts. Therefore, in a normal recording apparatus, the transport length of the photosensitive material from the magazine to the developing machine (so-called path length of the photosensitive material)
Becomes very long, which leads to a decrease in efficiency such as an increase in the size of the apparatus and an increase in cost.

On the other hand, in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, a buffer 30 for forming a loop of the photosensitive material Z as necessary, a non-contact type back printing means, and the above-mentioned short and long sorting apparatus 18 are used. As a result, the path length is minimized, and the compact, inexpensive, and efficient recording apparatus 10 is realized.

That is, by providing the buffer 30 between the cutter 28 and the recording position Z, the cut buffer and the pre-exposure buffer are used, and a loop of the photosensitive material Z is formed in this buffer as needed. With such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the cutter 28 and the scanning conveyance on each other, and to shorten the linear distance of the buffer 30. During the recording of the back print, the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z can be stopped. In other words, in the configuration shown in FIG. The unit 14 is a cut buffer.

Further, by using a non-contact type back printing means such as an ink jet printer, it is possible to eliminate the load fluctuation which the printing of the back print exerts on the scanning and conveying, so that the exposure of the photosensitive material Z and the printing of the back print can be performed. Can be performed simultaneously, and there is no need to set a pre-exposure buffer and a post-exposure buffer for the back print unit 14. Therefore, for example, with the configuration of the illustrated example, the pre-exposure buffer can be formed including the distance of the back print unit 14 as well as the buffer 30, so that the linear distance between the cutter 28 and the recording position X can be increased. Can be made shorter, or the loop formed by the buffer 30 can be made smaller. Further, even if the back print unit 14 is arranged immediately before or immediately after the recording position X, it is not necessary to set the pre-exposure buffer or the post-exposure buffer corresponding to the back print unit 14, so that the path length is significantly increased. Also, while the path length is shortened, the degree of freedom in designing the position and the like of the back print unit 14 can be improved.

Further, by using the short and long sorting device 18, the buffer before sorting and the buffer after sorting can be eliminated, or these can be greatly reduced.

In a photo printer that exposes a cut sheet, it is preferable to continuously expose a plurality of prints at short intervals in order to produce an efficient print. Of the photosensitive material Z are continuously discharged. Therefore, in a sorting device that uses a turret, or a sorting device that divides a transport unit into a plurality of units and moves a part of the turret horizontally, in order to secure time for rotation of the turret and movement of the transport unit. At some point, it is necessary to increase the transport speed of the photosensitive material Z. Therefore, in order to separate the photosensitive material Z from the components arranged upstream and downstream, a pre-sorting buffer and a post-sorting buffer (speed control for the developing machine) Buffer).

However, the scanning transport of the photosensitive material Z is as follows.
Normally, as described above, the sheet is nipped and conveyed by rollers or the like. Therefore, according to the short / short sorting device 18 as described above, even if a part of the photosensitive material Z being exposed is placed on the belt conveyor,
The load fluctuation applied to the scanning conveyance is so small as to be negligible. Therefore, the short / short sorting device 18 can be arranged immediately after the recording position X to receive the photosensitive material Z being exposed at the scanning / conveying speed. In addition, the photosensitive material Z can be accommodated without giving a load variation to the scanning conveyance, and the photosensitive material Z can be accommodated.
After the exposure is completed and is accommodated in the transporting means, the sorting is quickly performed by the sorting means, and further, the transport by the transporting means after the sorting can also serve as the post-distribution buffer. Therefore, by using these short and long distributing means 18, it is possible to eliminate the pre-distribution buffer and the post-distribution buffer, or to greatly reduce the size according to the configuration of the recording means and the developing machine.

That is, in the present invention, a buffer 30 for forming a loop is provided between the cutter 28 and the recording position X as necessary, and a non-contact type back printing means is used. When used in combination, the buffer required in the conventional apparatus can be greatly reduced and minimized, and the length of the required buffer (linear distance) can be shortened. By minimizing the length, an efficient, compact and inexpensive recording device is realized.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. The image recording device 5 shown in FIG.
0 (hereinafter, referred to as a recording device 50) is an example of the recording device shown in FIG. 1B, and therefore the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. Mainly do. Although not shown in the figure for clarity of the basic configuration of the apparatus, the recording apparatus 50 includes a conveyance unit such as a conveyance roller, a conveyance guide, a sensor for detecting the photosensitive material, and the like. Various members arranged in a known image recording apparatus are arranged as necessary.

The recording apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 3 includes a photosensitive material supply section 12, a back print section 14, a buffer 30, a recording section 52, and a short / long sorting apparatus 18.

The photosensitive material supply section 12 is provided with loading sections 54 and 56 for loading the magazines 20 and 22. The loading section 54 has a drawer roller pair 24, and the loading section 56 has a drawer roller pair 26. And the loading section 54
And the cutter 28b corresponding to the loading unit 56 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, in the recording device 50, the loading unit 56 is disposed below the loading unit 54, and the recording position X is located above the recording unit 50.
The distance to is different.

The back print unit 14 is, for example, an ink jet printer 58, and records a back print on the photosensitive material Z guided and conveyed by the guide 60.

A loop is formed in the buffer 30 according to the length (size of the print) of the photosensitive material Z on which the back print has been recorded after being cut into a predetermined length, and then the recording section 52 (sub-scan transport means). 62).
The recording unit 52 is configured to include the exposure unit 16 and the sub-scanning conveyance unit 62. In the illustrated example, as an example, the exposure unit 16 records a light beam modulated in accordance with a recording image and deflected in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3) orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction by the sub-scanning and conveying means 62. The above light beam scanning device exposes a photosensitive material Z as light L. The sub-scanning conveyance means 62 has a pair of conveyance rollers 64 and 66 disposed so as to sandwich the recording position X (scanning line), and an exposure conveyance guide 68. Is held at the recording position X, and is conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 64 and 66 in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Here, as described above, since the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material Z is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to form a latent image.

Downstream of the recording unit 52, a short / long sorting device 1 is provided.
8 are arranged. The photosensitive material Z, which has been exposed, is supplied to the short / long sorting device 1 by the sub-scanning conveyance means 62 at a scanning conveyance speed.
After the exposure is completed, and the wafer is conveyed to a predetermined position by the short / long sorting device 18, it is sorted in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the carrying direction and arranged in a plurality of rows overlapping in the carrying direction. Is transported to the developing device 72 by the transport roller pair 70, and a color developing tank according to the photosensitive material Z;
Each processing such as a bleach-fixing tank and a washing tank is performed, dried, and printed.

As shown in FIG. 3, a buffer 30 for forming a loop as necessary by using a non-contact back printing means such as an ink jet printer 58 is provided with a cutter 28.
The recording device 50 of the present invention, which is provided between the short and long sorting device 18 and the recording position X, is provided between the cutter 28 and the recording position X.
~ Recording position X ~ Short and long sorting device 18 ~ Transport roller pair 7
The path length of the photosensitive material Z reaching 0 can be made very short, and the apparatus is compact, inexpensive, and very efficient.

Although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, after the photosensitive material is cut into cut sheets,
In an image recording apparatus that performs digital raster scanning exposure, the path length of a photosensitive material from a cutter to a developing machine can be minimized, and an inexpensive, small, and efficient image recording apparatus can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams showing a basic configuration of an example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c) are schematic views of another example of a photosensitive material distribution means used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein (a) is a top view, (B) and (c) are side views.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 50 (image) recording apparatus 12 photosensitive material supply section 14 back print section 16 exposure unit 18 distributing means 20, 22 magazine 24, 26 drawer roller pair 28, 28a, 28b cutter 30 buffer 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) ) Belt conveyor 44 (44a, 44b, 44c, 44d) Half moon roller pair 52 Recording unit 54, 56 Loading unit 58 Inkjet printer 60 Guide 62 Sub-scanning conveyance means 64, 66, 70 Transport roller pair 68 Exposure conveyance guide

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cutter for cutting a long photosensitive material into a predetermined length, and a recording light modulated according to digital image data at a predetermined recording position while scanning and transporting the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length. Recording means for exposing the photosensitive material according to: a backprint means for recording a backprint on the back surface of the photosensitive material without contacting the photosensitive material; and a transport area for the photosensitive material provided between the cutter and a recording position. And a buffer for forming, as necessary, a deflection of the photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
Further, a photosensitive material transport unit that receives the photosensitive material discharged from the recording position at the scanning transport speed, and, within a transport area of the transport unit, transports the exposed photosensitive material perpendicular to a transport direction of the transport unit. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sorting device that has a sorting unit that sorts in a plurality of rows by sorting in a direction in which the image is recorded.