JPH10278345A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a compact image recorder in which the entire structure is simplified and mutual adjustment of lenses is also simplified. SOLUTION: A microcylindrical lens 20 refracts each laser light in the fast axis direction FA but passes the laser light, as it is, in the slow axis direction SA. The microcylindrical lens 20 is located at a position separated by the focal length fs thereof from the light emitting point of a semiconductor laser 10 or the vicinity thereof and collimates the laser light by suppressing divergence thereof. An axis symmetric lens 30 is located at a position separated by the local length fc thereof from the light emitting point of the semiconductor laser 10 or the vicinity thereof and collimates each laser light by suppressing divergence thereof in the slow axis direction SA. The laser light collimated in the fast axis direction FA is refracted inward and condensed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus using a laser, and more particularly, to a laser light generated by a laser light generating means such as a high-power semiconductor laser and a spatial light modulator such as a reflection type spatial light modulator. The light modulator modulates the image signal according to the image signal, and irradiates the recording material such as an infrared-sensitive photopolymer or a thermal recording material to record an image on the recording material based on the image signal. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for performing the operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of printing and plate making, an image created and edited is generally recorded on a recording material made of a photosensitive material by an image recording device using a laser.

Conventionally, an image is once recorded on a silver halide film having high sensitivity by such an image recording apparatus, and a printing plate (PS) coated with an ultraviolet-sensitive photopolymer using the film is used. Version).

However, recently, for the purpose of omitting an intermediate step, a technique (Computer-To-Plate, CTP) of directly recording an image on a printing plate by an image recording apparatus has been actively used. Furthermore, a technique (Digital Dir.) For producing a print sample by directly recording an image on a printing material by an image recording device without producing a printing plate.
ect Color Proof, DDCP) has also become widely used.

[0005] When such a direct image recording technique is used, an infrared-sensitive photopolymer or a heat-sensitive (thermal) recording material is used as a recording material because, for example, work in a light room is possible and handling is easy. These materials are preferably used, but since these materials have several orders of magnitude lower sensitivity than silver salts, a high-output semiconductor laser is used as a laser beam generating means of the image recording apparatus.

As an image recording apparatus using such a high-output semiconductor laser, an image recording apparatus provided with a linear array semiconductor laser and a linear spatial light modulator (Light Valve) is disclosed in US Pat. 359. In this proposed example, in order to prevent exposure unevenness (non-uniform density) from occurring on the photosensitive material surface of the recording material, a minute cylindrical lens array (linear
Using an array of cylindrical lenslets and a cylindrical collimator lens, each of the laser beams generated from each light emitting point (emitter) of the linear array semiconductor laser is uniform over the entire aperture (light receiving section) of the spatial light modulator. It is designed to be illuminated. Therefore, even if one of the light emitting points in the linear array semiconductor laser is damaged, the light amount of all the channels is slightly reduced, and the specific channel is not affected.

[0007]

By the way, in a typical linear array semiconductor laser, a large number of light emitting points are arranged in a line in a light emitting portion, and the laser light generated from each light emitting point is Regarding the divergence angle, the divergence angle in the thickness direction of the light emitting point is several times larger than the divergence angle in the longitudinal direction of the luminous point (typically, the divergence angle in the thickness direction is 40 °, the divergence angle in the longitudinal direction). Is 10 °).

Therefore, in the above-mentioned proposed example, in order to uniformly irradiate each laser beam generated from each light emitting point to the entire opening of the spatial light modulator, a micro cylindrical lens and a micro cylindrical lens array are required. ,
It combines three non-axially symmetric lenses called cylindrical collimator lenses. That is, the micro cylindrical lens is disposed immediately after the linear array semiconductor laser, and is used to suppress the larger divergence angle of the laser light. Further, the minute cylindrical lens array and the cylindrical collimator lens are used for superimposing the image of each light emitting point on the opening of the spatial light modulator.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned proposed example, since the three non-axially symmetric lenses are used as described above, there is a problem that the configuration of the entire apparatus becomes complicated and it takes time to adjust the lenses. . In addition, since the distance between the lenses of the micro cylindrical lens array has a delicate correspondence with the distance between the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser, mutual adjustment between the micro cylindrical lens array and the semiconductor laser is extremely difficult. Have difficulty.

In addition, since it is difficult to make the focal length of each lens of the micro cylindrical lens array shorter than the focal length of the micro cylindrical lens, the focal length of the cylindrical collimator lens cannot be too short (as described above). 250m in the proposed example
m). Therefore, in the above-mentioned proposed example, there is also a problem that the size of the entire apparatus becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to simplify the configuration of the entire apparatus, simplify the adjustment between lenses, and reduce the size of the entire apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0012]

In order to achieve at least a part of the above objects, the present invention comprises a plurality of light emitting points arranged in a line along a first direction. The principal rays of the laser beams generated from the light emitting points are substantially parallel to each other, and the divergence angle of each laser beam in the first direction is larger than the divergence angle in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Laser light generating means, and spatial light modulating means having a plurality of light receiving portions arranged in a line along the first direction, the light being emitted from each light emitting point of the laser light generating means. Each laser beam is received by each light receiving section of the spatial light modulator, and the spatial light modulator modulates the received laser beam according to an image signal and irradiates the laser beam toward a recording material. Record an image based on the image signal. An image recording apparatus, disposed between the laser light generating means and the spatial light modulating means, for transmitting each laser light generated from each light emitting point of the laser light generating means in the second direction. A cylindrical lens that is substantially parallel with respect to the first lens, and each of the laser lights generated from each light emitting point of the laser light generating means is disposed between the cylindrical lens and the spatial light modulating means. An axially symmetric lens for converging each of the laser beams substantially parallel by the cylindrical lens in the second direction while being substantially parallel to each other;
By disposing the spatial light modulating means at a position substantially away from the axisymmetric lens by the focal length of the axisymmetric lens, the spatial light modulating means is made substantially parallel by the axisymmetric lens in the first direction. Each of the laser beams is
The gist of the invention is that the light is superimposed on the light receiving portion of the spatial light modulating means and irradiated.

As described above, according to the present invention, in the direction (second direction) where the spread angle of each laser beam generated from each light emitting point of the laser beam generating means is large, the spatial light is formed by the cylindrical lens and the axially symmetric lens. An image of the light emitting point is formed on the light receiving portion of the modulating means, and in the direction in which the spread angle of each laser beam is small (first direction), an axisymmetric lens is used.
The far-field image (farfield) of the light-emitting point is
pattern) to form Kohler illumination.

According to the present invention, with a simple combination of one cylindrical lens and one axially symmetric lens,
The light receiving portion of the spatial light modulator can be almost uniformly illuminated. Therefore, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified, and one of the lenses is an axisymmetric lens, so that adjustment between the lenses is also simplified,
Further, since the optical path length can be shortened, the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the focal length of the axisymmetric lens is f _C , and the length from the end to the end of all the light receiving portions of the spatial light modulating means arranged in the first direction. Is L, and the divergence angle of the laser light generated from the light emitting point of the laser light generating means in the first direction is θ, the focal length f _C of the axisymmetric lens is f _C = L / (2 tan θ) It is preferable to satisfy the following expression.

Thus, the focal length f _{C of the} axisymmetric lens
Is set, the entire light receiving portion of the spatial light modulator can be illuminated by the respective laser beams in the first direction without excess or deficiency.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the focal length of the cylindrical lens is f _S , the focal length of the axisymmetric lens is f _C , and the length of the light emitting point of the laser beam generating means in the second direction is f. Assuming that t is t and the length of the light receiving portion of the spatial light modulator in the second direction is W, the focal length f _S of the cylindrical lens satisfies the following expression: f _S = f _C · t / W Is preferred.

As described above, by setting the focal length f _S of the cylindrical lens, the laser light condensed by the axially symmetric lens in the second direction is transmitted to the light receiving portion of the spatial light modulator by the light receiving portion. Can be made almost the same width as the length W.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical system of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes a semiconductor laser 10 and a reflective spatial light modulator 40, between which a micro cylindrical lens 20 is provided near the semiconductor laser 10, and a semiconductor laser 10 is provided. An axially symmetric lens 30 is provided between the reflective spatial light modulator 10 and the reflective spatial light modulator 40. The reflection type spatial light modulator 40 and the recording material 60
And a projection lens 50, and a beam stop 70 at a position substantially facing the reflective spatial light modulator 40. In FIG. 1, OA is opti.
Cal axis (optical axis) direction, FA is fast axis direction (direction in which the spread angle of laser light from semiconductor laser 10 is large), and SA is slow axis direction (semiconductor laser 1).
0 from the direction in which the spread angle of the laser beam is small).

A feature of the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment is that each laser beam generated from each light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 is irradiated onto the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 (that is, the reflection type spatial light modulator is irradiated with the laser beam). When the light modulator 40 is illuminated), the image of the light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 is not completely critical illumination that forms an image on the reflective spatial light modulator 40, but is slow axis.
Regarding the direction SA, a far-field pattern of the light emitting point 12 is formed on the reflective spatial light modulator 40 to provide Kohler illumination.

Next, the configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment and the operation of each component will be described in more detail.

FIG. 2 shows the optical system of the image recording apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram viewed from an axis direction FA and a slow axis direction SA. 2A is a plan view of the optical system of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed in the fast axis direction FA, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the optical system in the slow axis direction SA.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the semiconductor laser 10 of FIG. 3A is a front view of the semiconductor laser 10 viewed from the optical axis direction OA, FIG. 3B is a side view of the semiconductor laser 10 viewed from the slow axis direction SA, and FIG. FIG.

First, in the image recording apparatus of this embodiment, a semiconductor laser having a large number of light emitting points as shown in FIG. That is, on the front surface of the semiconductor laser 10, a large number of light emitting points 12 are provided in the slow axis direction S.
A is arranged in a line along A.
A laser beam is generated in the cal axis direction OA. Each light emitting point 12
Is fast axis direction FA in the thickness direction and slow axis direction in the longitudinal direction
The laser light generated from the light emitting point 12 has a divergence angle that increases in the thickness direction.
Since the divergence angle is reduced in the longitudinal direction, the fast axis direction FA is the direction in which the divergence angle of the laser light is large, and the slow axis direction SA is the direction in which the divergence angle of the laser light is small, as described in the definition of the direction described above. ing.

Examples of such a semiconductor laser include SDL-3470-S of SDL Inc., POC-A020-mmm-CN of Opto Power Corp., and Thomson Inc. A 20 W class device such as TH-C1220-S of Thomson-CSF) can be used.

Next, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the micro cylindrical lens 20 is moved away from the light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 by the focal length f _S of the micro cylindrical lens 20 or at a position separated therefrom. It is located near. The micro cylindrical lens 20
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the lens has a cylindrical shape and the axis of the cylinder is arranged so as to face the slow axis direction SA, the lens has refractive power in the fast axis direction FA. It has no refractive power in the slow axis direction SA. Accordingly, each laser beam generated from each light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 is refracted in the fast axis direction FA as shown in FIG.
Since there is no influence in the xis direction SA, FIG.
As shown in FIG. In addition, since the micro cylindrical lens 20 is disposed at a position away from the light emitting point 12 by the focal length f _S as described above, the micro cylindrical lens 20 in FIG.
As shown in (1), the spread of the laser beam is suppressed to make it parallel.

Next, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, an axisymmetric lens 30 is provided between the micro cylindrical lens 20 and the reflection type spatial light modulator 40, and the light emitting point of the semiconductor laser 10 is changed. It is arranged at a position separated from the lens 12 by the focal length f _C of the axisymmetric lens 30 or in the vicinity thereof. Since the axially symmetric lens 30 has a shape symmetrical with respect to the optical axis as shown in FIG. 2, it has refractive power in any direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and each laser beam is fast. a
In each of the xis direction FA and the slow axis direction SA, the light is refracted as shown in FIGS.

Therefore, by arranging the axially symmetric lens 30 at a position away from the light emitting point 12 by the focal distance f _C , the axially symmetric lens 30 can move in the slow axis direction SA as shown in FIG. The spread of each laser beam that has passed through the cylindrical lens 20 is suppressed and made parallel. However, each laser beam that has passed through the micro cylindrical lens 20 has the position of the light emitting point 12 at which it is generated in the slow axis direction SA.
Are different from each other, and the principal rays of the respective laser beams are parallel.
As shown in (a), each laser beam is refracted inward after making its spread parallel as described above.

On the other hand, in the fast axis direction FA, as shown in FIG. 2B, the axially symmetric lens 30 refracts the laser beam collimated by the micro cylindrical lens 20 inward and condenses it. Let it.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 of FIG. 4A is a front view of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 viewed from the optical axis direction OA, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 viewed from the slow axis direction SA.

Next, in this embodiment, as the reflection type spatial light modulator 40, a spatial light modulator having a large number of apertures (cells) as shown in FIG. 4 is used. That is, on the surface of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 facing the semiconductor laser 10, a large number of openings 42 are arranged in a line along the slow axis direction SA, and each opening (light receiving portion) 42 Each of them receives the laser light passing through the axisymmetric lens 30. Further, an image signal is input to the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 as shown in FIG. 2B, and the laser light received at each opening 42 is modulated according to the image signal. That is, the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 reflects the laser light received by each of the openings 42, and at this time, changes the reflection angle at high speed in accordance with the input image signal. When on, the laser light is reflected so as to be guided to the projection lens 50, and when off, the laser light is reflected so as to be guided to the beam stop 70, thereby modulating the laser light.

As such a reflection type spatial light modulator, for example, Texas Instruments (Texas)
Instruments Inc.) 'S Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) and Silicon Light Machines In
c. Grating Light Valve (GLV) manufactured by Echelle Inc. can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, each of the apertures arranged in a line of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 has a focal length between the axisymmetric lens 30 and the axisymmetric lens 30. so that it is at or near the position separated by f _C ,
The reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is arranged. For this reason, sl
In the ow axis direction SA, as shown in FIG.
The parallel laser beams refracted inward by the axially symmetric lens 30 are superimposed on the respective line-shaped openings 42 of the reflective spatial light modulator 40.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, the effective width from end to end of the entire opening 42 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is L, and as shown in FIG. Slow axis direction S of laser light generated from each light emitting point 12
When the divergence angle at A is θ, the axially symmetric lens 3
Assuming that the focal length f _{C of} 0 is set to satisfy the following equation (1), the width of each laser beam parallelized by the axisymmetric lens 30 in the slow axis direction SA is:
It is substantially equal to the effective width L of the entire opening 42 of the reflective spatial light modulator 40.

F _C = L / (2 tan θ) (1)

Accordingly, in this case, in the slow axis direction SA, as shown in FIG. 2A, the laser beams collimated by the axially symmetric lens 30 are respectively transmitted through the apertures of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40. Lighting all 42 with just enough
And it will be superimposed.

For example, now, the pitch P _L of each opening 42 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is 25 μm (= 0.025 m
m), and assuming that the effective total number n of the openings 42 is 360, the effective width L from end to end of all the openings 42 of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 is L = P _L × n = 0.025
× 360 = 9.0 mm. Therefore, the semiconductor laser 1
Slow axis of laser light generated from each light emitting point 12 of 0
Assuming that the spread angle θ in the direction SA is about 5 °,
The focal length f _C of the axisymmetric lens 30 is obtained from Expression (1) as follows.

F _C = L / (2 tan θ) = 9.0 / (2
tan5 ゜) = 51.5 mm

As described above, even if the light emitting points 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 are arranged discretely with a width as shown in FIG. 3, the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is located on the rear side of the axisymmetric lens 30. By arranging them at or near the focal point, laser beams from all light emitting points can be superimposed on the reflective spatial light modulator 40. In actual semiconductor lasers, the light emission form in the light emission region is often not homogeneous, so that the far-field image has a non-uniform illuminance distribution due to interference. Since the averaging is performed, a substantially uniform illuminance distribution can be obtained. Of course, even if some of the many light emitting points of the semiconductor laser 10 are damaged, there is a redundancy that does not affect a specific opening in the reflective spatial light modulator 40.

On the other hand, in the fast axis direction FA, as shown in FIG. 2B, the laser light condensed by the axially symmetric lens 30 is transmitted through the aperture 4 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40.
An image is formed at 2. Therefore, on the reflective spatial light modulator 40, the image of the light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 is enlarged and projected. The magnification at that time is determined by the ratio of the focal length f _S of the micro cylindrical lens 20 to the focal length f _C of the axisymmetric lens 30.

Accordingly, assuming that the thickness of each light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 in the fast axis direction FA is t as shown in FIG.
_C / f _S times the magnitude image of is to be enlarged and projected on the reflection type spatial light modulator 40.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the size in the fast axis direction FA of each opening 42 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is W, the focal length f _S of the micro cylindrical lens 20 is determined. Is set so as to satisfy the following expression (2), the laser light condensed by the axially symmetric lens 30 in the fast axis direction FA is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the width of the opening 42 of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 is substantially the same as the size W of the opening 42.

F _S = f _C · t / W (2)

Therefore, in this case, the laser light condensed by the axially symmetric lens 30 illuminates the entire opening 42 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 even in the fast axis direction FA.

For example, the focal length f _{C of the} axisymmetric lens 30
Is set to 51.5 mm, as described above, the thickness t of each light emitting point 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 in the fast axis direction FA is 1 μm, and each opening 42 of the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is
Assuming that the size W of the fast axis direction FA is 25 μm,
The focal length f _S of the micro cylindrical lens 20 is
From Expression (2), it is obtained as follows.

F _S = f _C · t / W = 51.5 / 25 = 2.06 mm

As the micro cylindrical lens as described above, for example, Doric Lens (Dori)
c Lenses Inc.) gradient index cylindrical microlenses
Can be used. The diameter of the rod in this case (this lens is a perfect rod lens) has a focal length f _S of 2.
In the case of 06 mm, it is about 3.0 mm.

Next, in this embodiment, the projection lens 50 is
As shown in FIG. 2B, the image of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 is enlarged or reduced by the
Place so that it is formed on top. Therefore, the laser light modulated according to the image signal by the reflection type spatial light modulator 40 is condensed by the projection lens 50 and forms an image on the recording material 60, and the image is recorded on the recording material 60 by the laser light. Is done.

For example, when a resolution of 2540 dpi is required for a recorded image, the size of one pixel is 2
Since 5.4 mm / 2540 = 0.01 mm (= 10 μm), the magnification is 10/25 = 1 / 2.5. When a 20 W class element as described above is used as the semiconductor laser 10, the effective width of the entire light emitting point 12 is 10 mm in the slow axis direction SA, so that the laser light emitted from the light emitting point at the end is a reflection type. On the spatial light modulator 40, (10
/2)/51.5=0.097. Therefore,
The image-side numerical aperture of the projection lens 50 (Numerical Aperture, N.
In A.), if at least 0.097 × 2.5 = 0.243 or more, an image of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 can be formed without vignetting.

As described above, when irradiating each of the laser beams generated from each of the light emitting points 12 of the semiconductor laser 10 to the reflection type spatial light modulator 40, the light is emitted by performing Koehler illumination in the slow axis direction SA. Even if the semiconductor laser 10 having many points 12 (multi-element) is used as a light source, a compact illumination optical system independent of the size and number of the light emitting points 12 can be configured.

That is, according to the present embodiment, the reflection-type spatial light modulator 40 can be almost uniformly illuminated by a simple combination of one micro cylindrical lens 20 and one axially symmetric lens 30. Accordingly, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified, and one of the lenses is an axisymmetric lens, so that adjustment between the lenses can be simplified, and the optical path length can be shortened, so that the size of the entire apparatus can be made compact. Can,
Further, it does not depend on the number or size of the light emitting points 12 of the semiconductor laser 10.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical system of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the image recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes a transmission spatial light modulator 90 instead of the reflection spatial light modulator 40, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, a mirror 80 and a polarizing plate 100 are also provided.

In this embodiment, the mirror 80 reflects the laser light passing through the axisymmetric lens 30 and changes the direction of the laser light. The transmission type spatial light modulator 90 receives the laser beam reflected by the mirror 80 at each opening and transmits the received laser beam. At this time, the polarization direction is changed at high speed according to an image signal input separately. Change. Polarizing plate 10
Since 0 transmits only laser light having the same polarization direction, the laser light that has passed through the polarizing plate 100 is modulated according to an image signal.

As such a transmission type spatial light modulator,
For example, a transmissive element such as a PLZT shutter can be used.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples and embodiments, but can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical system of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the optical system of the image recording apparatus of FIG. 1 as viewed from a fast axis direction FA and a slow axis direction SA.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a specific example of the semiconductor laser 10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of the reflective spatial light modulator 40 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical system of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Semiconductor laser 12 ... Emission point 20 ... Micro cylindrical lens 30 ... Axisymmetric lens 40 ... Reflection type spatial light modulator 42 ... Aperture 50 ... Projection lens 60 ... Recording material 70 ... Beam stop 80 ... Mirror 90 ... Transmission type space Light modulator 100 ... Polarizing plate

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of light-emitting points arranged in a line along a first direction, wherein principal rays of respective laser lights generated from the respective light-emitting points are substantially parallel to each other; Laser light generating means having a divergence angle in a first direction smaller than a divergence angle in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
Spatial light modulating means comprising a plurality of light receiving portions arranged in a line along the first direction, wherein the laser light generated from each light emitting point of the laser light generating means is subjected to the spatial light modulating. The light is received by each light receiving section of the means, and the laser light received is subjected to modulation according to an image signal by the spatial light modulation means and irradiated toward a recording material, and an image is formed on the recording material based on the image signal. An image recording apparatus for performing recording of the laser light, wherein the laser light is disposed between the laser light generating means and the spatial light modulating means, and the laser light generated from each light emitting point of the laser light generating means is transmitted to the second laser light generating means. A cylindrical lens that is substantially parallel to the direction of the laser light; and a laser beam that is disposed between the cylindrical lens and the spatial light modulator and emits each laser beam from each light emitting point of the laser beam generator in the first direction. About An axially symmetric lens that converges each laser beam that has been made substantially parallel by the cylindrical lens in the second direction. By disposing the laser light substantially at the focal distance of the axially symmetric lens from the laser beam, any of the laser lights substantially parallel by the axially symmetric lens in the first direction is transmitted by the spatial light modulating means. An image recording apparatus characterized in that the light is superimposed on the light receiving section of the light emitting section. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a focal length of the axisymmetric lens is f _C , and the spatial light modulating means is arranged from end to end of all light receiving portions arranged in the first direction. Where L is the length and θ is the divergence angle of the laser light generated from the light emitting point of the laser light generating means in the first direction, the focal length f _C of the axisymmetric lens is f _C = L An image recording apparatus satisfying the following expression: / (2tan θ). 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focal length of the cylindrical lens is f _S , the focal length of the axisymmetric lens is f _C , and the light emitting point of the laser light generating unit is a light emitting point. Assuming that the length in the direction 2 is t and the length of the light receiving portion of the spatial light modulator in the second direction is W, the focal length f _S of the cylindrical lens is f _S = f _C · t / An image recording apparatus satisfying the following expression: