JPH11119346A - Printer using photosensitive recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent another photosensitive recording medium housed in a cassette from being inadvertently exposed in the case of removing a photosensitive recording medium jammed inside a printer. SOLUTION: The casing 3 of the printer 1 is provided with an insertion port 3a in which the light shielding cassette 50 is inserted and is constituted of a lower cover 5 and an upper cover 7 with which the internal elements of the printer 1 are covered so that they can open to the outside. It is provided with a 1st engaging member 5a and a 2nd engaging member 7a coupling the covers 5 and 7 so as not to open by inserting the cassette 50 in the insertion port 3a. Therefore the cover 7 can not be opened unless the cassette 50 is pulled out from the insertion port 3a, and accordingly, such situation that another microcapsule paper 52 housed in the cassette 50 is exposed and can not be used is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for forming an image using a photosensitive recording medium stored in a light-shielding cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer using a photosensitive recording medium has been known in which a cassette containing a photosensitive recording medium is inserted into an insertion opening provided in the printer. In this printer, if it becomes necessary to remove the photosensitive recording medium due to the clogging of the photosensitive recording medium inside the printer or the like, in order to prevent the other photosensitive recording medium stored in the cassette from being exposed to light, First, after removing the cassette from the insertion slot of the printer, the cover of the printer is opened to make the transport path inside the printer visible, and the photosensitive recording medium jammed in the transport path is removed.

In some printers, a cover is provided with an opening / closing lid so that a photosensitive recording medium jammed in the printer can be easily removed. In this case, the opening and closing lid can be opened and closed without using a tool such as a screwdriver, so that the photosensitive recording medium can be easily removed.

[0004]

However, as described above, when removing the photosensitive recording medium jammed in the printer, the cassette must first be removed from the insertion slot of the printer. In operation, the user may accidentally open the cover without taking out the cassette, and the other photosensitive recording medium stored in the cassette may be exposed and become unusable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. When a photosensitive recording medium jammed in a printer is removed, another photosensitive recording medium erroneously stored in a cassette is exposed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that uses a photosensitive recording medium that does not cause the recording to occur.

[0006]

To achieve this object, a printer using a photosensitive recording medium according to the present invention forms an image using a photosensitive recording medium stored in a light-shielding cassette. In particular, a plurality of covering members, wherein the housing of the printer has an insertion opening into which the light-shielding cassette is inserted, and covers at least a part of the internal elements of the printer so as to be openable to the outside. And a connecting means for inserting the light-shielding cassette into the insertion opening to connect the plurality of covering members in a non-openable manner.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to the first aspect of the invention, when the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the insertion slot, the plurality of covering members are irrevocably connected.
When removing the photosensitive recording medium jammed inside the printer, the light-shielding cassette must first be removed from the insertion slot of the printer, and the user may accidentally open the cover without removing the light-shielding cassette. This prevents the other photosensitive recording medium stored in the light-shielding cassette from being exposed to light and becoming unusable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer using the photosensitive recording medium, the coupling means includes a first engaging member provided on one of the plurality of covering members, and one of the covering members. Provided on another covering member that is coupled to the
And a second engaging member capable of engaging with the first engaging member. When the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the insertion slot, the first engagement is performed via the light-shielding cassette. The engagement state between the member and the second engagement member is maintained.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to the second aspect, when the first engagement member and the second engagement member are engaged, the light-shielding cassette inserted into the insertion slot. The engagement state of the first engagement member and the second engagement member is maintained via.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer using the photosensitive recording medium, the coupling means is provided on one of the plurality of covering members, and the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the insertion slot. The moving member moved by the light-shielding cassette and the other covering member coupled to the one covering member, and the moving member moves in the covering state by each covering member. And a locking member for locking the member.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to the third aspect, when the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the insertion slot, the moving member provided on one covering member is moved and provided on the other covering member. And the one covering member and the other covering member are coupled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer using the photosensitive recording medium, the moving member is locked when the light-shielding cassette is not inserted into the insertion slot in a state of being covered by each of the covering members. It is provided with holding means for holding at a non-locking position with respect to the member.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium of the fourth aspect, when the light-shielding cassette is not inserted, the moving member is held at the non-locking position with respect to the locking member. It can be easily opened.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, two embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of a printer using a photosensitive recording medium according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the printer 1 in a state where the light-shielding cassette 50 is not mounted, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the printer 1 with the light-shielding cassette 50 mounted, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the printer 1 with the light-shielding cassette 50 mounted, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the exposure head 15 provided in the printer 1.

1 to 3, a casing 3 as a housing for covering an internal element of the printer 1 which will be described later,
It comprises a lower cover 5 and an upper cover 7 as a plurality of covering members, both of which are detachably fixedly connected by screws (not shown). Therefore, when the upper cover 7 is removed, the main internal elements of the printer 1 attached to the lower cover 5 can be opened to the outside. The details of the fixing structure of the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 will be described later.

An opening 3a into which the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted is formed in the front part (right side in the figure) of the casing 3 so that the light-shielding cassette 50 can be mounted on the printer 1. In the light-shielding cassette 50, a plurality of unexposed microcapsule papers 52 are stored in a stacked state. In this example, the size of the microcapsule paper 37 is 4 inches × 6 inches.

With the light-shielding cassette 50 inserted into the insertion slot 3a, the microcapsule paper 52 as a photosensitive recording medium is taken out of the light-shielding cassette 50 one by one by the paper feed roller 10 provided in the printer 1. After passing through the guide plate 11, the first feed roller means 13 including the upper roller 13A and the lower roller 13B,
It is pulled out to an exposure table 17 facing an exposure head 15 described later. The exposure table 17 is attached to the exposure head 15 so as to be able to approach and separate from the exposure head 15, and has a spring member (not shown).
Urged upward. Note that the microcapsule paper 52 taken out of the light-shielding cassette 50 before exposure is removed.
The unexposed state is maintained by the casing 3.

An upper roller 13A which is a driving roller of the paper feed roller 10 and the first feed roller means 13 is driven to rotate by a common drive motor 14 (pulse motor).
The microcapsule paper 52 is intermittently fed. That is, the paper feed roller 10 is directly driven to rotate by the drive motor 14, while the upper roller 13 </ b> A of the first feed roller means 13 is driven to rotate via the gear mechanism 16. Similarly, an upper roller 19A of a second feed roller means 19, which will be described later, is also driven to rotate by a drive motor 14 via a gear mechanism 16, and the micro-capsule is fed at the same feed speed as the first feed roller means 13. The paper 52 is transported.

The microcapsule paper 52 of the exposure table 17
A pre-heater 21 which is a film-shaped heater is attached to the surface on the side where the contact is made. Preheater 21
Is used to heat the microcapsule paper 52 to a predetermined temperature in order to improve the sensitivity of the microcapsule paper 52.

The exposure head 15 is disposed above the exposure table 17 so as to be capable of reciprocating in a width direction of the microcapsule paper 52 (a direction orthogonal to a feed direction of the microcapsule paper 52 in a horizontal plane). On the downstream side of the carriage 23, a second feed roller means 19 including an upper roller 19A and a lower roller 19B is provided.

On the feed path of the microcapsule paper 52 and downstream of the second feed roller means 19, a pressure developing means 25 comprising a pair of pressure developing rollers 26 and 27 is provided.
Further, on the downstream side, a film-shaped post heater 29 and a pair of discharge rollers 31 are sequentially disposed. The microcapsule paper 52 discharged from the discharge roller 31 is discharged to a paper discharge section 33 provided at an upper portion of the casing 3. The post heater 29 has a function of fixing the color development by heating the microcapsule paper 52 on which the color image has been developed and the color image has been developed to about 60 to 80 ° C. Note that the post heater 29 and the pre-heater 21
The conductive heating element is patterned on a thin film such as polyimide by printing or the like, and the film itself generates heat by current driving.

The carriage 23 has a pair of circular cross-sections fixed in parallel in the casing 3 so as to extend along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing (a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the microcapsule paper 52). Are slidably supported by the guide shafts 35 and 37, and the exposure head 15 is mounted on the lower surface side which is the exposure table 17 side. At the downstream end of the carriage 23, there is provided a timing belt 40 rotatably stretched between pulleys 38, 39, and a carriage drive motor 41 is connected to one of the pulleys 38, 39. ing. Therefore, the carriage 23 is driven to reciprocate along the guide shafts 35 and 37 by rotating the timing belt 40 by the motor 41.

The carriage drive motor 41 is capable of controlling the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation.
An AC motor is employed. And the carriage 23
And a linear encoder (not shown) in which black vertical stripes are printed on a transparent PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film provided along the traveling direction of the carriage. The position of the carriage 23 is determined based on the linear encoder provided on the carriage 23 side. A position detecting means is constituted by a photo sensor (not shown) for detecting, and the scanning amount of the carriage 23 is determined by counting the vertical stripes of the linear encoder by the photo sensor. Incidentally, as the carriage drive motor 41, a pulse motor of open loop control can be employed in addition to the DC / AC motor, and in this case, the position detecting means can be omitted.

The microcapsule paper 52 that has passed through the second feed roller means 19 is guided by a curved guide member 61 and sent to the pressure developing means 25. At this time, the microcapsule paper 52 is Due to its rigidity, it does not initially follow the guide member 61 and is not fed toward the pressure developing means 25, but the second feed roller means 19
As a result, the microcapsule paper 52 gradually bends along the guide member 61 and is sent to the pressure developing means 25 to receive the pressure developing action. That is, the second feed roller means 19
Between the microcapsule paper 52 and the pressure developing means 25.
Buffer is temporarily formed, and a buffer for accumulating a certain amount of microcapsule paper 52 is formed.
The configuration is such that the intermittent feeding by the second feed roller means 19 smoothly transitions to the continuous feeding by the pressure developing means 25.

One of the pressure developing rollers 26 and 27 is rotatably supported by a chassis 65,
The other roller 27 is rotatably supported at one end of a support bracket 68 having a rotation shaft 67. The other end of the support bracket 68 has a lower surface abutting on the cam member 69 and an upper surface having a spring member 71 via a pressing member 70.
, The lower side surface of the cam member 69
Is always in contact with.

The pressure developing rollers 26 and 27 are formed as line contact type pressure rollers, and are supported so as to be rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the feed direction of the microcapsule paper 52. One pressure developing roller 27 is
It is urged by the urging force of the spring member 71 to contact the other pressure developing roller 26. The pressure developing roller 26 is driven to rotate via a gear mechanism 74 by a drive motor 73 located on the side opposite to the carriage drive motor 41. The pressure developing roller 2
As means for biasing 7, a pneumatic device, a hydraulic device, a solenoid or the like can be used in addition to the spring member 71.

The above-described paper feed roller 10, guide plate 1
1, first feed roller means 13, exposure head 15, exposure table 17, drive motor 14, gear mechanism 16, second feed roller means 19, preheater 21, carriage 23, pressure developing means 25, post heater 29, guide Axes 35, 37,
Pulleys 38 and 39, timing belt 40, carriage drive motor 41, guide member 61, chassis 65, rotating shaft 67, support bracket 68, cam member 69, pressing member 70, spring member 71, drive motor 73, gear mechanism 74, etc. Constitutes an internal element of the printer 1.

Next, the structure of the light shielding cassette 50 will be described.

The light shielding cassette 50 includes a first frame 54.
And a second frame 5 fitted to the first frame 54.
5 and a shutter member 57 for sealing the exposed opening 56 of the second frame 55, and the microcapsule paper 52 is stored in a state where the microcapsule paper 52 is shielded from light by these members.

The first frame 54 is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, and a second frame 55 is fitted so as to cover the open surface. The microcapsule paper 52 is housed in an internal space surrounded by the first frame 54 and the second frame 55. The second frame 55 includes the first
An exposure opening 56 for exposing the leading end surface of the microcapsule paper 52 loaded in the frame 54 is formed. The exposure opening 56 is opened and closed by a shutter member 57.

On the bottom surface of the first frame 54, a pressing opening 58 for exposing a back surface of a pressure pad 59, which will be described later, is formed. Pressure pad 5
Reference numeral 9 denotes a thin plate member having elasticity.
Is placed on the bottom of the. On the upper surface of the pressure pad 59, the microcapsule paper 52 is placed. The lower surface of the pressure pad 59 has a projection 60.
Are formed, and the protrusions 60 are arranged so as to protrude from the pressing openings 58 formed in the first frame 54. This makes it possible to press the pressure pad 59 from the outside of the first frame 54, and the microcapsule paper 52 is urged toward the exposure opening 56 by this pressing force.

The first frame 54, the second frame 55, the pressure pad 59, the shutter member 5
7 are formed of black polyester, the first frame 54 and the second frame 55 are fitted so as to close the internal space, and the shutter member 5
7 shows the exposure opening 56 and the pressure pad 59
By closing the pressing opening 58, the light shielding property for the microcapsule paper 52 is maintained.

The light-shielding cassette 5 configured as described above
In the insertion opening 3a of the casing 3 into which the shutter member 57 is inserted, an engaging member (not shown) that engages with the shutter member 57 is provided.
When the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted into the insertion slot 3a, the engagement member and the shutter member 57 are engaged to open the shutter member 57. Therefore, the exposure opening 56 provided in the second frame 55 is opened, and the leading end surface of the microcapsule paper 52 stored in the light shielding cassette 50 is exposed from the exposure opening 56.

A pressing spring 75 as a biasing means is provided below the insertion slot 3a, and is provided on the first frame 54 when the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted into the insertion slot 3a. The pressing spring 75 abuts on the convex portion 60 of the pressure pad 59 exposed from the pressing opening 58 and is urged. Thus, the leading end of the microcapsule paper 52 is urged toward the exposure opening 56 and can be pulled out from the light-shielding cassette 50.

Accordingly, the microcapsule paper 52 is pulled out of the light-shielding cassette 50 by rotating the paper feed roller 10 supported in the casing 3 clockwise in FIG. It is transported between the exposure head 15 and the exposure table 17.

Next, the structure of the microcapsule paper 52 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, on the light-transmitting support 81 located on the lower side, a component (dye precursor, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a chromogen) which develops a color upon contact with a co-reactant 83 described later and a predetermined color A microcapsule 82 containing a component (photocurable resin) whose mechanical strength changes (photocuring) by responding to light having a wavelength;
A mixed coating layer 84 is formed by mixing and coating a co-reactant (color developing agent) 83 that reacts with the dye precursor (chromogen) therein, and further, on the mixed coating layer 84, A sheet-like support 85 is laminated.

The microcapsules 82 include three types of different microcapsules 82. Each of the different types of microcapsules 82 has a colorless color for producing one of yellow, magenta, and cyan. , A photocurable resin that is cured by being exposed to light of each wavelength of the three primary colors of light, and a polymerization initiator.

For this reason, for example, blue light (about 470 n
m wavelength light) on the microcapsule paper 52, the photocurable resin of the microcapsules 82 containing the dye precursor of only yellow is photo-cured, and when pressure is applied to the microcapsule paper 52, The photocured microcapsules 82 (in this case, yellow) are not destroyed, and the uncured microcapsules 82 (in this case, magenta and cyan) are destroyed, and the magenta and cyan dye precursors flow out of the microcapsules 82. Then, it reacts with the color developer to form a color, and they are mixed to form a blue color. This blue color will be observed through the transparent support 31.

When green light (light having a wavelength of about 525 nm) is exposed on the microcapsule paper 52, the microcapsules 82 containing a magenta-only dye precursor are exposed.
When the photo-curable resin is photo-cured and pressure is applied to the microcapsule paper 52, the yellow and cyan microcapsules 82 are destroyed by pressure development, and the yellow and cyan dye precursors react with the developer, respectively. It develops color and becomes green by color mixing. This green color is the transparent support 8
1 will be observed.

Further, when the microcapsule paper 52 is exposed to red light (light having a wavelength of about 650 nm), the photocurable resin of the microcapsules 82 containing the dye precursor of only cyan is photosensitively cured. Micro capsule paper 5
When pressure is applied to 2, the yellow and magenta microcapsules 82 are destroyed by pressure development, and the yellow and magenta dye precursors react with the developer to develop colors, respectively, and become red by color mixing. This red color will be observed through the transparent support 81.

Further, when all the microcapsules 82 are photo-cured by exposure, they do not break down even if pressure-developed, so that no color develops, and the surface of the sheet-like support 85 passes through the light-transmitting support 81. It is visible. Therefore, the white color on the surface of the sheet-like support 85 becomes the background color, and a color image is formed only in the portion where the color reaction has occurred. Note that this principle of coloring is referred to as self-coloring. Further, the surface of the light-transmitting support 81 in the microcapsule paper 52 is referred to as a coloring side surface.

In this embodiment, a resin film such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or polyvinyl chloride is used as the material of the light-transmitting support 81.

Next, the configuration of the exposure head 15 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, an exposure head 15 includes a plurality of types of light emitting elements 91, 92, 93, a substrate 94 for supporting and fixing them, a mask 95, and a mask holding member 96.
And

The light emitting elements 91, 92, and 93 are LEDs that emit light of each of the three primary colors of light, which can photosensitize and cure three types of different microcapsules 82 contained in the microcapsule paper 52. (Light emitting diode). Light emitted from each of the light emitting elements is properly spot-irradiated to an arbitrary position of the microcapsule paper 52 on the exposure table 17 on the mask 95 provided so as to face these light emitting elements 91, 92, 93. Pinhole 97 is arranged. The mask holding member 96 holds the mask 95 at an accurate position on the substrate 94 and, at the same time, prevents light emitted from the light emitting elements 91, 92, 93 from leaking from places other than the pinhole 97 of the mask 95. .

The exposure head 15 is mounted on the carriage 23
The LED is independently modulated and driven according to image information while moving and scanning in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the carriage 23, so that light of a predetermined center wavelength is output at a predetermined light power at a predetermined light power. A latent image of a color image can be formed by supplying the image to a predetermined place for a time.

Next, the operation of the printer 1 will be described.

First, when the user sets the light-shielding cassette 50 in the printer 1 and turns on a power switch (not shown), the pre-heater 21 and the post-heater 29 are energized to a predetermined temperature.

Thereafter, a print start command signal is input together with image data (RGB data) of an image to be output from a host computer (not shown) connected to the printer 1. The image data is supplied as data in a two-dimensional bitmap format, and includes information indicating the density of each of the RGB components for each pixel. The image data is separated into R image data, G image data, and B image data. And stored in the buffer of the RAM.

The CPU (not shown) of the printer 1
In response to the print start command signal from the host computer, the paper feed roller 10 is rotated to take out the microcapsule papers 52 one by one from the light-shielding cassette 50, (Left side in the figure), is moved onto the exposure table 17 below the exposure head 15, and printing is started.

The exposure method of the microcapsule paper 52 by the exposure head 15 will be described.
Focusing on one of the exposure points, the carriage 2
In synchronization with the movement of No. 3, the red LED 91 corresponding to the first pinhole 97 is controlled to be turned on according to the R image data, and the green LED 92 corresponding to the second pinhole 97 is controlled according to the G image data after a predetermined time has elapsed. The lighting is controlled, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the blue LED 93 corresponding to the third pinhole 97 is controlled to be turned on in accordance with the B image data. This exposure control is performed for all the exposure points on one exposure line.

The microcapsule paper 52 which has been exposed one by one from the first to third pinhole rows in this manner is sent to the pressure developing means 25 by the feed roller means 19, and is subjected to pressure development. It is done. At this time, since the exposed microcapsules 82 are sufficiently cured by photosensitization, only the microcapsules 82 that have not been exposed and are not photocured are destroyed by pressure development, and self-coloring is performed.

The microcapsule paper 52 developed by pressure by the pressure developing means 25 is heated to about 60 to 80 ° C. by the post heater 29. This is done in order to finally cure the color image by completely curing the microcapsules 82 and enclosing the dye precursor in the capsules. Then, the microcapsule paper 5
2 is discharged to a discharge section 33 formed in the upper part of the casing 3, and the image forming process by the printer 1 is completed.

Next, as described above, the casing 3 is constituted by the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 as a plurality of covering members being detachably fixedly connected to each other.
Details of the fixing structure of the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

At the front end (right side in the figure) of the lower cover 5 as one covering member constituting the casing 3, a first cover is provided.
Is formed on the upper cover 7 as another covering member coupled to the lower cover 5. A second engaging member 7 a capable of engaging with the first engaging member 5 a is provided on the upper cover 7. And these constitute a connecting means of the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7.

The first engaging member 5a has a size corresponding to the end face of the light-shielding cassette 50, and has an opening 5b having a rectangular cross section in a longitudinal section so as to surround the light-shielding cassette 50 to be inserted. A groove 5c for receiving the second engagement member 7a is formed in the middle of the groove 5c. Like the first engaging member 5a, the second engaging member 7a has a size corresponding to the end face of the light-shielding cassette 50, and has a longitudinal section so as to surround the inserted light-shielding cassette 50. Is formed so that a rectangular opening 7b is formed, and a tip end thereof can be brought into contact with and engaged with the bottom of the groove 5c.

Therefore, the upper cover 7 is connected to the lower cover 5
When the second cover 7a and the first cover 5a are attached to the predetermined position, the upper cover 7 and the lower cover 5 can be connected to each other by the engagement of the second engagement member 7a and the first engagement member 5a. In this state, the opening 5b of the first engaging member 5a and the opening 7b of the second engaging member 7a communicate with each other, and the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted integrally. Insertion slot 3
a.

When the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted into the thus-formed insertion opening 3a, the opening 5b of the first engaging member 5a and the opening 7b of the second engaging member 7a are engaged. Since the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted so as to skew, the upper cover 7 can no longer be removed even if the screws for fixing the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 are removed as described above. Therefore, by inserting the light-shielding cassette 50 into the insertion slot 3a, the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 are unopenably coupled via the inserted light-shielding cassette 50, and the first engagement member 5a And the engagement state of the second engagement member 7a is maintained.

The operation of the printer 1 having the above-described structure for fixing the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 will now be described.
If it becomes necessary to remove the microcapsule paper 52 due to clogging of the cartridge 2, the light-shielding cassette 50 is first removed from the insertion slot 3a of the printer 1, and then the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7 are fixed. Screw (not shown) is removed, and the upper cover 7 is opened. In this manner, the transport path in the printer 1 is opened, and the microcapsule paper 52 jammed inside can be easily taken out.

In such a case, if the user attempts to open the upper cover 7 by removing the screw without removing the light-shielding cassette 50 from the insertion slot 3a, the engaged first engaging member 5a The light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted so as to skew the opening 5b of the second engaging member 7a and the opening 7b of the second engaging member 7a. The other microcapsule paper 52 stored in the cassette 50 is not exposed and becomes unusable.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that among the components of the printer 1A according to the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals,
A detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 6 shows a light-shielding cassette 5.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing the printer 1A in a state where the light-shielding cassette 50 is mounted, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing the printer 1A in a state where the light-shielding cassette 50 is mounted.

In the figure, a casing 3 comprises a lower cover 5, an upper cover 7 and a cover 1 as a plurality of covering members.
01. The opening / closing cover 101 is arranged at the upper center of the upper cover 7, and is rotatably attached to the upper cover 7 by a hinge 103. When the opening / closing cover 101 is opened, the transport path of the microcapsule paper 52 in the printer 1 is exposed. In addition, the front end of the lower surface of the opening / closing cover 101 (right side in the figure)
Is formed with a protrusion 105 as a locking member for locking a hook 107 described later.

A moving member moved by the light-shielding cassette 50 by inserting the light-shielding cassette 50 into the insertion opening 3a inside the lower cover 5 as one of the plurality of covering members. Hook 1 as
07 is provided. The hook 107 has an upper end formed as an inverted L-shaped engaging portion 109 for engaging the projection 105 and a lower end pressed by the light-shielding cassette 52 inserted into the insertion opening 3a. The cam portion 113 is rotatably supported by a shaft 108 at a central portion thereof.

In the state where the opening / closing cover 101 is closed and the internal elements of the printer 1 are covered, the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted into the insertion port 3 at the upper end of the hook 107.
A spring 111 is attached as a holding means for holding the hook 107 at a position where the hook 107 is not locked to the projection 105 of the opening / closing cover 101 when not inserted into the opening a. Therefore, when the light-shielding cassette 50 is not inserted into the insertion opening 3a, the opening / closing cover 101 can be opened.

In the state where the opening / closing cover 101 is closed and the internal elements of the printer 1 are covered,
When the light-shielding cassette 50 is inserted into the insertion slot 3a, the cam portion 113 of the hook 107 facing the insertion slot 3a is pressed, and the hook 107 rotates clockwise about the shaft 108. Then, the locking portion 109 of the rotated hook 107 is locked by the projection 105 of the opening / closing cover 101, and the opening / closing cover 101 is maintained in a closed state. In this manner, the lower cover 5 is coupled with the opening / closing cover 101 as another covering member of the plurality of covering members. In this embodiment, the hook 107 provided on the lower cover 5 is provided.
And the protrusion 105 provided on the opening / closing cover 101 constitute the connecting means.

Therefore, the printer 1 according to the second embodiment
According to A, when it becomes necessary to remove the microcapsule paper 52 because the microcapsule paper 52 is clogged inside the printer 1A, as in the first embodiment,
There is no need to remove the screws (not shown) that secure the lower cover 5 and the upper cover 7. The microcapsule paper jammed inside the printer 1 is opened only by opening the open / close cover 101. 52 can be easily taken out.

Of course, even in such a case, even if the user tries to open the cover 101 without removing the light-shielding cassette 50 from the insertion slot 3a, the cover 1
01 locks the hook 107 rotated by the light-shielding cassette 50,
The light-shielding cassette 5 is not accidentally opened.
There is no possibility that the other microcapsule paper 52 stored in the cartridge 0 is exposed to light and becomes unusable.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment at all, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the pressure developing rollers 26 and 27 that are in line contact
However, a point contact ball or a pressure roller that makes a point contact may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, LEDs are used as the light emitting elements 91, 92, 93, but other EL light emitting elements, plasma light emitting elements, laser light emitting elements and the like may be used. The light emitting element can be selected from various wavelengths in accordance with the sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive recording medium as well as red, green and blue. For example, infrared light, red and green may be used, or far infrared light, near infrared light and red may be used.
Further, ultraviolet rays or far ultraviolet rays may be used. Further, the number of colors of the light emitting elements is not limited to three colors of red, green and blue, but may be one or two colors, or four or more of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black as in a normal color printer. May be used.

[0073]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to claim 1 of the present invention, in particular, the housing of the printer has an insertion slot into which the light-shielding cassette is inserted, and at least one of the internal elements of the printer. It is composed of a plurality of covering members that cover the portion so as to be openable to the outside, and is provided with a coupling unit that couples the plurality of covering members so that they cannot be opened by inserting the light-shielding cassette into the insertion slot.
Even if the photosensitive recording medium needs to be removed because the photosensitive recording medium is jammed inside the printer, the user accidentally opens the cover without removing the light-shielding cassette and stores it in the light-shielding cassette. There is no possibility that the other photosensitive recording medium is exposed to light and becomes unusable.

Further, according to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to the second aspect, in particular, the connecting means includes a first engaging member provided on one of the plurality of covering members, A second covering member provided on another covering member coupled to one covering member and capable of engaging with the first engaging member;
By inserting the light-shielding cassette into the insertion slot, the engagement state between the first engagement member and the second engagement member is maintained via the light-shielding cassette. Therefore, even if it becomes necessary to remove the photosensitive recording medium due to clogging of the photosensitive recording medium inside the printer, the user may accidentally open the cover without removing the light-shielding cassette. This prevents the other photosensitive recording medium stored in the light-shielding cassette from being exposed to light and becoming unusable.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to the third aspect, in particular, the connecting means is provided on one of the plurality of covering members, and the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the inserting member. The moving member is provided on a moving member that is moved by the light-shielding cassette by being inserted into the mouth and another covering member that is coupled to the one covering member, and the moving member moves in a covering state of each covering member. Therefore, when the photosensitive recording medium needs to be removed due to the clogging of the photosensitive recording medium inside the printer or the like, only the cover is opened. , The transport path in the printer is opened, the photosensitive recording medium jammed inside can be easily removed, and the user does not remove the light-shielding cassette. Or accidentally cause by opening the cover,
The other photosensitive recording medium stored in the light-shielding cassette is not exposed to light and becomes unusable.

According to the printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to claim 4, the moving member is not particularly inserted in the insertion slot when the light-shielding cassette is not inserted into the insertion slot in a state of being covered by each of the coating members. Since the moving member is held in the non-locking position with respect to the locking member when the light-shielding cassette is not inserted, the moving member is held in the non-locking position with respect to the locking member. The covering member can be opened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a light-shielding cassette is not mounted.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the printer in a state where a light-shielding cassette is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the printer in a state where a light-shielding cassette is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a microcapsule paper as a photosensitive recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an exposure head provided in the printer.

FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment of the present invention, and is a side view showing the printer in a state where the light-shielding cassette is not mounted.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the printer with the light-shielding cassette mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 3 Casing 3a Insertion opening 5 Lower cover 5a 1st engaging member 7 Upper cover 7a 2nd engaging member 50 Light shielding cassette 52 Microcapsule paper 101 Opening / closing cover 105 Projection 107 Hook 111 Spring

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer for forming an image by using a photosensitive recording medium stored in a light-shielding cassette, wherein the housing of the printer has an insertion opening into which the light-shielding cassette is inserted, and an inside of the printer. A plurality of covering members for covering at least a part of the elements so as to be openable to the outside; and a connecting means for connecting the plurality of covering members so that they cannot be opened by inserting the light-shielding cassette into the insertion opening. A printer using a photosensitive recording medium. 2. The connecting means is provided on a first engaging member provided on one covering member of the plurality of covering members, and on another covering member connected to the one covering member, and A second engagement member capable of engaging with the first engagement member, wherein the light-shielding cassette is inserted into the insertion opening, and the first light-shielding cassette and the first engagement member are inserted through the light-shielding cassette. The printer using a photosensitive recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to maintain an engagement state with the second engagement member. 3. A moving member provided on one of the plurality of covering members and being moved by the light-shielding cassette by inserting the light-shielding cassette into the insertion slot; A locking member provided on another coating member coupled to the one coating member and locking the moving member by moving the moving member in a state of being covered by each coating member. A printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A holding means for holding the moving member at a non-locking position with respect to the locking member when the light-shielding cassette is not inserted into the insertion slot in a state of being covered by each of the coating members. A printer using the photosensitive recording medium according to claim 3.