JPH11149129A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image recorder capable of improving the throughput of a developing device and capable of drastically improving the productivity by successively distributing the exposed photosensitive material to plural exit side carrying rows which are orthogonal to the photosensitive material carrying direction. SOLUTION: It is detected by an optional sensor that the photosensitive material Z is fed up to the prescribed position of a distributing device 18, then, a horizontal driving roller 116 is rotated, and a pair of upper and lower spheres 100 is rotated in the horizontal direction so as to feed the photosensitive material Z in a horizontal direction and to move the material Z to the prescribed row. The materials Z arranged in the prescribed plural rows are carried in the carrying direction, and then, fed out through the distributing device 18. That is, even though the device is easily and simply constituted, the sheet-like exposed photosensitive materials Z carried in a single row are efficiently distributed into multiple rows so as to be inserted into the developing device. Thus, the miniaturization of the developing device is attained and the throughput of the device is drastically improved without making the device large in size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of an image recording apparatus for recording a digital image and an analog image on a cut sheet photosensitive material.

[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 (printing paper) in the 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 then back printing is performed. In the developing machine, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process and the like, so that an image photographed on a film is reproduced.

By the way, not only such a digital photo printer, but also a printing device of a photo printer by ordinary direct exposure, an unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape and stored in a light-shielding housing, and a magazine is used. The magazine is loaded into a printing apparatus together with the magazine, pulled out of the magazine, transported, and subjected to exposure and the like. Here, in a normal photo printer, the photosensitive material is not cut in the middle, and after exposing, backprinting, developing, drying, etc. in a long length, the photosensitive material is finally cut to a predetermined length. One print.

However, in the photo printer that cuts the photosensitive material last, before or at the time of exposing the photosensitive material, frame information (punch) for indicating a boundary of each frame (for each print) is formed. There is a need to. Therefore, the photosensitive material in the portion 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 (number of frames) of the photosensitive material in the loop and the timing of exposure, become complicated, the apparatus becomes large, and the cost of the apparatus and the running cost rise. Is the cause.

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. However, at present, a digital printing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a cut sheet type image recording apparatus) for performing exposure after forming a photosensitive material into a cut sheet has not been realized yet.

[0010]

By the way, in a general silver halide photographic light-sensitive material used for photographic printing, development processing and exposure require more time for development processing, so that continuous exposure is performed. And development processing cannot be done in time. For this reason, in order to improve the productivity of the entire apparatus, it is not enough to shorten the image recording time and to improve the conveying speed of the photosensitive material on the exposure side. It is necessary to improve it more than this.

However, even if the processing speed of the developing apparatus is improved, a certain processing time must be secured for developing the photosensitive material, and as a result, the processing tank must be long. However, the number of transport rollers also increases. For this reason, even if a cut sheet type image recording apparatus is adopted to reduce the size of the apparatus and reduce the cost of the apparatus and the running cost, as a result, the entire apparatus including the development processing apparatus will have a sufficient result. Miniaturization,
There is a problem that the cost cannot be reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus for performing digital exposure or analog exposure (surface exposure or slit scanning exposure) after forming a photosensitive material into a cut sheet, wherein the cut sheet has been efficiently exposed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of improving the processing capacity of a development processing apparatus by allocating materials in a plurality of rows and greatly improving productivity.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention cuts a roll-shaped long photosensitive material into a predetermined length, and conveys the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length. An image recording apparatus for exposing an image at a predetermined recording position and discharging the image to a next processing apparatus, wherein the image recording apparatus is disposed downstream of the recording position in a transport direction, and sequentially moves the exposed photosensitive material in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. And a sorting device that sorts a set of upper and lower pairs of spheres and a set of upper and lower pairs of spheres that are arranged to face each other in a matrix. A conveying direction driving roller for rotating at least one of the pair of upper and lower spheres in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material and a driving source thereof, and at least one or the other sphere of the pair of upper and lower spheres Before A lateral driving roller for rotating in the lateral direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, a driving source for the roller, and respective spheres rotatably held at predetermined positions to urge the pair of upper and lower spheres toward each other. And an upper and lower frame.

The drive source of the transport direction drive roller and the drive source of the lateral drive roller are a transport direction drive motor and a lateral drive motor, respectively. And are preferably driven in conjunction with each other by a single drive motor. It is preferable that the upper and lower pairs of spheres arranged in a matrix are arranged at a distance such that at least two sets of spheres always sandwich the smallest photosensitive material. . The pair of upper and lower spheres, the transport direction driving roller and the lateral direction driving roller are each formed of a combination of materials having a high coefficient of friction, and at least one of the pair of spheres and the driving roller is elastic. It is preferably formed of a body.

[0015]

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 for performing digital exposure to which the present invention is applied. The image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a recording apparatus 10) cuts into a cut sheet by cutting into a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material, and then performs back printing (back printing). And a device that performs digital exposure and supplies the exposed photosensitive material Z to a developing machine (processor), and includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a back print unit 14, a recording unit 52, and a sorting device 18. Although not shown in order to clarify the basic configuration of the apparatus, the recording apparatus 10 includes a conveyance unit such as a conveyance roller, a conveyance guide for the photosensitive material Z, a sensor for detecting the photosensitive material, and the like. Various members arranged in a known image recording apparatus are arranged as necessary. Here, the interval between the conveying rollers provided as the conveying means is set smaller than the minimum length of the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z after cutting so as not to hinder the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z.

The photosensitive material supply section 12 has magazines 20 and 2 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape with the emulsion surface (photosensitive surface) outside is housed in a light-shielding housing.
The loading unit 54 is loaded with the drawer roller pair 24, the loading unit 56 is loaded with the drawer roller pair 26, and the loading unit 54 is loaded with the cutter 28a. The cutter 28b corresponding to the part 56
Are disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the pull-out roller pairs 24 and 26, respectively. As shown in FIG.
0, the loading section 56 is disposed below the loading section 54, and the recording position X is located above. Therefore, the back print section 14 (recording position) disposed above the cutters 28a, 28b corresponding to the loading section 56, respectively. The distance to X) is different. That is, the cut buffers described below corresponding to the cutter 28a and the cutter 28b have different distances from each other.

The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus capable of loading two magazines 20 and 22. Both apparatuses generally have a size (width), a surface type (silk or mat, etc.), and a specification (thickness, base type, etc.). ), Etc., are stored. In the recording device 10 of the present invention, the number of magazines that can be loaded is not limited to two in the illustrated example, and may be one, or three or more magazines may be loaded. Is also good.

In such a photosensitive material supply section 12, the corresponding roll of photosensitive material Z of the magazine is drawn out by the drawer roller pairs 24 and 26, and is conveyed downstream. This conveyance stops when the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutting edge positions of the cutters 28a and 28b has a length corresponding to the size of the image to be recorded, and then the cutters 28a and 28b operate. Thus, the photosensitive material Z is formed into a cut sheet having a predetermined length.

The recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with cutters 28a and 28b for each of the two magazines 20 and 22, and the photosensitive material Z drawn from these magazines is separated by separate cutters 28a and 28b, respectively. Although the cutting is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cutting may be performed by one common cutter.
The sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z pulled out from the photosensitive material supply unit 12 in this manner and cut is supplied to the back print unit 14.
Transported to

The back print section 14 includes a photographing date, a print printing date, a frame number, a film ID number (sign), and an ID of a camera used for photographing on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the sheet-like photosensitive material Z. It is a part for performing various kinds of information such as a number and a photo printer ID number, so-called back print (back print). Such a back print unit 14
For example, a dot impact printer system printer 58 as a contact-type printing device records back prints on a photosensitive material Z that is guided and conveyed by a guide 60. The back print recording method (printer) is as follows. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various back print recording methods used in known photo printers such as an ink jet printer and a thermal transfer printer can be used. In addition, the back print unit 14 is provided with a new photo system (Advan
(ced Photo System), it is preferable to print two or more lines.

The back print section 14 can be arranged at any position in the transport path, and is not particularly limited. When the back print section 14 is arranged downstream of the sorting apparatus 18 in the transport direction, the number of the back print sections 14 depends on the sorting row. Since it is necessary to provide a back printer, it is preferable to arrange the printer upstream of the sorting device 18 in the transport direction. Further, it is preferable to arrange the back print unit 14 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording unit 52. In this case, the photosensitive material supply unit 12 and the cutter 2
8a, 28b, the recording section 52 and the empty space formed by the transport path interposed therebetween can be effectively used,
The transport path on the downstream side of the recording unit 52 is simplified, and space can be saved. The photosensitive material Z cut to a predetermined length and back-printed in this manner is then transported to the recording unit 52 (sub-scan transport unit 62).

The recording section 52 includes an exposure optical unit (hereinafter, referred to as an exposure optical unit).
Exposure unit 16) and sub-scanning conveyance means 62. In the illustrated example, the exposure unit 16
Is recorded in accordance with digital image data while scanning and transporting the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z, and a main scanning direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1) orthogonal to the scanning and transporting direction by the sub-scanning and transporting means 62. The light beam deflected to the recording light L
The exposure is performed by so-called digital scanning exposure in which the photosensitive material Z is exposed at a recording (exposure) position X.

The exposure unit 16 is an optical unit for performing such digital exposure.
A light source that emits light beams corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure, and an AOM that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data Modulation means such as an acousto-optic modulator), an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror which deflects the modulated light beam in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction, and a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a recording position X. This is a known light beam scanning device that includes an fθ (scanning) lens or the like that forms an image at a predetermined position on a (scanning line) with a predetermined beam system.

The exposure unit 16 is not limited to such a light beam scanning device, but is a digital exposure means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation element arrays extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction. Are available. Specifically, a PDP (plasma display) array, an ELD (electroluminescent display) array, an LED (light emitting diode) array, an LCD (liquid crystal display) array, a DMD (digital micromirror device) array, a digital using a laser array, or the like. Exposure means is exemplified.

The sub-scanning conveying means 62 has a pair of conveying rollers 64 and 66 disposed so as to sandwich the recording position X (scanning line), and an exposure conveying guide 68. While holding the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z at the recording position X, the photosensitive material Z is transported by the transport 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.

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. Specifically, in addition to the scanning and conveying means using a pair of conveying rollers disposed so as to sandwich the recording position X (scanning line), an exposure drum for conveying the photosensitive material Z while holding it at the recording position X; Scanning and conveying means using two nip rollers abutting on the exposure drum across the recording position X, scanning and conveying means including an endless belt and two nip rollers, and scanning and conveying means including only an endless belt are preferably exemplified. . The photosensitive material exposed in this way is conveyed to the sorting device 18 via a post-exposure buffer (also serving as a pre-sorting buffer) described later.

The sorting device 18 sorts the cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z in a direction orthogonal 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 light-sensitive materials used for photo printing, development processing and exposure require more time for development processing. Requires a long treatment tank. The sorting device 18 is arranged to solve this inconvenience. The sorting device 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction and divides the photosensitive material Z into a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction, thereby improving the processing capability of the developing device, for example, With two rows, it is possible to perform processing less than twice that of a single row, and with three rows, it is possible to perform processing that is slightly less than three times, and to reduce the processing time difference between development processing and exposure to shorten the length of the processing tank. Is what you do.

Hereinafter, the sorting device used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) and FIG.
A specific description will be given with reference to the drawings of the sorting device 18 illustrated in (a) and (b). 2 is a plan view showing an example of the sorting device 18, FIG. 3 is a front view thereof, FIG. 4 (c) is a left side view thereof, FIG. 6 (a) is a sectional view taken along the arrow A in FIG.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6B, the sorting device 18 of the present embodiment is
A pair of upper and lower spheres, each of which is composed of 0 and lower spheres 102, sandwiches a cut sheet-shaped exposed photosensitive material Z,
The photosensitive material Z is transported in an arbitrary direction by rotating the upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 102. The upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 102 are rotatably supported by support members 108 and 110 provided on the upper guide plate 104 and the lower guide plate 106, respectively.
06 are arranged so as to face each other through through holes 112 and 114 provided in a pair of upper and lower spheres.

A pair of upper and lower spheres composed of an upper sphere 100 and a lower sphere 102 are arranged in a matrix on an upper guide plate 104 and a lower guide plate 106 as shown in FIG. And 102, spheres 100 and 102 include transport direction drive rollers 116 and 118 for transporting the photosensitive material Z in the transport direction and lateral drive rollers 120 and 122 for transporting the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction.
Is provided in contact with the outer periphery of the.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 6A and 6B, a transport direction drive roller 116 for rotating the spheres 100 and 102 in the direction of transporting the sheet-like photosensitive material Z in the transport direction. , 118 are arranged so as to be in contact with the spheres 100, 102 from the side (left side in the embodiment of FIG. 2), and the lateral driving rollers 120, 122 for rotating in the direction of transport in the lateral direction include the upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 100. Side sphere 1
The upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 102 are rotatably supported by support members 108 and 110 in which small balls 128 and 130 are accommodated in three small ball receivers 124 and 126, respectively. It has a structure.

In this structure, the transport direction driving roller 11
6 and 118 are disposed so as to be in contact with the spheres 100 and 102 from the side with respect to the upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 102, so that when the transport direction driving rollers 116 and 118 rotate, the spheres 100 and 102 are supported by the support members 108, 110
, But the lateral drive rollers 120, 122 may be pushed out of the upper sphere 100 and the lower sphere 10.
2 are arranged from above and below, the spheres 100 and 102 are not pushed out of the support members 108 and 110 by the rotational force from the side surfaces of the lateral drive rollers 120 and 122.

Of course, the transport direction driving rollers 116, 1
There is no problem if the arrangement of the horizontal spheres 18 and the lateral drive rollers 120 and 122 is reversed, or the upper sphere 100 is driven only by the transport direction drive roller 116 in the transport direction, and the lower sphere 10 is driven.
One of the spheres may be driven so that 2 is driven only in the horizontal direction by the lateral drive roller 122, and the other sphere may be driven via the photosensitive material Z. However, also in this case, the driving rollers 116, 116 are so arranged that the spheres 100, 102 are not pushed out of the support members 108, 110.
It is necessary to arrange so that 122 is sandwiched from above and below. Of course, it is not necessary to accurately arrange the drive rollers 116 and 120 so as to sandwich them from above and below, and there is no problem if the spheres 100 and 102 are offset by an arbitrary angle within a range where they are not pushed out of the support members 108 and 110. In addition,
The rotational drive of the spheres 100, 102 is not limited to the one by the transport direction drive rollers 116, 118 and the lateral drive rollers 120, 122, and the other is to rotate the spheres 100, 102 by any other rotating means. Of course, it may be.

The support members 108 and 110 of this embodiment
Is an example and is not limited to this structure. The driving roller 116, 122 (or 120)
If it is possible to reliably press and rotate 0 and 102, then there is not much need for accuracy.
Small ball receivers 124 and 12 formed by molding a part of 106
6, the small balls 128, 130 may be stored and supported, or the drive rollers may be limited to the upper transport direction drive roller 116 and the lateral direction drive roller 120 so that the lower sphere 102 is driven via the photosensitive material Z. Fig. 7
As illustrated in (a) and (b), the lower support member 11
For 0, any rotation supporting method such as rotatably supporting the sphere 102 can be adopted.

It is essential that the spheres 100 and 102 be made of a material that is lightweight and does not affect the photosensitive material Z, and it is desirable to use hollow plastic spheres whose surfaces are finished smoothly. Further, in order to widen the contact surface with the photosensitive material Z, it is desirable to employ an elastic body having a moderate elasticity. Further, the driving rollers 116, 118, 120,
It is desirable to combine a material having a high coefficient of friction so that slip does not occur between the spheres 100 and 102, and drive rollers 116, 118, 120 and 122 so that the contact area is sufficiently large. Alternatively, it is desirable that one or both of the spheres 100 and 102 have appropriate elasticity. Therefore, the driving roller 11
For 6, 118, 120 and 122, elastic rollers made of plastic, rubber or the like are preferably used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the transport direction drive rollers 116 and 118 and the lateral direction drive rollers 120 and 122 have the same diameter gears 132 and 134, intermediate gears 136 and 138, and same diameter gears 1140, respectively. , 142
And drive gears 148, 150 and 152, 154 of the same diameter by a train of intermediate gears 144, 146. The drive gears 148 and 150, 152 and 154 mesh with each other, and the drive gears 150 and 154 Are fixed to the rotating shafts of the motors 156 and 158, respectively.
By the rotation of the motors 156 and 158, the transport direction drive rollers 116 and 118 and the lateral drive rollers 120 and 122 are independently driven in the transport direction and the lateral direction, respectively. The transport direction drive rollers 116, 118 and the lateral direction drive rollers 120, 12
2 is not limited to the wheel train, and as shown in FIG.
Any connecting means such as the connecting means using 62 can be used. However, in order to prevent tension and wrinkles from occurring in the photosensitive material Z to be conveyed due to variations in the rotation angles of the spheres, the photosensitive materials Z are connected by a non-slip connecting means such as a gear, a timing belt, etc. It is desirable that each is driven by a single drive source (motor) and all the spheres rotate synchronously at the same rotation angle.

The upper guide plate 104, the upper sphere 100, the upper transport direction drive roller 116 and the lateral drive roller 1
20 are provided on the upper frame 164, and the lower guide plate 106 and the lower sphere 102, the lower transport roller 118 and the lateral drive roller 122, the drive motor 1
56, 158, etc. are provided on the lower frame 166.
The lower frame 166 is fixed to the base 168. The upper frame 164 is guided by a guide means (not shown) so as to be accessible at a predetermined position of the lower frame 166, and faces the lower sphere 102 of the lower frame 166. The upper sphere 100 is biased by biasing means such as a spring 170 so as to approach the upper sphere 100. Upper frame 164
However, when the weight is configured to provide an appropriate urging force toward the lower frame 166, the own weight of the upper frame 164 may be employed as the urging means. In this case, the upper frame 164 can be easily opened and closed, and it becomes easy to open the upper frame 164 during maintenance or repair.

The sorting device 18 of this embodiment is configured to rearrange the conveyed photosensitive materials Z into three conveyed rows. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the width of the sorting device 18 is three times the width of the conventional transport row. It is clear that the number of the transport rows can be set to an arbitrary plurality, and the sorting apparatus 1
By simply changing the width of 8, an arbitrary number of transfer rows can be formed.

The distance between a pair of adjacent spheres is set to a minimum value so that the direction of the photosensitive material Z does not change when the sheet-like photosensitive material Z is conveyed by the sorting device 18. It is desirable that the material Z is always arranged at intervals so as to be sandwiched between at least three pairs of spheres. As is clear from FIG. 2, the sorting device 18 according to the present embodiment is configured so as to be always clamped by at least four pairs of spherical bodies.

Since the sorting device 18 that can be used in the present invention is configured as described above, the photosensitive material Z transported by the following operation is rearranged into three transport rows. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z that has been subjected to predetermined exposure by the exposure unit 16 is transported by a transport roller pair 84 and inserted into the sorting device 18. At this time, the photosensitive material Z is inserted between a pair of upper and lower spheres 100 and 102 arranged in a matrix from the left side of the sorting device 18 as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. Are inserted into the sorting device 18 by rotating in the transport direction. It is desirable that the transport speed of the photosensitive material Z in the transport direction in the sorting device 18 is the same as the transport speed of the transport roller 84. However, when a different transport speed is required, an optional sensor (however, , The optical sensor cannot be used. The same applies to the following), the detection of the insertion of the photosensitive material Z into the sorting device 18 cancels the conveyance by the conveyance roller 84, and a pair of upper and lower spheres is set. The photosensitive material Z is rotated by the rotation of 100 and 102 in the transport direction.
Is transported in the transport direction.

The photosensitive material Z is transported in the transporting direction in the sorting device 18 by a pair of upper and lower spheres 100 and 102 of the sorting device 18 in the transport direction driving rollers 116 and 118.
Alternatively, the lateral drive rollers 120 and 122 are
6, 158, and the pair of upper and lower spheres 100, 102 is rotated in the transport direction, the horizontal direction, or a composite direction thereof.

Next, when an arbitrary sensor detects that the photosensitive material Z has been sent to a predetermined position of the sorting device 18, the lateral driving rollers 116 and 118 rotate, and
The pair of spherical bodies 100 and 102 rotate in the horizontal direction to transport the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction, and move the photosensitive material Z to a predetermined row. The movement of the photosensitive material Z to a predetermined row is performed by moving the photosensitive material Z upward or downward in FIG. 2 by rotating the motor 158 for driving the lateral drive rollers 116 and 118 forward or backward. Done. At this time, as described as a lower transport path in FIG. 2, the transport of the photosensitive material Z in the transport direction is stopped, and the photosensitive material Z is transported only to the predetermined row in the horizontal direction, and then transported in the transport direction. The photosensitive material Z may be arranged in a plurality of rows (three rows), or as described as the upper transport path.
The transport in the transport direction may not be stopped, and may be transported in the horizontal direction at the same time and arranged in a plurality of rows (three rows). However, in order to send the photosensitive materials Z arranged in a plurality of rows at equal intervals, the photosensitive material Z is always moved at a constant speed in the transport direction. It is desirable to adopt a method in which the sheets are simultaneously conveyed in the horizontal direction without stopping and arranged in a plurality of rows.

The photosensitive materials Z arranged in a predetermined plurality of rows are:
It is conveyed in the conveying direction and sent out from the sorting device 18. The photosensitive material Z sent out from the sorting device 18 is sent out to a buffer (not shown) by the pair of transport rollers 86, and the speed of the buffer is reduced to approximately 1/3 in this buffer. As a result, the photosensitive materials Z are rearranged at a predetermined pitch in which the mutual positions are close to each other also in the transport direction, and are almost １ ／.
Is supplied to the photosensitive material processing device 72 at the transport speed of. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive materials Z inserted in the sorting device are rearranged in three rows. However, as described above, it is obvious that the photosensitive materials Z can be arbitrarily arranged in a plurality of rows. . At this time, it is apparent that the feed speed supplied to the photosensitive material processing device 72 is 1 / plural rows.

The photosensitive material Z is placed on a pair of upper and lower spheres 100,
102, and this set of spheres is rotated so that the photosensitive material Z
Therefore, it is expected that the direction of the photosensitive material Z changes. However, if the photographic material Z is always held between at least two sets of spheres, it always has two or more support points, and the photosensitive material Z can be stably conveyed without changing its direction. In this embodiment, the photosensitive material Z is always held between at least four sets of spheres, so that the photosensitive material Z can be transported in the transport direction, the lateral direction, or the composite direction thereof.
Does not change direction.

As described above, the sheet-like photosensitive material Z
Are distributed in a direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the conveying direction, are arranged in a plurality of rows overlapping in the conveying direction, and are then conveyed to the photosensitive material processing device 72 by the conveying roller pair 70, and are colored according to the photosensitive material Z. Each process such as development, bleach-fix and washing with water is performed, dried and printed.

The recording apparatus 10 of the present invention basically has the above-mentioned components. Here, each cutter 2
In order to realize the proper operation of each component such as the recording devices 8a and 28b and the recording means, it is preferable to exclude the influence of the operation of the other components. It is preferable to provide a transport area for basically moving only the photosensitive material Z, that is, a buffer, upstream and downstream of each component.

More specifically, the cutting of the rolled photosensitive material Z by the cutters 28a and 28b needs to be stopped and stopped, and if any load is applied to the photosensitive material at the time of cutting, the photosensitive material Z is cut. In some cases, the cutting length may change. Therefore, downstream of the cutters 28a and 28b,
It is possible to stop the transportation of the photosensitive material Z to be cut,
It is preferable to provide a cut buffer for separating other components that cause a load change on the photosensitive material Z.

In addition, fluctuations in the speed of scanning and transporting the photosensitive material Z during scanning (unevenness in scanning and transporting) lead to uneven streaks of the recorded image.
It is necessary to avoid the load from fluctuating in the scanning and conveying of the photosensitive material Z during the exposure due to the stop of the scanning and conveying during recording, the recording of the back print, the cutting of the photosensitive material and the like. for that reason,
It is preferable to provide a pre-exposure buffer for separating components affecting the scanning and transport of the photosensitive material Z upstream of the recording position X, and a similar post-exposure buffer downstream thereof.

Further, the device in the illustrated example is a sorting device 1
As described above, a pre-distribution buffer for separating the distributing device and other components is provided upstream of the distributing device 18, and a similar post-distribution buffer is provided downstream thereof, as described above. .

The transporting means in each buffer is not particularly limited, and any known transporting method for sheet materials such as a transporting roller pair, a nip belt, a belt conveyor, and a transporting means using a suction cup can be used. It is needless to say that various guides and positioning means may be provided as needed. Furthermore, if it is not necessary, it is not necessary to have a transporting means in the buffer. The transport means arranged in the pre-exposure buffer and the post-exposure buffer is required to have an accuracy and a configuration (for example, the formation of a loop to be described later) that does not cause a load variation in the scanning transport of the photosensitive material.

The length of each buffer is desirably set to be longer than the length corresponding to the length of the print of the maximum size targeted by the recording apparatus 10 in the transport direction. It is not preferable because the transport path of the photosensitive material Z becomes long, which leads to an increase in apparatus cost and a decrease in efficiency.

Here, the transport of the photosensitive material in the buffer does not need to be linear, but by forming a loop (flexure) of the photosensitive material Z in the buffer, the upstream and downstream components sandwiching the loop are formed. Material Z in Japan
It is also possible to prevent the load and the transfer of the photosensitive material Z from giving a load variation, thereby shortening the linear distance of the buffer, that is, the interval between portions sandwiching the buffer.

The recording apparatus of the present invention can be configured to have the above five buffers as described above. However, depending on the arrangement of each part, the back printer to be used, the sorting device, etc. By omitting it, the size of the device can be further reduced and the structure can be simplified.
For example, the pre-exposure buffer doubles as the cut buffer,
The pre-exposure buffer and the back print unit 14 may also serve as a cut buffer, or the post-exposure buffer may also serve as a pre-distribution buffer.

The illustrated example is an example of an image recording apparatus that performs digital exposure, but the present invention is also applicable to an image recording apparatus that performs analog exposure (for example, surface exposure and slit scanning exposure) as described above. Can be applied.

FIG. 4 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus for performing analog exposure (surface exposure) to which the present invention is applied. FIG.
Image recording apparatus 200 (hereinafter, recording apparatus 200)
) Is to cut a predetermined length corresponding to the print for producing a long photosensitive material into a cut sheet, and then perform back printing (back printing) and surface exposure, and convert the exposed photosensitive material Z to the photosensitive material. A device for supplying a processing device 272 (processor), which includes a photosensitive material supply unit 212 and a back print unit 2
14, a recording unit 252 and a sorting device 218.

The photosensitive material supply unit 212 is provided with a loading unit 254 for loading a magazine 220 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll is housed in a light-shielding housing. Photosensitive material supply unit 12 of image recording apparatus 10
And basically the same configuration. In addition, a cutter 228 is arranged close to the downstream side of the loading unit 254. Recorder 2
52 includes a light source unit 260, a reflection mirror 261, a negative carrier 262, a lens 264, a shutter 266, and the like. The light emitted from the light source unit 260 is bent by approximately 90 ° by the reflection mirror 261 and set on the negative carrier 262. Is transmitted through the exposed film, and the projection light is irradiated through the lens 264 onto the photosensitive material Z set at a predetermined exposure position for a time during which the shutter 266 is opened in accordance with the exposure density of the film. It is configured to perform surface exposure. In addition, color correction using color filters, ND
The exposure amount may be adjusted by a filter.

The back print section 214 performs back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material Z, and has basically the same configuration as the back print section 14 of the digital image recording apparatus 10. The distribution device 218 distributes the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction to form a plurality of rows, thereby improving the processing capability of the photosensitive material processing device 272 and canceling the processing time difference between the development processing and the exposure. The upper frame 264, the lower frame 266, the base 268, and a pair of upper and lower spheres provided on the upper frame 264 and the lower frame 266 and a driving source (not shown) for the digital image recording apparatus 10. The configuration is basically the same as that of the sorting device 18. Also, the photosensitive material processing device 272
Is a development processing apparatus for performing various processes such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water, and drying on the photosensitive material Z on which the latent image is formed, and basically includes a developing tank 290, a fixing tank 291, and a washing tank 2.
The developing unit 288 includes 92a, 292b, 292c, and 292d, a drying unit 294, and a sorter 296.

In such a recording apparatus 200, exposure of the photosensitive material Z is basically performed in the following manner. First, the photosensitive material Z is pulled out, and the cutter 228
The sheet is cut into a predetermined length to form a cut sheet. Next, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material Z is transported to the recording unit 252,
It is set at a predetermined exposure position. At this time, the shutter 266
Is closed. On the other hand, in the recording unit 252, when the film is set at a predetermined position by the negative carrier 262, light is emitted from the light source unit 260 to the film, and the projection light is transmitted through the lens 264 as shown in FIG.
Irradiation is performed on the photosensitive material Z for a time during which the shutter 266 is opened according to the exposure density of the film, and the photosensitive material Z is exposed.

The photosensitive material Z on which the exposure has been performed and the latent image has been formed is conveyed to the back print unit 214, where various information is back-printed, and then conveyed in the horizontal direction. Conveyed. Here, as described above, the photosensitive material Z is divided into two or three rows in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the transport direction, is arranged in a plurality of rows, and is transported to the photosensitive material processing device 272.

The photosensitive material Z conveyed to the photosensitive material processing device 272 in this manner is subjected to various processes such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing in a developing unit 288, and then to a drying unit 29.
At 4, the print is dried and discharged to a sorter 296. Also in this case, as in the case of the digital recording device 10, the photosensitive material Z is conveyed as a plurality of rows and is subjected to each of these processes. Therefore, the processing speed remains the same and the length of the processing tank is reduced. It is possible to reduce the size or to significantly improve the processing capacity.

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.

[0063]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the sheet-shaped exposed photosensitive material conveyed in a single line can be efficiently sorted into multiple lines, while having a simple apparatus configuration. , Can be put into a developing apparatus. Therefore,
Significant improvement in processing capacity without downsizing the processing unit or processing speed as before, without increasing the size. Specifically, in the case of two-row sorting, about twice as large, in the case of three-row sorting About three times the processing capacity can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a photosensitive material sorting device used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the sorting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic left side view of the sorting device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of another embodiment of the photosensitive material sorting device used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views of one embodiment of a photosensitive material sorting device used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A in FIG. 2, and FIG. B sectional views are shown.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the photosensitive material sorting device used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
(B) shows another embodiment of the support member of the lower sphere used in the sorting device, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10,200 Image recording device 12,212 Photosensitive material supply unit 14,214 Back printing unit 16 Exposure unit 18,218 Distributing device 20,22,220 Magazine 24,26 Pull-out roller pair 28a, 28b, 228 Cutter 52,252 Recording unit 54, 56, 254 Loading unit 58, 258 Printer 60 Guide 62 Sub-scanning conveying means 64, 66, 70, 84, 86 Conveying roller pair 68 Exposure conveying guide 72, 272 Photosensitive material processing device 90, 94 Drive source 92, 96 rotation Shaft 100 Upper sphere 102 Lower sphere 104 Upper guide plate 106 Lower guide plate 108, 110 Support member 112, 114 Through hole 116, 118 Transport direction drive roller 120, 122 Lateral drive roller 124, 126 Small ball receiver 128, 130 Small Spheres 132, 134, 1 0, 142 Gear 136, 138, 144, 146 Intermediate gear 148, 150, 152, 154 Driving gear 156, 158 Motor 160, 162 Timing belt 164, 264 Upper frame 166, 266 Lower frame 168, 268 Base 170 Spring 260 Light source Unit 261 Reflecting mirror 262 Negative carrier 264 Lens 266 Shutter 288 Developing unit 290 Developing tank 291 Fixing tank 292 Rinse tank 294 Drying unit 296 Sorter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A roll-shaped long photosensitive material is cut into a predetermined length, and then the photosensitive material cut into the predetermined length is conveyed and exposed to an image at a predetermined recording position. An image recording apparatus for discharging, comprising a sorting device arranged downstream of the recording position in the transport direction and sequentially sorting the exposed photosensitive material into a plurality of outgoing transport rows orthogonal to the transport direction. The sorting device is composed of upper and lower 1
A pair of spheres and the upper and lower pair of spheres are arranged in a matrix, and a transport direction driving roller for rotating at least one of the upper and lower pair of spheres in the transport direction of the photosensitive material; and A driving source, a lateral driving roller for rotating at least one or the other sphere of the pair of upper and lower spheres in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and a driving source for the sphere; And an upper and lower frame for rotatably holding the pair of upper and lower spheres so as to urge them so as to approach each other. 2. A drive source for the transport direction drive roller and a drive source for the lateral direction drive roller are a transport direction drive motor and a lateral direction drive motor, and the transport direction drive roller and the lateral direction drive roller are mutually connected. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatuses are connected to each other and driven by a single drive motor. 3. A pair of upper and lower pairs of spheres arranged in a matrix are arranged at an interval such that at least two or more sets of spheres are always sandwiched with respect to the smallest cut photosensitive material. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. A pair of upper and lower spheres, and said transport direction drive roller and said lateral drive roller are each formed of a combination of materials having a high coefficient of friction. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one is formed of an elastic body.