JPH11170609A - Image-recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an exposure time constant irrespective of a print size and improve quality of images by providing a detecting means for detecting the print size, and controlling a main scan speed in accordance with the detected print size and also a sub scan speed when transferring a photosensitive material in a sub scan direction. SOLUTION: A take-out roller pair 24 or 26 is driven in accordance with an instruction of a control computer 100 to draw out a photosensitive material of a length corresponding to a predetermined print size from a magazine 32 loaded at a load part 20, 22 and transferred. In the middle of the transfer, a cutter 28, 30 is activated to cut the photosensitive material to obtain a cut sheet of the predetermined print size. The obtained photosensitive material is scanned and exposed by a photosensitive unit 40, whereby images are formed. At this time, an instruction is output to a driving motor for a sub scan transfer means 42 according to a detection result of the print size, so that a rotation speed of the motor is controlled to obtain a main scan speed and a sub scan speed to make an exposure time constant irrespective of the print 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 used in a digital photo printer for recording an image by scanning a photosensitive material with a light beam.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is printed on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, light projected from the film is incident on the photosensitive material. In this case, direct (analog) exposure is performed by exposing the photosensitive material to the surface with the projection light.

On the other hand, in recent years, an image recording apparatus using digital exposure has been used. That is, by reading the image recorded on the film photoelectrically,
After the read image is converted into a digital signal, various image processing is performed to obtain image data for recording, and a one-dimensionally deflected or arranged light beam is irradiated on the photosensitive material according to the image data. In addition to the main scanning, the photosensitive material is transported in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to form an image (latent image) of a predetermined print size. 2. Description of the Related Art Digital photo printers that record, develop, and output as prints (photographs) have been 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. For this reason, 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 edge enhancement. Prints can be processed freely. 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.

In an image recording apparatus for recording an image with a modulated light beam used in this digital photo printer, the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed at which the photosensitive material is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction are determined by the print size. It was constant regardless of

Further, since the processing speed of development is slower than that of image recording, when the exposed photosensitive material is transported to a developing device (processor), the photosensitive material is subjected to a sequence appropriately determined according to the print size and the like. In the direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and as a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction,
The processing capacity of the processor is increased by supplying the photosensitive material to the processor.

[0007]

However, if the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed are constant irrespective of the print size, the exposure time becomes longer as the print size increases due to the line exposure by the light beam. There is a problem that it takes a long time to perform the processing and the processing performance is reduced.

As a result, the latent image time from when the photosensitive material is exposed to the light beam to when it enters the processor is different for each print size, so that there is a problem that the color balance changes depending on the print size. Further, as described above, if the exposed photosensitive material is sorted before entering the processor, the latent image time difference may be further increased depending on the sorting method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a constant exposure time irrespective of the print size, eliminates variations in latent image time, improves image quality, and improves processing performance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that achieves improvement.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention irradiates a photosensitive material with a one-dimensionally deflected or arrayed light beam to perform main scanning, and performs light scanning in the main scanning direction. An image recording apparatus that conveys the photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the direction, scans the photosensitive material two-dimensionally with the light beam, and records an image of a predetermined print size. Means for detecting the main scanning speed according to the print size, and means for controlling the sub-scanning speed for conveying the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning direction according to the print size. There is provided an image recording apparatus characterized by comprising:

The main scanning speed control means and the sub scanning speed control means record one image on the photosensitive material at the same recording time and at the same recording density irrespective of the print size. Preferably, the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed are controlled respectively.

Further, it is preferable that the main scanning speed control means controls the main scanning speed in accordance with the control of the sub-scanning speed by the sub-scanning speed control means.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 schematically shows an image recording apparatus (printer) to which the present invention is applied. Printer 1 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a printing device of a digital photo printer that exposes the photosensitive material A (printing paper) by digital exposure, records a latent image, and outputs the latent image as a print (photograph), and is a long roll wound in a roll shape. This is a device that cuts a photosensitive material A into a predetermined length corresponding to a print size to be produced to form a cut sheet, performs back printing (back printing) and digital scanning exposure, and supplies it to a processor P.

A printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a photosensitive material supply section 12 and a back printing means 1 for recording a back print.
4, an image recording unit 16, a distribution unit 18, and a first transport unit 34 and a second transport unit 36 that transport the photosensitive material A as a cut sheet to the image recording unit 16. Note that, in addition to the members shown in the drawing, various members such as a conveyance unit for the photosensitive material A such as a conveyance roller, a conveyance guide, and a sensor are arranged as necessary.

In the printer 10, the photosensitive material supply unit 1
2 (hereinafter, referred to as a supply unit 12) includes loading units 20 and 2
2, a pair of pull-out rollers 24 and 26, and a cutter 28
And 30. The loading portions 20 and 22 are portions where a magazine 32 in which a photosensitive material roll Ar formed by winding a long photosensitive material A in a roll shape is housed in a light-shielding housing is loaded. The magazine 32 loaded in the loading units 20 and 22 usually has a width, a face type (silk or mat, etc.),
A photosensitive material roll Ar in which photosensitive materials A of different types such as specifications (thickness, base type, etc.) are wound is stored.

The first transport section 34 and the second transport section 36
It is composed of a number of transport roller pairs. The first transport unit 34
The photosensitive material A that is pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading unit 22 by the pull-out roller pair 26 and cut into a predetermined print size by the cutter 30 is transported to the second transport unit 36. The second transport unit 36 is provided above the first transport unit 34, and is pulled out of the photosensitive material A transported from the first transport unit 34 or the magazine 32 of the loading unit 20 by the pull-out roller pair 24, and
Is to transport the photosensitive material A cut to a predetermined print size to the image recording unit 16.

The back printing means 14 is disposed in the middle of the second transport section 36, and is provided on the non-recording surface (non-emulsion surface =
Back)), the date the photo was taken, the print date, the frame number,
Information such as a film ID number, so-called back print, is recorded (back print).

A loop forming section 38 is provided between the pair of conveying rollers 36a and the pair of conveying rollers 36b downstream of the back printing means 14 of the second conveying section 36. That is, the second
The transport speed of the photosensitive material A in the transport unit 36 is the same as that of the image recording unit 1 after the transport roller pair 36a downstream of the loop forming unit 38.
6 (sub-scanning conveying means 42), at the same speed as the scanning conveying speed, before the conveying roller pair 36b upstream of the loop forming section 38, the speed is set higher than that, and the photosensitive material A conveyed through the second conveying section 36 In the loop forming section 38, a loop corresponding to the size is formed by the difference between the upstream and downstream transport speeds, as indicated by the dotted line in the figure. In the illustrated example of the printer 10, the back printing unit 14 and the image recording unit 16 are separated from each other with a short path length, and highly accurate scanning and transport of the photosensitive material A during exposure is realized.

The image recording section 16, which is the most characteristic part of the present invention, has an exposure unit 40 and a sub-scanning conveying means 42. The image recording section 16 conveys the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction while the light beam L Scanning with the photosensitive material A
Are two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image. Details of the image recording unit 16 will be described later.

The distribution unit 18 is disposed downstream of the image recording unit 16 in the conveyance. The distributing unit 18 converts the exposed photosensitive material A into
According to a sequence appropriately determined according to the print size and the like, the photosensitive material A is sorted in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and a plurality of rows are overlapped in the transport direction. The transfer to 44 increases the processing capacity of the processor P, for example, about two times for two rows and about three times for three rows.

The distributing section 18 in the illustrated example includes a belt conveyor 46 for placing and transporting the photosensitive material A, and a distributing device 48 disposed thereon. The distributing device 48 has two suction units 50 arranged orthogonally to the direction of conveyance by the belt conveyor 46. The suction units 50 adsorb and hold the photosensitive material A and lift it.
One is conveyed diagonally right downstream in the conveying direction of the belt conveyor 46, and the other is conveyed diagonally downstream in the same left direction, and the photosensitive material A is sorted left and right to form a plurality of rows.

Downstream of the distributing section 18, there is provided a transport roller pair 44 for supplying the photosensitive material A distributed and transported by the distributing section 18 to the processor P.

Further, the printer 10 has a control computer 100 for controlling each part in the printer 10.
In particular, the control computer 100 sends the image data input from the image data supply source S such as a scanner to the image data processing device 70 in the exposure unit 40, and also controls the drawer roller based on the print size input from the terminal C. The pair 24, 26 and the cutters 28, 30 are controlled. Further, the control computer 100 controls the scanning speed (main scanning speed) of the light beam L in the exposure unit 40 of the image recording unit 16 and the transport speed in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning transport unit 42 according to the print size. The exposure time is kept constant regardless of the print size. That is, the control computer 100 functions as a unit for detecting a print size, a main scanning speed control unit, a sub-scanning speed control unit, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image recording section 16. The image recording unit 16 is a portion where the photosensitive material A is exposed by so-called digitally controlled raster scanning exposure,
An exposure unit 40 and a sub-scanning conveyance unit 42 are provided.
And 42b, 42d), while transporting the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 2) while holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position X where the light beam L defines the main scanning line, and By 40, the light beam L modulated according to the image to be recorded is deflected in the main scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 and the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2) and is incident on the recording position X, so that the photosensitive material A is The latent image is recorded by two-dimensional scanning exposure with the light beam L. At this time, in order to ensure the flatness of the photosensitive material A at the recording position X (main scanning line), the pair of conveying rollers 42a, 42c and 42b, 42
An exposure guide 43, which is a plate-shaped member, is provided below the photosensitive material A between d.

The exposure unit 40 is a three-laser-beam diagonal-incidence optical system (three-light-source non-multiplexing optical system) that performs scanning exposure using light beams of three primary colors of the photosensitive material A.
The laser light source 72 (72R, 72G, 72B), the collimator lens 74R, and the condenser lens 76 (7) along the traveling direction of the light beam L emitted from the laser light source 72.
6R, 76G, 76B) and AOM78 (78R, 78B).
G, 78B) and a reflection mirror 80 (80R, 80G, 8).
0B) and a cylindrical lens 82 (82R, 82R).
G, 82B), the polygon mirror 84, and the fθ lens 8
6, a cylindrical mirror 88, and reflection mirrors 90 and 92.

The three-light-source non-multiplexing optical system shown in the drawing emits light beams having predetermined wavelengths corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material A, respectively. 3
Using two laser light sources, the light beams L emitted from the respective laser light sources are incident on one point of the reflection surface 84a of the polygon mirror 84 at slightly different angles (for example, about 4 °), and the arrows of the polygon mirror 84 in FIG. The optical system is deflected in the main scanning direction by the rotation in the direction, forms an image at the same angle on the same main scanning line on the photosensitive material A, and scans the same main scanning line at intervals in time. In addition, in the present invention, in addition to this, it is also possible to use a multiplexing optical system in which the modulated light beam is converted into one light beam using a dichroic mirror or the like. For example, the laser light source 72R is a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits a light beam Lr having a wavelength of 680 nm for R exposure, and the laser light source 72G is a wavelength conversion using an SHG element that emits a light beam Lg of 532 nm for G exposure. The laser light source 72B is a wavelength conversion laser using an SHG element that emits a light beam having a wavelength of 473 nm for B exposure.

The collimator lens 74R is provided with the laser light source 7
The light beam Lr emitted from the 2R is shaped into parallel light, and the condensing lens 76 converts the corresponding light beam L into A light.
The light is focused on the OM 78. The cylindrical lens 82, the fθ lens 86, and the cylindrical mirror 88 constitute a surface tilt correction optical system, and correct the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 84. Further, the fθ lens 86 controls each light beam L
Is formed at any position on the main scanning line (recording position X). The AOM (acoustic optical modulator) 78 modulates each light beam L according to image data (that is, a recorded image). The modulation method is not particularly limited, and may be intensity modulation or pulse (width or number) modulation. In addition to AOM, various modulators such as EOM (Electrical Engineering Modulator) may be used. Available.

The AOM 78 is driven by the image data processing section 70. Image data from an image data supply source S such as a scanner (image processing device)
Sent to 0. The image data processing unit 70 performs predetermined processing such as processing in a correction table by calibration on the image data supplied from the image data supply source S,
Each AOM 78 is driven to modulate a light beam L for exposing the photosensitive material A.

The polygon mirror 84 is driven to rotate by a motor 84m. The rotation speed of the motor 84m is detected by a rotary encoder 84e attached to the motor 84m, and a detection signal is sent to the control computer 100. Further, the transport roller pair 42 of the sub-scanning transport means 42
a, 42c and 42b, 42d are rotationally driven by a motor 42m. The rotation speed of the motor 42m is detected by a rotary encoder 42e attached to the motor 42m, and a detection signal is sent to the control computer 100.

At this time, these transport roller pairs 42a,
42c and 42b, 42d are set to rotate synchronously. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the downstream lower transport roller 42b is rotationally driven by a motor 42m, and the upstream lower transport roller 42a is synchronously driven by a timing belt 42f looped therebetween. You may make it. Further, by nipping and transporting the photosensitive material A, the rotational driving force of the lower transport rollers 42a and 42b is transmitted to the upper transport rollers 42c and 42d, and the upper transport rollers 42c and 42d are also synchronously driven. Alternatively, as disclosed by the present inventors in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 9-199970, at least at one end in the main scanning direction, a circle that constantly contacts both the upper conveying rollers 42c and 42d and rotates. A sheet-shaped idler is provided, and each transport roller is rotated synchronously.
May be conveyed. In addition, the driving method of the transport roller is not limited to the above-described method, and various methods are possible. For example, a configuration using a three-speed gear as a speed reducer may be used.

The control computer 100 receives signals from the rotary encoders 84e and 42e,
m and 42 m. The main scanning speed is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 84m, and the sub-scanning speed is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 42m. For example, when the motors 84m and 42m are stepping motors, the motor rotation speed can be changed by changing the number of pulses.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The pull-out roller pair 2 is controlled by a command from the control computer 100.
4 or 26 pulls out the photosensitive material A from the magazine 32 loaded in the loading section 20 or 22 to a length corresponding to a predetermined print size and conveys it. This conveyance stops when the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream from the corresponding cutter 28 or 30 has a length corresponding to the print (recorded image) to be created, and then the cutter 28 or 30 operates. Then, the photosensitive material A is cut into a cut sheet having a predetermined print size.

When the photosensitive material A is pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading section 22, the photosensitive material A is cut by the cutter 30 into a length corresponding to a predetermined print size, and the photosensitive material A is constituted by a number of transport roller pairs. 1 transport section 34 and 2nd
It is transported upward by the transport unit 36. On the other hand, when the photosensitive material A is pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading unit 20, the photosensitive material A is cut by the cutter 28 and the second
It is transported upward by the transport unit 36.

When the photosensitive material A is transported by the second transport unit 36, the photosensitive material A is printed by the back printing means 14 provided on the way.
On the non-recording surface of the photosensitive material A, a back print such as a photographing date is recorded. Thereafter, the photosensitive material A is conveyed to the right (of FIG. 1), and the recording surface is turned up (the recording surface faces the exposure unit 40 side). Transported to

The sub-scanning conveying means 42 includes a pair of conveying rollers 42a, 42c arranged with the recording position X (main scanning line) interposed therebetween.
In addition, the photosensitive material A is held between the pair of transport rollers 42a and 42c while the photosensitive material A is held from below by the exposure guide 43 and the photosensitive material A is suitably held at the recording position X. And 42b, 4
By 2d, the photosensitive material A is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (the right direction in FIG. 1 and the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 2) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

The exposure unit 40 modulates according to the recorded image and deviates in the main scanning direction.
A kind of light beam is incident on a predetermined recording position X, and the photosensitive material A is scanned and exposed on the basis of the center while the center in the main scanning direction coincides with the center in the width direction of the photosensitive material A conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. .

That is, the AOM 78 of the exposure unit 40
The light beam L modulated (and the output is adjusted) by
Next, the light enters the reflection mirror 80, turns the optical path back, and enters the same position or the same point on the same line of the reflection surface 84a of the polygon mirror 84 as the optical deflector. Each light beam L incident on the polygon mirror 84 is deflected in the main scanning direction and is incident on the fθ lens 86. Thereafter, the light beam L is bent by the cylindrical mirror 88, enters the reflection mirror 90, is again bent by the reflection mirror 90, and enters the reflection mirror 92. The light beam L reflected by the reflection mirror 92 is incident on a recording position X on the photosensitive material A that is sub-scanned and conveyed by the sub-scanning conveyance unit 42, and forms a main scanning line to expose the photosensitive material A.

Here, the main scanning speed and the conveying speed in the sub-scanning direction are controlled by the control computer 100 to predetermined speeds according to the print size so that the exposure time is constant regardless of the print size. Control computer 10
0 indicates the print size, and issues a command to a motor 84m for driving the polygon mirror 84 and a motor 42m for driving the sub-scanning and conveying means 42, so that the exposure time is constant even if the print size changes. Is controlled so that the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed correspond to.

For example, the width of the photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 32 set in the printer 10 is 89 mm, and the print size is L size (8
9 x 127 mm), then panorama size (89 x 25 mm)
4 mm), the length of the cut sheet in the sub-scanning direction is doubled, so that the sub-scanning speed may be approximately doubled to keep the exposure time constant. However, if only the sub-scanning speed is doubled and the main scanning speed is not changed, the recording density becomes low. Therefore, in order to make the recording density the same, it is necessary to double the main scanning speed.

If the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed are both doubled, the exposure amount will be smaller than before, so that
The quality can be maintained and improved by increasing the intensity of the light beam L to obtain the same exposure amount as before.
Further, if the length of the cut sheet in the sub-scanning direction is the same even if the print size changes, the sub-scanning speed does not change, so that there is no need to change the main scanning speed. When a light beam array is used as the light source, changing the light emission time width according to the sub-scanning speed corresponds to the above-described change in the main scanning speed.

The exposed photosensitive material A is sorted by the sorting unit 18, supplied to the processor P by the downstream conveying roller pair 44, subjected to development processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water, and then dried. Then, it is discharged as a (finished) print.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the exposure time is fixed regardless of the print size, and the processing capability of the image recording apparatus can be improved. As described above, the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course it is good.

[0044]

As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the exposure time can be kept constant irrespective of the print size. As a result, the variation in the latent image time can be eliminated, and the quality can be improved. An improvement in processing capacity can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an image recording unit of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer (image recording apparatus) 12 Photosensitive material supply part 14 Back printing means 16 Image recording part 18 Distributing part 20, 22 Loading part 24, 26 Draw-out roller pair 28, 30 Cutter 32 Magazine 34 First conveyance part 36 Second conveyance Unit 38 loop forming unit 40 exposure unit 42 sub-scanning conveyance means 42a, 42c conveyance roller pair 42b, 42d conveyance roller pair 43 exposure guide 44 conveyance roller pair 46 belt conveyor 48 distribution device 50 suction unit 70 image data processing device 72 (72R) , 72G, 72B) Laser light source 74R Collimator lens 76 (76R, 76G, 76B) Condensing lens 78 (78R, 78G, 78B) AOM 80 (80R, 80G, 80B), 90, 92 Reflecting mirror 82 (82R, 82G, 82B) Cylindrical lens 84 Gonmira 86 f [theta] lens 88 cylindrical mirror 90,92 reflecting mirror 100 control computer 42e, 84e rotary encoder 42m, 84m motor A photosensitive material Ar photosensitive material roll

Claims (3)

[Claims] A photosensitive material irradiated with a light beam deflected or arranged in a one-dimensional direction to perform main scanning, and conveys the photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction; An image recording apparatus that two-dimensionally scans and exposes the photosensitive material with a light beam and records an image of a predetermined print size, comprising: a unit that detects the print size; and the main scanning according to the print size. An image recording apparatus comprising: means for controlling a speed; and means for controlling a sub-scanning speed for conveying the photosensitive material in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with the print size. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said main scanning speed control means and said sub scanning speed control means record one image on said photosensitive material at the same recording time and at the same recording density irrespective of said print size. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main scanning speed and the sub-scanning speed are controlled respectively. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said main scanning speed control means controls said main scanning speed in accordance with control of a sub-scanning speed by said sub-scanning speed control means.