JPH11174588A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder capable of eliminating a skilled work of taking out photosensitive material from a photosensitive material replenishment container and loading the material into a magazine in a dark room or a black box, also eliminating a standby time for replacing the magazine and capable of improving the productivity by enabling to directly load the photosensitive material into a photosensitive material supply part without using the magazine. SOLUTION: The recorder is provided with a photosensitive material winding/ storing mechanism which is installed in the photosensitive material supply part 12 for holding a rolled long-sized photosensitive material so that the material may be freely wound up and fed out, and a photosensitive material replenishment mechanism for supplying the replenishing photosensitive material to the winding/storing mechanism, and the photosensitive material for replenishment is replenished to the winding/storing mechanism by the replenishing mechanism, and the long-sized photosensitive material or a sheet-like photosensitive material cut by a prescribed length is supplied from the winding/storing mechanism to an image recording part 16 by a photosensitive material carrying mechanism 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital image recording apparatus and an analog image recording apparatus which convey a long photosensitive material or a sheet-like photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length and supply it to an image recording section. Belong.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to print an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film onto a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, the image of the film is projected onto the photosensitive material. This has been done by direct (analog) exposure to surface exposure. On the other hand, at present, for example, image information photographed on a film is read photoelectrically, converted into a digital signal, and subjected to various image processing to obtain image data for recording. 2. Description of the Related Art Digital photo printers have been put to practical use in which an image (latent image) is recorded by scanning and exposing a photosensitive material with modulated recording light, subjected to development processing, and output as a print (photograph).

[0003] Such a digital photo printer basically includes an image reading device (scanner) for reading image data recorded on a film and various image processing (data processing) on the image data read by the image reading device. An input device having a data processing unit to be applied, a photosensitive material supply unit, a transport mechanism of the photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material supply unit, and an image recording unit for digitally exposing the photosensitive material according to image data after image processing It comprises an image recording device (printer) including an output device having the above-mentioned features, a developing device (processor) for developing an exposed photosensitive material, and a control device for controlling and managing the entire digital photo printer.

In an input device, first, in the case of reading image data shot on a film, for example, in an image reading device, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on the film and carries the image shot on the film. The projected light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens, photoelectrically converted by the image sensor, the image is read, and supplied to a data processing unit as input image data corresponding to the image photographed on the film. You.

[0005] Subsequently, the data processing section converts the image data input from the image reading device into digital data,
Alternatively, image data that has been digitized and input in advance is subjected to various types of data processing according to preset image processing conditions or various image processing conditions changed according to the image data. And an exposure condition suitable for the image data is determined, and is transferred to an image recording device (printer) of the output device as output image data.

On the other hand, in the output device, in the image recording section,
For example, in an apparatus using light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated in accordance with the image data transferred from the data processing unit, and this light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction and at the same time the photosensitive material is moved in the main scanning direction. After the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to form a latent image on the photosensitive material by being conveyed in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the developing device, the developing device performs a developing process according to the photosensitive material. Thus, the image photographed on the film is reproduced as a finished print.

In an image recording apparatus using digital exposure, tone correction and color / density correction are performed by image processing and exposure conditions are determined, so that the time required for exposure per image is short. Since the exposure time is constant according to the image size, quick exposure can be performed as compared with the conventional direct exposure. In addition, image processing such as image editing such as image synthesis and image division, color / density adjustment, and edge enhancement can be freely performed. A finished print that has been freely edited and image-processed according to the intended use can be obtained. Can be output.

In addition, since the image information of the finished print can be stored on a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, if the information is stored on the recording medium, it is possible to re-read the film or change the exposure conditions, for example, in an operation such as additional printing. No decisions need to be made and the work is very quick and easy. Further, in terms of resolution, color / density reproducibility, and the like, which have been difficult with conventional direct exposure printing, an image recording apparatus using digital exposure reproduces almost completely the recorded image information. There is an advantage in that the output of

[0009]

In an image recording apparatus of a photo printer by ordinary direct exposure as well as such a digital photo printer, an unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape to form a light-shielding material. The magazine is housed in a housing and loaded into an image recording apparatus together with the magazine. The photosensitive material is pulled out of the magazine, transported, and subjected to exposure and the like.

However, in an apparatus using a magazine containing the photosensitive material, unused photosensitive material is wound into a roll and stored in a light-shielding transport container (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive material replenishing container). In order to mount the photosensitive material stored in the photosensitive material replenishing container in the magazine and store it, it is necessary to take out the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material replenishing container in a dark room or dark box and attach it to the magazine. Was needed.

This operation requires groping in a dark room or dark box according to a certain procedure, and requires skill. In the event that a magazine is improperly mounted, the operation must be performed during operation. Poor supply of photosensitive material, defective cutting,
Poor transport or jamming may occur, causing scratches such as scratches on the image recording surface (emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material.
The photosensitive material itself may be damaged or stained, and even if it is finished as a print, its value as a product will not only be impaired, but in some cases, some or all of the photosensitive material may become unusable or malfunction may occur. Or a situation where the operation is stopped. In particular, when adjusting or repairing the above-described magazine mounting failure or various failures of the image recording apparatus, the inner cover of the image processing apparatus must be opened, so that the photosensitive material wound in a roll shape is required. Some or all of them may become unusable due to light.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when a loading section (photosensitive material supply section) of a magazine containing photosensitive material is arranged inside the image recording apparatus, the magazine is moved to a predetermined photosensitive material supply section. It is necessary to open the inner cover of the image recording apparatus when disposing it, and after the photosensitive material inside the image recording apparatus is completely sent to the developing device, the magazine can be replaced for the first time, so that the photosensitive material is completely removed from the developing device. It took a long time to be sent to the magazine, and wasted time wasted in the magazine replacement work.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to directly load a photosensitive material into a photosensitive material supply section without using a magazine, so that a photosensitive material can be removed from a photosensitive material replenishing container in a dark room or a dark box requiring skill. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of improving productivity by eliminating the work of taking out a magazine and mounting it in a magazine, and eliminating the waiting time for exchanging a magazine.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a roll-shaped long photosensitive material,
A photosensitive material supply unit that supplies a long photosensitive material or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length, a photosensitive material transport mechanism that transports the photosensitive material according to a predetermined transport path, and a transport path of the photosensitive material transport mechanism And an image recording unit that exposes a predetermined image recorded on a film to the photosensitive material, and discharges the exposed photosensitive material to the next developing device by the photosensitive material transport mechanism. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a photosensitive material take-up and storage mechanism that is provided in the photosensitive material supply unit and that holds the roll-shaped long photosensitive material so that the photosensitive material can be wound up and out. A replenishing mechanism for supplying a photosensitive material for replenishing the photosensitive material, and replenishing the replenishing photosensitive material to the rewinding and storing mechanism by the replenishing mechanism for the photosensitive material. La length photosensitive material or a predetermined length cut sheet of the light-sensitive material of the scale by the light-sensitive material conveying mechanism is to provide an image recording apparatus and supplying the image recording unit.

The light-sensitive material replenishing mechanism includes a mounting table on which a light-sensitive material replenishing container storing the light-sensitive material for replenishment is mounted, and a light-sensitive material supply port of the light-sensitive material replenishing container. It is preferable to include a photosensitive material replenishing port to be held, and a replenishing photosensitive material transport mechanism for transporting the replenishing photosensitive material passing through the photosensitive material replenishing port to the winding and storing mechanism. In addition, the photosensitive material supply section includes a winding and storing mechanism for the photosensitive material that holds the roll-shaped long photosensitive material so that the photosensitive material can be wound and unwound, and the replenishing mechanism that is supplied to the winding and storing mechanism. A photosensitive material transport path switching mechanism for selecting and switching a photosensitive material transport path and a photosensitive material transport path to be supplied as the long photosensitive material or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length. preferable.

The transport path for the replenishing photosensitive material supplied to the take-up and storing mechanism and the transport path for the long photosensitive material or the photosensitive material supplied as a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length. It is preferable to provide a photosensitive material detecting mechanism for detecting the length of the photosensitive material being conveyed, and to measure a current amount of the photosensitive material wound by the winding and storing mechanism. Further, the photosensitive material detecting mechanism is a single detecting mechanism, and the photosensitive material detecting mechanism is wound around the winding and storing mechanism by a difference between a transport length of the replenishing photosensitive material and a transport length of the photosensitive material supplied to the image recording unit. It is preferable to measure the current amount of the photosensitive material used. It is preferable that the mounting table also serves as a light shielding cover of the image recording apparatus.

[0017]

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 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital image recording apparatus. In the figure, an image recording apparatus 10 cuts a long photosensitive material A into a predetermined length according to a finished print to be made into a cut sheet,
Back printing (recording of back printing information) and digital exposure (printing) are performed, and the exposed photosensitive material A is supplied to a developing device (processor) 20. In the illustrated example,
It has a photosensitive material supply section 12, a back print section 14, an image recording section 16, a distribution section 18, and the like.

The image recording apparatus 10 conveys the photosensitive material A from the photosensitive material supply section 12 to the image recording section 16,
A plurality of pairs of transport rollers are disposed as a transport mechanism 22 that transports the photosensitive material A that has been exposed to the developing device 20, and various known members disposed in the image recording apparatus 10, for example, the transport mechanism 22 for the photosensitive material A And various sensors are arranged as needed. The transport mechanism 22 for the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited, and any known transport method of the sheet material such as a lift transport using a belt conveyor, a nip belt, suction or the like can be used in addition to the transport roller pair. . However, the interval between the conveying rollers is set smaller than the minimum length of the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A after cutting so as not to hinder the conveyance of the photosensitive material A.

In the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material supply section 12 serves as a roll-up / storing mechanism for the photosensitive material for holding the roll-shaped long photosensitive material A so as to be able to take up and unwind it. Shaft 24 for winding and winding the photosensitive material A freely, and a pair of draw-out rollers 2 for winding and winding the photosensitive material A around the loading shaft 24 or feeding the photosensitive material A from the loading shaft 24 and supplying it to the image recording section 16.
6. A bending roller 28 and a guide roller 3 that bend the extracted photosensitive material A in a direction toward the image recording unit 16.
0, 32, etc., and a cutter 34 on the downstream side of the photosensitive material take-up and storage mechanism. Note that, among the constituent members of the photosensitive material take-up and storage mechanism, a pair of draw-out rollers 26,
The bending roller 28 and the guide roller 30 are members that also function as a photosensitive material replenishing mechanism described later.

The loading shaft 24 is a rotating shaft that winds and loads a long photosensitive material A supplied from a photosensitive material replenishing mechanism described later, feeds out the loaded photosensitive material A, and supplies it to the image recording unit 16. is there. Since a long photosensitive material A is usually wound in a roll shape with the recording surface (emulsion surface) outside, the photosensitive material replenishing container is mounted on the photosensitive material replenishing container. In the loading mechanism, the photosensitive material A is loaded on the loading shaft 24 with the recording surface facing outward.
The two loading shafts 24 in the illustrated example usually have a size (width),
Photosensitive materials A of different types such as surface type (silk or mat, etc.) and specifications (thickness, type of base, etc.) are loaded.

Although the illustrated image recording apparatus 10 has two loading shafts 24, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of loading shafts may be one, or three or more. May be provided. Further, in the illustrated image recording apparatus 10, the cutters 34 are provided corresponding to the loading shafts 24, respectively, but a configuration in which the photosensitive material A supplied from both the loading shafts 24 is cut by one cutter may be adopted. .

In the photosensitive material supply section 12, the photosensitive material A is pulled out from the loading shaft 24 by the pull-out roller pair 26, and is moved by the photosensitive material transport mechanism 22 in the direction of the back print section 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the photosensitive material A. Conveyed. This conveyance is stopped when the photosensitive material A conveyed to the downstream side has reached the length of the finished print, and the photosensitive material A is cut by the cutter 34 to form a cut sheet.

A back print unit 14 is arranged downstream of the photosensitive material supply unit 12 in the illustrated example. The back print unit 14 is provided on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material A,
Photo shooting date, print printing date, frame number, film I
A variety of information such as a D number, an ID number of a camera used for photographing, and an ID number of a digital photo printer, so-called back print (back print information) is recorded. Is recorded.

The type of the printer of the back print unit 14 is not particularly limited. For example, a printer used as a known back printer such as a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an ink jet printer can be used. A contact-type recording method can be suitably used, and particularly, an ink jet printer using a non-water-soluble and solid-state hot-melt ink at room temperature is preferably exemplified. Also, the back print unit 14
Is a new standard new photo system (Advanced PhotoSystem)
It is preferable that two or more lines can be printed.

In the illustrated example, the back print section 14 is disposed after the photosensitive material A is cut. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the back print section 14 is disposed before the cutting position of the photosensitive material A by the cutter 34. May be arranged, or may be arranged after cutting or before and after cutting. Further, although the back print unit 14 is disposed upstream of the exposure position X, the present invention is not limited to this.
May be arranged downstream of the exposure position X.

However, when the back print unit 14 is arranged downstream of the sorting unit 18 in the transport direction, it is necessary to provide a number of back printers according to the sorting rows, so that the upstream of the sorting unit 18 in the transport direction is required. It is preferred to place it on the side. In addition, it is preferable to arrange the back print unit 14 on the upstream side of the image recording unit 16. In this case, the photosensitive material supply unit 12, the cutter 34, the image recording unit 16
In addition, the empty space formed by the transport mechanism 22 that communicates these can be effectively used, and the transport path on the downstream side of the image recording unit 16 can be simplified to save space.

An image recording unit 16 is arranged downstream of the back print unit 14. The image recording unit 16 scans and exposes the photosensitive material A in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1) according to output image data supplied from an input device of a digital photo printer (not shown). And a scanning transport means 38 for transporting the photosensitive material A at a constant speed in a sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b in the figure) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

The exposure unit 36 includes three light sources for emitting light beams corresponding to the respective exposures of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of the photosensitive material A, and light beams emitted from these light sources. (Modulation means) such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) that modulates each light beam according to image data, an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror that deflects the modulated light beam in the main scanning direction, and a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction Is a light beam scanning device including an fθ (scanning) lens or the like that forms an image at a predetermined position on an exposure position (scanning line) X with a predetermined beam diameter.

The exposure unit 36 may be a PDP (plasma display) in addition to the light beam scanning device.
Array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD
Various types of digital raster exposure means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation element arrays extending in the direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction, such as (liquid crystal display) arrays, DMD (digital micromirror device) arrays, and laser arrays. It is possible.

The scanning / conveying means 38 moves the photosensitive material A more precisely between the exposure position X and the pair of conveyance rollers 40 and 42 disposed before and after the exposure position X.
And the like. The scanning and transporting means 38 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and may include an exposure drum that transports the photosensitive material A while holding the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X.
Scanning and conveying means using two nip rollers abutting the exposure drum across the exposure 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. You. The scanning and conveying means 38 conveys the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A at a recording position X by an exposure guide 44, and conveys the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A in a sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction by a pair of conveying rollers 40 and 42. Since is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by a light beam to form a latent image on the photosensitive material.

A distribution unit 18 is arranged further downstream of the image recording unit 16. In the process of exposing and developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material that is currently used as a general photograph, development requires more time than exposure. Therefore, when a plurality of photosensitive materials are continuously exposed and developed, development cannot be performed in time for the exposure. That is,
In the exposure / development process, the transport speed of the photosensitive material A is generally limited by a development process. The sorting unit 18 is arranged to solve this inconvenience. If necessary, the sorting unit 18 sorts the photosensitive material A, which is usually conveyed in a single line, into a plurality of lines in the conveying direction. In order to absorb the difference in processing time between exposure and development by supplying a plurality of rows of photosensitive materials A in parallel to improve the processing capability in the developing device 20, in the illustrated example,
It has a belt conveyor 46, an auxiliary belt conveyor 48, two suction units 50 and 52 each having two suction cups connected to suction means (not shown), and the like.

The exposed photosensitive material A is not conveyed by the belt conveyor 46 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 48, but is placed on the belt conveyor 46 and conveyed downstream. Note that the transport speed of the photosensitive material A by the belt conveyor 46 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 48 is set slightly higher than the scanning transport speed. Thus, the influence of the driving of the belt conveyor 46 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 48 on the scanning and conveying of the photosensitive material A can be more reliably eliminated. Auxiliary belt conveyor 4
Numeral 8 is arranged on the center line in the width direction of the belt conveyor 46 at a slight interval from the belt conveyor 46. The auxiliary belt conveyor 48 suppresses the curl (curvature) of the photosensitive material A, and assists the conveyance by the belt conveyor 46 and the suction holding of the photosensitive material A by the suction units 50 and 52, and the photosensitive material A having the minimum size in the width direction. Even in this case, a narrow endless belt is used so that the suction units 50 and 52 can perform suction holding.

The suction units 50 and 52 are arranged on both sides in the width direction of the auxiliary belt conveyor 48, respectively. In the illustrated example, after the photosensitive material A is released from the scanning and transporting unit 38 and is transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 46, the photosensitive material A is sucked and held and slightly lifted up by the suction unit 50 on the front side. Move to the right (toward the front in the figure) diagonally downstream with respect to the transport direction, release the suction, and sort the photosensitive material A to the right. Similarly, the rear suction unit 52 distributes the photosensitive material A to the left side.

Therefore, the sorting section 18 sequentially and repeatedly repeats, for example, the rightward sorting by the suction unit 50, the leftward sorting by the suction unit 52, and the linear conveyance without the sorting. A can be distributed in three rows, and the photosensitive material A can be distributed in two rows by alternately performing the horizontal distribution by the suction units 50 and 52. Further, the photosensitive material A can be supplied to the developing device 20 in a single line by performing only the linear conveyance without performing the sorting.

The means for moving the suction units 50 and 52 is not particularly limited. For example, moving means using a link, moving means using a cam, moving means using a guide rail or a guide hole, and moving these means Various known methods such as moving means appropriately combining means can be used. Also, the sorting unit 18 is not limited to this embodiment, and various sorting methods for sorting sheet materials into a plurality of rows can be used. For example, a sorting method using a circular turret rotating around an axis, a photosensitive material A Is divided into a plurality of blocks, for example, three blocks in the transport direction, and a central block among them is moved in the horizontal direction and distributed. Further, the photosensitive material A may be supplied to the developing device 20 in a single row without the distributing section 18.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material A of all sizes is not always arranged in a plurality of rows. It may be carried into the processor 20 as it is. Also, when performing sorting, instead of sorting all sizes in the same number of rows, according to the size of the photosensitive material A, for example, the L size is sorted into three rows, and the six-piece section is sorted into two rows. You may sort the numbers.

The photosensitive materials A sorted in the horizontal direction in the sorting unit 18 are arranged in a plurality of rows overlapping in the transfer direction, and the pair of transfer rollers 5 constituting a part of the photosensitive material transfer mechanism.
4, the developer is discharged to the developing device 20 through the discharge port 56. In the developing device 20, for example, in the case of developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, a predetermined developing process corresponding to the light-sensitive material A is performed by a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, a washing tank (not shown), and the latent image is visualized. After that, it is dried to obtain a finished print, and is again stacked in a single line in the order of print creation (exposure order) and discharged to a sorter or the like.

The image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention records an image on the photosensitive material A as described above. However, when the photosensitive material A wound around the loading shaft 24 is completely used, Replenishment of the photosensitive material A is performed as follows. A replenishing photosensitive material replenishing mechanism for supplying the replenishing photosensitive material to the take-up and storing mechanism includes a photosensitive material replenishing container 82 containing the replenishing photosensitive material A, a mounting table 84 on which the replenishing container 82 is mounted, and a replenishing table. A light-sensitive material replenishing port 8 made of a soft elastic material such as felt for keeping the light-sensitive material supply port of the container 82 light-tight.
6. Light-shielding means made of a soft elastic material such as felt for shielding the inside of the image recording apparatus 10 until the photosensitive material supply container 82 is placed at a predetermined position and the photosensitive material supply port of the supply container 82 is shielded from light. 88, a pair of supply rollers 90 for nipping the leading end of the photosensitive material protruding from the photosensitive material replenishing container 82 and drawing it into the image recording apparatus 10, and loading the leading end of the photosensitive material A drawn into the image recording apparatus 10 A pair of a bending roller 28 and a guide roller 30 that are conveyed toward the shaft 24;
It comprises a pair of draw-out rollers 26 and guide leaves 92 for guiding the leading end of the photosensitive material A toward the loading shaft 24.

Here, the supply roller pair 90 rotates so as to convey the replenishing photosensitive material A toward the loading shaft 24, and the pair of the bending roller 28 and the guide roller 30 and the pull-out roller pair 26 In any case, the photosensitive material A rotates so as to be conveyed toward the loading shaft 24 when the photosensitive material is replenished, and when the photosensitive material A is conveyed toward the image recording unit 16, the photosensitive material A is pulled out from the loading shaft 24. Is to rotate. And the guide leaf 92
Are biased toward the loading shaft 24 so as to guide the photosensitive material A toward the loading shaft 24 when the photosensitive material is replenished.

The photosensitive material A for replenishment is stored, and the photosensitive material A
Is normally used as a light-shielding lid for shielding the opening of the photosensitive material refilling port 86, and the refilling container 82 can be placed by folding the replenishing container 82. The photosensitive material A is placed on the mounting table 84 and the leading end of the photosensitive material A is
The photosensitive material supply port is inserted so that the photosensitive material supply port 86 of the image recording apparatus 10 is shielded from light. Next, when the supply roller pair 90 holding the front end of the photosensitive material A is rotated, the photosensitive material A is
Supply roller pair 90, bending roller 28 and guide roller 30
, And are guided in the order of the pull-out roller pair 26, guided by the guide leaf 92 toward the loading shaft 24, and wound around the loading shaft 24.

Here, the guide shaft 9 is mounted on the loading shaft 24.
2 has an automatic winding device for holding and fixing the front end portion of the photosensitive material A guided by 2. As this automatic winding device, a device having the same configuration as that of a conventionally known automatic winding device can be used, and a detailed description of the configuration is omitted here. Further, the supply roller pair 90 is arranged such that the leading end of the photosensitive material A is inserted into the light shielding means 88 so as to be sandwiched by the supply roller pair 90, and when the replenishing container 82 is mounted on the mounting table 84, The photosensitive material A is configured to be openable and closable so that the leading end of the photosensitive material A is easily pinched by the supply roller pair 90, and after the leading end of the photosensitive material A is inserted between the supply roller pair 90, the supply roller pair 90 is removed. Close and insert the tip of photosensitive material A into loading shaft 2.
It is preferable to configure so as to convey the paper toward No. 4.

As is apparent from the above description, the transport path of the photosensitive material A partially overlaps when the photosensitive material is replenished and when the image is recorded by the image recording apparatus 10. Therefore, in the present invention, the transport path is switched. The transport path between the replenishment of the photosensitive material and the image recording is switched by a mechanism. The transport path switching mechanism includes the bending roller 28, two guide rollers 30, 32, and a guide plate 94 connecting the guide rollers 30, 32. The guide roller 32 is freely movable toward and away from the bending roller 28 by a guide plate 94 connecting the guide rollers 30 and 32. When the photosensitive material is replenished, the guide roller 32 is drawn by imaginary lines. So that the bending roller 28
, The leading end of the photosensitive material A can move straight toward the pull-out roller pair 26 without any trouble.
On the other hand, at the time of image recording, since the guide roller 32 is in contact with the bending roller 28 as drawn by a solid line, the photosensitive material A is bent along the bending roller 28 by the guide rollers 30, 32 and the guide plate 94. Then, the sheet is conveyed toward the image recording unit 16 (back print unit 14).

The bending roller 28 is provided with a rotation detecting mechanism 96, which constitutes a photosensitive material detecting mechanism for detecting the direction and the transport length of the photosensitive material A by the rotation of the bending roller 28. The photosensitive material detection mechanism detects the rotation direction and the number of rotations of the bending roller 28 by the rotation detection mechanism 96, and measures the transport length of the photosensitive material A based on the diameter and the number of rotations of the bending roller 28. Then, the transport length of the photosensitive material A in the photosensitive material supply direction by the photosensitive material replenishment mechanism (the winding direction by the loading shaft 22) and the image recording unit 16
The remaining amount of the photosensitive material A wound around the loading shaft 24 can be detected by calculating the difference between the length of the photosensitive material A and the length of the photosensitive material A transported in the feeding direction (the feeding direction from the loading shaft 22). The photosensitive material detection mechanism is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the swing angle of the guide leaf 92 is measured to measure the diameter of the photosensitive material A wound around the loading shaft 22,
Various detection mechanisms, such as detecting the remaining amount of the photosensitive material A, can be applied.

FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus for performing analog exposure to which the present invention is applied. The image recording device 110 shown in FIG. 2 supplies a long photosensitive material A as it is, performs surface exposure and back printing (back printing), and develops the exposed photosensitive material A into a developing device (processor). 12
The apparatus includes a photosensitive material supply unit 112, a back print unit 114, and an image recording unit 116.

In the photosensitive material supply unit 112, a long photosensitive material A wound in a roll shape is loaded on a loading shaft 124.
The configuration is basically the same as the photosensitive material supply unit 12 of the digital image recording apparatus 10. The transport mechanism 122 has basically the same configuration as the transport mechanism 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, and can use any known transport mechanism used in the image recording apparatus. The image recording unit 116
Light source unit 160, reflection mirror 162, negative carrier 16
4, a light source unit 1 having a lens 166, a shutter 168, and the like.
The light emitted at 60 is substantially 90
The shutter 168 is bent according to the exposure density of the film, and the projection light is transmitted through the lens 166 to the photosensitive material A set at the predetermined exposure position X via the lens 166. It is configured to perform so-called surface exposure by irradiating only for a predetermined time. In addition, color correction using a color filter, N
The exposure amount may be adjusted by a D filter.

The back print section 114 is for performing back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material A, and has basically the same configuration as the back print section 14 of the digital image recording apparatus 10. The developing device 120 is a developing device that performs various processes such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying on the photosensitive material A on which the latent image is formed, and basically includes a developing tank 170 and a fixing tank. 172, a developing unit 176 having a washing tank 174, a drying unit 178, and a sorter 180.

In such an image recording apparatus 110, exposure of the photosensitive material A is basically performed in the following manner. First, the photosensitive material A is pulled out, and the image recording unit 116
And set at a predetermined exposure position X. At this time, the shutter 168 is closed. On the other hand, the image recording unit 116
When the film is set at a predetermined position by the negative carrier 164, light is emitted from the light source unit 160 to the film, and the projected light is transmitted through the lens 166 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the photosensitive material A is irradiated only for the time when the shutter 168 is opened,
Exposure is performed on the photosensitive material A to form a latent image.

The photosensitive material A on which the exposure has been performed and on which the latent image has been formed is conveyed to the back print unit 114, where the various information is back-printed, and then conveyed in the horizontal direction. Conveyed. Developing device 120
The photosensitive material A carried in the developing unit 176 is color-developed in a developing tank 170 in a developing unit 176, bleach-fixed in a fixing tank 172, sent to a washing tank 174, washed with water, and subjected to various processing necessary for developing processing. The print is dried in the drying unit 178 to be printed and discharged to the sorter 180.

At the time of replenishment of the photosensitive material, the replenishing container 1 for the photosensitive material is used similarly to the embodiment of the digital image recording apparatus 10.
84 is mounted on a mounting table 184, and detailed description is omitted, but the photosensitive material A is set in the same manner as in the embodiment of the image recording apparatus 10.
Can be replenished. However, in this embodiment, the conveyance path of the photosensitive material A when refilling the photosensitive material does not overlap with the conveyance path of the photosensitive material A during image recording. A path switching mechanism is not required, and instead, the loading shaft 12
A transport path switching mechanism for detecting the leading end of the photosensitive material A loaded in No. 4 and guiding it to the transport path during image recording is required.
However, detecting the leading end of the photosensitive material A and guiding the photosensitive material A to the transport path is also performed in the supply of the photosensitive material A by a conventional magazine, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

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 modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0051]

As described in detail above, the image recording apparatus of the present invention can be used to take the photosensitive material directly from the replenishing container and take it up to the storage mechanism. It is possible to eliminate the need for skilled groping work to take out and mount it on the magazine, and to take the photosensitive material from the replenishing container in a light-shielded state and take it up to the storage mechanism. The material can be replenished, and the waiting time until all the photosensitive material inside the image recording apparatus is sent out to the developing apparatus for magazine replacement can be eliminated, so that productivity can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to open the inner cover for replacing the magazine, the light-shielding property of the image recording apparatus is improved.

By providing a photosensitive material detecting mechanism for measuring the present amount of photosensitive material being wound in the take-up and storage mechanism, the remaining amount of photosensitive material is compared with the amount of photosensitive material used by the film. It is also possible to select a film to be exposed so as not to waste the photosensitive material.
Of course, the magazine itself becomes unnecessary, so it is less expensive, and the refill container is made of durable material so that it can be recycled. Can be significantly reduced.

In the present invention, the photosensitive material is fed out of the replenishing container and wound around the loading shaft, so that the recording surface (emulsion surface) can be wound outside only by changing the winding direction around the loading shaft. It is also possible to wind it. Therefore, a completely different arrangement from the conventional arrangement of the back print section, the image recording section, and the like on the assumption that the emulsion is wound around the magazine on the outside can be obtained. The degree of freedom increases. As described above, the present invention has a great effect only by adding a photosensitive material replenishing mechanism having a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital image recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an analog image recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 110 Image recording device 12, 112 Photosensitive material supply unit 14, 114 Back print unit 16, 116 Image recording unit 18 Distributing unit 20, 120 Developing device 22, 122 Transport mechanism 24, 124 Loading shaft 26 Pull-out roller pair 28 Bending roller 30, 32 Guide roller 34 Cutter 36 Exposure unit 38 Scanning and transporting means 40, 42 Transport roller pair 44 Exposure guide 46 Belt conveyor 48 Auxiliary belt conveyor 50, 52 Suction unit 54 Transport roller pair 56 Discharge port 82, 182 Refill container 84, 184 Mounting table 86 Photosensitive material replenishment port 88 Light blocking means 90 Supply roller pair 92 Guide leaf 94 Guide plate 160 Light source 162 Reflecting mirror 164 Negative carrier 166 Lens 168 Shutter 170 Developing tank 172 Fixing tank 174 Rinse tank 76 developing section 178 drying unit 180 sorter A photosensitive material X exposure position

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material supply section which holds a roll of long photosensitive material and supplies it as a long photosensitive material or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length, and a predetermined conveyance of these photosensitive materials. A photosensitive material transport mechanism that transports the photosensitive material according to a path;
An image recording unit that is provided in a transport path of the photosensitive material transport mechanism and exposes a predetermined image recorded on a film to the photosensitive material. An image recording apparatus for discharging to a next developing device, a photosensitive material take-up and storage mechanism provided in the photosensitive material supply unit and configured to windably and unwind the roll-shaped long photosensitive material and to hold the roll. A replenishing mechanism for supplying a photosensitive material for supplying replenishing photosensitive material to the rewinding and storing mechanism, and replenishing the replenishing photosensitive material to the rewinding and storing mechanism by the replenishing mechanism for the photosensitive material; An image recording apparatus, wherein a long photosensitive material or a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length is supplied to an image recording unit by a mechanism. 2. A photosensitive material replenishing mechanism, comprising: a mounting table on which a photosensitive material replenishing container containing the replenishing photosensitive material is mounted; and a light-sensitive material supply port of the photosensitive material replenishing container, which is shielded from light. 2. A replenishing photosensitive material supply port for conveying the replenishment photosensitive material passing through the photosensitive material replenishment port to the take-up / storage mechanism. Image recording device. 3. A take-up / storing mechanism for the photosensitive material for holding the roll-shaped elongate photosensitive material so as to be able to take up and pay out the photosensitive material supply unit, and the photosensitive material supply unit is supplied to the take-up / storing mechanism. A photosensitive material transport path switching mechanism for selecting and switching between a transport path of the replenishment photosensitive material and a transport path of the long photosensitive material or a photosensitive material supplied as a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A transport path for the replenishing photosensitive material supplied to the take-up and storage mechanism and a transport path for the long photosensitive material or a photosensitive material supplied as a sheet-shaped photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a photosensitive material detection mechanism for detecting a length of the photosensitive material being conveyed, and measuring a current amount of the photosensitive material wound by the winding and storing mechanism. . 5. The winding and storing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material detecting mechanism is a single detecting mechanism, and a difference between a conveying length of the replenishing photosensitive material and a conveying length of the photosensitive material supplied to the image recording section. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a current amount of the photosensitive material wound around the image recording apparatus is measured. 6. An image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mounting table also functions as a light shielding cover of said image recording apparatus.