JPH11305352A - Recording material magazine and image recorder using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording material magazine capable of drastically simplifying operation needed when the width of the recording material is changed in the recording material magazine housing the roll-like long recording material and loaded on an image recorder. SOLUTION: This magazine is provided with a magazine main body on which a discharging port 72a is formed, a groove part 78 formed in the width direction of the recording material in the vicinity of the discharging port 72a of the magazine main body, a joining part 82 provided on the part 78 and joining to the magazine main body, a rotating member rotatably provided on the surface of the part 82, an engaging part 86 extending in a groove part direction from the part 82, and engaged with the part 78, a width guide 80 extending from the part 82 and having a control part 88 controlling the position of the recording material in the width direction, and a pressing plate 90 which is provided in parallel in the vicinity of the groove part, on which a recessed part 90a fitted to the rotating member is formed on a position corresponding to the width of the various kinds of the recording materials, and which presses the part 82 of the guide 80 toward the magazine main body. By this device, the operation needed when the width of the recording material is changed can be drastically simplified. Consequently, operation load for a user can be drastically reduced.

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 a recording material magazine which accommodates a roll of long recording material and is loaded into an image recording apparatus, and an image recording apparatus using this recording material magazine. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various recording materials such as silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, heat-developable light-sensitive materials, and light- and heat-sensitive recording materials are used in image recording apparatuses such as printers and copiers. Such a recording material may be cut into a predetermined length in advance and supplied to an image recording apparatus.However, the recording material is wound into a recording material roll while being kept in a long length, and the recording material roll is supplied to the apparatus as it is. Many are supplied and cut to a size corresponding to the hard copy created in the image recording apparatus. In many cases, the recording material roll is stored in a predetermined magazine and is loaded at a predetermined position of the image recording apparatus.

For example, a photo printer (photo printing device)
Then, the photosensitive material roll is stored in a predetermined magazine, the magazine is loaded into a predetermined position of the apparatus, the photosensitive material is pulled out of the magazine, cut into a predetermined length corresponding to a print size, and then transported along a predetermined path. Exposure, development and drying to give (finished) prints, or
While being long, it is transported along a predetermined path and subjected to processes such as exposure, development, and drying, and finally cut into one print.

In such an image recording apparatus,
The removal of the photosensitive material from the magazine is performed by nipping and transporting the photosensitive material with a pair of draw-out rollers provided near the magazine outlet.

[0005]

By the way, in such a photo printer, it is possible to cope with various print sizes by changing the width of the photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive material width) as necessary. And In this case, the width of the photosensitive material is changed by replacing the photosensitive material roll in the magazine with a photosensitive material roll having a different width.
On the other hand, in the photo printer main body, the transport system in the apparatus is adjusted according to the changed photosensitive material width.

Here, in order to make the main body of the photo printer recognize the changed width of the photosensitive material when replacing the photosensitive material roll, for example, a detection plate having a plurality of pins formed corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material is used. The detection plate is attached to the surface of a magazine, and at the same time as the magazine is loaded, the detection plate is engaged with a microswitch on the photo printer main body side to read. However, with this configuration, when the width of the photosensitive material is changed, it is necessary to replace the detection plate each time, and there is a problem that the work load on the user is large.

In the case where a width guide for regulating the width of the photosensitive material in the width direction is provided in the vicinity of the magazine outlet, when the width of the photosensitive material is changed, the user can use a screwdriver or the like to screw the photosensitive material. To change the position of the width guide, it is necessary to perform the work, and the work load on the user is also large.

[0008] Such a problem can occur not only in a photo printer but also in various image recording apparatuses using the above-mentioned roll-shaped long photosensitive material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and includes a recording material magazine that stores a long recording material in a roll form and is loaded into an image recording apparatus, and an image using the recording material magazine. It is an object of the present invention to greatly simplify the operation required for changing the width of a recording material in a recording apparatus.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording material magazine containing a long recording material in the form of a roll and loaded into an image recording apparatus. A magazine body formed with a discharge port through which the recording material is discharged, a groove formed in the width direction of the recording material inside the magazine body and near the discharge port, and provided on the groove, Joints to join the body,
A rotating member rotatably provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the joint, an engaging portion extending from the joint toward the groove and engaging with the groove, and the photosensitive material passing through the joint. A width guide having a restricting portion extending to the side and restricting the position in the width direction of the recording material, and the rotating member provided at a position corresponding to the width of various recording materials, provided in parallel near the groove portion. A recording material magazine provided with a recess capable of being fitted therein, and a biasing plate for biasing a joint of the width guide toward the magazine main body.

According to the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for supplying a roll-shaped long recording material stored in a recording material magazine or a sheet-shaped recording material obtained by cutting the roll-shaped long recording material into a predetermined length. A material supply unit, and an image recording apparatus having a recording unit that performs image recording on the recording material, wherein the recording material magazine is loaded into the recording material supply unit,
A magazine body provided with a discharge port from which the recording material is discharged, and a magazine body provided near the discharge port of the magazine body, which restricts the position of the recording material in the width direction from both sides.
A sheet width guide, and a protrusion provided to extend from at least one of the two sheet width guides in a direction in which the recording material is discharged, and further, the recording material supply unit adjusts a position of the protrusion. Provided is an image recording device having a sensor for detecting.

Here, it is preferable that the sensor is a pressure-type or contact-type sensor that detects pressure or contact by the protrusion.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image recording apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) of the present invention. The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a digital photo printer printer (printing device) that exposes a photosensitive material A (photographic paper) by digital exposure, records a latent image, and outputs the latent image as a print (photograph). Long photosensitive material A wound in a roll
Is cut to a predetermined length according to the print to be made into a cut sheet, and then a back print is recorded (back print) and digital scanning exposure is performed, and a processor (developing device)
This is a device for supplying P.

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a printer that cuts a photosensitive material into a cut sheet and then performs exposure. After performing recording of back print, etc., and then performing predetermined development processing such as development and drying,
The present invention is also applicable to a printer that cuts a photosensitive material corresponding to each print. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a normal direct exposure printer. In addition to such a photo printer, an apparatus using a recording material roll formed by winding a long recording material, such as an image recording apparatus using a heat-developable photosensitive material or a recording apparatus using a photosensitive heat-sensitive recording material. If so, various applications can be applied to known image recording apparatuses. In addition,
In the following description, these are also referred to as photosensitive materials.

The printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12 which is a feature of the present invention, a back printing unit 14 for recording a back print, an image recording unit 16, and a distribution unit 1.
8 and the photosensitive material A as a cut sheet is
The first transport unit 34 and the second transport unit 36 for transporting the first and second transport units are provided. The printer 10 includes, in addition to the members shown,
Various members such as a conveying means of the photosensitive material A such as a conveying roller, a conveying 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. Loading sections 20 and 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a magazine 32 in which a photosensitive material roll Ar formed by winding a long photosensitive material A into a roll is housed in a light-shielding housing.
Is the part to be loaded. The magazines 32 loaded in the loading units 20 and 22 usually have a width (size), a surface type (silk or mat, etc.), a specification (thickness, base type, etc.), and the like.
A photosensitive material roll Ar in which photosensitive materials A of different types are wound is housed. Here, the magazine 32 relates to a recording material magazine (hereinafter, referred to as a magazine) of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the magazine 32. As shown in FIG. 2A is a side view of the magazine 32, FIG. 2B is a side sectional view, and FIG. 2C is a view of the magazine 32 shown in FIG.
(D) is a schematic diagram of the front of the magazine (on the side of the discharge port 72a).

The illustrated magazine 32 basically has a lower case 62, an upper case 64, a spool 66, two flanges 68, 68, and a width guide mechanism 77 which is a characteristic part of the present invention. .

The photosensitive material roll Ar is inserted through a shaft by a spool 66, and has an end face sandwiched between disk-shaped flanges 68 and 68 having through holes inserted through the spool 66, and is wound around the photosensitive material roll Ar. The width (axial center) direction of the photosensitive material A to be rotated (hereinafter referred to as the width direction)
Is regulated and held by the spool 66.

The magazine 32 stores photosensitive material rolls Ar of various sizes (width of the photosensitive material A). Engaging means for engaging and holding the flange 68 with the spool 66 at predetermined intervals is formed on the spool 66 and / or the flange 68 in accordance with the size of the photosensitive material roll Ar. There is no particular limitation on the engagement means, and various known methods for aligning and engaging and holding a plate having a through hole and a columnar body inserted therethrough can be used. For example, two grooves having an interval corresponding to the size of the photosensitive material roll Ar are formed on the spool 66 in accordance with the number of sizes of the photosensitive material roll Ar to be held, and the flange 68 is engaged with the groove so as to be freely inserted into the groove. Method of providing members, spool 66
Are formed in the through holes of the flange 68, and screws for screwing the screws are formed in the through holes of the flange 68.
Alternatively, a method of rotating the flange 68 and sandwiching the photosensitive material roll Ar between the flanges 68 is exemplified.

As will be described later, the printer 1 in the illustrated example will be described.
In the case of 0, the latent image is recorded on the photosensitive material A by light beam scanning exposure in which the center of the photosensitive material A conveyed in the sub-scanning direction is aligned with the center in the scanning direction, that is, the so-called center is used. The intermediate point is the photosensitive material A
Center in the direction orthogonal to the transport (drawing) direction of
Engagement with the spool 66 so that
Will be retained.

On the other hand, the magazine body (light-shielding housing)
The photosensitive material A is formed by combining a lower case 62 and an upper case 64 that are open casings, and the photosensitive material A is discharged from a discharge port 72a of a discharge unit 72 that protrudes in a discharge direction at an upper corner of the magazine body. The lower case 62 and the upper case 64 are rotatably engaged with each other via a hinge 74, and the lower case 62 and the upper case 6
By rotating 4 in the direction of arrow a, the inside of the magazine 32 is opened or closed.

At substantially the center of the side where the lower case 62 and the upper case 64 are in contact with each other, a supporting portion 76a rotatably supporting both ends of the spool 66 in accordance with the extending direction of the discharge port 72a. 76b is formed. In addition, the support portions 76a and 76b are configured to open the pivot of the spool 66 by opening the upper case 64. Therefore, the spool 66 (and the flange 68) is opened in the magazine body (supported by the opening of the upper case 64). Parts 76a and 76b). The upper case 64 is opened, and both ends of the spool 66 holding the photosensitive material roll Ar are attached to the support portions 76a and 76b as described above, and the tip of the photosensitive material A is pulled out to a predetermined position, and the upper case 64 is closed. Thereby, the photosensitive material roll Ar is set (stored) in the magazine 32.

The width guide mechanism 77 is a mechanism for discharging the photosensitive material A at a predetermined position and in a predetermined direction, and is provided at the discharge section 72 of the magazine 32.

Here, as described above, when changing the width of the photosensitive material, the user loosens the screw using a screwdriver or the like,
It is necessary to perform the work of changing the position of the width guide, and there is a problem that the work load is large.

On the other hand, in the width guide mechanism according to the present invention, a rotating member is provided at a predetermined position on the width guide surface, and a member corresponding to the width of various recording materials is provided as a member for holding the width guide in the magazine body. The above-mentioned problem is solved and a simple operation is made possible by forming a concave portion which can be fitted with the rotating member and using a biasing plate for biasing the width guide toward the magazine main body. is there.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the width guide mechanism 77 includes a groove 78, width guides 80 and 80,
An urging plate 90 is provided. In FIG. 3, the upper case 64 is omitted to clearly show the internal structure. The groove 78 is for engaging the width guide 80 so as to be stably movable only in the width direction of the photosensitive material A.
A groove is formed in the width direction of the photosensitive material A in the width direction of the photosensitive material A inside the discharge portion 72 (in the illustrated example, on the lower case 62 side) and near the discharge port 72a. In addition, this groove 78 is
It may be formed not only on the lower case 62 side but also on the upper case 64 side.

The width guides 80, 80 are guide plates for regulating the position of the photosensitive material A in the width direction and discharging the photosensitive material A at a predetermined position and in a predetermined direction. Are provided symmetrically with respect to the center in the width direction of the photosensitive material A (hereinafter, referred to as a transport center). As shown in FIG. 3, the width guide 80 according to the present invention includes a joining portion 82, a rotating member 84, an engaging portion 86, and a regulating portion 88.
Having. The joining portion 82 secures the stability of the width guide 80 by joining with a sufficient area with the magazine main body 60, and constitutes a portion to be urged and held by the urging plate 90. Yes, it is formed in a plate shape.

The rotating member 84 is configured such that the width guide 80 is
When the width guide 80 is set, it can be moved smoothly while the width guide 8 is being held.
After the setting of 0, the recess 9 of the urging plate 90 described later is used.
When the width guide 80 is fitted to Oa, the width guide 80 is securely fixed at a predetermined position. The width guide 80 is rotatably provided on the surface of the joining portion 82, which is held by the urging plate 90. As the rotating member 84, a spherical member may be used. However, in the present invention, a member that is rotatable at least in the width direction of the photosensitive material A and that can be fitted into the recess 90a of the urging plate 90. If it is not particularly limited, for example,
It may be a cylindrical rod. The method of supporting the rotating member 84 on the joint 82 may be a conventionally known supporting method, and is not particularly limited. For example, when the rotating member 84 is a sphere, the joint 82 In this case, a substantially spherical concave portion that can be fitted to the ball is formed in advance, and the ball is fitted in this concave portion to rotatably support the joint 82 at a predetermined position. In the case where the rotating member 84 is a bar, the rotating member 84 may be rotatably provided on the surface of the joint 82 via a bearing.

The engaging portion 86 is a portion for engaging the width guide 80 with the groove portion 78 and enabling the width guide 80 to move in the width direction of the photosensitive material A while maintaining a predetermined direction. Extending from the portion 82 toward the groove 78, the groove 7
By being formed as a plate material parallel to 8, it can be engaged with the groove 78. The regulating portion 88 is a portion for regulating the position of the recording material A in the width direction by contacting the end surface (in the width direction) of the recording material A. In the illustrated example, it is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the joining portion 82).

The urging plate 90 is provided in parallel with the vicinity of the groove 78 so that the joint 82 of the width guide 80 is moved toward the magazine main body 60 via the rotating member 84 or together with the rotating member 84. There is no particular limitation as long as it is a plate for biasing, and various structures can be used. However, it is preferable to use a plate spring as shown in the figure, since a simple configuration can be obtained. A plurality of recesses 90 a, 90 a,... That can be fitted to the rotating member 84 are formed in advance at positions corresponding to the widths of various recording materials. For this reason, during normal use, the rotating member 84 of the width guide 80 is fitted into the concave portion 90a, so that the width guide 8
The position of the photosensitive material A can be reliably fixed, and when the width of the photosensitive material A is changed, the user simply pushes the sheet with a predetermined force in the width direction without loosening a screw or the like, thereby easily changing the width of the photosensitive material A. To change its position. Moreover, the width guide 80 is reliably set at a predetermined position via the rotating member 84 by the urging force of the urging plate 90 simply by moving the width guide 80 to the concave portion 90a corresponding to the position of the desired photosensitive material width. Accordingly, the work load when changing the width of the photosensitive material A can be greatly reduced.

The shape of the concave portion 90a is not particularly limited as long as it can be fitted to the rotating member 84, and various shapes can be adopted. The member 84 is relatively easily recessed 90a
It is preferable that the shape and the size are such that the rotating member 84 can be reliably supported by the concave portion 90a after the width guide 80 is set.

Incidentally, the photosensitive material A
Is preferably formed. That is, as described above, conventionally, in order to allow the photoprinter main body to recognize the changed width of the photosensitive material, it is necessary to replace the detection plate each time the width of the photosensitive material is changed. There was a problem that was large. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
0, the projection 92 is formed to extend in the discharge direction of the photosensitive material A, and the position of the projection 92 is detected by the sensor 94 on the printer 10 side. Detection is enabled, and the work load when changing the width of the photosensitive material A can be further reduced.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, at least one of the two width guides 80 extends to the regulating portion 88 (and the joining portion 82). A projection 92 is provided. In the illustrated width guide 80,
A plate-like projection 92 is formed below the regulating portion 88 and extends from the end of the photosensitive material A in the discharge direction in the discharge direction. The shape and position of the protrusion 92 may be at least a protrusion that protrudes in the discharge direction from the discharge-side end face of the regulating portion 88 (and the joint 82) of the width guide 80, and is not particularly limited. There is no regulation 88
(In the illustrated example, in the illustrated example), the corresponding sensor 94 is provided below the bonding portion 82, that is, below the conveyance path of the photosensitive material A. This is preferable because the transfer of the photosensitive material A can be prevented.

The thickness of the protrusion 92 is the minimum width that can be detected by the sensor 94 (in the illustrated sensor 94, the sensor piece 94
(a detection width for each a) is preferable in that the detection capability of the sensor 94 can be maximized and the width of the photosensitive material can be accurately identified. In addition, such a protrusion 9
2 may be provided on both of the two width guides 80, 80. In this case, for example, when the widths of the photosensitive materials to be detected are close to each other, sensor pieces 94a corresponding to the close widths are provided on different sides, and each sensor piece 94a corresponds to the corresponding side. Width guide 80, 8
With a configuration for detecting 0, the width detection capability of the sensor 94 can be further improved.

In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the configuration may be such that the rotary member 84 and the urging plate 90 are not provided. Also in this case, the width of the photosensitive material A can be automatically detected, so that the effect of the present invention of reducing the work load on the user can be obtained.

On the other hand, the loading units 20 and 22 on the printer 10 side
Is provided with a sensor 94. The sensor 94 detects the position of the protrusion 92 of the width guide 80, that is, the width of the photosensitive material A.
It is provided at a position corresponding to the projection 92 when the magazine 32 is loaded. As long as the sensor 94 can detect the position of the protrusion 92 of the width guide 80, the detection method is not particularly limited, and various conventionally known sensors can be used. For example, the use of a pressure-type sensor that detects when pressed by the projection 92 or a contact-type sensor that is detected by being brought into contact with the projection 92 may cause adverse effects such as light over the photosensitive material A. It is preferable because there is no cost and it is advantageous in terms of cost. Further, as the sensor 94, an optical sensor that detects the position of the protrusion 92 with light in a wavelength range that does not affect the photosensitive material A may be used.

The sensor 94 in the illustrated example is a pressing type sensor, and sensor pieces 94a, 94a,... Are individually provided only at positions corresponding to the widths of various photosensitive materials A which can be used in advance. The printer 10 is configured to detect the width of the photosensitive material A by identifying which of the sensor pieces 94a among the pieces 94a, 94a,... Is pressed by the protrusion 92 of the width guide 80. Accordingly, the sensor 94 in the illustrated example is, as shown in FIG.
0, 22 and a position immediately below the protrusion 92 when the magazine 32 is loaded (in the embodiment of FIG.
2). The present invention is not limited to this, and a rod-shaped sensor extending in the width direction of the photosensitive material A and capable of detecting an arbitrary position in the width direction may be used. When the protrusion 92 is provided only on one of the width guides 80 as in the illustrated example, the sensor 94 may be configured to have a width that ensures a half width of the photosensitive material A.

As described above, by making the sensor 94 of the printer 10 detect the width of the photosensitive material A via the position of the width guide 80, the detection plate for detecting the width of the photosensitive material A can be attached and detached. This eliminates the need for complicated work, thereby further reducing the work load on the user.

The basic configuration of the recording material magazine according to the present invention is as described above. In such a magazine 32, a long photosensitive material A pulled out from the photosensitive material roll Ar is provided with a width guide. The configuration is such that both ends are regulated by 80 and conveyed to the discharge port 72a as it is while being held in the proper position and orientation, and nipped by the pair of draw-out rollers 24 and 26 in the printer 10. On the other hand, in the printer 10, the control unit (not shown) adjusts the transport system in the printer 10 (for example, adjusts the position of a guide) according to the width of the photosensitive material automatically detected via the sensor 94.
After such operations are performed, image recording is performed on the conveyed photosensitive material A.

As a magazine employing another configuration of the width guide mechanism 77, a magazine 96 shown in FIG.
Are also preferably exemplified. The magazine 96 shown in FIG.
In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, a sensor 98 that is provided inside the magazine body 60 and detects the position of the flange 68
And the width guide 80 according to the detection result of the sensor 98.
And a driving means 100 for moving the photosensitive material A in the width direction of the photosensitive material A. This eliminates the need for adjusting the width guide 80 when changing the width of the photosensitive material, and reduces the user's work load when changing the width of the photosensitive material. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the discharge portion 72 of the magazine 96 is formed such that the vicinity of the discharge port 72a of the magazine body 60 is bent inward and is formed so as to penetrate the groove 78. Drive means 100 from below
It is preferable that the width guide 80 can be driven, because it is easy to secure the conveyance path of the photosensitive material A, but it is not limited to this. In the figure,
In order to clearly show the internal structure of the magazine 96, the upper case 64 and the flange 68 on one side are omitted, and the same members as those in the magazine 32 in FIG.

The sensor 98 detects the width of the photosensitive material A by detecting the position of the flange 68. The sensor 98 can detect the width of the photosensitive material A without adversely affecting the photosensitive material A. The method is not particularly limited as long as it is possible, and various known detection means can be used. For example, the flange 68 itself or the flange 68
A contact or pressure sensor that detects contact or pressure by a detection member or the like protruding from the sensor may be used, or the position of the flange 68 is detected by light in a wavelength range that does not affect the photosensitive material A. A configuration using an optical sensor may be employed. Note that the detection member to be detected by the flange 68 may be provided via an urging member such as a spring to apply an appropriate pressing force.

The driving means 100 is means for moving the width guide 80 to a position corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material A based on the detection result of the sensor 98. The configuration is not particularly limited as long as it can move 80 to a predetermined position. The driving means 100 is provided with a groove 78 in the magazine main body 60.
And the width guide 80 may be driven from below through the groove 78.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the rotating shaft 102, which is threaded in different directions so as to be symmetrical on both sides thereof, and the rotating shaft 10
2 are screwed into symmetrical positions on both sides of the
0, two connecting members 104,
104 and a drive source 10 for driving the rotation shaft 102 to rotate.
6 and a control unit 107 that controls the drive source 106 so that the two width guides 80 are located at positions corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material in accordance with the detection result from the sensor 98. . In this way, the two shaft guides 80,
80 can be moved while always maintaining symmetry.

Note that, in the example shown in FIG.
Is provided in the magazine 96, but the present invention is not limited to this. In place of the drive source 106 in the magazine 96, a gear that can be interlocked with the rotating shaft 102 is provided.
When the drive source is provided in the loading units 20 and 22 of the printer 10 and the magazine 96 is loaded, the gear and the drive source mesh with each other, and the power of the drive source is transmitted to the rotary shaft 102 via the gear. Such a configuration may be adopted.

As another structure of the driving means 100, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge portion 72 has grooves 108 corresponding to the engaging portions 86, 86 of the two width guides 80, 80, respectively. , 108 are formed in parallel in total,
The two width guides 80, 80 may be driven by driving means 110 from below the grooves 108, 108, respectively. In this case, as the driving means 110, for example, as shown in FIG.
8, two endless belts 114 provided on the two pulleys 112 and 112, and an endless belt 114
And connecting members 116 for connecting the width guides 80, 80,
116 and a drive source 118 that rotationally drives one of the pulleys 112. That is,
The two width guides 80, 80 are connected to the two pulleys 112, 1
With respect to the line connecting the centers of 12
If the photosensitive material is fixed to the endless belt 114 so that it is symmetrical with respect to the transport center,
By rotating the drive source 118 by a predetermined amount, the interval between the two width guides 80, 80 can be changed while maintaining symmetry with respect to the transport center.

Although various known drive sources such as motors can be used as the drive sources 102 and 118, a pulse motor is preferably exemplified because control by the control unit is easy.

Since the printer in the illustrated example performs exposure on the basis of the center, in the magazine 32, the photosensitive material roll Ar is arranged so that the center in the width direction and the center of conveyance are aligned. In addition to a printer that performs exposure based on a reference, the present invention is also applicable to a printer that performs exposure and transport using the end surface of the photosensitive material A as a reference (a so-called edge reference). When this edge reference is adopted, the photosensitive material A
Corresponding to each sensor 9 so as to detect the width guide 80 and / or the flange 68 on the side that can move according to the width of the sensor 9.
4, 98 may be provided.

The pull-out roller pairs 24 and 26 pull out and transport the photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 32 loaded in the loading units 20 and 22. This conveyance stops when the length of the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream from the corresponding cutters 28 and 30 reaches a length corresponding to the print (recorded image) to be produced, and then the cutters 28 and 30 operate. Then, the photosensitive material A is cut into a cut sheet having a predetermined length.

The photosensitive material A pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading section 22 and cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 30
The photosensitive material A pulled out of the magazine 32 of the loading unit 20 and cut by the cutter 28 on the other hand is transported by the first transport unit 34 and the second transport unit 36 composed of a number of transport roller pairs. By 36, both are conveyed upward, then conveyed rightward, and conveyed to the image recording unit 16 (scanning conveyance unit 42) with the recording surface facing up.

In the middle of the second transport section 36, the back printing means 1
4 are arranged. The back printing means 14 records various information such as a photographing date, a print printing date, a frame number, a film ID number, etc., a so-called back print on the non-recording surface (non-emulsion surface = back surface) of the photosensitive material A (back printing). The back-printing unit 14 records a back print of the photosensitive material A while being transported by the second transport unit 36.

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 (scanning conveying means 42), the speed is set higher than that before the conveying roller pair 36b upstream of the loop forming section 38, and the photosensitive material A conveyed through the second conveying section 36 In the loop forming unit 38, as indicated by a dotted line in the drawing, due to the difference in upstream and downstream transport speeds,
A loop corresponding to the size is formed. 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 photosensitive material A is supplied from the second transport section 36 to the image recording section 16. The image recording unit 16 (hereinafter, referred to as the recording unit 16) includes an exposure unit 40 and a scanning and conveying unit 42, and scans with the light beam L while conveying the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction. Thus, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image.

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. A known light beam scanning device including a light source for each light beam, a light beam modulating unit, a light deflector such as a polygon mirror, an fθ lens, a mirror for adjusting an optical path, and the like.

On the other hand, the scanning and conveying means 42
A pair of conveyance rollers arranged with the (scanning line) interposed therebetween;
An exposure guide (not shown) for suitably holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position X, and a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction by a pair of conveying rollers while holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position X Material A is scanned and transported. As described above, since the light beam L is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam L modulated according to an image to be recorded, and a latent image is recorded. Is done.

The photosensitive material A on which the latent image has been recorded by the recording unit 16 is conveyed to a distribution unit 18 disposed downstream.
The distribution unit 18 distributes the exposed photosensitive material A in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction according to a sequence appropriately determined according to the size and the like, and forms a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction. By transporting the photosensitive material A to the pair of transport rollers 44 for supplying the photosensitive material A to the processor P, the processing capacity of the processor P is improved, 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.

The photosensitive material A conveyed by the distribution unit 18
Is supplied to the processor P by a pair of downstream conveying rollers 44, subjected to development processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water, dried, and discharged as a (finished) print.

Although the recording material magazine and the image recording apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course you can do it.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a recording material magazine for storing a long recording material in the form of a roll and loaded into an image recording apparatus, and the recording material magazine is used. In the image recording apparatus, the work required for changing the width of the recording material can be greatly simplified. Therefore, the user's work load can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a recording material magazine used in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is a side view,
(B) is a side sectional view, (c) is an arrow view in the cc section of (b), and (d) is a front view.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are examples of a discharge section of the recording material magazine shown in FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a perspective view and FIG.

4 is a conceptual diagram showing a positional relationship between a width guide and a sensor in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.
(A) shows the state before loading the magazine, and (b) shows the state after loading the magazine.

5A and 5B show another example of a recording material magazine used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a perspective view excluding an upper case and a flange on one side, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of another example of the driving unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 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 part 40 Exposure Unit 42 Scanning / conveying means 46 Belt conveyor 48 Distributing device 50 Suction unit 60 Magazine main body 62 Lower case 64 Upper case 66 Spool 68 Flange 72 Discharge unit 72a Discharge port 74 Hinge 76a, 76b Support unit 77 Width guide mechanism 78, 108 Groove unit 80 Width guide 82 Joining part 84 Rotating member 86 Engaging part 88 Restricting part 90 Urging plate 90a Depression 92 Protrusion 94 Sensor 96 Magazine 98 Sensor 100, 110 Driving means 102 Rotating shaft 104, 116 Connecting member 106, 118 Driving source 107 Control Part 11 Pulley 114 endless belt A photosensitive material Ar photosensitive material roll

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording material magazine for storing a long recording material in a roll shape and loaded in an image recording apparatus, comprising: a magazine main body having an outlet through which the recording material is discharged; A groove formed in the width direction of the recording material inside the main body and in the vicinity of the discharge port; a joint provided on the groove and joined to the magazine main body; and rotated to a predetermined position on the surface of the joint. A rotatable member provided so as to extend from the joint to the groove, engage with the groove, and extend from the joint to a side through which the photosensitive material passes; A width guide having a restricting portion for restricting the position in the width direction, a concave portion which is provided in parallel near the groove portion and which can be fitted with the rotating member at a position corresponding to the width of various recording materials, The joint of the width guide And a biasing plate for biasing the magazine toward the main body. 2. A recording material supply unit for supplying a long recording material roll stored in a recording material magazine or a sheet recording material obtained by cutting the long recording material into a predetermined length. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording unit that performs image recording on the recording material; wherein the recording material magazine is loaded in the recording material supply unit, and a discharge port from which the recording material is discharged is formed. A main body, two width guides provided in the vicinity of the discharge port of the magazine main body, and configured to restrict a position of the recording material in the width direction from both sides; and discharge of the recording material from at least one of the two width guides. An image recording apparatus, wherein the recording material supply unit includes a sensor that detects a position of the projection. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a pressure-type or contact-type sensor that detects pressure or contact by the projection.