JPH1138524A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image reader constituted by mounting an illumination unit capable of stabilizing both light quantity distribution in the longitudinal direction of a long-length light source and the light quantity distribution on the right and left side surfaces of a solid substance with an optical axis as center. SOLUTION: A slit hole 219 along in the longitudinal direction of a halogen lamp 211 is formed on a light distribution restricting plate 217. The light from an area where the hole 219 is formed is naturally transmitted and goes toward a platen glass 202. Therefore, by setting a position where the hole 219 is formed in the passing area of the light going to the right side surface of the solid substance, the unevenness of the light quantity in the longitudinal direction of the lamp 211 caused by the plate 217 is eliminated and the light quantity going to the right side surface of the solid substance is not fluctuated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus which irradiates light from a lighting unit to a member to be read and reads the member to be read by a solid-state image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a copying machine or the like, a member to be read (original) is placed on a transparent glass surface (platen glass surface), and external light is shielded by a pressing plate. The image is read by a scanner unit disposed below the platen glass. The scanner unit is composed of a slit light source in the main scanning direction that irradiates light to the original through the platen glass, and an optical system that guides light reflected by the original, and moves the slit light source in the sub scanning direction. While reading the image.

In the copying machine, light reflected from the original is guided to a charging drum to form a charged portion and a non-charged portion based on an image, and the toner is transferred to a predetermined sheet via the charged drum. Get an image. When an original image is read digitally, digital image data is obtained by guiding light reflected from the original to a CCD line sensor and sequentially reading the image with the CCD line sensor.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional illumination unit 500 for irradiating a document with light.

An original (flat image) 504 is placed on the surface of the platen glass 502, and an illumination unit 500 that moves in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7) is provided below the platen glass 502. It is arranged.

The lighting unit 500 includes a long halogen lamp 506 and a long halogen lamp 5
The reflectors 508A, 508B, and 508C reflect the light from the light source 06 and guide the light toward the document 504.

Here, the light from the halogen lamp 506 has an unstable light quantity distribution in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of light distribution limiting plates 510 are provided between the halogen lamp 506 and the platen glass 502 in the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 506. The amount of light reaching the original 504 is limited, and the light amount distribution in the longitudinal direction is stabilized.

However, at the position of the light distribution limiting plate 510, as shown by hatching in FIG. 7, only the light to the right side when the member to be read is not a flat image but a three-dimensional object is blocked. Therefore, a light amount difference occurs between the left side surface and the left side surface (see an imaginary line in FIG. 5).

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides an illumination unit capable of stabilizing both the light quantity distribution in the longitudinal direction of a long light source and the light quantity distribution on the left and right sides of the three-dimensional object about the optical axis. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image reading apparatus equipped with a.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus which irradiates light from a lighting unit to a member to be read and reads the member to be read by a solid-state image sensor. A light source, a reflector disposed around the light source and configured to reflect light from the light source that is not directly illuminated to the member to be read and guide the light toward the member to be read, and irradiate the member to be read directly from the light source. A light distribution limiting member that is insertable / retractable in the light beam on the optical path to be inserted, is divided in the longitudinal direction of the light source, and restricts irradiation of light from the light source to the member to be read. The light restricting member is provided with an area through which light from the light source is transmitted.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light distribution restricting plate can be inserted into and retracted from a light beam from the light source directly to the member to be read, so as to shield the reflected light from the reflector. did. With this light distribution limiting plate, unevenness in the light amount in the longitudinal direction of the light source can be eliminated. Further, by providing an area through which the light from the light source transmits (hereinafter, simply referred to as a transmission area) in a part of the area blocked by the light distribution limiting plate, when the member to be read is a three-dimensional object,
The amount of light to the right and left sides of the three-dimensional object is not biased by the light distribution limiting plate, and a stable amount of light can be applied to the member to be read. Naturally, even if the member to be read is a flat image, no unevenness in light amount occurs.

The invention according to a second aspect is characterized in that a variable means for varying an area through which light from the light source is transmitted is further provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a variable means for changing the transmission area is provided in the transmission area, and the transmission area is set to an appropriate area. Can be accurately controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the light distribution limiting member is provided with a slit hole so as to be a region through which light from the light source is transmitted. Features.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when forming the transmission region in the light distribution limiting plate, a slit hole is provided in a part of the light distribution limiting plate to cope with the slit hole. The light from the light source is transmitted and can be guided to the side surface of the member to be read.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the light distribution limiting member is provided with a slit-shaped transparent portion, and an area through which light from the light source is transmitted. It is characterized by doing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when forming the transmission region in the light distribution limiting plate, a transparent portion is provided in a part of the light distribution limiting plate. For example, the light distribution limiting member may be formed of a transparent member, and a transparent color may be applied while leaving a part.

Thus, light from the light source corresponding to the transparent portion can be transmitted and guided to the side surface of the member to be read.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image reading / recording apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image reading / recording apparatus 10 comprises a scanner section SCN as an image reading section and a printer section PRT for recording an image. The scanner section SCN is provided on a machine base 12. I have. Also, the printer unit PRT
Are arranged inside the machine base 12. (Scanner Unit SCN) FIG. 1 shows a scanner unit SCN according to the present embodiment.

The box-shaped casing 20 of the scanner unit SCN
0, a rectangular opening is provided at the center of the upper surface, and a transparent platen glass 202 is fitted therein. The platen glass 202 has a function as a flat original placing table, and a reflective original or a transparent original on which a planar image is recorded is placed thereon.

As shown in FIG. 2, the platen glass 20
A press cover 204 that can be opened and closed is provided on 2. The holding cover 204 is a cover 2 of the light source unit driving unit 234 provided on the back side of the casing 200.
34A is attached via a pin 204A. The holding cover 204 is provided with a hinge portion 204B, and is rotatable around the hinge portion 204B.

Accordingly, in the case of the reflection original 205, when the holding cover 204 is closed, the original can be pressed and held in the direction of the platen glass 202 from above.

In the light source unit driving section 234, a slit-shaped notch 400 having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction of FIG. 1 is formed on a side surface facing the platen glass 202.

An arm (not shown) extends from the notch 400 toward the platen glass 202. A transparent original scanning unit 232 is connected to this arm, and reciprocates on the platen glass 202 from the left end to the right end in FIG. The transparent document scanning unit 232 is retracted further to the left side of FIG. 1 than the platen glass 202 when the holding cover 204 is used.

The transparent original scanning unit 232 is provided with a transparent original light source unit 408 having a halogen lamp 404 as a light source and a reflector 406. The light source unit 408 for the transparent original is a platen glass 202
1 (from the near side to the far side in FIG. 1), which is the main scanning direction when a document is placed on the platen glass 202.

Here, the light source unit 40 for the transparent original is
Reference numeral 8 is applied when a transparent original is placed on the platen glass 202. In this case, the holding cover 204 is opened and retracted from the moving space of the transparent original scanning unit 232.

An operation / display panel (not shown) is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the casing 200 so as to instruct various functions and display an operation state in the apparatus.

A scanning unit 208 is provided in the casing 200. The scanning unit 208 includes a controller 209
Is controlled by The scanning unit 208 includes a halogen lamp 21 extending in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the original image.
1 and a first light source unit 210 including a reflector 213A, 213B, and 213C, and a first mirror 212 extending in the width direction of the original image together with the reflective original light source unit 210. Carriage 214, a second carriage 220 in which the second mirror 216 and the third mirror 218 are incorporated, a filter group 224 composed of a diaphragm 222, a color adjustment filter, an ND filter, and the like, and an image. Lens 226 for
And a fixing unit 228 composed of

The first carriage 214 irradiates the light from the reflection original light source unit 210 onto the original placed on the surface of the platen glass 202, and reflects the reflected light (light of a hanging optical axis) on the first carriage 214. The mirror 212 deflects by 90 ° and guides the second carriage 220 to the second mirror 216. Further, the first mirror 212 of the first carriage 214 irradiates the transmitted light emitted from the transparent original light source unit 408 and transmitted through the transparent original to the second mirror 21.
6

In the second carriage 220, the reflection surface of the second mirror 216 faces the first mirror 212,
When the light is received from the first mirror 212, the light is deflected by 90 ° by the second mirror 216 and further deflected by 90 ° by the third mirror 218.

The light finally made parallel to the surface of the platen glass 202 by the third mirror 218 passes through the fixed unit 228 and reaches the light receiving section of the CCD line sensor 230. The light receiving section of the CCD line sensor 230 according to the present embodiment includes three lines for independently detecting the amount of received light for each color (RGB).

In the fixed unit 228, the stop 222
The light amount is adjusted by the ND filter of the filter group 224 and the color balance is adjusted by the color adjustment filters of the filter group 224. The lens 226 forms a document image on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 230. The lens surface of the color adjustment filter has an IR cut filter corresponding to an IR cut filter.
A cut film is deposited.

The first carriage 214 and the second carriage 220 reciprocate in the sub-scanning direction along the original surface below the platen glass 202. At this time, in order to always keep the optical path length from the document reflection (or transmission) position to the light receiving portion of the CCD line sensor 230 constant, the second carriage 220 is moved at the same speed as the first carriage 214 at half the transport speed. It moves in the direction. This first
One reciprocating operation of the carriage 214 and the second carriage 220 is scanning for one image (image reading during forward movement),
As a result, a document image on the platen glass 202 can be read.

The transparent original scanning section 232 performs the same operation as that of the first carriage 214 by the driving force of the light source unit driving section 234. That is, when scanning a transparent original, the transparent original scanning unit 232 operates in synchronization with the first carriage 214. At this time,
Light source unit 21 for reflection original of first carriage 214
By turning off the light 0 and turning on the halogen lamp 404 of the transparent original light source unit 408 in the transparent original scanning unit 232, a transparent original image can be obtained by the first mirror 212. Subsequent operations are the same as those for the reflection original.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the first carriage 21.
4 shows a detailed view of the reflection original light source unit 210 mounted on the light source unit 4.

The light radiated from the halogen lamp 211 includes light radiated directly toward the platen glass 202,
Reflected by the reflectors 213A-C, the platen glass 2
Light emitted in the 02 direction.

That is, the reflector 213A reflects the light from the halogen lamp 211 and guides the light toward the platen glass 202. Further, the reflector 213B reflects the light from the halogen lamp 211 and guides the light to the reflector 213C. The light reflected by the reflector 213C reaches the platen glass 202.

With the above structure, the platen glass 202
A uniform amount of light can be obtained from the reflective document 205 placed on the upper side within a predetermined area on the left and right in FIG.

For example, when a three-dimensional object is placed on the platen glass 202, direct light from the halogen lamp 211 reaches the right side of the three-dimensional object, and is reflected by the reflector 213C on the left side. Since the light arrives, even if the object is a three-dimensional object, the light can be uniformly irradiated on the left and right including the side surface up to the height H around the optical axis L.

Here, a light distribution limiting plate 217 as a light distribution limiting member is provided above the halogen lamp 211, that is, on the optical path where the light of the halogen lamp 211 directly reaches the platen glass 202.

The light distribution limiting plate 217 is movable to a region where light from the halogen lamp 211 directly reaches the platen glass 202 and a region where the light is retracted from the optical path.

A plurality of light distribution limiting plates 217 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211 (five in the present embodiment). By setting the insertion amounts of the plurality of light distribution limiting plates 217 on the optical path, unevenness in the amount of light in the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211 can be corrected.

Here, when the light distribution limiting plate 217 is disposed on the optical path, the light to be blocked extends to the right side surface when the member to be read is a three-dimensional object, and the light distribution limiting plate 217 is inserted. The amount of light reaching the right side surface of the three-dimensional object changes depending on the amount. On the other hand, the left side of the three-dimensional object is a reflector 213B, 213C.
Since the light reflected by the light always arrives, the light amount balance is lost on the left and right side surfaces.

Therefore, the light distribution limiting plate 217 of the present embodiment
, A slit hole 219 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211. The light in the area where the slit hole 219 is provided naturally transmits, and the platen glass 202
To the direction. Accordingly, if the position where the slit hole 219 is provided is provided in the light passage area reaching the right side surface of the three-dimensional object, unevenness in the light amount in the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211 due to the light distribution limiting plate 217 is eliminated, and It is possible to adopt a structure in which the amount of light to the right side of the object does not change. (Printer Unit PRT) FIGS. 1 and 2 show the printer unit PRT in the machine base 12 of the image reading / recording apparatus 10.

A photosensitive material magazine 14 for storing a photosensitive material 16 is disposed inside the machine base 12, and the photosensitive material 16 extracted from the photosensitive material magazine 14 is exposed to light (exposure).
The light-sensitive material 16 is placed in the light-sensitive material magazine 14 such that the surface faces left.
It is wound up in a roll.

A nip roller 18 and a cutter 20 are disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive material outlet of the photosensitive material magazine 14, so that the photosensitive material 16 can be cut out after the photosensitive material 16 is drawn out of the photosensitive material magazine 14 by a predetermined length. The cutter 20
For example, it is a rotary type cutter including a fixed blade and a movable blade. The movable blade can be moved up and down by a rotary cam or the like to cut the photosensitive material 16 by meshing with the fixed blade.

A plurality of transport rollers 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 are sequentially arranged on the side of the cutter 20, and a guide plate (not shown) is provided between the transport rollers. . The photosensitive material 16 cut to a predetermined length is first conveyed to an exposure section 22 provided between conveying rollers 24 and 26.

An exposure device 38 is provided on the left side of the exposure section 22. The exposure device 38 is provided with three types of LDs, a lens unit, a polygon mirror, and a mirror unit (all are not shown). Are exposed.

It is also possible to employ a configuration in which LEDs are arranged in the main scanning direction and one line is exposed at the same time, without using a configuration in which the LD is scanned by a polygon mirror like a pendulum.

Above the exposure section 22, there are provided a U-turn section 40 for transporting the photosensitive material 16 in a U-shaped curve and a water application section 50 for applying an image forming solvent. In the present embodiment, water is used as the image forming solvent.

The photosensitive material 16 ascended from the photosensitive material magazine 14 and exposed at the exposure unit 22 is nipped and conveyed by conveyance rollers 28 and 30, respectively, and is applied with water while passing through a conveyance path near the upper side of the U-turn unit 40. It is sent to the unit 50.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, a receiving magazine 10 for storing an image receiving material 108 is provided at the upper left end in the machine base 12.
6 are arranged. A dye fixing material having a mordant is applied to the image forming surface of the image receiving material 108, and the image receiving material 108 is pulled out from the material receiving magazine 106 so that the image forming surface of the image receiving material 108 faces downward. It is wound in a roll shape around 106.

A nip roller 110 is disposed in the vicinity of the image receiving material take-out opening of the material receiving magazine 106 so that the image receiving material 108 can be pulled out from the material receiving magazine 106 and the nip can be released.

The cutter 11 is provided beside the nip roller 110.
2 are arranged. The cutter 112 is, for example, a rotary type cutter including a fixed blade and a movable blade, similar to the above-described photosensitive material cutter 20, and the movable blade is moved up and down by a rotating cam or the like to engage with the fixed blade. Thereby, the image receiving material 108 drawn out from the receiving material magazine 106 is cut into a shorter length than the photosensitive material 16.

The transport roller 13 is provided beside the cutter 112.
2, 134, 136, 138 and a guide plate (not shown) are arranged, and the image receiving material 108 cut to a predetermined length is provided.
Can be conveyed to the thermal development transfer unit 120 side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal development transfer section 120
Each has a pair of endless belts 122 and 124 that are wound around a plurality of winding rollers 140 and formed into a loop with the longitudinal direction being the vertical direction. Therefore, when one of these winding rollers 140 is driven and rotated, the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 wound around these winding rollers 140 are respectively rotated.

The heating plate 12 formed in a flat plate shape with the longitudinal direction being the longitudinal direction is provided in the loop of the endless belt 122 on the right side of the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 in the drawing.
6 is disposed facing the inner peripheral portion on the left side of the endless belt 122. A linear heater (not shown) is disposed inside the heating plate 126, and the heater can heat the surface of the heating plate 126 to a predetermined temperature.

Accordingly, the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer section 120 by the last transport roller 34 in the transport path. Further, the image receiving material 108 is transported in synchronization with the transport of the photosensitive material 16,
In a state where the photosensitive material 16 is advanced by a predetermined length, the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer unit 120 by the last transport roller 138 in the transport path, and is superposed on the photosensitive material 16.

In this case, the image receiving material 108 is the photosensitive material 16
Both the width dimension and the longitudinal dimension are smaller than that of the photosensitive material 16, so that the periphery of the photosensitive material 16 is overlapped with all four sides protruding from the periphery of the image receiving material 108.

As described above, the pair of endless belts 122, 12
Photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 1
08 is nipped and conveyed by a pair of endless belts 122 and 124 while being superposed.
Further, the superposed photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 108
However, when completely stopped between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124, the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 stop rotating once, and the sandwiched photosensitive material 16 and image receiving material 108 are heated by the heating plate 126. The photosensitive material 16 is heated by the heating plate 126 via the endless belt 122 at the time of the nipping conveyance and at the time of stopping, and the movable dye is released with the heating, and at the same time, the dye is transferred to the image receiving material 108.
Is transferred to the dye fixing layer, and an image is obtained on the image receiving material 108.

Further, a pair of endless belts 122, 124
On the downstream side in the material supply direction, a peeling claw 128 is arranged.
Of the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 nipped and transported between the endless belts 2 and 124, only the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 is engaged, and the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 protruding from between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124. It can be peeled off from the image receiving material 108.

The photosensitive material discharge roller 1 is located on the left side of the peeling claw 128.
The photosensitive material 16, which is moved leftward while being guided by the peeling claw 128, can be further transported to the waste photosensitive material container 150 side.

The waste photosensitive material storage section 150 has a drum 152 around which the photosensitive material 16 is wound, and a belt 154 partially wound around the drum 152. Further, the belt 154 includes a plurality of rollers 15.
The belt 154 is rotated by the rotation of the rollers 156, and the drum 1
52 rotates.

Accordingly, when the photosensitive material 16 is fed in a state where the belt 154 is rotated by the rotation of the roller 156, the photosensitive material 16 can be accumulated around the drum 152.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, receiving material discharge rollers 162, 16 are provided so that the image receiving material 108 can be conveyed leftward from below the pair of endless belts 122, 124.
4, 166, 168, and 170 are arranged in this order, and the image receiving material 108 discharged from the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 is applied to these material receiving rollers 162, 164, and 16
6, 168, 170, and the tray 172
Will be discharged to

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. First, the control of reading a document image in the scanner unit SCN will be described.

When a document is placed on the surface of the platen glass 202, the pressing cover 204 is closed, and the start of reading is instructed by a key operation on the operation / display panel, scanning starts. In this scanning, the dynamic range of the CCD line sensor 230 is adjusted so that the minimum density range can be reliably read and saturation does not occur.

After the above adjustment, in the case of a reflection original, the reflection original light source unit 210 is turned on, and the first carriage 214 is turned on.
Then, the operation is started by synchronizing the second carriage 220 with the second carriage 220. In the case of a transparent original, the light source unit 4 for the transparent original is used.
08 is turned on, and the operation is started by synchronizing the first carriage 214 and the second carriage 220.

[0070] At this time, the conveying speed V ₁ of the first carriage 214, the relationship between the conveying speed V ₂ of the second carriage 220 is V ₁ = 2V _2. By maintaining this, the optical path length from the document image surface to the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 230 can always be kept constant.

The image data is recorded in a RAM memory or a hard disk of a personal computer or the like, subjected to predetermined image processing, and sent to the printer unit PRT.

Here, in the reflective original light source unit 210, the halogen lamp 211 is long in the main scanning direction, and if there is unevenness in the light emission amount along this longitudinal direction, this directly causes unevenness in image reading of the CCD line sensor 230. Becomes

Therefore, in the present embodiment, light emitted from the halogen lamp 211 is limited, and unevenness occurring in the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211 is eliminated in advance.

That is, a portion where the amount of light of the halogen lamp 211 is large and a portion where the amount of light is small are measured in advance. Next, the average light amount Lave for each area corresponding to each light distribution limiting plate 217
(1) to Lave (N) are calculated, and the average values Lave (1) to Lave (N) are calculated.
Based on (N), the arrangement or non-arrangement of the light distribution limiting plate 217 is determined. Note that N is the number of light distribution limiting plates 217, and N = 5 in the present embodiment.

The light distribution restricting plate 217 is attached to the halogen lamp 211 along the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211.
The halogen lamp 2
11 can obtain a uniform light amount over the longitudinal direction. Therefore, unevenness in image reading by the CCD line sensor 230 can be prevented, and image data can be obtained with high accuracy. In addition, since the light is evenly distributed in a predetermined area (irradiation width in FIG. 5) centered on the optical axis L on the platen glass 202, the predetermined light is evenly distributed according to the insertion amount of the light distribution limiting plate 217. The area can be dimmed.
Therefore, even if the insertion amounts of the five light distribution limiting plates 217 are different, unevenness in the light amount does not occur in the predetermined area.

Here, the light distribution limiting plate 217 is provided with a slit hole 219, and light from the halogen lamp 211 is transmitted in a region where the slit hole 219 is provided. The transmitted light is on the right side of the three-dimensional object (see FIG. 3).
, A predetermined amount of light can always be obtained on the right side as well as on the left side.

That is, when a three-dimensional object is read, conventionally, when direct light from the halogen lamp 211 is blocked by the light distribution limiting plate 217, light reaching the right side of the three-dimensional object is also blocked at the same time. There was a difference in the amount of light corresponding to the left side and the right side of the object. However, in this embodiment, since only the light that is uniformly distributed to the predetermined area is blocked by the light distribution limiting plate 217, the left and right side surfaces of the three-dimensional object are evenly illuminated, and the CCD line sensor is used. There is no reading error caused by 230.

In this embodiment, the light distribution limiting plate 21
7 is formed of an opaque member, and a slit hole 21 is formed in a part thereof.
Although 9 is provided, the light distribution limiting plate 217 may be formed of a transparent member, and an opaque paint may be applied while leaving a region through which light from the halogen lamp 211 is to be transmitted. In this case, the transparent portion may have a lens function to deflect output light and guide the light to the right side of the three-dimensional object.

In the present embodiment, the light distribution limiting plate 21
Although five elements 7 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the halogen lamp 211, the greater the number, the finer the control. However, on the contrary, the work for controlling the light quantity becomes complicated, and it is necessary to determine the number in consideration of these. (Modification) FIG. 6 shows a modification of the present embodiment.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 6, a region of the light distribution limiting plate 217 through which light is transmitted (slit hole 219).
Shutter member 2 that can be opened and closed corresponding to
21 are provided. With this shutter member 221, the area (area) through which light is transmitted can be enlarged and reduced, and can be controlled to be the same as the amount of light reaching the left side surface.

The shutter member 221 is a thin plate,
A long hole 223 is provided along the opening / closing direction.
Are screwed into the light distribution limiting plate 217 surface. Therefore, the screw 225 is loosened, the shutter member 221 is disposed at a predetermined position, and the screw 225 is tightened again, so that the shutter member 221 is positioned at a predetermined position.
1 can be held.

It should be noted that a so-called mechanical type in which a thin plate is slidably mounted as described above may be used, or a structure in which light can be electrically transmitted or impermeable like a liquid crystal shutter. It may be.

Next, the operation of the printer unit PRT will be described. After the photosensitive material magazine 14 is set, the nip roller 18 is operated, and the photosensitive material 16 is moved to the nip roller 18.
Drawn by. When the photosensitive material 16 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 20 operates to cut the photosensitive material 16 into a predetermined length, and transports the photosensitive material 16 to the exposure unit 22 with its photosensitive (exposure) surface facing left. Is done. Then, the exposure device 38 is operated simultaneously with the passage of the photosensitive material 16 through the exposure section 22, and the image is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive material 16 located at the exposure 422. The exposure device 38 includes the scanner S
The image data read by the CN unit is image-processed and input by a personal computer. Based on the input data, the light amount of the light source is controlled, and the image is scanned and exposed. When a laser (semiconductor laser) is used as a light source, main scanning is performed by reciprocating the optical axis of a laser beam whose light amount is controlled by duty control like a pendulum, and movement of the photosensitive material 16 is sub-scanning. And it is sufficient.

When an LED array is used as a light source, such as an LED, arranged in the main scanning direction, the amount of light is controlled by controlling the current or voltage of the LED light source so that one main scan is performed at the same time. do it.

When the exposure is completed, the exposed photosensitive material 16
Is sent to the water application unit 50. The photosensitive material 16 to which water as an image forming solvent has been applied in the water application section 50 is
The sheet is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 of the thermal development transfer section 120 by the conveying roller 34.

On the other hand, as the photosensitive material 16 is scanned and exposed, the image receiving material 108 is also pulled out of the material receiving magazine 106 by the nip roller 110 and transported. When the image receiving material 108 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter 112 operates to cut the image receiving material 108 into a predetermined length.

After the operation of the cutter 112, the cut image receiving material 108 is transported by the transport rollers 132, 134, 136 and 138 while being guided by the guide plate. When the leading end of the image receiving material 108 is nipped by the transport roller 138, the image receiving material 108 is transferred to the heat development transfer unit 120.
Is in a standby state just before.

As the photosensitive material 16 is fed between the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 by the conveying rollers 34 as described above, the conveyance of the image receiving material 108 is restarted, and the pair of endless belts 122 and 124 are started. The image receiving material 108 is fed integrally with the photosensitive material 16 between them.

As a result, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108
Are stacked, the photosensitive material 16 and the image receiving material 108 are nipped and conveyed while being heated by the heating plate 126, and are subjected to thermal development transfer to form an image on the image receiving material 108.

Further, a pair of endless belts 122, 124
When these are discharged from the image receiving material 108, the peeling claw 128 engages with the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 which is transported a predetermined length ahead of the image receiving material 108, and the leading end of the photosensitive material 16 is
Peel from 8. The photosensitive material 16 is further conveyed by a photosensitive material discharge roller 148 and is disposed in the waste photosensitive material storage unit 1.
50. At this time, since the photosensitive material 16 dries immediately, it is not necessary to further provide a heater for drying the photosensitive material 16.

On the other hand, the image receiving material 108 separated from the photosensitive material 16 is applied to receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 166, and 1
The sheet is conveyed by 68 and 170 and discharged to the tray 172.

When a plurality of image recording processes are performed, the above-described steps are sequentially and continuously performed.

As described above, the pair of endless belts 122, 1
The image receiving material 108 on which a predetermined image is formed (recorded) by the thermal development transfer process sandwiched between the pair of endless belts 1
After being discharged from the transfer rollers 22 and 124, the sheet is nipped and transported by a plurality of receiving material discharge rollers 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170, and discharged to a tray 172 outside the apparatus.

[0094]

As described above, according to the first, third, and fourth aspects of the present invention, the light amount distribution in the longitudinal direction of the long light source and the right and left side surfaces of the three-dimensional object centered on the optical axis are described. This has an excellent effect that both the light amount distribution and the light amount distribution can be stabilized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the member to be read can accurately control the balance between the left and right side surfaces of the three-dimensional object.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an image reading / recording apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an upper portion of a scanner unit.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a light source unit for a reflection original.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a reflection original light source unit.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a light amount distribution state with respect to an irradiation width (an imaginary line is a conventional one, and a solid line is a characteristic diagram of the present embodiment).

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a reflection original light source unit according to a modification of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a light source unit for a reflection original according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image reading / recording device SCN scanner unit PRT printer unit 202 platen glass 210 light source unit for reflection original (illumination unit) 211 halogen lamp 213A-C reflector 214 first carriage 217 light distribution limiting plate (light distribution limiting member) 219 slit Hole (transmission area) 220 Second carriage 221 Shutter member (variable means) 230 CCD line sensor (solid-state imaging device)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus that irradiates a member to be read with light from an illumination unit and reads the member to be read by a solid-state imaging device, wherein the illumination unit is provided with a light source and a light source. A reflector that reflects light from a light source that is not directly radiated to the member to be read and guides the member toward the member to be read; And a light distribution limiting member that is divided in the longitudinal direction of the light source and restricts irradiation of light from the light source to the member to be read, wherein the light from the light source passes through the light distribution limiting member. An image reading device comprising an area. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a variable unit configured to change a region through which the light from the light source is transmitted.
The image reading device according to claim 1. 3. A slit hole is provided in the light distribution limiting member,
The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is configured to transmit light from the light source. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slit-shaped transparent portion is provided on the light distribution limiting member, and the light distribution limiting member is a region through which light from the light source is transmitted.