JPH1164984A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the life of a cutter for cutting photosensitive material and to reduce cost by detecting the width of the photosensitive material and making the cutting speed of the photosensitive material by the cutter lower at the time of cutting the narrower photosensitive material. SOLUTION: This image recorder 10 is provided with the cutters 30 and 32 corresponding to respective loading parts 22 and 24. In the recorder 10, the width of the photosensitive material A is detected by a width detection means 31 and the cutting speed of the material A by the cutters 30 and 32 is made lower at the time of cutting the narrower material A by a speed changing means 33. The progressing speed of the surface damage of the edges of the cutters 30 and 32 at the part where the photosensitive material is not cut depends on the cutting speed of the material A by the cutters 30 and 32, and the progressing speed of the surface damage of the edges of the cutters 30 and 32 is reduced as the cutting speed of the material A is made low. Therefore, even in the case of many kinds of photosensitive material having different width, the progress of the surface damage of the edges of the cutters 30 and 32 is made slower than that in a device which always cuts the photosensitive material at constant speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for digitally exposing a photosensitive material according to digital image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as photographic film)
Printing of an image photographed on a photosensitive material or the like onto a photosensitive material has been performed by direct exposure in which the image of the film is projected onto the photosensitive material and the photosensitive material is surface-exposed. On the other hand, at present, for example, an image recording apparatus using digital exposure, which photoelectrically reads image information captured on a film, converts this into digital data, performs various image processings, and then exposes a photosensitive material, has been developed. 2. Related Art Digital photo printers have been put to practical use.

The above-described digital photo printer basically controls and manages a scanner (image reading device) for reading image data recorded on an original such as a transparent original or a reflective original, and inputs and outputs the whole digital photo printer. Input device having a controller for performing various image processing on the processed image data, a printer (image recording device) for digitally exposing the photosensitive material according to the image data after the image processing, and a processor for developing the exposed photosensitive material (Developing machine).

In an input device, first, in the case of reading image data photographed on a film by a scanner, for example, a reading light emitted from a light source is incident on the film, and a projection carrying an image photographed on the film is carried out. The light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens, the image is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor, the image is read, and various image processing is performed as necessary.
It is supplied to the control device as input image data corresponding to an image photographed on the film.

Subsequently, the control device controls the entire digital photo printer in accordance with instructions from the operator,
After the input image data supplied from the scanner is digitized, or after the image data that has been digitized in advance is supplied to the control device, various image processing conditions are set according to the image data, Various image processes are performed on the image data, exposure conditions are determined, and the image data is transferred to the printer of the output device as output image data.

On the other hand, in an output device, in a printer, for example, if the apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated in accordance with image data transferred from a control device, and the light beam is modulated in the main scanning direction. While being deflected, the photosensitive material is transported in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction,
After the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image, the processor is subjected to a development process in accordance with the photosensitive material, so that an image photographed on a film is reproduced as a finished print.

In an image recording apparatus using digital exposure, color density correction is performed by image processing, and exposure conditions are determined. Therefore, the time required for exposure per image is short, and the exposure time is small. , It is possible to perform quick exposure as compared with the conventional direct exposure. In addition, editing such as image synthesis and image division, and image processing such as color / density adjustment can be freely performed, and a finished print that has been freely edited and subjected to image processing can be output according to the intended use.

In addition, since the image information of the finished print can be stored in a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, it is not necessary to re-read the film or determine the exposure conditions again, and the work such as reprinting can be performed quickly and Easy.
Further, although it has been difficult to print by conventional direct exposure, an image recording apparatus using digital exposure almost completely converts image information recorded on a film or the like in terms of resolution, color / density reproducibility, and the like. There are advantages such as the ability to output reproduced prints.

An image recording apparatus, for example, which cuts a long photosensitive material into a predetermined length corresponding to a finished print to be produced to form a cut sheet, and exposes the individual photosensitive material cut into a sheet. In the above, different widths of the photosensitive material are used depending on the size of the finished print, and as a cutter for cutting the photosensitive material, different widths from a minimum width to a maximum width used in an image recording apparatus are usually used. That can cut all of the photosensitive material is used.

As described above, the cutter capable of cutting the photosensitive material of the minimum width to the maximum width used in the image recording apparatus can be used, for example, in the case of a long photosensitive film having a width of 89 mm, which is generally the most shipped in the market. After cutting the material continuously many times, for example, 254 wider than the photosensitive material of 89 mm width
When a photosensitive material having a width of mm is cut, the cutting performance of the cutter deteriorates, and there is a problem in that the cut surface of the photosensitive material causes a problem such as seepage of the tip during development.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the photosensitive material 58 having a width is cut, the metal of the upper blade 64 and the lower blade 66 does not come into contact with each other in the portion where the photosensitive material 58 of the cutter 62 is cut, so that the photosensitive material 58 is cut. In the portion where there is no metal, the metal of the upper blade 64 and the metal of the lower blade 66 come into contact with each other, and the blade of the cutter 62 suffers microscopic surface damage and is worn. Therefore, the photosensitive material 60 having a width of 254 mm is used.
When cutting is performed, the sharpness of the worn portion of the cutter 62 becomes poor.

Conventionally, even if a photosensitive material having a width of, for example, 89 mm can be cut without any problem, when a photosensitive material having a width of, for example, 254 mm is cut, the photosensitive material described above can be cut. The cutter was replaced with a new one when a problem such as tip penetration during development occurred.
For this reason, there is a problem that the cutter life is shorter when a large number of types of photosensitive materials having different widths are cut than when the photosensitive materials having the same width are continuously cut, resulting in higher costs. there were.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of extending the life of a cutter for cutting a photosensitive material and reducing the cost, in view of the problems based on the prior art. Is to do.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for cutting and cutting various kinds of long photosensitive materials having different widths into predetermined lengths according to the size of a finished print by using a cutter. An image recording apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material which has been cut into a sheet after forming the sheet, comprising: means for detecting a width of the photosensitive material; and cutting of the photosensitive material by the cutter according to the width of the photosensitive material. Means for changing the speed, wherein the cutting speed of the photosensitive material by the cutter is reduced as the width of the photosensitive material is cut by the means for changing the cutting speed of the photosensitive material. An image recording apparatus is provided.

Here, the means for changing the cutting speed of the photosensitive material is such that the cutting speed of the narrow photosensitive material is in the range of 5 to 50% of the cutting speed of the photosensitive material having the maximum width. Preferably, it is slow.

[0016]

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 view of an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. The image recording apparatus 10 cuts the long photosensitive material A into a predetermined length corresponding to a finished print to be made into a cut sheet, and then records back print information and performs digital exposure (printing) to obtain the exposed print. The photosensitive material A is supplied to a processor (developing machine) 20. In the illustrated example, the photosensitive material supply unit 12, the back printing unit 14, the image recording unit 1
6, a sorting unit 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 conveying rollers are arranged as conveying means for conveying the exposed photosensitive material A to the processor 20, and a conveying guide for the photosensitive material A, various sensors, and the like are arranged as necessary. The transporting means for the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited, and any known transporting 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.

In the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material supply section 12 has loading sections 22 and 24, a magazine 34, cutters 30 and 32, and the like. Loading parts 22 and 24
Is a portion where the magazine 34 containing the photosensitive material A is loaded. The loading units 22 and 24 each include a magazine 34 in which photosensitive materials A of different types such as sizes (widths), surface types (silk or mat), specifications (thickness, base type, etc.) are stored. Will be loaded.

The magazine 34 is a light-shielding housing containing a long photosensitive material A wound with the recording surface (emulsion surface) outside. In the illustrated example, the pull-out roller pair 26
And 28 are provided inside the magazine 34. For example, the upper drive roller in the drawing is
By being loaded into the predetermined positions 2 and 24, they are engaged with the drive sources (not shown) of the pull-out roller pairs 26 and 28 which are respectively arranged in the loading sections 22 and 24.

Although the image recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is capable of loading two magazines 34, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of magazines that can be loaded may be one, or Alternatively, three or more magazines may be loaded. In the illustrated image recording apparatus 10, the loading unit 2
Although cutters 30 and 32 are provided corresponding to each of 2 and 24, a configuration in which the photosensitive material A supplied from both loading units 22 and 24 is cut by one cutter may be adopted.

The cutters 30 and 32 cut the long photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 34 into a predetermined length according to the size of the finished print. Here, FIG. 2 shows an example of the cutter. As shown in the figure, the cutter 62 (that is, the cutters 30 and 32) has an upper blade 64 movable in the vertical direction in the figure and a fixed lower blade 66. The photosensitive material A is cut by moving the upper blade 64 right below in the figure.

In the photosensitive material supply section 12, the photosensitive material A is pulled out of the magazine 34 by the pull-out roller pairs 26 and 28, and the photosensitive material A is transported by the transport means.
Back printing unit 1 on the downstream side (hereinafter referred to as downstream side) in the transport direction of
4 is carried. This conveyance is stopped when the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream reaches the length of the finished print, and the photosensitive material A is supplied to the cutters 30 and 32 disposed between the magazine 34 and the back printing unit 14. To make a cut sheet.

Here, in the image recording apparatus 10, the width of the photosensitive material A is detected by the width detecting means 31 and the speed changing means 33 cuts the photosensitive material with a smaller width as the photosensitive material is cut by the cutters 30 and 32. Reduce the cutting speed of A. The cutting speed of the photosensitive material having the maximum width used in the image recording apparatus 10 is appropriately determined according to, for example, a production amount of the apparatus, a control sequence, and the like. The cutting speed of the photosensitive material having a width smaller than that of the photosensitive material having the maximum width depends on the material of the cutters 30 and 32. It is preferable to slow down in the range of%.

For example, when the cutters 30 and 32 cut the photosensitive material A, the stroke (moving distance) of the upper blade is about 2
5 mm, the minimum width of the photosensitive material A used in the image recording apparatus 10 is 89 mm, and the maximum width is 254 mm. In the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the photosensitive material of 254 mm width by the cutters 30 and 32, The cutting speed of the photosensitive material and the photosensitive material having a width of 89 mm is changed as follows according to the width of each photosensitive material A.

1) In the case of a photosensitive material having a width of 254 mm Cutting speed v = moving distance s / time t = 25 mm / 0.2 s
= 125 mm / s 2) In the case of a photosensitive material having a width of 152 mm Cutting speed v = moving distance s / time t = 25 mm / 0.3 s
= 83 mm / s 3) In the case of a photosensitive material having a width of 89 mm Cutting speed v = moving distance s / time t = 25 mm / 0.4 s
= 62.5mm / s

When the photosensitive material having a width smaller than the maximum width of the photosensitive material used in the image recording apparatus 10 is continuously cut many times by the cutters 30 and 32, the photosensitive material of the cutters 30 and 32 is cut. The traveling speed of the surface damage of the blade in the not-shown portion is the moving speed of the upper blade, that is, the cutter 3
Depending on the cutting speed of the photosensitive material A by 0 and 32, the slower the cutting speed of the photosensitive material A, the slower the speed of the surface damage of the blades of the cutters 30 and 32.

Thus, according to the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, even if various kinds of photosensitive materials A having different widths are used, compared with the conventional image recording apparatus which always cuts the photosensitive material at a constant cutting speed. Thus, the progress of surface damage of the blades of the cutters 30 and 32 can be slowed, and the life of the cutters 30 and 32 can be extended. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem such as the front end seepage during the development of the photosensitive material A from occurring, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the running cost.

The structure of the width detecting means 31 of the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited.
After extracting the width of the photosensitive material A, the width of the photosensitive material A may be detected by a sensor, or after loading the magazine 34 in the loading units 22 and 24, the operator may input information on the width of the photosensitive material A. Alternatively, information on the width of the photosensitive material A is set in the magazine 34 in advance, and the magazine 34 is set in the loading unit 2.
The information on the width of the photosensitive material A may be detected when the photosensitive material A is loaded in the first and second sheets.

In the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the structure of the speed changing means 33 of the cutters 30 and 32 is not particularly limited, either. As long as the cutting speed can be changed, any conventionally known configuration can be applied.

On the downstream side of the photosensitive material supply section 12, a back printing section 14 is arranged in the illustrated example. Back printing unit 14
Indicates the date of photographing on the back side (non-emulsion side) of photosensitive material A,
It records back print information (back print), which is various information such as print printing date, frame number, film ID number, camera ID number used for shooting, and digital photo printer ID number. The back print unit 14 records back print information on the photosensitive material A.

The back printing unit 14 is not particularly limited. For example, a non-contact recording method such as an ink jet printer such as a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an ink jet printer can be suitably used. An ink jet printer using a hot-melt ink that is solid at room temperature is preferably exemplified. In addition, back printing section 1
4 is a new standard new photo system (Advanced Photo System)
It is preferable that two or more lines can be printed in correspondence with m).

In the illustrated example, the back print information is recorded after the photosensitive material A is cut. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The back print information is recorded before the cutters 30 and 32 cut the photosensitive material A. It may be recorded after the cutting or before and after the cutting. Further, although the back print information is recorded before the exposure, the invention is not limited to this. The back print unit 14 may be arranged downstream of the exposure position to record the back print information after the exposure.

The image recording unit 1 is located downstream of the back printing unit 14.
6 are arranged. Although not shown, the image recording unit 16 scans and exposes the photosensitive material A in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) according to output image data supplied from an input device of a digital photo printer. It has an exposure unit 36 and a scanning / transporting 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 is provided for the R,
Three light sources for emitting light beams corresponding to the respective exposures of G and B, modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) for modulating the light beam emitted from the light source according to image data, and a modulated light beam An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror that deflects light in the main scanning direction, and an fθ (scanning) lens that forms a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a predetermined position on an exposure position (scanning line) X with a predetermined beam diameter. And the like.

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 is provided with a pair of conveying rollers 40 and 42 disposed before and after the exposure position X, and the photosensitive material A with higher precision.
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.
In addition, a scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers that contact the exposure drum with the exposure position X interposed therebetween is also preferably exemplified.

In the image recording section 16, while exposing the recording light L modulated according to the digital image data in the main scanning direction by the exposure unit 36, the photosensitive material A is conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 40 and 42 of the scanning conveying means 38. Exposure guide 4
While holding the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction while holding it at the exposure position X along the line 4, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image. An image is recorded on the material A.

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, so that it is necessary to temporarily store the exposed photosensitive materials in a stocker or the like. That is, the exposure and development steps are generally rate-controlled by the development processing.

The sorting unit 18 sorts the photosensitive material A, which is usually conveyed in a single row, into a plurality of rows in the conveying direction as necessary, and supplies the photosensitive material A in a plurality of rows to the processor 20 in parallel. By improving the processing capacity of the processor 20, the difference in processing time between exposure and development is absorbed. In the illustrated example, the belt conveyor 4 is used.
6, 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.

The auxiliary belt conveyor 48 is disposed on the center line of the belt conveyor 46 in the width direction 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. However, a narrow endless belt that can be suction-held by the suction units 50 and 52 is used.

The suction units 50 and 52 are arranged on both sides of the auxiliary belt conveyor 48 in the width direction.
In the drawing unit 50 on the near side in the figure, after the photosensitive material A is released from the scanning and transporting means 38 and transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 46, the photosensitive material A is sucked and held and slightly lifted, and the transport of the photosensitive material A is performed. Moves diagonally downstream to the right (front in the figure) with respect to the direction, releases adsorption, and
To the right. Similarly, the suction unit 52 on the far side in the figure distributes the photosensitive material A to the left side.

For example, the photosensitive material A can be sorted into three rows by sequentially repeating sorting to the right by the suction unit 50, sorting to the left by the suction unit 52, and linear transport without sorting. Alternatively, the photosensitive materials A can be distributed in two rows by alternately performing the horizontal distribution by the suction units 50 and 52. In addition, the photosensitive material A can be supplied to the processor 20 in a single row by performing only linear transport without performing 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.

The sorting unit 18 is not particularly limited.
Various methods of distributing the sheet material into a plurality of rows are available. For example, a method of distributing the sheet material using a circular turret that rotates around an axis, or a method of transporting the photosensitive material A into a plurality of blocks in the transport direction, for example, three blocks For example, the central block is moved in the horizontal direction and distributed. Alternatively, the photosensitive material A may be supplied to the processor 20 in a single row without the distributing unit 18.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material A of all sizes is not always arranged in a plurality of rows, and the photosensitive material A of a large size which cannot be processed in a plurality of rows is divided into a single row without being sorted. 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 material A, which is divided in a plurality of rows by the sorting unit 18 in the horizontal direction, is transported by a pair of conveying rollers 54.
Is supplied to the processor 20 through the outlet 56. In the processor 20, for example, in the case of developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, a predetermined developing process according to the light-sensitive material A such as a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a washing tank was performed to visualize the latent image. After that, it is dried and finished print, and again,
The prints are collected in a single row in the order of print creation (exposure order) and discharged to a sorter or the like.

Although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0050]

As described in detail above, the image recording apparatus of the present invention cuts various types of long photosensitive materials having different widths into predetermined lengths according to the size of a finished print by using a cutter. After the sheet is formed, the width of the photosensitive material is detected in an image recording apparatus that exposes the photosensitive material that has been made into the cut sheet, and the cutting speed of the photosensitive material by the cutter is reduced as the narrower photosensitive material is cut. It is like that. Thereby, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, even when cutting various types of photosensitive materials having different widths compared to the conventional image recording apparatus which always cuts the photosensitive material at a constant cutting speed, it is possible to cut the cutter. It is possible to prolong the life of the photosensitive material, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as bleeding of the leading edge during development of the photosensitive material, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a cutter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording apparatus 12 Photosensitive material supply part 14 Back printing part 16 Image recording part 18 Distributing part 20 Processor (developing machine) 22, 24 Loading part 26, 28 Pull-out roller pair 30, 32, 62 Cutter 31 Width detecting means 33 Speed change Means 34 Magazine 36 Exposure Unit 38 Scanning and Conveying Means 40, 42, 54 Conveyance Roller 44 Exposure Guide 46 Belt Conveyor 48 Auxiliary Belt Conveyor 50, 52 Suction Unit 56 Discharge Port 58, 60, Z Photosensitive Material 64 Upper Blade 66 Lower Blade L Recording light X Exposure position

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cutter for cutting various types of long photosensitive materials having different widths into predetermined lengths according to the size of a finished print, and exposing the cut photosensitive materials. An image recording apparatus, comprising: means for detecting a width of the photosensitive material; and means for changing a cutting speed of the photosensitive material by the cutter according to the width of the photosensitive material. The cutting speed of the photosensitive material by the cutter is made slower as the width of the photosensitive material is cut by means for changing the width of the photosensitive material. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the means for changing the cutting speed of the photosensitive material comprises:
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cutting speed of the narrow photosensitive material is reduced in a range of 5 to 50%.