JPH0256541A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a spectral density distribution finely and to accurately display an image by providing plural photoelectric converting elements which are arranged outside an optical path of incidence on an image forming lens in parallel to scanning lines and detect the primary colors of light spectrally and a lens for a sensor having a focus on the photoelectric converting elements. CONSTITUTION:The lens 90 for the sensor, shading 91, and photoelectric converting element 92 are provided nearby an optical unit 42, and color filters of C, M, and Y are arranged as one group on the surface of the photoelectric converting element 92 to form plural detection parts. The lens 90 for the sensor has focal length for forming image light of a document 32 in a main scanning direction on the photoelectric converting element 92 and spectral density can be measured through the color filters. Namely, a prescan is made before image forming operation, a spectral density measurement signal from the photoelectric converting element 92 is digitized and stored, and an arithmetic processing circuit controls an exposure quantity and the combination of filters in the optical unit 42 and makes secure color corrections to represent an accurate image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an original image scanned by an imaging optical system on a photosensitive material.

[Conventional technology]

Examples of image recording materials include silver halide photographic materials and heat-developable materials. As an image recording device using this silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, exposure,
There is a device that automatically performs development and fixing.

Furthermore, as an image recording apparatus for obtaining a color image using a heat-developable photosensitive material, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-752
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 47, after a color image is exposed on a heat-developable photosensitive material using an imaging optical system in an exposure section, an image forming solvent such as water is applied to the photothermographic material, and the material is heated. An image recording apparatus has been proposed in which an image-receiving material is sent to a developing section, an image-receiving material is brought into close contact with a heat-developable photosensitive material after heat development, and the image is thermally transferred to the image-receiving material at the transfer section.

In the imaging optical system of this image recording device, in order to obtain the optimal exposure amount, a pre-scan is usually performed prior to exposure, and the spectral density of the original image is detected by a pre-scan sensor. In order to form an optimal image, the amount of filter insertion is controlled.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the image forming optical system, which is the image forming section, a movable mirror is arranged on the front axis of the image light from the document to guide it to the prescan sensor. Space is required.

Furthermore, since the image light from the original is collected at one point on the prescan sensor and photometered, the spectral density in the direction parallel to the scanning line becomes an average value.

Therefore, it is not possible to accurately detect the spectral density distribution, and controls such as insertion of filters may not be performed accurately, making it difficult to express color tones more accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an image forming apparatus configured to perform more accurate image expression.

[Means and Effects for Solving the Problems] The above object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that forms an original image scanned by an imaging optical system on a photosensitive material, in which the imaging lens of the imaging optical system a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that are arranged parallel to the scanning line outside the incident optical path and spectrally detect the three primary colors of light; and a sensor lens that is outside the incident optical path to the imaging lens and has a focal point on the photoelectric conversion element. This is achieved by an image forming apparatus having the following configuration.

That is, the image light from the original image passes through even outside the incident optical path to the imaging lens of the imaging optical system, and by detecting this image light with the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, the movable mirror described above is detected. By forming an image on the photoelectric conversion element, the spectral density distribution in the scanning line direction can be detected finely, and more accurate image expression can be achieved.

[Embodiment]

Next, preferred embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In describing the embodiments, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the structure and operation of the entire image recording apparatus to which the image forming apparatus is applied will be explained, and then the main parts will be explained.

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

In this embodiment, an image recording apparatus using a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is used as the light-sensitive material, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

A paper feed section 12 is on the right side of the image recording apparatus main body 10, and an exposure section 14 and a processing section 1, which are the image forming apparatus of the present invention, are arranged above.
6 is provided with a drying section 18 on the left side.

On the right side of the main body 10, there are a pair of magazines 20 and 22 located above and below.
The photosensitive materials 24 and 26 are stored in rolls inside these, and are taken out from the leading end to the paper feed section 12.

As an example, the photosensitive material 24 is a photosensitive material most suitable for copying color photographic originals, and the photosensitive material 26 is a photosensitive material most suitable for copying color printed originals.

The photosensitive material 24 or 26 drawn out from the magazine 20.22 is sent through the paper feed section 12 to the exposure window 28. Then, an image of a color original 32 placed on a transparent original table 30 provided above the exposure section 14 is exposed.

That is, the color original 32 is pressed onto the original table 30 by the original holder 34, and is illuminated by the light source 38 in the light source unit 3G.
The image of the color original 32 reflected by the plurality of mirrors 40 passes through the optical unit 42, and is exposed to the photosensitive material 24 in the exposure window 28 by opening the shutter 44. Or expose 26.

The optical unit 42 is a member corresponding to an imaging lens in the present invention, and includes a condensing lens and, for example, Y, M,
It consists of a plurality of filters such as C. In the vicinity of the optical unit 42, a sensor lens and a photoelectric conversion element (a photosensor such as a CCD) as used in the present invention are provided. Regarding this lens and photosensor, please refer to the 2nd page.
This will be described later with reference to the drawings.

A switching guide 50 is provided in the middle of the conveyance trajectory of the photosensitive material 24 (or 26) (after passing through the exposure window 28), and when all exposure is completed, the photosensitive material 24 (or 26) to be sent downward is provided with a switching guide 50. is temporally moved in the opposite direction, and its leading end is stopped upstream of the switching guide 50, so that the switching guide 50 is oriented in such a way that the photosensitive material 24 (or 26) is guided to the processing section 16. It is convertible.

In the processing section 16, a developing tank 46. Bleach/fix tank 47, 1st
Water tank 48. A second water tank 49 is provided continuously, and the photosensitive material 24 (or 26), which has been developed, bleached, fixed, and washed by the processing liquid filled into the tank, is sent to the drying section 18. It has become.

Further, the developer tank 46. Bleaching/fixing tank 47. 1st water tank 4
8. The second water tank 49 includes replenishment tanks 60 and 62, respectively.
．． 64 is provided to replenish various types of replenishment liquid as necessary.

In the drying section 18, the photosensitive material 24 (or 26) after washing with water
is dried and sent onto a take-out tray 54.

As described above, a series of operations such as exposure, development, fixing, and drying are performed, and the original image is recorded on the photosensitive material 24 (or 26).

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the exposure section of the image forming apparatus;
The figure is a plan view of a photoelectric conversion element.

A sensor lens 90 is provided near the optical unit 42.
．． Shading 91. A photoelectric conversion element 92 is provided.

Here, the light from the light source 38 is reflected on the document, but this image light is diffused light, and since each reflecting mirror 40 usually uses a plane mirror, it is reflected from the reflecting mirror 40 to the optical unit 42. The image light also spreads in directions other than the incident optical axis A. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion element 92 can detect optical information without interfering with the image light along the forward axis A.

On the surface of the photoelectric conversion element 92, as shown in FIG. 3, a set of C, M, and Y color filters are arranged to form a plurality of sets of detection sections.

The configuration inside this photoelectric conversion element 92 is, for example, as follows.

The size of the above-mentioned - set of color filters is 80μ, and there are 125 sets of color filters. The length is approximately 1Qmm.

The sensor lens 90 has a focal length that allows image light in the main scanning direction (horizontal direction) of the document 32 to be imaged onto the photoelectric conversion element 92. Therefore, for example, in the case of A4 size according to the JIS standard, the − side Since the length of is 297 mm, it becomes possible to measure the spectral density at a pitch of 2.4 mm using the above-mentioned set of color filters.

That is, before image formation, a pre-scan is performed, the spectral density measurement signal from the photoelectric conversion element 92 is digitized and memory stored, and the exposure amount and filter combination in the optical unit 42 are controlled by a desired arithmetic processing circuit. , color correction can be performed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the photoelectric conversion element 92 may be placed near the reflecting mirror 40.

In addition, the filters forming a set in the photoelectric conversion element 92 may perform spectroscopy according to colors other than C, M, and Y, such as R, G, and B, for example.

Further, as an image recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, in addition to the apparatus using the above-mentioned silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, it is also possible to use a heat-developable light-sensitive material.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, as described above, by utilizing the diffusion of the image light from the document and arranging the photoelectric conversion element for color correction outside the exposure optical axis, the ( Moreover, it is possible to obtain spectral density information without creating any moving parts for photometry, and it is also possible to obtain detailed spectral density information in the main scanning direction, allowing for more accurate color correction and accurate image expression. becomes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus equipped with an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an exposure section of the image forming apparatus. FIG. Plan view, symbols in the figure: 0 Main body 12 Paper feed section 4 Exposure section
16 Processing section 8 Drying section 20.2
2 Magazine 4.26 Photosensitive material 28 Exposure window 0 Original table 32 Original 4 Original holder 38 Light source 0 Mirror - 2 Optical unit 46 Developer tank 4 Bleach-fix tank 48.49 Washing tank 0 Switching guide 4 Take-out tray 90 Lens 1 Shading 2 Photoelectric conversion element

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus that forms an original image scanned by an imaging optical system on a photosensitive material, the three primary colors of light arranged parallel to the scanning line outside the optical path of incidence to the imaging lens of the imaging optical system are spectrally detected. an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and a sensor lens located outside an incident optical path to the imaging lens and having a focal point on the photoelectric conversion element.