JPH03220546A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the function of an image recorder and to enhance an added value by providing the image recorder with a slide projecting mechanism as a means for exposing a photosensitive recording medium. CONSTITUTION:When this image recorder is switched from the printer mode to a slide mode, an exposure device 41 is first retracted in a direction shown by an arrow B from the initial position used in a printer mode. Then, an aligning device 31 is lowered in a direction shown by an arrow C. In this condition a reflecting mirror 201 for projecting a slide is turned counterclockwise to be positioned in a prescribed place where actuation takes place. A slide-image projected by a slide-projector 202 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 201. Consequently its optical path is altered and the image reaches the photosensitive recording medium 50. The recording medium is exposed, so that a color latent image is formed. The recording medium 50 is pressurized by the pressure roller 71 of a pressure-development device 70 while being superimposed with a developer sheet 60. Thus, the image is visualized on the developer sheet 60. By exposing the recording medium 50 by means of the slide projecting mechanism in such a manner, the function of the image recorder 20 is improved, and an added value is enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus using a mask original.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a three-color separation mask master plate 15 outputted from a monochrome laser printer 1 is used to closely expose a photosensitive recording medium 50 to form a color latent image, and this is transferred to a color developer sheet 60.
An apparatus has been proposed in which a color image is formed on a color developer sheet by overlapping the developer sheet and performing pressure development using a pressure development device 70.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, although there are slide films used in slide projectors as image information, there has been no image recording device that can easily create hard copies from these slide films.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to improve the functions of an image recording device and increase added value by providing a slide projector.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention uses a slide film as the mask original and includes a slide projection mechanism as an exposure means for the photosensitive recording medium.

[Operation] The image recording apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration forms an image on an image recording sheet by using a slide film used in a slide projection mechanism as a mask original.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image recording device in which a monochrome laser printer 1 and a color image recording device 20 are combined.
This shows the state set to printer mode.

First, the monochrome laser printer l is mounted on top of the color image recording device 20. In the laser printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates laser light onto a charged photoreceptor 3, thereby drawing an electrostatic Ie image. The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 4, transferred as a toner image onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Monochrome laser printers typically record data transmitted from a host computer.

The output from the laser printer 1 is output from the paper path switching unit 10 to the monochrome output tray 11 if a black and white image is required.
If a color image is required, the document is sent to an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as an ADF tray) 12 and then taken into a color image recording device 20.

The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken into the color image recording device 20 one by one by the ADF sheet feed roller 13, and the image information regarding the three primary colors (R, G, B) supplied from the host computer is printed in monochrome. These three sheets form a set and are used as mask original plates 15 (15R, 15G, 15B) in the color image recording device 20.
used as.

Next, the configuration of the color image recording device 20 will be explained.

An alignment device 3 is located at the bottom of the main body of the color image recording device 20.
1 is placed, and the alignment device 31 is placed from the ADF tray 12.
A pair of rollers 22, 23, 24°, 25.
29 and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged.

A pair of recurler rollers 101 is arranged in the middle of the mask original transport path 21 to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1.

A mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15 is disposed outside the roller pair 26, 27.

The alignment device 31 includes a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the original, and a pair of rollers 32 disposed near the left and right ends.
33 and a glass plate 34 arranged between them. This alignment device 31 is supported by the main body so as to be swingable between a horizontal position in the printer mode shown in FIG. 1 and a retracted position in the slide mode shown in FIG.

A first exposure device 41 is located below the alignment device 31.
is arranged, and this exposure device 41 is movable in the left-right direction along the alignment device 31. The exposure device 41 emits a long line of white light [(hereinafter simply referred to as a lamp) 42 in a direction perpendicular to its moving direction, a reflector 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter. The filter unit 44 includes a filter 44B.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-14304.
The main material is a photocurable resin using a photopolymerization initiator known in Publication No. 4, and includes a photocurable resin that cures with light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, and cyan, magenta, Microcapsules containing yellow dye precursors are coated on a base sheet. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is housed in a cartridge 51 so as not to be exposed to light. The photosensitive recording medium 50 pulled out from the cartridge 51 is placed between the glass plate 34 and the exposure stage 52.
After being passed between the buffer 55, the separation roller 64,
It passes through the pressure developing device 70 and the drive roller 57 and is then wound onto the take-up roller 54 . When exposed by the exposure device 41, the exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53, thereby bringing the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 by the pair of rollers 32 into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 5o. . Further, the fixed roller 56 is located near the left end of the exposure table 52, and the photosensitive recording medium 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a specific position.
0 is fixed on the exposure table 52 during exposure of the mask originals 15R, 15G, and 15B.

The color developer sheet 60 is formed by coating a base paper with a color developer described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-88739 and grooved, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer coated surface faces downward. is set to .

The developer sheets 60 are taken out one by one from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62 that is intermittently driven by a drive source (not shown) and supplied to the pressure developing device 70.

Then, the color developer sheet 60 is attached to the exposed photosensitive recording medium 5.
0 and is pressed by a pair of pressure rollers 71 of the pressure developing device 70, whereby the latent image formed on the photosensitive recording medium 50 by exposure is transferred to the developer sheet 6.
Visualized on 0.

The heat fixing device 80 includes an endless belt installed between a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, and rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 and rollers 87, 88 for conveying the color developer sheet 60 in the lower part. It consists of eight parts.

The developer sheet 60 that is carried out from the pressure developing device 70 and separated from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by the separation roller 64 is subjected to polishing (p) by the heat fixing device 80 and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 63 .

Next, a configuration for enlarging and exposing a slide film or the like will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The alignment device 31 is retracted in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2, and the first exposure device 41 is retracted in the direction of arrow B.

Below the mask original discharge tray 30, there is a lamp 203, a lens 204, and a slide film 20 as a mask original.
A slide projector constituting the second exposure device 202 is provided. This second exposure device 2
A reflecting mirror 201 is disposed below the alignment device 31 and opposite to the alignment device 31 . The reflecting mirror 201 is supported so as to be able to swing between a retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and an operating position shown in FIG. It is refracted in the direction of the exposure table 52.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the operation when obtaining a plurality of color outputs from one set of mask originals will be described next.

First, a mask original plate 15R for red color is created by the monochrome laser printer 1. This mask original version 15R is
In order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor among the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50, this is a mask original plate with toner as a light-shielding image placed on other parts.

At this time, the mask original 15 outputted from the monochrome laser printer 1 is sent to the ADF tray 12 and fed into the color image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13.

Mask original plate 15 fed into color image recording device 20
R passes through the mask original transport path 21 and is sent to the alignment device 31 by roller pairs 24 and 22. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line. On the way, Ricara Rolla 10
1 corrects the curl of the mask original plate 15.

Next, the alignment device 31 moves the mask original 15R to the roller pair 3.
After the mask original 15R is transported to an appropriate exposure position by step 2, the mask original 15R is positioned at an accurate position by a drive source (not shown) while a sensor reads the alignment mark printed on the original mask 15R.

Immediately before positioning, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by the cam 53, and the left end of the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 5
6 makes contact and fixes the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52. After the alignment is completed, the exposure table 52 is further lowered by the cam 53 and comes into contact with the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table 52. The recording medium 50 is brought into close contact.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 4
2 lights up, and the exposure device 41 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 with red light through the mask original 15R through the red filter 44R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 4 is turned off.
1 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41 is rotated by a drive source (not shown), and the green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42.

While the exposure device 41 moves backward, the exposure table 52 is raised by the rotation of the cam 53, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is aligned with the alignment device 31.
and separates from the mask original 15R.

At this time, pack tension is applied to the photosensitive recording medium 50 at the center of roll rotation of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 is lowered, a length corresponding to the amount of descent of the exposure table 52 is applied. is the storage cartridge 51
drawn out from within. Also, when the exposure is finished, the exposure table 52
When the recording medium 50 rises, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

After the exposure using the red mask master plate 15R is completed,
The exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position by a cam 53.

At this time, the photosensitive recording medium remains fixed to the exposure table 52 with the fixed roller 56 in contact with the left end of the exposure table 52.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the laser printer 1 is placed on the ADF tray 12 and the ADF paper feed roller 1.
3. When the recurler roller 101 passes through the mask original transport path 21 and reaches just before the roller pair 24, the roller pair 22,
24, 25, 27, roller pair 32 of the alignment device 31.
33 rotates in a direction to convey the mask original 15 to the right, and at the same time, the mask original 15R is sent out from the alignment device 31, and at the same time, the mask original 15G is transported to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines, and the exposed mask original 15R is held between the pair of rollers 27, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 is stopped with its rear end passing through the two gates. and retained.

The mask original 15G guided by the alignment device 31 is aligned with the photosensitive recording medium 50, as in the case of the mask original 15R, and then the exposure table 52 is lowered, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 and the mask original are aligned. 15G comes into close contact with the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31, and then the lamp 42 is turned on,
Exposure to green light is performed through a green filter 44G.

After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. As the exposure device 41 moves back to its original position, the filter unit 44 moves to place the blue filter 4 above the lamp.
4B is located.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the color image recording device 20, and while being conveyed just before the roller pair 24, the blue mask original 15B is transferred to the roller pairs 24, 22, 25, and 26. The roller pair 32, 33 of the alignment device 31 rotates in a direction to convey the mask original 15 to the right, and at the same time, the mask original 15G is sent out from the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position shown by the solid line, and the two gates are located at the position shown by the broken line. The rotation of 27 is stopped and held.

The mask original 15B guided to the alignment device 31 is subjected to contact exposure with blue light onto the photosensitive recording medium 50 in a similar operation.

Through the above operations, a latent image of a desired color image is recorded on the photosensitive recording medium 50.

Next, the exposure table 52 is raised to the initial position.

At this time, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of arrow E, and the unexposed area of the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. come.

The drive roller 57 is rotated by a predetermined amount so as to stop when the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 .

In synchronization with the movement of the photosensitive recording medium 50, a developer sheet 60 is sent out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62, and is stopped at a position where the leading edge of the developer sheet corresponds to the leading edge of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. do.

Next, the pressure developing device 70 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 71 is pressed while rotating in the direction of the arrow.

At this time, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position again, and the left end of the exposure table 52 comes into contact with the fixed roller 56, thereby fixing the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is overlapped with the color developer sheet 60 and is fed under pressure, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and the latent particles on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed. A color image corresponding to the image is developed on the developer sheet 50.

As the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 moves in the direction of the arrow F.

The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 when its leading edge reaches the separation roller 64, and the color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50.
You will be guided in the direction of

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by circulating air heated by a heater 81 inside a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. At the same time, the color developer sheet 60
The binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is heated and melted to make the surface smooth.
The surface has a moderate gloss.

The color developer sheet 60 that has been subjected to color development and gloss treatment is discharged to a paper discharge tray 63.

During the above-described series of development and coloring/glossy processing, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is held and fixed between the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56. Then, the latent image of another color image can be exposed.

When exposing the second color image, first, the mask original 15B at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the mask original 15R held at the position of the roller pair 27 is sent to the alignment device 31 by the rollers. vs. 24, 22.25
．． 27 and the pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated so that the mask original 15 is conveyed to the left. At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by solid lines.

The mask original plate 15B is held between the pair of rollers 24, and at the position where the rear end passes through the gate 28, the rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped and held. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and exposed to the photosensitive recording medium 50 in close contact with red light. Subsequently, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent out to the left, and the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 is placed vertically with the roller pairs 23, 22, 25, and 26 in order to send it to the alignment device 31. The pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the aligning device 31 are rotated so that the mask original 15 is conveyed to the left. At this time, gate 28
．． 29 is located at the position of the broken line. Mask original version 15R
is held between the pair of rollers 23, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 23 is stopped and held at the position where the rear end passes the gate 28. The mask original 15G sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and exposed to the photosensitive recording medium 50 in close contact with green light. Subsequently, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent out to the right, and the same operation is performed to send the mask original 15B held at the position of the roller pair 24 to the alignment device 31, thereby forming a color latent onto the photosensitive recording medium 50. Shape the image,
By repeating the same operation of forming a color image on the color developer sheet 60, a predetermined number of color images can be output from one set of mask originals.

After obtaining the required number of color images from the same mask original 15, each mask original 15 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 30 from the roller pair 27 or the roller pair 26.

In addition, if the next set of mask originals 15 is output from the laser printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, those mask originals 15 are temporarily stored in the ADF (ADF) ray 12, and the previous mask originals 15 are As soon as the exposure of the set is completed, the sheets are fed into the color image recording apparatus 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13.

Further, when reusing a mask original 15 output from another monochrome printer or a previously used mask original, the mask original can be manually input by setting it on the ADF tray 12.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the operation in the slide mode.

When switching from the printer mode to the slide mode, the first exposure device 41 first retreats further in the direction of arrow B from its initial position in the printer mode.

Next, the alignment device 31 descends in the direction of arrow C around a rotation axis (not shown). In this state, the reflection mirror 201 for slide projection rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 2 and is positioned at a predetermined operating position.

The slide image emitted from the slide projector 202 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 201, changes its optical path, reaches the photosensitive recording medium 50, and exposes it to form a color latent image. As described above, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is pressed by the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 while superimposed on the color developer sheet 60, and a visible image is formed on the color developer sheet 60. Thereafter, the color developer sheet 60 separated from the photosensitive recording medium 50 is glossed by a heat fixing device 80 and then discharged onto a paper discharge tray 63.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, a photosensitive recording medium can be exposed using a slide projection mechanism, thereby improving the functions of an image recording device and increasing added value. I was able to do that.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show an embodiment embodying the present invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the image recording device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. In the figure, 50 is a photosensitive recording medium, 60 is a color developer sheet, 20
2 is an exposure device, and 205 is a slide film.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus that uses a mask original created based on image information to expose a photosensitive recording medium to form an image on an image recording sheet, wherein a slide film is used as the mask original. An image recording apparatus characterized in that a slide projection mechanism is provided as an exposure means for a photosensitive recording medium. 2. As an exposure means, a first mode in which a mask original formed by a printer device is used and a second mode in which the slide film is used can be switched, and the slide projection mechanism is used to project onto a photosensitive recording medium. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for retracting from the optical path an obstacle that blocks the light existing in the optical path or changes the optical path during exposure.