JPH03296732A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that forms a color image using a color-separated monochromatic mask original plate.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of image recording apparatus, in order to obtain a plurality of color images from a set of three mask originals color-separated according to the three primary colors of light, the mask original is moved from an exposure area positioning means. Three temporary evacuation and storage paths are provided before and after the positioning means, one on one side and two on the other side, and the three mask originals are always placed in a fixed evacuation path. It was stored.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this type of image recording device, the photosensitive recording medium has a characteristic that the color of the color output image changes when the exposure order of the mask original is changed. ,
When the mask originals are conveyed from their respective determined storage paths to the alignment means again, and after exposure are conveyed to the same storage path again, while the mask originals are being conveyed from the alignment means to the storage path, the next mask original is conveyed to the alignment means. However, there are cases where it is not possible to do so, and as a result, there is a problem in that the printing speed decreases.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an image recording device that can increase the efficiency of conveying the mask original to the alignment means and also increase the printing speed. The purpose is

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the image recording device of the present invention separates image information into colors and uses a plurality of mask original plates formed with monochrome light-shielding images, and those mask original plates. a positioning means for positioning the image to a specific position on the photosensitive recording medium;
The mask master plate is provided with a contact means for bringing the mask master plate into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium, and an exposure means for performing color separation exposure through the mask master plate, and the mask master plate is temporarily attached before and after the positioning means. There are two routes each for evacuation and storage.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the positioning means positions the plurality of mask originals formed of monochrome light-shielding images at specific positions on the photosensitive recording medium by color-separating the image information. Make adjustments. Next, the contact means brings the mask master and the photosensitive recording medium into close contact, and the exposure means performs color separation exposure through the mask master. Since two paths are provided before and after the positioning means for temporarily retracting and storing the mask original, a plurality of color output images are obtained from the same mask original while sequentially changing the storage position of the mask original.

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in which a monochrome laser printer (hereinafter referred to as a laser printer) 1 and an image recording device 20 are combined and arranged.

First, the laser printer 1 is mounted on top of the image recording device 20. In the laser printer 1, a polygon scanner 2 irradiates a charged photoreceptor 3 with laser light, thereby drawing an electrostatic latent image. The photoconductor 3 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed is developed by a developing device 4, and the toner image is transferred onto plain paper or an OHP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Normal laser printer 1
records data transmitted from the host computer.

The output from the laser printer 1 is sent to the paper bus switching section 10.
If a black and white image is required, the document is sent to the monochrome output tray 11 or to the automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) tray 12; if a color image is required,
After being delivered to the ADF tray 12, it is taken into the image recording device 20.

The sheets sent to the ADF tray 12 are taken into the image recording device 20 one by one by the ADF paper feed roller 13, and the three sheets of monochrome printed paper output from the laser printer 1 form a set to form an image. Mask original plate 15 (15R) of recording device 20.

15G, 15B).

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

An alignment device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the image recording device 20, and the ADF ray 12 and the alignment device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. A pair of rollers 2 whose rotation direction can be controlled are provided on both the left and right sides of the alignment device 31.
2. 23. 24. 25.26,27, game)28
．． 29 and a mask original storage section 102 are arranged.

A pair of glue curler 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. roller vs 2
On the outside of 6.27, there is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15.

As shown in FIG.
2a, 23a, 24a, 25a.

26a, 27a, and the solenoids 28a, 29a, and their driving parts 22a, 23a, 24a, 25a
, 26a, 27a and solenoids 28a, 29a are connected to the control section 110. The control section 110 controls the operations of the roller pairs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and the gates 28, 29 in accordance with a control order described later in response to a signal to start image recording from an input means.

In addition, when obtaining a plurality of color images from a set of mask originals, the mask original transport path 21 functions as a mask original storage part, and the other mask original storage part 102 and the roller pair 2
The conveyance path where 6.27 is located is also the mask master storage section 103,
104.

The alignment device 31 includes a sensor (not shown) and a pair of rollers 32 disposed near both left and right ends. 33 and a glass plate 34 arranged between them. This pair of rollers 32 , 33 is also connected to drive parts 32 a, 33 a, which in turn are connected to control part 110 . The control unit 110 controls the roller pairs 32 and 33 according to a control order described later.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 31, and the exposure device 41 is movable in the left-right direction along the alignment device 31. The exposure device 41 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflection plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, and a filter unit 44 that includes a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44B. It is configured.

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 is routed from inside the cartridge 51, passing between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, passing through a buffer 55, a separating roller 64, a pressure developing device 70, and a driving roller 57, to the take-up roller 54. . The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53 and is configured to bring the mask original 15 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 into close contact.

Further, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position.
The photosensitive recording medium 50 is placed on the exposure table 5 during exposure of the mask original 15.
It is arranged to be fixed at 2.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by coating a base paper with a developer disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-88739, and is placed in the cassette 61 so that the developer-applied surface faces downward. It is set.

At the top of the cassette 61, a suction cup 62 for feeding the developer sheets 60 one by one is arranged.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a pair of pressure rollers 71 and the like that superpose the photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure and the developer sheet 60 and develop the image under pressure.

The heat fixing device 80 includes an upper casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82, and a lower rubber roller 84 for conveying the developer sheet 60. 85. 86 and roller 87
An endless belt 89 installed between the roller 88 and the roller 88
A paper discharge tray 63 is attached to the outside of the heat fixing device 80.

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

First, a mask original plate 1 for red is printed using a laser printer 1.
5R is created. This mask original plate 15R is a mask original plate in which toner, which is a light-shielding image, is placed on other parts of the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 50 in order to harden the microcapsules containing a cyan dye precursor. be.

At this time, the mask original plate 1 outputted from the laser printer 1
5R is delivered to the ADF tray 12 and fed into the image recording device 20 by the ADF paper feed roller 13. The mask original 15R fed into the image recording device 20 passes through the mask original transport path 21 and is sent to the alignment device 31 by the roller pair 24, 22. On the way, Ricara Rolla 1
01 corrects the curl of the mask original plate 15R. At this time, the gate 28 is at the position indicated by the solid line.

Next, the alignment device 31 transports the mask original 15R to an appropriate exposure position by the roller pair 32, and then uses a drive source (not shown) to move the mask original 15R while reading the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R with a sensor.
Move R to a predetermined position.

Immediately before alignment, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by a cam 53, and a fixed roller 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed to fix 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 the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31
The mask original plate 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other.

When the exposure table 52 comes into close contact with the alignment device 31, the lamp 42
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 red filter 44R. When the exposure is completed, the lamp 42 is turned off and the exposure device 41 moves back in the direction of arrow B. At this time, the filter unit 44 of the exposure device 41
A green filter 44G is positioned above the lamp 42, which is moved by a drive source (not shown).

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 separated from the alignment device 31 and 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. Saga storage cartridge 5
1, and after the exposure is completed, the exposure stage 52
When the recording medium 50 rises, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is rewound in a direction to take up the slack.

Even after the exposure of the red mask master plate 15R is completed, the exposure table 52 only rises to a predetermined position, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved to the exposure table 52 by a fixed roller 56 pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52. remains fixed.

Next, the green mask original 15G created by the laser printer 1 is transferred to the ADF) lay 12, ADF paper feed roller 13, recurler roller 101, mask original transport path 2,
1 and just before the roller pair 24, the roller pairs 22, 24, 25, 27 and the roller pair 32, 33 of the alignment device 31 are rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15R to the right, and the mask Aligning device 31 for original plate 15R
At the same time as being sent out, the mask original 15G is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, game) 28. 29 is located at the position indicated by the solid line, the exposed mask original 15R is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 27, and with its rear end passing through the gate 29, the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 is stopped and the mask original is stored in the mask original storage section. A mask original 15R is held at 104.

The mask original 15G guided by the alignment device 31 is aligned with the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the same manner as the mask original 15R, and then the exposure table 52 is lowered to align the mask original 15G with the photosensitive recording medium 50. Being brought into close contact. after that,
The lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After the exposure is completed, the exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. The exposure device 41 is moved back to the original position, and the filter unit 44 is moved so that the blue filter 44B is positioned above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original 15B created by the laser printer 1 is similarly fed to the image recording device 20, and is conveyed just before the roller pair 24.
4, 22, 25, 26 and the roller pair 3 of the alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated in the direction of conveying the mask original 15G to the right, and the mask original 15G is aligned with the alignment device 31.
At the same time, the mask original 15B is conveyed to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, the gate 28 is located at the position indicated by the solid line, and the gate 29 is located at the position indicated by the broken line, and the exposed mask original 15G is sandwiched between the roller pair 26 and the gate 29
When the rear end of the mask original has passed, the rotation of the pair of rollers 27 is stopped, thereby holding the mask original in the mask original storage section 103.

The mask original 15B guided by the alignment device 31 is brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50 by the same operation. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to blue light through the mask original 15B.

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, the fixed roller 56 and the left end of the exposure table 52 are separated from each other, and the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow E to remove the unexposed portions of the photosensitive recording medium 50. is pulled out from inside the cartridge 51 below the exposure table 52. Drive roller 57
The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed and stopped when the leading edge of the latent image reaches the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70.

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

Next, by a drive device (not shown), the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow and pressed against the roller 71 . At this time, by lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position again, the fixed roller 5 is placed on the left end of the exposure table 52.
6 is pressed, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is fixed to the exposure table 52. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed while being pressed while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 60, and the photosensitive recording medium 50
The upper uncured microcapsules are destroyed by pressure, and a color image corresponding to the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is developed on the color developer sheet 60.

By rotating the pressure roller 71 of the pressure developing device 70 in the direction of the arrow, the buffer 55 is moved in the direction of the arrow F. The color developer sheet 60 is peeled off from the photosensitive recording medium 50 by a separation roller 64 and guided toward a heat fixing device 80 .

In the heat fixing device 80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by a heater 81 and by air circulating in a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. Along with this, a binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60
is thermally melted, the surface becomes smooth, and the surface of the color developer sheet 60 has an appropriate 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. Therefore, while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the next exposure point is It is possible to perform exposure processing on the latent image of a color image.

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 as to convey the mask original 15R 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 sandwiched between the roller pair 24 and the gate 28
The rotation of the roller pair 24 is stopped at the position where the rear end has passed, and the mask original is held in the mask original transport path 21 functioning as a mask original storage section. The mask original 15R sent to the alignment device 31 is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to red light through the mask original 15R.

Next, the mask original 15R at the exposure position is sent to the left, and the roller pair 26 is moved to send the mask original 15G held at the position of the roller pair 26 to the alignment device 31.
2, 23, 25, 26 and the roller pair 3 of the alignment device 31
2.33 is rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left.

At this time, the gates 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by broken lines. The mask original plate 15R is sandwiched between the roller pair 23 and the gate 2
By stopping the rotation of the roller pair 23 at the position where the rear end passes through the mask original plate storage section 102, the mask original plate storage section 102 holds the mask original plate. Mask original plate 15 sent to alignment device 31
G is aligned and brought into close contact with the photosensitive recording medium 50. The photosensitive recording medium 50 is exposed to green light through the mask original 15G.

Next, the mask original 15G at the exposure position is sent 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, and the color is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent image of the image is formed to form a color image on the developer sheet 60.

By repeating the same operation, one set of mask originals 1
5, a predetermined number of color images can be output.

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

In addition, if the next mask original 15 is output from the laser printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, it is stored in the ADF tray 12 and waits until the exposure of the previous set is completed. The ADF paper feed roller 13 feeds the paper sheets one by one into the color image recording apparatus 20 .

In addition, if you want to reuse a mask master output from another laser printer or a previously used mask master, please use the AD
By setting it on the F tray 12, the mask original can be input.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the detailed description above, according to the present invention, by providing two mask original holding paths on both sides of the positioning means, the storage position of the mask original can be adjusted. By feeding the mask original to the positioning means while sequentially changing the exposure order of the mask original, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus that can increase the printing speed without changing the exposure order of the mask original, which is a remarkable effect for the industry.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Figures 1 and 2 show embodiments embodying the present invention. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an image recording device, and Figure 2 shows roller pairs and gates. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit that operates the controller. In the figure, 15 is a mask original, 20 is an image recording device, 21.
102, 103, 104 are mask original storage parts, 22.2
3.24.25.26.27.32゜33 is a pair of rollers,
28, 29 is a gate, 31 is a positioning device, 41 is an exposure means, 50 is a photosensitive recording screw, 52 is a contact means, 110
is the control section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of mask originals formed by color-separating image information to form monochromatic light-shielding images, and positioning means for positioning the mask originals at specific positions on a photosensitive recording medium. , an image recording apparatus comprising a contact means for bringing the mask master and the photosensitive recording medium into close contact with each other, and an exposure means for performing color separation exposure through the mask master, on both sides of the positioning means, An image recording apparatus characterized in that two paths are provided for temporarily retracting and storing the mask original.