JPH0419657A - Mask master automatic supply device - 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 automatic mask original supplying device that automatically feeds a mask original created based on color image information to a color image recording device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the following color image recording apparatuses that form color images are known. First, a laser printer prints an original color image of red (R), green (G), and blue (
An image from which the component B) is extracted is formed in black, that is, mask master plates for three types of red, green, and blue are created. The three types of mask originals are once sent to a mask original automatic supply device. That is, the three types of mask originals are stacked on the chute member of the automatic mask original supply device.
From this chute member, the three types of mask originals are fed one by one in the order of red, green, and blue to the image recording device by a feeding roller. The fed red mask original is transported to the exposure position, where the photosensitive recording medium is pulled out from the cartridge. First, the photosensitive recording medium is exposed to red light while facing the red mask original, and a red latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive recording medium in accordance with the image of the red mask original. The red mask master plate is discharged to a tray, and then the green mask master plate is transported to the exposure position, where it is exposed to green light, and the exposed surface of the photosensitive recording medium is covered with green light according to the green mask master plate. A latent image is formed. The green mask original is discharged to a tray, and then the blue mask original is transported to an exposure position and exposed to blue light, forming a blue latent image on the exposed surface of the photosensitive recording medium.

By the above three exposures, red, green, and blue latent images are formed on the same surface of the photosensitive recording medium, forming a color latent image, and exposed from a set of red, green, and blue mask originals. A color latent image is formed on the recording medium.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In such a conventional mask original automatic supply device, three types of mask originals stacked on a chute member are separated one by one by a feeding roller and fed into an image recording device. To feed into the recording device,
The stacked three types of mask originals must be reliably conveyed by the feeding roller. The mask original plate is conveyed by a feeding roller using a conveyance roller or the like with which the mask original plate contacts due to its own weight.

However, since the conveyance roller is only lightly in contact with the mask original, it often rotates idly and does not convey it to the feeding roller. For this reason, there was a problem in that the mask originals stacked on the chute member were not fed into the color image recording apparatus from the feeding roller.

The present invention provides a mask original production device that brings a transport roller into pressure contact with the mask originals stacked on a chute member, reliably transports the mask original to the feeding roller, and feeds the mask original into an image recording apparatus. purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a chute member for stuffing a mask original created by a mask original creation device and then guiding it to an image recording device, and a chute member for guiding the mask original to an image recording device from which the mask original is transferred from the chute member to the image recording device. In an automatic mask original supply device including a feeding roller that feeds into a recording device, a conveying roller is disposed near the chute member, and a pressing means for pressing the conveying roller against the chute member is disposed. The pressing means presses the conveying roller toward the chute member to bring it into pressure contact with the mask original.

[Effect]

The mask originals outputted by the mask original production device are delivered between the chute members and stacked. When the mask originals are stacked, the conveying roller is moved from the initial position toward the chute member by the pressing means, and presses the mask originals against the chute member. The conveying roller is pressed by the chute member and comes into pressure contact with the mask original, and the mask original is surely conveyed to the feeding roller without spinning idle, and furthermore, it is surely fed without hemming inside the color image recording apparatus.

〔Example〕

An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a monochrome laser printer 1 and a color image recording device 20 in a combined arrangement.

First, the monochrome laser printer 1 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 latent image. The photoreceptor 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 ○HP sheet fed from a paper feed cassette 5, and fixed by a fixing device 6. Typically, the monochrome laser printer 1 records data transmitted from a host computer.

The output from the laser printer 1 is sent to the paper path switching section 10.
If a black and white image is required, it is sent to the monochrome paper output tray 11 or the mask master automatic supply device 12, and if a color image is required, it is sent to the mask master automatic supply device 12.
After being sent to the color image recorder 20, the image is taken into the color image recorder 20. The paper sent to the mask original automatic supply device 12 is a set of three monochrome printed papers output from the laser printer 1 and is used as a mask original (15R, 15G, 15B) in the color image recording device 20. used.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the mask original automatic supply device 12 stacks three types of mask originals 15R, 15G, and 15B output from the laser printer 1, and then
A pair of substantially flat chute members 91a and 91b for smoothly guiding the mask originals 15R115G and 15B to the color image recording device 20, and this chute member 9.
Three types of mask original plates 15R stacked on 1a91b
, 15G, and 15B one by one and feeds them to the color image recording apparatus 20.

92b etc. The feeding roller 92a92b consists of a pair of paper feeding roller 92a and a stationary roller 92b. It is rotatably supported by a drive source (not shown) and rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown).

Further, the base end side of a roller frame 94 made of a metal plate having a triangular shape as a whole is swingably attached to the support shaft 93.
A chute member 91 is provided on the tip side of this roller frame 94.
A conveyance roller 95 that can be pressed against the chute member 91b through the passage hole 91c of a is attached. A drive gear 96 is provided for each of the paper feed roller 92a and the conveyance roller 95.
and the driven gear 97 are attached to rotate together,
An idler gear 98 that meshes with the drive gear 96 and the driven gear 97 is interposed. On the other hand, a rotating shaft 99 is rotatably supported on the main body frame, and an arm 100 that rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 99 and a plate spring 103 are fixed to the rotating shaft 99. It is in contact with the lower edge of. An elongated hole 100a is formed in the arm 100, and a drive pin 106 implanted in a drive shaft 105 of a solenoid 104 is inserted into this elongated hole 100a. A tension spring 107 is tensioned between the rotating shaft 99 and the roller frame 94, and this tension spring 107 constantly biases the conveyance roller 95 away from the chute member 91b. The roller frame 94, gears 96, 97, 98, leaf spring 103, rotating shaft 99, arm 100, solenoid 104, tension spring 107, etc. collectively constitute a pressing means.

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

An alignment device 31 is located at the bottom of the main body of the color image recording device 20, and the mask original automatic supply device 12 and the alignment device 31 are connected by a mask original transport path 21. Pairs of rollers 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 whose rotation direction can be controlled are provided on the left and right sides of the positioning device 31.
, 27, gate 28.19 and mask original storage section 102
is located. In the middle of the mask original transport path 21,
A pair of glue curler rollers 101 are arranged to remove curls from the mask original 15 discharged from the laser printer 1. Outside the roller pair 26, 27, there is a mask original discharge tray 30 for discharging the used mask original 15.

The positioning device 31 includes a sensor (not shown), a pair of rollers 32 and 33 placed near both left and right ends, a glass plate 34 placed between them, and the like.

An exposure device 41 is arranged below the alignment device 3, and this exposure device 41
It is movable in the left and right direction along 1. The exposure device 4
1 includes a linear white light source (hereinafter referred to as a lamp) 42, a reflecting plate 43 that reflects light from the lamp 42, a red filter 44R, a green filter 44G, and a blue filter 44.
The device photosensitive recording medium 50 constituted by the filter unit 44 consisting of
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 onto 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 5o passes from inside the cartridge 51 between the glass plate 34 and the exposure table 52, and passes through the buffer 55, separation roller 64, and pressure developing device 70.
It is routed through the drive roller 57 to the take-up roller 54. The exposure table 52 is lowered by a cam 53, and the mask original 1 conveyed onto the glass plate 34 is placed on the exposure table 52.
5 and the photosensitive recording medium 50 are brought into close contact with each other. The demarcation roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 when the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position, and is arranged so as to fix the photosensitive recording medium 50 to the exposure table 52 during exposure of the mask original 15. has been done.

The developer sheet 60 is constructed by applying a developer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5888739 onto a piece of Heath paper, and is set in the cassette 61 with the developer-applied side facing downward. has been done. At the top of the cassette 61, there is a suction cup 62 for feeding the developer sheets 60 one by one.
is located.

The pressure developing device 70 is composed of a photosensitive recording medium 50 on which a latent image has been formed by exposure, and a pair of pressure rollers 71 for overlapping a color developer sheet 60 and developing it under pressure.

The heat fixing device 80 is installed between a casing 83 containing a heater 81 and an impeller 82 in the upper part, rubber rollers 84, 85, 86 for conveying the color developer sheet 60 in the lower part, and rollers 87 and 88. A paper ejection tray 63 is attached to the outside of the heat fixing device 80.

The operation when a plurality of color images are obtained from one set of mask originals in the apparatus configured as described above will now be described.

First, a red mask original 15R is created by the monochrome laser printer 1, then a green mask original 15G1 and a blue mask original 15B are created. These original mask plates 15R915G and 15B have toner, which is a light-shielding image, placed on other parts of the microcapsules coated on the photosensitive recording medium 5o to harden the microcapsules containing the cyan dye precursor. This is the original version of the mask. Three types of mask original plates 15R15G15B outputted from the monochrome laser printer 1 are sent out and stacked in the order of heret, green, and blue between the chute members 91a and 91b, but at this time, the solenoid 104 is activated according to the input signal. The arm 100 is driven, and the arm 100 rotates counterclockwise together with the rotation shaft 99. Rotation axis 99
At the same time as the rotation, the leaf spring 103 also rotates counterclockwise, and the roller arm 94 is pressed clockwise around the support shaft 93 and rotated. When the roller arm 94 rotates clockwise, the conveyance roller 95 moves from the initial position to the chute member 91a.
The mask original plate 15R, 1 rotates through the passage hole 91c.
5G and 15B are pressed against the chute member 91b.

Here, the mask original 1 is placed between the chute members 91a and 91b.
When sheets 5R, 15G, and 15B are sent out, the feed roller 92a is rotated, and at the same time, the drive gear 96 is also rotated, and the conveyance roller 95 is rotated via the idle gear 98 and the driven gear 97. The conveying roller 95 is in pressure contact with the red mask original 15R, and reliably conveys the red mask original 15b toward the paper feed roller 92a.

Therefore, only one mask original plate 15b for red is separated from the other mask original plates 15G15B for green and blue, and is fed into the color image recording apparatus 2° by rotation of the paper feed roller 92a.

In this way, the conveyance roller 92a is connected to the chute member 91a,
Three types of mask original plates 15R, 1 stacked on 91b
5G and 15B toward the chute member 91b, and this conveying roller 92a comes into pressure contact with the mask original 15R, so that the mask original 15R is reliably conveyed to the feeding roller 92a without spinning idly. For this reason, the chute member 9
Mask original plates 15R, 15 stacked on 1a, 91b
G, 15B can be reliably fed from the feeding roller 92a into the color image recording apparatus 20 without hemming. Note that the solenoid 104 is de-energized after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and is separated from the conveyance roller 95 or the chute member 91b.

Mask original plate 15 fed into color image recording device 20
R passes through the mask original transport path 21 and passes through the roller pair 24.22.
is sent to the positioning device 31 by. On the way, the curl of the mask master plate 15R is corrected by the curler roller 101. 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 a pair of rollers 32, and then uses a sensor to read the alignment mark printed on the mask original 15R. Move 15R to the specified position.

Immediately before alignment, the exposure table 52 is lowered to a predetermined position by a cam 53, and a fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52 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 comes into contact with the glass plate 34 of the alignment device 31, and the mask original 15R and the photosensitive recording medium 5o are exposed.
and bring them into close contact.

When the exposure table 52 or positioning device 31 is in close contact with the lamp 4
2 is turned on, and the exposure device 41 performs scanning exposure in the direction of arrow A in order to expose the photosensitive recording medium 50 to red light via the red filter 44R and the mask original plate 15R. 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, exposure device 4
A green filter 44G is moved above the lamp 42 by a drive source (not shown).
is located.

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 rotation of the roll of the photosensitive recording medium 50 in the cartridge 51, and when the exposure table 52 descends,
A length corresponding to the descending amount of the exposure table 52 is pulled out from the storage cartridge 51, and the exposure table 52 is pulled out after the exposure is completed.
2 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 plate 15G stacked between the chute members 91a and 91b is fed to the color image recording device 20 by the conveyance roller 95 and the paper feed roller 92a, as described above, and is then fed to the color image recording device 20 by the recurrer roller 101 and the mask original plate 15G. When it passes through the original transport path 21 and comes just before the roller pair 24,
The roller pairs 2224, 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 at the same time the mask original 15R is sent out from the alignment device 31, the mask original 15G is transported. It is transported to the exposure position and stopped. At this time, game 1-28.
29 is located at the position of the solid line, and is the exposed mask original plate 15.
R is held between the roller pair 27 and with its rear end passing through the gate 29 by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 270.

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. Thereafter, the lamp 42 is turned on and exposure to green light is performed via the green filter 44G. After exposure,
The exposure table 52 is raised to a predetermined position. Exposure device 4
1 is moved back to the original position and moves the filter unit 44 so that the blue filter 44B is located above the lamp 42.

Next, the blue mask original plate 15B stacked between the chute members 91a and 91b is transferred to the conveyance port chive 9 in the same manner as described above.
5. Color image recording device 20 by paper feed roller 92a
, and is conveyed just before the roller pair 24.
Roller pair 24, 22°25.26 and positioning device 31
The pair of rollers 3233 are rotated in a direction to convey the mask original 15G to the right, so that 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 indicated by the solid line, the gate 29 is located at the position indicated by the broken line, and the exposed mask original 15G is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 26, and
With the rear end passing through the gate 29, the roller pair 2
It is maintained by stopping the rotation of 7.

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

In addition, the color image recording device 20 and the mask original plate 15R, 1
When 5G and 15B are fed, the driving of the solenoid 104 is stopped, the roller arm 94 is rotated counterclockwise by the tension spring 107, and the conveyance roller 95 is returned to the initial position.

By 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. The cartridge 51 is pulled out 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 fed out from the cassette 61 by a suction cup 62, and reaches a position corresponding to the tip of the developer sheet 60 at the tip of the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50. After being transported, it stops.

Next, the pressure developing device 70 is driven by a drive device (not shown).
The pressure roller 71 is pressed while being rotated in the direction of the arrow. At this time, by lowering the exposure table 52 to a predetermined position again, the fixed roller 56 is pressed against the left end of the exposure table 52, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is moved onto the exposure table 52.
Fixed.

The photosensitive recording medium 50 is conveyed under pressure while being overlapped with the color developer sheet 60, and the uncured microcapsules on the photosensitive recording medium 50 are destroyed by the pressure, and the latent image on the photosensitive recording medium 50 is The corresponding color image is on the developer sheet 60.
developed on top.

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 W80, the color developer sheet 60 is heated by a heater 81 and heated by air circulating in a casing 83 by an impeller 82, thereby promoting color development of a color image. At the same time, the binder polymer (binder resin) for fixing the color developing medium to the base paper of the color developer sheet 60 is thermally melted, and the surface becomes smooth, and the surface of the color developer sheet 60 has an appropriate gloss. can get. 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 series of development and color gloss processing described above, the photosensitive recording medium 50 is clamped and fixed by the exposure table 52 and the fixed roller 56, so that while the development processing for one screen is being performed, the following It is also possible to perform exposure processing on latent images of color images.

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. Roller pair 24, 22, 2
5.27 and the roller pair 32.33 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 15B is held between the pair of rollers 24, and the rotation of the pair of rollers 24 is stopped at a position past the gate 28 at the rear end. 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 mask original 15G held by the roller pair 26 is aligned with the roller pairs 22, 23, 25, and 26 in order to be sent to the alignment device 31. The pair of rollers 32 and 33 of the device 31 are rotated so as to convey the mask original 15G to the left. At this time, game) 28 and 29 are located at the positions indicated by the broken lines. Mask original plate 15R has roller pair 23
The roller pair 23 is held by stopping the rotation of the roller pair 23 at a position past the rear end of the gate 28.

The mask original 15G 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 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 by the roller pair 24 to the alignment device 31, and the photosensitive recording medium 50 is placed on the photosensitive recording medium 50. A latent color image is formed on the developer sheet 60, and a color image is formed 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 monochrome laser printer 1 while a series of color images are being exposed, it is temporarily stored in the mask original automatic supply device 12 and the previous set is exposed. After this is completed, the DF feed roller 13 feeds the sheets one by one into the color image recording apparatus 20.

Further, when a mask original output from another monochrome laser printer or a previously used mask original is to be used again, the mask original can be inputted by setting it in the mask original automatic supply device 12.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a conveyance roller that can be pushed and pressed toward the chute member is disposed, and the conveyance roller is pressed toward the chute member by the suppressing means, so that the conveyance roller is moved toward the chute member. Since the conveying roller is brought into pressure contact with the stacked mask originals, the mask original is reliably conveyed to the feeding roller without idle rotation.

Therefore, the mask originals stacked on the chute member can be reliably fed from the feed roller into the color image recording apparatus without being misplaced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an automatic mask original supplying device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a color image recording device equipped with this device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the mask original automatic supply device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Monochrome laser printer, 20... Image recording device, 91a, 91b... Chute member, 92a... Feeding roller, 94... Roller frame, 95... Conveyance roller, 96... Drive gear, 97... Driven gear, 98... Idle gear, 100... Arm, 103... Leaf spring, 104... Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A chute member for stacking mask masters created by the mask master creating device and then guiding them to an image recording device, and a feeding roller for feeding the mask master from the chute member into the image recording device. In the mask master automatic supply device, a conveying roller is disposed near the chute member, and a pressing means for pressing the conveying roller against the chute member is disposed, and the pressing means causes the conveying roller to press against the chute member. An automatic mask original supply device characterized in that the mask original plate is pressed toward the mask original plate so as to be brought into pressure contact with the mask original plate.