JPH0476468B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Field of Application> The present invention is applicable to color scanners for plate making, raster plotters for printed wiring boards, etc., in which a photosensitive film is mounted on a rotating drum to perform scanning exposure. Regarding a method of mounting a photosensitive film on a rotating drum in a drum-type image scanning recording device, in particular,
The present invention relates to a preferred method of mounting a photosensitive film when automatically mounting the photosensitive film onto a rotating drum via a film mounting/detaching device.

<Prior art> This type of film attachment/detachment device has been known in the past, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 138478/1986 proposed by the present applicant.
The product disclosed in the publication has been commercialized and provided to the market.

In this process, the photosensitive film is held by a suction cup and taken out from the film storage section, wound around a vacuum suction rotating drum, and both ends of the film are pressed and fixed onto the drum pressing surface using a tip fixed blade and a rear end fixed blade, respectively. The photosensitive film, on which an image has been exposed and recorded, is peeled off from the rotating drum, held by suction with a suction cup, and stored in a film ejecting section.

When the photosensitive film is attached to the rotating drum through this film attachment/detachment device, conventionally the third
The procedure was as shown in Figures C to H.

First, the leading end of the photosensitive film 1 is suctioned and held by the suction cup 14, and the end 1a is held by the leading end fixing blade 21.
(Fig. 3C),
It is pressed and fixed using the tip fixing blade 21 (D in the same figure). After the suction and holding of the suction cup 14 is released, the photosensitive film 1 is wound around the rotary drum 20 from the leading end side by rotating the rotary drum 20 while drawing a vacuum (see E in the figure). In this state, the rotating drum 20
is stopped, and the rear end side of the photosensitive film 1 is attached to the suction cup 14.
Insert the end 1b between the rear end fixed blade 22 and the drum pressure surface (FIG. F), release the suction hold of the suction cup 14 (FIG. G), and then insert the rear end fixed blade 22 Press and fix the end portion 1b (H in the same figure). The photosensitive film is mounted on the rotating drum by the above procedure.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, according to the above procedure, image distortion may occur on the leading edge side of the photosensitive film. The magnitude of the image distortion is about 10-odd microns in terms of linear accuracy, but it may not be negligible in applications such as color scanners for plate making and raster plotters for printed wiring boards that require high accuracy. Note that the reason why image distortion occurs on the leading edge side of the photosensitive film is considered to be due to the following reasons.

While the leading end of the photosensitive film is held by the suction cup, the end is inserted between the leading end fixing blade and the drum pressure surface (Fig. 3C), so the leading end of the photosensitive film is bent by the suction by the suction cup. In this state, the film is pressed and fixed with the tip fixing blade 21 (D in the same figure), and the film is fixed with some strain stress on the tip side, and the image is exposed there, which causes the film to be fixed with pressure. This is thought to appear as image distortion.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to eliminate such image distortion, and is an improvement of the conventional method as described below.

That is, the photosensitive film is wound and fixed around the rotating drum in the same manner as in the conventional procedure (FIGS. 3C to 3H). After that, the temporary fixation of the tip fixing blade 21 is released (FIG. 4 J), and the tip side of the photosensitive film 1 is sucked with the suction cup 14 and lifted from the drum circumferential surface (FIG. 4 K).
Next, the suction holding of the suction cup 14 is released (L in the same figure), and the end portion 1a is again pressed and fixed by the tip fixing blade 21 (M in the same figure).

<Function> When the tip end of the photosensitive film is temporarily fixed by the tip fixing blade 21, the tip side of the photosensitive film is fixed with residual strain stress as in the conventional case. When the photosensitive film is lifted from the circumferential surface of the drum and then the suction holding of the suction cup is released, the leading end of the photosensitive film is drawn to the circumferential surface of the drum by the suction force generated by the vacuum of the rotating drum. At this time, the tip side is attracted to the drum circumferential surface in a state where the strain stress has been eliminated, and the tip end fixed blade 2
At 1, the end portion is fixed by pressing. This eliminates image distortion on the tip side. Note that since the rear end side is not fixed by the fixed blade 22 while being suctioned and held by the suction cup, no image distortion that would cause a problem will occur.

<Example> The following description will be made based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus embodying the present invention, that is, a film loading/unloading device in a drum-type image scanning and recording device.

This film loading/unloading device includes a film supply pallet 2 containing a plurality of photosensitive films 1, a film collection pallet 6 disposed above the pallet 2 for storing exposed films, and a rotating drum 20 disposed above the film supply pallet 2. an articulated film transport robot 12 that attaches and detaches the photosensitive film 1 to and from the rotating drum 20;
Film tip fixed blade 2 of rotating drum 20
1, a film rear end blade 22, and a blade release means 15 for releasing the pressure on both the blades 21, 22.

The film supply pallet 2 is configured such that the upper cover 3 can be slid rearward to be opened by a drive source (not shown) and the photosensitive film 1 can be taken out, and an air nozzle 4 and an antistatic device are installed at the tip of the pallet 2. A carbon brush 5 is provided to ensure that the photosensitive films 1 can be taken out one by one.

The film collection pallet 6 is equipped with a pair of feed rollers 7 for collecting the exposed film inside the front end thereof, and an air nozzle 8 for blowing air onto the lower surface of the film to smoothly collect the film.
Further, a lid 11 that is opened and closed by a solenoid 10 is provided at the upper part of the distal end thereof, and the film is collected with this lid 11 open.

The film transport robot 12 is composed of an articulated swinging arm mechanism, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the film transport robot 12 suction-holds the photosensitive film 1 with a suction cup 14 and takes it out from the film supply pallet 2.
The photosensitive film 1 can be mounted on the rotating drum 20, or can be peeled off from the rotating drum 20 and collected on a film collecting pallet 6.
A large number of suction cups 14 are arranged in series at a predetermined pitch on a shaft tube 13 that is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotary drum 20, and are connected in communication with an air suction means (not shown).

The blade release means 15 is rotatably supported at both ends by the machine frame, and rotates between a front end blade release position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a rear end blade release position shown by a phantom line. Then, the pressing force of fixed blades 21 and 22 of the rotating drum, which will be described later, is released, and both ends of the photosensitive film 1 are sequentially attached and detached.

The rotating drum 20 is constructed as a vacuum suction type drum, has a hollow structure, has a large number of film suction holes perforated in its outer peripheral surface, and communicates with an intake blower using a rotating shaft as a ventilation duct.
In addition, a rotary encoder (not shown) and a rotary transmission device capable of switching between low and high speeds are connected to the rotary shaft, which controls the amount of rotation of the rotary drum 20 and the stop position, and low-speed rotation during film loading and unloading, and low-speed rotation during scanning exposure. is configured to rotate the drum at high speed. It should be noted that such rotational drive control is a commonly used means in drum-type image scanning and recording apparatuses, so details thereof will be omitted.

A front end fixing blade 21 and a rear end fixing blade 22 for fixing both ends of the photosensitive film 1 are provided at required portions on the circumferential surface of the rotating drum 20. These one set of fixed blades 21, 22
are formed of a spring steel plate so as to be able to press and fix the leading and trailing ends of the photosensitive film 1 to the pressure-receiving surface of the drum, respectively, and are provided parallel to the rotation axis.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 25 indicates the rotating drum 2.
This is an exposure head for scanning and exposing the photosensitive film 1 mounted on the rotary drum 20, and it scans and exposes the photosensitive film 1 while moving along a pair of rails 26, 26 in the direction of the rotation axis (sub-scanning direction) of the rotary drum 20 by a drive source (not shown). It is configured to perform exposure recording.

Hereinafter, the operation of attaching and detaching the photosensitive film according to the present invention in the above-mentioned apparatus will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 1 shows the state of the apparatus before it is started, with the film transport robot 12 and the rotating drum 20 at their original positions.

When the operation is started in this state, the upper cover 3 of the film supply pallet 2 is opened, the film transport robot 12 is operated, and the suction cup 14 attracts and holds the uppermost photosensitive film 1 accommodated in the film supply pallet 2 (the first Figure 2A). Subsequently, the film transport robot 12 operates to take out the photosensitive film 1 from the film supply pallet 2 and transfer it to the rotating drum 20.
Transport to. At this time, the blade release means 15 operates to lift and open the tip fixed blade 21, thereby facilitating insertion of the tip of the film between the fixed blade 21 and the drum pressure surface (FIG. 3B).

In this state, the leading end 1a of the photosensitive film 1 is inserted (FIG. 3C) and the blade releasing means 15 is operated to return, thereby pressing and fixing the film leading end 1a with the leading end fixing blade 21 (FIG. 3D).

In this state, release the suction hold of the suction cup 14, and
By rotating the rotating drum 20 at low speed in the direction of arrow T while drawing a vacuum, the photosensitive film 1 is wound around the rotating drum 20 from the leading end side (E in the figure).

At this point, the rotating drum 20 is stopped, the rear end of the photosensitive film 1 is sucked and held by the suction cup 14, and then lifted, and the end 1b is inserted between the rear end fixed blade 22 and the drum pressure surface ( Figure F).

Note that the blade release means 15 is set at 180° in advance.
Rotate to lift the rear end fixed blade 22 and keep it open. At this time, the upper lid 3 of the film supply pallet 2 is closed.

Subsequently, when the suction holding of the suction cup 14 is released, the rear end side of the film is drawn to the circumferential surface of the drum by the suction force generated by the vacuuming of the rotary drum 20 (see G in the same figure).
Next, the rear end portion 1b is pressed and fixed by the rear end portion fixing blade 22 (H in the same figure).

After that, the tip fixing blade 21 is released temporarily (FIG. 4 J), and the suction cup 14 sucks the tip of the photosensitive film 1 and lifts it from the drum circumferential surface (FIG. 4 K). When the holding is released, the leading end of the film is again drawn to the circumferential surface of the drum by the suction force generated by the vacuum of the rotating drum 20 (L in the same figure). At this time, the strain stress on the leading edge side of the film is released. Tip fixed blade 21 again
Press and fix the tip portion 1a (M in the same figure).

The photosensitive film 1 according to the above procedure is mounted on the rotating drum 20 without causing distortion stress, and the drum is rotated at high speed to expose an image.

The photosensitive film 1 on which the image has been exposed and recorded is released from the pressure and fixation of the rear end fixing blade 22 (FIG. 5R).
It is peeled off from the rotating drum 20 by the suction cup 14,
The film is collected onto the film collection pallet 6 (S in the figure).

Incidentally, instead of collecting the exposed and recorded photosensitive film 1 onto the pallet 6 as described above, it may be constructed such that it is transported to an automatic film developing machine by a transporting means such as a conveyor mechanism.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above explanation, according to the photosensitive film mounting method according to the present invention, after the photosensitive film is once wound around the rotating drum, the temporary fixation of the tip fixing blade is released and the film is removed. Since the distortion stress on the leading edge side is eliminated and the leading edge portion is pressed and fixed again, image distortion that tends to occur on the leading edge side of the film can be eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a film attachment/detachment device in a drum-type image scanning and recording apparatus, and FIGS. 2 to 5 are operation diagrams showing how the film attachment/detachment device attaches and detaches a photosensitive film. 1...Photosensitive film, 1a...Tip, 1b...
...Rear end portion, 2...Film storage section (film supply pallet), 6...Film collection pallet, 12
... Film transport robot, 14 ... Suction cup, 15
... Blade release means, 20 ... Rotating drum, 2
1... Tip fixed blade, 22... Rear end fixed blade.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A photosensitive film is sucked and held by a suction cup of a film attachment/detachment device, taken out from a film accommodating portion, and mounted on a vacuum suction type rotary drum, and both ends thereof are attached with a leading end fixed blade and a trailing end fixed blade, respectively. In a method of mounting a photosensitive film on a drum-type image scanning recording device in which the photosensitive film is fixed by pressure on the drum pressure surface, the leading end of the photosensitive film is held by suction with a suction cup, and the end is connected to the front end fixing blade and the drum pressure surface. Insert it between the ends and temporarily secure it with the tip fixing blade,
After releasing the suction hold of the suction cup, the photosensitive film is wound around the rotary drum from the leading end by rotating the rotating drum while drawing a vacuum, and the rear end of the photosensitive film is held by suction with the suction cup, and the end is After inserting the rear end fixed blade between the drum pressure surface and release the suction hold of the suction cup, press and fix the rear end of the photosensitive film with the rear end fixed blade, and temporarily release the front end fixed blade. A drum-type image scanning recording device characterized in that the stop is released, the leading end of the photosensitive film is sucked with a suction cup and lifted from the drum circumferential surface, and then, after the suction and holding of the suction cup is released, the leading end is pressed and fixed again with a blade that fixes the leading end. How to attach photosensitive film to the device.