JPH10325983A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a compact and efficient image recorder excellent in maintainability and capable of easily making grade high and cost low by providing a photosensitive material carrying means and a back-print part performing back-print on the non-recording surface of photosensitive material in a carrying path. SOLUTION: The pairs of drawing-out rollers 24 and 26 draw out and carry the photosensitive material Z housed in magazines 30 and 32 loaded in loading parts 20 and 22. They stop carrying when the length of the material Z carried to a downstream side from a cutter 28 becomes the length in accordance with a print to be formed. Then, the cutter 28 is actuated to cut the material Z so as to obtain a cut sheet having a predetermined length. A printer 14 performs what is called the back-print of various information such as a photographing date, a printing date, a frame number, a film ID number, the ID number of the camera used for photographing, and the ID number of a photoprinter on the non-recording surface of the material Z.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of digital image recording devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, an image photographed on a photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is printed on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper by projecting light of the film onto the photosensitive material. The exposure is performed by so-called direct (analog) exposure in which the photosensitive material is surface-exposed with the projection light.

On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, the read image is converted into a digital signal, and then various image processing is performed. 2. Description of the Related Art A digital photo printer that scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image data, records an image (latent image), develops the image, and outputs it as a print (photograph) is used as image data for recording. It was put to practical use.

[0004] In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically, gradation correction is performed by image (signal) processing, and exposure conditions are determined. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform editing of a print image such as synthesis of a plurality of images by image processing and image division, and various image processing such as color / density adjustment and contour enhancement. Can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, and can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk. Further, according to the digital photo printer, it is possible to output a print with better image quality, which is excellent in resolution, color / density reproducibility, etc., as compared with the conventional direct exposure print.

[0005] Such a digital photo printer basically includes an input device having a scanner (image reading device) and an image processing device, and an output device having a printing device and a developing device. In a scanner, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on a film to obtain projection light carrying an image photographed on the film, and this projection light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens. The image is read by photoelectric conversion, and is sent to an image processing device as film image data (image data signal). The image processing apparatus performs predetermined image processing on the image data sent from the scanner, and sends the image data to the printing apparatus as output image data (exposure conditions) for image recording. For example, if the printing apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the printing apparatus modulates the light beam according to image data sent from the image processing apparatus, deflects the light beam in the main scanning direction, and By transporting the photosensitive material (photographic paper) in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed (printed) by a light beam to form a latent image, and a back print is recorded. In the developing machine, the exposed photosensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process and the like, so that an image photographed on a film is reproduced.

[0006]

Incidentally, not only in such a digital photo printer but also in a photo printer by ordinary direct exposure, in a printing apparatus, an unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape to form a light-shielding material. The magazine is housed in a housing, and is loaded into a printing apparatus together with the magazine, pulled out of the magazine, transported, and subjected to exposure and the like. Here, with a normal photo printer,
Without cutting the photosensitive material in the middle, exposure, backprint recording, development processing, drying etc. are performed while it is long,
Finally, the photosensitive material is cut into a predetermined length to form one print.

However, in such an apparatus for cutting the photosensitive material at the end, before or at the time of exposing the photosensitive material, frame information (punch) for indicating a boundary of each frame (for each print) is formed. There is a need. Therefore, the photosensitive material in the portion where the frame information is formed is wasted, and a means for forming frame information having a punch, a sensor, and the like is required.

Further, in a printing apparatus for digital exposure, in order to record a high-quality image without unevenness, it is necessary to carry out scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material during exposure with high precision and without stopping. When forming the frame information, it is necessary to stop the conveyance of the photosensitive material, and the recording of the back print causes a load variation in the scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material. In order to avoid these inconveniences, in a printing apparatus of a digital photo printer, a deflection (loop) of a photosensitive material is caused between an exposure position and a frame information forming unit and between an exposure position and a recording unit for back print. This makes the transport route and transport control of the photosensitive material complicated, such as the control of the amount (frame number) of the photosensitive material in the loop and the timing of exposure, leading to an increase in apparatus cost and running cost. .

Therefore, a digital photo printer is also required to realize a printing apparatus which can perform exposure after cutting a photosensitive material corresponding to one print into a cut sheet. However, at present, a digital printing apparatus that performs exposure after a photosensitive material is cut into a cut sheet has not yet been realized.

An object of the present invention is to realize an image recording apparatus (printing apparatus) used for a digital photo printer or the like, which performs digital exposure, back print recording, and the like after forming a photosensitive material into a cut sheet. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and efficient image recording apparatus which is excellent in maintainability, can be easily upgraded and reduced in cost, and is compact.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a loading method for loading a photosensitive material magazine in which a long photosensitive material is wound into a roll and housed in a light-shielding housing. A photosensitive material supply unit having a unit for extracting photosensitive material from the photosensitive material magazine, a cutter for cutting the photosensitive material extracted by the extracting unit, and holding the cut photosensitive material at a predetermined recording position. Scanning transporting means for scanning and transporting the photosensitive material, and exposing means for exposing the photosensitive material scanned and transported by the scanning transporting means with recording light modulated in accordance with a digital image signal. An image recording unit, which conveys the photosensitive material from the cutter to the scanning and conveying means so that the recording surface of the photosensitive material faces upward at the recording position; It has a transporting means for transporting the completed photosensitive material to the next step, and a backprint unit for recording a backprint on a non-recording surface of the photosensitive material, which is disposed in a transporting path of the photosensitive material by the transporting means. An image recording apparatus is provided.

Further, in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, furthermore, the sorting means for sorting the photosensitive material into a plurality of rows downstream of the image recording section in the photosensitive material transport direction in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction by the transport means. It is preferred to have

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. An image recording device 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a recording device 10) shown in FIG. 1A is cut into a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material, and cut into a cut sheet. This is an apparatus that performs recording (back printing) and digital exposure, and supplies the exposed photosensitive material Z to a processor (developing machine). Such a recording device 10
Is a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a cutter 28, a printer 14 for recording a back print, an exposure optical unit (hereinafter, referred to as an exposure unit) 34 for exposing the photosensitive material Z at a recording (exposure) position X, and scanning. An image recording unit 16 having a transport unit (omitted in FIG. 1);
8 is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, the image recording section 16 is disposed above the photosensitive material supply section 12, and the recording surface (emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material Z is positioned above the recording position X. The layout is configured on the basis of transporting the photosensitive material Z from the cutter 28 to the scanning transport unit so that

Although not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarifying the basic configuration of the apparatus, the recording apparatus 10 may be provided with a means for conveying the photosensitive material Z, a conveyance guide, various sensors, and the like as necessary. Needless to say, they are arranged.

In the recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material supply unit 1
2 includes loading units 20 and 22 and a pull-out roller pair 24
And 26. Further, a cutter 28 for cutting the photosensitive material Z into a length corresponding to the print size is arranged on the downstream side (hereinafter referred to as the downstream side) of the photosensitive material Z by the draw-out roller pairs 24 and 26. ing.

The loading portions 20 and 22 are portions where magazines 30 and 32, each of which stores a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape with the recording surface outside, in a light-shielding housing, are loaded. is there. Magazines 30 and 32 loaded in both loading sections 20 and 22 usually have a size (width), a surface type (silk or mat, etc.), and a specification (thickness, type of base, etc.).
For example, different types of photosensitive materials Z are stored. Although the recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus capable of loading two magazines, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of magazines that can be loaded may be one, or three. The above magazines may be loadable.

The pull-out roller pairs 24 and 26 are connected to the magazines 30 and 32 loaded in the loading sections 20 and 22, respectively.
The photosensitive material Z stored in the container is pulled out and transported. This conveyance stops when the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutter 28 has a length corresponding to the print to be made, and then the cutter 28 operates to cut the photosensitive material Z to a predetermined length. Cut sheet. Although the recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the photosensitive material Z of two magazines is cut by one common cutter 28, the present invention is not limited to this, and each of the loading units (magazines) Correspondingly, individual cutters may be provided.

The printer 14 prints, on the non-recording surface (non-emulsion surface = back surface) of the photosensitive material Z, the date of photographing, the date of printing, the frame number, the film ID number (sign), and the ID number of the camera used for photographing. Records various information such as photo printer ID numbers, so-called back print (back print)
Is what you do. In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the printer 14 for recording the back print is not particularly limited, and various back print recording methods used in known photo printers such as an ink jet printer, a dot impact printer, and a thermal transfer printer can be used. is there.
Among them, a non-contact type recording method such as an ink jet printer can be suitably used for the reason described later, and an ink jet printer using a non-water-soluble, room temperature, solid hot-melt ink is preferably exemplified. . Further, the printer 14 is a new standard new photo system (Advanced Phot
o), it is preferable to be able to print two or more lines.

In the recording apparatus 10 according to the present invention, when a back print is recorded before exposing the photosensitive material Z as shown in the drawing, the distance from the cutter 28 to the recording portion of the back print by the printer 14 and the print to be formed are determined. The back print may be recorded before the cutting of the photosensitive material Z by the cutter 28, may be recorded after the cutting, or may be recorded before and after the cutting according to the size of the photosensitive material Z.

The image recording section 16 comprises an exposure unit 34 and a scanning and conveying means (omitted in FIG. 1). In the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the image recording section 16 It is arranged above the material supply unit 12. The electrical component having the control board and the like of the recording device 10 is usually arranged near the image recording unit 16, and thus, by arranging the image recording unit 16 above, the maintenance performance can be improved. An excellent recording device can be realized. In the image recording unit 16 of the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the photosensitive material Z cut into a sheet is scanned and conveyed while being held at the recording position X by the scanning and conveying means, and is exposed by the exposure unit 34 in accordance with digital image data. The modulated recording light L enters the photosensitive material Z at the recording position X and
An image is recorded on the photosensitive material Z by so-called digital raster scanning exposure, which performs dimensional exposure.

The exposure unit 34 includes, for example, a photosensitive material Z
A light source that emits light beams corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure, respectively, and an AOM that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data Modulation means such as an acousto-optic modulator), an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror which deflects the modulated light beam in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction, and a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction at a recording position X ( This is a known light beam scanning device that includes an fθ (scanning) lens and the like that forms an image at a predetermined position on a scanning line) with a predetermined beam diameter.

The exposure unit 34 used in the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to such a light beam scanning apparatus, but may be any of various light emitting arrays or spatial modulations extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction. Various digital exposure means using an element array or the like can be used. Specifically, PDP
(Plasma display) array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD (liquid crystal display) array,
A digital raster exposure unit using a DMD (digital micromirror device) array, a laser array, or the like is exemplified.

There is no particular limitation on the scanning and conveying means.
Examples of means for conveying various sheet materials used for scanning exposure are shown. More specifically, a scanning and conveying unit using a pair of conveying rollers disposed with a recording position X (scanning line) interposed therebetween, an exposure drum for conveying the photosensitive material Z while holding the recording material X at the recording position X, A scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers, which are in contact with the exposure drum, is preferably exemplified. In the recording apparatus 10, such a scanning and conveying unit is disposed below the exposure unit 34, and the scanning and conveying direction is preferably horizontal or substantially horizontal.

The transport means for transporting the photosensitive material Z from the cutter 28 to the scanning transport means, from the scanning transport means to the sorting device 18 to be described later, and further from the sorting device 18 to the processor is not particularly limited, and a nip roller, a nip belt Various methods of conveying sheet materials, such as lift conveyance using a belt conveyor, a suction cup, and the like, can be used.

Here, in the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the image recording section 16 is located above the photosensitive material supply section 12, and the transport means for transporting the photosensitive material Z from the cutter 28 to the scanning transport means is The photosensitive material Z is conveyed so that the recording surface faces upward at the recording position X by the scanning and conveying means. Therefore, the photosensitive material Z is transported upward from the photosensitive material supply unit 12, is supplied to the scanning transport unit with the transport path bent so that the recording surface faces upward, and is exposed to the exposure unit disposed above the scanning transport unit. By 34, the recording light L is incident from above. Therefore, the photosensitive material Z after exposure is
It is supplied to the processor with the recording side up.

By the way, in such a recording apparatus 10, the cutting of the photosensitive material Z by the cutter 28 is possible and the cutting length is made accurate. In order to prevent the load from fluctuating in the scanning and transporting of the material Z and make the scanning and transporting accurate, the distance from the cutter 28 to the recording position X and the distance between the printer 14 and the photosensitive material Z from the recording position X The distance needs to be longer than the distance corresponding to the length of the maximum size print in the transport direction. That is, it is necessary to secure a cut buffer and a pre-exposure buffer for separating these components.

Here, if a non-contact type printer such as an ink jet printer is used as the printer 14, it is possible to prevent the printing of the back print from causing a load variation in the scanning and conveying, so that the pre-exposure buffer is moved from the cutter 28 to the printing position X. The length of the photosensitive material Z (path length) can be shortened in accordance with the distance to the cut buffer, that is, the cut buffer. Further, by providing a loop forming section for forming a loop (flexure) of the photosensitive material Z in the middle of the transport path of the photosensitive material Z, fluctuations in the transport load given to each other by each component are eliminated, and the linear path length is increased. Can be shortened. Therefore, by using these, the device can be made more compact and inexpensive,
Get favorable results. When forming a loop of the photosensitive material Z, a small-size print may proceed linearly to form a loop only for a large-size print, or a loop may be formed even for a minimum-size print. You may make it.

Downstream of the image recording unit 16, the sorting device 1
8 are arranged. The sorting device 18 sorts the photosensitive material Z in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a lateral direction) orthogonal to a transport direction (corresponding to a transport direction by the developing device), and supplies the photosensitive material Z to the developing device in a plurality of rows. . At present, in general silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials used for photo printing, development processing and exposure require more time for development processing. It is necessary to temporarily store the photosensitive material in a stocker or a reservoir. The sorting device 18 is arranged to solve this inconvenience. The sorting device 18 sorts the photosensitive materials Z in the horizontal direction and divides the photosensitive materials Z into a plurality of rows overlapping in the transport direction, thereby improving the processing capacity of the developing machine. In the case of two rows, it is possible to perform processing of less than twice that of a single row, and in the case of three rows, it is possible to perform processing of slightly less than three times, thereby canceling the processing time difference between the development processing and exposure.

In the present invention, the sorter 18 is not particularly limited, and various sorters for sheet materials can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a turret 36 that rotates about a shaft 36a can be used. An example of a sorting device to be used, a device for dividing the photosensitive material Z by a plurality of, for example, three blocks in the transport direction in the transport direction, and moving the central transport block in the horizontal direction to distribute the photosensitive material Z are exemplified. Further, as an apparatus capable of accommodating the photosensitive material in parallel with the exposure (scanning / conveying) by the image recording unit 16 and efficiently and quickly sorting the photosensitive material Z at a short distance, the following short and long devices are available. A sorting device is preferably used.

FIG. 3 shows an example. The short / long sorting device 40 includes a belt conveyor and a half-moon roller (D) formed by cutting a cylinder in the axial direction to form a flat surface on a part of the conveying surface.
In the illustrated example, five belt conveyors 42 (4) are disposed at intervals to transport the photosensitive material Z in the downstream direction (the direction of arrow a in the figure).
2a, 42b, 42c, 42d and 42e) and a pair of half-moon rollers 44 arranged between the belt conveyors 42 for sorting the photosensitive material Z by transporting the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction.
(44a, 44b, 44c and 44d).

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), when the photosensitive material Z is carried into the short and long sorting device 40 from the upstream,
Each of the half-moon roller pairs 44 is in a state where the plane portions thereof face each other. Here, since the flat portion of the lower half-moon roller is set to be the same as or slightly below the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 42, there is no support for conveying the photosensitive material Z by the belt conveyor 42 or the like. Photosensitive material Z up to a predetermined position
Is transported, then the half-moon roller pair 44 rotates in the direction in which the photosensitive material Z is distributed, that is, clockwise when the photosensitive material Z is distributed to the right in the drawing, and counterclockwise when the photosensitive material Z is distributed to the left. I do. As shown in FIG. 3C, when the half-moon roller pair 44 rotates, the conveying surface of the lower half-moon roller projects above the conveying surface of the belt conveyor 42, so that the photosensitive material Z is lifted from the belt conveyor 42. Next, the half-moon roller pair 44 sandwiches the photosensitive material Z, and conveys and distributes the photosensitive material Z in the lateral direction.

Further, as such a short and long sorting device,
A belt conveyor is used as a transporting unit for placing the photosensitive material Z and transporting it in the downstream direction, and a lift transporting unit is used as a distributing unit that lifts the photosensitive material Z using a suction cup or the like, transports the photosensitive material Z in the horizontal direction, and distributes it. Short and long sorting devices are also suitably exemplified. In this short and long sorting device, when the photosensitive material Z is conveyed to a predetermined position on the belt conveyor after the exposure is completed, the lift transporting means is operated to lift the photosensitive material Z to a horizontal or diagonal side (downstream side). ) Direction and sort.

In the sorting device using the turret 36 or the sorting device in which the transporting means is divided and moved as described above, the scanning and transporting of the photosensitive material Z during exposure is not affected by a load. It is necessary to provide a post-exposure buffer (pre-distribution buffer) indicated by the area A downstream, and further, to provide a post-distribution transport means (post-distribution buffer) downstream of the distribution device. Here, since the scanning transport of the photosensitive material Z is usually a nipping transport by a roller or the like as described above, even if a part of the photosensitive material Z being exposed is placed on a driven belt conveyor, the scanning transport is performed. The applied load fluctuation is negligibly small. Therefore, by using the short / short sorting device as described above, the short / short sorting device can be disposed immediately after the recording position X without providing a post-exposure buffer, and the photosensitive material Z during the exposure is scanned and conveyed at a high speed. When the photosensitive material Z has been exposed and has been accommodated in the conveying means, it can be quickly sorted and conveyed downstream. Therefore, by using such a short and long sorting device, the path length of the photosensitive material Z can be significantly reduced. In addition, in such a short and long sorting device, it is not always necessary to make the transport speed of the belt conveyor coincide with the scanning transport speed of the photosensitive material Z.

Although the example shown in FIG. 1 has such a sorting device 18 as a preferred embodiment, the image recording device of the present invention is not limited to this, and is used as a printing and developing machine (printer processor). Although the processing capacity is inferior, a configuration in which the photosensitive material Z is supplied to the developing machine in a single row without the sorting device 18 may be used as an inexpensive mode. In this case, the arrangement may be such that the sorting device 18 is removed, a buffer after exposure is secured, and the exposed photosensitive material Z is transported to the processor.

Although the example shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which a back print is recorded prior to exposure of the photosensitive material Z, the present invention is not limited to this, and the back print is performed after the exposure of the photosensitive material Z. It may be recorded. FIG.
(B) shows an example.

In this recording apparatus, a post-exposure buffer for the printer 14 is provided downstream of the recording position X (area A).
Lower the transport path, place the printer 14, and then
It has a configuration in which the transporting path is set up, the sorting device 18 is arranged, and the photosensitive materials Z are transported to the processor in a plurality of rows. Note that even in a configuration in which a back print is recorded after exposure in this manner, a non-contact type printer or a short-length sorting device can be used to linearize the transport path downstream from the recording position X to shorten the path length. it can. Further, when the sorting device 18 is not arranged in this configuration, FIG.
In the same manner as described above, the transport path of the photosensitive material A downstream from the recording position X may be linearized, and the printer 14 may be disposed at the position of the sorting device 18 in FIG.

That is, according to the recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the image recording section 16 is disposed above the photosensitive material supply section 12, and the recording surface (emulsion surface) at the recording position X.
By taking advantage of the basic layout of configuring the transport path upward, various lineups can be easily configured in response to upgrades, cost reductions, and specification changes without changing the basic configuration.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. Note that the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which the recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1A is embodied, so that the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is embodied. The main part is performed. In addition, in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4, other than those shown in the figure, a conveying means such as a conveying roller, a conveying guide, a sensor, and the like are arranged as necessary.

The image recording device 50 shown in FIG.
The loading units 20 and 22 for loading the magazines 30 and 32 include a recording device 50 (hereinafter, referred to as a recording device 50).
, And has a built-in magazine configuration. The photosensitive material supply unit 12 having such a loading unit 20 and the like is disposed in the lower left of the housing 52 of the recording device 50 in the figure, and an image recording unit having an exposure unit 34 and a scanning conveyance unit 54 is disposed above the photosensitive material supply unit 12. 16 are arranged. In the illustrated recording apparatus 50, the magazines 30 and 32 are loaded into the loading units 20 and 22, for example, by opening a cover on the front surface of the apparatus (on the near side in the drawing) and opening the magazines 30 and 32.
And 32 in and out of the plane of the paper.

The photosensitive material Z pulled out of the magazines 30 and 32 loaded in the loading sections 20 and 22 is transported almost vertically upward by the transport means, and transported by about 90 ° rightward in FIG. The path is bent so as to be substantially horizontal, and the scanning and transporting means 54 with the recording surface facing upward.
Supplied to A cutter 28 and a printer 14 using an ink ribbon are arranged in the middle of this transport path. As described above, the conveyance of the photosensitive material Z is temporarily stopped when the length of the photosensitive material Z conveyed downstream from the cutter 28 becomes a length corresponding to the print size to be produced, and the cutter 28 operates. The sheet is cut into a predetermined length, and a back print is recorded by the printer 14 in parallel with the conveyance.

As described above, the image recording section 16 includes the exposure unit 34 and the scanning and conveying means 54. In the illustrated example, the exposure unit 34 records, as an example, a light beam modulated in accordance with a recording image and deflected in a main scanning direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 4) orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction by the scanning and conveying unit 54. The light beam scanning device that exposes the photosensitive material Z as the light L is located above the scanning and conveying means 54. On the other hand, the scanning conveyance means 54
It has a pair of conveyance rollers 58 and 60 disposed so as to sandwich the recording position X (scanning line), and an exposure conveyance guide 62 for holding the photosensitive material Z at the recording position X with higher precision. Material Z by the exposure and conveyance guide 62
Is transported by the transport roller pairs 58 and 60 in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Here, as described above, since the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material Z is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam to form a latent image.

A distribution device 18 is arranged downstream of the image recording section 16. The photosensitive material Z that has been exposed is sorted by the sorting device 18 in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the conveying direction, is arranged in a plurality of rows overlapping in the conveying direction, and is then conveyed to the processor 66 by the conveying roller pair 64. Then, various processes such as a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, a washing tank and the like according to the photosensitive material Z are performed, dried, and printed. Here, in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4, by using the above-described short-length distribution device as the distribution device 18, the distribution device 18 is disposed immediately after the recording position X, and the path length of the photosensitive material A is reduced. It is shortened.

In the recording device 70 shown in FIG. 4B, the loading portions 20 and 22 are formed in a rack shape on the left side of the housing 72 in the drawing, and the magazine 30 is externally provided without the need to open the lid or the like. And 32 are loaded. Further, in this example, since the path lengths from the loading sections to the recording position X are greatly different, the cutters 28a and 28b are provided for the loading sections 20 and 22, respectively.
Are arranged individually. The recording device 70 has basically the same configuration as the recording device 50 except for this point and the change of the transport route accompanying the recording device.

In such a recording apparatus 70 as well, the image recording section 16 is disposed above the photosensitive material supply section 12, and the photosensitive material Z drawn out of the magazines 30 and 32 is, as in the above-described example, While being transported upward, it is cut by the corresponding cutters 28a and 28b,
The back print is recorded. Next, photosensitive material Z
Is transported to the right by a guide 74 so that the transport path is bent to the right, is sent to the scanning transport unit 54 with the recording surface facing upward, and is exposed in the image recording unit 16 according to the recorded image. The photosensitive material Z that has been exposed is sorted into a plurality of rows by the sorting device 18, and is conveyed to the processor 66 by the conveying roller pair 64 to be printed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 5 as well, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described example, and the description will be mainly given to different portions. Further, in addition to the components shown in the figure, a transporting unit for transporting the photosensitive material Z such as a transporting roller, a transporting guide, a sensor, and the like are arranged as necessary. FIG.
The image recording device 80 (hereinafter, recording device 80) shown in FIG. 1 has basically the same configuration as each of the above-described recording devices, and includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, cutters 28a and 28
b, the printer 14, the image recording unit 16 arranged on the photosensitive material supply unit 12, and the short and long sorting device 82.

In the recording apparatus 80, the photosensitive material supply section 12 has loading sections 86 and 8 for loading two magazines 84 each containing the photosensitive material Z wound with the recording surface facing outward.
8 Here, in the recording apparatus 80 of the illustrated example, the pull-out roller pair 90 is built in the magazine 84. The drawer roller pair 90 is, for example, a drive roller on the upper side, and is engaged with a drive source of the drawer roller pair arranged in each of the loading portions when the magazine 84 is loaded at a predetermined position of the loading portions 86 and 88. You.

The means for engaging the pull-out roller pair 90 with the driving sources of the loading sections 86 and 88 is not particularly limited, and various known methods can be used. For example, one end of the rotation shaft of the drive roller of the pull-out roller pair 90 is extended to the outside of the magazine 84, and a pulley is arranged at the end,
When the magazine 84 is loaded at a predetermined position of the loading sections 86 and 88 by using an elastic endless belt stretched over three pulleys one of which is engaged with a drive source as a driving means,
An example is a method in which a device or the like is configured such that the pulley presses the endless belt so that the endless belt is wound around the pulley, and the pullout roller pair 90 is rotated by rotation of the endless belt. Alternatively, various methods can be used, such as a method in which a carrier is arranged instead of a pulley and the magazine 84 is engaged with the gear of the drive source by loading the magazine 84.

The photosensitive material Z pulled out of the magazine 84 of the loading section 88 and cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 28b is supplied to the first transport section 92 composed of a number of transport roller pairs.
On the other hand, the photosensitive material Z pulled out of the magazine 84 of the loading unit 86 and cut by the cutter 28a by the second transport unit 94 is transported rightward after being transported upward by the second transport unit 94. Then, the image is conveyed to the image recording unit 16 (scanning conveyance unit 54) with the recording surface facing up.

Here, the printer 14 is disposed in the middle of the second transport section 94, and the back print is recorded by the printer 14 while the photosensitive material Z is transported by the second transport section 94. The printer 14 of the second transport unit 94
A loop forming section 98 is provided between the next transport rollers on the downstream side of the section. That is, the second transport unit 94 is adjusted so as to transport the photosensitive material Z downstream of the loop forming unit 98 at the same speed as the scanning transport speed in the image recording unit 16 and upstream thereof at a slightly higher speed. The photosensitive material Z conveyed through the two conveying units 94 forms a loop corresponding to the size of the photosensitive material Z in the loop forming unit 98 as shown by the dotted line in the figure. Thus, the printer 14 and the image recording unit 16 are separated from each other with a short path length, and highly accurate sub-scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material Z is realized.

The image recording section 16 comprises an exposure unit 34 and a scanning and conveying means 54. The scanning and conveying means 54 includes:
As in the above-described apparatus, a pair of conveying rollers 58 and 60 disposed so as to sandwich the recording position (scanning line) X, and an exposure conveying guide (refer to FIG. 5) for suitably holding the photosensitive material Z at the recording position X. (Omitted).

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the exposure unit 34. The exposure unit 34 is a three-laser-beam diagonal incidence optical system (three-light source non-multiplexing optical system) that scans and exposes the photosensitive material Z using light beams of three primary colors.
R, 100G, 100B) and the AOM 102 (102R, 102G, 102A) along the traveling direction of the light beam L (Lr, Lg, Lb) emitted from the laser light source 100.
B), the polygon mirror 104, and the fθ lens 106
And a mirror 108. The exposure unit 34 also includes a shaping lens and a condenser lens for the light beam, a surface tilt correction optical system, a mirror for changing the optical path,
Optical elements such as sensors are arranged as needed.

The three-light-source non-multiplexing optical system shown in the drawing emits light beams of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure, and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material Z, respectively. 3
Using two laser light sources, light beams L emitted from the respective laser light sources are incident on one point of the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 104 at slightly different angles (for example, about 4 °), are deflected in the main scanning direction, and are deflected in the main scanning direction. This is an optical system that forms an image on the same main scanning line on Z at different angles and scans the same main scanning line with a time interval. For example, the laser light source 100
R is a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits a light beam Lr with a wavelength of 662 nm for R exposure, and a laser light source 100G emits a light beam Lg with a wavelength of 532 nm for G exposure.
A wavelength conversion laser using an HG element, and a laser light source 1
Reference numeral 00B denotes a wavelength conversion laser using an SHG element for emitting a light beam having a wavelength of 473 nm for B exposure.

The AOM 102 modulates the light beam L emitted from the laser light source 100 according to an image to be recorded.
The light beam L modulated by the AOM 102 is then incident on the same point on the reflection surface of the polygon mirror 104 and deflected,
The dimming is performed by the fθ lens 106 so that an image is correctly formed at any position of the recording position X (main scanning line).
The light beam L reflected by the mirror 108 is incident on an exposure position X (scanning line) on the photosensitive material Z that is sub-scanned and conveyed by the scanning conveyance unit 76.

Downstream of the image recording section 16, a short / long sorting device 82 is disposed. The short and long sorting device 82
This is a sorting device using the above-mentioned belt conveyor and lift transport means using a suction cup. Specifically, the short and long sorting device 82 includes a belt conveyor 110 as a transporting unit that places the photosensitive material Z and transports the photosensitive material Z downstream, and a narrow width disposed at the center of the belt conveyor 110 in the horizontal direction. It comprises an auxiliary belt conveyor 112 and a sorting means 114.

The belt conveyor 110 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 do not pinch and transport the photosensitive material Z, but the auxiliary belt conveyor 112
It is arranged slightly apart from 0. That is, the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 holds down the curl (curvature) of the photosensitive material Z, and conveys and sorts means 114 (adsorption units 116 and 1) by the belt conveyor 110.
18) to assist in holding the photosensitive material Z by suction. The transport speed of the belt conveyor 110 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 is set slightly higher than the scanning transport speed. Thereby, the belt conveyor 1
The influence of the driving of the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 on the scanning and transport of the photosensitive material Z can be more reliably eliminated.

The distribution means 114 has two suction units 116 and 118 having two suction cups connected to suction means (not shown). The suction units 116 and 118 are arranged so as to sandwich the auxiliary belt conveyor 112 in the lateral direction. FIG. 5 Suction unit 116 on the near side of the drawing.
Is slightly lifted up by sucking and holding the photosensitive material Z, and moving to the right in the transport direction of the photosensitive material Z (that is, toward the front of the paper).
After moving diagonally downstream, the suction is released and the photosensitive material Z is distributed to the right. On the other hand, the suction unit 11 on the back side
No. 8 similarly lifts the photosensitive material Z, moves it diagonally to the left, and distributes it to the left. Therefore, the auxiliary belt conveyor 11
2 is that even when the photosensitive material Z of the minimum size in the horizontal direction comes,
An endless belt having a width capable of holding the photosensitive material Z by suction by the suction units 116 and 118 is used.

The means for moving the suction units 116 and 118 is not particularly limited, and the means for moving using the link, the means for moving using the cam, the means for moving using the guide rail or the guide hole, and the like are appropriately combined. Various known methods such as moving means can be used.

The exposed photosensitive material Z is discharged onto the belt conveyor 110. When the photosensitive material Z is sandwiched by the scanning and conveying means 76 (the pair of conveying rollers 60), the conveyance is controlled by the scanning and conveying means 76. And the speed is the scanning transport speed. When the photosensitive material Z is released from the scanning and conveying means 76 and is conveyed to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 110, the suction units 116 and 118 are provided as necessary.
Held and lifted and sorted right or left. For example, the photosensitive material Z can be sorted into three rows by sequentially repeating the rightward sorting by the suction unit 116, the leftward sorting by the suction unit 118, and the linear conveyance without sorting. By alternately performing the right and left sorting by the suction units 116 and 118, the photosensitive material Z
Can be sorted into two rows.

It should be noted that not only the recording device 80 in the illustrated example, but also
In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, all the photosensitive materials Z
In the case of a large size that cannot be processed in a plurality of rows, or when a single process is performed, the photosensitive material Z is supplied to the processor 24 in a single row without performing the sorting. Also, when allocating, the entire size is not allocated to the same number of columns, but is allocated to a different number of columns according to the size of the photosensitive material Z, for example, the L size is 3 rows, 6 pieces is 2 rows, etc. May be performed.

The photosensitive material Z discharged from the short / long sorting device 82 is supplied to the processor 66 by the transport roller pair 64.

Although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0063]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, after a photosensitive material is formed into a cut sheet, image recording used in a digital photo printer or the like for performing digital exposure, back print recording, and the like. In addition to realizing the apparatus, a compact and efficient image recording apparatus which is excellent in maintainability, can easily perform upgrading, cost reduction, change of specifications, and the like is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are conceptual diagrams showing a basic configuration of an example of an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a photosensitive material sorting unit used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

3 (a), 3 (b) and 3 (c) are schematic views of another example of a photosensitive material sorting means used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, wherein (a) is a top view, (B) and (c) are side views.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams each showing an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

6 is a schematic perspective view of an exposure unit of the image recording device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 50, 70, 80 (image) recording device 12 photosensitive material supply unit 14 printer 16 image recording unit 18 sorting device 20, 22, 86, 88 loading unit 24, 26, 90 pull-out roller pair 28, 28a, 28b cutter 30 , 32, 84 magazine 34 Exposure unit 40, 82 Short / short sorting device 42 (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) Belt conveyor 44 (44a, 44b, 44c, 44d) Half-moon roller pair 52, 72 Housing 54 Scanning / transporting means 56, 74 Guide 58, 60, 64 Transport Roller Pair 62 Exposure Transport Guide 66 Processor 92 First Transport Section 94 Second Transport Section 98 Loop Forming Section 100 (100R, 100G, 100B) Light Beam Light Source 102 (102R, 102G, 102B) AOM1 104 Polygon mirror 106 fθ 'S 108 mirror 110 belt conveyor 112 auxiliary belt conveyor 114 distribution means 116 adsorption unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A loading section for loading a photosensitive material magazine in which a long photosensitive material is wound into a roll and housed in a light-shielding housing, and a drawer for pulling out the photosensitive material from the photosensitive material magazine. A photosensitive material supply unit, a cutter for cutting the photosensitive material pulled out by the drawing means, a scan conveying means for scanning and conveying the cut photosensitive material at a predetermined recording position, and a digital image signal. An image recording unit having an exposure unit that exposes a photosensitive material scanned and conveyed by the scanning conveyance unit with the modulated recording light, an image recording unit positioned above the photosensitive material supply unit, and a recording surface of the photosensitive material at the recording position is Transporting the photosensitive material from the cutter to the scanning transporting means so as to be on top,
And, a transport unit that transports the photosensitive material after the exposure to the next process, and a backprint unit that is disposed in a transport path of the photosensitive material by the transport unit and that records a backprint on a non-recording surface of the photosensitive material. An image recording apparatus comprising: 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
Further, the image recording apparatus further includes a sorting unit downstream of the image recording unit in the photosensitive material transport direction, the sorting unit allocating the photosensitive material in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport unit to form a plurality of rows.