JP3490336B2 - Photosensitive material transport device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a photosensitive material conveying device used in an image recording apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material to record a latent image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, when printing an image taken on a photographic film (hereinafter referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film onto a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, the projection light of the film is incident on the photosensitive material. Then, so-called direct (analog) exposure is performed in which the photosensitive material is surface-exposed with this 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 digital image data (signal), and then various images are read. A digital photo that undergoes image processing to become image data for recording, scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to this image data to record a latent image, then performs development processing and outputs as a print (photograph). The printer was put into practical use.

In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically and gradation correction is performed by image (signal) processing to determine exposure conditions. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform print image editing such as composition of a plurality of images by image processing, image division and the like, and various image processing such as color / density adjustment and edge enhancement, and it is possible to output a print according to the application. 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. Furthermore, according to the digital photo printer, the resolution, color / density reproducibility, etc. are excellent as compared with the conventional direct exposure printing.
Prints with better image quality can be output.

Such a digital photo printer basically comprises an input machine having a scanner (image reading apparatus) and an image processing apparatus, and an output machine having a printing apparatus (image recording apparatus) and a developing machine. It In the scanner, the projection light of the image photographed on the film is photoelectrically read by an image sensor such as a CCD sensor and sent to the image processing device as image data (image data signal) of the film. The image processing device performs predetermined image processing on this image data,
It is sent to the printing apparatus as output image data (exposure condition) for image recording. If the printing apparatus is, for example, an apparatus that uses light beam scanning exposure, it deflects the light beam modulated according to the supplied image data in the main scanning direction and also exposes it in the sub scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. By scanning and transporting the material, the light beam scans and exposes the photosensitive material to form a latent image, and a backprint is recorded. In the developing machine, the exposed light-sensitive material is subjected to a predetermined developing process or the like to obtain a print in which the image photographed on the film is reproduced.

Not only in such a digital photo printer, but also in a normal direct exposure photo printer, in the printing apparatus, the unused photosensitive material is wound into a roll and housed in a light-shielding case, and then a magazine. The magazine is loaded into the printing apparatus together with the magazine, pulled out from the magazine, transported, and exposed. here,
In a normal photo printer, the photosensitive material is not cut in the middle, and long exposures, back print recording,
After developing and drying, the photosensitive material is finally cut into a predetermined length to form one print.

However, in such an apparatus for cutting the photosensitive material at the end, frame information (punch) for forming a boundary between each frame (each print) is formed before or at the time of exposing the photosensitive material. There is a need. Therefore, the portion of the photosensitive material on which the frame information is formed is wasted, and a frame information forming means having a punch, a sensor and the like is required. Therefore, in such a photo printer, it is considered that the photosensitive material is cut into a cut sheet corresponding to one print, and then the sheet is exposed, and it is put into practical use in an analog photo printer.

[0008]

By the way, in the image recording utilizing the scanning exposure, if the scanning conveyance speed becomes uneven, image density unevenness or the like occurs, and high-quality image recording cannot be performed. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the photosensitive material transporting means or the like arranged downstream of the scanning and transporting means from affecting the scanning and transporting as much as possible, such as changing the load on the photosensitive material being exposed. Therefore, in the image recording apparatus, a highly accurate scanning conveyance means is used, which is also controlled with high accuracy, and the conveyance means arranged downstream of the scanning conveyance means can be matched with the scanning conveyance speed with high precision. A method for forming a bend (loop) of the photosensitive material between the scanning and conveying means and the downstream side prevents the other conveying means from affecting the scanning and conveying.

However, in an image recording apparatus in which exposure is performed after the photosensitive material is used as a cut sheet, the load of the photosensitive material fluctuates when the front end of the exposed photosensitive material comes into contact with the downstream conveying means, especially when it is pinched. Will be given. The above-mentioned method cannot prevent this, and causes uneven scanning and conveyance. This scanning conveyance unevenness is instantaneous and small, but the unevenness of the image caused by this is what is called streak unevenness that causes linear unevenness in the main scanning direction, and even a small amount of it is seen by the observer's eyes. Remains extremely visible. Therefore, when this occurs, it causes a great deterioration in image quality.

Further, the exposed light-sensitive material must be smoothly transported to a developing machine or the like. However, as described above, since the unused photosensitive material is wound in a roll shape and loaded into the apparatus, the photosensitive material cut according to the print size has a curl so-called curl. It interferes with the stable transportation of the exposed photosensitive material. Moreover, since the curl of the photosensitive material is not constant and greatly varies depending on whether the photosensitive material roll is at the beginning or the end, stable conveyance of the photosensitive material is made more difficult.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an image recording apparatus for performing digital scanning exposure on a photosensitive material of a cut sheet and supplying the exposed photosensitive material to a developing device ( in printing apparatus), run査搬feed receives a photosensitive material exposed from the means, a photosensitive material conveying device for conveying to the downstream, without affecting the scanning transport of the light-sensitive material, exposed photosensitive material from the scanning transport means SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material transporting device that can receive and stably transport downstream of the photosensitive material, and can correct curl of the photosensitive material.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention defines a scanning line of recording light extending in the main scanning direction by an exposure optical system at a predetermined recording position, and
The photosensitive material having a predetermined length is scanned and transported in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction while being held at the recording position by the scanning and transporting means, the photosensitive material is exposed to record a latent image, and the exposed photosensitive material is exposed. A photosensitive material transporting device used in an image recording device for supplying a developing device to a developing device, the main belt conveyor receiving and exposing the exposed photosensitive material from the scanning transporting means.
And conveyer, to drive to the main belt conveyor in the same direction,
Auxiliary that is spaced above the main belt conveyor
Possess a belt conveyor, the bell of the main belt conveyor
The coefficient of friction of the surface of the belt
Characterized by being equal to or greater than the coefficient of friction of the
The present invention provides a photosensitive material conveying device .

Further , the present invention is mainly operated by an exposure optical system.
The scanning line of the recording light that extends in the scanning direction is displayed at the predetermined recording position.
In addition, the photosensitive material of a predetermined length is
Is held at the recording position and is orthogonal to the main scanning direction.
Scan and convey in the sub-scanning direction to expose the photosensitive material to form a latent image.
Image recording that records and supplies the exposed photosensitive material to the developing device
A photosensitive material conveying device used for recording equipment, which has been exposed
Receive the photosensitive material from the scanning and transporting means and place and transport it.
Drive in the same direction as the placement and transport means
Auxiliary transport that is spaced apart from the top of the loading and transporting means
A transport means, the auxiliary transport means, and the placement transport means
Is gradually narrowed from upstream to downstream in the transport direction.
To provide a photosensitive material conveying device characterized by not becoming
It is something. Here, before described置搬feed means, Ri belt conveyor der, said auxiliary conveying means is preferably an auxiliary belt conveyor. Also, the friction coefficient of the surface of the belt of said main belt conveyor is preferably equal to or greater and the friction coefficient of the surface of the belt of the auxiliary conveyor belt. In addition, in the photosensitive material conveying device of each of the above aspects,
The coefficient of friction of the surface of the belt of the main belt conveyor is 0.6 or more, and the coefficient of friction of the surface of the belt of the auxiliary belt conveyor is preferably 0.6 or less.
Further, it is preferable that the auxiliary belt conveyor includes a division belt including a plurality of conveyor belts. Also,
The main belt conveyor or the above-mentioned placement and conveyance means conveys
It is preferred to have a downward slope towards the downstream of the direction
Yes. In addition, the main belt conveyor or the above-mentioned set carrier
The inclination angle of the step is preferably 5 ° to 30 °. Also, the main belt conveyor and the auxiliary belt conveyor
(A) It is preferable that the speed of transportation of the photosensitive material by the above-described placement and transportation means and the auxiliary transportation means is higher than that of the scanning and transportation means. Also, with the main belt conveyor
It is preferable that the distance between the auxiliary belt conveyor or the above-described placement and conveyance means and the auxiliary conveyance means is 11 mm or less.

Further, the present invention is the photosensitive material transporting apparatus according to each of the above aspects, further, the photosensitive material is received from the scanning and transporting means, and is placed and transported by the main belt conveyor or the above-mentioned loading and transporting means. The present invention provides a photosensitive material transporting device having a sorting means for sorting a material into a plurality of rows in the main scanning direction. here,
In the photosensitive material transporting device of each of the above aspects, the main belt
The conveyance speed of the photosensitive material by the conveyor or the above-mentioned placement and conveyance means is n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) when the plurality of rows of the photosensitive material sorted by the sorting means are
, The main belt conveyor and the auxiliary belt
Or the above-mentioned auxiliary transfer means
It is preferable that the transfer speed of the photosensitive material in the developing device for receiving the photosensitive material sent out by n times or more.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The photosensitive material conveying apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image recording apparatus using the photosensitive material conveying apparatus of the present invention. An image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a recording apparatus) 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus used as a printing apparatus of the above-mentioned digital photo printer, and has a predetermined length corresponding to a print for producing a long photosensitive material. After cutting into a cut sheet, back print recording (back printing) and digital scanning exposure are performed, and the exposed photosensitive material A is distributed to a plurality of columns as necessary and supplied to the processor (developing device) 80. It is a device that does.

The recording apparatus 10 as described above includes a photosensitive material supply section 12, a printer 14 for recording a back print,
An image recording unit 16 that exposes the photosensitive material A at the recording (exposure) position X and a distribution unit 18 that uses the photosensitive material conveying device of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a conveying device) are provided. In addition,
In addition to the illustrated members, the recording device 10 is provided with various members such as a conveying roller for conveying the photosensitive material A, a conveying guide, and a sensor as necessary.

In the recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material supply section 1
2 (hereinafter referred to as the supply unit 12) is the loading units 20 and 2
2, a pair of pull-out rollers 24 and 26, and a cutter 28
And 30.

The loading sections 20 and 22 are sections for loading a magazine 32 in which a long photosensitive material Z wound in a roll shape with the recording surface facing outside is housed in a light-shielding case. Magazine 32 loaded in both loading sections 20 and 22
In general, photosensitive materials A of different types such as size (width), face type (silk or mat), specifications (thickness, type of base, etc.) are stored. Note that the number of magazines 32 that can be loaded may be one or three or more depending on the size and configuration of the recording device 10.

The pair of pull-out rollers 24 and 26 pull out and convey the photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 32 loaded in the loading sections 20 and 22. This conveyance is downstream of the corresponding cutters 28 and 30 in the conveyance direction (hereinafter, referred to as
The photosensitive material A conveyed to the (downstream) side is stopped when it reaches a length corresponding to the print to be made, and then the cutters 28 and 30 are actuated to cut the photosensitive material A to a predetermined length. Use as a cut sheet. Note that one cutter may be shared by a plurality of loading units.

Photosensitive material A pulled out from the magazine 32 of the loading section 22 and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 30.
On the other hand, the photosensitive material A that has been pulled out from the magazine 32 of the loading section 20 and cut by the cutter 28 by the first transport section 34 and the second transport section 36 configured by a plurality of transport roller pairs is the second transport section. Both of them are conveyed to the right by 36, and are then conveyed to the right, and are conveyed to the image recording unit 16 (scan conveying unit 42) with the recording surface facing upward.

The printer 14 is provided in the middle of the second transport section 36.
Are placed. The printer 14 has a non-recording surface (non-emulsion surface = back surface) of the light-sensitive material A, on which a photograph is taken, a print date, a frame number, a film ID number (code), an ID number of a camera used for photographing, and a photo printer. Record various information such as ID number, so-called back print (back print)
Therefore, the photosensitive material A is conveyed by the second conveying unit 36 and the back print is recorded by the printer 14. Examples of the printer 14 for recording the back print include back print printers used in known photo printers such as an inkjet printer, a dot impact printer, and a thermal transfer printer. In addition, the printer 14 is a new photographic system (Advanced Photo
o It is preferable that the system is capable of printing two or more lines.

Further, a loop forming section 38 is provided between the conveying roller pair 36a and the conveying roller pair 36b downstream of the printer 14 of the second conveying section 36. That is, the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material A in the second conveyance unit 36 is such that the image recording unit 1 is located after the conveyance roller pair 36a downstream of the loop forming unit 38.
6 (scanning / conveying means 42) is set to the same speed as the scanning / conveying speed, and is set to a speed higher than that of the conveying roller pair 36b upstream of the loop forming section 38, and the photosensitive material A conveyed in the second conveying section 36. In the loop forming unit 38, the loop forming unit 38 forms a loop according to the size of the upstream and downstream conveyance speed differences, as indicated by a dotted line in the drawing. In the recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, this separates the printer 14 and the image recording unit 16 with a short path length, and realizes highly accurate scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material A at the time of exposure.

The image recording section 16 is composed of an exposure unit 40 and a scanning / conveying means 42. The scanning / conveying means 42 holds the photosensitive material A at a predetermined recording position X for scanning and conveying, and is orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction. The photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned by emitting the recording light L, which is modulated according to the image data (recorded image) and defines the main scanning line, from the exposure unit 40 and enters the recording position X. Expose to record latent image. In the image recording unit 16 of the illustrated example, side resist (edge position regulation of the photosensitive material A) is performed so that the center of the photosensitive material A in the main scanning direction is at a predetermined position.
The exposure is performed on a so-called center standard.

The exposure unit 40 is, for example, a known light beam scanning device that uses a light beam such as a laser beam as the recording light L, and the red (R) exposure, the green (G) exposure and the blue ( B) A light source that emits a light beam corresponding to each exposure, a modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) that modulates the light beam emitted from the light source according to digital image data, a modulated light beam An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting the light beam in the main scanning direction, and a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 1 and 2) is formed at a predetermined position on the recording position X with a predetermined beam diameter. It has an fθ (scanning) lens for imaging. Alternatively,
A PDP (plasma display) array, an ELD (electroluminescent display) array, an LED (light emitting diode) array, an LCD (liquid crystal display) array, a DMD (digital micromirror device) array, a laser array, etc., are orthogonal to the scanning conveyance direction. It may be a digital exposure means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation element arrays extending in the direction.

On the other hand, the scanning / conveying means 42 has a recording position X.
A pair of conveyance rollers 44 arranged so as to sandwich (scanning line)
And 46 and an exposure guide (not shown) for holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position X more accurately,
While holding the photosensitive material A at the recording position X, the photosensitive material A is scanned and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Here, since the light beam as the recording light L is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the recording light L modulated according to the image data, and the latent image is formed. Will be recorded. Note that, as the scanning / conveying means, a scanning / conveying means using an exposure drum that conveys the photosensitive material A while holding it at the recording position X and two nip rollers that are in contact with the exposure drum with the recording position X in between are also exemplified. It

A distribution unit 18 is arranged downstream of the image recording unit 16. The sorting unit 18 uses the transporting device of the present invention, receives the photosensitive material A discharged from the scanning transporting unit 42 of the image recording unit 16, and makes the photosensitive material A orthogonal to the transporting direction as necessary. Direction (hereinafter referred to as lateral direction), and as a plurality of rows that overlap (hereinafter referred to as overlap) in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 4,
Conveyor roller pair 48 for supplying the photosensitive material A to the processor 80
Transport to. As a result, the processing capacity of the processor 80 can be improved, for example, about 2 times in the case of two rows and about 3 times in the case of 3 rows, so that the speed difference between the exposure and the development processing can be offset.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the distribution unit 18, and FIG. 3 is a plan view (partially omitted). The distribution unit 18 includes the transport device of the present invention having a belt conveyor 50 and an auxiliary belt conveyor 52, and a distribution device 56. The photosensitive material A exposed in the image recording unit 16 is discharged and placed on the belt conveyor 50 and conveyed, and when conveyed to a predetermined position, it is lifted by the distribution device 56 and conveyed in the diagonally downstream direction. Belt conveyor 5 again
It is placed on 0, transported as it is, and supplied to the transport roller pair 48. Further, the belt conveyor 50 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 are located at the center in the lateral direction (the axial direction of the roller) (hereinafter, simply referred to as the center) immediately downstream of the image recording unit 16 (scanning and conveying means 42) that performs exposure with the center as a reference. ) Are matched and placed.

The belt conveyor 50 has two rollers 58.
And 60, an endless belt 62 stretched over both rollers, and a drive source (not shown), which is a known belt conveyor. The belt conveyor 50 constitutes the placing and conveying means of the present invention, and places and conveys the photosensitive material A. On the other hand, the scanning conveyance means 42 and the conveyance roller pair 48 for performing processor entry (or the conveyance means in the processor 80) normally sandwich and convey the photosensitive material A. Therefore, even if the photosensitive material A being exposed is discharged from the scanning / conveying means 42 and a part thereof is placed on the belt conveyor 50, the conveying speed of the photosensitive material A is controlled by the scanning / conveying means 42, Even if the transport speed of the conveyor 50 and the scan transport speed are different, it does not affect the scan transport speed of the photosensitive material A during exposure. On the other hand, when the photosensitive material A is released from the scanning / conveying means 42, the belt conveyor 50
Feeds the photosensitive material A at the feeding speed and supplies it to the feeding roller pair 48. Here, the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller pair 48 is the same as the conveyance speed in the processor 80 and is usually lower than the conveyance speed in the recording device 10 such as the belt conveyor 50, but the conveyance by the belt conveyor 50. Then, when the photosensitive material A is nipped by the conveying roller pair 48, the conveying speed is controlled by the conveying roller pair 48, so that the exposed photosensitive material A can be smoothly and safely processed by the processor 80.
Can be supplied to.

Here, when a plurality of rows of the photosensitive material A distributed by the distribution device 56 are n (where n is an integer of 2 or more) on the belt conveyor 50 of the conveyor of the present invention, the present invention (processor from the conveying device as the conveyance of the photosensitive material a into the processor 80 can be smoothly carried out, the conveying speed of the photosensitive material a by the belt conveyor 50 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 of the transport apparatus of the present invention, in the flop Rosesa 80 It is preferably n times or more the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material A (by the entry conveyance roller pair 48) (the linear speed of the conveyance roller pair 48). By doing so, even if the linear velocity of the processor 80 (conveying roller pair 48) is set to the maximum speed and accordingly the scanning and conveying speed of the scanning and conveying means 42 is set to n times that speed, the linear velocity of the belt conveyor 50 is set to the conveying roller pair. Since it is n times the linear velocity of 48 or more, the belt conveyor 50
Is capable of sorting the photosensitive materials A sent from the scanning / transporting means 42 at a speed n times the linear velocity of the processor 80 into n rows without overlapping each other, and the photosensitive materials A sorted into n rows can be efficiently distributed. In addition, the photosensitive materials A in the front and rear rows can be smoothly and safely delivered to the pair of transport rollers 48, that is, the processor 80 without overlapping each other. In this way, the processing capacity of the processor 80 can be maximized. The linear speed of the belt conveyor 50 may be any speed as long as it is n times or more the linear speed of the conveying roller pair 48, and it is not necessary to set an upper limit, but even if it is unnecessarily high, Since it is not possible to expect the efficiency of transportation to the roller pair 48, it may be appropriately selected according to the processing capability of the image recording unit 16 (the linear velocity of the scanning transporting means 42) and the processing capability of the processor 80.

In the recording device 10, the scanning and conveying means 4
The distance between the 2 (conveying roller pair 46) and the conveying roller pair 48 needs to be longer than that according to the maximum size print in the conveying direction targeted by the recording apparatus 10. Accordingly, the position and the transport length are set so that the photosensitive material A can be stably exchanged between them. If the distance between the scanning conveyance means 42 and the conveyance roller pair 48 is too long, the cost of the device and the size increase due to the extension of the path length, so it is preferable to determine the distance between them. Further, the width of the belt conveyor 50 (the size in the lateral direction, that is, the size in the lateral direction of the endless belt 62) is set such that the photosensitive material A is set in accordance with the maximum size in the width direction of the print, the number of rows of photosensitive materials to be distributed, which will be described later, and the like. The width should be such that it can be transported stably and reliably.

The belt conveyor 50 constructed in this way
The auxiliary belt conveyer 52 arranged above is also a known belt conveyer having two rollers 64 and 66, an endless belt 68 stretched over both rollers, and a drive source (not shown). This auxiliary belt conveyor 52
, Which constitutes the auxiliary conveying means of the present invention, is narrower than the belt conveyor 50 and is arranged on the center line,
It is driven in the same direction at the same speed as the belt conveyor 50.
The auxiliary belt conveyor 52 does not come into contact with the belt conveyor 50 and is arranged at a predetermined distance from the belt conveyor 50.

That is, the auxiliary belt conveyor 52, together with the belt conveyor 50, transfers the photosensitive material A to the endless belt 68 of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 and the belt conveyor 50.
It is not intended to be sandwiched between the endless belt 62 and the endless belt 62 and is conveyed, but is placed on the endless belt 62 of the belt conveyor 50 and conveyed by utilizing the curl (curl) normally possessed by the photosensitive material A. Photosensitive material A
The endless belt 68 presses the curl from above so that the curl height is lowered without disturbing the exposure. Therefore, the belt conveyor 50 functions as a main belt conveyor that conveys the photosensitive material A, and the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 conveys the photosensitive material A immediately after it is received from the scanning conveyance means 42 to the main belt conveyor 50. It has a transport function and a function to lower the height of curl. The transporting device of the present invention combines the belt conveyor 50 and such an auxiliary belt conveyor 52 to receive the photosensitive material A from the scanning and transporting means 42 without affecting the scanning and transporting, and at the same time, by the auxiliary belt conveyor 52. By pressing down the photosensitive material A from above, the influence on the scanning conveyance due to the nipping is eliminated and a reliable conveying force is ensured, and the curl of the photosensitive material A having a large curl is kept constant to ensure stable and reliable downstream. It is also transported to and curl is corrected. Moreover, in the illustrated example, the flattening of the photosensitive material A by the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 also assists the adsorption and holding of the photosensitive material A by the sorting device 56 described later, and enables stable and reliable sorting of the photosensitive material A. There is.

Here, in the belt conveyor 50, it is necessary to place the photosensitive material A on the mounting surface (outer surface) of the endless belt 62 and to convey the photosensitive material A reliably, and to mount the endless belt 62. It is necessary to prevent misalignment even when the photosensitive material A placed on the surface is pressed from above by the endless belt 68 of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52. For this reason, the friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 62 is required to some extent, and it is preferable that the friction coefficient is not too low.
On the other hand, the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 presses the photosensitive material A having a normal curl, which is placed on the endless belt 62 of the belt conveyor 50, from above by the endless belt 68, so that the curled portion of the photosensitive material A is pressed. For example, it is necessary to smoothly slide the curled peripheral portion on the contact surface (outer surface) of the endless belt 68 without causing displacement of the photosensitive material A. Therefore, the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the endless belt 68 is
It is preferably not too high so that it is slippery. For the above reasons, the friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 62 of the belt conveyor 50 is determined by the auxiliary belt conveyor 5
It is preferable that the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the second endless belt 68 is the same as or larger than that.

More preferably, the friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 62 of the belt conveyor 50 is 0.6 or more, and the friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 68 of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 is 0.6. It should be: This is because when the friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 62 is less than 0.6, slippage occurs between the two and the positional deviation between the photosensitive materials A occurs, so that the photosensitive material A cannot be conveyed accurately. ., The gap between the front and rear photosensitive materials A becomes narrower, wider, or tilted, so that conveyance failure (paper jam) occurs. On the other hand, when the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the endless belt 68 is more than 0.6, the linear velocity (conveying speed of the photosensitive material) of the conveying roller pair 48 becomes equal to the endless belts 62, 68.
Since it is slower than the linear velocity of the photosensitive material A, the endless belt 6 which slides between the photosensitive material A and the emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material A should be slid.
This is because the contact area with 8 increases, the friction increases, the conveying force remarkably increases, and the photosensitive material A buckles.
The most preferable friction coefficient of the mounting surface of the endless belt 62 is about 0.9, and the range of ± 0.1 is a more preferable range. On the other hand, the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the most preferable endless belt 68 is about 0.5,
The range of ± 0.1 is a more preferable range.

The distance between the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 and the belt conveyor 50, more specifically, the lower surface (contact surface) of the endless belt 68 of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 and the upper surface (mounting surface) of the endless belt 62 of the belt conveyor 50. The distance between the photosensitive material A and the surface of the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined depending on the thickness of the photosensitive material A to be conveyed and the state of curl. Transport by flattening the sheet, straightening the curl, and sorting device 5
In order to obtain a good effect of assisting adsorption and holding by No. 6, it is preferable that the distance between them is 11 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or less, and particularly preferably 1 mm or less. If the distance between the two is too small, the photosensitive material A will be sandwiched and the scanning and conveyance will be affected, so the thickness of the photosensitive material A must be taken into consideration when making the determination.

In the illustrated example, the conveying device of the present invention is arranged in the distribution unit 18, and the distribution device 56, which will be described later, distributes the photosensitive material A laterally to the left and right to form a plurality of rows. The belt conveyor 52 has a narrow width and is arranged on the center line, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 may have the same width as the belt conveyor 50. It may be divided into two (indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3) or added on the center line to form a divided belt conveyor composed of three or more belt conveyors,
That is, the endless belt 68 of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 may be a divided belt that is divided into a plurality of pieces in the lateral direction, and the photosensitive material can be suitably conveyed according to the application of the conveying device of the present invention, the photosensitive material to be conveyed, and the like. It may be configured.

The conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 50 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 may be appropriately determined according to the processing capacity of the recording apparatus 10, the scanning conveyance speed, etc., but is preferably a little higher than the scanning conveyance speed. This prevents the leading edge of the exposed photosensitive material A from being caught in the belt conveyor 50, and influences the scanning conveyance when the photosensitive material A is placed (contacted) on the belt conveyor 50. Can be eliminated more reliably. It should be noted that if the conveyance speed of both belt conveyors is much faster than the scanning conveyance speed, it will affect the scanning conveyance and may also damage the photosensitive material A by friction, so the belt conveyor 50 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 52. It is preferable to determine the transport speed of the above in consideration of this.

Further, in the distribution unit 18 of the illustrated example, as a preferred mode, the belt conveyor 50 is inclined so as to descend toward the downstream side. With such a configuration, the photosensitive material A is prevented from being caught or buckled due to curling, the photosensitive material A is received from the scanning and conveying means 42, and the photosensitive material A to the conveying roller pair 48 is received.
Can be supplied more smoothly and stably.
The angle is not limited, but the photosensitive material A slips off if the angle is too large, so it is preferable to set the angle to about 5 ° to 30 °.

In the illustrated example, a sorting device 56 is provided on the above-described transporting device of the present invention to transport the photosensitive material A in the lateral direction and sort it into a plurality of rows. Sorting device 5
6 is a drive device 70 and two suction cup units 72 (72
a and 72b). Belt conveyor 5
The photosensitive material A conveyed to a predetermined position on 0 is adsorbed by the suction cup unit 72a, slightly lifted, conveyed to the right in the conveying direction (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as right), and conveyed to the belt again. It is placed on the conveyor 50, or similarly conveyed in the diagonally left downstream direction by the suction cup unit 72b, so that it is sorted into a plurality of rows. The drive unit 70 suctions and releases the photosensitive material A by the suction cup unit 72, and moves and moves the suction cup unit 72 up and down. Therefore,
In the illustrated example, the auxiliary belt conveyor 52 needs to have a width that allows both suction cup units 72 to reliably attract and hold the photosensitive material A in accordance with the photosensitive material A having the smallest size in the width direction for sorting.

In this sorter 56, the photosensitive material A
The belt conveyor 5
It is possible to sort quickly regardless of the transport speed of 0, and the photosensitive material A that has been carried in first is lifted for sorting, so the next photosensitive material A is carried into the belt conveyor 50. Therefore, the photosensitive material A can be continuously received from the scanning / conveying means 42 and the like to the belt conveyor 50 and distributed. That is, the distribution unit 18 in the illustrated example is provided with the conveyance device of the present invention and the distribution device 5 that lifts and distributes the photosensitive material A.
6 in combination with a small-sized device with a short path length and a simple structure at a low cost, without affecting the scanning conveyance and the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the processor 80,
The photosensitive material A is smoothly and stably conveyed from the recording unit 16 to the processor 80, and the photosensitive material A is surely distributed in a plurality of rows between them. Moreover, since the photosensitive material A is flattened by the action of the auxiliary belt conveyor 52, the suction and holding of the photosensitive material A by the suction cup unit 72 can be surely performed.

Various methods can be used for distributing the photosensitive material A by the distribution unit 18. For example, by distributing the photosensitive material A conveyed to a predetermined position on the belt conveyor 50 to the left and right by alternately using the suction cup units 72,
The photosensitive material A can be distributed into two rows as shown in FIG. Further, the photosensitive material A can be sorted into three rows by repeating, for example, “left sorting → right sorting → striping” including the blanking which is not sorted in the left and right sorting. Incidentally, in order to surely suck and hold the photosensitive material A by the suction cup unit 72, the conveyance of the belt conveyor 50 may be temporarily stopped when the photosensitive material A is sucked and released.

There is no particular limitation on the method of moving and raising / lowering the suction cup unit 72 by the drive device 70. A moving means using a link, a moving means using a cam, a moving means using a guide rail or a guide hole, a gear. Various known methods such as a means for using, a rack and pinion, a screw transmission, a winding transmission, a means for using a cylinder, and a moving means in which these are appropriately combined can be used. Further, the suction holding of the photosensitive material A by the suction cup unit 72 may be performed by using a known means such as a vacuum pump. Further, in the illustrated example, the number of the suction cup units 72 is two, but the suction cup units 72 may be set to one, and the passing through may be performed alternately with the passing through in the horizontal direction.

The distribution of the photosensitive material A may be performed such that the photosensitive material A is already overlapped at the time when it is formed into a plurality of rows on the belt conveyer 50 of the distributing unit 18, or is overlapped on the belt conveyer 50. Instead, the belt conveyor 50 and the conveying roller pair 48 may be overlapped at a speed difference. It should be noted that the greater the overlap in the processor 80, the higher the processing capability, but when the finished print is discharged from the processor 80, the difference in the front and rear photosensitive materials A (the discharging means from the processor 80 clamps nip rollers or the like). If the difference in the trailing edge is too small in the case of transportation, it may be difficult to accumulate the photosensitive material A in the order of exposure depending on the configuration of the accumulating device or the sorting device. The overlap of A must be performed in consideration of this point.

In the distribution unit 18, instead of distributing all the photosensitive materials A, in the case of a large size that cannot be processed in a plurality of rows due to the width of the processor 80 or the like, or when performing a one-time processing, It is supplied to the processor 80 as a single row without distribution. Further, when the distribution is performed, all sizes are not distributed in the same number of rows, but according to the size of the photosensitive material A, for example, the L size is 3 rows, and the size that can be distributed is 2 rows or the like. ,
You may distribute to different numbers of rows. Further, in the case where the panorama size and the L size are mixed, when the panorama size is reached, control may be performed such that the panorama size and the L size are passed through without passing through.

Photosensitive material A conveyed by distribution unit 18
As described above, the toner is supplied to the processor 80 by the conveying roller pair 48, subjected to development processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water, etc., dried, and then discharged as a (finished) print.

Although the photosensitive material conveying device of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples.
It goes without saying that various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the photosensitive material conveying apparatus of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus which exposes the photosensitive material of the cut sheet and supplies the exposed photosensitive material to the developing device. The exposed photosensitive material can be received from the scanning / transporting means without affecting the scanning / transporting, and can be stably and reliably transported, and the curl of the photosensitive material can be appropriately corrected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of an image recording apparatus using a photosensitive material conveying device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a photosensitive material conveying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a photosensitive material conveying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of distribution of photosensitive materials by the image recording device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 (Image) recording device 12 (Photosensitive material) supply section 14 Printer 16 Image recording section 18 Sorting section 20,22 Loading section 24,26 Drawer roller pair 28,30 cutters 32 magazines 34 First Transport Section 36 Second Transport Section 38 Loop forming part 40 exposure unit 42 Scanning and Conveying Means 44, 46, 48 Transport roller pairs 50 belt conveyor 52 Auxiliary belt conveyor 56 Sorting device 58, 60, 64, 66 rollers 62,68 Endless belt 70 Drive 72 (72a, 72b) sucker unit A photosensitive material

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A scanning line of recording light extending in the main scanning direction is defined at a predetermined recording position by an exposure optical system, and a photosensitive material of a predetermined length is held at the recording position by a scanning and conveying means. It is a photosensitive material conveying device used in an image recording device that scans and conveys a photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction to record a latent image and supplies the exposed photosensitive material to a developing device. Te, arranged a main belt conveyor for placing conveying receive exposed light-sensitive material from said scanning transport means is driven in the main belt conveyor <br/> the same direction, apart from the top of said main belt conveyor possess an auxiliary belt conveyor being, the main
The coefficient of friction of the belt surface of the belt conveyor is
Is the same as the friction coefficient of the belt surface of the belt conveyor?
Is a large photosensitive material conveying device. 2. An exposure optical system extends in the main scanning direction.
A scan line of recording light is defined at a predetermined recording position and
The photosensitive material of fixed length is moved to the recording position by the scanning and conveying means.
Scan in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction while holding
The photosensitive material is conveyed and exposed to record a latent image.
Used in image recording devices that supply photosensitive materials to developing devices
A photosensitive material conveying device for receiving the exposed photosensitive material from the scanning conveying means and mounting it.
In the same direction as the above-described placement and transport means for placing and transporting the placement and transport means.
Driven to the upper part of the loading and transporting means
An auxiliary transporting means, and the auxiliary transporting means and the carrying device as described above.
The distance from the feeding means is from upstream to downstream in the transport direction.
A photosensitive material conveying device characterized by not gradually narrowing. 3. The loading / conveying means is a belt conveyor.
The photosensitive material conveying apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the auxiliary conveying means is an auxiliary belt conveyor. Friction coefficient of 4. Before Kinushi belt conveyor belt surface of the photosensitive material conveying device according to the same or greater claims 3 and the friction coefficient of the surface of the belt of the auxiliary conveyor belt. 5. The coefficient of friction of the surface of the belt of said main belt conveyor is 0.6 or more, the auxiliary claim 1 and the friction coefficient of the surface of the belt conveyor belt is 0.6 or less
Or a photosensitive material conveying device according to 4. Wherein said auxiliary conveyor belt, the photosensitive material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 or 3 to 5 comprising a split belt comprising a conveyor belt of the plurality of lines. 7. The main belt conveyer or the above-mentioned stationary conveyer
The means has a downward slope towards the downstream in the transport direction
The photosensitive material conveying device according to claim 1. 8. The main belt conveyor or the above-mentioned stationary conveyor.
The inclination angle of the means is 5 ° to 30 °.
Photosensitive material transport device. 9. The main belt conveyor and the auxiliary bell
Tokonbea or conveyance speed of the photosensitive material due to prior described置搬feed means and the auxiliary transport means, the photosensitive material conveying device according to any one of faster than the scanning transport means according to claim 1-8,. 10. The main belt conveyor and the auxiliary belt
Conveyor photosensitive material conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the interval between the previous described置搬feed means and the auxiliary conveying means is 11mm or less. 11. A photosensitive material conveying device according to any one of claims 1-10, further received from the scanning transport means, the main bell
1. A photosensitive material transporting device, comprising: a sorting means for sorting the photosensitive material placed and transported by a conveyor or the above-mentioned transporting means into a plurality of rows in the main scanning direction. 12. The conveying speed of the photosensitive material by the main belt conveyor or before described置搬feed means, said plurality of rows of said light-sensitive material are distributed by the distributing means is n
(Where n is an integer of 2 or more), the main belt
Conveyor and the auxiliary belt conveyor, or carrying as described above
The aforesaid product sent out by the sending means and the auxiliary carrying means.
12. The photosensitive material conveying device according to claim 11 , wherein the conveying speed of the photosensitive material in a developing device for receiving the photosensitive material is n times or more.