JPH09304838A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately form image position information while scanning and carrying recording material by intermittently carrying the recording material by an amount equivalent to the image of one sheet, feeding it to a loop forming part and forming the image position information showing an image position on the recording material at the time of stopping carrying. SOLUTION: A photosensitive material supply part 26 pulls out photosensitive material A from a magazine 27 and carries it to a 1st loop forming part 42 on a downstream side in a carrying direction. By forming a loop, the photosensitive material A is smoothly intermittently carried and stopped. When the carrying roller pair 56 of a 2nd loop forming part 58 carries and stops the photosensitive material A equivalent to one print, a punch 50 is actuated to punch the photosensitive material A in specified shape so as to form frame information corresponding to one print and form sort information after forming the frame information by an amount equivalent to the set number of sheets. In an exposure part 30, a latent image is recorded by scanning exposure with a light beam L emitted from a light beam scanning device 24 while the photosensitive material A is subscanned and carried by a subscanning carrying system 60.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the technical field of an image recording apparatus for recording an image by scanning and conveying, such as a photographic printing apparatus by digital exposure.

[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 an image of the film onto the photosensitive material. Surface-exposing the photosensitive material,
It is performed by so-called direct exposure.

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 for recording and printing an image (latent image) by scanning and exposing a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image information as recording image information has been developed.

In a digital photo printer, a film is read photoelectrically, and color density correction is performed by signal processing to determine exposure conditions. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to determine the exposure conditions at the time of exposure, and furthermore, it is not necessary to adjust the filter and the aperture. The time required for exposure per image is short, and the exposure time is constant according to the image size. Therefore, printing can be performed more quickly than in conventional surface exposure. Moreover, it is possible to freely edit print images such as composition of multiple images and image division, and various image processing such as color / density adjustment and edge enhancement. Prints can be output. Also, since the finished print image can be saved as image information in a recording medium such as a floppy disk, it is not necessary to prepare the original film again when reprinting, and the exposure conditions are determined again. Since it is not necessary to do so, the work can be performed quickly and easily. Furthermore, in the conventional printing by direct exposure, it is not possible to reproduce all the images recorded on the film or the like in terms of resolution, color / density reproducibility, etc., but according to the digital photo printer, it is recorded on the film. It is possible to output a print that reproduces almost 100% of the existing image (density information).

[0005]

By the way, regardless of the conventional direct exposure photo printer (hereinafter referred to as analog photo printer) and digital photo printer, the size of one print is small in the photo printer, and the wet type after exposure is used. Since the imagewise exposed photosensitive material is not cut during the processing, it is exposed and developed as a long strip and is cut after drying. , One finished print, and further sorted into predetermined units. Therefore, in the photo printer, it is necessary to record information, which is a frame information, which is a boundary for each print, on the photosensitive material, for cutting the finished print, positioning the back print recorded on the back surface of the print, and the like. Further, for the sorting, it is necessary to record information, which is so-called sort information, which indicates phrase breaks for each predetermined number of sheets such as one negative film.

The frame information and sort information are usually formed by punching holes of a predetermined shape in the photosensitive material with a punching machine (punch). As is well known, in a conventional analog photo printer, exposure is performed by stopping the photosensitive material at a predetermined exposure position and forming an image of the projection light of a film serving as a document on the photosensitive material. Therefore, it is possible to form frame information and sort information according to the image size to be recorded during exposure.

On the other hand, digital exposure is usually performed by scanning a light beam, deflects a light beam modulated according to an image, that is, an exposure condition in the main scanning direction, and holds a photosensitive material at a predetermined exposure position. While being sub-scanned and conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned with a light beam for exposure. That is, in the digital photo printer, the photosensitive material is conveyed during the exposure for performing the digital exposure, and the frame information and the like cannot be formed according to the image position during the exposure.

It is an object of the present invention to suitably form image position information such as frame information and sort information in an image recording apparatus that records an image while performing scanning and carrying such as light beam scanning exposure. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of realizing a photo printing apparatus by digital exposure, that is, a digital photo printer.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an image recording apparatus for performing image recording while scanning and transporting a long recording material, which comprises scanning and transporting means for the recording material. A loop forming portion of the recording material arranged on the upstream side of the scanning conveying means in the recording material conveying direction; conveying means for intermittently conveying the recording material one image at a time and feeding it to the loop forming portion; An image position information forming unit arranged on the upstream side of the loop forming unit in the recording material conveying direction for forming image position information indicating an image position on the recording material when the conveyance of the recording material by the unit is stopped; According to the detection of the image position information by the detection unit, there is provided a control unit for controlling the scanning conveyance of the recording material by the scanning conveyance unit according to the amount of the recording material and a detection unit of the image position information. And controls the image recording timing, to provide an image recording apparatus characterized by having a recording unit for recording an image on a recording material to be scanned conveyed by the scanning transport means.

[0010]

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 is a schematic view showing an example of a photographic printing and developing machine using the image recording apparatus of the present invention. A photographic printing developing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 (hereinafter referred to as printing developing machine 10) is an apparatus for exposing (printing) and developing a photograph in the above-mentioned digital photo printer, and is an image reading apparatus such as a film scanner. The light-sensitive material A is exposed by light beam scanning exposure to form a latent image according to the exposure condition (recorded image) determined by the setup device according to the read image, and development processing and drying are performed. It is a device that performs sorting, cutting and cutting to obtain finished prints. The printing / developing machine 10 basically includes an image recording unit 12, a developing unit 14, a drying unit 16, a discharge unit 18, and an electrical unit 20 in which a control board, a power supply unit, and the like are housed. Is done.

The image recording section 12 comprises a printing / transporting device 22 and a light beam scanning device 24. This image recording section 12 is related to the image recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the printing and conveying device 22, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the light beam scanning device 24 (and the sub-scanning and conveying system 60).

The printing / transporting device 22 transports the photosensitive material A through a predetermined path while forming frame information and sort information,
A device for performing image exposure and back printing, and transporting the developed material 14 to the photosensitive material supply unit 26, a frame information forming unit 28 for forming frame information and sort information, an exposing unit 30, a back print unit 32, a reservoir 34; Transport means for transporting the photosensitive material A along a predetermined path passing through these portions.

The photosensitive material supply unit 26 draws the photosensitive material A wound in a roll form from a magazine 27 which is housed in a light-shielding case, and is downstream in the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as downstream).
To the first loop forming section 42, and the magazine loading section 29, the pull-out roller pair 3
6, a sensor 38 and a guide 40 are provided.

The magazine loading section 29 is a section in which the magazine 27 is loaded. The pull-out roller pair 36 receives the photosensitive material A from the magazine 27 loaded in the photosensitive material supply unit 26.
To bring out. This draw roller pair 36
The photosensitive material A is configured to be freely held and opened by a solenoid or the like, and facilitates removal of the magazine and passage of the photosensitive material A when the magazine 27 is replaced. The sensor 38 is for detecting the presence or absence of the photosensitive material A when the apparatus is started, when the magazine 27 is loaded, or when rewinding (winding of the photosensitive material A around the magazine 27). The sensor used in the present invention including the sensor 38 is not particularly limited, and all known sensors used for detecting a sheet-like object such as an optical sensor and a mechanical sensor can be used. is there. The guide 40 adjusts the width according to the size (width) of the photosensitive material A stored in the magazine 27 loaded in the photosensitive material supply unit 26. In this regard, in this regard, guides 52a, 52b, 90, 104 and 12
2 is the same.

The first loop forming section 42 forms a loop (slack) of the photosensitive material A, so that the photosensitive material A is intermittently conveyed by the pull-out roller pair 36 and the conveying roller pair 56 arranged downstream. A part that facilitates the stop, and a conveying roller 44 and a guide roller 46 that guides the photosensitive material A from the guide 40 to the frame information forming unit 28.
, 48, a guide 49, and a sensor 51.

The guide 49 is moved by a motor 49M, and when the leading edge of the photosensitive material A is fed, the guide roller 46 is used.
To the guide roller 48 to close the photosensitive material A (closed), and normally, the photosensitive material A is positioned to retract from the loop (open) as shown in FIG. Further, the guide 49 is provided at the position where the photosensitive material A is guided from the guide roller 46 to the guide roller 48, and when the guide roller 49 is arranged at the position for guiding the photosensitive material A.
4 has a driven roller (not shown) that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 4, and the photosensitive material A is nipped and conveyed by the conveying roller 44 and the driven roller at the time of loading. The sensor 51 detects a loop of the photosensitive material A, and when the above-mentioned pull-out roller pair 36 no longer detects the loop by the sensor 51, the size of the loop of the first loop forming portion 42 (the photosensitive material A (Length of) is less than the specified amount, a predetermined amount of the photosensitive material A is pulled out from the magazine 27.

The frame information forming unit 28 is arranged downstream of the first loop forming unit 42. In the printing / developing machine 10, the photosensitive material A is not cut during the production of a print in a normal operation, but is continuously exposed and developed in a strip shape, and is cut at the final discharging section 18. One finished print. Therefore, in order to detect the cutting of the photosensitive material A, the positioning of the back print, and the exposure position on the photosensitive material A which are performed later, it is necessary to form the frame information indicating the boundary of each print, and the sorting is performed. Therefore, for example, it is necessary to form sort information indicating a position for each unit number of sheets which is appropriately set such as one film. The frame information forming unit 28 is a portion that forms the frame information and / or sort information, and is an image position information forming unit of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

The printing and developing machine 10 in the illustrated example punches square holes to form frame information and sort information. The frame information forming section 28 includes a punch 50 for punching frame information and the like. It has guides 52a and 52b arranged upstream and downstream of the punch 50, and a sensor 54 for detecting the presence or absence of the photosensitive material A and the like. The punch 50 is activated when the conveying roller pair 56 of the second loop forming unit 58, which will be described later, conveys and stops the photosensitive material A for one print, punches the photosensitive material A into a predetermined shape, and forms one print. Form corresponding frame information. After forming the frame information for the set number of prints, the punch 50 forms the sort information.

In the apparatus shown in the drawing, frame information and the like are formed by punching the photosensitive material A using the punch 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and thermal transfer using an ink ribbon or the like is performed. The frame information or the like may be formed by recording a mark such as a line or a dot using the various recording means. In this case, the back print unit 32 described later is placed at the position of the frame information forming unit 28.
May be provided and this may have a function of forming frame information and the like.

The exposure unit 3 is provided downstream of the frame information forming unit 28.
0 is placed. The exposure unit 30 includes a second loop forming unit 58, a sub-scanning conveyance system 60, and a third loop forming unit 62. In the printing and developing machine 10 in the illustrated example, the photosensitive material A is emitted from the light beam scanning device 24 shown in FIG. A main scanning direction that is modulated according to exposure conditions (that is, a recorded image) and is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 2, arrow a direction of FIG. 3)
The photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam deflected to record a latent image. That is, the sub-scanning carrying system 60 constitutes the scanning carrying means of the present invention,
The light beam scanning device 24 constitutes the recording means of the present invention.

The sub-scanning conveyance system 60 holds the photosensitive material A at a predetermined exposure position, and conveys it in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the sub-scanning conveyance direction. The two nip rollers 82 and 84 pressed against the exposure drum 80 with the light beam scanning line (exposure position) interposed therebetween, the sensor 86 for detecting the frame information and the presence or absence of the photosensitive material A, and the guide 90. The photosensitive material A has an exposure drum 80 and a nip roller 82.
And 84 are conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. The nip rollers 82 and 84 are configured to be able to contact and separate from the exposure drum 80, and to facilitate the passage of the photosensitive material A to the sub-scanning conveyance system 60.

As will be described in detail later, if the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming portion 58 exceeds a predetermined amount, the photosensitive material A is sub-scanned and transported by the sub-scanning transport system 60 to be formed first. When the frame information is detected by the sensor 86, the exposure position on the photosensitive material A is detected, and the scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A by the light beam L emitted from the light beam scanning device 24 is started. Here, the light beam L is deflected in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive material A is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. As a result, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned by the light beam L. And the entire surface is exposed.

In the determination of the print image, that is, the exposure conditions, the exposure of the photosensitive material A, and the back printing described later, the conveying speed and timing of the photosensitive material A are different, and
It is necessary to stop the conveyance of the photosensitive material A when forming frame information and the like. On the other hand, an error in the sub-scanning conveyance during the exposure directly leads to a decrease in image quality such as a streak of an image. Therefore, in order to obtain a print on which a high-quality image is recorded, it is necessary to transport the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning transport system 60 with high accuracy. Therefore, in the printing and developing machine 10 of the illustrated example, the second loop forming portion 58 is provided on the upstream side of the sub-scanning conveyance system 60.
However, the third loop forming portion 62 is installed on the downstream side, and the photosensitive material A is provided between the sub-scanning conveying system 60 and the conveying means (conveying roller pairs 56 and 98) upstream and downstream of the sub-scanning conveying system 60. Form a loop. By providing this loop forming unit, the adverse effect exerted by the transport means arranged upstream and downstream on the sub-scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60, that is, so-called back tension or pulling, is eliminated, and frame information is formed. In addition, the scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A, back printing, and the like can be performed as independent operations, and highly accurate sub-scanning conveyance of the photosensitive material A can be performed.

The second unit is arranged downstream of the frame information forming unit 28.
The loop forming portion 58 constitutes the loop forming portion of the present invention, and has the conveying roller pair 56, the guide 88, and the sensor 92. The pair of conveying rollers 56 is a conveying unit of the present invention, and the photosensitive material A according to the sequence described later.
Are carried into the second loop forming portion 58. The sensor 92 is a sensor that detects a loop of the photosensitive material A.
When the loop of the photosensitive material A is no longer detected by the above, the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming portion 58 becomes the lower limit amount Xmi.
It is determined that it has become less than n. Guide 88 is motor 88
When the front end of the photosensitive material A is moved by M, the photosensitive material A is positioned so as to be guided (closed) from the conveying roller pair 56 to the guide 90 when the front end of the photosensitive material A is passed. That is, the photosensitive material A is set to a position retracted from the loop (open).

The conveying roller pair 56 is driven by, for example, a pulse motor, the image (print size) on which the next piece of frame information is to be formed has been determined after the previous formation of frame information, and the second loop When the amount of the photosensitive material A in the forming portion 58 becomes less than the above Xmin, that is, when the loop of the photosensitive material A is not detected by the sensor 88, the photosensitive material A is printed by one print (one frame) of the determined image. Transport. As described above, the punch 50 operates after this conveyance, and the frame information corresponding to one print is formed. That is, the conveyance roller pair 56 intermittently repeats the determination of the recorded image and the conveyance of the photosensitive material A for each print according to the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming unit 58, and the conveyance roller pair 56 causes When the conveyance is stopped, the frame information (or further sort information) is formed by the punch 50 of the frame information forming unit 28.

On the other hand, the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 described above is performed according to the following sequence.
In the printing and developing machine 10 of the illustrated example, the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming section 58 is detected from the amount of the photosensitive material A conveyed by the conveying roller pair 56 and the sub-scanning conveying system 60 (for example, detected by a pulse). The conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 is controlled according to the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming portion 58 and the like. Specifically, the current photosensitive material A in the second loop forming portion 58
Is Xn, the image (print size) is fixed, but the amount of the photosensitive material A for the print that has not been sent to the second loop forming portion 58 by the pair of transport rollers 56 is Xw, and the amount of the next exposed print is Assuming that the size is Xp, the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 conveys the photosensitive material A for one print when the condition of the following formula is satisfied. Xn + Xw-Xp> Xmin

As described above, the conveying roller pair 56 conveys the photosensitive material A for one print when the amount of the photosensitive material in the second loop forming portion 58 becomes less than Xmin. Therefore, the sequence of the sub-scanning conveying system 60 is performed. Combined with
As a result, the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming unit 58 of the printing and developing machine 10 is controlled to be in the range of "(Xmin) to (Xmin + 1 print size of one sheet)". The control of the loop forming unit in the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 and the conveyance roller pair 56 depends on the speed of image determination and image exposure. The second loop forming portion 58
The amount of the photosensitive material A may be controlled so as to fall within a predetermined range.

In this way, when the conveyance of the photosensitive material A for one print is started by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60,
When the sensor 86 detects the frame information previously formed by the frame information forming unit 28, the exposure position on the photosensitive material A is detected, and when the exposure position is conveyed to the light beam scanning position, Scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A is started by the light beam L emitted from the light beam scanning device 24 and modulated according to the exposure conditions, and image exposure for one print is performed.

On the other hand, in the third loop forming portion 62, the sensor 94, the guide 96, the pair of conveying rollers 9 are arranged in the downstream direction.
8. It has a sensor 100. Guide 96 is a motor 96M
When the leading edge of the sheet is passed, the photosensitive material A is positioned (blocked) so as to guide the photosensitive material A from the sub-scanning transport system 60 to the pair of transport rollers 98. When the leading edge of the sheet is completed, the normal state shown in FIG. The photosensitive material A is moved to a position retracted from the loop (open). Further, the sensor 94 is a sensor for detecting a loop of the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming section 62, and when the sensor 94 detects the loop of the photosensitive material A, the sensor 94 is detected by the third loop forming section 62. It is judged that there is a light-sensitive material A that exceeds Ymin which is the limit amount.

The conveying roller pair 98 is a conveying roller driven by a pulse motor. When the amount of the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming section 62 exceeds Ymin, the photosensitive material A is intermittently conveyed one by one print. To do. That is, if the amount of the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming section 62 is less than the predetermined amount Ymin, the pair of conveying rollers 98 is not driven, and only the photosensitive material A is carried in with the exposure by the sub-scanning conveying system 60. When the photosensitive material A of the loop forming section 62 exceeds Ymin, that is, when the loop is detected by the sensor 94, the pair of conveying rollers 98
Conveys the photosensitive material A for one print. Here, in the apparatus of the illustrated example, the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the pair of conveyance rollers 98 is stopped at the position where the frame information is detected by the sensor 100 or the position where a predetermined amount is conveyed from the detection position. It is detected that the photosensitive material A for one print is conveyed. Further, similarly to the above-mentioned second loop forming portion 58, the photosensitive material A of the third loop forming portion 62 is also included.
Is detected from the amount of conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 and the conveying roller pair 98, and the conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 is performed by forming a third loop described later. The amount of the light-sensitive material A in a part is controlled so as not to exceed the limit amount Ymax.

The conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 and the conveyance roller pair 98 is not limited to this, and may be appropriately determined according to the image exposure speed and the back printing speed. It is similar to the two-loop forming section 58.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the light beam scanning device 24 and the sub-scanning carrier system 60. The printing and developing machine 10 in the illustrated example is
The light beam L of the three primary colors modulated according to the image (exposure density corresponding thereto) recorded by the light beam scanning device 24 is deflected and scanned in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow a in FIG. 3, vertical direction to paper surface in FIG. 2). At the same time, while holding the photosensitive material A at a predetermined exposure position by the exposure drum 80 and the nip rollers 82, 84 which form the sub-scanning conveyance system 60, the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b in the figure) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction is held. 2), the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the three light beams L to record a latent image.

The light beam scanning device 24 loads the photosensitive material A
A three-laser-beam azimuthal incidence optical system (three-light source non-multiplexing optical system) for scanning and exposing using light beams of three primary colors is constituted by a laser light source 64 (64R, 64G, 64B) and each laser light source. Along the traveling direction of the emitted light beam L, a collimator lens 66 (66R, 66G, 66B) and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 68 (68R, 68G, 68).
B) and the reflection mirror 70 (70R, 70G, 70B)
And the cylindrical lens 72 (72R, 72G, 72
B), a polygon mirror 74, an fθ lens 76, a cylindrical mirror 78, and a reflection mirror 79.

The three-source non-multiplexing optical system in the illustrated example emits a light beam of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to each of red (R) exposure, green (G) exposure and blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material A. Three
This is an optical system in which two laser light sources are used, and the light beams L emitted from the respective laser light sources are incident on one point of the reflection surface 74a of the polygon mirror 74 at slightly different angles (for example, about 4 °). For example, the laser light source 64R is a semiconductor laser (L) that emits a light beam Lr having a wavelength of 680 nm for R exposure.
D), and the laser light source 64G has a wavelength 532 for G exposure.
The laser light source 64B is a wavelength conversion laser using an SHG element that emits a light beam Lg of nm.
The wavelength conversion laser uses an SHG element that emits a 73 nm light beam.

The collimator lens 66 has a laser light source 64.
Each of the light beams L emitted from is shaped into parallel light. The AOM 68 modulates each light beam L according to an image data signal of each color image-processed by an image processing device (not shown).

As described above, in the light beam scanning device 24, the reflecting surface 74 of each light beam L polygon mirror 74 is included.
The light is incident on a at a slightly different angle, is reflected by the reflecting surface 74a, forms an image on the same main scanning line on the photosensitive material A at a different angle, and scans on the same main scanning line at time intervals. Thus, each laser light source 64 is arranged. Here, the reflecting mirror 70 folds the optical path of each light beam L, and converts each of them to the reflecting surface 74 of the polygon mirror 74.
This is to make the light incident on a close position on the same line of a or on the same point.

Cylindrical lens 72 and fθ lens 7
6 and the cylindrical mirror 78 constitute a surface tilt correction optical system, and corrects the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 74. Further, the fθ lens 76 is for correctly forming an image of each light beam L at any position on the main scanning line. The cylindrical mirror 78 constitutes a surface tilt correction optical system, and also bends each light beam L to form a reflection mirror 7.
9, the reflecting mirror 79 bends each light beam L again and directs the light beam L to a main scanning line substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction on the photosensitive material A that is sub-scanned and conveyed by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60.

In the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
The exposure optical system that serves as a recording unit is not limited to the above configuration,
Using a dichroic mirror, etc., three light beams
A multiplexing optical system for multiplexing with a book may be used, and various known methods and optical elements can be used for a light beam modulation unit and a light beam light source.

The initial sheet passing in the printing and developing machine 10 and the formation of loops in the first loop forming section 42 to the third loop forming section 62 will be described below.

In the printing and developing machine 10, when the apparatus is activated or the magazine 27 is loaded in the magazine loading section 29, the pull-out roller pair 36 nip the photosensitive material A until the leading edge is detected by the sensor 38. It is conveyed and it is confirmed that the photosensitive material A is present. After this confirmation,
The pull-out roller pair 36 reversely rotates to pull out the pull-out roller pair 3
6 pulls back the photosensitive material A to a position where the tip portion is clamped,
It will be in a standby state.

When a recording (exposure) start instruction is issued in this state, the widths of the guides 40, 52a, 52b, 90, 104 and 122 are adjusted, and the first loop forming portion 42 to the third loop forming portion are formed. The guides 49, 88 and 96 of the portion 62 (further, the guides 114 and 130 of the reservoir 34 and the fifth loop forming portion 125 which will be described later) are closed, and the pull-out roller pair 36 and the transport roller pair 56 and 9 are closed.
8 and the like are driven to convey the photosensitive material A to a position where the sensor 100 detects the tip. If the leading edge of the photosensitive material A passes through the sensor 54 during this conveyance, the photosensitive material A
, The punch 50 is driven to form a dummy punch. As described above, since the guides of each loop forming portion are all closed, the photosensitive material A is conveyed linearly. Further, the passage of the photosensitive material A at each portion and the presence / absence of a trouble on the way are confirmed by the detection of the photosensitive material A and the dummy punch by the sensors 54 and 86.

When the photosensitive material A has been conveyed up to this point, the nip rollers 82 and 84 in the sub-scanning conveyance system 60.
And the exposure drum 80 sandwiches the photosensitive material A. Next, the guide 49 of the first loop forming section 42 is opened, the pair of pulling rollers 36 and the conveying roller 44 are driven, and the photosensitive material A is applied to the first loop forming section 42 until the sensor 51 detects the photosensitive material A. Form a loop. The subsequent conveyance of the photosensitive material A to the first loop forming portion 42 by the pair of pull-out rollers 36 is as described above, and is performed according to the detection result of the loop by the sensor 51.

When the loop formation of the first loop forming section 42 is completed and the first image to be recorded is determined, the punch 50 operates to form the frame information indicating the leading edge of the first image, and then the second loop formation. The guide 88 of the portion 58 and the guide 96 of the third loop forming portion 62 are opened, and the pair of conveyance rollers 56 feeds the photosensitive material A for one print, the image of which is fixed, to the second loop forming portion 58, and then, The punch 50 operates to form frame information indicating the boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet. The photosensitive material A is conveyed to the second loop forming portion 58 until the loop is confirmed by the sensor 92. When the loop is confirmed by the sensor 92, the nip rollers 82 and 84 of the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 and the exposure are exposed. Drum 80
After the nipping of the light-sensitive material A by means of is once released, it is nipping again. If the amount of the photosensitive material A is less than Xmin and there is a confirmed image, the conveying roller pair 56 conveys one sheet of the photosensitive material A according to the above sequence, and further conveys the same. The frame information is formed by the punch 50.

On the other hand, when the loop is confirmed by the sensor 92, the sub-scanning conveyance system 60 conveys the photosensitive material A until the sensor 92 does not confirm the loop. This transport
It is stopped at the time when the top frame information is detected by the sensor 86 (or after that, after being conveyed for a predetermined length).
When the top frame information is detected by the sensor 86, thereafter, the sub-scanning transport system 60 follows the above sequence, and if the condition of "Xn + Xw-Xp>Xmin" is satisfied, the photosensitive material A for one print is printed. Then, the scanning exposure for one print is performed by the light beam scanning device 24.

On the other hand, when scanning exposure of the photosensitive material A (conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the sub-scanning conveyance system 60) is started, the third
A loop is also formed in the loop forming section 62. When this loop reaches a size detected by the sensor 94, the photosensitive material A is moved to a position where the conveying roller pair 98 is driven and the first formed frame information is detected by the sensor 100 (or after that, a predetermined length is conveyed). To transport. Subsequent conveyance of the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming portion 62 is as described above, and when the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming portion 62 exceeds the minimum amount ymin, the conveying roller pair 98 (and the bending conveying portion) are conveyed. The photosensitive material A is conveyed by 107), and back printing is performed by the back printing unit 32 described later.

A back print section 32 is arranged downstream of the exposure section 30 (third loop forming section 62), and a bending conveyance section 107 is arranged downstream thereof. In a printing and developing machine 10 used in a digital photo printer, various kinds of print data such as the shooting date of the original film and the recording date on the photosensitive material A are recorded on the back side of the print, so-called back printing of information on the back side. In the apparatus shown in the figure, the back print unit 32 does this.

The back print unit 32 includes a printing device 102
And a guide 104 for supporting the photosensitive material A at a predetermined position during back printing. The printing device 102 performs back printing by, for example, thermal transfer using an ink ribbon cassette. As the printing apparatus 102, various known recording means such as pressure-sensitive transfer and ink jet can be used other than the thermal transfer using the ink ribbon cassette. On the other hand, the bending conveyance section 107 is
And an endless belt 108 wrapped around the rollers 108a, 108b and 108c and pressed against the transport roller 106. The photosensitive material A is synchronized with the transport roller pair 98 of the third loop forming section 62 described above. Is transported.

As described above, when the photosensitive material A of the third loop forming portion 62 exceeds Ymin, the photosensitive material A is intermittently conveyed by each print by the conveying roller pair 98 and the bending conveying portion 107. It The back print unit 32 performs back print on the back surface of the photosensitive material A in synchronization with the conveyance. Here, since the conveyance of the photosensitive material A is temporarily stopped at the position where the frame information is detected by the sensor 100,
The position of the back print on the photosensitive material A by the printing device 102 is set accordingly.

The sensor 11 is located downstream of the bending conveyance section 107.
0 and the first cutter 112 are arranged, and downstream thereof,
The reservoir 34 (fourth loop forming part) is disposed. The first cutter 112 is not used in a normal operation state. For example, after the exposure operation is completed, a reservoir 34 described later is used.
The photosensitive material A is cut when discharging all the exposed photosensitive material A stored in the printer. The sensor 110 detects sort information and frame information, and detects the rear end of the print on which this image is recorded. To operate the first cutter 112 to cut the photosensitive material A.

A reservoir 34 for temporarily containing the exposed photosensitive material A is arranged downstream of the first cutter 112. In the printing and developing machine 10, the photosensitive material A is usually processed in a strip shape from the exposure to the completion of drying, and is cut into one print at the end.
The processing speeds of the image recording unit 12 and the developing unit 14 are faster, and the processing speed difference is larger in the digital photo printer. Furthermore, in digital exposure, since exposure is performed with a light beam having a high luminous intensity, unless a developing process is performed after a certain period of time after exposure, a so-called latent image regression in which the image density fluctuates also occurs. Therefore, by having the reservoir 34, it is possible to store the exposed photosensitive material A, which cannot be developed in time, and make it stand by, and it is not necessary to stop the exposure operation with the development being the rate-determining factor. By storing a sufficient amount of the exposed light-sensitive material A, it is possible to continue the development processing and the like unattended thereafter and perform highly efficient print production. Moreover, by keeping the exposed photosensitive material A in the reservoir 34 for a predetermined time or more, the regression of the latent image can be prevented, and a high-quality image can be obtained.

The reservoir 34 has a guide 114 and a sensor 116 for detecting the photosensitive material A in the reservoir 34. The guide 114 is moved by a motor 114M, and conveys the photosensitive material A to the transport unit 107 when the leading end of the paper is passed.
When the leading edge of the sheet is finished, the sheet is moved to the normal state shown in FIG. 2, that is, a position retracted from the loop of the photosensitive material A (open). The sensor 116 detects that a predetermined amount or more of the photosensitive material A is stored in the reservoir 34 (that the reservoir 34 has a loop of a predetermined amount or more). This sensor 116
If the loop of the photosensitive material A is not detected by the above, it is determined that a trouble has occurred, and the second
The cutter 124 operates to cut the photosensitive material A.

Downstream of the reservoir 34, the transport roller 12
0, a guide 122 and a conveying means 118 having a sensor 119 are arranged, and a second cutter 124 is arranged downstream thereof. The conveying means 118 transfers the photosensitive material A to the reservoir 34.
And transported to a fifth loop forming section 125 described later.
The photosensitive material A is conveyed in accordance with the detection result of Step 8. In addition,
The transport speed of the photosensitive material A by the transport unit 118 is set to be higher than the transport speed of the developing unit 14 (the transport unit 132 of the fifth loop forming unit 125). The sensor 119 is a sensor for detecting frame information and the presence or absence of the photosensitive material A. The second cutter 124 is used when the photosensitive material A
For example, when the sensor 116 of the reservoir 34 cannot detect a loop or when trouble occurs in the developing unit 14, the photosensitive material A is cut to expose the inside of the reservoir 34. It is possible to prevent adverse effects on the processed light-sensitive material A and damages on the conveying means.

A fifth loop forming portion 125 is arranged downstream of the second cutter 124. Fifth loop forming unit 125
Is the difference between the processing speed of the printing and conveying device 22 and the processing speed of the developing unit 14 and the photosensitive material A
Is a part for forming a loop for preventing the photosensitive material A from being unnecessarily pulled and damaged by the developing unit 14, and the guide roll 126, the sensor 128, It has a guide 130, a transporting unit 132 that sends out the photosensitive material A to the developing unit 14, and a sensor 134, and transports the photosensitive material A to the developing unit 14.

The guide 130 is moved by the motor 130M and guides the photosensitive material A to the guide roll 1 when the leading edge of the sheet is passed.
26 is positioned so as to guide it to the conveying means 132 (closed), and when the leading edge of the sheet has passed, the normal state shown in FIG. 2, that is, the position retracted from the loop of the photosensitive material A (open) is obtained. The sensor 128 has a fifth loop forming portion 125.
Of the photosensitive material A is detected, and the above-mentioned conveying means 118 operates according to the detection result of the sensor 128 to carry out the photosensitive material A from the reservoir 34. That is, the transporting unit 118 does not operate when the loop is detected by the sensor 128 and operates when the loop is not detected by the sensor 128, and the predetermined amount (for example, one print) of the photosensitive material A is transferred to the fifth position. Loop forming part 125
Transport to The transport amount is controlled by detecting the frame information by the sensor 119. Here, in the state where the loop is not detected by the sensor 128 and the loop is not detected by the sensor 116 of the reservoir 34, when the standby time in the reservoir 34 of the image carried out from the reservoir 34 is equal to or less than a predetermined time, Does not operate the conveying means 118 but operates the cutter 124 to cut the photosensitive material A.

The paper passing from the reservoir 34 to the fifth loop forming portion 125 and the formation of the loop will be described below.
As described above with respect to the loop formation in the first loop forming unit 42 to the third loop forming unit 62, the photosensitive material A stands by at the position where the tip of the photosensitive material A is detected by the sensor 100, and the third loop forming unit When the amount of the photosensitive material A 62 is equal to or more than a predetermined amount,
The conveying roller pair 98 and the conveying means 107 are operated to convey the photosensitive material A to the reservoir 34 while performing back printing. Here, since the guide 114 is closed as described above, the leading end of the photosensitive material A is conveyed to the conveying means 118. Further, the conveying means 118 is driven in synchronism with the conveying of the photosensitive material A by the conveying means 107 and the like, and at the time when the leading edge of the photosensitive material A is detected by the sensor 119, the conveying means 118.
Conveyance of the photosensitive material A by the
M is operated, the guide 114 is opened, and the storage of the photosensitive material A in the reservoir 34 is started.

The waiting time of the photosensitive material A stored in the reservoir 34 is a predetermined time or more, and the amount (the number of prints)
However, when the amount exceeds the amount corresponding to the developing unit 14 from the reservoir 34, the transporting unit 118 is driven to transport the photosensitive material A to the fifth loop forming unit 125. As described above, since the guide 130 of the fifth loop forming section 125 is closed, the leading edge of the photosensitive material A is conveyed to the conveying means 132 and the developing section 14 is conveyed.
Be delivered to. Further, when the tip is detected by the sensor 134, the motor 130M operates and the guide 130 opens. Note that the transport speed by the transport unit 118 is the same as that of the developing unit 1.
4 is higher than the conveyance speed of No. 4, a loop is formed in the fifth loop forming unit 125, and the photosensitive material A is transferred to the developing unit 14.
You will not be pulled by. Subsequent transport means 118
The photosensitive material A is conveyed by the above-described method, and the photosensitive material A is conveyed in accordance with the detection result of the sensor 128 to hold the loop of the fifth loop forming unit 125 in a predetermined state.

The exposed light-sensitive material A is then carried into the developing section 14 for development processing, dried in the drying section 16 and cut in the discharging section 18 to be a finished print and discharged.

The developing section 14 is a wet type development processing apparatus according to the type of the photosensitive material A to be used. For example, when the photosensitive material A is a silver salt photographic photosensitive material, as shown in FIG. Developing tank 136, bleach-fixing tank 138, washing tank 14
0a, 140b, 140c and 140d, the exposed photosensitive material A is transported by a transport roller or the like, sequentially dipped in each processing bath, and subjected to a predetermined treatment in each processing bath. It is developed and the latent image is visualized. The developed photosensitive material A is then dried in the drying unit 1.
It is dried at 6, and is conveyed to the discharge unit 18.

The discharging section 18 includes a cutting section 142 and a sorter 14.
4 The cutting section 142 has a sensor 146 for detecting frame information and sort information, and a cutter 148 for cutting the photosensitive material A.
The photosensitive material A is cut in accordance with the detection of the frame information to make a finished print. On the other hand, the sorter 144 is a normal sorter having a large number of shelves. The sorter 144 rotates or slides in accordance with the result of the sorting information detected by the sensor 146 of the cutting section 142 to switch the shelf for storing the finished print. Then, a predetermined number of finished prints according to the sort information are sorted and stored.

A printing and developing machine 1 utilizing the recording apparatus of the present invention.
0 basically has such a configuration,
Hereinafter, the operation of the image recording will be described. When the loop is no longer detected by the sensor 52 of the first loop forming section 42, the drawing roller 36 is driven to draw a predetermined amount of the photosensitive material A from the photosensitive material magazine 27, and
The sheet is conveyed to the loop forming section. The photosensitive material A transported to the first loop forming section 42 is then transported to the frame information forming section 28. As described above, in the apparatus of the illustrated example, when the image is determined and the amount of the photosensitive material A of the second loop forming portion 58 arranged downstream becomes less than Xmin, the pair of transport rollers 56 causes the photosensitive material for one print. Since A is conveyed, the frame information forming section 28 drives the punch 50 each time the photosensitive material A is conveyed by one print, and forms frame information (or further sort information).

The photosensitive material A on which the frame information is formed is carried into the second loop forming portion 58, and when the amount of the photosensitive material A in the second loop forming portion 58 satisfies the above "Xn + Xw-Xp>Xmin", the sub-scanning is performed. The transport system 60 is driven, and one print is transported to the exposure unit 30, and is sub-scanned while being held at a predetermined exposure position by the exposure drum 80. By this conveyance, the sensor 86 detects the frame information, the exposure position on the photosensitive material A is detected, and when the exposure position is conveyed to the light beam scanning line, it is emitted from the light beam scanning device 24. The photosensitive material A is scanned and exposed by the light beam L that is modulated according to the exposure conditions and is deflected in the main scanning direction, and a latent image for one print is formed. The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is formed is carried into the third loop forming portion 62, and the amount of the photosensitive material A in the third loop forming portion 62 is Ymin.
When the above is reached, the conveying roller pair 98 and the like are driven to be conveyed to the back print unit 32.

The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is formed is passed through the back print section 32 to be back printed with information such as a film photographing date by the printing device 102, and is accommodated in the reservoir 34 via the bending conveyance section 107. stand by.
When the loop of the fifth loop forming unit 125 is no longer detected by the sensor 128 and it is detected that the photosensitive material A to be carried out is on standby for a predetermined time or more, the conveying means 118 is used.
Drive, the photosensitive material A is discharged from the reservoir, and the fifth
It is conveyed to the loop forming unit 125, and from there, the developing unit 14
Transported to

The photosensitive material A conveyed to the developing section 14 is conveyed at a predetermined speed while being subjected to color development, bleach-fixing and washing with water in each tank in order to be developed, and dried in the drying section 16. Then, the cutting unit 142 of the discharging unit 18 cuts each print according to the detection of the frame information by the sensor 146 to obtain a finished print, and the finished print is stored in the sorter 144 according to the sort information.

Although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course. For example, the above example is an integrated apparatus (so-called minilab) in which the image recording apparatus of the present invention performs printing and development processing in one apparatus.
In addition to this, it is also applied to a printing apparatus of a separation type system in which the exposed photosensitive material A is wound up and stored in an undeveloped state and is subjected to development processing by another independent developing apparatus. It can be suitably used.

[0066]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, image position information such as frame information and sort information is formed in an image recording apparatus that records an image by scanning and conveying like light beam scanning exposure. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image recording apparatus suitable for a digital photo printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of a printing / developing machine using an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a printing / conveying section of the printing / developing machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a light beam scanning device and a sub-scanning conveyance system of the printing and developing machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 (photograph) printing / developing machine 12 image recording unit 14 developing unit 16 drying unit 18 discharging unit 20 electrical unit 22 printing / transporting unit 24 light beam scanning device 26 photosensitive material supply unit 27 magazine 28 frame information forming unit 29 magazine loading unit 30 exposure Unit 32 back print unit 34 reservoir 36 draw-out roller pair 38,52,54,86,92,94,100,10
5,110,116,119,128,134,146
Sensors 40, 49, 52a, 52b, 88, 90, 96, 10
4, 114, 122, 130 Guide 42 First loop forming part 44 Drive roller 46, 48, 82, 84 Nip roller 50 Punch 56, 98 Conveying roller pair 58 Second loop forming part 60 Sub-scanning conveying system 62 Third loop forming part 64R, 64G, 64B Laser light source 66R, 66G, 66B Collimator lens 68R, 68G, 68B Acoustic optical modulator (AOM) 70R, 70G, 70B, 79 Reflection mirror 72R, 72G, 72B Collimator lens 74 Polygon mirror 76 fθ lens 78 Cylindrical Mirror 80 Exposure drum 102 Printing device 106, 120 Conveying roller 107 Bend conveying section 108 Endless belt 112 First cutter 124 Second cutter 136 Color developing tank 138 Bleaching and fixing tank 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d Rinse with water Tank 142 Cutting part 144 Sorter 148 Cutter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for performing image recording while scanning and conveying a long recording material, wherein the image recording apparatus is arranged on a scanning conveying means for the recording material and on an upstream side of the scanning conveying means in the recording material conveying direction. A loop forming portion of the recording material, a conveying means for intermittently conveying the recording material one image at a time and sending it to the loop forming portion, and an image position indicating an image position when the conveyance of the recording material is stopped by the conveying means. Image position information forming means for forming information on a recording material, which is arranged on the upstream side in the recording material conveying direction of the loop forming portion, and the recording material by the scanning conveying means according to the amount of the recording material in the loop forming portion. Control means for controlling the scanning and conveying of the image and the image position information detecting means, and the image recording timing is controlled in accordance with the detection of the image position information by the detecting means, and the scanning and conveying means controls the image recording timing. An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit configured to record an image on a recording material that is scanned and conveyed.