JPH11258699A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the productivity of a digital photoprinter by image- composing images and digitally exposing photosensitive materials in arrays at the same time, and ejecting the exposed photosensitive materials in the arrays to a developing processor by making use of digital exposure which enables free editing of print images by image composition, image division, etc., when a large number of photosensitive materials of a given size are exposed. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a cutter 32 which cuts a photosensitive material A supplied from a photosensitive material supply part into cut sheets, a distributing device 18 which distributes the cut photosensitive materials to arrays, a scanning conveyance means 38 which conveys the photosensitive materials distributed to the arrays, and an exposure unit which digitally exposes images at the same time. Consequently, the photosensitive materials of the specific length are distributed to more than one array and the images are digitally exposed at the same time to the photosensitive materials distributed to the arrays.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a roll-shaped long photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length and supplied as a cut sheet, and the cut photosensitive material is recorded as digital image data on the cut cut sheet. It belongs to the technical field of an image recording apparatus which performs digital exposure of a predetermined image and discharges the exposed photosensitive material to the next developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to print (expose) an image photographed 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 image of the film is exposed. This has been done by direct (analog) exposure, which projects the light onto a surface. On the other hand, at present, for example, image information photographed on a film is read photoelectrically, converted into a digital signal and subjected to various image processing (data processing) to obtain image data for recording. 2. Description of the Related Art Digital photo printers have been put to practical use, in which a photosensitive material is scanned and exposed with recording light modulated in accordance with data to record an image (latent image), developed, and output as a print (photo).

In a digital photo printer, image information on a film is read photoelectrically, and tone correction is performed by image processing to determine exposure conditions. Therefore, it is possible to freely perform editing of a print image such as synthesis of a plurality of images by image processing and image division, adjustment of color and density, and various image processing such as contour emphasis. A print can be output. Further, the image data of the print image can be supplied to a computer or the like, and can be stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk. Furthermore, according to the digital photo printer, the resolution,
It is possible to output a print with excellent image quality and excellent color and density reproducibility.

Such a digital photo printer basically includes an image reading device (scanner) for reading image data recorded on a film and various image processing (data processing) on the image data read by the image reading device. An input device having a data processing unit to be applied, a photosensitive material supply unit, a transport mechanism for the photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material supply unit, and image recording for digitally exposing the photosensitive material according to image data after image processing It comprises an image recording device (printer) comprising an output device having a section and the like, a developing device (processor) for developing an exposed photosensitive material, and a control device for controlling and managing the entire digital photo printer.

In the input device, first, in the case of reading image data photographed on a film, for example, in an image reading device, reading light emitted from a light source is incident on the film and carries the image photographed on the film. The projected light is imaged on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by an imaging lens, photoelectrically converted by the image sensor to read an image, subjected to various image processing as needed, and photographed on a film. The data is supplied to the data processing unit as input image data corresponding to the image.

Subsequently, the data processing section converts the image data input from the image reading device into digital data,
Alternatively, image data that has been digitized and input in advance is converted into image data according to preset image processing conditions, or according to an operator's instruction or various image processing conditions changed according to this image data. Various data processing is performed, exposure conditions suitable for the image data are determined, and the exposure conditions are transferred to the image recording unit of the output device as output image data.

In an output device, in an image recording section, for example, if the apparatus uses light beam scanning exposure, the light beam is modulated in accordance with image data transferred from a data processing section, and the light beam is modulated in the main scanning direction. When the photosensitive material is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed, and a latent image is recorded on the photosensitive material. The photosensitive material on which the latent image has been recorded is subjected to a development process according to the photosensitive material in a development processing device, so that the image is visualized, washed with water, and dried to obtain a finished print (photograph).

In a digital photo printer utilizing this digital exposure, the exposure conditions are determined by performing tone correction, color and density corrections by image processing, so that the time required for exposure per image is short. And the exposure time is constant according to the image size, so that quicker exposure can be performed as compared with the conventional direct (analog) exposure. In addition, it is possible to freely perform image processing such as editing of print images by image synthesis and image division, adjustment of color and density, enhancement of contours, etc. Can be output.

In addition, since the image data of the finished print can be stored on a recording medium such as a floppy disk or other magneto-optical disk, if the image data is stored on the recording medium, for example, when reprinting the film or exposing the exposure conditions It is not necessary to determine again and the operation is very quick and easy. In addition, digital photo printers that use digital exposure have almost completely reproduced image data in terms of resolution, color and density reproducibility, etc., which were difficult with conventional direct exposure printing. There is an advantage in that the output of

[0010]

However, such a digital photo printer has many advantages as described above, but since the price is inevitably high, the cost performance is low. In this respect, it is still inferior to an analog photo printer by direct (analog) exposure in which a conventional film image is directly projected onto a photosensitive material to perform surface exposure.

In normal printing of photographs, many prints of the same size such as L size are often exposed. On the other hand, for prints printed with a photo printer,
Some, such as postcards, expose many identical photos to prints of the same size. However, in the analog photo printer, there is a problem that since there is only one original film such as a negative film, exposure printing must be performed one by one. Therefore, it is difficult to improve the productivity, and an efficient digital photo printer has been demanded. In particular, in the case of postcards, it is required to expose and print a large amount of prints in a short period of time, so that a more efficient digital photo printer has been required. In addition, not only when exposing and printing photographic prints of the same image and same size but also when exposing photographic prints of different sizes, it has been desired to shorten the processing time and improve productivity.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital photo printer in which a large number of photosensitive materials are exposed in order to improve the productivity of the digital photo printer. Utilizing the digital exposure feature that allows you to freely edit the print image, the same or different multiple images are simultaneously digitally exposed to photosensitive material arranged in multiple rows, and multiple rows of exposed An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device of a digital photo printer capable of discharging a photosensitive material to a developing device.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photosensitive material containing a roll of a long photosensitive material, cutting the photosensitive material into a predetermined length, and supplying it as a cut sheet. A supply unit, a photosensitive material transport mechanism that transports the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet along a predetermined transport path, and a photosensitive image transport mechanism that is provided in the transport path of the photosensitive material transport mechanism and transfers a predetermined image to the photosensitive material. An image recording unit for digital exposure, wherein the exposed photosensitive material is discharged to the next development processing device by the photosensitive material transport mechanism, wherein the photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material supply unit A cutter for cutting the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet, a sorting device for sorting the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet into a plurality of rows, and a scanning and conveying means for feeding the photosensitive material sorted into the plurality of rows. An exposure unit for simultaneously digitally exposing the plurality of images, distributing the photosensitive material supplied as the cut sheet into a plurality of rows, and simultaneously digitally exposing the plurality of images to the photosensitive material divided into the plurality of rows. It is intended to provide an image recording apparatus characterized by the above. Here, the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet is preferably a photosensitive material cut into a fixed length cut sheet by the cutter. Further, it is preferable that the images digitally exposed to the photosensitive materials divided into the plurality of rows at the same time are the same image. Further, it is preferable that the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet is a photosensitive material for a post card.

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises an aligning means for aligning the photosensitive materials sorted in the plurality of rows by the sorting device before digital exposure by the image recording section. Furthermore, in order to detect the photosensitive material transported by the photosensitive material transport mechanism, which has been sorted into the plurality of rows by the sorting device, each row of the plurality of rows is adjacent to an upstream side of the image recording unit. Exposure should be made to the photosensitive material allocated to the plurality of rows based on a difference between the detection sensor provided and the detection timing of each row of the photosensitive material allocated to the plurality of rows detected by the detection sensor. It is preferable to have image data combining means for combining image data of each image. Preferably, the predetermined image digitally exposed to the photosensitive material by the image recording unit is an image recorded on a film or an image recorded by a digital camera. The predetermined image digitally exposed to the photosensitive material by the image recording unit is a composite image of an image recorded on a film or an image recorded by a digital camera, and an image prepared in advance and a character image. Is preferred.

[0015]

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 diagram showing an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image recording apparatus (printer) 10 according to the present invention includes a roll-shaped long photosensitive material A stored in magazines 24 and 26 loaded in a photosensitive material supply unit 12.
Is cut to a predetermined length according to the finished print to be created by the cutters 32 and 34, respectively, to obtain a cut sheet.
The back print unit 1 is transported by the photosensitive material transport mechanism 22 and disposed along the transport path of the photosensitive material transport mechanism 22.
4, back printing (recording of back print information) is performed, the photosensitive material A is sorted into a plurality of rows by the sorting device 18, and the image recording unit 16 transfers the image of a plurality of frames of the film to the sorted photosensitive material A in the plurality of rows. Are subjected to digital exposure (formation of a latent image) of a plurality of rows for simultaneously exposing the photosensitive material A, and then supplied to a development processing device (processor) 20.

The illustrated image recording apparatus 10 includes a photosensitive material supply unit 12, a back print unit 14, and a sorting device 1.
8, the photosensitive material A is conveyed to the image recording unit 16;
A photosensitive material transport mechanism 22 including a plurality of transport roller pairs is disposed as a transport unit that transports the photosensitive material A that has been exposed to the developing device 20.

The photosensitive material transport mechanism 22 is provided with various known members arranged as a photosensitive material transport mechanism of an image recording apparatus, such as photosensitive material transport means and various sensors, as necessary. And a photosensitive material transport mechanism 2
The conveying means of the photosensitive material A constituting the sheet No. 2 is not limited to the embodiment, and a known sheet material conveying method such as lift conveyance using a belt conveyor, a nip belt, suction or the like in addition to a conveyance roller pair. Are all available.

The photosensitive material supply section 12 is loaded with magazines 24 and 26 for storing a long photosensitive material A wound in a roll. In the present embodiment, two magazines 24,
Although 26 is drawn, the number of magazines is not limited to two. These magazines 24, 26
According to the purpose, photosensitive materials A of different types such as size (width), surface type (silk or mat), specification (base thickness and type, etc.) are stored according to the purpose. When only the same type of photosensitive material is used, only one magazine may be loaded into the photosensitive material supply unit 12.

The magazines 24 and 26 loaded in the photosensitive material supply section 12 are light-shielding housings for accommodating a long photosensitive material A wound in a roll with the recording surface (emulsion surface) outside. It is. In the illustrated example, the supply rollers 28 and 30 for extracting the photosensitive material A are provided in the magazines 24 and 2 respectively.
6, the magazines 24, 26 are loaded at predetermined loading positions, and the supply rollers 28,
It engages with a drive source 30 (not shown). This supply roller 2
The photosensitive material A wound in a long roll form is pulled out of the magazines 24 and 26 by the rotation of the rollers 8 and 30, and the photosensitive material transported downstream in the transport direction from the cutters 32 and 34 has a predetermined print size. At this point, it stops, and is cut by the cutters 32 and 34 to form a cut sheet of a predetermined length, which is supplied to the photosensitive material supply mechanism 22.

Here, the size of the photosensitive material to be exposed varies, but when only the photosensitive material of the same size is exposed, all of the photosensitive material A is cut into a fixed length cut sheet and supplied. For example, when recording an image on a photosensitive material for a post card, a photosensitive material having a width of 102 mm is stored in a magazine and cut into a length of 148 mm to form a cut sheet. In the case of a photo printer that exclusively performs L-size printing, a photosensitive material having a width of 89 mm is used for a length 12 mm.
Cut to 7 mm. In addition, when a panoramic photograph or a powerful vision which has become popular in recent years is included, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, photosensitive materials of different sizes cut in different lengths in the feeding direction of the photosensitive material are arranged in many rows. They can also be recorded in an array.

As shown in FIG. 1, a back print unit 14 is disposed downstream of the photosensitive material supply unit 12 in the transport direction. The back print unit 14 includes, on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material A, a photographing date, print printing date, frame number, film ID number, and ID of a camera used for photographing.
The back print information is recorded by the back print unit 14 on the photosensitive material A, which is a cut sheet, for recording back print information (back print) which is various types of information such as a number and an ID number of a digital photo printer. .

The type of the printer of the back print unit 14 is not particularly limited. For example, a printer used for a known back printer such as a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, or an ink jet printer can be used.
A non-contact recording method such as an ink-jet printer can be suitably adopted. In particular, an ink-jet printer using a non-water-soluble and solid-temperature hot-melt ink at room temperature is exemplified as the most preferable one. . The back print unit 14 is provided with a new photo system (Advanc
It is preferable to print two or more lines in accordance with the ed Photo System).

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the back print unit 14 is divided into a sorting device 18 and an image recording unit 16.
However, the position of the back print unit 14 is not limited to this, and the back print unit 14 may be arranged downstream of the sorting device 18 or the image recording unit 16, It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which it is arranged both on the upstream side of 18 and on the downstream side of the image recording unit 16. However, the back print unit 14 is distributed to the sorting device 18.
If the printer is placed after the printer, the back print information must be printed on each of the photosensitive materials that have been sorted in a plurality of rows by the sorting device 18. Therefore, the same number of printers as the number of rows of the photosensitive materials sorted by the sorting device 18 are provided. Must be moved in the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the transport direction) and printing must be performed in order. Therefore, it is preferable to arrange the back print unit 14 upstream of the sorting device 18. Further, by arranging the back print unit 14 on the downstream side of the cutter 32, an empty space between the magazine 24 and the sorting device 18 can be effectively used, so that the space can be saved as a whole.

When the back print unit 14 is provided downstream of the image recording unit 16, a printer is provided only at a position where the photosensitive material A passed without being sorted by the sorting device 18 is transported. The back print unit 14 need not be disposed upstream of the device 18. In this configuration, simultaneous exposure of a plurality of columns is effective as in the case of printing for a post card, and back printing can be omitted to perform back surface bonding.
In the case of a normal print such as a normal color negative film or a color reversal film, a single-line exposure is performed, and the back print is performed in the back print unit 14 downstream of the image recording unit 16 without performing the back print by the printer. It may be. By doing so, it is possible to greatly improve production in the case of printing for a postcard by simply improving the device configuration of a device for performing normal printing.

On the downstream side of the back print unit 14, a distribution unit 18 is arranged. Sorting unit 18 of the present invention
Is to sort the photosensitive materials A conveyed in a line by the photosensitive material conveying mechanism 22 into a plurality of lines in the conveying direction, supply the plurality of lines of the photosensitive materials to the image recording unit 16 at the same time, In the example shown in the drawing, there are provided a belt conveyor 46, an auxiliary belt conveyor 48, two suction units 50 and 52 each having two suction cups connected to suction means (not shown), and the like.

The photosensitive material A after back printing is
Instead of being pinched and conveyed by the belt conveyor 46 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 48, the belt conveyor 4
6 and transported downstream. The auxiliary belt conveyor 48 is arranged on the center line of the belt conveyor 46 in the width direction at a slight interval from the belt conveyor 46. The auxiliary belt conveyor 48 holds down the curl (curvature) of the photosensitive material A, and conveys the photosensitive material A by the belt conveyor 46 and the photosensitive material A by the suction units 50 and 52.
And a narrow endless belt that can be suction-held by the suction units 50 and 52 even if the photosensitive material A has the minimum size in the width direction.

The suction units 50 and 52 are arranged on both sides of the auxiliary belt conveyor 48 in the width direction.
In the drawing unit 50 on the near side in the figure, after the photosensitive material A finishes the back print and is transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 46, the photosensitive material A is sucked and held and slightly lifted, and the photosensitive material A is transported in the transport direction. Then, the photosensitive material A is moved diagonally downstream to the right (to the front with respect to the plane of the paper of FIG. 1), and the photosensitive material A is distributed to the right by releasing the suction. Similarly, the suction unit 52 on the far side in the figure distributes the photosensitive material A to the left side.

For example, the photosensitive material A can be sorted into three rows by sequentially repeating sorting to the right by the suction unit 50, sorting to the left by the suction unit 52, and linear transport without sorting. Alternatively, by alternately performing only the left and right sorting by the suction units 50 and 52, the photosensitive material A
You can also sort them into rows. Further, the photosensitive material A can be supplied to the image recording unit 16 in a single line by performing only the linear conveyance without performing the sorting.

The means for moving the suction units 50 and 52 is not particularly limited. For example, moving means using a link, moving means using a cam, moving means using a guide rail or a guide hole, and moving these means Various known methods such as moving means appropriately combining means can be used.

The distribution unit 18 is not particularly limited, either.
Various methods of distributing the sheet material into a plurality of rows are available. For example, a method of distributing the sheet material using a circular turret that rotates around an axis, or a method of transporting the photosensitive material A into a plurality of blocks in the transport direction, for example, three blocks For example, the central block is moved in the horizontal direction and distributed.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, the photosensitive material A of all sizes is not necessarily distributed in a plurality of rows. For example, a photosensitive material having a width of 102 mm for a post card is distributed in two rows. The photosensitive material having a width of 89 mm for L-size printing may be divided into three different rows, for example.

An image recording unit 16 is arranged downstream of the distribution unit 18 in the transport direction. The image recording unit 16 converts the recording light modulated according to the output image data into a photosensitive material A.
To scan and project to digital exposure,
An exposure unit 36 for scanning and exposing the photosensitive material A in a main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1); A scanning transport means 38 for transporting A at a constant speed is provided.

The image recording unit 16 is connected to an input device having an image reading device and a data processing unit (not shown). The image reading device inputs reading light emitted from a light source (not shown) to the film, forms an image on an image sensor such as a CCD sensor by a focusing lens as projection light carrying an image captured on the film, and performs photoelectric conversion by the image sensor. Converted and input as input image data corresponding to the image photographed on the film. Then, after performing various image processing as needed, the image data is supplied to the data processing unit. The data processing unit converts image data input from the image reading device into digital data, or image data input into digital data in advance, according to a preset image processing condition, or by an operator. While performing various data processing according to instructions or various image processing conditions changed according to this image data,
Exposure conditions suitable for this image data are determined and used as output image data.

The output image data to be exposed on each photosensitive material A is digital image data recorded from an image recorded on a film such as a negative film or a reversal film, or a digital camera or digital video camera. Digital image data recorded by the above method, or composite digital image data of the recorded digital image data, digital image data prepared in advance, and digital image data of a character (bitmap developed) image, for example, Digital image data for a card or proof, digital image data created by a computer or the like, for example, graphics image data and the like can be used. The image recording unit 16 performs digital exposure on the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X shown in FIG. 1 based on the output image data.

Here, the image recording section 16 stores image data of a plurality of frames of a film corresponding to a plurality of prints simultaneously exposed by the multi-image data synthesizing section 35, or
The image data corresponding to a plurality of images of the frame is edited and created into image data which is synthesized by the image recording unit 16 so as to be simultaneously exposed to the photosensitive material A distributed in a plurality of rows, and this image is synthesized and edited. The obtained image data is corrected for the scanning angle of the recording light Y projected on the photosensitive material A to be output image data, and the exposure material 36 exposes the photosensitive material.
Incidentally, regardless of the same size or different sizes, when the photosensitive materials A distributed in a plurality of rows are aligned and, for example, the tips are aligned and exposed at the same time, the image recording unit 16 synthesizes the photosensitive materials A. To avoid the need for editing, image data to be exposed on each photosensitive material A may be combined in advance in the data processing unit of the input device, and output as one image. As described above, by combining the image data in advance in the data processing unit of the input device and outputting the combined image data as the output image data, the image recording apparatus 10, in particular, the image recording unit 1
Since the labor and necessity of synthesizing the image data in Step 6 can be omitted, the productivity of photographic prints (exposure and printing) in the image recording apparatus 10 can be improved. In synthesizing the image data, the output image data of the pixel in the portion where the photosensitive material A does not exist does not turn on the recording light.
Alternatively, the data may be data corresponding to light intensity at which the photosensitive material A is not exposed, or white (the base density of the photosensitive material A).

The exposure unit 36 includes three light sources for emitting light beams corresponding to each of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) exposures of the photosensitive material A, and a light beam emitted from the light source. Modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) for modulating according to image data, an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting the modulated light beam in the main scanning direction, and exposing the light beam deflected in the main scanning direction This is a light beam scanning device including an fθ (scanning) lens or the like that forms an image at a predetermined position on a position (scanning line) X with a predetermined beam diameter.

The exposure unit 36 is a PDP (plasma display) in addition to the light beam scanning device.
Array, ELD (electroluminescent display) array, LED (light emitting diode) array, LCD
Various types of digital raster exposure means using various light emitting arrays or spatial modulation element arrays extending in the direction orthogonal to the scanning and conveying direction, such as (liquid crystal display) arrays, DMD (digital micromirror device) arrays, and laser arrays. It is possible.

The scanning / conveying means 38 is provided with a pair of conveying rollers 40 and 42 disposed before and after the exposure position X, and the photosensitive material A with higher precision.
, And transports the photosensitive material A in the direction B in the figure. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when exposing a photosensitive material cut to a predetermined length, the scanning and transporting means 38 is for transporting the photosensitive material arranged in a plurality of rows, and includes a transport roller. When sandwiched by the pair 40, a top resist and a side resist are applied to the photosensitive material so that the photosensitive material A is accurately positioned, and the positions and the intervals of the tips of the photosensitive materials arranged in a plurality of rows are accurately positioned. , Between the pair of transport rollers 40. That is, the transport roller pair 40 functions as a registration roller pair, and the photosensitive materials A arranged in a plurality of rows are arranged.
Align the tips.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, when exposing photosensitive materials of different sizes, the scanning / conveying means 38 controls the photosensitive material A arranged in a plurality of rows by a conveying roller pair 40 as a registration roller pair. , And pinch and transport. In the illustrated example, the transport roller pair 40 of the scanning transport unit 38 is also used as a registration roller, but the transport roller pairs 40 and 42 scan the photosensitive material A with high accuracy.
In addition, since the conveyance is controlled in a complicated manner so that the conveyance is performed in a soft manner, it is preferable to separately provide a registration roller upstream of the conveyance roller pair 40 so that the top registration and the side registration are removed by the registration roller. The scanning and transporting means 38 is not limited to the above configuration, and includes an exposure drum that transports the photosensitive material A while holding the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X;
Preferable examples include a scanning / transporting unit using two nip rollers contacting the exposure drum with the exposure position X interposed therebetween, a scanning / transporting unit including an endless belt and two nip rollers, and a scanning / conveying unit including only an endless belt.

In this embodiment, as described above, the exposure unit 36 combines the image data edited by the multi-image data synthesizing unit 35 or the data processing unit of the input device so as to simultaneously expose a plurality of prints. Accordingly, the modulated recording light Y is projected while being deflected in the main scanning direction, and a plurality of photosensitive materials are moved to the exposure position X along the exposure guide 44 by the transport roller pairs 40 and 42 of the scanning transport means 38. By transporting the photosensitive material A in the sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction while holding the photosensitive material A, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image. At this time, as described above, the photosensitive materials arranged in a plurality of rows are conveyed with their leading ends aligned, so that the image data synthesized corresponding to the plurality of rows of the photosensitive materials can be easily converted to the plurality of rows. At the same time.

In general, in a digital photo printer, the range in which the light beam is deflected in the main scanning direction for exposure in the exposure unit 36 is 10 inches (254 m).
m) or 12 inches (304.8 mm), and an optical deflector such as a polygon mirror scans the entire scanning range every time, regardless of the size of the print. On the other hand, as described above, the size of the photosensitive material A is 102 mm in width × 148 mm in length in a post card, and 89 mm × 127 mm in a L size print. The scanning range is sufficient for simultaneously exposing three sheets (two sheets in the case of 10 inches).

As described above, the data processing unit of the input device or the multi-image data synthesizing unit 35 of the image exposing unit 16
Can freely perform image processing such as editing of print images by image synthesis and image division, adjustment of color and density, and enhancement of contours. The exposure unit 36 using digital exposure can freely expose, print, and output a finished print that has been edited and image-processed according to the intended use. Therefore, in the present embodiment, two to three photosensitive materials are conveyed side by side by the scanning and conveying means 38, and the exposure unit 36 synthesizes images of films corresponding to the same two to three photosensitive materials, By performing the scanning exposure at the same time, the exposure in the image recording unit 16 can be efficiently performed two to three times.

At this time, when a plurality of photosensitive materials to be exposed at the same time include ones having different lengths, or when exposing while transporting photosensitive materials of the same length without aligning (adjusting the front end). When a photosensitive material, for example, a short photosensitive material enters or separates from the transport roller pair 40 or 42, the photosensitive material being exposed to another material, for example, a long photosensitive material, may be affected and exposure unevenness may occur. However, as shown in Fig. 2, when the photosensitive material is cut to a fixed length and only the same length of photosensitive material is used (aligned at the tip),
The occurrence of such exposure unevenness can be completely prevented. However, even if the photosensitive materials having different lengths or the photosensitive materials having the same length are not aligned, the transport roller pair 4 can be used.
Even if the image enters or departs from 0 or 42, if the effect on the photosensitive material of another exposure machine is small, or if the image of the exposure unevenness is not conspicuous or the exposure unevenness is not a problem, Exposure can increase productivity. In particular, when light-sensitive materials having different lengths are simultaneously exposed, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing speed can be increased by aligning and conveying the tips of the light-sensitive materials having different lengths and simultaneously exposing them. .

Here, the image to be exposed to a plurality of photosensitive materials to be simultaneously exposed may be repeatedly exposed to the same image as a post card, and may be used for exposure of an L-size print in normal printing of a photograph. As described above, different images may be exposed.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are conceptual views in which main steps in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are developed. Here, FIG.
Fig. 3 shows a case where the photosensitive material is cut to a fixed length.
Indicates a case where the photosensitive material is cut into different sizes. In FIG. 2, a photosensitive material A supplied from a magazine 24 (26) is cut into a predetermined fixed length by a cutter 32 (34), and a plurality of rows (3 in this embodiment) are distributed by a sorting device 18.
(Scanning line), and is supplied to the exposure position (scanning line) X while being nipped by the conveying roller pair 40 of the scanning conveying means 38. At the exposure position X, the recording light Y by the exposure unit 36
The photosensitive material A that has been scanned and exposed by the
Developing device 2 of the next process nipped by conveying roller pair 42
Discharged to zero.

Here, the magazine 24 (26), the cutter 32 (34), and the sorting device 1 shown in FIGS.
8 and the image recording unit 16 are not necessarily arranged continuously, and in these figures, arrows are inserted to show that other devices may be arranged in the middle. It is drawn. In the part of this arrow,
It is preferable to provide a photosensitive material transport mechanism or a buffer for the photosensitive material A as necessary. Although the actual arrangement is ascending from the lower part of the image recording device 10 to the upper part as shown in FIG. 1, in FIG. 2 and FIG. It is drawn in.

A plurality of rows of photosensitive materials exposed in the transport direction and exposed in the image recording section 16 are arranged in a plurality of rows, and as shown in FIG.
After that, the toner is discharged to the developing device 20. In the development processing device 20, for example, in the case of developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, after a predetermined developing process such as color development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water is performed on the photosensitive material A, the latent image is visualized The film is dried to obtain a finished print, and is stacked in a single line in the order of photographing the film, and is discharged to a sorter or the like.

In the above embodiment, the photosensitive material is the same or different in size, and the leading ends are aligned in a plurality of rows and conveyed. As described above, the image data of a plurality of images can be combined in the data processing unit of the input device, and the combination of the plurality of image data in the multi-image data combining unit 35 of the image recording unit 16 can be easily performed. Therefore, it is easy to simultaneously expose a plurality of images. However, the way of alignment in a plurality of rows is not limited to this tip alignment, and may not be aligned, or another alignment method may be adopted.

For example, even if the sizes of the photosensitive materials are the same or different, when the leading ends are not aligned, the photosensitive materials of a plurality of rows are arranged on the upstream side of the conveying roller pair 40 for each row. , For example, a tip detection sensor (not shown) must be provided. The sorting device 18 sorts photosensitive materials having the same length or different lengths appropriately into a plurality of rows and transports the photosensitive materials as they are. When the photosensitive material in each row is detected by the leading edge detection sensor, the multi-image data synthesizing unit 35 of the image recording unit 16 receiving the detection signal.
Is based on the difference in the detection timing (detection signal time difference) of the photosensitive material in each row, the transport speed of the photosensitive material, the scanning period of the light beam, and the transport amount from the detection of the photosensitive material to the exposure position X. The exposure start line difference of the three images to be exposed on the row of photosensitive materials is calculated, the image data of each image is synthesized based on this line difference, and the synthesized image data is sent to the exposure unit 36. Based on the transmitted composite image data, a plurality of images can be simultaneously exposed to the same or different photosensitive materials of unaligned sizes.

All the image data to be exposed on each row of photosensitive material from the detection of the leading end of each row of photosensitive material by the leading edge detection sensor until the photosensitive material of each row is conveyed to the exposure position X are synthesized. If you cannot do it,
There is no need to create two complete composite images, and multiple lines of image data to be output to the photosensitive material in each column are prepared according to the data composition capability of the multi-image data composition unit 35 and the processing capability of the exposure unit 36. Then, the data may be stored in the toggle memory of a plurality of lines, and the exposure unit 36 may sequentially read the data. Image data of each line, because the tip of the photosensitive material is not aligned or the length is different, the portion where the photosensitive material does not exist, as described above, the image data is white light, non-photosensitive, no light emission, Effective image data that can be colored is arranged only in pixels in a portion where the photosensitive material exists. Then, with respect to the line, only pixels in a portion where image data exists are appropriately exposed to the photosensitive material by the exposure unit 36.

Of course, in the case of the same size, it is easiest and preferable to align the tips with the registration rollers. However, as described above, the exposure may be performed by transporting without aligning the tips. When the sizes of the photosensitive materials are different, the rear end and the center may be aligned. When the trailing edge is aligned, the transport roller 40 does not have a function as a registration roller, and a registration roller is provided as an ordinary scanning transport roller on the upstream side thereof.
A turret is provided between 0 to replace the front and rear ends.
Then, the leading ends of the photosensitive materials distributed in a plurality of rows may be once aligned by a registration roller, and then inverted by a turret. If the rear end of the photosensitive material is aligned, the leading end will be uneven, but in this case, a sensor is provided for each row to detect the photosensitive material, and exposure is performed in the same manner as described above. Good.

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

[0053]

As described in detail above, the image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises a cutter for cutting a photosensitive material supplied from a photosensitive material supply unit into cut sheets of a predetermined length, and a cutter for cutting the predetermined length of the cut sheets. A sorting device that sorts the photosensitive material into a plurality of rows, a scanning transport unit that aligns and transports the photosensitive material that is sorted into the multiple rows, and an exposure unit that simultaneously digitally exposes a plurality of images recorded on the film. The photosensitive material supplied as a cut sheet having a predetermined length is sorted and arranged in a plurality of rows, and a plurality of images recorded on the film are simultaneously digitally exposed on the photosensitive material sorted in the plurality of rows. Therefore, the image recording apparatus of the present invention can simultaneously finish a plurality of prints by simultaneously exposing a plurality of photosensitive materials, thereby improving the productivity of a digital photo printer in exposing a large number of photosensitive materials. In doing so, it has a great effect. In particular, if the digital photo printer is configured so that it can be added as an optional function, normal image processing is performed, and a large number of photosensitive materials of the same size are used, as in the case where only a large amount of postcards or L-size prints are performed. In the case of exposure, a plurality of prints can be finished at the same time, and a greater effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment in which a photosensitive material supply section of the present invention is applied to a digital image recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing developed main steps in the case of exposing a large number of photosensitive materials of the same size only in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram in which main steps in the case of simultaneously exposing photosensitive materials having different sizes in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are developed and drawn.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 image recording device (printer) 12 photosensitive material supply unit 14 back print unit 16 image recording unit 18 sorting device 20 development processing device (processor) 22 photosensitive material transport mechanism 24, 26 magazine 28, 30 supply roller pair 32, 34 cutter 35 Multi-image data synthesizing unit 36 Exposure unit 38 Scanning / conveying means 40, 42, 54 Conveying roller pair 44 Exposure guide 46 Belt conveyor 48 Auxiliary belt conveyor 50, 52 Suction unit 56 Outlet A Photosensitive material X Exposure position (scanning line) Y record light

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material supply section for accommodating a roll of long photosensitive material, cutting the photosensitive material into a predetermined length and supplying it as a cut sheet, and supplying the cut photosensitive material to a predetermined length. A photosensitive material transport mechanism for transporting the photosensitive material along a transport path; and an image recording unit provided in the transport path of the photosensitive material transport mechanism for digitally exposing a predetermined image to the photosensitive material. An image recording apparatus that discharges a material to a next developing device by the photosensitive material transport mechanism, the cutter configured to cut a photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material supply unit into a cut sheet, and a cutter cut into the cut sheet. A sorting device for sorting the photosensitive material into a plurality of rows, a scanning and conveying means for transporting the photosensitive material sorted in a plurality of rows, and an exposure unit for simultaneously digitally exposing a plurality of images; An image recording apparatus, wherein the photosensitive material supplied as the cut sheet is divided into a plurality of rows, and the plurality of images are simultaneously digitally exposed to the photosensitive material divided into the plurality of rows. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet is a photosensitive material cut into a fixed length cut sheet by the cutter. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the images that are simultaneously digitally exposed to the plurality of rows of photosensitive materials are the same image. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material cut into the cut sheet is a photosensitive material for a post card.