JPH084294B2 - Image recorder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention records an image on a recording sheet on a drum by a light beam modulated by an image signal, and stores the recording sheet in a plurality of conveyance paths. The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of selectively carrying a predetermined carrying path.

[Conventional technology]

The applicant of the present application has already proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-254438 that the recording sheet is wound around a drum for recording, and that the recording sheet supply system and storage system are arranged in a predetermined arrangement to make the apparatus compact. ing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention and Means for Solving the Problems]

As a further improvement of the present invention, an image in which a recorded recording sheet can be selectively conveyed to a predetermined conveying path among a plurality of conveying paths, and in particular, the recording sheet can be directly conveyed to an automatic developing machine. An object is to provide a recording device.

For this purpose, after winding the recording sheet around the drum,
In an image recording device for recording an image on the recording sheet by scanning the recording sheet with a light beam modulated while rotating the drum, the drum is provided on the drum and the drum is A front end chuck member that presses the front end of the recording sheet onto the drum when the recording sheet is wound around the drum while rotating in a direction, and is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft of the drum and A trailing end chuck member that presses the trailing end of the wound recording sheet onto the drum, and after the recording of the image on the recording sheet is completed, the trailing end chuck member applies the recording sheet to the drum. After releasing the pressure contact of the recording sheet to the drum by the opening mechanism for releasing the pressure contact of the recording sheet, a plurality of discharge conveying paths provided at different positions with respect to the drum, and the release mechanism. The drum is rotated in the first direction with respect to the end chuck member so that the trailing edge of the recording sheet has a predetermined relationship with a selected one of the discharge conveyance paths, and the recording is performed. After the rear end of the recording sheet has a predetermined relationship with the selected discharge conveyance path, the drum is moved in the first direction to discharge the recording sheet to the selected discharge conveyance path. This is achieved by having control means for rotating in a second direction opposite to the above.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS.

The system configuration of the application example of the present invention is, as shown in FIG. 1, a control system 20, a supply system 21, a drum system 22, a storage system 23,2.
3', consists of optical scanning system 24. The control system 20 has a microprocessor to control the operation of the entire system, and the supply system 21 is mainly composed of a supply magazine 30 for supplying the recording sheet S and a sheet take-out mechanism 31. The drum system 22 performs supply, image writing, and discharge of the recording sheet S around a drum 32 that is rotatable in both A and B directions. The optical scanner system 24 for scanning the laser beam L has a laser light source, a mirror 33, etc., which are not shown, and the storage system 23 has a guide plate 34 and discharge rollers 35, 3.
6. It is composed of a sheet pushing mechanism 37 and a storage magazine 38 placed in parallel with the supply magazine 30.

The other storage system 23' is a guide plate 201 and a discharge roller 2
02, 203, 207, 208, a direct connection unit 204, and an automatic developing machine 205.

The important thing here is that there are multiple storage systems (ie 23,2
3'), and accordingly, a plurality of transport paths are provided. In addition, the recording sheet S from the drum 32 is stored in the storage system 23.
That is, the direction in which the recording sheet contacts the drum 32 is different between the case where the recording sheet is discharged through the conveying path to the recording medium 23 and the case where the recording sheet is discharged through the conveying path of the storage system 23'.

Before describing the discharge of the recording sheet S from the drum 32, the supply of the recording sheet to the drum 32 and the recording after being wound around the drum will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drum 32 is arranged between the frames 40 and 40', and is rotatable via drum shafts 41 and 41' and bearings 42 and 42'. An encoder 43 for detecting the position of the drum 32 is mounted on the drum shaft 41', and balance weights 44, 44' are attached to the inner surface of the drum 32 to balance the weight distribution. A pulley 45 is fixed to the drum shaft 41. The pulley 45 and the writing electric motor 46
An endless belt 48 is stretched between the pulley 47 attached to the drive shaft of the. A sprocket 50 is attached to the drum shaft 41 via a clutch 49. The sprocket 50 and the feeding roller shown in FIG.
A chain 59 driven by a winding electric motor 58 is wound around 51, 52, 53 and discharge rollers 35, 36, 202, 203. When the clutch 49 is turned on, the drum 32, the feeding rollers 51, 52, 53, and the discharging rollers 35, 36, 202, 203 are simultaneously driven by the winding electric motor 58, and the peripheral speeds of them are the same. 50 and the number of teeth of the sprocket (not shown) of the roller group are selected. Also drum
As shown in FIG. 3, a detector 60 for detecting the recording sheet S is arranged at the feeding entrance to the 32.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a tip chuck member 64 of a hinge type with a spring is attached to the drum 32 and has a length that allows pressure contact over the entire length of the drum 32. Clap between 32 surfaces. The attachment part 64a is
It is biased by a spring toward the periphery of the drum 32.
The clasping portion 64a is opened at a predetermined position of the drum 32 by being opened from the peripheral surface of the drum 32 by a tip opening lever 65. Tip release lever 65 is shaft 66
It is rotatable about, and by the roller 67 attached to the tip opening lever 65 and the cam 69 pivotally attached to the cam shaft 68, the pressing portion 65a at the tip of the tip opening lever 65 makes a predetermined motion, This movement opens the clasping portion 64a.

A shaft 70 is provided in the vicinity of the pressing portion 65a.
At 0, a relay lever 71 is rotatably supported about a shaft 72, and the other end is connected to a lever 74 via a connecting shaft 73, and the lever 74 is rotatable about a shaft 75. There is. Therefore, the pressing portion 74a of the lever 74 performs the same movement as the pressing portion 65a of the tip opening lever 65 with the operation of the tip opening lever 65.

Further, a rear end chuck member 80 is arranged on the outer periphery of the drum 32 in such a length that it can be pressed against the drum 32 over its entire length, and both ends thereof are fixed to support plates 81, 81' in the form of rectangular plates. Has been done.
The support plates 81, 81' are rotatable with respect to the drum shafts 41, 41' and slidable in the radial direction of the drum 32. The springs 82, 82' provided on the shafts are always biased toward the drum shafts 41, 41'.

A pin 83 is fixed to the support plates 81, 81', and the tip end of the pin 83 is designed to fall into a groove 84 provided on the side surface of the drum 32. Further, the support plates 81, 81' are provided with balance weights 85, 85' so that the drum 32 can maintain the balanced state of weight distribution during rotation regardless of the position of the rear end chuck member 80. ing. Also, the frames 40,4
A slide lever 86 is slidably attached to the 0′ via a shaft 87, and a frame 88 is attached to the tip of the slide lever 86.
Is attached.

The rear end release lever 90 that operates the rear end chuck member 80 is
It is rotatable around 91, one end of which is a slide lever
It is fitted on a shaft 92 provided on 86 and has a roller 93 on the other end.
Is provided. The roller 93 is adapted to move in contact with a cam 94 provided on the cam shaft 68.

A pressure contact roller 98 is provided between the rear end chuck member 80 and the front end chuck member 64, and the pressure contact roller 98 has a length that enables pressure contact over the entire length of the drum 32 and rotates about a shaft 99. It is rotatably supported at one end of a movable lever 100. A roller 101 is provided at the other end of the lever 100, and the lever 100 moves so as to come into contact with a cam 102 mounted on a cam shaft 68. Further, the lever 100 is biased by a spring in a direction of pressing the pressure contact roller 98 against the peripheral surface of the drum 32.

Further, the press roller 98 is set at three positions by the cam 92 with respect to the peripheral surface of the drum 32. That is, the pressure contact roller 98 shown in Table 1 is in a closed state while being in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the drum 32, is slightly separated from the peripheral surface of the drum 32, is in an intermediate state shown in Table 1, and is largely separated from the peripheral surface of the drum 32. It is three positions in the fully opened state in Table 1.

Rotatable presser rollers 103, 104, 105, 206 shown in FIG.
Is pivotally supported by the frames 40, 40', and the guide plates 34, 106, 201, 201' for guiding the recording sheet S are the frames 40, 4'.
It is fixed at 0'. A rotatable pressing roller 107 is provided on the guide plate 106, and detectors 108, 207 for detecting the sheet front end or rear end when the recording sheet S is stored are arranged near the guide plates 34, 201, 201'. .. A photo detector 109 is provided near the cam shaft 68,
As will be described later, the rotational position of the cam shaft 68 is detected. That is, the cam shaft 68 has three types of cams 69, 94, and 102, and six photo-caps (not shown) attached thereto.
An output as shown in FIG. 14 is obtained from the photo detector 109. Table 1 shows the states of the leading end chuck member 64, the trailing end chuck member 80, and the above-mentioned pressure contact roller 98, which are activated by the rotation of the cam shaft 58, as shown in FIGS. 14(a) to 14(f). ..

11 and 12 are plan and side views of the configuration of the optical scanner system 24. The laser beam L emitted from the light source 110 is a mirror 111 and a lens 112 for a beam compressor.
After that, the ultrasonic light modulator 113 modulates the light intensity.
Then, the beam reaches the scanning rotary polygon mirror 116 via the beam expander lens 114 and the mirror 115, and the laser beam L reaches the recording surface of the drum 32 via the f.theta. It has become.

The embodiment according to the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, and its operation will be described below. 13 and 14 show the operation timing of each mechanism. As the initial position, the drum 32 is stopped at a position of an angle of 0°, and as shown in FIG. 4, the clasp portion 64a of the tip chuck member 64 causes the tip release lever 6 via the cam 69 to move.
It is separated from the peripheral surface of the drum 32 by the pressing of 5. In addition, the slide lever can be
86 is lifted, and the top 88 provided at the tip thereof,
The rear end chuck member 80 is pulled up via the pin 83, and in this state, the drum 32 is rotatable independently of the rear end chuck member 80. Further, the pressure contact roller 98 is a cam.
The recording sheet S is stopped at a position slightly separated from the peripheral surface of the drum 32 by the lever 102 and the lever 100, and the winding preparation of the recording sheet S is completed in this state.

In FIG. 1, one recording sheet S is taken out from the supply magazine 30 by a sheet taking-out mechanism 31 composed of a vacuum suction cup. Next, the winding electric motor 58 shown in FIG. 2 rotates in the normal direction, and the feeding rollers 51, 52, 53 move via the chain 59,
The recording sheet S is sent to the drum 32. At this time,
The clutch 25 is off and the drum 32 is initially stopped. In FIG. 3, when the leading edge position of the recording sheet S is detected by the detector 60 and the leading edge of the recording sheet S arrives at the attached portion 64a of the leading end chuck member 64, the first
In FIG. 3(a), the winding electric motor 58 stops and the recording sheet S also stops. For example, if the winding electric motor 58 is a stepping electric motor, the stop timing can be controlled by calculating a predetermined number of pulses after the detection signal of the detector 60. Here, by a drive signal to the cam shaft 68, the cam drive motor (not shown) rotates the cam shaft 68 from the state shown in FIG. 14(a) to the state shown in FIG. 14(b). That is, the pressing portion 65a of the tip opening lever 65 is separated from the tip chuck member 64, and the holding portion 64a of the tip chuck member 64 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the drum 32 as shown by the dotted line in FIG. Hold the tip of.

In addition, the pressing roller 98 moves the lever 100 by the operation of the cam 102.
And the recording sheet S is pressed against the peripheral surface of the drum 32. Next, a photo detector for detecting the position of the cam shaft 68.
The signal from 109 turns on the clutch 49, the winding motor 58 starts to rotate normally, the feeding rollers 51, 52, 53 and the discharging rollers 35, 36, 202, 203 rotate, and the drum 32 rotates counterclockwise in the A direction. Start to rotate. Therefore, the recording sheet S is pressed against the drum 32 by the pressure contact roller 98 and wound around the peripheral surface of the drum 32 with the leading end thereof being chucked by the leading end chuck member 64. The drum 32 is wound at a preset position, that is, when the rear end of the recording sheet S reaches below the rear end chuck member 80 as shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 13(c). The electric motor 58 is stopped.

Then, the drive command to the cam shaft 68 causes the cam shaft 68 to move to the 13th position.
Rotate to the position shown in Figure (c). The rear end chuck member 80 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the drum 32 via the cam 94, the rear end opening lever 90, and the slide lever 86 to chuck the rear end of the recording sheet S. At this time, the tip of the pin 83 falls into the groove 84, the other end of the pin 83 separates from the slide lever 86, and the pin 83 becomes rotatable with the rear end chuck member 80 following the drum 32. Further, the pressure contact roller 98 is driven by the cam 102 and the lever 100, as shown by an arrow C in FIG.
The rear end chuck member 80, which is largely pressed from the peripheral surface of the second sheet 32 and is pressed against the drum 32, can pass therethrough, whereby the winding of the recording sheet S around the drum 32 is completed.

This state corresponds to FIG. 13D, in which the clutch 49 is turned off, the writing electric motor 46 starts rotating, and the drum 32 further rotates in the A direction. When the leading end of the recording sheet S is at the writing position detected by the encoder 43 shown in FIG. 2, that is, mechanically in FIG. 6 and operationally in FIG. 13(e),
Writing to the recording sheet S is started using the optical scanner system 24 and an optical modulation system that modulates a light beam in accordance with a signal from a memory for recording image information.

If a single rotation of the drum 32 is sufficient to record a plurality of images, a large-capacity memory for recording all image information is required. When rotating the 32 times multiple times to record the entire image, a large-capacity memory that stores all image information is not required, and a small-capacity memory that stores only image information is used. If it is updated, the cost can be reduced.

Further, in this case, the recording order of a plurality of images can be arbitrarily set, and so-called editing is possible.

Note that the description at the time of recording is as follows. In the optical scanning system 24, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the laser beam L emitted from the laser light source 110
Changes its direction by a mirror 111, is converged by a lens 112 for a beam compressor, undergoes light intensity modulation based on information to be recorded by an ultrasonic light modulator 113, and further passes through a lens 114 for a beam expander and a mirror 115. Sent to the rotating polygon mirror 116. Then, main scanning is performed by moving the laser beam L in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the recording sheet S by the rotary polygon mirror 116, and the optical information is transmitted through the fθ lens unit 117 and the mirror 118 to the recording sheet on the drum 32. S
Imaged above. Further, as the drum 32 rotates, sub-scanning for moving the recording sheet S in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction of the laser beam L is performed. Writing is performed while rotating the drum 32 in the same direction as when the sheet is fed, and the writing end is instructed by a position signal of a predetermined position of the drum 32 or an end signal from the outside. 2), the writing electric motor 46 stops and the drum 32 stops.

Regarding the storage of the written recording sheets S, there are cases of going to a storage magazine and going to an automatic developing machine. The selection is performed by a signal from the outside, such as a selection switch, and each is controlled by the microprocessor in the control system 20. First, the storing operation of going to the storing magazine will be described.

First, the clutch 49 is turned on at the position shown in FIG. 13(f),
The winding motor 58 reverses and the drum 32 moves clockwise to the B direction.
Rotate to the state shown in Fig. 13 (g). When returning to this position, that is, the positional relationship shown in FIG. 5, the cam shaft 68 is driven by the cam drive signal.
Rotates to the position shown in FIG. 14(d), the cam 94 and the rear end opening lever 90 are operated, and the rear end chuck member 80 separates from the periphery of the drum 32 to open the rear end of the recording sheet S.

Then, the signal from the photo detector 109 causes the winding motor 58 to
When the drum 32 rotates the drum 32 in the direction A to a predetermined state shown in FIG. 13(h), the rear end of the recording sheet S is directed toward the guide plate 34 by the elastic restoring force as shown in FIG. .. Subsequently, when the drum 32 is rotated in the B direction, the trailing edge of the recording sheet S is guided by the leading end chuck member 64 into the guide plate 34 and rotated at the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the drum 32. It is sandwiched by the discharging rollers 35 and 36 and sent to the storage magazine 38.

The rotatable pressing rollers 103, 104, 105, 107, 206 prevent the recording sheet S from swelling and smoothly change the curved state on the peripheral surface of the drum 32 back to a flat surface. When the tip chuck member 64 reaches a predetermined state shown in FIG. 13(i), that is, the state shown in FIG. 8, the winding electric motor 58 stops and the drum 32 also stops. Then the camshaft 68
13 is driven by the cam shaft 68 to rotate to the state shown in FIG. 13(e), and the tip chuck member 64 is attached via the cam 69, the tip release lever 65, the relay lever 71, the lever 74, and the pressing portion 74a. The portion 64a is separated from the peripheral surface of the drum 32, and the recording sheet S is released from the drum 32.

Then, the winding motor 58 is rotated by the signal from the photo detector 109 in FIG.
35 and 36 are driven to send the recording sheet S into the storage magazine 38. At this time, the clutch 49 is off,
Drum 32 remains stopped. When the recording sheet S is stored in the storage magazine 38, the cam shaft 68 is moved as shown in FIG.
The tip chuck member 64 is released from the pressing portion 74a of the lever 74 by rotating until the state. Next, the photo detector 1
The winding motor 58 is rotated by the signal shown in FIG. 14(f) of 09, the clutch 49 is turned on, the drum 32 is rotated in the B direction, and the initial position is as shown in FIG. 13(m). Return to.
Then, the drive signal to the cam shaft 68 causes the cam shaft 68 to rotate to the initial state of FIG. 14(a), and the tip chuck member 64,
The pressing roller 98, the rear end chuck member 64, the pressure roller 98, and the rear end chuck member 80 are also in the initial state, and the storage operation is completed.

Next, the storing operation of going to the automatic processor will be described. First, the trailing edge of the recording sheet is opened in the same manner as the storing operation described above. Then, the rear end of the recording sheet S is directed toward the guide plate 201 by the elastic restoring force as shown in FIG. It is rotated to the determined position (detected by the encoder 43). At the drum position, the cam drive signal is used to rotate the cam shaft 68 to the position shown in FIG. 14(f), and the press roller 98 is moved to an intermediate position. The purpose of this operation is to prevent the swelling of the recording sheet S by making the pressing roller 98 close to the drum 32 and to strengthen the rigidity of the recording sheet S, and to prevent the recording sheet S from being damaged by the guide plate, lever, etc. near the pressing roller 98. This is to prevent getting stuck. Next, when the drum 32 is rotated in the B direction, the trailing edge of the recording sheet S is guided by the leading end chuck member 64 into the guides 201, 201' and is rotated at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum 32 for discharging. It is sandwiched between rollers 202 and 203 and sent to automatic processor 205. When the tip check member 64 (drum 32) reaches the initial position (Fig. 10), the winding electric motor 58 is stopped, and the rollers 202, 203 and the drum 32 are stopped accordingly. Next, according to the drive command to the cam shaft 68, the cam shaft 68 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
(Initial state), the leading end opening lever 65 causes the holding portion 64a of the leading end chuck member 64 to separate from the peripheral surface of the drum 32, and the recording sheet S is released from the drum 32. Then, the winding motor 58 is rotated by a signal from the photo detector 109 to drive the discharge rollers 202 and 203 to send the recording sheet to the automatic developing machine 205. At this time, clutch 49 is off and drum 32 remains stopped. Here, the leading end chuck member 64, the pressure contact roller 98, and the trailing end chuck member 80 are in the initial state, and the recording sheet S separates from the discharge rollers 202 and 203, and the automatic developing machine 205.
When it is sent to, it means that the storing operation is completed.

In the above description of the storage system, two storage systems are shown, one of them is stored in the storage magazine 38 and the other is stored in the automatic developing machine 205. It is also possible to use the other as a magazine for accommodating recording sheets to be developed) and the other as a magazine for accumulating (a magazine for accumulating recording sheets and collectively developing later). Although two storage systems have been shown in the above description of the storage system, three storage systems can be configured by newly providing another transport path including a guide plate and a discharge roller.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to discharge the recording sheet to an arbitrary conveying path without any trouble even when a plurality of conveying paths for discharging the recording sheet from the drum are provided. According to the invention of the present application, after releasing the pressure contact of the recording sheet to the drum by the rear end chuck member, a guide plate for guiding the rear end of the recording sheet is provided on the entire outer periphery of the drum, or for discharging. Since it is not necessary to provide a movable guide in the vicinity of the transport path, it is possible to reduce the risk of scratching the recording sheet during ejection.

Further, according to the present invention, since it is possible to use recording sheets of multiple sizes, it is possible to selectively discharge the recording sheets to a plurality of storage magazines or a storage magazine and an automatic processor. Operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 14 show an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram and FIG.
The figure is a side view of the drum drive system, FIGS. 3 to 10 are structural views related to feeding and discharging of the recording sheet, FIG. 11 is a plan view of the optical scanner system, FIG. 12 is a side view, and FIG. 13 and 14 are timing charts of the detection mechanism and the operation mechanism. In the figure, 20 is a control system, 21 is a supply system, 22 is a drum system, and 23, 23'.
Is two storage systems, 24 is an optical scanning system, 30 is a supply magazine, 32 is a drum, 35 and 36 are rollers for ejecting storage magazines, 3
8 is a storage magazine, 40 and 40' are frames, 46 is a writing motor, 49 is a clutch, 51, 52 and 53 are feeding rollers, 58 is a winding motor, 64 is a tip check member, and 65 is a tip. A release lever, 68 is a cam shaft, 80 is a rear end chuck member, 81 and 81' are support plates, 83 is a pin, 84 is a groove, 86 is a slide lever, 90 is a rear end release lever, 98 is a pressure roller, S is S Recording sheet, 20
3, 204 is a discharge roller, and 205 is an automatic developing machine.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image recording method for recording an image on a recording sheet by winding a recording sheet around a drum and scanning the recording sheet with a light beam that has been optically modulated while rotating the drum. In the apparatus, a tip chuck member that is provided on the drum and that presses the tip of the recording sheet onto the drum when winding the recording sheet around the drum while rotating the drum in a first direction, And a rear end chuck member that is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft of the recording sheet and that presses the rear end of the recording sheet wound around the drum against the drum, and the recording of the image on the recording sheet is completed. later,
An opening mechanism for releasing pressure contact of the recording sheet to the drum by the trailing end chuck member, a plurality of discharge conveyance paths provided at different positions with respect to the drum, and the recording sheet by the opening mechanism. After the pressure contact with the drum is released, the drum is rotated in the first direction with respect to the trailing end chuck member, and the trailing edge of the recording sheet is moved to the selected one of the discharging transport paths. And the recording sheet is recorded in the selected discharge conveyance path after the trailing edge of the recording sheet has a predetermined relationship with the selected discharge conveyance path. An image recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that rotates the drum in a second direction opposite to the first direction in order to discharge the sheet for printing. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the discharge conveyance paths is connected to a storage magazine and the other is connected to an automatic developing device. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening mechanism is provided at a predetermined position on the drum. 4. The trailing end chuck member is separated from the drum while the drum is rotating in the first direction for winding the recording sheet around the drum. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1.