JP2000056408A - Exposure equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an exposure apparatus that exposes a photosensitive material by irradiating light according to image data, in which full-color exposure is achieved, in which the components are simple and the size of the apparatus itself is small. A possible exposure apparatus is provided. SOLUTION: A lamp portion 12 is arranged near one end of a quartz rod 10, and a color drum 11 on which a color filter is formed is rotatably arranged around the quartz rod 10.
The light emitted from the lamp unit 12 is incident on one end of the quartz rod 10, and from the cylindrical surface of the quartz rod 10, the color drum 1
1 and enter the PLZT head 6A.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus having an exposure head for controlling exposure of a photographic paper as a photosensitive material in accordance with an image signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various image recording apparatuses called digital line exposure devices have been proposed. This type of image recording apparatus captures a film image or the like as image data, exposes photographic paper in accordance with the captured image data, and records an image on the photographic paper.

An example of such a conventional image recording apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. The image recording apparatus includes a magazine 51, an image recording unit 52, and a development processing unit 53, as shown in FIG.

[0006] The magazine 51 is composed of an unexposed and undeveloped photographic paper 5.
This is a photographic paper storage unit for storing the photographic paper 4 in a roll state, and the photographic paper 54 stored is transported to an exposure position in the image recording unit 52.

The image recording section 52 exposes the photographic paper 54 conveyed from the magazine 51 to a print size and exposes the photographic paper 54 conveyed to the exposure position to form an image on the photographic paper 54. An exposure device 56; a measuring unit 57 for measuring an exposure amount by the exposure device 56;
6, a light source unit 59, and an optical fiber bundle 6 that guides light from the light source unit 59 to the exposure device 56.
0.

The light source unit 59 and the PLZT head 56A are
The optical fiber bundle 60 is connected via an optical fiber bundle 60, and is configured to guide light and convert a spot-shaped light emitting region into a linearly extending light emitting region.

A PLZT head 56A is provided as exposure means in the exposure device 56. This PL
The ZT head 56A has a PLZT element made of a transparent ferroelectric ceramic material disposed between a pair of polarizing plates (a polarizer and an analyzer). The PLZT head 56A includes a shutter unit for controlling transmission and blocking of light from the light source unit 59, and each shutter unit is one-dimensionally arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper 54. Is provided. When a drive voltage corresponding to image data is applied to a shutter portion at a position corresponding to a desired pixel, when light linearly polarized by the polarizer passes through the PLZT element, the polarization state of the light changes, Only light components that match the polarization plane of the analyzer are emitted from the analyzer, and
Are exposed.

To the PLZT head 56A, image data obtained by reading a film such as a negative / positive film or a reflection original, or image data created by a PC (Personal Computer) or the like is sent from a control unit 58. . P
The LZT head 56A is driven based on the sent image data, and exposes the photographic paper 54 with light from the light source unit 59 sent via the optical fiber bundle 60. PLZ
In the T head 56A, a plurality of dots are one-dimensionally arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper 54. During the exposure, the photographic paper 54 is transported at a speed synchronized with the driving of the PLZT head 56A.

The measuring section 57 has a configuration in which the sensor 57B is moved directly below the PLZT head 56A by a ball screw 57A in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the photographic paper 54 is conveyed. Is measured for each dot. The measured data is stored in the control unit 58
Is calculated as a correction value for equalizing the amount of transmitted light for each dot in the PLZT head 56A. Then, at the time of exposing the next image data, the exposure is performed in a state in which this correction value is added.

The developing section 53 has a developing section and a drying section. The developing unit has processing tanks for storing processing solutions of a color developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution, and sequentially prints the photographic paper 54 on which an image is recorded in the exposure device 56 into the processing solutions. The development processing is performed by immersion. The drying section dries the photographic paper 54 processed in the developing section. The printing paper 54 dried in the drying unit is discharged outside the apparatus as a finished print 54A.

In the above configuration, the PLZT head 56A is used as the exposure head.
(Light Emitting Diode) LED with elements arranged linearly
The array can be used as an exposure head. LED
Since the array itself has a light emitting element, when applied to an exposure head as described above, there is no need to separately provide a light source, so that the configuration can be simplified.

[0012]

In the conventional image recording apparatus using the above PLZT head 56A, the light source unit 5 is connected to the PLZT head 56A via an optical fiber bundle 60.
9 is connected. In the case of such a configuration, it is necessary to arrange the light source unit 59 and the exposure device 56 in separate housings, which has led to an increase in the size of the device.

In addition, an optical fiber bundle 60 is required to guide light from the light source unit 59 to the exposure device 56 and to convert a spot-shaped light emitting region into a linearly extending light emitting region. This has increased the complexity and the number of parts.

When an LED array is used as an exposure head, since the amount of light emitted from the LED element itself is small, it is necessary to take measures such as prolonging the exposure time, and the processing performance of the apparatus is reduced.

Further, since the LED array has a bias in light intensity among the R, G, and B elements, exposure control is performed in consideration of such bias in order to obtain a high-quality print. This necessitates a complicated control process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material by irradiating light in accordance with image data. Another object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus capable of performing full-color exposure, in which the size of the apparatus itself is small.

[0017]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material by irradiating light according to image data. A light transmission rod having a cylindrical shape long in the axial direction, and a plurality of shutters for switching transmission and blocking of light for each pixel, and an exposure head arranged in a row in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light transmission rod. Wherein the light transmission rod emits light from the light source incident from one end from a cylindrical surface, and the exposure head irradiates the photosensitive material with light incident from the light transmission rod.

According to the above arrangement, the light emitted from the light source reaches the exposure head via the light transmission rod. In such a configuration, it is not necessary to dispose the light source and the exposure head in separate housings, and the configuration can be compactly arranged, so that the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

Since a light transmission rod is used as a means for transmitting light from a light source to an exposure head, for example, an optical fiber bundle composed of an extremely large number of optical fibers corresponding to each pixel as in the conventional configuration is used. No longer needed
The configuration of the device can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, a cylindrical color separation drum concentric with a central axis of the optical transmission rod is provided so as to surround the optical transmission rod. The color separation drum is provided so as to rotate around an axis, and is characterized in that filters corresponding to each color of blue, green, and red are formed on the color separation drum.

According to the above arrangement, the light transmitted from the light source to the light transmission rod passes through the color separation drum on which filters corresponding to blue, green, and red are formed, and then enters the exposure head. Will be. Further, since the color separation drum is provided to rotate around its central axis, full-color exposure can be easily performed by, for example, synchronizing the exposure of the exposure head with the rotation of the color separation drum.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus of the first aspect, a disc-shaped filter is provided between the light source and the light transmission rod, the filter corresponding to each of blue, green, and red. A color separation wheel is provided so as to rotate in the circumferential direction, and an optical axis of light incident on the light transmission rod from the light source is any one of the filters corresponding to the blue, green, and red colors. It is characterized in that the color separation wheel is arranged so as to transmit one of them.

According to the above arrangement, the light emitted from the light source passes through one of the filters corresponding to the blue, green, and red colors, and then enters the exposure head via the light transmission rod. Will be. Also, the color separation wheel
Since it is provided so as to rotate in the circumferential direction, full-color exposure can be easily performed by, for example, synchronizing the exposure of the exposure head with the rotation of the color separation wheel.

Further, since the color separation wheel switches the color of light emitted from the light source to the light transmission rod, the size of the color separation wheel itself can be relatively small. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the energy and driving force required for rotationally driving the color separation wheel can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to the first aspect, the light source includes a plurality of light emitting members for emitting light of any one of blue, green and red for each color. It is characterized by having.

According to the above arrangement, the light source is blue,
Since a plurality of light-emitting members that emit light of any one of green and red colors are provided for each color, the light-emitting members are selectively turned on for each color. By synchronizing, full-color exposure can be easily performed.

Further, since the color separating means as in the second or third aspect for performing full-color exposure is not required, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and the size can be reduced. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the exposure head includes a PZT element having a PLZT element for controlling transmission and blocking of light.
It is characterized by being an LZT head.

According to the above construction, a PLZ having a PLZT element as an exposure head for controlling transmission and blocking of light.
A T head is used. The PLZT element included in the PLZT head has an excellent exposure capability as compared with, for example, an LED array, a liquid crystal, a fluorescent display tube and the like, and can form high-definition dots. The response speed of the PLZT element is very fast, and the light transmittance ratio at ON / OFF is 20%.
It also has advantages such as 00: 1, a wide operating temperature range, and a long life.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It is as follows.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus provided with an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the image recording apparatus includes a magazine 1, an image recording unit 2, and a development processing unit 3.

The magazine 1 is a photographic paper storage section for storing unexposed and undeveloped photographic paper (photosensitive material) 4 in a roll state. The stored photographic paper 4 is transported to an exposure position in the image recording section 2. It is supposed to be.

The image recording unit 2 includes a cutter 5 for cutting the photographic paper 4 conveyed from the magazine 1 into a print size,
An exposure device 6 that exposes the photographic paper 4 conveyed to the exposure position and forms an image on the photographic paper 4, a measuring unit 7 that measures an exposure amount by the exposure device 6, and a control that controls an operation of the exposure device 6. A part 8.

The exposure device 6 includes a light source unit 9 (details will be described later) and a PLZT head 6A. This P
The LZT head 6A is one in which a PLZT element, which is a transparent ferroelectric ceramic material, is disposed between a pair of polarizing plates (a polarizer and an analyzer). The PLZT element is obtained by adding lanthanum to a solid solution of lead zirconate (PbZrO ₃ ) and lead titanate (PbTiO ₃ ) at an appropriate ratio (PZT) and hot pressing (Pb _{1 -X).} La _X )
(Zr _Y Ti _1-Y ) _{1-X / 4} O ₃ -based solid solution.

The PLZT head 6A has a shutter section for controlling transmission of light from the light source section 9 and its blockage. Each shutter portion is provided one-dimensionally in a direction (width direction of the photographic paper 4) orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper 4. In this embodiment, the exposure resolution of the PLZT head 6A is set to 400 dpi. Also, 5120 shutter sections are provided, and image data for 5120 dots is sent. This is set in consideration of the error of the photographic paper width so that the photographic paper 4 having a width of 305 mm (about 12 inches) can be easily accommodated. That is, the number of shutter portions for 5120 dots is larger than 4800 obtained by a simple calculation of 400 (dpi) × 12 (inch).

Such a PLZT head 6A has both high translucency and an electro-optic effect in which a birefringence changes when a voltage is applied. The exposure operation by the PLZT head 6A is as follows. When a drive voltage according to image data is applied to a shutter portion at a position corresponding to a desired pixel, when light linearly polarized by the polarizer passes through the PLZT element, the polarization state of the light changes, and the analyzer changes the polarization state. Only the light component that coincides with the polarization plane is emitted from the analyzer, and the photographic paper 4 is exposed.

The PLZT element provided in the PLZT head 6A has an excellent exposure capability as compared with, for example, an LED array, a liquid crystal, a fluorescent display tube and the like, and can form high-definition dots. The response speed of the PLZT element is very fast, and the light transmittance ratio at ON / OFF is 20%.
It also has advantages such as 00: 1, a wide operating temperature range, and a long life.

To the PLZT head 6A, image data obtained by reading a film such as a negative / positive film or a reflection original, or image data created by a PC (Personal Computer) or the like is sent from the control unit 8. . PLZ
The T head 6A is driven based on the sent image data and exposes the photographic paper 4 with light from the light source unit 9.
In the PLZT head 6A, a plurality of dots are one-dimensionally arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper 4, and the photographic paper 4 is transported at a speed synchronized with the driving of the PLZT head 6A during exposure.

The measuring section 7 includes a sensor 7B and a ball screw 7
A moves directly beneath the PLZT head 6A in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the photographic paper 4 is conveyed.
The amount of output light of the LZT head 6A is measured for each dot. The measured data is stored in the control unit 8 in the PLZ
It is calculated as a correction value for equalizing the amount of transmitted light for each dot in the T head 6A. Then, at the time of exposing the next image data, the exposure is performed in a state in which this correction value is added.

The developing section 3 has a developing section and a drying section. The developing section has processing tanks for storing processing solutions of a color developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution, and sequentially prints the photographic paper 4 on which an image is recorded in the exposure device 6 into the respective processing solutions. The development processing is performed by immersion. The drying section dries the photographic paper 4 processed in the developing section. The photographic paper 4 dried in the drying section is a finished print 4A.
Is discharged outside the apparatus.

Next, the light source section 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic configuration in the vicinity of the light source unit 9, FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 9.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light source 9
Includes a quartz rod (light transmission rod) 10, a color drum (color separation drum) 11, and a lamp unit (light source) 12. The color drum 11 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIG. 3, a configuration in which color filters FB, FG, and FR corresponding to blue, green, and red, respectively, are formed on an outer surface of a transparent drum 11A. It has become. The color filters FB, FG, FR correspond to the color drum 1
In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of one, in a region that divides the circumference into three equal parts, in other words, three regions having a central angle of 120 ° each are formed in the longitudinal direction.

The quartz rod 10 has a solid cylindrical shape elongated in the axial direction, and is arranged concentrically inside the color drum 11. The quartz rod 10 and the color drum 11 are arranged above the PLZT head 6A such that the longitudinal direction, that is, the axial direction is the width direction of the printing paper 4.

The lamp portion 12 is disposed on an axial extension of one end of the quartz rod 10. The lamp section 12 includes a halogen lamp 12A and a reflector 12B. The reflector 12B
It is formed in a concave shape so as to surround the periphery of the halogen lamp 12A so that the light emitted from the halogen lamp 12A is reflected and enters the incident surface at the end of the quartz rod 10. The reflection surface of the reflector 12B is mirror-finished.

The color drum 11 is configured to rotate around the quartz rod 10 at a constant speed about the center axis thereof as a center of rotation. This rotation speed is set in synchronization with exposure by the PLZT head 6A. In this embodiment,
The exposure speed of the PLZT head 6A is set to 400 lines /
s, and set the rotation speed of the color drum 11 to 400 rpm.
s is set. That is, each time one line is exposed, the color drum 11 makes one rotation. As a drive source for rotating the color drum 11, a well-known stepping motor, servomotor, DC brushless motor, or the like may be used.

Although the quartz rod 10 is made of quartz, the material is not limited to quartz. For example, a material having high transparency and good light resistance, such as optical glass, silicon resin, and acrylic resin, may be used. it can. Although not shown, diffusion fringes for diffusing and reflecting incident light into the quartz rod 10 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10. The diffusion fringes have a higher refractive index than the material constituting the quartz rod 10 and are made of a light-resistant transparent fine powder. Further, the diffusion fringes are formed linearly in the axial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10. The diffusion fringes are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10 on the side opposite to the side where the PLZT head 6A is arranged.

Next, the operation of the light source unit 9 configured as described above will be described. A part of the light emitted from the halogen lamp 12A is reflected by the reflector 12B and is incident on the incident surface at the end of the quartz rod 10. Light incident on the quartz rod 10 is transmitted in the axial direction while repeating total reflection inside the quartz rod 10. The light transmitted inside the quartz rod 10 is diffusely reflected by the diffusion fringes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10 during transmission, and further, due to the lens action of the quartz rod 10 itself, in the opposite direction to the diffusion fringes, That is, the light is emitted with directivity in the direction of the PLZT head 6A. At this time, the light emitted from the quartz rod 10 has a substantially uniform intensity over the entire area of the quartz rod 10 in the longitudinal direction. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the arrows indicate the light emission directions.

The light emitted from the quartz rod 10 is
From the inside of the color drum 11, the light passes through the transparent drum 11A, passes through any one of the color filters FB, FG, and FR and enters the PLZT head 6A. As described above, since the color drum 11 is set to make one rotation each time one line of exposure is performed, data of each color of blue, green, and red is sequentially exposed line by line.

As described above, in the exposure apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment, the light emitted from the lamp 12
, And reaches the PLZT head 6A. In the case of such a configuration, it is not necessary to arrange the lamp unit 12 and the PLZT head 6A in separate housings, and
Since the configuration can be arranged compactly, the size of the device can be reduced.

Further, since the quartz rod 10 is used as a means for transmitting the light from the lamp section 12 to the PLZT head 6A, an optical fiber comprising a very large number of optical fibers corresponding to each pixel, for example, as in the conventional configuration. Bundles and the like become unnecessary, and the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

The light transmitted from the lamp portion 12 to the quartz rod 10 passes through the color drum 11 on which the color filters FB, FG, and FR corresponding to the respective colors of blue, green, and red are formed. 6A. Further, since the color drum 11 is provided so as to rotate around its central axis, full-color exposure can be easily performed by synchronizing the exposure of the PLZT head 6A with the rotation of the color separation drum.

Embodiment 2 Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5A shows a light source unit 9 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the vicinity thereof. The light source unit 9 includes a quartz rod 10, a lamp unit 12, a color wheel 13 (color separation wheel), and a color wheel 1.
3 for rotating the wheel 3. FIG. 5B is a side view when the color wheel 13 in FIG. 5A is viewed from the left side.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the color wheel 13 has a disk-like shape, and has blue, green and red colors in three regions each having a central angle of 120 °. Color filters FB / FG corresponding to
・ FR is provided. The color wheel 13
Is rotatable by a wheel rotation motor 13A.

The rotation speed of the color wheel 13 is the same as that of the color drum 11 in the first embodiment.
This is set in synchronization with the exposure by the T head 6A. In the present embodiment, the exposure speed of the PLZT head 6A is set to 400
Line / s, and the rotation speed of the color wheel 13 is set to 400 rps. That is, the color wheel 13 makes one rotation each time one line is exposed. As the wheel rotation motor 13A, a well-known stepping motor, servo motor, D
A C brushless motor or the like may be used.

The color wheel 13 having such a configuration is
It is arranged in a region between the lamp section 12 and the quartz rod 10. At this time, the optical axis of the light emitted from the lamp unit 12 matches the color filter FB
The color wheel 13 is arranged at a position that passes through any one of FG and FR.

Other configurations are the same as those described in the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 5A is the same as that in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. Can be applied.

Next, the operation of the light source unit 9 configured as described above will be described. A part of the light emitted from the halogen lamp 12A is reflected by the reflector 12B, and the color filters FB, FG, FR in the color wheel 13 are formed.
Incident on any one of the regions. Then, the light emitted from the color wheel 13 enters the incident surface at the end of the quartz rod 10. Light incident on the quartz rod 10 is transmitted in the axial direction while repeating total reflection inside the quartz rod 10. The light transmitted inside the quartz rod 10 is diffusely reflected by the diffusion fringes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10 during transmission, and further, due to the lens action of the quartz rod 10 itself, in the opposite direction to the diffusion fringes, That is, PLZ
It is emitted with directivity in the direction of the T head 6A. At this time, the light emitted from the quartz rod 10
Are almost uniform over the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the. Note that, in FIG. 5A, the arrow indicates the light emission direction.

The light emitted from the quartz rod 10 is
The light enters the PLZT head 6A. As described above, since the color wheel 13 is set to make one rotation every time one line of exposure is performed, data of each color of blue, green, and red is sequentially exposed line by line.

As described above, in the exposure apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment, the light emitted from the lamp unit 12 emits one of the color filters FB, FG, and FR corresponding to each of the blue, green, and red colors. After being transmitted, the light enters the PLZT head 6A via the quartz rod 10. Further, the color wheel 13 is provided so as to rotate in the circumferential direction. By synchronizing the exposure of the PLZT head 6A with the rotation of the color wheel 13, full-color exposure can be easily performed.

Since the color wheel 13 switches the color of light emitted from the lamp section 12 to the quartz rod 10, the size of the color wheel 13 itself can be relatively small. Therefore, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the energy and driving force required for rotationally driving the color wheel 13 can be reduced.

Third Embodiment Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the light source section 9 according to the present embodiment and the vicinity thereof. This light source section 9
Includes a quartz rod 10 and an LED group 14.
The LED group 14 includes an LED element (light emitting member) LB that emits blue light, an LED element (light emitting member) LG that emits green light, and an LED element (light emitting member) LR that emits red light. It is arranged at the position where the lamp unit 12 was arranged in the first and second embodiments.

With respect to the number of LED elements LB..., LG.
Increase the number of ED elements LR ...
G and the number of LED elements LB are set to be the smallest. This is because, among the sensitivities of the photographic paper 4, the sensitivity to blue is the strongest, and the sensitivity to green and then red is the weakest. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two LED elements LB, three LED elements LG, and four LED elements LR
Are placed.

In the LED group 14 configured as described above, the LED elements LB, LG, LR, are selectively turned on for each color. The timing of this lighting is PLZT
This is set in synchronization with the exposure by the head 6A. In the present embodiment, the exposure speed of the PLZT head 6A is set to 400 lines / s, and the lighting cycle of the LED group 14 is set to four.
It is set to 00 cycles / s. That is, each time one line is exposed, the LED group 14 is turned on for one cycle.

Other configurations are the same as those described in the first embodiment. The configuration shown in FIG. 6 is applied to the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment. Can be.

Next, the operation of the light source unit 9 configured as described above will be described. LED element L in LED group 14
B ..., LG ..., LR ... are selectively lit for each color,
The light enters the incident surface at the end of the quartz rod 10. Light incident on the quartz rod 10 is transmitted in the axial direction while repeating total reflection inside the quartz rod 10. The light transmitted inside the quartz rod 10 is diffusely reflected by the diffusion fringes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the quartz rod 10 during transmission, and further, due to the lens action of the quartz rod 10 itself, in the opposite direction to the diffusion fringes, That is, the light is emitted with directivity in the direction of the PLZT head 6A. At this time, the light emitted from the quartz rod 10 has a substantially uniform intensity over the entire area of the quartz rod 10 in the longitudinal direction. Note that, in FIG. 6, arrows indicate the light emission directions.

The light emitted from the quartz rod 10 is
The light enters the PLZT head 6A. As described above, the lighting of the LED group 14 is set so as to perform one cycle every time one line is exposed, so that data of each color of blue, green, and red is sequentially exposed line by line. .

As described above, the exposure apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment includes, as a light source, a plurality of LED elements LB,..., LG, and LR that emit light of any one of blue, green, and red. The LED element L
Full color exposure can be easily performed by selectively lighting B... LG... LR for each color and synchronizing the lighting cycle with the exposure in the PLZT head 6A.

Further, since the configuration of the color drum 11 in the first embodiment and the configuration of the color wheel 13 in the second embodiment for performing full-color exposure are not required, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and the size can be reduced. Can be achieved.

Fourth Embodiment Still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
It is as follows. The components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure near the light source unit 9. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source unit 9.

As shown in FIG. 7, the light source section 9 includes a long halogen lamp 15 and a color drum 11.
The color drum 11 has a hollow cylindrical shape.
As shown in the figure, color filters FB and FG corresponding to blue, green, and red, respectively, are provided on the outer surface of the transparent drum 11A.
・ FR is formed. The color filters FB, FG, and FR have a longitudinal section in a region perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the color drum 11 that divides the circumference into three equal parts, in other words, three regions each having a central angle of 120 °. It is formed over the direction.

The long halogen lamp 15 has a cylindrical shape long in the axial direction, and is arranged concentrically inside the color drum 11. The long halogen lamp 15 and the color drum 11 are PLZT
Above the head 6A, it is arranged so that its longitudinal direction, that is, the axial direction is the width direction of the printing paper 4.

In this embodiment, the long halogen lamp 15 is used as the light source. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a fluorescent tube lamp can be used.

The color drum 11 is configured to rotate around the long halogen lamp 15 at a constant speed about the center axis thereof as a center of rotation. This rotation speed is PLZ
This is set in synchronization with the exposure by the T head 6A. In the present embodiment, the exposure speed of the PLZT head 6A is set to 400
Line / s and the rotation speed of the color drum 11 is set to 4
00 rps. That is, each time one line is exposed, the color drum 11 makes one rotation.
As a drive source for rotating the color drum 11, a well-known stepping motor, servomotor, DC brushless motor, or the like may be used.

Next, the operation of the light source unit 9 having the above configuration will be described. The light emitted from the long halogen lamp 15 is transmitted from the inside of the color drum 11 to the transparent drum 11A.
, And pass through any one of the color filters FB, FG, and FR to enter the PLZT head 6A. At this time, the light emitted from the long halogen lamp 15 has a substantially uniform intensity over the entire area of the long halogen lamp 15 in the longitudinal direction. Note that, in FIG. 7, arrows indicate the light emission directions.

As described above, since the color drum 11 is set to make one rotation every time one line is exposed, data of each color of blue, green, and red is sequentially exposed line by line. Will be.

As described above, the exposure apparatus 6 according to the present embodiment includes, as a light source, a long halogen lamp 15 having a cylindrical shape long in the axial direction, and a plurality of shutters for switching transmission and blocking of light for each pixel. PLZT heads 6A arranged in a row in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical transmission rod
And a cylindrical color drum 11 concentric with the central axis of the long halogen lamp 15 so as to surround the long halogen lamp 15. The color drum 11 is formed with color filters FB, FG, and FR corresponding to the colors of blue, green, and red, and the color drum 11 is configured to rotate around its central axis. .

According to such a configuration, it is not necessary to dispose the long halogen lamp 15 as a light source and the PLZT head 6A in separate housings, and the configuration can be compactly arranged. Can be reduced in size.

Further, as in the conventional configuration, since light is transmitted between the light source and the exposure head, an optical fiber bundle composed of an extremely large number of optical fibers corresponding to each pixel is not required. The structure can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

The light emitted from the long halogen lamp 15 passes through the color drum 11 on which the color filters FB, FG, FR corresponding to the respective colors of blue, green, and red are formed, and then passes through the PLZT head 6A. Will be incident. Further, since the color drum 11 is provided so as to rotate around its central axis, the PLZT head 6A
The full-color exposure can be easily performed by synchronizing the exposure in the above and the rotation of the color separation drum.

Further, since the long halogen lamp 15 emits a relatively large amount of light, the processing capability of the apparatus can be improved.

[0084]

As described above, the exposure apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material by irradiating light in accordance with image data. A light transmission rod having a shape, and a plurality of shutters for switching transmission and blocking of light for each pixel, comprising: an exposure head arranged in a row in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the light transmission rod; Is configured to emit light from the light source incident from one end from a cylindrical surface, and the exposure head irradiates the photosensitive material with light incident from the light transmission rod.

As a result, it is not necessary to arrange the light source and the exposure head in separate housings, and the arrangement can be compactly arranged, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

Also, unlike the conventional configuration, for example, an optical fiber bundle composed of an extremely large number of optical fibers corresponding to each pixel is not required, so that the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced. This has the effect.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus, the cylindrical color separation drum concentric with the center axis of the light transmission rod is rotated around the center axis so as to surround the light transmission rod. Is provided in the color separation drum,
This is a configuration in which filters corresponding to each color of blue, green, and red are formed.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, for example, by synchronizing the exposure of the exposure head with the rotation of the color separation drum, it is possible to easily perform full-color exposure.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus, a disc-shaped color separation wheel in which filters corresponding to respective colors of blue, green and red are formed between the light source and the light transmission rod is provided. The optical axis of light incident on the light transmission rod from the light source passes through one of the filters corresponding to each of the blue, green, and red colors. Thus, the configuration is such that the color separation wheel is arranged.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, for example, by synchronizing the exposure of the exposure head with the rotation of the color separation wheel, it is possible to easily perform full-color exposure.

Further, since the size of the color separation wheel itself can be relatively small, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the energy and driving force required for rotationally driving the color separation wheel can be reduced. It has the effect of being able to.

An exposure apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that the light source has a plurality of light emitting members for emitting light of any one of blue, green and red for each color. .

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, full-color exposure can be easily performed by selectively lighting the light emitting member for each color and synchronizing this lighting cycle with the exposure of the exposure head. It has the effect of being able to do so.

Further, since the color separating means as in the second or third aspect for performing full-color exposure is not required, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and downsized. This has the effect.

An exposure apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is configured such that the exposure head is a PLZT head having a PLZT element for controlling transmission and blocking of light.

Thus, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the PLZT element provided in the PLZT head has a higher exposure capability than, for example, an LED array, a liquid crystal, a fluorescent display tube, or the like. It is excellent and has an effect that high-definition dots can be formed.
Further, the PLZT element has such effects that the response speed is extremely fast, the light transmittance ratio at the time of ON / OFF is as high as 2000: 1, the operating temperature range is wide, and the life is long.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a light source unit and its vicinity in an exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the light source unit and its vicinity.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the light source unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus provided with the exposure device.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a light source unit and its vicinity in an exposure apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a light source unit and its vicinity in an exposure apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a light source unit and its vicinity in an exposure apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source unit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus including a conventional exposure apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 photographic paper (photosensitive material) 6 Exposure device 6A PLZT head 9 Light source unit 10 Quartz rod (light transmission rod) 11 Color drum (color separation drum) 11A Transparent drum 12 Lamp unit (light source) 12A Halogen lamp 12B Reflector 13 Color wheel ( Color separation wheel) 14 LED group 15 Long halogen lamp FB / FG / FR Color filter LB / LG / LR LED element (light emitting member)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive material by irradiating light in accordance with image data, comprising: a light source; an optical transmission rod having a cylindrical shape long in an axial direction; and transmitting and blocking light for each pixel. A plurality of shutters for switching the light transmission rods, the exposure heads being arranged in a row in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the optical transmission rod, and the optical transmission rod emits light from the light source incident from one end from a cylindrical surface. An exposure apparatus, wherein the exposure head irradiates the photosensitive material with light incident from the light transmission rod. 2. A cylindrical color separation drum concentric with a central axis of the light transmission rod so as to surround the light transmission rod.
2. An exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure apparatus is provided so as to rotate about its central axis, and said color separation drum is provided with filters corresponding to respective colors of blue, green and red. 3. A disk-shaped color separation wheel provided with a filter corresponding to each of blue, green, and red colors is provided between the light source and the light transmission rod so as to rotate in the circumferential direction. The color separation wheel is arranged such that an optical axis of light incident on the light transmission rod from the light source passes through one of the filters corresponding to the blue, green, and red colors. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. An exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting members for emitting light of any one of blue, green and red for each color. 5. An exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said exposure head is a PLZT head having a PLZT element for controlling transmission and blocking of light.