JPH1169101A - Image scanning exposure method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change a scanning speed based on exposure of respective images and to improve the processing speed of a device by selecting image data that needs the langest amount of light among light quantity data which convert inputted image data and deciding a scanning speed that corresponds to its exposure time. SOLUTION: Image data that need light quantity the most are selected among converted light quantity data and a scanning speed that corresponds the exposure time is decided at the time of converting inputted image data. That is, because image data that need light quantity the most among fetched image data are made to correspond to maximum emission quantity of a LED chip 204, corresondently it is possible to accelerate the horizontal scanning speed by a stepping motor 226. In such cases, new light quantity data stored in 2nd frame memory 310 are sent to a light quantity part, a speed that is operated by a motor speed operating part 312 is sent to the motor 226 and an image forming operation is performed at the time of an image forming operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a light amount of a light beam from an exposure light source on a photosensitive material at a predetermined scanning speed so as to obtain a desired exposure amount according to input image data. An image scanning exposure method for exposing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
Many image exposure apparatuses equipped with a digital exposure system have been developed. Generally, in a digital exposure system, image data is placed on a light beam output from a semiconductor laser, and the polygon mirror is rotated at a high speed to deflect the light beam (main scanning) and to be reflected by the polygon mirror by a galvanometer mirror or the like. Sub-scan the light beam further, or
An image is recorded on a recording medium by repeating main scanning while moving the recording medium (or stepwise). Here, the recording medium may be a photosensitive drum charged by corona discharge or a photosensitive material. Further, the light source may be another light emitting body such as an LED without using a semiconductor laser.

Here, there is a scanning system in which a plurality of light sources are arranged vertically and horizontally in a matrix so that main scanning of a plurality of lines can be performed by one main scanning movement.

In any case, the single main scanning speed is a predetermined constant speed. The setting of the speed is such that the maximum exposure amount can be obtained when the semiconductor or the LED emits light at the maximum at the maximum exposure amount.

As described above, since the scanning speed is constant,
The amount of exposure depends on the amount of light emitted from a light emitter such as a semiconductor or an LED. The amount of light emission may be based on current / voltage control or duty control.

Therefore, the scanning speed is constant regardless of whether the exposure amount is large or small, so that the processing speed of the apparatus does not increase.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image scanning exposure method capable of changing the scanning speed based on the exposure amount of each image and improving the processing speed of the apparatus in consideration of the above facts.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a light amount of a light beam from an exposure light source is controlled so that a desired exposure amount according to input image data is obtained. An image scanning exposure method for exposing a photosensitive material at a scanning speed, the method comprising: selecting data requiring the largest light beam amount among input image data; and performing exposure based on the selected data. An exposure time when the light amount of the beam is set to the maximum light emission amount is obtained, a scanning speed corresponding to the exposure time is determined, and exposure is performed at the scanning speed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, generally,
The exposure amount is the light amount of the light source × the exposure time, and the light emission amount of the light source is controlled, and the scanning speed corresponding to the exposure time is constant, so that the exposure amount does not contribute to the processing speed. Was.

However, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the input image data is converted, the image data requiring the most light amount is selected from the converted light amount data, and the scanning speed corresponding to the exposure time is selected. To determine.

Next, the selected image data is replaced with the maximum light quantity. The rate of this replacement is at least one time at the minimum, and the other image data is only in the increasing direction.

For example, by adding all other image data based on the replacement ratio,
Create new image data.

In the new image data, the data requiring the most light amount is the data of the maximum exposure amount, and the light emission amount of the light source can be effectively used.

Thus, scanning can be performed with the scanning speed set according to the original image data being increased by the above-mentioned increment, and the scanning time can be reduced.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Overall Configuration “Appearance”) FIGS. 1 to 3 show an image recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

The image recording apparatus 100 is a CD-ROM
The image data recorded on the FD 102 and the FD 104 (see FIG. 3) is read and exposed to a photosensitive material 106, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material 106 is read on plain paper (image receiving paper 10).
8) This is a device for transferring and outputting.

The upper portion of the front surface (left side in FIG. 3) of the box-shaped casing 110 has an inclined surface, and an operation display unit 112 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation display unit 112
Are classified into a monitor unit 114 located on the right side and an input unit 116 located on the left side, and the monitor unit 114 is configured to project the read image.

The input unit 116 has a plurality of operation keys 1.
18 and an input data confirmation display unit 120, so that it is possible to input data necessary for image recording, such as input of the number of prints, size setting, color balance adjustment, negative / positive selection, and the like. I have.

Below the operation display section 112, a deck section 1 is provided.
22 are provided. The deck section 122 includes a CD-ROM deck section 124 located on the right side of FIG. 3 and an FD deck section 126 located on the left side.

The CD-ROM deck 124 is operated by pressing the open / close button 128 so that the tray 130 is opened.
Can be opened and closed. By mounting the CD-ROM 102 on this tray 130, the CD-RO
M102 can be loaded inside the device.

On the other hand, the FD deck section 126 is provided with an FD insertion throttle 132, and when the FD 104 is inserted, a drive system inside the apparatus operates to draw in the FD 104. When the FD 104 is taken out, the operation button 134 is pressed to
D104 can be pulled out.

The CD-ROM deck 124 and F
Each of the D deck units 126 has an access lamp 13
6, 138 are provided, and the access lamps 136, 138 are turned on during access in the apparatus.

A discharge tray 140 is provided further below the deck section 122. This discharge tray 140
Is usually housed in the device, and can be pulled out by putting a finger on the grip portion 142 (FIG. 1).
reference).

The image receiving paper 108 on which the image is recorded is discharged onto the discharge tray 140.

The image receiving paper 108 is stored in a layer on a tray 144 in advance.
0 is provided in the tray loading port 146 provided on the upper surface of the tray. The image receiving paper 108 is taken out one by one from the tray 144 loaded in the tray loading port 146, the image is transferred, and then guided to the discharge tray 140.

Two circular cover members 148 and 150 are attached to the right side surface (the front side in FIG. 1) of the casing 110. The cover members 148, 150
The cover members 148 and 148 are individually detachable.
As shown in FIG. 3, a supply reel 152 and a take-up reel 154 for winding the photosensitive material 106 in a roll form are arranged inside the apparatus along the axial direction of 150. It can be taken out or loaded with the members 148 and 150 detached. (Receiver paper transport system) As shown in FIG.
The upper surface of the tip end of the tray 144 loaded in 46 is opposed to the half-moon roller 156.

The semicircular roller 156 has a part of its peripheral surface cut in a tangential direction. Normally, the notch 158 faces the uppermost image receiving paper 108 in the tray 144 at a predetermined interval. I have. Here, when the half moon roller 156 rotates, the uppermost image receiving paper 108 and the half moon roller 156 are rotated.
When the semicircular roller 156 makes one rotation, the image receiving paper 108 is slightly pulled out. The pulled-out image receiving paper 108 is nipped by the first roller pair 160,
The driving force of the first roller pair 160 causes the tray 1
44 to be completely drawn out.

Downstream of the first roller pair 160 is a second roller pair.
Roller pair 162, guide plate 164, third roller pair 1
66 are arranged in order, and the image receiving paper 108 is nipped by the first roller pair 160, is nipped by the second roller pair 162, is guided by the guide plate 164, and is received by the third roller pair 166. Be pinched.

The third roller pair 166 also overlaps the photosensitive material 106. That is, the third roller pair 166 is also used as a transport path for the photosensitive material 106. (Photosensitive material transport system) The photosensitive material 106 is supplied to the supply reel 15.
It is loaded into the device in the form of a long roll wound in two layers. The supply reel 152 is formed by removing the cover member 150 (rear side of the apparatus) and inserting the cover member 150 in the axial direction.
It can be loaded in place.

With the photosensitive material 106 loaded at a predetermined position, the outermost layer is pulled out and loaded along a predetermined transport path as an initial setting. In the loading procedure, the outermost layer is pulled out from the supply reel 152, and the fourth roller pair 1 near the loading position of the supply reel 152
68, via the reservoir 170 and the guide plate 172, between the third roller pair 166, then around the heat roller 174, and around the take-up reel 154. In this case, a leader tape of a length necessary for loading may be provided at the leading end of the photosensitive material 106 wound around the supply reel 152.

In the conveying path of the photosensitive material 106,
An exposure section 176 is provided between the fourth roller pair 168 and the reservoir section 170. In addition, the reservoir 170
A water application unit 178 is provided between the guide plate 172 and the guide plate 172. The details of the exposure unit 176 and the water application unit 178 will be described later. However, after the image is exposed on the photosensitive material 106 by the exposure unit 176, the third step is performed in a state where water is applied to the emulsion surface (exposed surface). Receiving paper 1 with roller pair 166 of
08 is superimposed. (Heat Roller) The heat roller 174 is a thermal development transfer section of the present apparatus, and includes a cylindrical roller main body 180 and a heater 182 provided along an axis inside the roller main body 180. The surface of the roller body 180 is heated by the operation of the heater 182, and has a role of applying heat to the members (the photosensitive material 106 and the image receiving paper 108) wound around the roller body 180. By this heating, a thermal development transfer process is performed, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material 106 is transferred to the image receiving paper 108.

A peeling roller 184 and a peeling claw 186 are provided near the lower right of the heat roller 174. The image receiving paper 108 wound around the heat roller 174 by about 1/3 is peeled off from the photosensitive material 106, and a discharge tray is provided. The image receiving paper 108 is guided in a 140 direction.

On the other hand, the photosensitive material 106 is
The take-up reel 154 is wound by about 、, is turned by 180 °, and is guided to a position where the take-up reel 154 is loaded. (Water application unit) As shown in FIG.
Water as an image forming solvent is applied to the photosensitive material 106 or the image receiving paper 108, and the superposed surfaces of the two are brought into close contact with each other, and have a role of heat development. Application piece 188 and tank 190 for storing water
It is composed of

The coating piece 188 is made of a highly absorbent material such as felt or sponge and has an appropriate hardness.
The photosensitive material 106 comes into contact with a predetermined pressure during transportation. The water in the tank 190 always transfers an appropriate amount to the coating piece 188 by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. When the photosensitive material 106 and the coating piece 188 come into contact with each other, the water is exposed by the coating piece 188. Water is applied to the surface (emulsion side) of the material 106.

Further, since the coated piece 188 is in contact with the photosensitive material 106 at an appropriate pressure, the water is uniformly applied.

The water in the tank 190 is replenished by removing the entire water application section 178. However, water may always be supplied from outside the apparatus by providing a pipe.

In this embodiment, water is used as a solvent for image formation. However, the water is not limited to pure water, but includes water in a widely used sense. Further, a mixed solvent of water and a low boiling point solvent such as methanol, DMF, acetone and diisobutyl ketone may be used. Further, a solution containing an image formation accelerator, an antifoggant, a development terminator, a hydrophilic heat solvent and the like may be used. (Exposure Unit) FIG. 4 shows an exposure unit 176 according to the present embodiment.
It is shown.

The light exposure unit 176 is mainly composed of a light source unit 200 provided above the conveying path of the photosensitive material 106.
It is connected to the controller 202. Controller 2
02 stores an image signal (CD-R
The image signal read from the OM 102 or the FD 104), the light source unit 2 in the light source unit 200 according to the image signal.
04 is turned on. Light source unit 20
0 is driven by a main scanning unit 206 described later.
The photosensitive material 106 can be moved in the width direction (main scanning direction), and the main scanning is performed when the photosensitive material 106 stops when the exposure unit 176 is step-driven.

The light source unit 200 of the exposure unit 176 is covered by a box-shaped exposure casing 214, and a full-color image forming light source unit 204 is disposed on the upper end surface of the exposure casing 214. The light emitting surface of the portion 204 is directed toward the inside of the exposure casing 214. An aperture 216 is provided on the light emitting surface side of the full-color image forming light source unit 204 to limit the spread of light from a plurality of (11 for each color) LED chips 208.

A lens 212 is disposed downstream of the aperture 216 and at the center of the exposure casing 214, and serves to collect light from the full-color image forming light source unit 204 and form an image on the photosensitive material 106. Have. The resolution of the light to be imaged is about 300 to 400 dpi. Although the lens 212 is shown as a single unit on the drawing, a single lens system may be configured by combining a plurality of lenses.

Here, the lens 212 is composed of a plurality of lenses and an aperture, and has a characteristic that the magnification does not change even if the height of the image plane changes to some extent. It is possible to absorb a small error due to the scanning movement or the mounting state of the LED chip 208.

The focus is always adjusted by an auto focus mechanism (not shown).

The light source unit 200 includes the main scanning unit 2
06 are supported by a pair of parallel guide shafts 218 that constitute a part of the reference shaft 06. This guide shaft 218
Are arranged along the width direction of the photosensitive material 106 (the direction of the arrow W in FIG. 4), and the light source unit 204 is guided by the guide shaft 218 so as to be movable in the width direction of the photosensitive material 106. ing.

A part of the endless timing belt 220 is fixed to the exposure casing 214 of the light source unit 204. Both ends of the timing belt 220 are wound around sprockets 222 located near both ends of the guide shaft 218, respectively. One sprocket 2
The rotation shaft of the stepping motor 226 is connected to the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 226 via a transmission 224.
It is reciprocated along the guide shaft 218.

The driving of the stepping motor 226 is controlled by the controller 202, and is synchronized with the step movement of the photosensitive material 106. That is, in a state where the photosensitive material 106 has moved one step and stopped, the stepping motor 226 starts rotating, and the light source unit 204 moves on the photosensitive material 106 along the width direction of the photosensitive material 106. After confirming the predetermined pulse, the stepping motor 22
By reversely rotating 6, the light source unit 204 returns to the original position. The next movement of the photosensitive material 106 is started simultaneously with the return operation of the light source unit 204.

A photodiode 228 is provided on the light output side of the light source unit 200, facing the photosensitive material 106, and outputs a signal corresponding to the light amount of the light source from the light source unit 204 for full-color image formation. ing. The photodiode 228 is connected to the light amount correction unit 230, and the signal is input to the light amount correction unit 230.

The light quantity correction unit 230 compares the detected light quantities from the LED chips 208 of the respective colors to determine the density,
It has a role of performing color balance adjustment and outputting a correction value to the controller 202. The image signal sent to the light source unit 204 is corrected based on the correction value, and each LED chip 208 is turned on with an appropriate light amount.

As shown in FIG. 5, the full-color image forming light source unit 204 is formed by assembling LED chips 208, and is composed of B (blue), G (green),
LED chip 208 that emits each color of R (red) (hereinafter, when individually described for each color, L that emits a B color)
The ED chip is called a B-LED chip 208B, the LED chip that emits G color is called a G-LED chip 208G, and the LED chip that emits R color is called an R-LED chip 208R). Along the direction (main scanning direction), they are attached according to the same arrangement rule. That is, at the right end of the substrate 210 in plan view, eleven B-LED chips 208B are
Arranged in rows and in a zigzag pattern, on the left end, 11 RLs
ED chips 208R are arranged in two rows and in a staggered manner,
In the center, 11 G-0ED chips 208G are 2
The LED chips are arranged in rows and in a staggered manner, and a total of six rows of LED chips are arranged.

A predetermined wiring is formed on the substrate 210 by an etching process or the like. The wiring is covered with a metal so as to prevent a short circuit between the wirings, and has a heat radiation function. For this reason, heat generation due to lighting of the LED chip 208 can be suppressed, and fluctuation of the light emission amount can be suppressed. Note that the outer dimensions (x × y) of the LED chip 208 are about 36
It is 0 × 360 μm.

The LED to be mounted on the substrate 210
The pitch P between rows of the same color of the chip 208 is 600 μm,
The row pitch L of each column is 520 μm, the step size D when staggered is 260 μm, and the gap size G between the colors is RG
And the same between GB. FIG.
The hatched portion of the LED chip 208 shown in FIG. 4 is a region where light is actually emitted, and the boundaries between the light emitting regions of adjacent rows in a staggered pattern are matched.

With the light source unit 204 having the above structure, eleven main scanning lines can be recorded on the photosensitive material 106 by one main scanning for each color. Note that the interval between the main scanning line pitches is an even number of 10.

Here, in the present embodiment, the photosensitive material 10
The step movement of No. 6 is performed at a pitch (5.5 line pitch) in which the previous first main scanning line recorded on the photosensitive material 106 is located at an intermediate position between the previous sixth and seventh main scanning lines. The sub-scanning drive and the stop are controlled so as to be repeated. In FIG. 8, a thin solid line is a main scan line formed by the previous main scan, a chain line is a main scan line formed by the current main scan, and a thick solid line is formed by the next main scan. This is the main scanning line.

As described above, the number of LED chips 208 is odd (that is, at intervals of 10), and the resolution is doubled by forming more main scanning lines between main scanning lines. The odd number of LED chips 208 makes it possible to make all the sub-scanning pitches the same. In addition, the first to fifth main scanning lines at the time of the first main scanning drive are not written for control. (Scanning Speed Setting Unit) FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of the controller 202.

The image data signal input to the controller 202 is first input to the signal / light amount converter 300. In this signal / light amount conversion unit 300,
All image data signals are converted into light amount data based on the signal level / light amount characteristic diagram. It should be noted that this conversion characteristic diagram is not limited to the LUT
It may be in the form. Also, for this conversion, photosensitive material 1
04 etc. are included.

The converted light amount data DL passes through the maximum light amount selection unit 302 and is temporarily stored in the first frame memory 304.

Here, the maximum light amount selection unit 302 outputs the light amount data DL requiring the most light amount in one image (one frame).
And transmitting only the scalar amount (size) DLmax of the light amount data to the additional calculation unit 306. The maximum calculation unit 306 stores in advance the maximum light emission amount Lmax of the LED chip 208 in the present apparatus,
An additional rate R (Lmax / DLmax) is calculated.

The calculated rate R is sent to the data replacing section 308. In addition, the data replacement unit 308 receives the light amount data from the first frame memory 304, and calculates all the light amount data by dividing the additional rate R by the division ratio (DL ′ = DL × ( 1+
R)).

The added new light amount data DL ′ is the second light amount data DL ′.
And waits for output.

On the other hand, the charge rate R calculated by the charge calculation section 306 is also inputted to a motor speed control section 312 for controlling the rotation speed of the stepping motor 226. The rotation speed V (constant) of the stepping motor 226 in the present apparatus is stored in the motor speed control unit 312 in advance. The setting of the rotation speed V is suitable when the read image data is simply converted into light amount data DL. Therefore, the motor speed control unit 312 sets the rotation speed suitable for the new light amount data DL ′. , The rotation speed V is increased by the premium rate (V ′
= V × (1 + R)).

That is, it is possible to shorten the exposure time by maximizing the amount of light, and to shorten the exposure time leads to an increase in the main scanning speed by the stepping motor 226.

Here, during the image forming operation, the new light amount data DL ′ stored in the second frame memory 310 is used.
Is transmitted to the light source unit 204, the speed V ′ calculated (additional calculation) by the motor speed control unit 312 is transmitted to the stepping motor 226, and the image forming operation is performed. (Reservoir section) The reservoir section 170 is disposed between the exposure section 174 and the water application section 178 as described above, and includes two pairs of nipping rollers 192 and 194 and one dancer roller 196. Have been. The photosensitive material 106 is stretched over two pairs of nipping rollers 192 and 194, and a substantially U-shaped slack is provided in the photosensitive material 106 between them.
The dancer roller 196 moves up and down in response to the slack, and holds the slack portion of the photosensitive material 106.

In the exposure unit 176, the photosensitive material 106 moves stepwise, but in the water application unit 178, it is necessary to convey the photosensitive material 106 at a constant speed for uniform application of water. For this reason,
The photosensitive material 106 is disposed between the exposure unit 176 and the water application unit 178.
The difference in the conveying speeds is caused. To absorb this speed difference,
The dancer roller 196 is moved up and down to adjust the slack amount of the photosensitive material 106 so that the photosensitive material 106 can be simultaneously moved stepwise and at a constant speed.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. First, the overall flow for image recording will be described.

The tray 144 is loaded in the tray loading port 146, and the supply reel 152 in which the photosensitive material 106 has been wound up and the empty take-up reel 154 are loaded in predetermined positions, respectively, and the loading is completed. When the print start key of the operation display unit 112 is operated, the controller 202 causes the CD-ROM 102 or the FD 10
4 is read and stored.

When the controller 202 stores the image data, the supply reel 152 is driven, and the conveyance of the photosensitive material 106 is started.

When the photosensitive material 106 reaches a predetermined position of the exposure unit 176, the photosensitive material 106 stops temporarily, and an image signal is sent from the controller 202 to the light source unit 2 for full-color image formation.
04 is output. This image signal is output every ten lines, and the full-color image forming light source unit 204 is driven by the stepping motor 226 to drive the guide shaft 21.
8 and moves along the width direction of the photosensitive material 106 (main scanning). Before the output of the image signal is started, the amount of light of each color from the light source unit 204 for full-color image formation is detected by the photodiode 228, and the binary correction unit 2
At 30, a correction value for adjusting the density, the color balance, and the like is supplied to the controller 202 to correct the image signal. This correction value is executed for each image.

When one main scan is completed, the photosensitive material 10
6 moves 1 step (5.5 line pitch) and stops,
A second main scan is performed. By repeating this, an image for one frame is recorded on the photosensitive material 106. The photosensitive material 106 on which recording has been completed is wound around the dancer roller 196 by driving only the pair of nipping rollers 192 on the upstream side of the reservoir 170 (the pair of nipping rollers 194 on the downstream side is stopped).
, So as not to reach the water application section 178.

When the photosensitive material 106 having a length corresponding to one image is accumulated in the reservoir 170, the pair of holding rollers 194 on the downstream side of the reservoir 170 starts driving. As a result, the photosensitive material (image recorded) 106 is transported to the water application unit 178. In the water application section 178, the photosensitive material 106 is conveyed at a constant speed, and water is uniformly applied by the application piece 188.

The coating piece 188 is constantly supplied with water from the tank 190, and is supplied with the photosensitive material 10 at a predetermined pressure.
6 is pressed, an appropriate amount of water is applied to the photosensitive material 106.

The photosensitive material 106 to which the water has been applied is guided by the guide plate 172 and conveyed to the third roller pair 166.

On the other hand, the image receiving paper 108 is a half moon roller 156.
Makes one rotation, the peripheral surface of the half moon roller 156 and the leading end of the image receiving paper 108 come into contact with each other, and the uppermost layer of the image receiving paper 108
Is pulled out, and the first roller pair 160 is pinched. The driving of the first roller pair 160 causes the image receiving paper 108
Is pulled out of the tray 144 and the second roller pair 162
Wait for the photosensitive material 106 to arrive.

The first roller pair 160 and the second roller pair 1 are synchronized with the passage of the photosensitive material 106 through the guide plate.
The driving of the image receiving paper 108 is started.
4 and is conveyed to a third roller pair 166.

In the third roller pair 166, the photosensitive material 10
6 and the image receiving paper 108 are pinched in a superposed state, and sent out to the heat roller 174. At this time, the photosensitive material 10
Both are brought into close contact with each other by the water applied to 6.

The superposed photosensitive material 106 and the image receiving paper 108 are wound around a heat roller 174, receive heat from a heater 182, and undergo a thermal development transfer process. That is, the image recorded on the photosensitive material 106 is transferred to the image receiving paper 108 and visualized.

When the heat development transfer is completed with the heat roller 174 wound about 1/3, the image receiving paper 108 is
The photosensitive material 1 is separated by the peeling roller 184 and the peeling claw 186.
, And is discharged onto a discharge tray 140 so as to be wound around a peeling roller 184.

On the other hand, the photosensitive material 106 is a heat roller 1
After being wrapped about 1/2 by 74, it moves tangentially and is taken up by the take-up reel 154.

Here, the image data taken in by the controller 202 is not applied as it is, and the stepping motor 226 performs an additional light amount control for increasing the main scanning speed.

The flow up to exposure scanning of an image will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step 350
Then, it is determined whether or not image data has been input. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 352 where the signal / light amount converter 300 converts the image data signal into light amount data.

In the next step 354, the size (scalar amount) DLmax of the light amount data requiring the most light amount is selected from the light amount data signal converted by the maximum light amount selection unit 302.

Next, at step 356, the converted light amount data DL is stored in the first frame memory 304.

Here, in step 358, the maximum light emission amount Lmax of the LED chip 208 is fetched, and then in step 360, the ratio R of the maximum light amount DLmax selected in step 354 to the maximum light emission amount Lmax of the LED chip 208. (The surcharge operation unit 30)
6).

At step 362, based on the calculated ratio R, all of the light amount data DL stored in the first frame memory 304 is additionally calculated (DL '=
DL × (1 + R)) and the operation result DL ′ is stored in the second frame memory 310 (step 364).

On the other hand, in the next step 366, the rotation speed V of the stepping motor 226 that matches the original light amount data DL set in advance is fetched. Then, in step 368, this speed V is also calculated as a premium calculation similarly to the light amount data DL. (V ′ = V × (1 + R)).

In the next step 370, it is determined whether or not it is the image recording time. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 372, where the required amount (11) is stored in the second frame memory 310.
The light amount data DL ′ (for the line) is read, and then the stepping motor 226 is driven at the speed V ′ in step 374, and the light amount data DL ′ is transmitted to the light source unit 204 in step 376.

At step 378, one frame (one image)
It is determined whether or not the processing for the corresponding minutes has been completed.
The light amount data DL ′ is read out, and steps 374 and 37
Repeat 6.

If the determination in step 378 is affirmative,
It is determined that recording of one image has been completed, and the process ends.

As described above, the image data requiring the most light amount among the captured image data is
8, the main scanning speed V by the stepping motor 226 can be increased (V ′) by that amount (ratio R), and the processing speed can be improved as a whole.

According to this embodiment, an image can be recorded with a compact structure, and the CD-R
Since the OM deck 124 and the FD deck 126 are mounted, image data can be quickly captured.
Further, since the image to be recorded can be confirmed by the monitor unit 114, the adjustment of the density and the color balance is easy.

Since the discharge tray 140 is of a retractable type, the tray 140 containing the image receiving paper 108 can be stored when not in use.
By removing the outer shape, the outer shape has less irregularities, and the working space can be effectively used.

Further, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, the water application section 178 and the exposure section 176 are fixed in the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 106, and all the relative movements with respect to the photosensitive material 106 in the sub-scanning direction are performed. Since the movement is performed by moving the 106, the moving mechanism is simplified.

In the present embodiment, the CD-R
Although the OM deck section 124 and the FD deck section 126 are mounted, other recording media (for example, a magneto-optical disk (M
O), a phase change disk (PD), a video tape, etc.). Further, an image input terminal for receiving an image signal from the outside (for example, a personal computer or a television) may be provided.

[0093]

As described above, the image scanning exposure method according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the scanning speed can be changed based on the exposure amount of each image to improve the processing speed of the apparatus. Have.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the image exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image exposure apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of an exposure unit.

FIG. 5 shows an LED of a light source unit for full-color image formation in an exposure unit.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of chips.

FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the controller shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart for image scanning exposure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a photosensitive material showing a state of a main scanning line and a sub-scanning pitch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image recording device 106 Photosensitive material 108 Image receiving paper 174 Heat roller 176 Exposure unit 178 Water application unit 200 Light source unit 202 Controller 204 Light source unit 208 LED chip 226 Stepping motor 300 Signal / light amount conversion unit 302 Maximum light amount selection unit 304 First frame Memory 306 Additional calculation unit 308 Data replacement unit 310 Second frame memory 312 Motor speed control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] An image scanning exposure method for exposing a photosensitive material at a predetermined scanning speed by controlling the amount of a light beam from an exposure light source so as to obtain a desired exposure amount according to input image data. An exposure time when the light amount of the light beam is required to be the maximum light emission amount when inputting the data requiring the light beam amount of the lightest among the input image data and performing the exposure based on the selected data. A scanning speed corresponding to the exposure time, and exposing at the scanning speed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light beam is a light beam having a plurality of different wavelengths, and a scanning speed corresponding to a maximum exposure time among the exposure times determined for each light beam is determined. The image scanning exposure method according to claim 1, wherein the exposure is performed by: