Patent ID: 6710796
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An optical printer for recording a color image to a color photosensitive material, having a printing head including a light source, and a color separation filter unit for color separation of light from said light source into printing light of single colors, said optical printer comprising:plural color filters, having selectivity of a wavelength, for converting said light from said light source into printing light of respectively said single colors; plural transmission portions or openings without selectivity of a wavelength; a filter drive mechanism for rotating said color separation filter unit; and a light amount adjustor for adjusting a light amount of said printing light by each of pixels according to density of said pixels while a color filter among said plural color filters associated with a respective color to be recorded is set in a light path, wherein said plural color filters and said plural transmission portions or openings are disposed to shape said color separation filter unit in a tubular shape, and arranged about a central axis extending in a main scan direction; said plural transmission portions or openings are arranged alternately with said plural color filters, and one of said plural transmission portions or openings is located at a first position at each time that one of said plural color filters is located at a second position, said first position being one of an entrance position and an exit position, said second position being a remaining one of said entrance position and said exit position, said entrance position and said exit position being defined where said light travels into and out of said color separation filter unit, so that said plural color filters are set in said light path selectively in rotation of said color separation filter unit; and a reflector, disposed in said color separation filter unit, for reflecting said light to said exit position.