Photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge for use with image recording apparatus

In a photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge comprising a housing and a photo-sensitive recording medium accommodated therein, information is provided on an outer surface of a peripheral wall of the housing. The information contains data capable of being automatically read out. The data is representative of exposure, developing and fixing conditions of the recording medium. An image recording apparatus comprises a reader unit for reading out the data contained in the information to generate signals respectively indicative of the exposure, developing and fixing conditions, and a control unit operative in response to the signals for controlling an exposure unit, a developing unit and a fixing unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to an image recording apparatus, and more 
particularly, to a photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge for use with 
the image recording apparatus. 
Conventionally, there is known an image recording apparatus which employs a 
cartridge having accommodated therein a photo-sensitive recording medium. 
In such image recording apparatus, it is necessary for a user or an 
operator to manipulate keys on a keyboard, for example, in order to input 
information on exposure, developing and fixing conditions of the 
photo-sensitive recording medium, to the image recording apparatus. This 
inputting operation of the information is extremely difficult and 
troublesome for the user or operator. 
Moreover, a color image recording apparatus is also known, in which three 
color-decomposed monochromatic mask original plates in a set are 
successively used to expose the photo-sensitive recording medium to lights 
from respective light sources, whose wavelengths correspond respectively 
to the subject colors of the mask original plates, thereby forming three 
color-decomposed latent images onto the photo-sensitive recording medium. 
A developing sheet is then superposed upon the exposed photo-sensitive 
recording medium, to develop a color image in accordance with the three 
color-decomposed latent images on the photo-sensitive recording medium, 
onto the developing sheet. Thus, a color image is developed and recorded 
onto the developing sheet. 
In the color image recording apparatus as described above, it is not easy 
for the human eyes to determine to what colors the mask original plates 
correspond respectively. 
If preparation of the three color-decomposed mask original plates and 
exposure of the photo-sensitive recording medium are carried out 
consecutively, the light sources are successively turned on, without 
occurrence of any error or mistake, in compliance with the order in which 
the mask original plates are successively superposed upon the 
photo-sensitive recording medium. That is, if setting of the color image 
recording apparatus is made such that the light sources are turned on in 
the order of, for example, red, green and blue, the original-plate 
preparing apparatus should be so set as to successively output the mask 
original plates to the color image recording apparatus, in the order of 
red plate, green plate and blue plate, in compliance with the order in 
which the light sources are successively turned on. 
It is often desired, however, to store the mask original plates once used 
and taken out of the color image recording apparatus and to again employ 
the mask original plates to obtain the same color image. In this case, the 
mask original plates are successively fed into the color image recording 
apparatus from a manual insertion tray. As mentioned above, however, it is 
almost impossible for the human eyes to discriminate to which lights with 
their respective wavelengths in compliance respectively with the mask 
original plates, the mask original plates should be exposed respectively. 
Thus, the operation is extremely troublesome, because careful attention is 
required to be paid to the order in which the mask original plates are 
correctly fed into the color image recording apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved 
photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge enabling information on 
exposure, developing and fixing conditions of a photo-sensitive recording 
medium to be automatically read out. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved image 
recording apparatus capable of automatically reading out information on 
exposure, developing and fixing conditions of a photo-sensitive recording 
medium accommodated in a cartridge. 
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved color 
image recording apparatus capable of automatically exposing a 
photo-sensitive recording medium successively to lights with their 
respective wavelengths in compliance respectively with mask original 
plates in a set which are successively superposed upon the photo-sensitive 
recording medium. 
For the above purpose, according to the invention, there is provided a 
photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge, which comprises: 
a housing having a peripheral wall; 
a photo-sensitive recording medium accommodated in the housing; 
information means provided on an outer surface of the peripheral wall of 
the housing, the information means containing data capable of being 
automatically read out, the data being representative of at least one of 
exposure, developing and fixing conditions of he photo-sensitive recording 
medium. 
According to the invention, there is also provided an image recording 
apparatus which comprises: 
an apparatus body; 
a photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge removably loaded on the 
apparatus body, the cartridge including a housing having a peripheral wall 
and a photo-sensitive recording medium accommodated in the housing; 
information means associated with the cartridge, the information means 
containing data representative of at least one of exposure, developing and 
fixing conditions of the photo-sensitive recording medium; 
exposure means arranged within the apparatus body for exposing the 
photo-sensitive recording medium drawn out of the housing of the 
cartridge; 
developing means arranged within the apparatus body for developing the 
exposed image; 
fixing means arranged within the apparatus body for fixing the developed 
image; 
reader means for reading out the data contained in the information means to 
generate a signal indicative of at least one of the exposure, developing 
and fixing conditions; and 
control means operative in response to the signals from the reader means 
for controlling at least one of the exposure means, the developing means 
and the fixing means. 
According to the invention, there is further provided a color image 
recording apparatus utilizing a photo-sensitive recording medium and a set 
of a plurality of color-decomposed mask original plates, each mask 
original plate being provided with image information containing data as to 
what color the mask original plate corresponds, which comprises: 
reader means for successively reading out the data contained in the image 
information provided respectively on the mask original plates, to generate 
signals indicative of the respective data; 
the mask original plates being successively superposed upon the 
photo-sensitive recording medium; 
exposure means operative in response to the signals from the reader means 
for exposing the photo-sensitive recording medium successively to lights 
with their respective wavelengths in conformity respectively with the mask 
original plates which are successively superposed upon the photo-sensitive 
recording medium, thereby forming color-decomposed latent images 
corresponding to the respective mask original plates, onto the 
photo-sensitive recording medium; and 
developing means for developing a color image in accordance with the 
color-decomposed latent images.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a photo-sensitive recording 
medium cartridge 10 embodying the invention. The cartridge 10 comprises a 
substantially closed housing 11 having a peripheral wall and a pair of end 
walls. The peripheral wall has a generally rectangular cross-sectional 
shape so that the peripheral wall is composed of four side walls. A 
continuous roll 21 of photo-sensitive recording web 20 is accommodated in 
the housing 11. The housing 11 is provided therein with a longitudinal 
opening 13 through which the photo-sensitive recording web 20 can be drawn 
out of the housing 11. 
Information 12 is provided on an outer surface of one of the four side 
walls of the housing 11. The information 12 contains data in the form of a 
bar code capable of being read out by a reader unit incorporated in an 
image recording apparatus subsequently to be described. In the illustrated 
embodiment, the bar code is printed on the outer surface of the side wall 
of the housing 11. The bar code is representative of exposure, developing 
and fixing conditions of the photo-sensitive recording web 20. 
It is to be understood that the information 12 is not limited to the bar 
code, but may be a magnetic tape, punched holes or any other suitable 
information means. Further, it is of course that a piece of paper having 
printed thereon the information 12 may be stuck on the outer surface of 
the housing 11. 
The image recording apparatus for use with the cartridge 10 constructed as 
above will be described below with reference to FIG. 3. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge 11 is 
removably loaded on an apparatus body 31 of the image recording apparatus. 
A reader unit 14 is arranged within the apparatus body 31 and is located 
in facing relation to the information 12 on the housing 11 of the 
cartridge 10 having been loaded on the apparatus body 31, for reading out 
the information 12. The reader unit 14 may be of optical reading type, 
magnetic reading type or any other suitable reading type, provided that 
the reader unit 14 is coincident with the manner of recording of the 
information 12. 
The read-out information 12 is transferred to a processing unit 15 where 
the read-out information 12 is decoded and is converted into control 
information. The control information is then transferred to a control unit 
16. On the basis of the control information, the control unit 16 controls 
an exposure unit 17, a developing unit 18 and a fixing unit 19. 
Specifically, on the basis of the control information, the control unit 16 
sets conditions of initial process parameters of various mechanisms. The 
mechanisms include a light-quantity adjusting mechanism, an exposure time 
setting mechanism and a temperature and moisture adjusting mechanism (all 
not shown) of the exposure unit 17, a temperature and moisture adjusting 
mechanism and a pressurizing mechanism (both not shown) of the developing 
unit 18, and a temperature and moisture adjusting mechanism and a 
pressurizing mechanism (both not shown) of the fixing unit 19. 
As described above, the information 12 provided on the outer surface of the 
housing 11 of the photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge 10 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 enables the exposure, developing and fixing 
conditions of the photo-sensitive recording web 20 to be automatically 
inputted to the image recording apparatus. This extremely facilitates the 
operation of the image recording apparatus, and makes it possible to 
prevent erroneous operation such as an inputting error or mistake. 
Referring next to FIG. 4, there is shown an image recording apparatus 
embodying the invention, which is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 
3. In FIG. 4, component parts like or similar to those illustrated in FIG. 
3 are designated by the same or like reference numerals. 
As shown in FIG. 4, a photo-sensitive recording medium cartridge 110 is 
removably loaded on an apparatus body 131 of the image recording 
apparatus. The cartridge 110 is similar in construction to the cartridge 
10 illustrated in FIG. 3, but is different therefrom in that no 
information is printed on the outer surface of the housing. Instead, an 
external information recording card 130 is employed, which is independent 
of the cartridge 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the card 130 has printed thereon 
information 112 in the form of a bar code. The card 130 is initially 
affixed to the housing of the cartridge 110 and, in use, is removed or 
separated from the housing of the cartridge 110. 
The image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is similar to that 
illustrated in FIG. 3, but the apparatus body 131 is provided therein with 
an insertion opening 132 serving as receptacle means for receiving the 
card 130. The reader unit 14 is located adjacent the insertion opening 
132. 
The operation of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is 
substantially same as for the apparatus of FIG. 3. 
The information 112 is not limited to the bar code, but may be a magnetic 
tape, punched holes or any other suitable information means. Further, in 
place of the card 130, it is possible to use a magnetic tape or any other 
suitable means capable of being read out by the reader unit 14. 
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a combination of a monochromatic laser 
printer 201 and a color image recording apparatus 220 embodying the 
invention. The monochromatic laser printer 201 is mounted on the top of 
the color image recording apparatus 220. 
The monochromatic laser printer 201 is of conventionally known type in 
which a beam scanning unit 202 directs a laser beam to a charged surface 
of a photoconductive drum 203 to form a latent image on the charged 
surface. The latent image on the drum 203 is then developed by a 
developing unit 204. The developed image is transferred to a common sheet 
of paper or an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet fed from a sheet feed 
cassette 205. The transferred image on the sheet is fixed by a fixing unit 
206. Usually, the monochromatic laser printer 201 is designed to record 
data transmitted from a host computer, and to feed a sheet having fixed 
thereto a monochromatic image, to a selected one of a pair of 
monochromatic sheet discharge trays 211 and 212. In the illustrated 
embodiment, the laser beam printer 201 is so arranged as to prepare a set 
of a mask original plate 222R for red, a mask original plate 222G for 
green and a mask original plate 222B for blue, which are employed in the 
color image recording apparatus 220, subsequently to be described. Each of 
such mask original plates 222 will hereinafter be referred also to as 
"intermediate sheet". 
The color image recording apparatus 220 embodying the invention is so 
arranged as to utilize a set of mask original plates prepared in 
accordance with color image information, to record a color image. 
The color image recording apparatus 220 comprises a path switching 
mechanism 210 for switching a transport path so as to transport the mask 
original plates 222R, 222G and 222B on the discharge tray 211 to an 
exposure unit 236 of the color image recording apparatus 220. A vertically 
movable exposure platen 225 is arranged at the exposure unit 236 for 
bringing the intermediate sheet 222 into close contact with a portion of a 
continuous photo and pressure sensitive recording web 224 unwound from a 
roll. The recording web 224 has one side thereof coated with capsules 
containing dye precursors. The exposure unit 236 comprises three exposure 
light sources 221 for three primary colors, which are arranged above the 
exposure platen 225. The exposure light sources 221 include a light source 
221R for red, a light source 221G for green and a light source 221B for 
blue. A developing sheet cassette 227 is arranged at a lower position 
within a casing of the color image recording apparatus 220. The developing 
sheet cassette 227 accommodates therein a stack of cut developing sheets 
226 each coated with a developer which reacts with the dye precursors in 
the capsules coated on the sensitive recording web 224, to develop the 
color. Above the developing sheet cassette 227, a pressurizing and 
developing unit 228 is arranged for pressurizing the portion of the 
recording web 224 and the developing sheet 226 superposed one upon the 
other, to develop a color image in accordance with the three 
color-decomposed latent images on the portion of the recording web 224, 
onto the developing sheet 226. A heat-fixing unit 229 is arranged at a 
location between the developing sheet feed cassette 227 and the 
pressurizing and developing unit 228, for promoting the color-developing 
reaction between the developer on the developing sheet 226 and the dye 
precursors contained in the capsules on the recording web 224, thereby 
heat-fixing the color image on the developing sheet 226. The developing 
sheet 226 having carried thereon the developed color image is discharged 
onto a discharge tray 230. 
The color image recording apparatus 220 further comprises a manual 
insertion tray 231 for manually inserting successively the intermediate 
sheets 222 from the outside, a discharge tray 232 onto which the 
intermediate sheets 222 after exposure are successively discharged, and a 
manual insertion tray 233 for manually inserting developing sheets. 
In a color mode, the mask original plate 222R for red, for example, 
prepared by the monochromatic laser printer 201 is caused to pass through 
the path switching mechanism 210, and a leading edge of the mask original 
plate 222R is positioned by a positioning roller 234. The mask original 
plate 222R is electrostatically attracted against an endless belt 235 
serving as intermediate sheet transport means. The endless belt 235 is 
formed of an electric insulation material such as, for example, PET 
(polyethylene terephthalate), and is run around a pair of rollers. A pair 
of corona generators 238 such as, for example, a corotron are arranged 
respectively adjacent the pair of rollers, for applying static electricity 
to the endless belt 235 to enable the same to attract the mask original 
plate 222R under electrostatic force. In this manner, the mask original 
plate 222R is transported by the endless belt 235 into the exposure unit 
236. 
The mask original plate 222R is positioned correctly by movement of the 
endless belt 235 such that relative displacement does not occur among the 
three color-decomposed latent images on the portion of the photo and 
pressure sensitive recording web 224. At the exposure unit 236, the 
exposure platen 225 is moved upwardly to bring the portion of the 
recording web 224 into close contact with the mask original plate 222R for 
red. Subsequently, the light source 221R is turned on to expose the 
portion of the recording web 224 to a light with a wavelength through the 
mask original plate 222R for red. Thus, a latent image corresponding to 
the mask original plate 222R is formed onto the portion of the recording 
web 224. After exposure, the mask original plate 222R is discharged onto 
the discharge tray 232. Likewise, the remaining two mask original plates 
222G and 222B for green and blue are successively brought to the position 
at the exposure unit 236, and the light sources 221G and 221B are 
successively turned on to expose the portion of the recording web 224 to 
lights having their respective wavelengths through the mask original 
plates 222G and 222B. Thus, three color-decomposed latent images are 
formed onto the portion of the recording web 224. 
The developing sheet 226 is fed from the developing sheet cassette 227, and 
is caused to pass through the pressurizing and developing unit 228, while 
being superposed upon the portion of the recording web 224 having carried 
thereon the color-decomposed latent images. The pressurizing and 
developing unit 228 pressurizes the developing sheet 226 and the portion 
of the recording web 224 superposed one upon the other to develop a color 
image in accordance with the three color-decomposed latent images on the 
portion of the recording web 224, onto the developing sheet 226. 
Thereafter, the developing sheet 226 having carried thereon the color 
image is caused to pass through the heat-fixing unit 229 so that the color 
image on the developing sheet 226 is heat-fixed. The developing sheet 226 
having carried thereon the fixed color image is discharged onto the 
discharge tray 230. On the other hand, the portion of the recording web 
224 after having passed through the pressurizing and developing unit 228 
is taken up around a take-up roller 237. 
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the mask original plate 222 to which color 
information is written by the monochromatic laser printer 201. In the 
illustrated embodiment, a difference in position where a mark is written 
makes it possible to discriminate a difference among the mask original 
plate 222R for red, the mask original plate 222G for green and the mask 
original plate 222B for blue. In addition to the color information, the 
mask original plate 222 has written thereto information containing various 
data on an image concentration of the mask original plate 222, a calendar 
date on which the mask original plate 222 is prepared, a pattern of a 
pseudo-tone, a machine type by which the mask original plate 222 is 
prepared, and the like. 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, if it is desired to utilize the 
mask original plates 222 once used and stored outside of the color image 
recording apparatus 220, to obtain a color image, the mask original plates 
222 are inserted into the color image recording apparatus 220 from the 
manual insertion tray 231, without the use of the monochromatic laser 
printer 201. In this case, each time the mask original plates 222 are 
successively transported into the exposure unit 236 by the endless belt 
235, a reader unit 239 reads out the image information written 
respectively to the mask original plates 222. Specifically, a 
reflective-optical sensor or the like incorporated in the reader unit 239 
reads out to what color the mask original plate 222 transported into the 
exposure unit 236 corresponds, to generate a signal for selecting one of 
the light sources 221 whose wavelength corresponds to the mask original 
plate 222 inserted from the manual insertion tray 231. The exposure unit 
236 successively receives the signals from the reader unit 239, and 
successively and selectively turns on the light sources 221R, 221G and 
221B corresponding respectively to the mask original plates 222R, 222G and 
222B, thereby forming three color-decomposed latent images corresponding 
respectively to the mask original plates, onto a portion of the photo and 
pressure sensitive recording web 224 which is brought to the position at 
the exposure unit 236. After the portion of the recording web 224 is 
exposed successively through the three mask original plates 222, a color 
image is formed onto a developing sheet 226 fed from the developing sheet 
feed cassette 227, in a manner similar to that described previously. Not 
only the color information (R, G, B), a transmissive-type optical sensor 
or the like incorporated in the reader unit 239 also reads out 
successively information on the image concentrations of the respective 
mask original plates 222R, 222G and 222B, to generate signals 
representative of the respective image concentrations. The exposure unit 
236 is operative in response to the signals from the transmissive-type 
optical sensor, to determine adequate exposure amounts to the portion of 
the recording web 224 with respect to the respective mask original plates, 
thereby adjusting periods of time for exposure. Alternatively or 
additionally, the exposure unit 236 is operative in response to the 
signals from the transmissive-type optical sensor, to adjust light 
quantities from the respective light sources 221R, 221G and 221B. 
FIG. 8 shows the positional relationship among the reader unit 239, the 
exposure platen 225 and the mask original plate 222. The reader unit 239 
is obstructive of successive exposure of the portion of the photo and 
pressure recording web 224 to the lights from the respective light sources 
221, because the mask original plate 222 and the portion of the recording 
web 224 must be brought into close contact with each other. To this end, a 
rack and pinion mechanism 250 is associated with the reader unit 239 to 
angularly move the same between an operative position indicated by the 
solid lines in FIG. 8 and an inoperative position indicated by the 
double-dotted lines, about a vertically extending pivot axis. In the 
operative position, the reader unit 239 faces toward the information on 
the mask original plate 222 when it reaches a position where the portion 
of the recording web 224 upon which the mask original plate 222 is 
superposed, is exposed to the light from the light source 221 
corresponding to the mask original plate 222. After having read out the 
information on the mask original plate 222, the reader unit 239 is moved 
to the inoperative position where the reader unit 239 is located 
exteriorly of the exposure platen 225 and in parallel to the adjacent side 
edge of the exposure platen 225. In the inoperative position, accordingly, 
the reader unit 239 does not interfere with successive exposure of the 
portion of the recording web 224 to the lights from the respective light 
sources 221. 
FIG. 9 shows a modified color image recording apparatus which is similar to 
that illustrated in FIG. 6, but is different therefrom in that an 
automatic sheet feed cassette 340 for the mask original plates 222 is 
arranged in substitution for the manual insertion tray 231 shown in FIG. 
6. When it is desired to record various kinds of color images, a stack of 
a plurality of sets of mask original plates 222 is accommodated in the 
sheet feed cassette 340. The mask plates 222 in each set are automatically 
fed successively one by one from the sheet feed cassette 340 into the 
exposure unit 236. 
In the embodiment and the modification illustrated respectively in FIGS. 6 
and 9, the monochromatic printer 201 is not particularly limited to the 
laser beam printer, but may be an LED (light emitting diode) printer, a 
liquid-crystal printer, a thermal-transfer printer or any other suitable 
printer, provided that such printer can prepare three color-decomposed 
original documents for R, G and B. In case of a printer of desk-top type, 
the printer is mounted on the top of the color image recording apparatus 
220 and is operatively connected thereto. On the other hand, in case of a 
large-size printer, three color-decomposed original documents prepared by 
the large-size printer are inserted into the color image recording 
apparatus 220 from the manual insertion tray 231 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, it 
is possible for the color image recording apparatus to easily obtain color 
images. 
As described above, the arrangement of each of the color image recording 
apparatuses illustrated respectively in FIGS. 6 and 9 is such that when it 
is desired to take a hard copy having carried thereon a color image from 
the mask original plates, the reader unit reads out the information 
provided respectively on the mask original plates, and the photo-sensitive 
recording medium is exposed successively to the lights with their 
respective wavelengths in conformity respectively with the subject colors 
of the mask original plates. With such arrangement, an operator can 
operate the color image recording apparatus without directing any 
attention to the order in which the mask original plates are successively 
fed to the exposure unit, making it possible to obtain color images easily 
without occurrence of an error or mistake. Further, the arrangement of the 
color image recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 is such that if it 
is desired to obtain various kinds of color images, a plurality of sets of 
mask original plates are set in the automatic sheet feed cassette so that 
the mask original plates in each set are successively fed to the exposure 
unit from the sheet feed cassette. With such arrangement, it is possible 
to set the mask original plates without directing any attention to the 
order of the mask original plates for red, green and blue. Thus, the 
operation can be made simple and easy.