Abstract:
An image recording device includes: a supplying section for supplying recording media; an image recording section for exposing, on the basis of digital image data, the recording media supplied from the supplying section, so as to record images on the recording media; a developing section for developing the recording media on which the images have been recorded; a drying section for drying the recording media which have been developed; and a sealing mechanism, provided between the image recording section and one of the developing section and the drying section, for preventing one of heat and vapor from one of the developing section and the drying section from entering the image recording section. The image recording section is disposed above or below the developing section.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image recording device which exposes a recording medium on the basis of image data so as to record an image on the recording medium, and subjects the recording medium, on which the image has been recorded, to developing and to drying, and thereafter, discharges the recording medium as a print. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Printer processors, which serve as image recording devices which form images on photographic printing papers on the basis of image data recorded on photographic films or the like and discharge the photographic printing papers as photographic prints, have been utilized conventionally. 
     In the printer of the printer processor, a film image recorded on a photographic film, for example, is exposed onto a photographic printing paper on the basis of image data read by dividing the film image into respective color components of R, G, B, such that an image is recorded onto the photographic printing paper. Next, in the processor of the printer processor, developing and fixing are carried out on the photographic printing paper on which the image has been recorded, and the photographic printing paper which has been wet by the developing and fixing is dried at a drying section, and then the photographic printing paper is discharged as a photographic print. 
     In such a printer processor, the printer and the processor are connected. The photographic printing paper, on which an image has been recorded in the printer, is subjected, as is, to developing in the processor, such that photographic prints can be produced efficiently. 
     However, because the printer and the processor are disposed adjacent to one another, the surface area required for placement of the printer processor is large. Accordingly, there has been the demand to reduce the space (surface area) occupied by the printer processor, in order to effectively utilize the limited space within a store when the printer processor is set within the store. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device in which less surface area is required for placement of the image recording device. 
     An image recording device relating to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a supplying section for supplying recording media; an image recording section for exposing, on the basis of digital image data, the recording media supplied from the supplying section, so as to record images on the recording media; a developing section for developing the recording media on which the images have been recorded; a drying section for drying the recording media that have been developed; and a sealing mechanism, provided between the image recording section and one of the developing section and the drying section, for preventing one of heat and vapor from one of the developing section and the drying section from entering the image recording section, wherein the image recording section is disposed above or below the developing section. 
     An image recording device relating to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: a supplying section for stocking and supplying sheet-shaped recording media; an image recording section for exposing, on the basis of digital image data, the recording media supplied from the supplying section, so as to record images on the recording media; a developing section for developing the recording media on which the images have been recorded; and a drying section for drying the recording media that have been developed, wherein the image recording section is disposed above or below the developing section. 
     An image recording device relating to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: a supplying section for supplying recording media; an image recording section for exposing, on the basis of digital image data, the recording media supplied from the supplying section, so as to record images on the recording media; a developing section for developing the recording media, on which the images have been recorded; a drying section for drying the recording media that have been developed; and a distributing section for distributing the recording media supplied from the supplying section into plural rows in a direction orthogonal to the recording media conveyance direction, wherein the image recording section is disposed above or below the developing section, and the distributing section is disposed between the supplying section and the image recording section or between the image recording section and the developing section. 
     In the image recording device relating to the present invention, at least an image recording section (printer), which exposes recording media and records images thereon, and a developing section (processor), which carries out developing (including developing, fixing and washing processes) on the recording media on which the images are formed, which were disposed so as to be lined up next to each other in the conventional art, are disposed one above the other. Thus, the surface area needed for placing the image recording apparatus can be reduced. 
     Further, in the image recording device of another embodiment further comprises a distributing section for distributing the recording media supplied from the supplying section into plural rows in a direction orthogonal to the recording media conveyance direction, wherein the distributing section is disposed between the supplying section and the image recording section or between the image recording section and the developing section. 
     Furthermore, in the image recording device of still another embodiment further comprises a consolidating section for consolidating the plural rows of the recording media, downstream from the drying section in the recording media conveyance direction, into a single row. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, for explanation, of an image recording device relating to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a processor relating to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a drying device relating to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view, for explanation, of an image recording device relating to another example of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an image recording device relating to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view, for explanation, of an image recording device relating to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view, for explanation, of an image recording device relating to another example of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the image recording device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an image recording device  10  is formed by arranging, in three levels along the vertical direction, an image recording unit  12 , a drying unit  14 , and a processor unit  16 , all supported by a frame  11 . Note that, in FIG. 1, outer panels mounted to the frame  11  have been removed for convenience of explanation. 
     The image recording unit  12  disposed at the uppermost level has suction pads  20 , a first conveying roller pair  22 , a pair of conveying roller pairs  24  for exposure, and an exposure device  26 . The suction pads  20  are for removing one sheet-shaped photosensitive material (photographic printing paper) A from a sheet cassette  18  mounted to the side surface of the image recording unit  12 , and for feeding the photosensitive material A out to a conveying path. The first conveying roller pair  22  is for conveying the photosensitive material A along the conveying path. The pair of conveying roller pairs  24  for exposure is for conveying the photosensitive material A accurately along the sub-scanning direction at an exposure position. The exposure device  26  subjects the photosensitive material A, which is being conveyed accurately in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying roller pairs  24  for exposure, to scanning-exposure in the main scanning direction which is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, so as to record an image on the photosensitive material A. 
     A control section (not shown) is provided within the image recording unit  12 . The control section controls the driving of the conveying system (the suction pads  20 , the conveying roller pair  22 , the conveying roller pairs  24  for exposure, and the like) and the exposure device  26  on the basis of digital image data inputted from a media reader  30 , a film scanner  32 , or a customer-operated input device  34 , each of which serves as an image data input device, such that an image is recorded on the photosensitive material A. 
     Here, although the media reader  30 , the film scanner  32 , and the customer-operated input device  34  have all been mentioned for explanation, it suffices to provide only one of these devices. The media reader  30  is a device which, for example, reads, from a floppy disk, digital image data photographed by a digital camera. Further, the film scanner  32  is a device which reads image data of a photographic film as digital image data via a CCD camera. The customer-operated input device  34  is a device which is disposed at a store. A customer, who desires prints, inserts a medium, on which digital image data is stored, into the customer-operated input device  34  and operates the device  34 . In this way, the digital image data is read out from the medium, and the customer can input instructions for desired processes to the unillustrated control section of the image recording device  10 . 
     The control section also carries out control for driving a processor  36  and a drying device  50  which will be described later. 
     The processor unit  16 , which is disposed at the lowest level, is equipped with the processor  36  which carries out developing on the photosensitive material A on which an image has been recorded in the image recording unit  12  and which has reached the processor  36  via a conveying path provided within the drying unit  14  which is disposed at the middle level. As shown in FIG. 2, the processor  36  has a developing tank  38 , a fixing tank  40 , and washing tanks  42 A through  42 D which contain developing solution, fixing solution, and wash water, respectively. The photosensitive material A, which has entered into the processor  36 , is subjected to developing and fixing processing and is washed by passing through the developing tank  38 , the fixing tank  40 , and the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D. The conveying path of the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D is connected at the lower portions of the respective washing tanks  42 A through  42 D, and is short. Blades  44  serving as sealing members are provided at the connected portions of the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D. By being opened only when the photosensitive material A is passing through and being closed at other times, the blade  44  suppresses the mixing together of the waters in the respective tanks. 
     Spacers  46  are inserted into the respective washing tanks  42 A through  42 D, in order to cut-down on the amount of water used in the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D. 
     The drying unit  14  which is disposed at the middle level includes squeeze rollers  48 , which remove moisture from the photosensitive material A discharged from the processor  36 , and the drying device  50 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the drying device  50  blows-out warm air from blow-out openings  54  toward both sides of the photosensitive material A which is being conveyed within the drying device  50  by second conveying roller pairs  52 . Fans  56  for intake (see FIG.  1 ), which take-in air from the exterior, are provided at the side surfaces of the drying device  50 . 
     The photosensitive material A, which is discharged from the upper portion of the drying device  50 , is discharged to the exterior by third conveying roller pairs  58 , and is stacked on a sorter  60  provided at the side wall of the image recording device  10 . 
     The image recording unit  12  and the drying unit  14  are cut-off from one another by a wall  70 . In this way, the heat and vapor generated at the drying unit  14  are prevented from moving into the image recording unit  12 . This is in order to prevent the image recording of the photosensitive material A in the image recording unit  12  from being affected by the heat and vapor generated in the drying unit  14 . 
     A slit  72  is formed in the wall  70  so that the photosensitive material A can move along the conveying path from the image recording unit  12  to the drying unit  14 . 
     Next, the operation of the image recording device  10  having the above-described structure will be described simply, and the effects thereof will be explained. 
     In the image recording device  10 , when image data is inputted to the control section from the media reader  30 , the film scanner  32 , or the customer-operated input device  34 , the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A is removed from the sheet cassette  18  by the suction pads  20 , and is inserted onto the conveying path. The photosensitive material A is conveyed accurately in the sub-scanning direction by the conveying rollers  24  for exposure. Due to the photosensitive material A being scan-exposed by the exposure device  26  in the main scanning direction which is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, an image based on the image data is recorded on the photosensitive material A. The photosensitive material A on which an image is recorded is passed through the slit  72  of the wall  70  by the first conveying rollers  22 , and, from the image recording unit  12  and via the drying unit  14 , reaches the processor  36  of the developing unit  16 . At the processor  36 , by passing successively through the developing tank  38 , the fixing tank  40 , and the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D, the photosensitive material A is subjected to developing, fixing, and washing. At this time, while moving between the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D, the photosensitive material A passes through by pushing the blades  44  open. After the photosensitive material A passes by a blade  44 , the blade  44  closes the connected portion such that the waters in the respective tanks can be prevented from mixing together. Further, because the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D are interconnected to one another at the lower portions thereof, the length of the conveying path is short, and washing can be carried out efficiently, i.e., in a short time. 
     The photosensitive material A, which has been subjected to developing, fixing and washing in the processor  36 , is inserted into the drying device  50  via the squeeze rollers  48 . In the drying device  50 , the photosensitive material A is dried by warm air being blown toward the both surfaces thereof from the blow-out openings  54  while the photosensitive material A is conveyed by the second conveying rollers  52 . Accordingly, the photosensitive material A is dried quickly on a relatively short conveying path. The dried photosensitive material A is discharged to the sorter  60  by the third conveying rollers  58 . 
     At this time, although heat and vapor are generated in the drying unit  14  (the drying device  50 ), the generated heat and vapor can be prevented from being transmitted to the image recording unit  12  because the image recording unit  12  and the drying unit  14  are cut-off from one another by the wall  70 . Accordingly, the heat and vapor generated in the drying unit  14  can be prevented from affecting the image recording in the image recording unit  12 . 
     In this way, in the image recording device  10  relating to the present embodiment, the image recording unit  12 , the drying unit  14 , and the developing unit  16  are disposed so as to be arranged (stacked) vertically. Thus, as compared with a conventional image recording device in which the image recording unit (printer) and the developing unit (processor) are arranged in a row, the space needed for placement of the device can be greatly reduced, and the device can be set in a small space within a store. 
     If the image recording unit  12  is disposed so as to be stacked above the drying unit  14  (the developing unit  16 ) in order to reduce the surface area which the image recording device  10  occupies, there is the concern that heat and water vapor from the drying unit  14  will be transferred to the image recording unit  12 , and the state of recording an image on the photosensitive material A will deteriorate. However, because the transmission of heat and water vapor to the image recording unit  12  is suppressed by the wall  70 , deterioration in image recording can be suppressed, and high-quality image recording can be carried out. 
     Moreover, in the image recording device  10 , image recording is carried out on the basis of digital image data read at the media reader  30 , the film scanner  32 , the customer-operated input device  34 , or the like. Thus, the structure can be simplified and the device can be made more compact as compared with a structure in which, for example, an image is recorded by developing a photographic film and exposing an image onto a photographic printing paper via the film at which the image has been made visible. 
     Further, because the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A (the sheet cassette  18 ) is used, the cassette can be made more compact as compared with a case in which a photosensitive material in roll form is used. 
     In the processor  36 , the conveying path is connected at the lower portions of the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D. Thus, the conveying path can be made shorter and washing processing can be carried out efficiently, as compared with a case in which the conveying path is connected at the upper portions of the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D (refer to the developing tank  38  and the fixing tank  40 ). Further, because the blades  44  are provided at the connecting portions between the washing tanks  42 A through  42 D, the photosensitive material A can pass therethrough, and mixing-together of the waters in the respective tanks can be suppressed. 
     In the present embodiment, because the sheet-shaped photosensitive material A is used, the sheet cassette  18  and the suction pads  20  are used. However, as shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive material magazine  80 , from which the photosensitive material A in roll form is pulled-out by pull-out rollers  82 , may be mounted. Note that a cutter  84  is provided at the photosensitive material A pull-out side of the photosensitive material magazine  80 . The cutter  84  cuts the photosensitive material A which has been pulled-out, so as to form a sheet-shaped photosensitive material A of a desired length. 
     In the image recording device  10  of the present embodiment, the slit  72  is provided in the wall  70 . However, instead of the slit  72 , a shutter which can be freely opened and closed may be provided. If a shutter which can be freely opened and closed is provided, the transmission of heat and water vapor from the drying unit  14  to the image recording unit  12  can be suppressed even more by closing the shutter at times other than when the photosensitive material A is conveyed therethrough. 
     Moreover, at the image recording unit  12 , a contact-type recording device such as a serial dot printer, or a non-contact type recording device such as an ink jet printer, may be disposed along the conveying path as a back printing device for printing characters on the reverse surface of the photosensitive material A. 
     In the image recording device  10  relating to the present embodiment, the units  12 ,  14 ,  16  are disposed so as to be stacked in that order from the top. However, the order in which the units  12 ,  14 ,  16  are disposed is not limited to this order. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the respective units may be disposed so as to be stacked in the order of the image recording unit  12 , the developing unit  16 , and the drying unit  14 , from the top. 
     An image recording device relating to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. The arrangement of the image recording unit, the drying unit, and the developing unit relating to the present embodiment are different from the arrangement of the first embodiment. Structural elements which are the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, in the image recording device  100  relating to the present second embodiment, the photosensitive material magazine  80 , which houses the photosensitive material A which is in a roll-form, is disposed at the uppermost level demarcated by the frame  11 . The exposure device  26  is disposed at the middle level, and the processor  36  is disposed at the lower level. The drying device  50  is provided above the processor  36  so as to extend in the vertical direction from the middle level to the upper level. 
     A first wall  108  is provided between the exposure device  26  and the processor  36 , and a second wall  106  is provided between the exposure device  26  and the drying device  50 . Transmission of heat and water vapor to the exposure device  26  (the image recording process) can thereby be prevented. 
     Further, at the processor  36 , a washing tank  102  is divided by third walls  104  into five small chambers  102 A through  102 E. The blades  44  serving as sealing members are provided at the third walls  104  at the connecting portions communicating the respective small chambers. 
     Operation of the image recording device  100  which is structured in this way will now be described. 
     In the same way as in the first embodiment, the exposure device  26  and the drying device  50  are disposed above the processor  36 . Thus, the surface area required for placement of the image recording device  100  is reduced. 
     The first and second walls  106 ,  108  are provided between the exposure device  26  and the drying device  50 , and between the exposure device  26  and the processor  36 , respectively. Thus, vapor and heat from the drying device  50  and the processor  36  can be prevented from being transmitted to the exposure device  26  (the image recording position), and can be prevented from affecting the state of image recording. 
     Moreover, in the processor  36 , the interior of the washing tank  102  is divided into the plural small chambers  102 A through  102 E by the walls  104 . The conveying path of the photosensitive material A is formed by adjacent small chambers being connected to one another at connecting portions having the blades  44 . Thus, the conveying path can be made short, and effects which are the same as those achieved by providing a plurality of washing tanks can be attained by providing only one washing tank. As a result, the processor  36  can be made even more compact, and the space for placing the image recording device  100  can be reduced even more. 
     Next, an image recording device  110  relating to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. Structural elements which are the same as those of the previous embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The difference between the present embodiment and the previous embodiments is that the image recording device  110  is disposed with a distributing section for distributing the photosensitive materials A from one row into plural rows and a consolidating section for consolidating the photosensitive materials A from plural rows to a single row. Therefore, description will be limited to these sections. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the image recording device  110  includes a distributing device  90  disposed upstream from the exposure position (exposure device  26 ) in the conveyance direction on the conveyance path. The distributing device  90  distributes the sheet-shaped photosensitive materials A, which are conveyed in a single row, in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction and conveys the photosensitive materials A in plural rows. The mechanism that carries out distribution may be a suction cup, a roller, a manipulator, or the like. 
     A consolidating device  92  is disposed downstream from the drying device  50  in the conveyance direction on the conveyance path. The consolidating device  92  consolidates the photosensitive materials A that are conveyed in plural rows to a single row by the same mechanism (e.g., a suction cup, a roller, a manipulator, or the like) as the distributing device  90 . 
     Thus, the photosensitive materials A are exposed while being conveyed in plural rows and are passed though the interior of the processor  36 . Therefore, the speed at which image recording is conducted is increased. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the distributing device  90  may be disposed downstream from the exposure position (exposure device  26 ) in the conveyance direction on the conveyance path. In this case, the photosensitive materials A are exposed while being conveyed in a single row, and are distributed and conveyed through the processor  36  in plural rows. Therefore, it is possible to compensate for differences in the speeds at which exposure and development are conducted. 
     Further, the amount of space occupied by the device  110  can be reduced by disposing the distributing device  90  and consolidating device  92  on or between the stacked image recording unit  12 , drying unit  14  and processing unit  16 . Therefore, the surface area occupied by the image recording device  110  can be reduced just as with the image recording devices of the previous embodiments. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the surface area occupied by the image recording device can be reduced.