Optical fixing unit, illuminance correcting method for the same, and thermal printer
AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
InventorsNobuo Katsuma, Akihiko Machida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A yellow luminous-element array, which is an optical fixing unit, comprises a large number of yellow LEDs emitting ultraviolet rays. The LEDs in each of lines extending in a feeding direction are connected in series. Integral illuminance of each line is adjusted by changing electrical energy to be supplied to the respective lines. The integral illuminance of each line extending in the feeding direction is measured to obtain illuminance distribution relative to a scanning direction when the yellow luminous-element array is examined at the time of manufacture thereof. The integral illuminance of each line is corrected so as to even the illuminance distribution.
Claims19
An illuminance correcting method for an optical fixing unit including a luminous-element array being as a light source in which luminous elements for radiating ultraviolet rays are arranged in matrix so as to align in a scanning direction and a feeding direction, said optical fixing unit performing optical fixation by the ultraviolet rays of said light source during conveyance of a thermosensitive recording material for which thermal recording is already carried out, and said optical fixing unit being used in a thermal printer thermally recording an image by heating the thermosensitive recording material conveyed in the feeding direction with a thermal head disposed in the scanning direction, said illuminance correcting method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining integral illuminance of the luminous elements belonging to each line extending in the feeding direction of said luminous-element array;
- checking illuminance distribution in the scanning direction on the basis of the obtained integral illuminance;
- and
- correcting the integral illuminance with respect to the respective lines so as to even out the illuminance distribution in the scanning direction.
An optical fixing unit for performing optical fixation by ultraviolet rays while a thermosensitive recording material, for which thermal recording is already carried out, is conveyed in a feeding direction, said optical fixing unit comprising:
- a luminous-element array having a plurality of luminous elements radiating the ultraviolet rays and arranged in matrix so as to align in the feeding direction and a scanning direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, said luminous elements aligned in the feeding direction being connected in series to constitute a luminous-element line;
- and
- adjustment means for changing electric energy to be supplied to the respective luminous-element lines, said adjustment means adjusting integral illuminance of the respective luminous-element lines.
A thermal printer including conveyance means, a thermal head and an optical fixing unit, said conveyance means conveying a thermosensitive recording material in a feeding direction, said thermal head being disposed in a scanning direction to thermally record an image by heating the thermosensitive recording material, and said optical fixing unit having a luminous-element array, in which luminous elements for radiating ultraviolet rays are arranged in matrix so as to align in the scanning direction and the feeding direction, to perform optical fixation by radiating the ultraviolet rays from the luminous-element array relative to the thermally-recorded thermosensitive recording material during conveyance thereof, said thermal printer comprising:
- adjustment means for changing electrical energy to be supplied to a luminous-element line in which the luminous elements are connected in series in the feeding direction, said adjustment means adjusting integral illuminance of the respective luminous-element lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.