Incremental printing of symbolic information – Thermal marking apparatus or processes – Density control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-02
2001-08-28
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Thermal marking apparatus or processes
Density control
C347S240000, C347S251000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281920
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of image recording apparatus, particularly an apparatus which, in spite of the fluctuation in the fog density of a recording material to be used, is capable of recording high-quality images that assure satisfactory tone representation over the entire density range.
Image recording apparatus such as copiers and printers are extensively used in diverse fields by employing various recording materials including silver salt photographic materials, thermally processable light-sensitive materials, light- and heat-sensitive recording materials, electrophotographic materials and thermal recording materials. In the case of using a light-sensitive recording material, it is imagewise exposed with recording light such as an optical beam modulated in accordance with the image to be recorded or the light reflected from the original and if a print with a record of a visible (developed) image is necessary, the recording material is subjected to an appropriate development scheme, for example, wet development using various processing solutions if the recording material is a silver salt photographic material, or thermal development if it is a thermally processable light-sensitive material.
In the case of using a thermal recording material, it is imagewise heated to develop color by means of a thermal head having a number of heating elements arranged in one direction or a thermal recording light beam such as a laser beam and this produces a print with a record of a visible image.
In image recording apparatus using the various recording materials described above, a minimum density (highlight) that can be recorded is generally determined by a characteristic of the recording material to be used, namely, its fog density. Consider, for example, a negative recording material that forms color in recorded areas; depending on the characteristics of the recording material, its base density and other factors, there occurs some color formation (density development) in non-recorded areas and this density which is commonly referred to as “fog density” is a minimum density that can be recorded.
The fog density of a virgin recording material (under pre-exposure storage) varies with time, typically toward a higher value. In spite of this fact, the conventional image recording apparatus is operated under constant recording conditions and if the fog density fluctuates, the low-density areas of the recorded image will become “soft” to deteriorate the print quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances and has as an object providing an image recording apparatus that uses various recording materials including light-sensitive materials and thermal recording materials and which, in spite of the fluctuation in the fog density of a particular recording material or the difference in fog density between production lots and other identifications of the recording material, is capable of consistent recording of high-quality images that assure satisfactory tone representation over the entire density range including low densities.
This object of the invention can be attained by an image recording apparatus that performs image recording on a recording material to output a print with a record of a visible image, which comprises a means of outputting a print having printed thereon a minimum density in said recording material, a means of measurement for measuring said minimum density that has been recorded on said print, and a control means by which tones to be recorded are controlled in accordance with the minimum density measured by said means of measurement.
Preferably, the tones to be recorded are controlled by said control means which determines a difference between said measured minimum density and a standard minimum density of said recording material and raises an image density over an entire density range or in a partial density range in accordance with the thus determined difference.
Preferably, the image density is raised over the entire density range by increasing a target density value of the recorded image by said difference. Alternatively, the target density value is increased in a density range below a specified level, preferably below 1.0 in terms of density D, in accordance with said difference such that said measured minimum density is approached asymptotically by said target density value.
Preferably, said recording material is a light- and heat-sensitive recording material, and said apparatus further comprises a plurality of supply trays for accommodating the recording materials.
Preferably, said supply trays accommodate the recording materials of different sizes, respectively.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5294959 (1994-03-01), Nagao et al.
patent: 5383032 (1995-01-01), Eguchi et al.
patent: 5719540 (1998-02-01), Takaoka et al.
patent: 333724/1996 (1996-12-01), None
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Le N.
Pham Hai C.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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