US6034712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exposure apparatus and image forming machine including it
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-06-24
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An image forming machine includes an exposure unit and a pressure development unit for forming an image on a microcapsule coated sheet. The exposure unit includes a plurality of light emitting elements, a substrate having reflective recesses formed in the surface thereof, the plurality of light emitting elements being disposed in the recesses, and a mask having openings formed opposite the plurality of light emitting elements. The reflective recess prevents light from the light emitting element from exiting through the pinhole other than the pinhole opposed to that light emitting element, thus improving the efficiency of utilization of exposure light. A partition may be provided between the light emitting elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeo Iwasaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:47
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/18; B41J19/20; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/44; B41J2/447; B41J2/455; B41J2/465; B41J2/47; H; H10; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/851; H10W72/874; H10W72/884
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium, comprising; a plurality of light emitting elements; a substrate having recesses formed in a surface thereof, said plurality of light emitting elements being disposed in the recesses; and a mask having openings formed opposite the light emitting elements; wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from one of said plurality of light emitting elements disposed therein to an opening formed in the mask and wherein the photosensitive medium is exposed to the light emitted through the openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium, comprising; a plurality of light emitting elements; a substrate having recesses formed in a surface thereof, said plurality of light emitting elements being disposed in the recesses; and a mask having openings formed opposite the light emitting elements; wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from one of said plurality of light emitting elements disposed therein to an opening formed in the mask and wherein the photosensitive medium is exposed to the light emitted through the openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the recesses formed in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties, and the recess has such a shape that reflected light from the recess is ejected through the opening provided opposite the relevant light emitting element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the recesses has a shape which prevents light from the light emitting element disposed in the recess from exiting through an opening opposed to the adjacent light emitting element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein an optical element is provided in or above the opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein a separating wall for preventing light from a first light emitting element from exiting through an opening opposed to a second light emitting element adjacent to the first emitting element is provided between the first and second light emitting elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mask is supported on the substrate by the separating wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the recesses in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the recesses in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties, and the recess has such a shape that reflected light from the recess is ejected through the opening provided opposite the relevant light emitting element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the recesses has a shape which prevents light from the light emitting element disposed in the recess from exiting through an opening opposed to an adjacent light emitting element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 5, wherein an optical element is provided in or above the opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate is composed of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate is composed of a reflective material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photosensitive medium is a medium which bears microcapsules enveloping a component varying in strength upon exposure, and a coloring material, and in which development is performed by draining of the coloring material when the microcapsules are ruptured under pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitting elements are LED's, and the LED's are connected to areas other than the recesses on the substrate by at least one electrical connection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are light emitting elements which emit light of different wavelengths from those of one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements include three light emitting elements which emit lights with central wavelengths for red, green and blue, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the openings are pinholes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of the mask which is opposed to the substrate has been subjected to reflection-free treatment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the mask are molded integrally.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 1, wherein light emitted from a side surface of each of the plurality of light emitting elements is reflected by the reflecting surface of the recess in which the light emitting element is disposed, through the opening formed in the mask.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image forming machine for a photosensitive recording medium on whose surface a latent image of image information is formed by exposure and converted into a visible image by development, said image forming machine comprising: an exposure unit including a plurality of light emitting elements, a substrate having recesses formed in a surface thereof, said plurality of light emitting elements being disposed in the recesses, and a mask having openings formed opposite the plurality of light emitting elements; and a development unit, wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from one of said plurality of light emitting elements disposed therein to an opening formed in the mask.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image forming machine for a photosensitive recording medium on whose surface a latent image of image information is formed by exposure and converted into a visible image by development, said image forming machine comprising: an exposure unit including a plurality of light emitting elements, a substrate having recesses formed in a surface thereof, said plurality of light emitting elements being disposed in the recesses, and a mask having openings formed opposite the plurality of light emitting elements; and a development unit, wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from one of said plurality of light emitting elements disposed therein to an opening formed in the mask.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the photosensitive medium is a medium which bears microcapsules enveloping a component varying in strength upon exposure, and a coloring material, and in which development is performed by draining of the coloring material when the microcapsules are ruptured under pressure, and the development unit is a pressure developing device which presses the microcapsules.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The image forming machine of claim 22, including a carriage movable relative to the photosensitive recording medium, and having both the exposure unit and the development unit; and an apparatus for moving the carriage relative to the photosensitive recording medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The image forming machine of claim 23, wherein the apparatus for moving the carriage relative to the photosensitive recording medium is composed of a medium feeding device for feeding the photosensitive recording medium, and a carriage feeding device for conveying the carriage in a direction intersecting the direction of feeding of the medium feeding device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The image forming machine of claim 23, including a control circuit for controlling the exposure unit and the apparatus for moving the carriage relative to the photosensitive recording medium so as to light the light emitting elements in accordance with the moving position of the carriage on the basis of image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The image forming machine of claim 22, wherein the pressure developing device includes a contact unit which contacts the photosensitive recording medium placed on a bearing surface, and the contact unit has an urging member for urging the photosensitive recording medium so as to be compressed against the bearing surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image forming machine of claim 26, wherein the contact unit is a rotatably supported ball.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein at least one of the recesses formed in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties, and the recess has such a shape that reflected light from the recess is ejected through the opening provided opposite the relevant light emitting element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein at least one of the recesses has a shape which prevents light from the light emitting element disposed in the recess from exiting through an opening opposed to an adjacent light emitting element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein an optical element is provided in or above the opening.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein a separating wall for preventing light from a first light emitting element from exiting through an opening opposed to a second light emitting element adjacent to the first light emitting element is provided between the first and second light emitting elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image forming machine of claim 31, wherein the mask is supported on the substrate by the separating wall.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The image forming machine of claim 31, wherein at least one of the recesses formed in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The image forming machine of claim 31, wherein at least one of the recesses formed in the surface of the substrate has reflecting properties, and the recess has such a shape that reflected light from the recess is ejected through the opening provided opposite the relevant light emitting element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
The image forming machine of claim 31, wherein at least one of the recesses has a shape which prevents light from the light emitting element disposed in the recess from exiting through an opening opposed to an adjacent light emitting element.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The image forming machine of claim 31, wherein an optical element is provided in or above the opening.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the substrate is composed of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the substrate is composed of a reflective material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the light emitting elements are LED's, and the LED's are connected to areas other than the recesses on the substrate by at least one electrical connection.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image forming machine of claim 39, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements include three light emitting elements which emit lights with central wavelengths for red, green and blue, respectively.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are light emitting elements which emit light of different wavelengths from those of one another.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the openings are pinholes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein a surface of the mask which is opposed to the substrate has been subjected to reflection-free treatment.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
12 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the recesses are plated.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein a sealing material is filled into the gap between the substrate and the mask.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein the openings opposed to the light emitting elements include openings composed of a pinhole for image modulating exposure and a pinhole for auxiliary exposure.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
47 words
The image forming machine of claim 21, wherein light emitted from a side surface of each of the plurality of light emitting elements is reflected by the reflecting surface of the recess in which the light emitting element is disposed, through the opening formed in the mask.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
91 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium, comprising; a plurality of light emitting elements; a substrate having recesses which are formed in a surface thereof and in which said plurality of light emitting elements are accommodated; and an opening formed in a mask for each of the recesses being restricted as to function as a stop for a light beam from each of the light emitting elements, wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from a light emitting element accommodated therein to an opening.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
91 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium, comprising; a plurality of light emitting elements; a substrate having recesses which are formed in a surface thereof and in which said plurality of light emitting elements are accommodated; and an opening formed in a mask for each of the recesses being restricted as to function as a stop for a light beam from each of the light emitting elements, wherein each of the recesses has a reflecting surface for reflecting light emitted from a light emitting element accommodated therein to an opening.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
51 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium of claim 48, wherein the light beam from each of the light emitting elements is restricted by the stop and is directed to a portion, which is opposed to the each of the light emitting elements, of the surface of the photosensitive medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 49, wherein an optical element is provided in or above each of the openings.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
75 words
An exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium of claim 48, wherein the light beam from each of the light emitting elements and a light beam indirectly from each of the light emitting elements through reflection with the surface of the recess having the reflecting properties are restricted by the stop and is directed to a portion, which is opposed to the each of the light emitting elements, of the surface of the photosensitive medium.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
46 words
The exposure apparatus of claim 48, wherein light emitted from a side surface of each of the plurality of light emitting elements is reflected by the reflecting surface of the recess in which the light emitting element is accomodated, through the opening formed in the mask.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3072481A
Cited
US4378149A
Cited
US4399209A
Cited
US4440846A
Cited
US4648699A
Cited
JPS62161153A
Cited
US4740809A
Cited
JPS62231758A
Cited
US4992822A
Cited
JPS6331364A
Cited
US4928122A
Cited
JPH04369633A
Cited
US5642149A
Cited
US5617131A
Cited
US5550627A
Cited
US5812892A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |