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.

Abstract: There are provided an image reading and reproducing apparatus comprising a scanner for photoelectrically reading an image carried on a film to obtain digital input image data; an image processing section for subjecting the digital input image data to specified image processing steps to obtain processed image data; a line image acquiring section for acquiring digital line image data of a line image; an image combining section for combining the processed image data with the digital line image data to create output composite image data and a printer for scanning and exposing a light-sensitive material in accordance with the output composite image data at one step to record a composite image en the light-sensitive material, as well as an image reading and reproducing method applied to the above apparatus. The apparatus and method are capable of simply inserting characters and pictures on the surface of a print in accordance with the designation by a user without obstructing an image.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus comprising a light-sensitive material supply section, a light-sensitive material transport mechanism, an image recording section, a cutter, a distributor, a scan/transport section and an exposing unit, wherein a light-sensitive material supplied as cut sheets is distributed in a plurality of rows and digitally exposed at a time for a plurality of images and the cut sheets of the exposed light-sensitive material are delivered to a subsequent developing apparatus by the light-sensitive material transport mechanism. The productivity of the digital photoprinter is improved when a multiplicity of the cut sheets of the light-sensitive material are exposed.

Abstract: The improved image recording apparatus includes a light-sensitive material supply section having a loader of a magazine containing a roll of a light-sensitive material in a lightproof case and a withdrawing device for withdrawing the light-sensitive material from the magazine; a cutter for cutting the light-sensitive material into sheets; an image recording section which has a scanning transport device for transporting the cut sheets of light-sensitive material for scanning and an exposing device by which the light-sensitive material is exposed to recording light modulated in accordance with digital image data; a transport device which transports the light-sensitive material from the cutter to the scanning transport device and which transports the as-exposed light-sensitive material to a next step; and a back printing section which is provided midway along the path of transport of the light-sensitive material by the transport device to record a back print on the non-recording side of the light-sensitive mater

Abstract: The improved image recording apparatus includes a cutter for cutting a web of light-sensitive material into sheets of a specified length; a recorder which transports the cut sheets of light-sensitive material for scanning and exposes them in a specified recording position by recording light modulated in accordance with digital image data; a back printer for recording a back print on a reverse surface of the light-sensitive material; a cutting buffer as a transport zone of the light-sensitive material which is provided downstream of the cutter in the direction of transport of the light-sensitive material for scanning; a pre-exposure butter as a transport zone of the light-sensitive material which is provided upstream of the recording position in the direction of transport of the light-sensitive material for scanning; and a post-exposure buffer as a transport zone of the light-sensitive material which is provided downstream of the recording position in the direction of transport of the light-sensitive material

Abstract: There is provided a light-sensitive material processing apparatus comprising a development section having processing baths including a development bath, a fixing bath and washing baths, a drying section and a sorter section, wherein at least one of the processing baths is a pan-shaped horizontal processing bath with its upper surface opened that is disposed at a horizontal position, transports light-sensitive materials in processing solutions in the processing baths in a horizontal direction and can be drawn out in a horizontal direction which is parallel with or normal to the transport direction of the light-sensitive materials. The processing baths can be handled at ease and a space occupied by the apparatus can be reduced. Maintenance such as the cleaning, repair, replacement of the respective processing baths and the transport mechanism racks becomes also unnecessary. As a result, prints of high quality can be finished at all times.

Abstract: The improved back printing apparatus for recording a back print on a non-exposed surface of a light-sensitive material to be subjected to wet photographic processing comprises a charging section to be charged with an ink which is heat-fusible but solid at ordinary temperatures and which is not water-soluble; a melting section for melting the ink; and a print head from which the ink melted in the melting section is jetted to record the back print. Using this back printer, one can produce sharp back prints of high quality without causing any adverse effects on the light-sensitive material A and yet good handling properties are assured.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, a photosensitive material is pulled out from a magazine and is conveyed to an exposure section in which an image is formed on the photosensitive material by exposure. When the photosensitive material reaches a switchback section, it is reversely conveyed by a predetermined length. The exposed portion is cut off by cutting blades, and is passed through the exposure section again. A guide plate is moved to cause the photosensitive material to proceed inside the guide plate and then move to a heat-development/transfer section via a water applying section. An image receiving material having a predetermined length is taken out from another magazine by a sucking/conveying section, and is then conveyed to the heat-development/transfer section by rollers. The photosensitive material and the image receiving material are conveyed along a straight path by endless belts while being held therebetween so that the photosensitive material is subjected to heat-development.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus is disclosed, which includes an exposure portion, a first conveying roller pair, a second conveying roller pair, a V-shaped pressuring piece disposed between the first and second conveying roller pairs, the pressuring piece extending along the lateral direction of the first image recording material and being in contact with a non-exposure surface of the first image recording material, an image-forming-solvent applying portion for applying an image forming solvent onto the first image recording material, and a heating drum for superimposing the first image recording material and a second image recording material together so as to heat develop and transfer an image of the first image recording material to the second image recording material. Thus, since the first image recording material is raised by the pressuring piece, even if the first image recording material is a thin photosensitive material, it can be stably exposed and conveyed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit wafer composed of a substrate having a surface carrying a plurality of circuit chips spaced from one another by scribe lines constituted by regions of the substrate surface along which the substrate will be cut in order to separate the chips from one another, each chip having at least one semiconductor element composed of a plurality of patterned layers of electrically conductive material and the wafer further including at least one interlayer insulation film having portions which extend across each chip and interposed between two of the layers of electrically conductive material to form a component part of each element, the interlayer insulation film further having portions which extend across the scribe lines at the time the substrate is cut along the scribe lines and which are contiguous with portions of the interlayer insulation film that extend across each chip, wherein the wafer is provided with one or more defined patterns located at at least one scribe line region and a passivati

Abstract: A semiconductor device wafer in which the interlayer insulating film between wirings and the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process are left on the entire surface of the scribe line area during dicing. The interlayer insulating film between wirings and the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process may be left on most of the scribe line area, in which case a slit groove is provided along the periphery of a chip and the passivation film is removed at the location of the slit groove. Alternatively, the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process may be left on a part of the scribe line area where a film structure is provided.

Abstract: A drum for an image recording apparatus for absorbing and winding a recording material for the purpose of recording the image by an exposure head thereof. The main body of the drum is structured by arranging a plurality of cylindrical members having a relatively smaller axial direction. Since the drum is formed by arranging the cylindrical members, the drum can be readily manufactured. A guide is provided on the outer surface of the drum, this guide guiding, pressing, and retaining the front portion of the recording material to the outer surface of the drum so that the absorption of the recording material is conducted assuredly. The shaft of the drum is borne by a radial ball bearing which has a sealing member so that air leakage when the absorption is conducted is prevented.

Abstract: A drum for an image recording apparatus for absorbing and winding a recording material for the purpose of recording the image of an exposure head thereof. The main body of the drum is structured by arranging a plurality of cylindrical members having a relatively smaller axial direction. Since the drum is formed by arranging the cylindrical members, the drum can be readily manufactured. A guide is provided on the outer surface of the drum, this guide guiding, pressing, and retaining the front portion of the recording material to the outer surface of the drum so that the absorption of the recording material is conducted assuredly. The shaft of the drum is borne by a radial ball bearing which has a sealing member so that air leakage when the absorption is conducted is prevented.

Abstract: A semiconductor device wafer in which the interlayer insulating film between wirings and the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process are left on the entire surface of the scribe line area during dicing. The interlayer insulating film between wirings and the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process may be left on most of the scribe line area, in which case a slit groove is provided along the periphery of a chip and the passivation film is removed at the location of the slit groove. Alternatively, the passivation film formed during the manufacturing process may be left on a part of the scribe line area where a film structure is provided.

Abstract: A drum for an image recording apparatus for absorbing and winding a recording material for the purpose of recording the image by an exposure head thereof. The main body of the drum is structured by arranging a plurality of cylindrical members having a relatively smaller axial direction. Since the drum is formed by arranging the cylindrical members, the drum can be readily manufactured. A guide is provided on the outer surface of the drum, this guide guiding, pressing, and retaining the front portion of the recording material to the outer surface of the drum so that the absorption of the recording material is conducted assuredly. The shaft of the drum is borne by a radial ball bearing which has a sealing member so that air leakage when the absorption is conducted is prevented.

Abstract: An image forming method in which a recording head is step-driven by a stepping motor to perform vertical scanning, and a recording drum, around which a light-sensitive recording material is wound, is rotated to conduct horizontal scanning to form an image onto the light-sensitive recording material. In the image forming method, the horizontal scanning starts during residual vibration of the recording head after the stepping driving of the stepping motor stops and after a predetermined period of time from the start of the step driving. Accordingly, although horizontal-scanning lines meander due to the residual vibration, all of the horizontal-scanning lines are brought to their respective loci which are identical.

Abstract: A multi-color beam exposure system produces light of plural colors focused to form a multi-color focused image on the photosensitive material issued around a drum. The exposure system produces a plurality of light beams of each of the multi-colors and focuses each plurality of beams of the same color along the axial direction of the drum to thereby simultaneously scan the photosensitive material along a plurality of scanning lines. To reduce the size and weight of the drum scanner, the light sources producing the multi-color beams are placed remote from the drum and an optical fibers system transmits and focuses the multi-color beams onto the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A thermal developing photo-sensitive material is conveyed from a supplying roll to a winding roll along a straight path. Linear optical exposure is provided to the photo-sensitive material. An image forming solvent is applied to the photo-sensitive material along this straight path. An image receiving material is combined with the photo-sensitive material, and the photo-sensitive material and the image receiving material are heated, also along this straight path, so that the image formed on the photo-sensitive material is transferred onto the image receiving material. The supplying roll and the winding roll are accommodated in a single magazine, and while the photo-sensitive material is being wound on the winding roll, the image receiving material is allowed to come off the photo-sensitive material automatically. No cutting apparatus for the photo-sensitive material is required.

Abstract: A method of driving and controlling a stepping motor having stationary field poles corresponding to N phases (N: an integer greater than or equal to 4) in which the stationary field poles are successively driven for m steps in such a manner that a number n, ranging form 1 to (N-2), of phases are driven at a time. In this method, after the completion of excitation of an (m-1)th step, stationary field poles are driven with respect to a number of phases larger than n to a desired value set between the stability points of the m-1)th step and the mth step.

Abstract: A stepping motor driving device of this invention includes: a first ROM for outputting an intermittent drive signal, a second ROM for outputting a continuous drive signal, a bus selector into which these signals are input, the bus selector also selectively outputting either one of these signals in response to a selection signal, and a driver for driving the stepping motor intermittently or continuously on the basis of the signal selected by the bus selector. In consequence, the stepping motor can be driven intermittently or continuously by a single driver.