Instant printer, printing method for use in the instant printer, and electronic still camera incorporated with printer

Abstract

Printing light beams from a printing head that is driven based on image data are used for recording a latent image in a predetermined exposure area on an instant film. The instant film is exposed through an exposure opening formed through a case of a film pack. The printing head projects the printing light beams linearly along a main scan direction while moving in a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction. An illumination range of the printing light beams is determined to be wider than the exposure area in the main and sub scan directions, in consideration of clearances between the case and the instant film. So the entire exposure area is exposed even where the instant film deviates inside the case. A light-shielding housing for covering up a moving range of the printing head in a light-tight fashion is formed integrally with a pack loading chamber for loading the film pack.

1 . In an instant printer comprising a loading chamber for loading a plurality of instant films that include a processing fluid, a printing head for projecting printing light onto a photosensitive surface of the loaded instant film on the basis of image data, a scanning mechanism for moving the printing head along the photosensitive surface of the instant film, a pair of spread rollers for spreading the processing fluid over the exposed instant film, and a body for containing the above elements, the improvement comprising: 
 a light-shielding housing provided inside the body and behind the pack loading chamber, the light-shielding housing covering up at least a moving range of the printing head in a light-tight fashion.    
   
   
       2 . An instant printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding housing covers up the scanning mechanism besides the moving range of the printing head.  
   
   
       3 . An instant printer according to  claim 1 , wherein the light-shielding housing is formed integrally with the loading chamber.  
   
   
       4 . In an electronic still camera comprising an imaging device for obtaining image data by photographing a subject, a loading chamber for loading a plurality of instant films that include a processing fluid, a printing head for projecting printing light onto a photosensitive surface of the loaded instant film on the basis of image data, a scanning mechanism for moving the printing head along the photosensitive surface of the instant film, a pair of spread rollers for spreading the processing fluid over the exposed instant film, and a camera body for containing the above elements, the improvement comprising: 
 a light-shielding housing provided inside the camera body and behind the pack loading chamber, the light-shielding housing covering up at least a moving range of the printing head in a light-tight fashion.