JP2002040568A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can form a print of a large size by effectively utilizing the advantages of scanning exposure of a digital type. SOLUTION: This image forming device has an exposure engine 4 which forms images by transporting long-sized paper P in a sub-scanning direction while scanning the paper with exposure light in a main scanning direction and has input sections 12 and 13 which are inputted with image information from the image forming medium, a monitor 20 which displays the inputted image information, a keyboard 18 which inputs the size data for printing the image information, an image processing section 16 which converts the image information to first image data corresponding to the input size data, the keyboard 18 which inputs the width data of the paper P to be printed with the image information, a data dividing means 11 which divides the first image data to a plurality of the second image data in accordance with the inputted width data and a control means 11 which controls the exposure engine 4 so as to form plural sheets of the prints corresponding to a plurality of the second image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a scanning exposure means for forming an image by conveying a long photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the width direction of the photosensitive material. In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of producing a large-sized photographic print.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A well-known configuration of a typical image forming apparatus is to convert a frame image formed on a developed negative film as an image forming medium by using a projection optical system.
Projection exposure is performed on paper as a photosensitive material. A projection lens is used in the projection optical system, and a frame image of a predetermined size is enlarged and exposed on paper, and the exposed paper is developed and dried to obtain a photographic print of a predetermined print size. Can be created.

[0003]

However, when an image forming apparatus is used to produce a large photographic print such as a photograph used as a poster or a signboard, the size of the projection optical system and the size of the exposure stage become large. Inevitably, the size of the image forming apparatus itself must be increased.

[0004] On the other hand, a digital image forming apparatus is known. In this image forming apparatus, a long paper is scanned orthogonally to the main scanning direction while scanning exposure light (or image data) in the main scanning direction. An image can be formed by conveying in the sub-scanning direction. The size of the formed image is determined by the scanning length in the main scanning direction and the scanning length in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the length in the main scanning direction has an upper limit depending on the length of the image output unit along the main scanning direction. Has no upper limit on the size of the image along the sub-scanning direction. Therefore,
In the sub-scanning direction, there is an advantage that an image of a considerably large size can be formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of producing a large-sized photographic print by utilizing the advantages of digital scanning exposure. is there.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention conveys an elongated photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a width direction of the photosensitive material to form an image. In an image forming apparatus including a scanning exposure unit for forming, an input unit for inputting image information from an image forming medium, a monitor for displaying the input image information, and printing the image information on a display screen of the monitor. Size input means for inputting size data for determining a print size to be performed, image processing means for converting the image information into first image data corresponding to the input size data, and printing the image information A width data input unit for inputting width data of the photosensitive material, wherein when the first image data cannot form a single photographic print, Data dividing means for dividing the first image data into a plurality of second image data based on the input width data; and forming a plurality of photographic prints corresponding to the plurality of second image data. And control means for controlling the scanning exposure means. The operation and effect of the image forming apparatus having this configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

This image forming apparatus has a scanning exposure means for forming an image by transporting a long photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the width direction of the photosensitive material.
A so-called digital exposure is performed.

(1) Image information is input from an image forming medium. Image forming media include photographic film and CD-RO
M and various media such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk. (2) The input image information is displayed on a monitor. FIG. 3A shows an image of this image information. (3) On the display screen of the monitor, size data for determining a print size for printing image information is input. For this size data, you may enter the size of the finished photo print,
Size data may be input so that a designated area in the image information has a desired finished size.

(4) The input image information is converted into first image data corresponding to the input size data. This is, for example, data enlargement processing. The image of the first image data is shown in FIG. In this figure, the size of the data is large. (5) Input the width data of the photosensitive material on which the image information is printed. (6) One photo print is used for the converted first image data.
If the image cannot be formed on a sheet, that is, if the size of the image to be printed is too large, the first image data is divided into a plurality of second image data based on the input width data. FIG. 3 shows an image of the divided second image data.
It is shown in (c). In this figure, the first image data is divided into six. The width dimension x of the divided second image data is determined by the input width data.

(7) Then, the plurality of divided second
Create a plurality of photo prints corresponding to the image data. In the example of FIG. 3C, six photographic prints are created. x corresponds to the width dimension of the photosensitive material and corresponds to the length in the main scanning direction. Y corresponds to the length in the sub-scanning direction.

By arranging a plurality of photographic prints thus created, a large photographic print can be obtained. Then, by inputting the size data, the image data can be appropriately divided based on the width data of the photosensitive material. As described above, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of producing a large-sized photographic print by taking advantage of digital scanning exposure.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size data includes size data of a subject in the image information. By allowing the size of the subject in the image information to be input as the size data, it is possible to create a photographic print in which the size of the subject becomes a desired size (for example, life-size). The input size data need not be the actual size of the subject, but may be the size of the subject to be printed.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size data includes actual size data of a subject in the image information and scale data for the actual size data. By inputting the actual size data (actual size data) of the subject and the scale data (for example, 1/2) as the size data, a photograph in which the size of the subject becomes a desired size is input. Prints can be created.

In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
As a region of the subject in the image information, two different points in the image information displayed on the display screen can be designated by a pointing device.

For example, when a person is included as a subject in the image information, the heel part and the head part of the person are designated by a pointing device. Then, by inputting the size data of the subject corresponding to the designated area, it is possible to create a photographic print of a subject having a desired size.

In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The number of divisions and the manner of division by the data division means may be displayed on the monitor.

For example, when an image as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed on a monitor, it is possible to immediately recognize that the number of divisions is 6, and the first image data is divided into strips.
Thus, it is possible to know in advance what kind of photographic print is to be created.

In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The width data may be input from identification information formed in a photosensitive material storage magazine that stores the long photosensitive material.

By inputting the width data from the identification information formed in the photosensitive material storage magazine, it is possible to eliminate the need for the operator to manually input the width data.
In addition, input errors can be prevented.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus (printer processor). The printer processor includes a printer unit P1 for printing and exposing an image on paper P (corresponding to a photosensitive material), and a processor unit P2 for performing development processing on the exposed paper P.

In the printer section P1, a long paper P
, A cutter 2 for cutting the paper P fed from the paper magazine 1 into a predetermined print size, a paper supply unit 3 for supplying the paper P to the scanning exposure unit S, and a paper P Exposure engine 4 (corresponding to a scanning exposure unit) that outputs exposure light for printing an image on exposure paper, and exposure transport unit 5 that transports paper P at a predetermined speed along the sub-scanning direction.
And a first transport unit 6 and a second transport unit 7 for transporting the exposed paper P toward the processor unit P2.

The processor section P2 includes a developing section 8 for developing the exposed paper P and a drying section 9 for drying the developed paper P. The paper P, for which the drying process has been completed, is discharged to the outside of the printer processor main body, and is sorted for each order.

The paper magazine 1 is configured to be detachable inside the printer processor main body. At the paper exit of the paper magazine 1, an advance roller 10
And feeds the paper P toward the downstream side of the transport path. The exposure engine 4 has a main scanning direction (FIG. 1).
(In a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2), and outputs exposure light corresponding to the image data. The type of the exposure engine 4 is not limited to a specific configuration. For example, a PLZT engine, a CRT engine,
Appropriate ones such as a laser engine and a DMD (digital micromirror device) engine can be adopted.

The paper P is conveyed at a constant speed along the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) while scanning the exposure light (or image data) in the main scanning direction, thereby forming a two-dimensional digital image. Printing exposure can be performed on the paper P. Therefore, the paper P
Transport rollers 5a, 5 for nipping and transporting
b is provided. The paper supply section 3 and the first and second transport sections 6 and 7 are also provided with a large number of nipping transport roller mechanisms for nipping and transporting the paper P.

With the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, a large-sized photographic print used for a signboard or a poster can be formed by exposure. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, the input image information (see FIG. 3A) is converted into first image data (see FIG. 3B) corresponding to the print size to be actually printed. A plurality of photo prints are created using the second image data (see FIG. 3C) obtained by dividing the first image data. By arranging the plurality of photo prints, a large-size photo print is obtained. A control block configuration for realizing this will be described with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, a controller 11 for controlling the operation of each unit in the image forming apparatus, an input unit 12 for inputting image information from various image forming media, and an input unit 12 for inputting image information from a photographic film or the like. For the scanner input unit 13, the first storage unit 15 for storing image information (image data) input from the input unit 12 and the scanner input unit 13, and the image information stored in the first storage unit 15. An image processing unit 16 for performing image processing and a second storage unit 17 for storing image-processed image information as first image data are provided. Note that the input unit 12 and the scanner input unit 13 function as input means.

The controller 11 includes a keyboard 18 for manually inputting various data, a mouse 19 as a kind of pointing device, and a monitor 20 for displaying input image information and the like. .
The pointing device may be a trackball, a joystick, or the like.

From the input unit 12, image information is input from various media (corresponding to image forming media). The type of media is not particularly limited.
For example, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, an MO disk, a smart media, a PC card, a Zip, and the like are given as examples. Further, the information may be input from a user terminal (personal computer) via communication means such as the Internet. The image information input from the medium is temporarily stored in the first storage unit 15.

It is also possible to input image information from an image forming medium such as a photographic film such as a negative film or a positive film, or a photographic print or other printed matter.
In this case, the input is from the scanner input unit 13,
The image information input by the scanner is A / D converted and stored in the first storage unit 15.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the monitor 20. The input image information is displayed in an area 21 on the left side of the screen. The first display frame 22 is a frame for inputting actual size data (corresponding to size data) of the subject of the displayed image information. Second display frame 2
Reference numeral 3 denotes a frame for inputting scale data (corresponding to size data) of a subject when printing image information. The third display frame 24 is a frame for inputting width data of the paper P used for the print processing. The input of these data is manually input by the operator using the keyboard 18 and is necessary for determining the print size. The fourth display frame 25 is a frame for displaying the number of divisions of the image data calculated based on the input subject size, scale, and paper width. For example,
If it is a life size, enter scale = 1. Fifth display frame 26
Is a frame for displaying the total number of prints. The keyboard 18 functions as size input means and width data input means.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, if the size of the subject in the image information is known (for example, when a person's area is automatically detected by image processing), this information and the subject size, scale, and paper width are used. , The number of divisions of the image data can be calculated. When the size of the subject in the image information is unknown, the subject size data to be input may be treated as the length of the print to be created in the vertical direction.

In the display area 21 of the image information, a division line 21a for indicating the division mode is displayed. This allows the operator to recognize in advance how the image information has been divided.

Returning to FIG. 2, the image processing section 16 enlarges the image information (image data) stored in the first storage section 15 based on the input subject size data and scale data. Perform processing. Simply performing the enlargement process results in a coarse image (square image). Therefore, by performing the interpolation process and the interpolation process at the same time, the data are smoothly connected to each other so that an unnatural image is prevented. The image information converted by the image processing unit 16 is stored in the second storage unit 17 as first image data.

As a result of performing the above-described image processing, if it is attempted to print using all of the first image data, it may not be possible to form an image by exposure with one print. In this case, on the display screen of the monitor 20, the dividing line 21
a is displayed (see FIG. 4). As a result of performing image processing,
If the image can be formed by exposure with one print, the division line 21a is not displayed.

Based on a command from the controller 11,
The first image data for forming an image is transmitted from the second storage unit 17 to the exposure engine 4. If the first image data needs to be divided, the first image data is divided into a plurality of second image data. And the data is read out and transmitted to the exposure engine 4. Then, the exposure engine 4 is controlled so that a plurality of photographic prints can be created based on the divided second image data. That is, the controller 11 functions as a control unit that controls the data division unit and the scanning exposure unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of data input. The right side of the display screen is the same as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the region where the subject exists in the image information can be designated by the mouse 19. By specifying two different points R1 and R2 in the displayed image area using the mouse 19,
The height (size) of the subject can be input. Image processing for converting the image data into first image data is performed based on the specified subject area and the input subject dimensions and scale data. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the image is divided not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction. According to the principle of scanning exposure, there is no upper limit to the size of the print in the sub-scanning direction, so that exposure to the paper P is possible without performing horizontal division, but when arranging the created prints The division may also be performed in the horizontal direction in consideration of the circumstances. The number of divisions in the horizontal direction can be manually input from the keyboard 18, for example.

If the length of the transportable paper P has an upper limit due to the structure of the transport system in the apparatus, the paper P is automatically divided in the horizontal direction based on the upper limit. Is also good.

<Operation Flowchart> Next, a procedure for creating a large print using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

First, image information is input from the image forming medium (# 1). The input image information is temporarily stored in the first storage unit 15. This image information is displayed on the monitor screen (# 2). The operator performs input of subject size data (# 3), input of scale data (# 4), and input of paper width data (# 5) while looking at the display screen.
The image processing unit 16 converts the image information in the first storage unit 16 based on the input data and stores the converted
It is stored in the storage unit 17 (# 6). Further, the number of divisions / division mode of the image data is calculated and displayed on the fourth display frame 25 and the fifth display frame 26, and the division mode is set to the division line 2
1a is displayed.

The operator looks at the display screen and determines whether or not the displayed division number and division mode are OK (#
7) If OK, press the print key on the keyboard 18 (# 8). Thus, the image data is transmitted from the second storage unit 17 to the exposure engine 4 (# 9). The first image data is transmitted in a predetermined order in the form of divided second image data. The exposure engine 4 prints and exposes an image on the paper P based on each of the divided second image data. It is determined whether the printing exposure has been completed for all the divided second image data (# 10). The paper P on which the printing exposure has been completed is subjected to a developing process and a drying process, and is discharged outside the apparatus main body.

A plurality of finished photo prints are arranged and used as a signboard or a poster. It is preferable to print the order of arrangement on the back surface of each photographic print. In ordinary simultaneous printing or the like, a printing device (such as a dot impact printer or an ink jet printer) is provided inside the image forming apparatus to print a frame number or the like on the back surface of the paper. The printing device may be configured to print a serial number on the back surface.

Further, printing is performed so that a marginal area is formed in each print, and the marginal area is used to make a print.
Each print may be bonded to form a large print. Further, a completed large print may be put in a panel.

<Another Embodiment> In this embodiment,
Although the paper width data is input from the keyboard 18, the paper width data (paper type data may be provided) in the paper magazine instead, and the data is automatically input by reading the data. May be configured. For example, the presence or absence of a several-bit hole formed in the plate may be detected by an optical sensor. Alternatively, a configuration in which a bar code formed on a paper magazine is read may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus (printer processor).

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control block configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining division processing of image data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a monitor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of data input.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart.

[Description of Signs] 1 Paper Magazine 4 Exposure Engine 11 Controller 12 Input Unit 13 Scanner Input Unit 15 First Storage Unit 16 Image Processing Unit (Image Processing Means) 17 Second Storage Unit 18 Keyboard 19 Mouse 20 Monitor P Paper S Scanning Exposure Department

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C087 AA09 AB01 BB01 CA03 CB03 CB07 CB12 CB13 CB20 2H106 AA62 BA07 BA23 BA35 BA47 BA49 BA55 BA58 BH00 5B057 AA20 BA24 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC02 A06 CB16 A06

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus including a scanning exposure unit for forming an image by conveying a long photosensitive material in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a width direction of the photosensitive material. Input means for inputting image information; a monitor for displaying the input image information; and a size input means for inputting size data for determining a print size for printing the image information on a display screen of the monitor; Image processing means for converting information into first image data corresponding to the input size data; width data input means for inputting width data of the photosensitive material on which the image information is printed; and the first image When it is not possible to form a photographic print with one piece of data, the first image data is divided into a plurality of first images based on the input width data. Data dividing means for dividing the image data into data, and control means for controlling the scanning exposure means so as to create a plurality of photographic prints corresponding to the plurality of second image data. Image forming device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size data includes size data of a subject in the image information. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size data includes actual size data of the subject in the image information and scale data for the actual size data. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two different points in the image information displayed on the display screen can be designated by a pointing device as the area of the subject in the image information. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of divisions and the division mode by the data division unit are displayed on the monitor. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said width data is inputted from identification information formed in a photosensitive material storage magazine in which said elongated photosensitive material is stored.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein