JP2004025452A - Photographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cut photographic papers more precisely. <P>SOLUTION: Two or more magazine loading sections for loading photographic paper magazines which contain long photographic papers 2 in a roll shape are prepared. A photographic printer has a transfer means for conveying the photographic paper pulled out from any one of the photographic paper magazines loaded in the two or more magazine loading sections, an exposure means for exposing a photographic image to the photographic paper, and a cutter 28 set in the middle of a conveyance route of the transfer means for cutting the long photographic paper to a setting size. The cutter 28 can change and set a cutting net angle of the photographic paper depending on the photographic paper magazine of which of the two or more magazine loading sections the photographic paper as a subject for cutting is pulled out therefrom. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a plurality of magazine loading sections for loading photographic paper magazines for storing long printing paper in a roll shape are provided, and the magazine loading section is pulled out from any one of the photographic paper magazines loaded in the plurality of magazine loading sections. Transport means for transporting the photographic paper, and an exposing means for exposing a photographic image on the photographic paper are provided, and a cutter for cutting a long photographic paper into a set size is provided in the middle of the transport path of the transport means. Photographic printing device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such a photographic printing apparatus draws a long photographic paper from a photographic paper magazine, cuts the long photographic paper into a predetermined print size with a cutter, and forms an image on the photographic paper by exposure using an exposure unit. To make a photographic print.
By the way, in a photographic printing apparatus of a type in which a plurality of magazine loading sections are provided and a plurality of photographic paper magazines can be loaded at the same time, the photographic paper is pulled out from any one of the photographic paper magazines and transported to the installation location of the cutter. However, depending on which photographic paper magazine is used, the angle between the cutter blade and the longitudinal direction of the photographic paper slightly changes.
[0003]
This is because the accuracy of the mounting position of the magazine support member for mounting the photographic paper magazine in each magazine loading unit is not so good, so that when the photographic paper magazine is loaded into the magazine loading unit, the direction in which the photographic paper is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine. This occurs because the ideal photographic paper transport direction by the transport means is slightly inclined. If the mounting accuracy of the magazine support member is improved, the above-mentioned problem can be eliminated.However, since the magazine support member supports a heavy photographic paper magazine, it can be sufficiently mounted directly on a frame of a photographic printing apparatus. Therefore, it is not easy to finely adjust the position of the magazine support member to improve the mounting accuracy.
Therefore, conventionally, the printing paper is sequentially pulled out from each of the printing paper magazines loaded in the plurality of magazine loading units, and the cutting is performed by the cutter, and the deviation from the right angle of the cut portion of the printing paper is used for the printing. An installation angle of the cutter so as to minimize the paper magazine as a whole is obtained, and the cutter is fixedly installed at such an average angle.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, strictly speaking, none of the photographic prints has an accurate rectangular shape. In some cases, white edges do not form beautiful parallel bands, and have not sufficiently responded to recent demands for improving the quality of photographic prints.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to cut photographic paper with higher accuracy.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A plurality of magazine loading sections for loading photographic paper magazines for storing long photographic paper in a roll form are provided, and the photographic paper magazines loaded in the plurality of magazine loading sections are provided. Transport means for transporting the photographic paper extracted from any one of the above, and an exposing means for exposing and forming a photographic image on the photographic paper are provided. In a photographic printing apparatus provided with a cutter for cutting to a set size, the cutter is configured such that the photographic paper to be cut is pulled out of a photographic paper magazine loaded in any one of the plurality of magazine loading units. The setting is such that the cutting angle of the photographic paper can be changed depending on the setting.
[0006]
Therefore, the cutting angle of the photographic paper by the cutter can be set to an optimum angle depending on which magazine loading section the photographic paper pulled out from the photographic paper magazine is cut from. Even the drawn-out photographic paper can be cut so as to make a right angle with respect to the edge along the longitudinal direction of the photographic paper.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The photographic printing apparatus DP exemplified in the present embodiment is known as a so-called digital minilab machine, and as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, developed photographic film 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “film”). 1), and an exposure / development device EP for exposing and developing the photographic paper 2 with the frame image read by the film scanner FS.
[Schematic configuration of film scanner FS]
As schematically shown in FIG. 4, the film scanner FS includes a halogen lamp 10, a light control filter 11 for adjusting the color balance of light emitted from the halogen lamp 10, and light passing through the light control filter 11. Tunnel mirror 12 that evenly mixes colors, a film mask unit 13 provided with a transport mechanism 13a and a film mask (not shown) for positioning the film 1 at a predetermined reading position, and photoelectrically converts a frame image of the film 1 Line sensor unit 14, a lens 15 for forming an image of the film 1 on the CCD line sensor unit 14, a mirror 16 for bending the optical path by 90 degrees, and an output signal of the CCD line sensor unit 14. Circuit 17 for amplifying and A / D converting the image data, and exposing based on an output signal of the processing circuit 17 A scanner controller 18 that generates image data for exposure for the developing device EP and controls the operation of each unit in the film scanner FS, and displays a simulated image simulating a finished print image and various control information. And a console 20 for inputting manual settings of exposure conditions and the like to the scanner control unit 18.
[0008]
The CCD line sensor unit 14 includes CCD line sensors in which approximately 5,000 CCD elements are arranged in the width direction of the film 1 in three rows, and the light receiving surface of each CCD line sensor has red, green, and blue light, respectively. A color filter is formed, and the frame image of the film 1 is separated by color and detected.
In the film scanner FS, when the film 1 is set in the film mask unit 13, the transport of the film 1 is started by the transport mechanism 13a, and the frame images are sequentially read and read as digital image data for each of red, green, and blue. Output to the scanner control unit 18.
[0009]
The scanner control unit 18 calculates and obtains a simulated image that would be obtained when a print is created based on the image data input from the processing circuit 17, and displays it on the monitor 19.
The operator observes the simulated image on the monitor 19 and, if an appropriate image is not obtained, performs an operation for correcting the exposure condition from the console 20.
The scanner control unit 18 generates exposure image data for each of red, green, and blue under predetermined calculation conditions in accordance with the image data input from the processing circuit 17 and its correction input.
Although a detailed description is omitted, the film scanner FS is provided with a reading device that reads various storage media such as a magneto-optical disk and a CD-ROM. A print can be made based on the image data recorded on the medium.
[0010]
[Overall configuration of exposure / developing apparatus EP]
The exposing / developing apparatus EP is formed separately from the film scanner FS as shown in FIG. 5 and has an exposure laser for the photographic paper 2 inside as shown in FIG. An image exposure unit 25 that forms an exposure image on the photographic paper 2 by scanning the beam, a developing device 26 that develops the photographic paper 2 exposed by the image exposure unit 25, and an image exposure unit 25 that is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine 5. A photographic paper transport system PT for transporting the photographic paper 2 to the developing device 26; and an exposure control unit 6 for exposing the image exposure unit 25 based on the exposure image data received from the scanner control unit 18. As shown in FIG. 5, a sorter 3 for classifying the photographic paper 2 developed by the developing device 26 for each order, and a photographic paper 2 discharged from the developing device 26, as shown in FIG. A conveyor 4 for transporting the are provided.
Further, a cutter unit CU, which will be described later, and a sorting device 29 for sorting the photographic paper 2 cut by the cutter unit CU and conveyed in one line into a plurality of conveyance lines are provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT. Provided.
[0011]
[Arrangement configuration inside the housing of the exposure / developing apparatus EP]
On the front side of the housing of the exposure / developing apparatus EP, a double door-type front side door 30 is provided. Inside the front side door 30, as shown in FIG. At the lower end of the apparatus, two magazine loading sections ML for loading the photographic paper magazine 5 are arranged on the left and right, and a space between the two magazine loading sections ML constitutes a part of the photographic paper transport system PT. A pre-exposure transport unit 32 that accommodates the sorting device 29, the plurality of transport rollers 24a, and the like is disposed.
In the housing of the exposure / development apparatus EP, a control box 34 for storing the exposure control unit 6 is disposed above the magazine loading unit ML on the right side when viewed from the front.
An exposure transport unit 33 that transports the photographic paper 2 at a location exposed by the image exposure unit 25 is disposed above the pre-exposure transport unit 32, and the image exposure unit 25 is disposed above a control box 34. . The exposure conveyance unit 33 also houses a plurality of conveyance rollers 24b, a conveyance motor 23 for driving the conveyance rollers 24b, and the like.
[0012]
Above the exposure transport unit 33 and the image exposure unit 25, a first post-exposure transport unit 45 and a second post-exposure transport unit which receive and transport the photographic paper 2 exposed by the image exposure unit 25 from the exposure transport unit 33. 46 and a third post-exposure transport unit 47 are arranged. The first to third post-exposure transport units 45, 46, and 47 also contain a plurality of transport rollers 24c, as in the other transport units, and a part of the photographic paper transport system PT like the exposure transport unit 33 and the like. Constitute.
An upper cover 31 for performing maintenance work on the first to third post-exposure transport units 45, 46, 47 is provided on the upper side of the housing of the exposure / development apparatus EP, and is provided around the horizontal axis. Swing open and close.
[0013]
[Configuration for Cutting Photographic Paper 2 to Print Size]
As described above, in the middle of the transport path of the photographic paper transport system PT, when the long photographic paper 2 stored in a roll form in the photographic paper magazine 5 is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine 5, the printing is performed. A cutter unit CU is provided for cutting the paper 2 in the transporting width direction of the printing paper 2 and cutting the paper 2 into a predetermined print size.
As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the cutter unit CU includes a pair of blades 28a and 28b arranged in a state of being distributed on both sides of the transport path of the long photographic paper 2 transported upward. A cutter 28 is provided, and the photographic paper 2 is cut into a predetermined print size by the pair of blades 28a and 28b moving toward and away from each other.
[0014]
Ideally, the cutter 28 cuts the photographic paper 2 at an angle perpendicular to the conveying direction of the photographic paper 2 to produce the photographic paper 2 having an accurate rectangular shape. Since the positional accuracy of the magazine support member for fixing the photographic paper magazine 5 to the unit ML is not so good, the direction in which the photographic paper 2 is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine 5 is changed from the ideal photographic paper 2 transport direction. Will tilt slightly.
In order to correct the inclination, an attitude adjusting mechanism CM for finely adjusting the inclination angle of the cutter unit CU from the horizontal is provided as shown in FIG.
[0015]
The posture adjustment mechanism CM supports one end of the cutter unit CU so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis α, and vertically moves the cam follower 51 attached to the other end of the cutter unit CU with the eccentric cam 52. Thus, the cutter 28 of the cutter unit CU is swung as shown by an arrow A in FIG.
The eccentric cam 52 is attached to a rotating shaft 53a of a stepping motor 53, and a light shielding plate 54 for detecting the home position of the eccentric cam 52 is attached to the rotating shaft 53a.
The posture adjusting mechanism CM is controlled by a cutting angle control unit AC, and the cutting angle control unit AC detects photographic paper detection sensors 55 and 56 that detect whether or not the photographic paper 2 is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine 5. The inclination posture of the cutter unit CU (that is, the inclination posture of the cutter 28) is controlled based on the information. The photographic paper detection sensors 55 and 56 are respectively arranged near the photographic paper draw-out ports of the two photographic paper magazines 5 loaded in the two magazine loading units ML.
[0016]
That is, when any one of the photographic paper detection sensors 55 and 56 detects the presence of the photographic paper 2 pulled out from the photographic paper magazine 5, first, the rotational position of the eccentric cam 52 is detected based on the detection information of the photo interrupter 57. Is positioned at the home position, and thereafter, the eccentric cam 52 is rotated by the tilt setting rotation angle stored in correspondence with the magazine loading unit ML on which the presence of the photographic paper 2 is detected.
The rotation angle for tilt setting stored by the cutting angle control unit AC corresponding to each of the two magazine loading units ML is obtained by loading the photographic paper magazine 5 into each of the magazine loading units ML and pulling it out. The photographic paper 2 is individually obtained and stored so that the cut photographic paper 2 becomes the best rectangle by trial cutting with the cutter unit CU.
[0017]
As described above, by finely adjusting the inclination posture of the cutter unit CU depending on from which magazine loading section ML the printing paper 2 to be used can cut the cut printing paper 2 into an appropriate shape. Further, in order to further improve the accuracy, the rotation angle for setting the tilt for adjusting the tilt attitude of the cutter unit CU is obtained and stored for each photographic paper magazine 5 to be loaded in the magazine loading unit ML. The eccentric cam 52 may be set to the tilt setting rotation angle corresponding to the information based on the detection information of the photographic paper detection sensors 55 and 56 and the individual identification information of the photographic paper magazine 5.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a posture adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is exposure and development according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of an exposure / developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 photographic paper 5 photographic paper magazine 25 exposure means 28 cutter ML magazine loading unit PT transport means

Claims (1)

A plurality of magazine loading units for loading a photographic paper magazine for storing long photographic paper in a roll shape are provided,
Conveying means for conveying photographic paper drawn from any one of the photographic paper magazines loaded in the plurality of magazine loading units, and exposing means for exposing and forming a photographic image on the photographic paper are provided,
A photographic printing device provided with a cutter for cutting a long photographic paper into a set size in the middle of a transport path of the transport unit,
The cutter is configured such that the cutting angle of the photographic paper can be changed depending on which of the plurality of magazine loading sections the photographic paper to be cut is pulled out from the photographic paper magazine loaded in the magazine loading section. Photographic printing equipment.

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