JP2005039449A - Photographic processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic processing device capable of determining a screen position while an image is precisely positioned at a specified screen position on a screen for image output irrelevantly to a variance in distance between adjacent images (frames) of an APS film. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic processing device A is equipped with a film conveyance part 640 which conveys the APS film F where images M are recorded in a specified film conveyance direction Y, a light source part 610 which irradiates the film F conveyed by the conveyance part 640 with light, an imaging part 620 which receives image light L passed through the film F from the light source part 610 to read image information, an edge part detection means 95 for detecting an edge part M1 of an image M in the conveyance direction Y of the film F, and a screen position determination means 96 for determining the screen position of the image M on the screen for image output according to the detected position of the image edge part M1 detected by the means 95. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus, and more particularly to a photographic processing apparatus that reads an image recorded on an APS (Advanced Photo System) film and determines a screen position of the image with respect to an image output screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional photographic processing apparatus, when reading an image recorded on an APS film, generally, the APS film is transported in a predetermined film transport direction, and is in a direction orthogonal to the film transport direction of the transported APS film. Detects perforations formed at a predetermined pitch along the film transport direction at one end, and aligns the image with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen based on the detected perforation detection position Then, the aligned screen position is determined.
[0003]
On the other hand, with an APS camera, an image photographed on an APS film is usually recorded so that the positional deviation with respect to the corresponding perforation falls within a predetermined standard range, but depending on the function and operation method of the APS camera used. The following shooting may be performed in a state where the film is not wound well due to insufficient winding or excessive winding of the film, and in the APS film in which the image is recorded in this way, The positional deviation of the recorded image with respect to the perforation may be out of the standard range and the distance between adjacent images (frames) may vary. In particular, in an APS film with a lens (so-called disposable APS camera), since the film is manually wound, variation in the distance between adjacent images (frames) becomes remarkable.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional photo processing apparatus, a method for determining the screen position of an image of an APS film, which is shot with an APS camera, particularly an APS film with a lens, and the image is recorded, is as follows. There's a problem.
[0005]
That is, in the conventional method for determining the screen position of the APS film, as described above, the screen position is determined based on perforation. For example, for a film in which the distance between adjacent images (frames) varies. When the positional deviation with respect to the perforation is out of the standard range, the image is not accurately aligned with the predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen, and the screen position is fixed, so that it is displayed on a display screen such as a monitor. The image is not displayed well at the position where the image is to be displayed, and a non-recording portion (so-called blank portion) is inserted between the images (frames). If an image is printed on the photographic light-sensitive material in this state, the image of the light-sensitive material is not printed well at the position where the image is to be printed. For example, a black portion of the blank portion is printed, resulting in loss printing.
[0006]
For this reason, in the conventional photographic processing apparatus, the image output screen has a margin in the display width in the film conveyance direction, so that even if the positional deviation of the image with respect to the perforation is slightly out of the standard range in the APS film. The display confirmation screen (judge screen) can be adjusted so that the image is displayed at a position where it should be displayed (for example, so that the blank portion does not enter the judge screen).
[0007]
However, in such a conventional photo processing apparatus, the operator adjusts the position of the screen so that the image is displayed at the position where the image should be displayed on the judge screen (for example, so as not to include a blank portion). It is necessary, and the workability of the photo processing work by the operator is poor. In addition, although the image output screen has a margin in the display width in the film conveyance direction, it may not be able to be adjusted depending on the amount of image shift with respect to perforation in the APS film. In addition, if you set it to automatically print without displaying it on the judge screen, as described above, for example, the black part of the blank part will be automatically printed on the photosensitive material, and that is all. Loss print occurs, and the quality and reliability of the apparatus are reduced.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the image is positioned at a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen regardless of variations in the distance between adjacent images (frames) of the APS film on which the image is recorded. The screen position can be determined in a state of being accurately aligned. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the screen, thereby improving the workability of the photo processing work by the operator, and the display confirmation screen (judgement). It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo processing apparatus that can suppress loss printing even if it is automatically printed without being displayed on the screen, and can improve the quality and reliability of the apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a film transport unit that transports an APS film on which an image is recorded in a predetermined film transport direction, and a light source unit that irradiates the APS film transported by the film transport unit. And an image pickup unit that receives image light passing through the APS film from the light source unit and reads image information, and the film transport direction of the APS film based on the image information read by the image pickup unit. An edge detection unit that detects at least one of the two edges of the image in the image, and an image output screen for the image based on the detection position of the image edge detected by the edge detection unit Provided is a photo processing apparatus comprising a screen position determining means for determining a screen position.
[0010]
In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention, when reading the image of the APS film on which the image is recorded, the APS film is conveyed in a predetermined film conveying direction in the film conveying unit, and the light source unit is moved to the film conveying unit. The APS film conveyed is irradiated with light, image light passing through the APS film is received from the light source unit in the imaging unit, and image information is read. Based on the image information read by the imaging unit, at least one edge portion of both edge portions of the image in the film transport direction of the APS film is detected. Then, based on the detection position of the image edge portion detected by the edge portion detection means in the screen position determination means, the image is aligned with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen, and the alignment is performed. The displayed screen position is confirmed.
[0011]
As described above, according to the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, the APS film is transported in the film transport direction in the film transport unit, and the APS film transported in the film transport unit in the light source unit is irradiated with light. And receiving image light passing through the APS film from the light source unit in the imaging unit to read image information, and based on the image information read by the imaging unit in the edge unit detection unit, At least one edge portion of both edge portions of the image in the film transport direction of the APS film is detected, and further, based on the detection position of the image edge portion detected by the edge portion detecting means in the screen position determining means. Since the screen position of the image with respect to the image output screen is determined, the adjacent APS film Regardless of the variation in the distance between images (frames), the screen position can be determined in a state where the image is accurately aligned with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen, and therefore the screen position needs to be adjusted. As a result, it is possible to improve the operability of the photo processing work by the operator, and even if it is automatically printed without being displayed on the display confirmation screen (judge screen), the loss print can be suppressed. The quality and reliability of the device can be improved.
[0012]
In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention, for example, in the edge portion detection unit, one of the two edge portions of the image in the film transport direction of the APS film based on the image information read by the imaging portion. One edge portion is detected, and the screen position determining means determines the screen position of the image relative to the image output screen with reference to the detection position of the image edge portion detected by the edge portion detecting means. Good. However, in general, the image size on the film may vary from the normal image size. Therefore, if the screen position is determined based on the image edge as described above, the image size is slightly smaller than the normal image size. In the case of a larger size, there may be more portions that are discarded with respect to the image at the end opposite to the detection reference position of the edge. From this point of view, the edge detection unit detects both edge portions of the image in the film transport direction of the APS film based on the image information read by the imaging unit, and the screen position determination unit Obtains the center position of the image from the detection positions of both edge portions of the image detected by the edge detection means, and uses the center position as a reference for a predetermined screen position (with respect to the image output screen of the image). For example, it is preferable to align with the screen position of the center and determine the aligned screen position. In this way, by aligning the image with a predetermined screen position (for example, the center screen position) with respect to the image output screen with the image center position as a reference, and confirming the aligned screen position, When the image size on the film is slightly larger than the normal image size, it is possible to prevent the image print results on both sides from being biased by bringing the center of the screen to the center of the image.
[0013]
In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention, the edge detection unit includes an image density detection unit that detects a change in image density of image information read by the imaging unit, and the APS film in the film conveyance direction. Examples include means including edge portion recognition means for recognizing a portion where the change amount of the image density detected by the image density detection means is larger than a predetermined change amount as an edge portion of the image. In this case, the screen position determination means aligns the image with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen based on the recognition position of the image edge portion recognized by the edge portion recognition means, and Confirm the aligned screen position.
[0014]
In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention, perforations formed at a predetermined pitch along the film transport direction at one end of the APS film transported by the film transport unit in a direction orthogonal to the film transport direction. You may further provide the perforation detection part to detect. In this case, the screen position determining means aligns the image with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen on the basis of the perforation detection position detected by the perforation detection unit, and performs the alignment. The determined screen position can be determined.
[0015]
By doing so, the screen position of the APS film having an image that cannot detect the image edge portion (for example, the APS film having an extremely light image (frame)) is determined. When performing, the perforation detection part detects the perforation of the APS film, so that the screen position can be determined without any trouble.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0017]
A photographic processing apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 includes an image processing apparatus 1 and an image exposure and development apparatus 2. The image processing apparatus 1 includes an image reading device 600 and a main control device 90.
[0018]
In this example, the image reading device 600 scans and reads the APS film F on which an image is recorded, and digitally converts the read image information to obtain a digital image. The main controller 90 controls the entire photographic processing apparatus A including the control of the image processing apparatus 1 and includes a control unit 91 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 described later).
[0019]
The image processing apparatus 1 further includes image display means 20 (here, a CRT monitor) that displays image information read by the image reading apparatus 600. The image exposure / development apparatus 2 develops an exposure apparatus 63 (not shown in FIG. 1; see FIGS. 3 and 4 to be described later) for exposing the photosensitive material, and a photosensitive material exposed by the exposure apparatus 63. A development processing device 61 (see also FIG. 4) for processing, a drying processing unit 4 for drying the photosensitive material subjected to the development processing by the development processing device 61, and a photosensitive material dried by the drying processing unit 4, And a collecting unit 5 that sorts and collects each size.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the image reading apparatus 600 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the photographic processing apparatus A shown in FIG.
[0021]
As described above, the image reading device 600 scans and reads the film F to acquire image information, and as shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 610, the imaging unit 620, the imaging unit 630, and the APS. A film transport unit 640 that transports the film F in a predetermined film transport direction (Y direction in FIG. 2) is provided.
[0022]
In the image reading apparatus 600, the APS film F is transported in the film transport direction Y by the film transport unit 640, and the film F transported by the transport unit 640 is irradiated with light from the light source unit 610. The transmitted light arriving through the film F is imaged on the imaging unit 620 by the imaging unit 630 to read the image. The scanning of the film F is performed by scanning the film F in the transport direction Y (sub-scanning direction) and the main scanning direction (X direction in FIG. 2) orthogonal to the direction Y. Image light that arrives by this scanning is imaged on the imaging unit 620 by the imaging unit 630, and the image is read.
[0023]
The light source unit 610 includes a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as LED) element 611 that emits predetermined light. In this example, the LED element 611 is an LED line light source in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, and is connected to the control unit 91 via the LED driving unit 612 (not shown in FIG. 2). FIG. 3). In the LED element 611, each LED arranged in the main scanning direction X is turned on under the instruction of the control unit 91.
[0024]
The imaging unit 620 includes an imaging element 621. In this example, the image sensor 621 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and can receive image light L from the LED element 611 and read image information. The CCD 621 is connected to the control unit 91 via a CCD drive unit 622, a gain adjustment unit 623, and an A / D conversion device 624 (not shown in FIG. 2, see FIG. 3).
[0025]
The imaging unit 630 is disposed on the optical path between the film F and the imaging unit 620 and includes an imaging lens 631 that images the transmitted light from the film F on the CCD 621.
[0026]
The film transport unit 640 includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 641 and a film cartridge support member (not shown). The film transport unit 640 pulls out the APS film F from the film cartridge F ′ fixedly supported by the film cartridge support member. The film F can be conveyed in the Y direction by rotating each roller pair 641 in the direction of the arrow in the figure while sandwiching the film F between the rollers in each roller pair 641.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the APS film has perforations PF formed at a predetermined pitch along the transport direction Y at one end portion in the direction X orthogonal to the film transport direction Y. This APS film is an APS film on which an image is recorded, for example, with an APS film with a lens, and the positional deviation of the recorded image M with respect to the perforation PF is out of the standard range, and adjacent images (frames) are recorded. The distance between M varies.
[0028]
The image reading apparatus 600 further includes a perforation detection unit 650 that detects the perforation PF of the APS film F. The perforation detection unit 650 is connected to the control unit 91 (not shown in FIG. 2, see FIG. 3). Here, the detection unit 650 is a photosensor including a light emitting element 651 that emits light and a light receiving element 652 that receives light from the light emitting element 651, and an APS is provided between the light emitting element 651 and the light receiving element 652. It is provided so that the film can be placed and the perforation PF can be detected. Thereby, the detection signal of the perforation PF can be transmitted to the control unit 91.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 91 is connected to the image reading device 600, the monitor 20, and the exposure device 63, and includes a storage means 93 that stores a processing program and the like.
[0030]
In the image reading apparatus 600, as described above, the LED element 611 is connected to the control unit 91 via the LED driving unit 612, and the CCD 621 is connected to the CCD driving unit 622, the gain adjustment unit 623, and the A / D conversion device 624. It is connected to the control part 91 via.
[0031]
The LED drive unit 612 and the CCD drive unit 622 can drive the LED element 611 and the CCD 621 under the instruction of the control unit 91, respectively. The gain adjustment unit 623 can control the gain of the output of the CCD 621 under the instruction of the control unit 91 and can send an output signal from the CCD 621 to the A / D conversion device 624. The A / D converter 624 can convert the analog signal sent from the gain adjusting unit 623 into a digital signal.
[0032]
The storage means 93 is composed of a RAM or the like, has a program memory area (not shown), and can read the processing program in the program memory area.
[0033]
The control unit 91 executes the processing program stored in the program memory area of the storage unit 93. This processing program causes the control unit 91 to function as a processing unit 94 including an edge detection unit 95 and a screen position determination unit 96.
[0034]
In the edge part detection means 95, based on the image information read by the imaging part 620, at least one of the edge parts of the image in the film transport direction Y of the APS film F (here, the downstream side and the upstream side in the transport direction Y) Both edge portions of) are detected. Specifically, the edge portion detection means 95 is a means including an image density detection means 95a and an edge portion recognition means 95b. In the image density detection means 95a, an image of the image information read by the imaging unit 620 is obtained. A change in density is detected, and the edge recognition unit 95b determines a portion where the amount of change in image density detected by the image density detection unit 95a in the transport direction Y of the film F is larger than a predetermined change as an edge part of the image. recognize.
[0035]
The screen position determination unit 96 aligns the image with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen based on the recognition position of the image edge portion recognized by the edge portion recognition unit 95b, and performs the alignment. Confirm the screen position. The operation by the processing means 94 will be described later.
[0036]
The exposure device 63 can expose the photographic photosensitive material based on the image information sent from the processing means 94.
[0037]
Next, processing steps of the photographic processing apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the processing steps of the photographic processing apparatus A shown in FIG.
[0038]
The main configuration will be described below while simply following the flow of the process. The image exposure / development apparatus 2 includes the above-described exposure apparatus 63, development processing apparatus 61, drying processing section 4, and collection section 5, as well as a transport apparatus 43.
[0039]
In the image processing apparatus 1, the image reading device 600 scans and reads image information on the APS film F. In the controller 91, the digital image that has been subjected to image processing by the processing means 94 is determined as exposure data.
[0040]
In the image exposure / development apparatus 2, the photosensitive material 40 is pulled out from the magazine 42 and conveyed by a roller or the like in the conveyance device 43. The photosensitive material is cut into, for example, a fixed size, and the exposure device 63 exposes the photosensitive material 40 in the exposure device 41.
[0041]
In the development processing device 61, various chemical processes (chemical solution S and the like) such as development, fixing, and water washing are performed on the photosensitive material 40, and the drying process is performed in the drying processing unit 4. The process is done automatically. The transport device 43 transports the photosensitive material 40 in these steps. As shown in FIG. 1, the collection unit 5 collects the large photosensitive material 40 on the tray 52, and the small photosensitive material 40 is sorted and collected by the sorting unit 54 for each order. The sorting unit 54 includes a conveyor 55 that moves in a direction orthogonal to the discharge direction of the small-sized photosensitive material, and a sorting device 56 that sorts the small-sized photosensitive material conveyed by the conveyor 55 for each order. The sorting device 56 includes a plurality of trays 57 disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction. When the trays 57 are moved in the vertical direction, the small-format photosensitive material conveyed by the conveyor 55 is transferred to the trays 57. It is configured to distribute to each order.
[0042]
The processing of the photographic processing apparatus A as a whole is controlled by the main controller 90. In this photographic processing apparatus A, as shown in FIG. 2, when reading the image M of the APS film F on which the image M is recorded, the film F is pulled out from the film cartridge F ′, and in the film transport unit 640. An image that is transported in the film transport direction Y, is irradiated with light onto the film F transported by the transport unit 640 by the LED element 611 of the light source unit 610, and passes through the film F from the LED element 611 by the CCD 621 of the imaging unit 620 The light L is received and the image information is read. Further, based on the image information read by the CCD 621 in the edge detection means 95 shown in FIG. At least one edge portion is detected. Specifically, an image density change of the image information read by the CCD 621 is detected by the image density detection unit 95a, and detected by the image density detection unit 95a in the transport direction Y of the film F by the edge recognition unit 95b. A portion where the change amount of the image density is larger than the predetermined change amount is recognized as an edge portion of the image.
[0043]
This will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image density waveform detected by the image density detecting means 95a for the image M (, M ′) on the APS film F. As shown in FIG. 5, in the edge recognition means 95b, the image density detected by the image density detection means 95a in the film transport direction Y of the APS film F (here, the image density on the downstream side and upstream side in the transport direction Y). Edge portions M1 and M2 on the downstream side and upstream side in the transport direction Y of the image M for a portion (see γ and γ ′ in the drawing) where the amount of change (see α in the drawing) is larger than the predetermined changing amount (see β in the drawing) Recognize.
[0044]
Then, the center position R of the image M is obtained from the detection positions of the edge part M1 and the edge part M2 of the image detected by the edge part detection means 95 in the screen position determination means 96, and the center position R is used as a reference. The image M is aligned with a predetermined screen position (here, the center screen position) with respect to the image output screen, and the aligned screen position is determined.
[0045]
Further, the APS film F having an image (see M ′ in the figure) in which the edge part detection unit 95 cannot detect the image edge part (for example, extremely low density, in other words, the change amount of the image density (in the figure)). For an APS film having an image (frame) M ′ that is smaller than a predetermined change amount β), the perforation PF of the film F is detected by the perforation detection unit 650 (see also FIG. 2), and the screen position is determined. Based on the detection position of the perforation PF detected by the detecting unit 650 in the means 96, the image is aligned with a predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen, and the aligned screen position is determined. .
[0046]
As described above, according to the photographic processing apparatus A shown in FIG. 1, the APS film F is transported in the film transport direction Y in the film transport unit 640, and the film F transported in the transport unit 640 is irradiated with light in the light source unit 610. The imaging unit 620 receives the image light L passing through the film F from the light source unit 610 and reads the image information. Based on the image information read by the imaging unit 620 by the edge detection unit 95, the film F At least one of the two edge portions of the image M in the transport direction Y is detected, and further, based on the detection position of the image edge portion M1 detected by the edge portion detection means 95 in the screen position determination means 96. Since the screen position of the image M with respect to the image output screen is determined, the distance between adjacent images (frames) M on the APS film F is determined. Regardless, the screen position can be determined in a state in which the image M is accurately aligned with the predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen, so that it is not necessary to adjust the position of the screen. It is possible to improve the operability of the photo processing work, and furthermore, even if printing is automatically performed without displaying it on the display confirmation screen (judge screen), loss printing can be suppressed, and the quality and reliability of the device are increased accordingly. Can be improved. In this example, the image M center position R is used as a reference, the image M is aligned with the center screen position with respect to the image output screen, and the aligned screen position is determined. When the size of M is slightly larger than the normal image size, it is possible to prevent the image print results on both sides from being biased by bringing the center of the screen to the center R of the image M.
[0047]
Furthermore, the photographic processing apparatus A of this example includes a perforation detection unit 650 that detects the perforation PF of the APS film F, and the APS film having an image M ′ that the edge detection unit 95 cannot detect the image edge. For F (for example, an APS film having an extremely light image (frame) M ′), when the screen position is determined, the detection unit 650 detects the perforation PF of the film F. Confirmation can be performed without any problem.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the image is accurately aligned with the predetermined screen position with respect to the image output screen regardless of variations in the distance between adjacent images (frames) of the APS film on which the image is recorded. The screen position can be confirmed in the displayed state. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the screen position, thereby improving the operability of the photo processing work by the operator, and further displaying on the display confirmation screen (judge screen). Even if printing is performed automatically without performing printing, it is possible to provide a photographic processing apparatus that can suppress loss printing and improve the quality and reliability of the apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the photographic processing apparatus shown in FIG.
4 is an explanatory diagram of processing steps of the photographic processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image density waveform detected by an image density detecting unit with respect to an image on an APS film.
[Explanation of symbols]
95: Edge detection means 95a: Image density detection means
95b ... Edge part recognition means 96 ... Screen position determination means 610 ... Light source part
620 ... Imaging unit 640 ... Film transport unit 650 ... Perforation detection unit
F ... APS film M ... Image M1, M2 ... Image edge
Y ... Film transport direction

Claims (1)

A film transport unit for transporting an APS film on which an image is recorded in a predetermined film transport direction;
A light source unit for irradiating light to the APS film conveyed by the film conveying unit;
An imaging unit that receives image light passing through the APS film from the light source unit and reads image information;
Edge detection means for detecting at least one edge portion of both edge portions of the image in the film transport direction of the APS film based on the image information read by the imaging unit;
A photo processing apparatus comprising: screen position determining means for determining a screen position of the image with respect to the image output screen based on a detection position of the image edge portion detected by the edge portion detecting means.

Images