JP4367155B2 - Film transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a film transport device for transporting photographic fill in an image reading device for reading an image formed on a photographic film.

  In general, a film image reading apparatus represented by a film scanner is equipped with a film conveying apparatus in which a film conveying mechanism is incorporated. The film transport apparatus includes a film transport path, a scan gate extending in a line shape that opens in the middle of the transport path, and a film transport mechanism for transporting the film along the transport path.

  The film transport mechanism includes an upstream transport roller group and a downstream transport roller group on the upstream side and the downstream side of the scan gate, respectively, and the film is transported by these transport roller groups. When the film passes over the scan gate, light is irradiated to the film through the scan gate, and the film image is read by sensing the transmitted light transmitted through the film with a sensor (for example, Patent Document 1 below). . Accordingly, it is necessary to carry the film, particularly before and after the scan gate, smoothly and at a constant speed.

  In general, when reading a film image, first, the entire image is pre-scanned at a high speed and a low resolution, and after image adjustment is performed based on the prescan image obtained as a result, a main scan is performed at a low speed and a high resolution. I do. In this case, the film passes through the scan gate at least twice (one reciprocation).

However, when the film is transported, there is a case where unevenness occurs in the transport speed due to a large impact of the film entering the upstream transport roller group or the downstream transport roller group arranged before and after the scan gate. . The conveyance speed unevenness is not a big problem at the time of pre-scanning, but at the time of the main scanning, the reading of the image is hindered, and there is a possibility that the image quality is deteriorated. In particular, in a film print service, a customer may request a print process by bringing a film cut into one frame. A film having a length of one frame is likely to cause the above-described uneven conveyance speed. there were.
JP 2001-69287 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object thereof is to smoothly and uniformly convey the film even when the film is cut into one frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a film transport apparatus capable of easily and reliably reading an image formed on a sheet.

The above object can be achieved by the present invention as described below. That is, the film transport apparatus of the present invention includes a scan gate that opens in a line in the middle of a film transport path, an upstream transport roller group provided on the upstream side of the scan gate, and a downstream side of the scan gate. An image formed on the film transported along the transport path by the upstream transport roller group and the downstream transport roller group, via a scan gate. The upstream side transport roller group includes a first upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the scan gate, and the downstream side transport roller group is immediately downstream of the scan gate. And a nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair is set lower than a nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair. And, a prescan for reading from the upstream side by transporting the film on the downstream side, by rotating the first upstream roller pair and the first downstream roller pair after prescan the prescanning in a reverse direction, downstream The film is transported from the upstream side to the upstream side, and a main scan is performed that is read at a higher resolution than during pre-scanning .

  According to the above configuration, the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the scan gate is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the scan gate. Therefore, during the main scan, the film can be smoothly fed from the first downstream roller pair to the first upstream roller pair. At that time, since the end of the film is smoothly held between the first upstream roller pair and the impact of the film entering is suppressed, the film is transported smoothly and at a constant speed, and the image formed on the film is read. Can be carried out easily and reliably.

In the present invention, in the film transport during the main scan, the side that receives the film is called the upstream side, and the side that feeds the film is called the downstream side. That is, when performing pre-scan and main scan with one-way film transport, the film is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side to perform the pre-scan. After the pre-scan is completed, the film is moved to the opposite side, that is, from the downstream side to the upstream side. To the side and perform the main scan. The same film conveyance is performed when only the main scan is performed without performing the pre-scan.
The film transport apparatus of the present invention is provided on the downstream side of the scan gate, a scan gate that opens in a line in the middle of the film transport path, an upstream transport roller group provided on the upstream side of the scan gate, and the scan gate. A downstream conveyance roller group, and an image formed on the film conveyed along the conveyance path by the upstream conveyance roller group and the downstream conveyance roller group is read through a scan gate. In the configured film transport apparatus, the upstream transport roller group includes a first upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the scan gate and a second upstream roller provided immediately upstream of the first upstream roller pair. An upstream roller pair, and the downstream conveying roller group includes a first downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the scan gate, and a first downstream roller pair. A second downstream roller pair provided on the downstream side, wherein the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair, and the nip pressure of the second upstream roller pair Is set higher than the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair, and the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair is set higher than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair.

  In the above, it is preferable that the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair is set to 1/3 to 2/3 of the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair.

  By setting the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair to 1/3 to 2/3 of the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair, smooth and uniform film conveyance is more effectively performed. In the above, if the relationship of the nip pressure is less than 1/3, the pressure contact of the film by the first upstream roller pair is weak, which is not preferable because the film conveying force is reduced. Since the difference in conveying force is large, it is not preferable because unevenness in the conveying speed of the film is likely to occur. On the other hand, when the relationship of the nip pressure exceeds 2/3, the above-described operational effect of the present invention is reduced.

  In the above, the upstream conveying roller group includes the first upstream roller pair and a second upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the first upstream roller pair, and the downstream conveying roller group includes: The first downstream roller pair and a second downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the first downstream roller pair, and a nip pressure of the second upstream roller pair is a nip of the first upstream roller pair. It is preferable that the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair is set higher than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair.

  The second upstream roller pair sends the film to the first upstream roller pair during pre-scanning, and receives the film from the first upstream roller pair during the main scanning and sends it to the upstream side. By setting the nip pressure higher than that of the first upstream roller pair, the film can be reliably pressed and the film can be transported suitably. In addition, since a mechanism for winding the long film may be provided on the downstream side of the second downstream roller pair, the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair should be set higher than that of the first downstream roller pair. Thus, a high conveying force can be obtained against the winding tension during the main scan.

  In the above, it is preferable that the distance between the second downstream roller pair and the scan gate is set to be equal to or longer than the length of one frame of the film.

  When reading an image formed on a film cut to a length of one frame, when the film of the length of one frame is simultaneously conveyed by a roller pair having a relatively high nip pressure and a roller pair having a relatively low nip pressure. This may cause uneven conveyance speed and affect image quality. Therefore, by setting the distance between the second downstream roller pair and the scan gate to be equal to or longer than the length of one frame of the film, the film having a length of one frame sent from the upstream side has a relatively high nip pressure. Since it is not pinched by the high second downstream roller pair, the main scan can be performed at a stable conveyance speed.

  In the above, at least the upstream side of the transport path is configured in a tunnel shape, and a film insertion port is provided on the upstream side of the tunnel-shaped transport path, and the distance from the film insertion port to the scan gate However, what is comprised more than the length for one frame of the said film is preferable.

  The upstream side of the transport path is configured as a tunnel, and the distance from the film insertion port to the scan gate is configured to be longer than the length of one frame of the film, so that it is cut into the length of one frame. Even if it is the film made, stable film conveyance can be performed.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows an image processing apparatus 1 on which a film image reading apparatus 2 is mounted. The image processing apparatus 1 is mainly for performing various types of image processing on image data read by the film image reading apparatus 2 or the like. The image processing apparatus 1 is a computer in which image processing software or the like is installed. A controller 11 comprising: a keyboard 12a and a mouse 12b for inputting various information to the controller 11, a monitor 13 for displaying various information, and a record for reading image data recorded on various media such as MO. A media reader 14 is mounted.

  The image processing apparatus 1 appropriately processes the image data read by the film image reading apparatus 2 or the recording media reading apparatus 14 based on a predetermined image processing program and various information input by the keyboard 12a or the mouse 12b, The data is sequentially output to a printer (not shown) as print data.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the film image reading device 2 includes a film carrier unit 3 (corresponding to the film transport device) and a light source device 21 for irradiating the film set on the film carrier unit 3 with light. And a lens unit 22 on which the light transmitted through the film enters, and a CCD unit 23 (Charge Coupled Device unit) that converts the light that has passed through the lens unit 22 into an electrical signal. The light source device 21, the lens unit 22, and the CCD unit 23 are configured to be movable with respect to the film carrier unit 3, and can be appropriately changed in position according to the type of film to be processed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the film carrier unit 3 includes a unit main body 30 and a unit divided body 31 that is foldably supported with respect to the unit main body 30 and covers the upper surface of the unit main body 30. In addition, film transport mechanisms 4a and 4b including film transport paths 40a and 40b respectively corresponding to the 135 film and the APS film are mounted. The film transport paths 40a and 40b are formed in a tunnel shape between the upper surface of the unit main body 30 and the lower surface of the unit divided body 31, and light from the light source device 21 is in the middle of the film transport paths 40a and 40b. Scanning gates 41a and 41b are provided that are opened in a line shape that passes through.

  Hereinafter, the film transport mechanism 4a corresponding to 135 films will be described. The film transport mechanism 4a includes the film transport path 40a formed in a tunnel shape as described above, and a film insertion opening 42 is formed at the start end of the film transport path 40a, and a film transport outlet 43 is formed at the end thereof. Is formed.

  The film transport mechanism 4a is provided with a transport roller group 5 for transporting the film along the film transport path 40a. In the present embodiment, the transport roller group 5 includes an upstream transport roller group 57 provided on the upstream side of the scan gate 41a and a downstream transport roller group 58 provided on the downstream side of the scan gate 41a. Further, the upstream-side transport roller group 57 includes a first upstream roller pair 51 provided immediately upstream of the scan gate 41a, and a second upstream roller pair 53 provided immediately upstream of the first upstream roller pair 51. The downstream transport roller group 58 includes a first downstream roller pair 52 provided immediately downstream of the scan gate 41a and a second downstream roller pair 54 provided immediately downstream of the first downstream roller pair 52. It consists of.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the film transport mechanism 4 a is provided with a film take-up device 55 assembled to the film carry-out port 43. The film take-up device 55 is provided with a take-up drum 56 for taking up the film by driving a motor, and the films carried out from the film carry-out port 43 via the film carrying path 40a are sequentially taken up by the take-up drum 56. Can be wound.

  Each of the conveying roller pairs 51 to 54 is configured by driving rollers 51 a to 54 a provided on the unit body 30 side and driven rollers 51 b to 54 b provided on the unit divided body 31 side. The driving rollers 51a to 54a are configured to be driven at the same rotational speed by a driving device (not shown). The driven rollers 51b to 54b are urged toward the driving rollers 51a to 54a by springs (not shown), respectively, and a predetermined nip pressure acts on the conveyed film.

  In the present invention, the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair 51 is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair 52. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nip pressure of the second upstream roller pair 53 is set higher than the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair 51, and the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair 54 is the first downstream roller pair 52. Is set higher than the nip pressure. Here, the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair 51 is preferably set to 1/3 to 2/3 of the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair 52, and is preferably set to 1/2. More preferred. In addition, it is preferable that the height of the driven rollers 51b and 52b included in the first upstream roller pair 51 and the first downstream roller pair 52 can be changed so that the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair 51 and the first downstream roller pair 52 can be appropriately adjusted.

  In the present embodiment, the first downstream roller pair 52 is set so that the roller surface of the driven roller 52b is in contact with the roller surface of the driving roller 52a, and the first upstream roller pair 51 has a roller surface of the driven roller 51b. The roller surface of the driving roller 51a is set so as to face the roller surface with a space smaller than the film thickness (preferably, approximately the same thickness as the film thickness). Further, the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair 54 is set so that a conveying force exceeding the winding tension of the winding drum 56 of the film winding device 55 is obtained.

  The distances A, B, and C between the rotation centers of the adjacent conveyance roller pairs are less than the length (38 mm) of one frame of 135 film, and the 135 film cut to the length of one frame can be conveyed. It is set to be suitably performed. The distance D from the rotation center of the second downstream roller pair 54 to the center of the scan gate 41a and the distance E from the film insertion opening 42 to the center of the scan gate 41a in the film transport path 40a are equivalent to one frame of 135 films. It is set to a length longer than.

  A case where a long 135 film (hereinafter referred to as a long film) is scanned using the film carrier unit 3 on which the film transport mechanism 4a is mounted will be described. First, the leading end of the long film is inserted into the film insertion opening 42, and the film is conveyed along the film conveyance path 40 a by the conveyance roller group 5. Then, when the film passes through the scanning gate 41a, the image formed on the film is read through the scan gate 41a and pre-scanning is performed. When the long film is conveyed, the leading end side is sequentially wound around the winding drum 56 of the film winding device 55.

  Since the main purpose of the pre-scan is to obtain a pre-scan image used for image adjustment before the main scan, the image is read at a high speed and a low resolution. Therefore, smooth and uniform film transport is not required as compared with the main scan. The result of the pre-scan is displayed on the monitor 13, and the operator can appropriately set various conditions related to the main scan such as area designation via the keyboard 12a and the mouse 12b while viewing the display.

  When the pre-scan is finished and a main scan command is sent, the film is conveyed in the direction opposite to the film conveyance direction during pre-scan, that is, from the downstream side to the upstream side. When the film passes through the scan gate 41a again, the image formed on the film is read through the scan gate 41a as in the pre-scan, but the main scan is performed at a lower speed and higher resolution than the pre-scan. .

  As described above, the leading end side of the long film is wound around the winding drum 56 of the film winding device 55, and when the winding diameter becomes larger as the film is conveyed, the winding drum 56 is wound. The winding tension increases. As a result, when the film is transported from the downstream side to the upstream side, the film may be pulled toward the take-up drum 56 and the read image may shrink. However, in this embodiment, the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair 54 provided on the upstream side of the film winding device 55 is set so as to have a conveying force that exceeds the winding tension of the winding drum 56. Therefore, the film on the scan gate 41a side is not affected by the tension of the winding drum 56, and the image quality is stabilized.

  Next, a description will be given of the case of scanning 135 film (hereinafter referred to as “one frame film”) cut to a length of one frame. First, when a one-frame film is inserted into the film insertion opening 42, the leading end is sandwiched between the second upstream roller pair 53, conveyed downstream, and sent to the first upstream roller pair 51. Subsequently, the rear end is separated from the second upstream roller pair 53, and the pre-scan is started via the scan gate 41a. Then, after the leading edge of the film is sandwiched between the first downstream roller pair 52 and conveyed to the downstream side by a predetermined stroke, the pre-scan is finished.

  At the stage where the pre-scan of one frame film is completed, the leading end is not sandwiched between the second downstream roller pair 54 and the rear end is located between the first downstream roller pair 52 and the scan gate 41a. Yes. From this state, the one-frame film is conveyed to the upstream side by the first downstream roller pair 52, and the main scan is started. After the start of the main scan, the trailing edge of the one-frame film is sent to the first upstream roller pair 51 and conveyed to the upstream side of the predetermined stroke, and then the main scan is completed. After the main scan is finished, the trailing edge of the one-frame film is sandwiched between the second upstream roller pair 53 and conveyed toward the film insertion opening 42, and the film conveyance ends when the trailing edge protrudes outside from the film insertion opening 42. To do.

  In this embodiment, since the film conveyance path 40a is formed in a tunnel shape, stable film conveyance can be performed even with a single frame film. Further, since the distance D from the rotation center of the second downstream roller pair 54 to the center of the scan gate 41a is set to be equal to or longer than the length of one frame of 135 film, the one-frame film is nip pressureduring the main scan. Therefore, the film is stably conveyed and the image is read accurately.

  In addition, since the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair 51 is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair 52, the trailing edge of the one-frame film is smoothly applied to the first upstream roller pair 51 during the main scan. It is sent in and the impact when entering is suppressed. Thus, the film is conveyed smoothly and at a constant speed, and the image is read more accurately. At this time, the first downstream roller pair 52 is set so that the roller surface of the driven roller 52b contacts the roller surface of the driving roller 52a, and the first upstream roller pair 51 has the roller surface of the driven roller 51b as the driving roller. The effect described above can be obtained more effectively if it is set to face the roller surface 51a with a predetermined gap.

  During the main scan, the phenomenon that affects the reading of the image due to the impact of the trailing edge of the film entering the first upstream roller pair 51 may occur even in the case of a long film. In the case of a frame film, uneven conveyance speed is likely to occur, and the present invention is useful.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, an example of the 135 film transport mechanism 4a has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to other types of film transport mechanisms.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the main scan is performed after the pre-scan has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the main scan may be performed.

Illustration of image processing device Schematic explanatory diagram of film image reader Perspective view of film carrier unit Cross section of film carrier unit Schematic illustration of film transport mechanism

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Film image reading apparatus 3 Film carrier unit 4a Film conveyance mechanism 40a Film conveyance path 41a Scan gate 42 Film insertion port 5 Conveying roller group 51 1st upstream roller pair 52 1st downstream roller pair
53 Second upstream roller pair 54 Second downstream roller pair 51a to 54a Drive roller 51b to 54b Follower roller 56 Winding drum 57 Upstream conveying roller group 58 Downstream conveying roller group

Claims (6)

A scan gate that opens in a line in the middle of the film transport path, an upstream transport roller group provided on the upstream side of the scan gate, and a downstream transport roller group provided on the downstream side of the scan gate. A film transport apparatus configured to read an image formed on the film transported along the transport path by the upstream transport roller group and the downstream transport roller group via a scan gate. ,
The upstream conveying roller group includes a first upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the scan gate, and the downstream conveying roller group includes a first downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the scan gate. The nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair,
A prescan that transports and reads the film from the upstream side to the downstream side, and after the prescan, the first upstream roller pair and the first downstream roller pair are rotated in a direction opposite to that during prescanning. A film transporting apparatus that performs a main scan for transporting a film to a side and reading at a higher resolution than during prescanning. A scan gate that opens in a line in the middle of the film transport path, an upstream transport roller group provided on the upstream side of the scan gate, and a downstream transport roller group provided on the downstream side of the scan gate. A film transport apparatus configured to read an image formed on the film transported along the transport path by the upstream transport roller group and the downstream transport roller group via a scan gate. ,
The upstream transport roller group includes a first upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the scan gate, and a second upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the first upstream roller pair, and the downstream The side transport roller group includes a first downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the scan gate, and a second downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the first downstream roller pair, and the first upstream roller pair. The nip pressure of the roller pair is set lower than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair, the nip pressure of the second upstream roller pair is set higher than the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair, and The film conveying apparatus, wherein a nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair is set higher than a nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair.   The film transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair is set to 1/3 to 2/3 of a nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair. The upstream transport roller group includes a first upstream roller pair and a second upstream roller pair provided immediately upstream of the first upstream roller pair, and the downstream transport roller group includes the first upstream roller pair. A downstream roller pair, and a second downstream roller pair provided immediately downstream of the first downstream roller pair,
The nip pressure of the second upstream roller pair is set higher than the nip pressure of the first upstream roller pair, and the nip pressure of the second downstream roller pair is higher than the nip pressure of the first downstream roller pair. The film conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the film conveying apparatus is set high.   The film transport apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an interval between the second downstream roller pair and the scan gate is set to be equal to or longer than a length of one frame of the film.   The upstream side of at least the scan gate of the transport path is configured in a tunnel shape, and a film insertion port is provided on the upstream side of the tunnel-shaped transport path, and the distance from the film insertion port to the scan gate is The film conveyance apparatus in any one of Claims 1-5 comprised more than the length for one frame of a film.

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