DE19827715A1 - Automated image printer for processing and printing images stored on image data medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The printer has interfaces (28,30,32,34,36,38,40) for entering image data, a control and computation unit for user-controlled processing of the entered image data and for computing the price according to the resulting image processing and at least one image printer (96). The interface digitizes the images for further processing. The control and computation unit contains a computer (4) with a screen for storing, processing and displaying the entered and digitized image data. The printer has a serial interface (32), parallel interface, magnetic data carrier drive (34) for direct input of digital image data from floppy disk, video tapes or magnetic tapes and a video input (36) for direct input of analogue video signals. A RAM card reader (30) provides read in of image data stored on RAM card, CD-drive for image data read in from CD-ROM or photo CD. An Independent claim is also included for a method for processing and printing images stored on an image data medium.

Description

The invention relates to an image printing machine and a method for editing and printing on an image data carrier stored images according to the preamble of claim 1 and Claim 13.

Photo machines are known from the prior art, at wel the user takes a portrait photo of himself in a photo booth can be made, whereby the photo developed by the photo booth and is spent. The quality of such a photo car maten pictures is not very high. In addition be there is no way to influence the exposure and colors of the to take finished pictures.

In the generic DE 41 03 721 is a photo printer for printing pictures on photo paper as described in commercial photolab is used. After the three pri  mar color components (complementary colors) of a negative image of measured by a scanner and based on this automatically a Be clearing control value was calculated, can be the photo printer Serving photo specialist additional exposure correction data enter if the respective picture has a subjective and wrong on Print conveyed in terms of color or exposure. scale with such a color and exposure correction is always the Rendering of real reality. The disadvantage here is that that the customer has no influence on the processing of his images can take and that the possibilities to influence overall to a few parameters, such as B. the colors and the exposure are limited.

In addition to conventional photo techniques, wins today the storage and processing of images on electronic me serve more and more importance. So z. B. digital cameras and Video cameras known in which the image data on digital data carriers can be saved. The image data can be processed using computers processed in conjunction with special image processing software and thus any changes can be made to the image. With With this digital technology it is also possible to specifically falsify images to achieve certain artistic effects, individual To combine picture elements with each other or to z. B. certain Delete picture elements. One also plays in person shots Role, the people pictured by a subsequent picture processing particularly advantageous.

Based on this, it is the task of the present inventor to provide an image printing machine through which the image data supplied by customers on image data carriers  read, edited in no time and after paying the price in high quality can be printed without operating or Specialists would be necessary. In particular, the customer should able to move his pictures at the image printing machine itself edit design and change according to his wishes can.

This object is achieved by a Vorrich device with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 and by a method with the characteristics of the characteristic Part of claim 13 solved.

The measures result in an advantageous manner that the customer regardless of the opening times of a collection point his pictures edit it yourself and have it printed out in the desired number can. Due to the digital database there is the possibility that the Customer himself is active in design and any of his pictures Can make changes, e.g. B. zooming image sections, Color change for individual picture objects, removal or addition of picture objects.

Advantageous refinements and practical training the overriding measures are set out in the subclaims give. Such a particularly advantageous embodiment can be included exist that at least one of the interfaces is a measuring device contains which with an interface diagnostic software interacts that the setting one is connected to the interface closed external interface measurable and the interface ent according to the measured setting and programming it is conceivable that there is a data transfer between the two interfaces can take place. This eliminates the problem of adaptation  the interface of the image printing machine to the setting of the Interface of a digita connected to the image printing machine len camera solved, which a variety of parameters such. B. Transmission rate, parity, data length, stop bit, handshake etc.

Another advantageous measure can be that the data interface is a facility for differentiation and separation slides, film negative strips, paper pictures on the one hand and APC film cartridges on the other hand and a scanner for scanning and digi talizing the image data has. This allows different pictures served at a single slot in the photo printing machine be carried out without the risk of malfunctions by feeding the machine to the wrong slot shaft arise.

Further advantageous refinements and practical training of the higher-level measures are in the remaining Un specified claims and from the example below spellings can be taken from the drawings.

The drawings show:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the image printing machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic functional diagram of the preferred embodiment of the image printing machine according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic functional diagram of a device of the inventive image printing machine for flexible handling and for scanning various image data carriers;

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the structure of a pallet for processing APC film cartridges by the image printing machine according to the invention

Fig. 5 is a schematic functional diagram of a programmable interface of the image printing machine according to the invention.

The principle of operation of an image printing machine 1 according to the invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. The image printing machine 1 has a housing 2 , in which a computer 4 with egg ner keyboard 6 and a screen 8 is arranged.

Since the image printing machine according to the invention is intended to process as large a number of image data carriers as possible on the market, it has an appropriate interface depending on the image data source. So on the outer periphery of the housing 2 ei ne data interface 10 for the direct reading of digital image data, a slot 12 for inserting slides, film strips, paper pictures and APC film cartridges, and a drive 14 are provided. Thus, the user can either connect an image storage or image recording device directly to the image printing machine 1 for data transmission or insert a data carrier containing the image data into a corresponding drive 14 . If the image data are not yet digitized, which, for. B. is the case with slides, film negative strips, paper pictures and APC film cartridges, these are then scanned after insertion into the insertion shaft 12 . The screen 8 enables the user to view his pictures individually and, if necessary, to design them differently. The commands for controlling a known image processing software stored in the computer 4 are entered through the keyboard 6 or via the screen 8 , which is preferably designed as a touch screen. In addition, the user can use the keyboard 6 to enter the number of prints desired per image.

Since the prevailing ambient light on the screen 8 of the color, brightness and contrast impression may be different for the user, a sensor device 16 for measuring the color temperature and the brightness of the ambient light of the screen 8 is provided. This sensor device 16 interacts with the screen 8 via a control device in such a way that the color, the brightness and the contrast of the screen are automatically set as a function of the measured values. This avoids that the colors, the brightness and the contrast of an image shown on the screen differ from the corresponding values of the later printout.

Then by known methods, for. B. move the donor, an image is generated on the basis of the user-changed image data on a film roll 18 . In the computer 4 , the price of the photographic work is then calculated according to the image processing carried out and the desired number of prints per image using a stored calculation program. After requesting payment of the calculated price, e.g. B. by a corresponding display on the screen 8 , the user can preferably have the amount debited via a reader for EC and credit cards 20 . To check the EC or credit card and to process the bank debit, the computer of the image printing machine 1 has an interface 22 for remote data transmission (EDI). After payment has been made, the individual images are output via an output slot 24 on the circumference of the housing and separated from the film roll 18 by a cutter 26 .

FIG. 2 shows a functional diagram of the image printing machine 1 in which the device according to the invention is used. As described above, the slot 12 serves on the outer circumference of the image printing machine 1 for inputting image data on paper, film strips, framed and unframed slides and APC film cartridges. Furthermore, a CD drive 28 for reading image data on CD-ROM or Photo-CD and a RAM card reader 30 for reading image data stored on RAM cards is provided. In addition, the image printing machine 1 has an interface for serial signals 32 and an interface for parallel signals 34 for direct input of digital image data. Furthermore, an interface for analog video signals 36 with the inputs FBAS, Y / C and YUV is provided in order to be able to enter images from standard video cameras. In addition, there is a digital interface 38 for entering video signals on digital data carriers. In addition, drives for magnetic data carriers such as floppy disks, video tapes or magnetic tapes are provided, which are not shown in FIG. 2 for reasons of space.

Because of their different geometry and properties, framed and unframed slides, film strips, paper images on the one hand and APC film cartridges on the other hand must be processed separately from one another after being inserted into the insertion shaft 12 . For this purpose, a device 40 for flexible handling and for scanning different image data carriers is provided, which is arranged within the image printing machine 1 at the end of a throw shaft 12 and whose functional diagram is shown in FIG. 3. The following formats are currently possible as image data carriers: The 35 mm 35 mm film in the form of slides with and without a frame or as a film negative, the APC film in a corresponding cartridge and paper images in various sizes. An image recognition system 42 is provided to distinguish slides, film negative strips, paper images on the one hand and APC film cartridges on the other hand. The image recognition system 42 has a horizontal storage at the end of the insertion shaft 12 , on which the thrown image data carrier comes to lie flat, and a mechanical scanner which scans the thickness of the image data carrier lying on the horizontal storage. The image recognition system 42 also includes a microcomputer which interacts with a program stored in it such that if the thickness scanned by the scanner exceeds a predetermined minimum thickness, this is a sign of the presence of an APC film cartridge. The scanner can also be a light barrier whose light beam crosses the shelf at a certain height or the like.

If the scanned thickness does not exceed the defined minimum thickness, it is a flat image data carrier, i.e. a slide, a film strip or a paper image. In such a case, the respective image data carrier is transported from a transport system to a cleaning station 44 and checked there for dirt and cleaned so that the image data can later be scanned without interference. Subsequently, the image data carrier is transported to a palletizer 46 , where it is placed flat by a handling device on a pallet or tray 48 and fixed there, which is taken from a first pallet store 50 . The palletizer 46 has a scanner to distinguish slides, paper images and film strips from one another, and in particular so that paper images are placed on the pallet 48 in such a way that the side rests with the image face up for later scanning. The pallets 48 are marked appropriately depending on whether they carry a paper image, a film strip or a slide.

From the palletizer 46 , the pallets 48 are then transported to a scanner 52 by means of the transport device. The pallets 48 are first positioned in the scanner 52 and the identifications of the pallets 48 are read so that the scanning beam of the scanner 52 can be adjusted accordingly depending on the type of image data carrier. The image data are then scanned and read in digitized form into the memory of the computer 4 ( not shown in FIG. 3). In order to ensure high image quality when printing the images, the scanner 52 preferably has a resolution of 2700 dpi with a color depth of 24 bits. After scanning, the pallets 48 are transported from the transport system to a first depalletizer 54 , the paper images, slides or film strips are removed from the pallets 48 there and output via an unillustrated output shaft, where the user can receive them again. The pallets 48 are then transported back to the first pallet store 50 .

The image recognition system 42 treats the scanned image data carrier as an APC film cartridge if the thickness of the image data carrier scanned by the scanner exceeds the stored minimum thickness. In such a case, the APC film cartridge, after separating slides, paper images and film strips, is transported by means of the transport system to an extractor and palletizer 56 , each of which has an APC cartridge 60 on a special pallet 58 for APC previously removed from a second pallet store 57 Cartridges mounted and which threads the film out of the APC cartridge 58 a little. The pallet 58 for APC cartridges is then guided to scanner 52 together with the APC cartridge by means of the transport system.

Such a pallet 58 for APC cartridges is shown schematically in Fig. 4 in a view from below. As shown there, an APC film cartridge 60 is clamped on the pallet 58 for APC film cartridges between a bearing block and a cartridge drive 62 . The cartridge drive 62 engages in a receptacle of a film shaft rotatable relative to the APC film cartridge 60 , on which the film is wound. The APC film cartridge 60 itself is fixed stationary on the bearing block, so that it is possible with the aid of the cartridge drive 62 to wind the film, which has already been threaded out a little, along a film guide, not shown, as far out of the APC film cartridge 60 that a front one End of the film is inserted into a receiving slot of a winding roller 64 , the central axis of rotation of which is parallel to a film shaft on which the film is wound. The winding roller 64 is between a bearing block and a winding roller drive 65 rotatably driven on the pallet 58 for APC film cartridges. After the front end of the film has been inserted into the receiving slot, the cartridge drive 62 is switched off and the winding roller drive 65 is switched on, where the flexible film hooks with its front end into the receiving slot and the film so far from the APC -Filtratrone 60 is pulled out that a first image of the film comes to a stop exactly under a window-like From 66 from the palette 58 for APC cartridges and because it is readable by the scanner beam, which is directed from above to the scan opening 66 . The cartridge drive 62 and the winding roller drive 65 are controlled via a contact 68 on the pallet 58 for APC film cartridges by a control of the scanner 52 , the contact 68 touching a corresponding counter-contact of the scanner 52 when the pallet 58 for APC film cartridges is located in the scanning position in the effective area of the scanner. The control of the scanner 52 controls the winding roller drive 65 in such a way that, after an image has been scanned, the winding roller drive 65 winds the film by another image out of the APC film cartridge and positions it under the scanning opening 66 , which then results in the image can be scanned in the scanning opening 66 for the scanner beam. After the last frame of the film has been scanned in this manner, the cartridge drive 62 is actuated by the control of the scanner 52 in order to wind the film back into the APC film cartridge 60 and to pull it back.

As shown in Fig. 3, after scanning and digitizing the image data, the pallet 58 for APC cartridges is fed to a second depalletizer 70 , in which the APC film cartridge 60 together with the rewound film is removed from the pallet 58 for APC film cartridges and is output via an output chute. Then the now empty pallet 58 for APC film cartridges is transported back to the second pallet store 57 . With the device 40 described above, all types of slides, film strips, paper images and film cartridges can be reliably separated and their image data can be digitized.

The CD drive 28 shown in FIG. 2 for reading in image data on CD-ROM or Photo-CD preferably works according to the ISO 9660 standard or the Kodak® standard. The RAM card reader 30 for reading in image data stored on RAM cards can preferably read the card formats PCMCIA, PC card, CompactFlash card, miniature card and MultiMedia card on the hardware side. Since the manufacturers of the RAM cards use different interface parameters and data formats, the RAM card reader 30 has special diagnostic software to determine the respective type of card and the respective data format and to configure the RAM card reader 30 accordingly.

A particular problem arises when connecting devices with serial interface according to the RS 232 standard or similar or a pa rallel interface, such as. B. Centronics, because this requires detection of the appropriate pin assignments, the voltage level, the value (0 or 1) and the protocol. In particular, in the case of serial interfaces, parameters such as transmission rate, parity, data length, stop bit, handshake, etc. must match so that data can be transmitted between an external interface of an image data carrier and the interface of the image printing machine 1 . For this reason, the image printing machine 1 according to the preferred embodiment each has a programmable serial and parallel interface 32 , 34 , the function of which is shown in FIG. 5. The input signals coming from the devices connected to the interfaces 32 , 34 are converted via inputs 1 to n by an analog-digital converter 74 into a digital voltage signal, which is evaluated by a signal evaluation 76 , which forwards the results to a controller 78 , which is preferably integrated in the computer 4 . A load is applied to inputs 1 to n to determine whether a voltage drop occurs. In such a case it can be assumed that it is a passive line (= output).

A subsequent evaluation of the individual levels and signals is then carried out in a suitable manner by means of a channel evaluation unit 80 . On the basis of the evaluated channel assignment, the relays 84 , which switch the inputs 1 to n, are then controlled via a channel control 82 in order to make a corresponding assignment of the inputs and outputs. At the same time, input and output controls 86 , 88 are programmed via the detected voltage levels in order to make the necessary settings for the levels. In the input and output actuators 86 , 88 as in the analog / digital converter 74 protective mechanisms against overvoltage and overcurrent are installed in order to protect both the image printing machine 1 and the device connected to it against damage.

Corresponding signal patterns are applied to the input and output lines to determine which protocols (transmission rate, parity, stop bit, handshake, transmission protocol and data format) are operated on the interface of the connected device. For this purpose, the controller 78 has the necessary database information in order to query known protocol patterns via a protocol evaluator 90 at the input and a protocol evaluator 92 at the output and to test them out at the interface. The reading in of data from the connected devices at the parallel interface 34 is carried out by the controller 78 , which transfers the data to a connected data bus for further processing in the computer 4 .

With the interface for analog video signals 36 shown in FIG. 2, images from standard video cameras can be input. A codec is provided for processing the image data, which stores the analog images digitally on a hard disk. The codec is preferably configured in accordance with ITU-R 601. FBAS (Cinch and BNC) are provided as inputs as composite video with common chrominance and luminance, Y / C or S-video and component signal YUV. Before printing out, the user can record a sequence of the video film with the codec and then select a desired image or a section thereof.

The digital interface 38 shown schematically in FIG. 2 for inputting video signals on digital data carriers preferably has the format IEEE 1394. With regard to the processing of the image data read in via this digital interface 38 , reference is made to the above statements about analog video signals. The drives for reading image data on magnetic data carriers such as floppy disks, video tapes or magnetic tapes, which are not shown in FIG. 2 for reasons of space, are provided in the following formats: VHS, S-VHS (shared drive), Video-8, Hi-8 (shared drive ), Mini DV and a floppy disk. As far as I am concerned with analog data, this is digitized by an analog / digital converter.

As shown in FIG. 2, the interfaces 10 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , drives 14 , 28 , card readers 30 and the device 40 described above are controlled by the computer 4 via a control bus. The read-in and digitized image data arrive via a data bus to the computer 4 , in which a known image processing software is stored. The user can now use the keyboard 6 or the screen 8 designed as a touch screen to change the images shown on the screen 8 and adjust his wishes and specify a desired number of prints per image. With the help of the image processing software 94 , the following parameters can be changed on the images: brightness, contrast, positive ↔ negative, white balance, color correction: hue, saturation, soft focus to reduce interference, deinterlace for video images to reduce blur, select the print size, etc. ., This list is not exhaustive. Depending on the type and size of the prints and the changes made to the images, the price for the photo work is calculated in the computer 4 by means of a stored calculation program and shown on the screen 8 with a request for payment.

To print out the desired images, the computer 4 controls a printer 96 , preferably a color laser printer. It is also possible to use a thermal transfer printer, a solid ink printer or a printer which works according to the photographic silver halide process and which achieves a maximum resolution of 400 dpi with a color depth of 24 bits. An automatic color, brightness and contrast adjustment takes place between the screen 8 for the visual representation of the image data and the printer 96 , so that the user receives the desired image printed out exactly as he sees it on the screen 8 .

As already mentioned above, the image printing machine 1 has a reader 20 for EC and credit cards to compensate the printouts. Another option is to use cash or a special customer card. In order to be able to make the bank debit, the computer 4 is connected to an interface, preferably a modem 100, for remote data transmission. Via this modem 100 there is also the possibility of remote diagnosis of the image printing machine 1 in order, inter alia, to be able to regularly check the supply of paper, paint, cash, etc.

The printer 96 and the reader for EC and credit cards 20 are controlled by the computer 4 in such a way that the images are only printed and output when a payment corresponding to the calculated price and displayed on the screen 8 has been made.

Claims (18)

1. Image printing machine ( 1 ) for editing and printing images stored on an image data carrier, with the following devices: At least one interface ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 40 ) for entering image data, a control and Calculation unit for user-controlled processing of the input image data and for calculating the price in accordance with the image processing carried out and at least one device ( 96 ) for printing the processed images, characterized in that the interface ( 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 40 ) is such is formed that the input image data are digitized for further processing and that the control and calculation unit includes a computer ( 4 ) with a screen ( 8 ) for storing, editing and displaying the input and digitized image data, which is designed such that the digitized image data by control signals entered into the computer ( 4 ) in any way the design can be changed and the changed image data can be displayed on the screen ( 8 ); and that means ( 20 ) for paying for the image processing are provided which, together with the device ( 96 ) for printing, are controlled by the control and calculation unit ( 4 ) in such a way that printing and output of the processed images only take place if a payment corresponding to the calculated price has been made. 2. Image printing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface optionally contains at least one or more devices from the following group of devices:
An interface for serial signals ( 32 ), an interface for parallel signals ( 34 ), for the direct input of digital image data; a drive ( 14 ) for magnetic data media such as floppy disk, video tapes or magnetic tapes;
a video input ( 36 ) for direct input of analog video signals;
a RAM card reader ( 30 ) for reading in image data stored on RAM cards; a CD drive ( 28 ) for reading image data on CD-ROM or Photo-CD. 3. Image printing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the interfaces ( 32 , 34 ) is programmable and contains a measuring device which interacts with an interface diagnostic software in such a way that the setting of a to the interface ( 32 , 34 ) connected external interface is measurable and the interface ( 32 , 34 ) is programmable and adjustable in accordance with the measured setting such that a data transmission can take place between the two interfaces. 4. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an insertion shaft ( 12 ) for inserting un different image data carriers, in particular for inserting slides, film strips, paper images and APC film cartridges, is provided, at the end of which a device ( 40 ) is arranged for flexible handling and for scanning the image data carrier. 5. Image printing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the device ( 40 ) for flexible handling and for scanning under different image data carriers has a device ( 42 ) for distinguishing and separating flat image data carriers from image data carriers wound in cartridges and at least a first pallet ( 48 ) for carrying flat image data carriers and at least one second pallet ( 58 ) for carrying image data carriers wound in cartridges is provided, which can be transported for scanning the image data into the effective range of the scanning beam of a scanner ( 52 ). 6. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that
the second pallet ( 58 ) has a winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) in order to at least partially wind the image data medium threaded out of the cartridge ( 60 ) onto a winding roller ( 64 ) rotatably mounted on the second pallet ( 58 );
and a window-like scanning opening ( 66 ), under which the image data carrier can be moved image-wise during winding onto the winding roll ( 64 ) by the winding drive ( 62 , 65 ), so that the scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ) directed onto the scanning opening ( 66 ) detects the can scan individual images of the image data carrier one after the other. 7. Image printing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the second pallet ( 58 ) has at least one contact element ( 68 ) via which the winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) can be controlled by the scanner ( 52 ) when the second pallet ( 58 ) in the effective range of the scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ), such that the winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) winds up the image data carrier as far as possible on the winding roller ( 64 ) after scanning an image, that the subsequent image is located under the scanning opening ( 66 ) finds. 8. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an image processing software is stored in a memory of the computer ( 4 ) with which the read-in digitized image data can be changed as desired. 9. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer ( 4 ) comprises input devices for inputting the control signals, which preferably include a keyboard ( 6 ) and / or a touch screen. 10. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor device ( 16 ) for measuring the color temperature and the brightness of the ambient light of the screen ( 8 ) is provided, which cooperates with the screen ( 8 ) such that depending on the measured Values the color, brightness and contrast of the screen ( 8 ) is automatically adjustable. 11. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device ( 96 ) for printing optionally include at least one or more devices from the following group of devices: a color laser printer; a thermal transfer printer; a solid ink printer and a printer which works according to the photographic silver halide process. 12. Image printing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen ( 8 ) and the device ( 96 ) for printing cooperate such that between the screen ( 8 ) and the device ( 96 ) for printing an automatic color-brightness and contrast adjustment takes place. 13. A method for processing and printing images stored on an image data carrier, comprising the following steps: entering image data on an external image data carrier using at least one interface, processing the image data, calculating the price of the image processing carried out by a computer ( 4 ), characterized in that the image data are digitized during reading and are displayed on a screen ( 8 ) in order to be subsequently digitally processed in any manner by means of the computer ( 4 ) and only to be printed out when a payment corresponding to the calculated price has been made . 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized by the following further steps: measuring the setting of an external interface connected to the interface ( 32 , 34 ) by means of a measuring device, comparing the measured setting with stored settings, if the measured setting matches one of the stored ones Settings Program the interface ( 32 , 34 ) according to this saved setting so that data can be transferred between the two interfaces. 15. The method according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized by the following further steps: distinguishing and separating flat image data carriers on the one hand and image data carriers wound in cartridges on the other hand and then separately scanning and digitizing the image data by a scanner ( 52 ). 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized by the following further steps: palletizing flat image data carriers on a first pallet ( 48 ) and transporting the first pallet ( 48 ) into the effective range of a scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ) for scanning the image data. 17. The method according to claim 15, characterized by the following further steps: palletizing at least one in a cartridge ( 60 ) wound image data carrier ( 62 ) on a second pallet ( 58 ) and partially unthreading the image data carrier from the cartridge ( 60 ), transporting the second pallet ( 58 ) in the effective range of the scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ), at least partially unwrapping the image data carrier from the cartridge and winding the image data carrier onto a winding roller ( 64 ) by means of a winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) and simultaneously image-wise transporting the image data carrier under a window-like scanning opening ( 66 ) of the second pallet ( 58 ) so that the scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ) directed onto the scanning opening ( 66 ) can scan the individual images of the image data carrier one after the other. 18. The method according to claim 17, characterized by the following further steps: controlling the winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) by the scanner ( 52 ) via a contact element ( 68 ) of the second pallet ( 58 ) when the second pallet ( 58 ) is in the effective range of the scanning beam of the scanner ( 52 ) so that the winding drive ( 62 , 65 ) after scanning an image winds up the image data carrier so far on the winding roller ( 64 ) that the subsequent image is located under the scanning opening ( 66 ).