DE9419287U1 - Device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip - Google Patents

Description

Description :

SYMICRON GmbH SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, Harkortstr. 27, D-40880 Ratinqen

Device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip

The invention relates to a device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip using a digitizing element.

As the processing of images taken with a film camera or a photo camera becomes more digital, devices are increasingly being used to digitize images on a section of a film strip. This makes it easier, for example, to make copies of individual images, as this can be done digitally using conventional computer printers and therefore without the use of harmful chemicals. In addition, the archiving of images taken with photographic means is made easier because the images take up relatively little space in digital form. Digitizing images also opens up the possibility of evaluating the images mechanically, which makes the work of the personnel involved in the evaluation considerably easier, particularly in the case of evaluating images taken by flashing traffic lights or automatic radar devices.

A generic device for digitizing images on a section of a film strip is, for example, a slide scanner, into which framed slides can be inserted for digitization. The slide scanner has a light source for shining through the inserted slide and a

Surface with light-sensitive semiconductors that is installed behind the slide in the direction of radiation from the light source. When the light source shines through the slide, the light-sensitive semiconductors absorb the light radiation emitted by the slide and convert it into digitally storable information.

The disadvantage of the aforementioned devices for digitizing images is that the images on the film strip have to be individually framed in slide frames before digitizing, which is very laborious. In addition, digitizing is very time-consuming, as the images have to be inserted into the digitizing device and then removed from it again.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip, which enables rapid and inexpensive digitization of the images.

This task is solved by providing a guide member for guiding the film strip in the area of the digitizing member and a film feed device for feeding the film strip.

The invention is based on the basic idea that digitizing the images on a film strip is quickest if the uncut film strip is brought to the digitizing element image by image using a film feed device, whereby the guide element ensures that the film strip is correctly positioned in relation to the digitizing element. Especially with so-called flatbed scanners, where the area with the light-sensitive semiconductors for digitizing the image corresponds to the size of the image to be digitized, fast and reliable digitizing is already possible with this design.

With an embodiment of the invention in which the film guide member is designed so that it can be connected to a movement device provided on the digitizing member, so-called line scanners can also be used as the digitizing member, in which the image to be digitized is subjected to movement by a movement device in the area of the digitizing member during the digitizing process. The film guide member then advantageously has a dovetail guide for connection to the movement device, with which the film guide member can be connected to the movement device particularly reliably.

According to a further feature of the invention, the film guide member is connected to a clamping component for releasably fixing the film strip, the clamping component being designed to be movable back and forth between a released and a clamped position. With the film guide member designed as described above, it is possible to clamp the film strip during the digitizing process so that its position is fixed relative to the digitizing component. During the advance of the film strip to the next image, the clamping component is moved to its released position so that it does not hinder the advance.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the clamping component is designed as a lever movably connected to the guide member, whereby the clamping component can also be provided with an elastic spring that extends between the film guide member and the clamping component in such a way that the clamping component can be moved from the clamped position to the released position against the resistance force of the spring. A clamping component designed in this way is particularly reliable and can be moved easily and quickly from the released position to the clamped position and back again.

For mechanical release and clamping of the clamping device according to the invention

component, a lifting device is operably connected to the clamping component, whereby the lifting device can be designed as a lifting magnet. With such a lifting device it is possible to move the clamping component back and forth between the released position and the clamped position automatically operated by a control system.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the film feed device has at least one storage element for receiving the film strip, whereby the storage element can also be designed as a film reel. Such a storage element can receive very long film strips, so that the device according to the invention can digitize many images without having to insert a new film strip. When designed as a film reel, the film strip is guided securely in the storage element.

If the film reel has a cylindrical reel body, with at least one slot running in the direction of a surface line of the reel body for inserting one end of the film strip, one end of the film strip can be securely fastened in the storage element. This prevents the film strip from accidentally coming loose from the storage element, which would lead to problems when digitizing the images provided on it.

If a detachable cover is then also provided on the base of the spool body to cover the slot that emerges from the base, the film can be inserted into the storage element in a particularly simple manner. It is first wound up into a roll, with the end of the film strip protruding from the inside of the roll being inserted into the slot that emerges from the base with the cover removed. The rolled-up film strip can then be easily inserted into the storage element. After insertion, the slot is closed with the cover so that the film

strip is held securely in the storage element.

In addition, it is provided that each film reel is connected to a drive device in such a way that the film reel can be rotated by the drive device. This ensures both a particularly reliable advance of the film strip and a simple structure of the film advance device. Especially if the drive device is designed as a stepper motor, it can be automatically operated in a particularly simple manner by a control system.

In addition, the feed device advantageously has at least one guide roller for guiding the film strip. The guide roller ensures that the film always assumes a predetermined position during advancement, thereby ensuring trouble-free operation of the digitizing device according to the invention. If the guide roller has a concavely shaped outer surface, particularly precise guidance of the film strip is possible without the need for additional guide rollers on the side edges of the film strip.

For particularly trouble-free operation, it is provided that the film feed device has at least one feed detector element for measuring the feed of the film strip. This allows particularly precise control of the feed of the film strip.

According to a feature of the invention, the advance detector element has a marking sensor for scanning markings and/or openings provided on the film strip, which can be designed as an optical sensor. Commercially available film strips often have openings arranged at regular intervals, which can be scanned particularly easily with such a marking sensor, so that an accurate conclusion can be drawn about the advance carried out by the advance device. In particular, it is also possible to distinguish between

to scan the light/dark bars present in the individual images arranged on the film strip and in this way to align the images precisely with the digitizer.

The advance detector element can also be provided with a running shaft for rolling on a surface of the film, whereby the running shaft is equipped with a rotation angle decoder for measuring the rotation angle of the running shaft. By scanning the measured values of the rotation angle decoder, the distance covered by the film strip being advanced can then be determined under the running shaft, so that an accurate measurement of the advance is also possible in this way. The running shaft advantageously has teeth for engaging in openings provided on the film strip, so that any slippage between the running shaft and the surface of the film strip is prevented.

For automatic operation of the digitizing device according to the invention, a control is provided which is connected to the film feed device and digitizing element in such a way that they can be operated by the control. This ensures that many images provided on a long image strip can be digitized automatically and without the intervention of operating personnel. The control can also be carried out at least partially by an external personal computer.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a carrier component is provided for connecting the digitizing element and the film feed device, wherein the carrier component advantageously has a holder for fastening the digitizing element. In such a holder, the digitizing element can be fastened in a particularly detachable manner, which makes it possible to quickly remove the digitizing element from the digitizing device according to the invention and replace it. For example, if the digitizing element is damaged, it is thus possible to quickly repair the digitizing device according to the invention by simply replacing the digitizing element.

If the holder has recesses for receiving the device feet provided on the digitizing element, the position of the digitizing element in relation to the carrier component and thus to the film feed device is also fixed, which enables particularly reliable and trouble-free digitization of the images on the film strip.

Furthermore, it is provided that adjustment markings in the form of adjustment pins are provided on the carrier component, with which the digitizing element can be precisely aligned with respect to the carrier component. This enables the digitizing device to be quickly adjusted after the digitizing element has been replaced.

Finally, it is provided that a pivotable carrier for the lifting device is attached to the carrier component, whereby the carrier is designed to be lockable in at least one position. Due to the pivotable design of the carrier, the lifting device can be pivoted away, in particular for replacing the digitizing element, whereby free access to the digitizing element is possible. This makes it easier to replace the digitizing element.

The invention is illustrated using an embodiment in the drawing. Bs show:

Figure 1 shows a digitizing device according to the invention

direction in the front view;

Figure 2 the digitizing device from Figure 1

in plan view;

Figure 3 a partial view of the digitizing

direction from Figures 1 and 2 from the side and

• a » ·· · 4

Figure 4 the leading link of the digitizer

devices from Figures 1 to 3 in an exploded view.

Figures 1 and 2 show a digitizing device 1 according to the invention in a view from the front and from above. The main components of the digitizing device 1 are a slide scanner 2, on which a film clamping guide 3 is provided, a lifting device 4 for actuating the film clamping guide 3, an unwinding device 5, a winding device 6 and a carrier housing 7 on which the aforementioned components are mounted.

The slide scanner 2 has a housing tray 8 in which the components belonging to the mechanics and electronics of the slide scanner 2 are attached. In detail, these are a light source (not shown) and a photodiode row (also not shown), between which the image to be digitized is inserted, as well as a movement device for moving the image in the area of the photodiode row. Furthermore, a scanner control (not shown) is provided in the housing tray 8 for automatically operating the light source, the photodiode row and the movement device, whereby the scanner control can be connected to a power source, a control computer and other controls via connections (also not shown). On its underside, the housing tray 8 has four device feet, of which only the device feet 9 and 10 can be seen in Figure 1. A rear housing cover 11 is attached to the top of the housing tray 8, which covers the scanner control and the electronics necessary for operating the photodiode row. On the front of the slide scanner 2, a front housing cover 12 is provided, which covers part of the drive for the movement device. Between the rear housing cover 11 and the front housing cover 12, a removable cover 13 is attached, which has a rectangular opening 14 on its top.

which extends in the transverse direction of the slide scanner 2. The opening 14 is designed in such a way that the film clamping guide 3, which is connected to the movement device of the slide scanner 2, can carry out all movements of the movement device without touching the cover 13.

The film clamping guide 3 attached to the movement device of the slide scanner 2 has, as can best be seen in Figure 4, a film carrier 15 which is provided with an upper film guide stop 16 and a lower film guide stop 17. The distance between the upper film guide stop 16 and the lower film guide stop 17 is selected so that a film strip 18 inserted between them is guided through the slide scanner 2 in a horizontal direction without vertical play. On the side of the film carrier 15 facing away from the film strip 18, a vertical dovetail guide 19 is provided which interacts with a dovetail-shaped pin on the movement device of the slide scanner 2 and creates a firm connection between the film carrier 15 and the movement device. Furthermore, the film carrier 15 has a trapezoidal cross-section, horizontally extending first bolt groove half 20 into which a cylindrical hinge bolt 21 is inserted.

The film clamping guide 3 also has a clamping lever 22, which has on its underside a second bolt groove half 23 that is symmetrical to the first bolt groove half 20 and encloses the hinge pin 21 on its side facing away from the film carrier 15. The first bolt groove half 20 and the second bolt groove half 23 are designed in such a way that the film carrier and the clamping lever 22 can pivot relative to one another around the hinge pin 21 within a defined angle of rotation. On the side facing the film carrier 15, an essentially cuboid-shaped film clamping plate 24 with a beveled upper edge is attached to the clamping lever 22, the height of which in the horizontal direction corresponds to the distance between the upper film guide stop 16 and the lower film guide stop 17.

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The film clamping plate 24 is arranged on the clamping lever 22 in such a way that when the clamping lever 22 is pivoted relative to the film carrier 15, it enters exactly into the space between the upper film guide stop 16 and the lower film guide stop 17. In order to handle the film strip 18 gently, clamping jaws 25 made of plastic are provided on both the film clamping plate 24 and the film carrier 15. On its upper side, the clamping lever 22 is provided with an elongated stop bar 28 with a trapezoidal cross-section, which is engaged by a pull button 29 of the lifting device 4. On the side facing away from the film clamping plate 24, a spring guide plate 26 is also attached to the clamping lever 22, which serves to guide one leg of a spring clip 27, the other leg of which encloses the film carrier 15. The legs of the spring clip 27 are bent in such a way that the ends of the spring clip only touch the clamping lever 22 and the film carrier 15 from approximately the middle of the area defined by the upper film guide stop 16 and the lower film guide stop 17 upwards and thus press the clamping lever 22 and the film carrier 15 against each other while rotating about the hinge pin 21.

The carrier housing 7 is, as can best be seen in Figure 1, divided horizontally into a carrier tray 30 and a carrier cover 31. The carrier tray 30 serves to accommodate a control for the digitizing device 1 (not shown in this view). On its underside, the carrier tray 30 also has four device feet, of which only the device feet 32, 33 are shown in this view. The carrier cover 31 has a keypad 34 on its front with a shift key 35, a forward key 36, a stop key 37, a rewind key 38 and a zero position key 39. In addition, the keypad 34 also has an operating display 40, a digitizing display 41 and a zero position display 42, each of which is designed as a light-emitting diode. On the back of the carrier cover 31 there is a power socket (not shown) and several data sockets for connecting the control to the dia-

scanner 2 and an external computer. In a particularly simple wiring of the digitizing device 1, the slide scanner 2 is connected to the external computer, with the connection then looped through to the control in the carrier housing 7.

In addition, a support plate 43 is attached to the top of the support cover 31, which has the guide rails 44, 45 for accommodating the device feet 9, 10 of the slide scanner 2. The guide rails 44, 45 are designed in such a way that the device feet 9, 10 of the slide scanner 2 can be moved back and forth in the direction from the front of the support cover 31 to its rear, whereby the device feet 9, 10 are deformed by the weight of the slide scanner 2 in such a way that the slide scanner 2 cannot move by itself with respect to the support plate 43.

The support plate 43 also has a vertically extending first support axis 46 for the unwinding device 5 and a cantilever arm holder 47 for fastening the lifting device 4 on the section protruding to the right above the support cover 31. A vertically extending second support axis 48 for holding the winding device 6 is provided on the section of the support plate 43 protruding on the left side of the support cover 31. The support plate 43 also has an adjusting pin 49 which is used to precisely adjust the position of the slide scanner 2 with respect to the support plate 43.

A cantilever arm 50 is connected to the cantilever arm holder 47 in a lockable manner via a detachable shaft connection 51. The cantilever arm 50 can be swiveled away from the area of the slide scanner 2 after the shaft connection 51 has been released. At its end extending over the slide scanner 2, the cantilever arm 50 is provided with a lifting magnet 52, which has a lifting shaft 53 that can rotate freely about its axis of symmetry. At the end protruding from the lifting magnet 52, the pull knob 29 is attached to the lifting shaft 53, which

in the rest position of the lifting magnet 52, it reaches just up to the stop bar 28 of the film clamping guide 3 and encompasses it from the pulling side of the clamping lever 22. When the lifting magnet 52, which is connected to the device control via lines not shown in this view, is actuated, the pulling button 29, as can best be seen in Figure 3, is pulled in the direction of the lifting magnet 52, so that the clamping lever 22 moves to the position indicated by the broken line and releases the film strip 18 held between the clamping jaws 25 for horizontal displacement. The rotatable design of the lifting shaft 52 ensures that when the film clamping guide 3 is moved with the movement device of the slide scanner 2, the pulling button 29 can roll on the stop bar 28, so that no frictional forces occur there that hinder the movement of the film clamping guide 3.

The unwinding device 5 provided on the first support axis 46 has an unwinding motor 55 attached to a first support arm 54, which is connected to the device control via lines not shown. The vertical position of the unwinding motor 55 can be adjusted using two adjusting nuts 56 provided on the first support axis 46. The unwinding motor 55 is designed as a stepper motor and has a first film spool 58 attached to its motor shaft (not shown in this view) via a knurled screw 57. The first film spool 58 has a cylindrical spool body 59 in which a first receiving slot 59 is provided for receiving one end of the film strip 18. The film spool 58 is limited at the bottom by a first spool plate 60, which, in the case of longer films, carries the turns of the film strip 18 wound around the first spool body 61 and which covers the unwinding motor 55 at the top.

The unwinding device 5 also has a photocell pot 62, which is covered by a cover 63. The photocell pot 62 contains a running shaft, of which only the axis of symmetry 64 is shown.

over which the film strip 18 runs. The running shaft has teeth (not shown) that engage in an edge hole in the film strip 18 (also not shown). The running shaft is connected to a rotary angle decoder, via which the distance of the film strip 18 running over the running shaft is measured and passed on to the device control via cables not shown in this view. In addition, a light barrier for scanning the edge holes in the film strip 18 is mounted in the photocell pot 62, which determines the number of edge holes in the film strip 18 moving past it and passes this on to the device control via cables not shown in this view. The photocell pot 62 also has a blanking light barrier (not shown in this view) for detecting blanking bars on the film strip 18 that are not visible in this view. The blanking light barrier transmits its measurement signals to the device control via cables not shown.

The winding unit 6, which is connected to the second support axis 48, has a winding motor 66 attached to the second support axis 48 via a second support arm 65. The winding motor 66 is designed as a stepper motor and is connected to the device control by cables not shown in this view. The position of the winding motor 66 can be adjusted via adjusting nuts 67 on the second support axis 48. A second film spool 69 is attached to the shaft of the winding motor 66 (not shown) with a knurled screw 68. The second film spool 69 has a cylindrical second spool body 70 in which a second receiving slot 79 is let in for receiving one end of the film strip 18. The second film spool 69 is limited by a second spool plate 72 towards the winding motor 66.

The winding device 6 also has a guide roller 73, which is provided so as to be movable on the second support shaft 48. The guide roller 73 is divided into a cylindrical, fixed

standing base 74 on which a roller body 75 is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of symmetry 76. The roller body 75 is held on its upper side by a knurled screw 73 which is connected to the base 74. The roller body 75 has a concave cross-section on its outer surface facing the film strip 18 in a plane running through the axis of symmetry 76. This means that the film strip 18 running on the roller body 75 is always guided centrally and is not subject to vertical displacement. Furthermore, a sighting pin 78 is attached to the base, which extends transversely to the film strip 18 running over the roller body 75.

To digitize the images on the film strip 18, the film strip 18 is inserted into the digitizing device 1 as follows. First, the cover 13 is removed and, by actuation by the external computer, the pull button 29 is moved over the lifting magnet 52 into its position shown in broken lines in Figure 3. This causes the clamping lever 22 to rotate away from the film carrier 15 into a released position so that a section of the film strip 18 can be inserted between the upper guide stop 16 and the lower guide stop 17. By actuating it again by the external computer, the pull button 29 returns to its clamped position shown in solid lines in Figure 3, whereby the film strip 18 is clamped between the clamping jaws 25. Alternatively, it is also possible to swing the lifting magnet 52 away and operate the film clamping guide 3 manually.

The film strip 18 is then placed around the running shaft in the photocell pot 62 and the protruding end is wound onto the first film spool 58. The other end of the film strip 18 is placed around the guide roller 73 and wound onto the second film spool 69. The first film spool 58 and the second film spool 69 are then rotated until the film strip 18 sits taut in the digitizing device 1.

The clamping guide 3 is then moved into its released position as described above and the film strip 18 is adjusted by turning the first film reel 58 and the second film reel 69 until a scanning bar on the film strip 18 aligns with the sighting pin 78. The zero setting button 39 is then pressed, whereby the film clamping guide 3 moves into its clamped position and the device control sets an internal zero point for the advance of the film strip 18. The digitizing device can then be caused by the external computer to digitize the first image from the film strip 18. To do this, the film clamping guide 3 with the clamped section of the film strip 18 is moved past the photodiode row with the light source switched on. The unwind motor 55 and the wind-up motor 66 compensate for any resulting changes in the length of the film strip 18, so that the film strip 18 is back in its starting position after the digitization process has ended.

To digitize the next image on the film strip 18, the advance button 36 is pressed, whereupon the film strip 18 is moved further by the use of the unwind motor 55 and the wind-up motor 66 with the film clamp guide 3 in the release position. For this purpose, the information measured by the angle of rotation decoder and the light barriers in the photocell pot 62 are evaluated so that the film strip 18 is advanced by exactly one image length. It is important that when digitizing the images on the film strip 18, the film strip can be moved back and forth in both directions between the unwind device 5 and the wind-up device 6. In this respect, the unwind device 5 also takes over winding functions, while the wind-up device 6 also carries out unwinding functions.

To remove the slide scanner 2 from the digitizing device 1

the support arm 50 is pivoted forward from its position above the slide scanner 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 after the shaft connection 51 has been released, until it is above the photocell pot 62. The slide scanner 2 can then be removed from the support housing 7 by simply lifting it from the guide rails 54, 45. The digitizing device 1 is assembled in the reverse order.

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Claims (27)

• * • * •&phgr; Claims SYMICRON GmbH SOFTWARE-ENGINEERING, Harkortstr. 27, D-40880 Ratinqen Device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip 1. Device for digitizing images present on a section of a film strip with a digitizing element, characterized in that a guide member (15, 16, 17) for guiding the film strip (18) in the region of the digitizing member (2) and a film feed device (5, 6) for feeding the film strip (18) are provided. 2. Device for digitizing according to claim 1, characterized in that the film guide member (15, 16, 17) is designed such that it can be connected to a movement device provided on the digitizing member (2). 3. Device for digitizing according to claim 2, characterized in that the film guide member (15, 16, 17) has a dovetail guide (19) for connection to the direction of movement. 4. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film guide member (15, 16, 17) is connected to a clamping component (25) for releasably fixing the film strip (18), the clamping component (25) being adjustable between a released and a clamped position * · ·· t • *
· · • ···· ··· ···· »· • is designed to be movable. 5. Device for digitizing according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping component (25) has a lever (22) movably connected to the guide member (15, 16, 17). 6. A device for digitizing according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the clamping component (25) is provided with an elastic spring (27) which extends between the film guide member (15, 16, 17) and the clamping component (25) in such a way that the clamping component (25) can be moved against the resistance force of the spring (27) from the clamped position into the released position. 7. Device for digitizing according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a lifting device (52) is provided for actuating the clamping component (25). 8. Device for digitizing according to claim 7, characterized in that the lifting device is designed as a lifting magnet (52). 9. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film feed device (5, 6) has at least one storage element (58, 69) for receiving the film strip (18). 10. Device for digitizing according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage element is designed as a film reel (58, 69). 11. Device for digitizing according to claim 10, characterized in that the film spool (58, 69) has a cylindrical spool body (61, 70), wherein at least one slot (59, 71) running in the direction of a surface line of the spool body (61, 70) is provided for inserting one end of the film strip (18). 12. Device for digitizing according to claim 11, characterized in that a detachable cover body (57, 68) is provided on a base surface of the coil body (61, 70) for covering the slot (59, 71) emerging from the base surface. 13. Device for digitizing according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that each film spool (58, 69) is connected to a drive device (55, 66) in such a way that the film spool (58, 69) can be rotated by the drive device (55, 66). 14. Device for digitizing according to claim 13, characterized in that the drive device (55, 66) is designed as a stepper motor. 15. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film feed device (5, 6) has at least one guide roller (76) for guiding the film strip (18). 16. Device for digitizing according to claim 13, characterized in that the outer surface of the guide roller(s) (76) is concave. 17. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film feed device (5, 6) has at least one advance detector element for measuring the advance of the film strip. 18. Device for digitizing according to claim 17, characterized in that the advance detector element has a marking sensor for scanning markings and/or openings provided on the film strip (18). 19. Device for digitizing according to claim 18, characterized in that the marking sensor is designed as an optical sensor. 20. A digitizing device according to claim 19, characterized in that the advance detection member comprises a running shaft (64) for rolling on a surface of the film (18), the running shaft (64) being provided with a rotation angle decoder for measuring the rotation angle of the running shaft (64). 21. Device for digitizing according to claim 20, characterized in that the running shaft (64) is provided with teeth for engagement in openings provided on the film strip (18). 22. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control is provided which is connected to the film feed device (5, 6) and to the digitizing element (2) in such a way that they can be actuated by the control. 23. Device for digitizing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a carrier component (43) for connecting the digitizing element (2) and the film feed unit direction (5, 6) is provided. 24. Device for digitizing according to claim 23, characterized in that the carrier component (43) has a holder (44, 45) for fastening the digitizing element. 25. Device for digitizing according to claim 24, characterized in that the holder (44, 45) has recesses for receiving device feet {9 , 10} provided on the digitizing element (2). 26. Device for digitizing, characterized in that the carrier component (43) is provided with adjustment markings (78, 49) in the form of adjustment pins (49, 78) protruding from the carrier component (43). 27. Device for digitizing according to claim 7 or claim 8 and according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that a pivotable carrier (50) for the lifting device (52) is provided on the carrier component (43), wherein the carrier (50) is designed to be lockable in at least one pivot position.