JP2000162719A - Device for positioning frame of photographic film - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To align the center position of an image frame with the center position of a negative mask by accurately discriminating the center position of the image frame regardless of the state of an image. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a controller 4 detecting the edge on a carrying upstream side and the edge on a carrying downstream side of the image frame by a line sensor 30 when a negative film 1 is carried by the driving of a stepping motor 24, obtaining the center position of the image frame by arithmetic operation from the detected result and stopping the motor 24 at timing that the center position of the image frame reaches the center position of the negative mask 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for detecting an edge of a predetermined image frame among a plurality of image frames formed along the longitudinal direction of a photographic film by an optical sensor, and detecting the edge of the photographic film based on the detection result. The present invention relates to a photographic film frame positioning device configured to determine the position of an image frame with reference to a frame.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for positioning a frame of a photographic film constituted as described above, when an edge of an image frame of a negative film is determined by an optical sensor, the image frame is conveyed by a set amount so that the image frame is negatively masked. There is one that performs automatic control so as to match (for example, Japanese Patent No. 2625278).

[0003]

However, in the prior art in which the position of one end of an image frame is determined and the position of the image frame is determined based on this determination, for example,
When the apparent size of an image frame becomes large due to light bleeding due to overexposure during shooting, or due to a slight difference in the image size at the camera manufacturer, the center position of the image frame and the center position of the image frame may match. However, there is room for improvement because part of one end of the image frame may not be printed. An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a positioning device capable of accurately determining the center position of an image frame regardless of the state of an image.

[0004]

According to a first feature of the present invention, as described at the beginning, of a plurality of image frames formed along a longitudinal direction of a photographic film, an edge of a predetermined image frame is optically formed. Detected by a sensor, a photographic film frame positioning device configured to determine the position of an image frame based on the photographic film based on the detection result,
The optical sensor detects a position of one edge of the image frame and a position of the other edge, and sets a position which is equidistant from the position of each edge to a center position of the image frame. The operation and effect are as follows.

[0005] A second feature of the present invention is that,
A feed amount measuring unit that measures a transport amount in the longitudinal direction of the photographic film, and a feed amount after the optical sensor detects the lower transport edge after the optical sensor detects the upper transport edge during transport of the photographic film. The above-described processing is performed such that the value measured by the measuring means is set as the image frame length, and a position separated from the edge by half the image frame length toward the center of the image frame is set as the center position of the image frame. The processing mode of the means is set, and its operation and effect are as follows.

A third feature of the present invention is that,
An actuator for transporting the photographic film in the longitudinal direction, the optical sensor being arranged on the upper side of the photographic film transport with reference to a film mask for baking processing, and the optical sensor being transported by driving the actuator; Measurement value of the feed amount measuring means at the timing of detecting the lower edge of the conveyance by the sensor,
The value of the difference from the measured value of the feed amount measuring means at the timing when the edge on the upper side of the conveyance is detected is set as the image frame length, and a value that is 1/2 of the image frame length from one edge is set to the image. It is set at the center position of a frame, and the processing form of the processing means is set so as to stop the actuator at the timing when the center position reaches the center position of the film mask, and its operation and effect are as follows. It is as follows.

According to a fourth feature of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the optical sensor comprises a light source disposed at a position sandwiching a photographic film transport path and a plurality of light sources arranged along a direction in which an edge of an image frame is formed. When the photographic film is conveyed, the line sensor detects the decrease in the amount of light received and determines that the edge is on the lower side of the conveyance. The processing mode of the processing means is set so that the edge is determined to be the edge on the upper side when the measurement is performed. The operation and effect are as follows.

[Action]

According to the first feature, the positions of the edges at both ends of the image frame are detected, and the processing means sets a position equidistant from each edge position at the center position of the image frame. The center position of the image frame can be accurately obtained even when the apparent size of the image frame is increased due to the light seeping out due to overexposure, or even when there is a slight difference in the image size among camera manufacturers. It will be.

According to the second feature, the optical sensor detects the edges at both ends of the image frame when the photographic film is being conveyed, and the processing unit determines the image frame length based on the value measured by the feed amount measuring unit at the time of this detection. In addition to the setting, the accurate center position of the image frame can be obtained by a simple calculation.

According to the third feature, the control means drives the actuator to feed the photographic film, and the feeding amount at the timing when the optical sensor detects both end positions of the image frame when feeding the photographic film. The processing means calculates the image frame length and the center position of the image frame by calculating based on the measurement value of the measuring means. At the timing when the center position reaches the center position of the film mask, the processing means operates the actuator. The printing can be easily performed by stopping the driving of the printer.

According to the fourth feature, since both ends of an image edge are detected by measuring the amount of light transmitted through the photographic film by a line sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in the width direction of the photographic film, for example, The edge of the image frame can be detected at both ends even if the edge of the image frame is unclear, such as when a black image is captured in a part of the image compared to the one that detects the edge of the image frame with the light receiving element of It can be performed reliably.

[Effects of the Invention] Accordingly, a positioning device capable of accurately determining the center position of an image frame of a photographic film even if an image is overexposed or a difference in image size among camera manufacturers is reasonable. It was configured as or,
The center position of the image frame can be set by simple processing with a simple structure compared to the one that performs advanced processing such as planar image processing, and the center position of the image frame is set at the center position of the film mask This makes it possible to perform automatic control, so that the center position of the image frame can be accurately set even if the edge of the image frame is unclear.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a photo printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes an exposure unit that projects and exposes an image of an image frame of the developed negative film 1 (an example of a photographic film) onto photographic paper 2, and a development processing unit 3 that develops the exposed photographic paper 2. A controller 4 (an example of processing means) having a microprocessor (not shown) for controlling the operation of each section. An operation console 5 for inputting various control instructions and a monitor 6 for displaying an image read by a scanner unit (not shown) are connected to the controller 4.

The exposure section includes a film transport unit C for a 135 film (so-called 35 mm size) for transporting and positioning the negative film 1, an exposure light source 7, and cyan, magenta, and yellow light paths for the exposure optical path. The dimming filter 8 adjusts the color balance of the irradiation light from the light source 7 for exposure by moving out of the filter, the mirror tunnel 9 uniformly mixes the light whose color balance is adjusted by the dimming filter 8, and the negative film 1. Printing lens 10 for forming an image of the photographed image on photographic paper 2, shutter 11 for determining the exposure time of light from exposure light source 7 to photographic paper 2, transport roller for transporting photographic paper 2 from photographic paper magazine 12 1
3 and an electric motor 14 for driving the transport roller 13. The light control filter 8 and the shutter 11 are controlled by the controller 4, and the position of each filter of the light control filter 8 and the opening time of the shutter 11, that is, the exposure time are controlled in accordance with the exposure condition determined by the controller 4. You.

This photo printing apparatus prints (prints)
When the negative film 1 to be processed is set in the film transport unit C, the controller 4 optically detects the position of the image frame of the negative film 1 and uses this image frame as a negative mask provided in the film transport unit C. 17
(Example of film mask) Conveyance to a position that matches the position of the film mask and automatic stop are performed, and at this time, data formed on both sides of the image frame of the negative film 1 is read for each image frame. The image of the image frame that has reached the position 17 is read by the scanner unit (not shown) for each image frame, and control is performed to determine the exposure condition for each image frame based on the read captured image. And
The controller 4 simulates an image that would be obtained when the photographic paper 2 is projected and exposed according to the determined exposure conditions, and displays the image on the monitor 6.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Is a large number of perforations 1 on both sides
A photographing area is formed at a central position between P and 1P, and a plurality of image frames 1F are continuously formed in the photographing area in the longitudinal direction. Also, image frame 1F
A frame number 1N of Arabic numerals is formed on both outer sides of the perforation 1P, and a first data portion D1 indicating the frame number 1N by a bar code is formed on one side outside the perforation 1P. Outside the other perforation 1P, a second data portion D2 indicating the type (manufacturer name, film sensitivity) of the negative film 1 by a bar code is formed. In the case of the present embodiment, a full-size image is shot on 135 film. The full-size means that the width of the image frame 1F in the width direction is 24 mm and the size in the transport direction is 36 mm.
In millimeters, the gap between the image frames 1F is 2 millimeters.

As shown in FIG. 2, the film transport unit C comprises an upper unit 18 and a lower unit
It is pivotally connected so as to be freely openable and closable around 0 (the figure shows an open state of the film transport unit C), and the upper unit 18 and the lower unit 19 are urged to the open side by a spring. The upper unit 18 and the lower unit 1
9, a shallow groove-shaped transfer path G for feeding the negative film 1 is formed, an upper exposure opening 21 is formed at an intermediate position of the transfer path G of the upper unit 18, and a transfer of the lower unit 19 is performed. A lower exposure opening 22 is formed at an intermediate position of the path G so as to face the upper exposure opening 21, and the negative mask 17 is provided for the lower exposure opening 22. In the lower unit 19, a plurality of transport rollers 23 for feeding the negative film 1 along both sides of the transport path G and a stepping motor 24 (an example of an actuator) for driving the transport rollers 23 are arranged. In the unit 18, an idle roller 25 is disposed at a position facing the transport roller 23. The plurality of transport rollers 23 are linked so as to be driven at a constant speed by a combination of a timing belt and a plurality of gears.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a pair of upper and lower plate-like members having openings of substantially the same size (full size) as the image frame 1F.
When the film is set, the negative film 1 is inserted between the upper and lower plate members, and at the time of exposure, the upper and lower plate members are operated in the approaching direction by the driving force of an actuator (not shown), and It also has a function of sandwiching the negative film 1 with a material and fixing the position.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the lower unit 19, a line sensor 30 having a plurality of light receiving elements formed linearly with a lens 29 is disposed below a slit 28 formed in a posture orthogonal to the transport path G. A linear light source 31 is disposed on the upper unit side at a position facing the light source.
The line sensor 30 and the light source 31 together constitute an optical sensor for detecting the edge of the image frame 1F of the negative film 1. Also, the transport path G of the lower unit 19
A lens 32 and an optical sensor 33 such as a photodiode or a phototransistor are arranged at respective positions on both sides in FIG. 1, and a light source 34 is arranged on the upper unit 18 opposed to the lens 32. The light source 34 and the optical sensor 33 are connected to the first data portion D1 and the second data portion D2 of the negative film 1.
Has a function of reading the barcode data of the above.
As shown in FIG. 4, a signal path for transmitting signals from the line sensor 30, the pair of optical sensors 33, 33 and the console 5 to the controller 4 is formed, and a signal for sending a drive signal from the controller 4 to the stepping motor 24 is formed. By forming the path, the photographic film positioning apparatus of the present invention is configured. The controller 4 obtains the center position (hereinafter, referred to as a frame center FC) of the image frame 1F by a control process described below, and this frame center FC is used as a negative mask. A process for automatically stopping the transfer of the negative film 1 by automatically matching the center position of the negative film 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a mask center MC) is performed.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10, in this control processing, the control is performed by performing an operation of starting printing by operating the console 5 with the negative film 1 set in the film transport unit C. When the control is started, the stepping motor 24 is driven to rotate forward to start transporting the negative film 1, and the presence or absence of an edge of the image frame 1F is determined based on a signal from the line sensor 30 (# 101). To # 103 steps), when both edges Ea and Eb at both ends of the image frame 1F are detected in this determination, a frame center setting routine (step # 200) is executed. In other cases, a forced frame center setting routine (step # 200) is performed. By executing (# 300 step), a process of setting the frame center FC is performed. Next, the frame center FC and the mask center MC set in these routines are set.
A simulation process of driving the stepping motor 24 to a position where they match with each other, stopping the transport of the negative film 1 at the matching timing, and executing the simulation in this stopped state When the simulation process is completed, the normal rotation drive of the stepping motor 24 is started.
This control is performed by the line sensor 30, the optical sensors 33, 33
Until the end of the negative film 1 is detected, and when the end of the negative film 1 is detected, the stepping motor 24 is stopped (# 10).
4 to # 110 steps).

In this process, the stepping motor 24
The intermittent signal for driving the motor in the forward direction is counted and accumulated (incremented) by a counter configured as software inside the controller 4, and the count is accumulated as described above by the intermittent signal for driving the stepping motor 24 in the reverse direction. A process of subtracting (decrementing) the value is performed, and a count process of holding the count value in a register of a microprocessor or a specific address of a memory is performed. The count value obtained by the count process is added to the count value. The amount of film transport is measured based on this. Incidentally, this counter constitutes a feed amount measuring means.

The outline of the process for matching the frame center FC with the mask center MC is as follows. When the predetermined frame center FC is located at the mask center MC, the position of the edge Eb of the next image frame 1F located on the upstream side of the transport, or the detection position of the line sensor 30 on the upstream side of the transport from this position. The number of intermittent signals required to drive the stepping motor 24 in the forward direction in order to convey the position detected by the line sensor 30 to the mask center MC is preset as the target value X (see FIG. 7). I have. In the frame center setting routine (step # 200) and the compulsory frame center setting routine (step # 300), the frame center FC of each image frame 1F obtained by calculation and the edge E on the upper side of the transport are calculated.
The distance Y to the center b is set as an offset value, and a center value (target count value) indicating the frame center FC is set based on the offset value. When the center value is set in this manner, the stepping motor 24 is driven until the count value of the counter reaches the center value, so that the mask center MC matches the frame center FC. Become. Note that the center value of each image frame 1F and the data of the image frame 1F obtained by the simulation processing are stored in the memory.

As described above, the center value corresponding to the frame center FC of each image frame 1F is set, and the simulation processing of each image frame 1F is performed.
After the is transported to the end, the reverse driving of the stepping motor 24 is automatically started, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 (the processing continued from the flowchart of FIG. 10 is performed). When the count value subtracted by the reverse drive matches the center value stored for each image frame 1F, the stepping motor 24 is stopped, and in this stopped state, the stepping motor 24 is stopped based on the data obtained by the above-described simulation. Exposure processing for printing is performed, and when this exposure processing is completed, the reverse rotation drive of the stepping motor 24 is restarted, and the same exposure processing is performed while sending the negative film 1 to a position where the image frame 1F does not exist. When the negative film 1 is sent to a position where the image frame 1F does not exist, the stepping mode is continued. Has become shall terminate the process by stopping the 24 (# 111 to # 118 steps).

The frame center setting routine (step # 200) is set in the form of a subroutine as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 12. In this routine, the image frame 1F is transported on the lower side of the image frame 1F based on a signal from the line sensor 30. The count value at the timing of detecting the edge Ea is set to the lower count value EaC, the count value at the timing of detecting the edge Eb of the upper transport side is set to the upper count value EbC, and further, both count values EaC are set.
The absolute value of the difference between aC and EbC is set to the image length (if there is no overlap, this value is equivalent to the image frame length), and this image length and the image length for one frame set in advance are set. By comparison with the value (default value), if there is almost no difference, it is determined that there is no overlap between the image frames 1F,
A value of 画像 of the image length (a position equidistant from both edges) is obtained and set in the frame center FC. Further, a value indicating the position of the frame center FC and a count value EbC of the edge Eb on the lower side of the conveyance are obtained. The center value is set by a process of adding a value obtained by subtracting the offset value Y from the target value X to the center value of the immediately preceding image frame 1F (# 2).
01 to # 205 steps).

When it is determined that there is an overlap, if the image length is equal to or longer than the length of one frame of the image frame 1F, 2
Only when the length is less than the frame length, two image frames 1
F is determined to be overlapped, and the count value EaC on the lower side of the conveyance is set to a value H which is １ ／ of the full size frame length.
(18 millimeters), and
A value obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to a value H (18 mm) of a half of the full-length frame length from the count value EbC on the upper side of the conveyance is set in the frame center FC, and as shown in FIG. The offset values Y, Y between FC, FC and the edge EbC on the upper side of the conveyance are obtained, and the respective offset values Y, Y are converted to the target value X by the same processing as described above.
The two center values are set by adding the value subtracted from the center value of the immediately preceding image frame 1F (steps # 206, # 207, and # 205). In other cases, that is, when it is determined that three or more image frames 1F are overlapped, the frame center FC is not determined and no frame center is set.

In this process, in the non-exposure portion between the image frames 1F, the plurality of light receiving elements of the line sensor 30 simultaneously measure the light transmittance from the state where the line sensor 30 measures a high light transmittance over the entire area. The position where the state is switched to the state where the drop is measured is determined to be the edge Ea on the lower side of the conveyance, and the line sensor 30 is changed from the state where the light transmittance is low in the area of the image frame 1F to the entire area of the line sensor 30. The position where the transmittance is simultaneously switched to the state of measuring the increase is determined as the edge Eb on the upper side of the transport. Then, the controller 4 controls the stepping motor 2
The address of the memory is incremented by a signal synchronized with the intermittent signal for driving the
The signals from all the light receiving elements of 0 are stored in the memory in synchronization with the intermittent signal, and the processing of detecting the edge is performed by comparing the value of the stored data for each address. .

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 13, in the compulsory frame setting routine (step # 300), the presence or absence of an image in the area where the image frame 1F should exist is determined based on the signal from the line sensor 30, and the image exists. Then, only when it is determined that the frame center FC is set, when it is determined that no image exists, the setting of the frame center FC is not performed (steps # 301 and # 302).
If it is determined that an image exists, and only the lower edge Ea of the image frame 1F is detected as shown in FIG. 9A, the frame center FC of the immediately preceding image frame 1F is detected.
, The offset value Za from the center value of the frame center FC of the immediately preceding image frame 1F to the edge Ea on the lower side of the transport, and the value H (18 mm) of 1/2 of the full size frame length The center value is set by adding a value corresponding to the following. Further, as shown in FIG.
If only the upper edge Eb of the image frame 1F on the transport side is detected, the center value of the frame center FC of the immediately preceding image frame 1F is compared with the center value of the frame center FC of the immediately preceding image frame 1F.
The center value is set to a value obtained by adding the offset value Zb from the center value of C to the edge Eb on the upper side of the conveyance and subtracting a value corresponding to a value H (18 mm) of 1/2 of the full-length frame length. In other cases, ie, FIG.
As shown in (c), when neither edge is detected, the gap between the image frames 1F and the value of the full-size frame length are compared with the value of the frame center FC of the immediately preceding image frame 1F. The value obtained by adding the sum value P (38 mm) is set as the center value (# 303 to # 3).
07 steps).

As described above, according to the present invention, the edge Ea on the lower side and the edge Eb on the upper side in the transport direction of the image frame 1F of the negative film 1 are optically detected and the image frame 1F is detected.
, Ie, the frame center FC, and the stepping motor 24 is controlled so that the frame center FC and the center position of the negative mask 17, that is, the mask center MC, coincide with each other. Even if the size of the frame 1F is apparently large, the frame center FC is accurately set as the mask center MC so that the center of the photographed image coincides with the center position of the printed photograph. In particular, image frame 1F
Are detected based on the signal from the line sensor 30. Therefore, even when there is a snake state in a part of the image, the edges can be accurately detected and highly accurate control can be performed. It has become something.

[Other Embodiments] In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention provides, for example, a pulse generator that outputs a number of intermittent pulse signals proportional to the rotation amount of a roller for transporting a film, By providing a rotary encoder that outputs a signal that has been output, it is also possible to configure so as to measure the transport amount of the film.

Further, according to the present invention, a line sensor for detecting the edge of an image frame is sandwiched between a negative mask in the transport path.
By arranging the film at the location, the center of the image frame matches the center of the negative mask when performing the simulation, and the center of the image frame when the film is sent in the reverse direction and printed after this simulation. The processing for matching the center of the negative mask and the processing for matching the center of the negative mask can be performed by using a separate sensor to improve the accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photo printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a film transport unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of sensors.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of a control system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing image frames of a negative film.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing first and second data portions;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a negative mask and a line sensor.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which two image frames overlap each other.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image frame in which the edge on the upper side of the transport is unclear, an image frame in which the edge on the lower side in the transport is unclear, and an image frame in which each edge is unclear.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a frame center setting routine.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a forced frame center setting routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 photographic film 1F image frame 4 processing means 17 film mask 24 actuator 30 line sensor 31 light source FC center position of image frame MC center position of film mask Ea, Eb edge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical sensor detects an edge of a predetermined image frame (1F) among a plurality of image frames (1F) formed along a longitudinal direction of a photographic film (1), and based on the detection result. A frame positioning device for photographic film configured to determine the position of an image frame (1F) with reference to the photographic film (1), wherein the position of one edge (Ea) of the image frame (1F) is determined. And the position of the other edge (Eb) are detected by the optical sensor, and the position equidistant from the position of each edge (Ea), (Eb) is defined as the center position (FC) of the image frame (1F).
A frame positioning device for photographic film, comprising a processing means (4) for setting the frame position. 2. A feed amount measuring means for measuring a transport amount of the photographic film (1) in a longitudinal direction, wherein the optical sensor detects a lower edge (Ea) of the photographic film (1) when the photographic film (1) is transported. After that, the value measured by the feed amount measuring means until the edge (Eb) on the upper side of the transport is detected is set as the image frame length, and the length from the edge to the center of the image frame becomes １ ／ of the image frame length. 2. A photographic film frame positioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a processing mode of said processing means is set so that a position separated by a value is set as a center position (FC) of the image frame. 3. An actuator (24) for transporting the photographic film (1) in the longitudinal direction, wherein the optical sensor is provided on the upstream side of the photographic film (1) with reference to a film mask (17) for printing. A photographic film (1) arranged and driven by the actuator (24)
At the time of transport, the edge (E
The difference between the measured value of the feed amount measuring means at the timing of detecting a) and the measured value of the feed amount measuring means at the timing of detecting the edge (Eb) on the upper side of the conveyance is defined as the image frame length. And set a value that is の of the image frame length from one edge to the center position (F
C), and the processing means (4) stops the actuator (24) when the center position (FC) reaches the center position (MC) of the film mask.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing mode is set. 4. The photographic film (1), wherein the optical sensor is a photographic film (1).
A light source (31) disposed at a position sandwiching the transport path of the image frame (1), a line sensor (30) having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along a direction in which an edge of the image frame (1F) is formed, and a photographic film When the decrease in the amount of received light is measured by the line sensor (30) during the transfer in (1), it is determined that the edge (Ea) is on the lower side of the transfer, and when the increase in the amount of received light is measured by the line sensor (30). Edge on upper side (Eb)
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a processing mode of said processing means (4) is set so as to judge.