JP2001100305A - Photograph vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photograph vending machine which allows a wide variety of photographing. SOLUTION: The photograph vending machine for taking the photographs of an object 2 and vending these photographs is provided with a rail 10 slidably mounted with a camera 6 for photographing the object and is so constituted that the camera can turn on the rail 10. The machine is provided with a light source selecting means which is provided with plural lights 13 for projecting light of different colors and selecting an arbitrary light 13 among the lights 13 and projecting the light, by which the photographing of the subject with the camera 6 turning while sliding on the rail 10 and the photographing at various camera angles having a wide variety are made possible. The photographing of the subject by selecting the arbitrary light source from the light sources of different colors and a wide variety of photographing having desired colors are made possible and a wide variety of photographing is made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine which is installed in a game center or the like, takes a coin or the like, shoots an object, and prints out the image on a sticker, card, paper, film or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many game vending machines have been installed in game centers and the like to take pictures and make sticker prints. As such a photo vending machine, the one shown in FIG. 7 is generally used. In this device, a half mirror 53 is provided inside a main body 52 at an angle of approximately 45 °. A camera 55 for photographing a subject is provided behind the half mirror 53, and a monitor 56 for displaying an image photographed by the camera 55 is provided below the half mirror 53. In the figure, 51 is a controller, and 57 is a printer for printing a photographic print 58.

In the photo vending machine, an image taken by a camera 55 through a half mirror 53 is displayed on a monitor 56, and the image displayed on the monitor 56 is reflected by the half mirror 53 and can be confirmed by the subject 54. It has become. Then, the subject takes a desired pose while checking his / her own appearance on the monitor 56, and operates the controller 51 at a desired position to take a still image. This still image is combined with an appropriate frame or foreground image and printed as a photo print 58.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional vending machine can take only a photograph of the face of a subject or a photograph of at most bust-up. Especially recently, the needs of photography vending machines have diversified with the increase in users,
Many elaborate frames and foregrounds that are synthesized with an image of a subject have been provided, but they are no longer satisfied with a uniform one simply taking a face photograph or the like.

Therefore, not only the face photograph of the subject 54,
As a device capable of photographing the whole body, a photo vending machine as shown in FIG. 8 has been invented and implemented. This camera is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 7, except that a camera 55 is attached to the upper half of the half mirror 53. By doing so, it is possible to photograph the entire body of the subject 54 so as to look down on the subject 54 from obliquely above.

However, even in the above-mentioned photo vending machine, there is no difference from the one shown in FIG. 7 in that one camera 55 is fixed. Therefore, the camera angle is fixed and cannot be taken at a variety of angles, and in fact, it does not sufficiently meet the need to take various pictures.

Further, in the above-described conventional vending machines, general fluorescent lamps and tungsten lamps are used as an illuminating device for illuminating the subject, but they have no function other than simply illuminating the subject, and this is also a change. It does not meet the need to take rich and diverse photographs.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a photo vending machine that enables a variety of photographing.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a photo vending machine according to the present invention is a photo vending machine for taking a picture of a subject and selling the picture, wherein a camera for taking a picture of the subject is slidably mounted. A first gist is that a rail provided is provided so that the camera can rotate on the rail.

[0010] A photo vending machine of the present invention is a photo vending machine for taking a picture of a subject and selling the photo vending machine. The photo vending machine is provided with a plurality of light sources for irradiating light of different colors. The second point is that light source selecting means for performing irradiation is provided.

That is, the first photographic vending machine of the present invention comprises:
A rail on which a camera for photographing a subject is slidably mounted is provided, and the camera is configured to rotate on the rail. For this reason, by photographing a subject with a camera that rotates while sliding on the rails, it is possible to photograph with various camera angles that are varied, and it is possible to meet various needs of users.

A second photo vending machine of the present invention is provided with a plurality of light sources for irradiating light of different colors, and light source selecting means for selecting and irradiating an arbitrary light source among the above light sources. For this reason, by photographing a subject by selecting an arbitrary light source from among light sources of different colors, it becomes possible to perform a variety of photographing with desired colors and meet various needs of the user.

In the first photographic vending machine, when a plurality of light sources for irradiating light of different colors are provided and light source selecting means for selecting and irradiating an arbitrary light source among the light sources is provided, By shooting the subject with a camera that rotates while sliding the rails, it is possible to shoot at a variety of camera angles, and select an arbitrary light source from light sources of different colors. By photographing, it is possible to perform a variety of photographing with a desired color, and it is possible to perform a photographing with more variety.

In the vending machine of the present invention, an image storage means for storing an image of a subject such as a foreground or a background, and an image synthesis means for synthesizing a photographed image of a subject photographed by a camera and an image stored in the image storage means. And image display means for displaying a composite image synthesized by the image synthesis means, and printing means for printing the composite image, wherein images taken from various camera angles and various colors are provided. The user can combine and display the stored image with the desired image, and print it.

In the vending machine of the present invention, an image input means for inputting an image of a subject such as a foreground or a background, and an image synthesizing means for synthesizing a photographed image of the object photographed by a camera and a stored image of the image input means. And image display means for displaying a composite image synthesized by the image synthesis means, and printing means for printing the composite image, wherein images taken from various camera angles and various colors are provided. The user can combine the displayed image with the desired input image, display the image, and print it.

In the photo vending machine of the present invention, when the camera is for photographing the whole body of a subject, the subject in various poses using the whole body can be photographed at various camera angles, so that the variety can be further improved. You will be able to take rich pictures. In particular, since the subject can be photographed as if looking up from obliquely below, it is possible to take a full-length photograph with long legs and good appearance.

In the photographic vending machine of the present invention, when the image display means is capable of confirming the image taken by the camera by the subject itself, the subject can enjoy his / her own image while viewing the image displayed on the image display means. You can pose for

[0018]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are views showing an embodiment of a photo vending machine according to the present invention. This shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a print vending machine. This print vending machine is
Various devices are provided inside and on the surface of the housing 1. Here, for convenience of explanation, a user
The side facing the (subject) 2 (the left side in FIG. 2, the lower side in FIG. 3) is the front side of the housing 1, and the opposite side (the right side in FIG. 2, the upper side in FIG. 3).
Is the rear side of the housing 1.

Behind the subject 2, there is provided a curtain 3 for blocking external light. This curtain 3
Are supported by support frames 4 and 5 protruding from upper and lower portions of the front surface of the housing 1. The inner surface of the curtain 3 is given a color according to an image combining method. For example, in the case of chroma keying, the entire inner surface of the curtain 3 is colored in a color suitable for chroma keying, such as green or blue.

A camera 6 for photographing the subject 2 and a rail 10 on which the camera 6 can be slid up and down are provided at the center front side inside the housing 1. An opening is formed in a portion of the housing 1 corresponding to the front side of the rail 10, and a transparent plate 11 made of glass, plastic, or the like is fitted into the opening. Camera 6 above
Is fixed on an arm 22 slidably mounted on the rail 10, and is turned on the rail 10 up and down and left and right by turning the arm 22 up and down and right and left.

A control unit 7 for receiving an image signal from the camera 6 and synthesizing an image is provided inside the housing 1. In addition, a display 8 that receives an image signal such as a composite image transmitted from the control unit 7 and displays an image is provided on the front left side of the housing 1. Further, a printer 9 that receives a signal of the composite image transmitted from the control unit 7 and prints the composite image on the recording medium 15 is provided inside the housing 1. This printer 9
The recording medium 15 printed by the printer 1 is sent from an outlet 19 formed on the front surface of the housing 1.

A plurality of lights 13 (four in this example) for irradiating the subject 2 are provided on the upper and lower parts of the housing 1.
Is attached. The light 13 is, for example,
A plurality of different colors are provided, such as two lights each for white, red, blue, and yellow.

Further, an operation section 16 is provided on the right side of the front surface of the housing 1. The operation unit 16 includes a camera moving lever 20 that allows the user 2 to slide and rotate the camera up and down, and a light selection unit that selects and lights one or more of the plurality of lights 13 out of the plurality of lights 13. It has various operation buttons and levers including the switch 21 and transmits an operation signal to the control unit 7.

Further, a coin slot 1 is provided on the front of the housing 1.
4, a coin detection unit 17 (see FIG. 5) for detecting the inserted coin and transmitting a detection signal to the control unit 7 is provided at a position adjacent to the coin insertion slot inside the housing 1.
A speaker 18 that receives a sound signal from the control unit 7 and outputs a sound is provided at an appropriate position on the front surface of the housing 1.

A touch pen 12 is provided near the display 8 of the housing 1. By touching the tip of the touch pen 12 on the surface of the display 8 and drawing and inputting characters and figures, image data such as characters and figures input by hand are displayed on the display 8 and printed on the recording medium 15. It has become so.

In this example, the composite image viewed by the user 2 from the display 8 and the composite image printed by the printer 9 include an image of the subject 2 and a stored image (a desired frame or foreground image) stored in the control unit 7 in advance. Etc.) and a handwritten input image with the touch pen 12 are synthesized.

Next, the system configuration of the control unit 7 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG.
Is equipped with a computer 30 that executes various controls. The computer 30 is operated by the user via the operation unit 16.
Receiving an operation signal based on the operation of the touch pen 12, receiving a signal input by the touch pen 12,
7 receives a detection signal.

The computer 30 has a storage device 31 for storing a plurality of image data and sound data.
have. The computer 30 reads out the specified image data from the storage device 31 and
While transferring to the F (interface) circuit 32,
The designated sound data is read from the storage device 31 and transferred to the sound I / F circuit 33.

The graphic I / F circuit 32 converts the stored image data received from the computer 30 into a predetermined stored image signal and transmits the signal to the image synthesizing device 34 and the display selection circuit 35. On the other hand, the sound I / F circuit 33
Converts the sound data received from the computer 30 into a predetermined sound signal and transmits it to the speaker 18,
The sound is output from the speaker 18.

The controller 7 is provided with a controller 40 for controlling the movement of the camera 6. The movement of the camera 6 by the controller 40 is controlled by the user 2
Is performed by operating the camera moving lever 20 or the like of the operation unit 16 to move the camera 6 to an arbitrary position on the rail 10 desired by the user 2 and to operate the rail 1
The camera is rotated up, down, left, and right on 0. The camera angle for photographing the subject 2 is freely changed by the movement and rotation of the camera 6.

The control unit 7 includes a plurality of lights 1
3 is provided with a light source selecting means 41 for selecting and lighting any light 13 among the three lights. The selection of the light 13 by the light source selection unit 41 is performed by the user 2 operating the light selection switch 21 of the operation unit 16. In addition,
One or more than two lights 13 may be selected.

Further, the control unit 7 includes a touch pen 1
2. An image generation device 39 that receives a signal such as a character or graphic input in 2 and generates image data of a drawn character or graphic.
Is provided.

The image signal of the subject 2 photographed by the camera 6 and the image data generated by the image generator 39 are
The image is transmitted to the image synthesizing device 34. The image synthesizing device 34
An image signal of the subject 2 from the camera 6 is received as a first image signal, an image signal of a stored image from the graphic I / F circuit 32 is received as a second image signal, and the first image and the second image are combined. . Further, the image synthesizing device 34 includes:
An image input by the touch pen 12 from the image generation device 39 is received as a third image signal, and is synthesized into a synthesized image of the first image and the second image.

The composite image signal is transmitted to the display selection circuit 35 and the printer 9. The display selection circuit 35 includes a composite image signal from the image composition device 34 and a graphic I / F.
Upon receiving the stored image signal from the circuit 32, the computer 3
An image is displayed on the display 8 by selecting one image signal based on the control signal from 0 and transmitting it to the display 8.

The control unit 7 includes a printer controller 36 for controlling the printer 9 based on a control signal from the computer 30. The printer 9 receives the combined image signal from the image combining device 34 under the control of the printer controller 36, stores the combined image data in the storage device 37 built in the printer 9, and generates a print image based on the combined image data. Then, the print image is printed on the recording medium 15 having a predetermined size. Further, the control unit 7 is provided with various counters 38 for counting and displaying the number of inserted coins and the like.

Next, the operation of the print vending machine will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the figure, "S" means a step.

First, until the user 2 inserts a coin, the display selection circuit 35 selects the graphic I / F circuit 32 side according to an instruction from the computer 30. The data of the demonstration image (hereinafter, referred to as “demo image”) stored in advance is read out and the graphic I / F circuit 32 is read out.
Transfer to As a result, a demonstration screen is displayed on the display 8. The BGM (background music) data stored in advance in the storage device 31 is read and transferred to the sound I / F circuit 33, so that the BGM is played from the speaker 18.

Next, when the user 2 inserts a coin and the computer 30 receives a detection signal from the coin detecting section 17, the computer 30 starts the operation at an appropriate timing.
The image data and the sound data stored in the storage device 31 are read in advance, and the read image data is transmitted to the display 8 via the graphic I / F circuit 32 and the display selection circuit 35. The data is transmitted to the speaker 18 via the I / F circuit 33, and the user 2 is appropriately instructed by the image on the display 8 and the sound from the speaker 18.

Next, a plurality of stored image data stored in the storage device 31 are sequentially read out, and the display 8 is displayed via the graphic I / F circuit 32 and the display selection circuit 35.
, And instruct the user 2 to select a desired storage image by operating the operation unit 16 (S1). Then, the stored image data selected by the user 2 is transferred to the graphic I / F.
The transfer to the circuit 32 is continued.

Then, the computer 30 instructs the image synthesizing device 34 to synthesize the image of the subject 2 photographed by the camera 6 and the stored image in real time, and sets the display selection circuit 35 to the image synthesizing device 34 side. To display the combined image from the image combining device 34 on the display 8 in real time (S2).

When the user 2 operates the operation unit 16, the camera 6 is slid on the rail 10 and rotated up, down, left and right on the rail 10 to move and rotate the camera 6. Subject 2 by motion
The camera angle for photographing changes continuously. Then, on the display 8, an image of the subject 2 whose camera angle is constantly changing is displayed in real time.

Next, the user 2 stops the movement of the camera 6 at a desired angle and determines a desired camera position while watching his own image in which his own camera angle changes on the display 8. (S3).

Next, the user 2 looks at his own image displayed on the display 8 and reads the lights 1 of a plurality of colors.
3, the light 13 of the desired color is selected (S
4). At this time, depending on the user's preference, illumination from above with the light 13 provided at the upper part of the housing 1 and illumination from under the feet with the light 13 provided at the lower part of the housing 1 can be selected.

Further, the user 2 touches the tip of the touch pen 12 with the surface of the display 8 to input an image such as a desired character or graphic (S5). The input signal is converted to image data such as characters and figures drawn by being sent to the image generation device 39 and is synthesized in real time into a synthesized image of a stored image such as a frame and an image captured by the camera 6. And displayed on the display 8 in real time.

Then, after the user 2 completes the position adjustment of the subject 2 while watching the display image on the display 8,
When the adjustment completion button of the operation unit 16 is pressed (S6), the computer 30 instructs the user 2 to take a pose,
Then, the image synthesizing unit 34 is instructed to stop the image synthesizing (S7). At this time, the composite image at that time is displayed on the display 8 as a still image.

Next, the user 2 determines whether or not to print the still image (S8). If the user 2 wants to retake without printing, press the retake button of the operation unit 16 to print. , The print button of the operation unit 16 is pressed. When the retake button is pressed, the computer 30 returns to step 2 and repeats the above operation. When the print button is pressed, the computer 30 generates a print image and instructs the printer controller 36 to print the print image on the recording medium 15 (S9). Until the next coin insertion, BGM is played and a demonstration image is displayed in the same manner as before the coin insertion.

As described above, according to the above-described print vending machine, by photographing the subject 2 with the camera 6 that rotates while sliding the rail 10, it is possible to photograph at various camera angles that are varied. By photographing the subject 2 by selecting an arbitrary light 13 from the lights 13 of different colors, it is possible to perform a variety of photographing with a desired color, and a very varied photographing is possible.

In addition, the camera angle can be changed steplessly by the sliding movement and the rotation of the camera 6, and the camera angle can be changed delicately. You can shoot at an angle. In particular, when the subject 2 is photographed to look up from obliquely below, it is possible to take a full-length photograph with long legs and good appearance. Further, the subject 2 is displayed on the display 8
You can take your favorite pose while watching your own image reflected in real time.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a print vending machine which generates a print image based on an original image including an image of a photographed subject and prints the print image on printing paper of a predetermined size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a silver halide photography device.

As the camera 6, a digital camera or a video camera can be used, and there is no particular limitation. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the light 13 is arranged only on the front side of the subject 2 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be arranged.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording medium 15 is not particularly limited. For example, various types of recording media, such as papers, stickers, plastic films, cards, cloths, nonwoven fabrics, glass plates, resin plates, etc. Can be used. Further, in the above embodiment, various types of light such as a tungsten lamp, fluorescent light, and a strobe can be used as the light 13.

[0053]

As described above, according to the first photo vending machine of the present invention, the subject is photographed by the rotating camera while sliding the rail, thereby photographing at various camera angles. It is possible to meet various needs of users. Further, according to the second photo vending machine of the present invention, by selecting an arbitrary light source from among light sources of different colors and photographing a subject, it is possible to perform a variety of photographing with a desired color. To meet the diverse needs of the elderly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a photo vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the photo vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the photo vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the photo vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram showing a control unit of the photo vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the photo vending machine.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional photo vending machine.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Camera 10 Rail 13 Light

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 F 7/18 7/18 V F term (Reference) 2H104 AA19 BC48 2H105 AA06 AA08 EE09 5C022 AA01 AB15 AC01 AC27 AC32 AC33 AC74 AC77 CA00 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC05 CE04 CF01 CF07 CG02 CH02 EA01 EA05 EH07 FB03 FC12 FE09 FE14 FF03 GA05 GB02 GC03 GD07 HA14 HA17

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine for photographing and selling a photograph of a subject, comprising a rail on which a camera for photographing the subject is slidably mounted, wherein the camera can rotate on the rail. A vending machine for photography. 2. A vending machine for photographing and selling a photograph of a subject, comprising a plurality of light sources for irradiating light of different colors, and a light source selecting means for selecting and irradiating an arbitrary light source among the light sources. A photo vending machine characterized by being provided with. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light sources for irradiating light of different colors, and light source selecting means for selecting and irradiating a light source of a desired color among the light sources. 4. An image storing means for storing an image of a subject such as a foreground or a background, an image synthesizing means for synthesizing a photographed image of a subject photographed by a camera with an image stored in the image storing means, and the image synthesizing means. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising image display means for displaying the combined image combined by the means, and printing means for printing the combined image. 5. An image input means for inputting an image of a subject such as a foreground or a background, an image synthesizing means for synthesizing a photographed image of a subject photographed by a camera with a stored image of said image input means, and said image synthesizing. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising image display means for displaying the combined image combined by the means, and printing means for printing the combined image. 6. The photographic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said camera is for photographing the whole body of a subject.