JP2001174925A - Print making device and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print making device which allows default setting by discriminating an initial print and a reprint by the device itself and makes the prints by eliminating the need for operation, such as processing mode changeover. SOLUTION: The print making device which reads the images of negative films with a scanner and makes the prints in accordance with the image information obtained by reading has a negative length detecting means, order discriminating means, default setting means and input means. The default setting means makes default setting of a 1 to all frames for the initial print and a 0 to all frames for the reprint in accordance with the discrimination signal by the order discriminating means. The input means receives the input of the desired quantity for the desired frames and overwrites the input contents on the default setting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the progress of photographic processing technology, a printing apparatus for producing a color print or the like (hereinafter referred to as a print) by exposing a photosensitive material based on image information of a negative film (hereinafter referred to as a negative) has been developed. Widespread.

The apparatus includes an optical system, an image processing unit related to the optical system, a processing tank for a chemical solution or a chemical treatment or washing with the chemical solution, or a photosensitive material between these processing units. Are transported in the same housing, and the processing can be performed consistently, continuously and automatically, and a print can be produced in a short time.

[0004]

Conventionally, in such a print producing apparatus, an operator inserts a photographed and developed negative or a developed and fixed-size cut negative into the print producing apparatus. The process of each step is started depending on whether the process is performed.

[0005] Thereafter, the operator only needs to input the number of print orders, or perform condition setting input operations such as designating the printing state such as color and density.
Many of the other processes such as chemical processes are automatically performed by the apparatus.

[0006] The print production modes which can be handled by these print production apparatuses start from developing a photographed film and produce prints from a long negative film over almost all frames. This is either "printing" or "reprinting", which is a so-called extra printing in which a print is produced for a desired image frame (hereinafter simply referred to as "frame") according to the order of the customer.

In consideration of the situation of such a print production mode, the maker of the photo processing apparatus has made it so that the required processing can be automatically performed for the first print and the reprint, respectively. For this purpose, a print processing apparatus designed to separately set a “processing mode” and switch the processing mode according to the order to manufacture a print has been put to practical use.

In such a print manufacturing apparatus, when any one of the "processing modes" is selected, the printing mode is continuously performed during the processing mode to perform the print manufacturing. Accordingly, a dedicated processing mode is also set for reprinting. When the operator selects this processing mode, the default setting of the number of prints is set to "0". It is designed so that the number of sheets can be input.

However, the processing mode switching is performed when the first print order and the reprint order are mixed.
In each case, the operation of the print production apparatus must be interrupted so that the work-in-progress does not flow or stay in the print production apparatus. During this time, the order digestion does not progress and productivity is inevitably reduced.

[0010] Therefore, since it becomes a handicap in maintaining the service to the customer, it has become clear that there is a tendency that the technique of switching the processing mode is not utilized among the users of the printing apparatus. .

The fact that the processing mode switching is not performed means that the number of prints to be printed is manually input for each order while keeping one of the processing modes fixed. The manual input of the number of prints is required when the order contents are changed from the first print to the reprint.
Inputting "0" for unnecessary frames will be repeated a considerable number of times, and when switching from reprinting to first printing, inputting "1" (or the desired number of sheets of 2 or more) for all frames will be repeated. Times.

The present inventor has made the present invention in view of such a situation, and the present invention makes it possible for the apparatus to discriminate between initial printing and reprinting and to set defaults, and to switch processing modes and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print manufacturing apparatus and a control method for manufacturing a print without requiring the above operation.

[0013]

The present inventor has found that in many cases of reprint order, the number of frames not to be produced is larger than the number of frames to produce prints. In the case of (1), the number of sheets is basically one and the number of cases requiring change is small, and the idea is that the initial print and the reprint can be clearly distinguished by the negative length.

[0014] The order is classified according to the length of the negative, and only the frame for which a print is to be produced in reprinting is input. The inventor of the present invention has realized that it can be considerably reduced.

[0015] Therefore, as means adopted by the present inventor, a print producing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention reads an image of a negative film with a scanner and produces a print based on image information obtained by reading. A printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus includes a negative length detecting unit, an order determining unit, a default setting unit, and an input unit, and the negative length detecting unit detects a length of the negative film loaded in the scanner. Then, the detection length is output to order determination means. The order determination means determines initial printing and reprinting based on the detection length and outputs a determination signal to default setting means. Based on the signal, 1 is set for all frames for the first print and 0 for all frames for reprint. And, the input means may overwrite the input content to the default setting by receiving input of a desired quantity for a desired frame.

The printing apparatus can be realized only by adding the above-mentioned units which can be handled with a simple circuit configuration. The operator inserts the negative film into the scanner, and overwrites only the changes to the default settings with the input unit. The operation of the operator can be simplified so that the print production can be started just by performing the operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the negative film length detecting means is a counting means provided in the scanner, and the counting means passes through the negative mask when the scanner reads the image of the negative film. Since the length of the negative film can be detected by counting the number of frames, the length of the negative film can be detected using a scanning process by a scanner.

In the printing apparatus according to the third aspect, when the length of the negative film is 6 frames or less, reprinting is performed, and when the length of the negative film is 7 frames or more,
Since it can be specified as the first print, it can correspond to the product form of negative film cutting in units of 6 frames commonly used in Japan.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a print producing apparatus, comprising: (a) loading a negative film into a scanner;
(b) causing the negative film length detecting means to detect the negative film length, (c) causing the discriminating means to determine the initial printing and reprinting, (d) causing the default setting means to set the default, and ( e) a step of overwriting and setting a desired number of desired frames on the input means.

According to this control method, the operator can start printing by simply loading the negative film into the apparatus and overwriting only the changes made to the default settings with the input means. Then, a processing mode for the first print and a processing mode for the reprint are set and changed, or the change of the processing mode is omitted, and the set number of sheets is re-entered each time a print order is issued. And the operation of the operator is simplified.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, as an example, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a print manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a print by exposing based on image information in a silver halide photographic system.

In recent years, the print producing apparatus has a color scanner (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner). In the case of the analog system, the image information recorded on the negative is scanned and read using a scanner, and an average value is calculated based on a plurality of pieces of obtained image information. The exposure data is determined based on the calculated values.

On the other hand, in the case of a digital system, the image information is read for each of blue, green, and red to obtain a pixel value, and then the pixel value is converted into digital data. The image data processing is performed while obtaining a correction value for correcting the density and the density, and the exposure data is determined based on the processed image data.

In short, in either case,
The print making apparatus determines exposure data based on image information obtained by reading an image, and makes a print by exposing the photosensitive material based on the exposure data. In the following description, the case of the digital method is described as an example.The digital method is almost the same as the analog method except that the digital method has a stage of performing digital data arithmetic processing for image processing. The invention applies equally. Regarding the analog system, only the main differences will be described later.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show such a print producing apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of No. 10. As shown in FIG. 1, image information is obtained from the negative F by the scanner 62, and density correction and various image processing are performed by the image processing unit 50.

On the other hand, the long photosensitive material 40 is pulled out of the magazine 42, and is conveyed to the exposure point 41 by the rollers 43 and the like, and is exposed in the exposing unit 63 for each frame. Thereafter, in the processing device 61, normal silver halide photographic processing, mainly using a chemical processing liquid Q, such as development and fixing, is performed, and a print is obtained through a dryer H.

By the way, the image information has a one-to-one correspondence with the frame number assigned to each negative frame, and the frame number is assigned to at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the negative along the transport direction of the negative. Are represented by numbers (or DX codes) of 0, 0A, 1, 1A, 2, 2A..., Which are numbered in order from 0 in accordance with the number of shots. When the scanner scans and reads a negative image, the frame number and the like can be used.

When the scanner scans the negative, a negative mask (not shown) holding the negative includes a numeral or D
Sensor for reading X code etc. (for example, displacement sensor)
Is provided. The frame number is detected by reading by the sensor.

The print producing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a negative length detecting means 81, an order discriminating means 82, a default setting means 83 and an input means 84. Hereinafter, each means will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As will be described later, the negative length detecting means 81 is preferably disposed near the scanner 62 (shown inside the scanner in FIG. 2), and the input means 84 can be shared by the interface 57. . These means 81 and 84, an order discriminating means 82, and a default setting means 83 are connected and arranged as shown in FIG.

The negative length detecting means 81 detects the negative length inserted in the scanner and outputs the detected length to the order discriminating means 82. The negative length detecting means 81 is constituted by connecting the counting means to the sensor. Is preferred. The counting means is provided in the scanner for detecting the film length using the frame number read by the sensor when the scanner reads an image.

The counting means can be constituted by, for example, a pulse generating means and a microprocessor. In addition, a CCD camera or the like can be used to read the negative frame number.

For example, when a 6-frame negative with a frame number of 7 to 12 is loaded, the frame number is changed to 12-7 +
Calculate as 1 to get a negative length of 6 frames. If the frame number is half-size compatible, the frame number 1
/ 2 is detected as the detection length.

As described above, as the negative length detecting means 81,
When the counting means provided in the scanner 62 is adopted, when the scanner reads a negative image, the counting means detects the negative length by counting the frame numbers that have passed through the negative mask,
The negative length can be detected using the scanning process by the scanner 62. Therefore, the length of the negative film can be detected by using the existing sensor without increasing the number of steps.

The order discriminating means 82 includes a negative length detecting means 81
The first print and the reprint are discriminated based on the detection length detected by the above, and a discrimination signal is output to the default setting means. The determination can be easily performed by threshold determination or the like, so that the order determination means can be configured by setting a threshold level in the logic circuit.

The default setting means 83 receives the frame number from the negative length detecting means 81, and also sets defaults for each frame for initial printing and reprinting based on the discrimination signal, and sets the settings in the image processing unit. It outputs to 50 and the processing device 61.

Therefore, the default setting means 83 has a memory, and stores 1 as a default value in the memory and 0 as a reprint in the memory as default values. Default value is called. Then, this default value is assigned to the frame number, and the frame number and the default value are transmitted to the overall control unit 70 (described later), the image processing unit 50, and the processing device 61.

In the default discriminating means 83, since the number of reprint negative frames is usually six in Japan, the reprint and negative length are determined when the negative length is less than six frames. Is more than 7 frames, it is possible to perform the first print, and it is possible to cope with the product form of the negative cutting in units of 6 frames commonly used in Japan.
When using this print production device overseas, for example,
It goes without saying that four frames can be used as the threshold.

The input means 84 is for setting the number of prints to be overwritten with respect to the default value as desired, and a dedicated simple keyboard may be provided as an operation key for the overwrite setting.

Alternatively, it is also possible to use an input from a key existing in the apparatus such as the interface 57 so as to be connected to the default setting means 83, and to use the key to input a desired default value. Overwrite the quantity. The overwritten quantity is transmitted to the overall control unit (described later), the image processing unit 50, and the processing device 61.

The flow of each operation process of negative length detection, order discrimination, default setting and overwrite input in each of the means 81 to 84 is computer-programmed, stored in a microcomputer or the like, and executed as an operation of the microcomputer. It can also be done. Further, the computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the print-making apparatus can be controlled with a reading device for the storage medium.

By using these means 81 to 84, the operator loads the negative film into the main scanner 62 and scans only the changed points from the default settings by the input means 84 to overwrite the settings. You can start.

Therefore, as in the prior art, the processing mode for the first print and the processing mode for the reprint are set and changed, or the processing mode change is omitted, and instead, each time a print order is placed, This eliminates the need to re-enter the set number of sheets, thereby simplifying the operation of the operator.

Further, it is possible to confirm whether the current processing mode is the first printing or reprinting, and to eliminate the occurrence of an input error due to the erroneous recognition of the processing mode, and to input the set number of sheets required when changing between the first printing and reprinting. Is unnecessary, input errors due to this input are eliminated, input error check is not required, operator work loss is eliminated, and productivity can be improved.

Hereinafter, another configuration of the print producing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The print manufacturing apparatus includes the negative length detecting means 81, the order discriminating means 82, the default setting means 83, and the input means 84 described above, and also reads an image of the negative with a scanner, based on the image information obtained by reading. It has the same configuration as a conventional apparatus from the viewpoint of producing a print by exposure to light.

The image processing unit 50 includes an arithmetic unit 53 for performing image data processing and the like, and a storage unit for storing image data and the like.
54 and a storage unit.

The photographic processing unit 60 reads out the pixels of each image information of the negative F in order of blue, green, and red in order.
2, a processing device 61 that automatically performs various chemical or physical processes such as development, fixing, washing and drying in a series of steps.
Exposure unit 6 that scans and exposes exposure data to photosensitive material
3. A transport device 43 for transporting the photosensitive material during these steps is provided.

The flow of the process for producing a print starts with loading a negative into the scanner 62 of the photographic processing unit 60.
The scanner 62 scans and reads the image information and frame number recorded on the negative F to obtain a pixel value, and converts the pixel value into a digital signal for each pixel of the image information. In the analog system, such conversion into a digital signal is not performed.

Next, the flow of the process proceeds to the image processing section 50.
The image processing unit 50 determines a correction value in a correction step of correcting a color and the like, and performs selective correction on a specific portion such as, for example, pupil color correction. And performing various image data processing. In an analog type printing apparatus, only correction of color balance, density, etc. is performed by looking at image information obtained over a plurality of frames on average. The components of the image processing unit 50 will be described.

The arithmetic means 53 includes arithmetic processing for performing image data processing such as color correction, as well as toning (color and density), gradation, enlargement / reduction, rotation, and inversion generally performed on an image. It can also perform various image processing such as projection, shading, synthesis, and division, and is configured by various logic circuits, arithmetic circuits, registers, and the like. In analog type print production equipment,
As described above, since only calculations for correcting color balance and density are performed, the calculation means 53 includes a calculation circuit and the like for that.

The storage means 54 stores predetermined data relating to the threshold value according to the present embodiment, data during the arithmetic processing of the image data and the like, and the like.
M and so on at a low device cost.

In addition, the image processing section 50 includes an image display section 51 for displaying image data, instructions and settings relating to print production, and additional instructions and information input / output relating to image data processing relating to an input target image. An interface 57 (e.g., a keyboard) capable of performing such operations, and a mouse or the like as a designating means (not shown) having a function of designating an arbitrary point or area of an image on the image display unit 51 may be provided.

The exposure data is determined based on the image data processed by the image processing unit 50 and the correction value, and the process flow returns to the photo processing unit 60 again.
In 60 exposure device section 63, the exposure data
Scan exposure to 40.

At this time, the photosensitive material 40 is pulled out of the magazine 42, transported by rollers 43 of the transport device 43, cut into a fixed size by a cutter (not shown), and transported to the exposure point 41. Exposure is performed in the exposure unit 51. Thereafter, normal photo processing is performed in the processing device 61 to obtain a print.

Then, the printing apparatus 10 as described above is used.
The overall operation is controlled by the overall operation unit 70, and the overall control unit 70 includes the default setting unit 83 and the input unit 84.
And the operation of the transport device 43 are controlled.

The method for controlling a print production apparatus according to the present invention is to control the print production apparatus by using the above-mentioned units 81 to 84.

The method comprises the steps of loading the negative into the scanner by the operator (step (a)), detecting the negative length by the negative length detecting means (step (b)), and setting the negative length. Based on the discrimination means, the first printing and reprinting are discriminated (step (c)). According to the discrimination result, the default setting means sets 1 for all frames for the first printing and reprints. 0 for all frames
Are set as defaults (step (d)), and a step (step (e)) in which the operator overwrites and sets a desired number of desired frames with the input means.

These other steps are the same as in the conventional case.
That is, the setting operation input by the operator (step (a) and
(e)) and automatic setting by each means for the print mode
(Steps (b) to (d)) start the print production step.

Therefore, the operator can load the negative film into the present apparatus and control the present print producing apparatus by simply overwriting only the changes made to the default settings by the input means, thereby starting the print production. Therefore, the processing mode for the first print and the processing mode for the reprint are set and changed , or the change of the processing mode is omitted and the set number of sheets is re-entered each time a print order is issued. And the operation of the operator is simplified.

As described above, the present invention eliminates the need to confirm whether the current processing mode is the first print or reprint, eliminates the occurrence of an input error due to the erroneous recognition of the processing mode, and performs the first print and the reprint. It is possible to eliminate the need for inputting the set number of sheets required when changing the number of entries, eliminate input errors caused by this input, eliminate the need to check for input errors, eliminate operator work loss, and improve productivity. It has an outstanding effect in industrial use.

As has been apparent from the above description, the present invention provides another type of print manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a print in which both a long film and a cut film are used in combination and flown, and the prints are divided by order. Etc., and obtains the same effect. That is, instead of making a print by performing exposure based on the image information reading, after reading the image information,
The present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that performs a method such as obtaining a print by electrostatic recording or thermal transfer.

[0062]

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present invention includes the negative length detecting means, the order discriminating means, the default setting means, and the input means. The operator can insert the negative film into the scanner,
Print production can be started only by overwriting only the changes to the default settings by the input means, and the operation of the operator can be simplified.

Therefore, in this print manufacturing apparatus,
This eliminates the need to check which processing mode is used, eliminates input errors caused by erroneous recognition of the processing mode, and eliminates the need to input the set number of sheets required when changing between first print and reprint. This eliminates input errors caused by the above, eliminates the need for checking for input errors, eliminates operator loss, and improves productivity.

The control method of the print producing apparatus according to the present invention includes a setting operation input (step (a)
(e)) and automatic setting by each means for the print mode
(Steps (b) to (d)), the operator can start printing by simply loading a negative film into the apparatus and overwriting only the changes to the default settings with the input means.

Therefore, the operation of the operator can be simplified,
Checking the processing mode that was indispensable in the past, occurrence of input errors due to misidentification of the processing mode, input of the number of sheets required when changing the processing mode, input error due to this input,
It is not necessary to perform any check for this input error and the like, and there is no loss of work of the operator, and the productivity can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a print manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a main configuration of a print manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

40 photographic paper, 50 image processing unit, 60 photo processing unit, 81 negative length detecting means, 82 order discriminating means, 83 default setting means, 84 input means

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image is read from a negative film by a scanner,
What is claimed is: 1. A print producing apparatus for producing a print based on image information obtained by reading, said print producing apparatus comprising a negative length detecting means, an order discriminating means, a default setting means and an input means, and detecting the negative length. The means detects the length of the negative film loaded in the scanner, and outputs the detected length to the order discriminating means. The order discriminating means discriminates between the first print and the reprint based on the detected length and outputs a discrimination signal. Is output to the default setting means, and the default setting means
Based on the discrimination signal, 1 is set for all frames for initial printing and 0 is set for all frames for reprinting, and the input means sets a desired number of frames for a desired frame. A print producing apparatus characterized by receiving an input of a quantity and overwriting the input content with a default setting. 2. The negative film length detecting means is a counting means provided in a scanner, and the counting means counts the number of frames which have passed through a negative mask when the scanner reads an image of the negative film. The print producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length is detected. 3. The print producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the length of the negative film is equal to or less than 6 frames, reprinting is performed, and when the length of the negative film is equal to or more than 7 frames, initial printing is specified. 4. The method for controlling a print producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: (a) loading the negative film into the scanner; and (b) detecting the length of the negative film by the negative film length detecting means. (C) a step of causing the discriminating means to determine initial printing and reprinting, (d) a step of defaulting the default setting means, and (e) a desired number of desired frames is overwritten on the input means. A method for controlling a print manufacturing apparatus, comprising the steps of: