JP2001264899A - Index printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an index printing device which is capable of smoothly transporting photosensitive materials and improving the image quality of index images by mounting a glass plate subjected to a non-glare treatment on its surface at a mask plate for regulating the exposure range of an index image. SOLUTION: The glass plate 130 subjected to the non-glare treatment on its surface 130A is mounted at the mask plate 26 disposed on the exposed part of the index image. As a result, the contact area of the glass plate 130 and photographic paper 52 is made smaller and therefore the static electricity generated between the glass plate 130 and the photographic paper 52 is reduced and the photographic paper 52 is smoothly transported. Since the image light of a high contrast from a liquid crystal panel 108 is adequately scattered by the surface 130A subjected to the non-glare treatment of the glass plate 130, the quality of the index image with which the photographic paper 52 is printed is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an index print forming apparatus for printing an index image formed from a plurality of images of a photographic film on a photographic paper by exposure to print.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an index print in which each frame is arranged in a matrix so as to be easily searched for what kind of photograph is taken on one developed film. An index printer that creates such an index print uses a liquid crystal panel as an image display means, displays a plurality of image frames recorded on a photographic film in a matrix on the display surface of the liquid crystal panel, and displays the image in a matrix. Is also configured to be simultaneously printed on photographic paper as a small image (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-4).
3736, JP-A-9-101572, etc.).

A mask plate and a pressure plate are arranged opposite to each other with an exposure portion of a conventional index printer sandwiching a printing paper. A rectangular exposure opening that defines the exposure range of the index image is formed on the mask plate,
A glass plate having a flat surface is attached to the exposure opening. The pressure plate is configured to move forward and backward with respect to the glass plate by the forward and backward moving device.

According to the exposure unit configured as described above, when the photographic printing paper is positioned at the exposure opening, the pressure plate is moved toward the glass plate by the advance / retreat moving device. As a result, the printing paper is pressed by the pressure plate and is brought into close contact with the glass plate, and the flatness of the exposure surface of the printing paper is ensured. Thereafter, the liquid crystal panel is driven, and the index image displayed on the liquid crystal panel is printed on the printing paper through the glass plate of the mask plate. When the printing of the index image is completed, the pressure plate is retracted from the glass plate, and the printing paper on which the index image is printed is transported to the developing unit.

[0005]

However, in the conventional index printer, even if the pressure plate is retracted from the glass plate after the printing of the index image is completed, the photographic paper is not affected by the static electricity generated between the glass plate and the photographic paper. There is a drawback that the photographic paper cannot be transported smoothly because it may remain adsorbed on the glass plate.

Further, as a characteristic of the liquid crystal panel, an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel has a strong contrast between brightness and color. Therefore, when such an image is printed on photographic paper, the image quality is deteriorated, resulting in a natural brightness. There is a disadvantage that it cannot be viewed as an image having a pod color.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an index print making apparatus capable of smoothly transporting a photosensitive material and improving the quality of an index image. And

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an index image is prepared by arranging a plurality of images recorded on a photographic film in a matrix, and the index image is formed on a liquid crystal panel. To display
In an index print making apparatus for printing an index print by printing this on a photosensitive material, a mask plate defining an exposure range of the index image is arranged close to the photosensitive material, and an exposure opening of the mask plate is provided. , A glass plate is attached, and a surface of the glass plate that comes into contact with the photosensitive material is subjected to a non-glare treatment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the surface of the glass plate attached to the exposure opening of the mask plate is subjected to a non-glare treatment, the contact area between the glass plate and the photosensitive material is reduced. In addition, static electricity generated between the glass plate and the photosensitive material can be reduced. Thereby, the photosensitive material on which the index image has been printed is easily peeled from the glass plate, so that the photosensitive material is smoothly conveyed toward the developing unit without being caught on the glass plate. In addition, since the image light having a strong contrast from the liquid crystal panel is suitably scattered by the non-glare-treated surface of the glass plate, the brightness of the image light becomes gentle, and thereby, the index image printed on the photosensitive material is reduced. Image quality is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pressure plate is moved toward the mask plate by the moving means during printing exposure of the index image, and the photosensitive material is brought into close contact with the surface of the glass plate. Exposure is performed in a state where the properties are secured. Therefore, an index image without distortion can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the maximum height of the surface roughness of the glass plate is set to 0.7 μm or more and 1.2 μm or less, the image quality of the index image can be improved. , The index image can be clearly exposed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an index print creating apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a printer processor 10 to which an index print creating apparatus according to an embodiment is applied. Printer processor 10 shown in FIG.
Is a printer unit 14 whose outside is covered with a casing 12 and which exposes the photographic paper of the main print and the sub print.
And a processor unit 16 that performs development, fixing, washing, and drying processes on the exposed photographic paper.

The printer unit 14 is provided with a work table 18 projecting from the casing 12 to the left in FIG. 1. On the upper surface of the work table 18, a negative carrier 22 for setting a negative film 20 and an operator are provided with commands and commands. A keyboard 24 for inputting data and the like is provided.

A main exposure light source section 26 is provided below the work table 18. The main exposure light source unit 26 is provided with a light source 28, and a color correction filter (hereinafter referred to as a color-correction filter) so that the light emitted from the light source 28 is applied to the negative film 20 located on the work table 18.
ter: a CC filter) 30 and a diffusion tube 32 are arranged in this order. The CC filter 30 includes C (cyan),
Each filter is constituted by M (magenta) and Y (yellow) filters, and each filter is controlled by the CC filter control unit 34 shown in FIG. 2 and is projected and retracted on the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source 28.

[0016] Above the negative carrier 22 shown in FIG.
An arm 36 is provided. In the arm 36, a main exposure optical system 38 and a sub print unit (corresponding to an index print creating apparatus) 40 for exposing a sub print such as an index print are provided.

The main exposure optical system 38 includes a negative film 2.
A half mirror 42, an exposure lens 44 for changing the exposure magnification, a black shutter 46, and a mirror 48 are arranged in this order from the emission side of the 0 light, and form a negative image on a photographic paper 52 set in an exposure chamber 50. can do.

A mounting portion 54 is provided at a corner between the right side surface of the arm 36 and the upper surface of the casing 12. The mounting portion 54 winds and stores the photographic paper 52 on a reel 56 in a layered manner. The paper magazine 58 is mounted. A pair of rollers 60 is arranged near the mounting portion 54, and the pair of rollers 60 sandwiches the photographic paper 52 and conveys it to the exposure chamber 50.

In the exposure chamber 50, rollers 62, 64A, 6
4B and 64C, and the photographic paper 52 on which the image of the negative film 20 is printed in the exposure chamber 50
It is transported by 4A, 64B, 64C, and is transported to the processor unit 16 at the subsequent stage.

Between the rollers 64A and 64B, there is provided a stock section 66 for guiding and printing the baked photographic paper 52 in a substantially U-shape. The stock unit 66 stocks the printing paper 52 to absorb a difference in processing time between the printer unit 14 and the processor unit 16.

The processor section 16 includes a color developing processing tank 68 storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing processing tank 70 storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a plurality of rinsing processing tanks storing a washing processing liquid. 72 is provided, and the photographic paper 54 passes through the tanks 68, 70, and 72 in order to perform development, fixing, and washing processes. The photographic paper 52 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed and dried in the drying unit 74 adjacent to the rinsing tank 72.

The dried photographic paper 52 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers (not shown) and discharged from the drying unit 74 at a constant speed. A cutter 76 is provided downstream of the drying unit 74. The cutter 76 includes a cut mark sensor 78 that detects a cut mark provided on the photographic paper 52, and a paper that measures the density of the photographic paper 52. A density measuring unit 80 and a cutter 82 for cutting the photographic paper 52 are provided. These cut mark sensor 78 and paper density measuring unit 8
0 and the cutter 82 are respectively connected to the main control unit 84 in FIG. In the cutter unit 76 in FIG. 1, the photographic paper 52 is cut for each image frame by the cutter 82 and is discharged to the sorter unit 86. In the sorter unit 86, the cut printing paper 52 is sorted and a predetermined verification operation is performed. After the defective work such as so-called out-of-focus is removed by this verification work, a normal photographic print is returned to the customer together with the negative film 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, a photometric lens 88 and a half mirror 90 for changing the magnification of the photometric image are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the optical path reflected by the half mirror 42. The photometric lens 88 of the present embodiment is
It is fixed at a predetermined magnification.

In the direction in which light is reflected by the half mirror 90, a scanner 92 constituted by an image sensor or the like is used.
The scanner 92 is connected to an image signal processing unit 94 that performs predetermined image processing on image data of each frame of the negative film 20 read by the scanner 92.

The image signal processing section 94 includes a simulator 9
6 is connected, and the negative film 2 is connected to the simulator 96.
With respect to the image of each frame of 0, a simulation image of the print when created based on the set conditions is displayed. The image signal processing unit 94 is connected to an image memory 98 for storing image data.
4 stores the image data of each frame of the negative film 20 read by the scanner 92 in the image memory 98.

On the other hand, a negative density measuring section 100 for measuring the image density of each frame of the negative film 20 is provided on the downstream side of the optical path passing through the half mirror 90. The negative density measuring section 100 includes a scanner 100B constituted by an image sensor and the like, and a negative density measuring device 100A for measuring the image density of each frame of the negative film 20 read by the scanner 100B. The negative concentration measuring device 100A is connected to the main control unit 84.

The sub print unit 40 includes a light source control unit 102
Image exposure light source 10 whose operation is controlled by
4, a light emitting diode 104A that emits blue light;
A light emitting diode 104B that emits red light and a light emitting diode 104C that emits green light are provided.
Each diode is arranged so that the light emitted from the light emitting diode 104B and the light emitted from the light emitting diode 104C coincide with the exposure optical axis X of the light emitted from the light emitting diode 104A by the dichroic mirror 106.

The liquid crystal panel 10 is located downstream of the exposure optical axis X.
8 is provided, and a mirror 110 and a light source light quantity sensor 112 are arranged in a position near the mirror 8 which does not affect the image. The light source light quantity sensor 112 can measure the light quantity of the light emitted from the light source 104. LCD panel 108
In this, a large number of liquid crystal elements are regularly arranged, and light can be transmitted (corresponding to gradation) in 256 steps. The size of one side of the display surface of the liquid crystal panel 108 is set so that an image having a size substantially equal to the width of the photographic paper 52 is printed.

The liquid crystal panel 108 is connected to the sub control unit 116 via a liquid crystal panel driver 114. The sub-control unit 116 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an input / output controller, and the like, and is connected to the image memory 98.

The sub-control unit 116 reads out the image data of each frame of the negative film 20 stored in the image memory 98 and forms one index image data in which the frame images are arranged according to a predetermined rule. An image corresponding to image data of a predetermined number of frames, for example, five frames (one column) of the formed one piece of index image data is transmitted to each liquid crystal element by the sub-control unit 116. The signal is output to the liquid crystal panel driver 114 as a signal corresponding to the state.

The mirror 118 and the transmitted light amount sensor 120 are located at positions on the emission side of the liquid crystal panel 108 which do not affect the image.
Is arranged. The transmitted light sensor 120 measures the amount of transmitted light of the liquid crystal panel 108.

An exposure lens 122 whose magnification can be changed is disposed on the emission side of the liquid crystal panel 108, and a transmission image of the liquid crystal panel 108 is transmitted by the exposure lens 122 onto the photographic paper 52 via a mask plate 124. At a predetermined magnification.

The sub control unit 116 includes the light source control unit 102, the light source light amount sensor 112, and the transmitted light amount sensor 12 described above.
0 is connected. The sub control unit 116 calculates an appropriate correction amount of the light amount based on the light amount value of each of the R, G, and B colors measured by the light source light amount sensor 112, and corrects the light amount of each component of the light source 104 by the light source control unit 102. Let it. Similarly, the sub-control unit 116 controls the liquid crystal panel driver 114 based on the transmitted light amount value measured by the transmitted light amount sensor 120 to adjust the density of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 108 so as to obtain an appropriate transmitted light amount. I do.

Like the sub-control unit 116, the main control unit 8 controls and monitors the entire printer processor 10.
4 is provided below the exposure chamber 50 (see FIG. 1). The main control unit 84 includes a CPU, RAM, and R (not shown).
It is composed of an OM, an input / output controller and the like. The main control unit 84 is connected to the CC filter control unit 34, the negative density measuring device 100A, the image signal processing unit 94, and the sub-control unit 116, and monitors and controls the operation of each of these components. I have.

Further, the main control section 84 controls the CC filter control section 34, the image signal processing section 94, and the sub control section 116 based on the density measurement value of the printed image input from the paper density measurement section 80. Exposure conditions can be corrected so as to obtain an appropriate image.

In the exposure section of the sub-printing section 40, as shown in FIG. 3, a mask plate 124 is arranged on the left side of FIG. 3 across the photographic paper 52, and a pressure plate 126 is arranged on the right side of FIG. The mask plate 124 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape as a whole as shown in FIG. 4, and its surface is coated with black paint and light-shielded. Also, mask plate 1
24, a rectangular exposure opening 128 that defines an exposure range of the index image 125 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is formed, and a glass plate 130 is attached to the exposure opening 128. The glass plate 130 has a surface 130A to which the photographic paper 52 of FIG.
) Has been processed.

The glass plate 130 is eroded by a hydrofluoric acid-based aqueous solution by non-glare treatment, and fine irregularities are formed on the surface 130A, so that light reflected from the outside can be scattered on the surface 130A. Glass plate 13 of the present embodiment
0 indicates that the maximum height (Rmax) of the peaks and valleys of the roughness is 0.7 μm.
The non-glare treatment is performed so that the thickness is at least m and at most 1.2 μm. Since a glass plate having an Rmax of less than 0.7 μm cannot sufficiently obtain a light scattering effect, the image quality of the index image 125 cannot be improved. Further, a glass plate having Rmax exceeding 1.2 μm becomes like a ground glass, and the index image 125 becomes unclear. Therefore, by setting Rmax to be 0.7 μm or more and 1.2 μm or less, the image quality of the index image 125 can be improved, and the index image 125 can be clearly exposed.

On the other hand, the pressure plate 126 is arranged at a slight distance from the photographic paper 52, and the amount of separation is set so as not to contact the photographic paper 52 while the photographic paper 52 is being conveyed. The pressure plate 126 is attached to the casing 12 via a pressure plate support 132 and a piezo element (moving means) 134. The piezo element 134 is a piezo driving unit 1
When a voltage is applied from 36, it is driven in the direction indicated by the upper arrow in FIG. 3 (the direction in which it advances toward the glass plate 130). As a result, the printing paper 52 located between the glass plate 130 and the pressure plate 126 is pressed by the pressure plate 126 and adheres to the non-glare-treated surface 130A of the glass plate 130 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

The piezo driving unit 136 is controlled by the main control unit 84. That is, when the photographic paper 52 on which the index image 125 is printed is located at a position facing the exposure opening 128 of the mask plate 124, the piezo element 13
4 is controlled to apply a voltage. The piezo driving unit 136 is controlled by the main control unit 84 so as to stop supplying power to the piezo element 134 at the timing when the printing of the index image 125 is completed. Thus, the pressure plate 126 is retracted from the glass plate 130 as shown by the solid line in FIG.

Next, the operation of the printer processor 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The printer unit 14 of the printer processor 10
Now, the negative film 20 that records the image to be printed
Is set on the negative carrier 22, and the light is transmitted through the negative film 20 by the light source 28. The density of the image of the negative film 20 formed by the light transmitted through the negative film 20 is measured by the negative density measuring unit 100. Based on the measured density of the image of the negative film 20, an appropriate exposure condition (for example, an insertion amount of each filter of the filter unit 30) is set by the main control unit 84. The image of the negative film 20 is printed on a predetermined printing area of the photographic paper 52 based on the set exposure conditions. Baked photographic paper 52
Are transported to the processor unit 16 and subjected to development, fixing, and washing processes. The photographic paper 52 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed to the drying unit 74 and is dried by high-temperature air. The dried photographic paper 52 is conveyed to the cutter unit 76 and the cutter 8
2 is cut for each image frame to form a photographic print. Then, the photographic prints are discharged to the sorter unit 86 and sorted in the sorter unit 86.

On the other hand, in the image exposure processing in the sub-printing section 40, the image of the negative film 20 transmitted by the light source 28 is read by the scanner 92, and the read image data is stored in the image memory 98 via the image signal processing section 94. Remember. The sub-control unit 116 reads image data from the image memory 98, and converts an image corresponding to the blue image into a liquid crystal panel so that a blue component of the image data (hereinafter, referred to as a blue image) is formed on the photographic paper 52. 108, and the light emitting diode 104A is turned on for a time corresponding to the set exposure condition. Thereby, the blue image of the image data is exposed on the photographic paper 52. Thereafter, in the same manner,
The red component (red image) and the green component (green image) of the image data are also displayed on the liquid crystal panel 108, and the light emitting diodes 104B and 104C corresponding to the components respectively display the red component (red image) and the green component (green image).
The image of each component is overlaid on the photographic paper 52 and exposed, and the index image 125 to be printed is exposed on the photographic paper 52.

In the present embodiment, when the index image 125 is exposed, the exposure opening 1 of the mask plate 124 is used.
Since the surface 130A of the glass plate 130 attached to the glass plate 28 has been subjected to the non-glare treatment, the contact area between the glass plate 130 and the printing paper 52 is reduced, whereby the static electricity generated between the glass plate 130 and the printing paper 52 is reduced. Can be reduced. Thereby, the index image 125
Is printed on the surface 1 of the glass plate 130.
Since it is easy to peel off from 30A, it is smoothly conveyed to the processor unit 16 without being caught on the surface 130A of the glass plate 130.

Further, the image light (high-brightness light) having a high contrast from the liquid crystal panel 108 is suitably scattered by the non-glare-treated surface 130A of the glass plate 130, so that the brightness becomes gentle. The image quality of the index image 125 printed on the printing paper 52 is improved.

[0045]

As described above, according to the index print making apparatus of the present invention, the surface of the glass plate attached to the exposure opening of the mask plate is subjected to non-glare treatment, so that the photosensitive material can be smoothly transported. And the image quality of the index image printed on the photosensitive material can be improved.

According to the present invention, the pressure plate is moved toward the mask plate by the moving means during printing exposure of the index image, and the photosensitive material is brought into close contact with the surface of the glass plate, so that an index image without distortion can be obtained. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, since the maximum height of the surface roughness of the glass plate is set to 0.7 μm or more and 1.2 μm or less, the image quality of the index image can be improved, and Exposure can be made sharply.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural diagram of a printer processor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer unit in the printer processor.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of an exposure unit of an index image.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mask plate.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an index print.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an index image exposure state via a mask plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printer printer, 14 printer unit, 16
Processor section, 20: negative film, 40: sub print section, 52: photographic paper, 84: main control section, 108: liquid crystal panel, 116: sub control section, 122: exposure lens, 124 ...
Mask plate, 125 ... Index image, 126 ... Press plate,
128: Exposure opening, 130: Glass plate, 130A: Surface of non-glare-treated glass plate, 134: Piezo element, 136: Piezo drive unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An index image is created by arranging a plurality of images recorded on a photographic film in a matrix and displaying the index image on a liquid crystal panel.
An index print making apparatus for making an index print by printing this on a photosensitive material, wherein a mask plate defining an exposure range of the index image is arranged close to the photosensitive material, and an exposure opening of the mask plate is provided. A glass plate is attached to the surface of the glass plate, and a surface of the glass plate that comes into contact with the photosensitive material is subjected to a non-glare treatment. 2. A pressure plate and a moving means for the pressure plate are provided on the opposite side of the mask plate with the photosensitive material interposed therebetween, and the pressure plate is directed toward the mask plate by the moving means at the time of exposure printing of an index image. The index print making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index print is moved to bring the photosensitive material into close contact with the surface of the glass plate. 3. The index print according to claim 1, wherein the glass plate has been subjected to a non-glare treatment so that the maximum height of the surface roughness is 0.7 μm or more and 1.2 μm or less. Creating device.