JP2001330937A - Automatic developing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the time efficiency in image quality of image data obtained by scanning, such as printing processing, and recording of the data to an image data recording medium, and to easily control the image data recording medium, as for an automatic developing system. SOLUTION: The automatic developing system for performing the photographic processing of a film is provided with a photographic processing part for performing the photographic processing of the film, a scanning means for scanning the film, an image data storing means for storing the image data obtained by the scanning means, and an outputting means for outputting the image data stored by the image data storing means. The film is scanned in the midst of the photographic processing of the film, and the image data outputting operation is started in the midst of the photographic processing of the film.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic developing system for performing a series of development processing of a color film and scanning the color film to obtain image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a color negative film is developed by a film, and thereafter converted into a digital image by a film scanner and printed by a digital printer. However, in winter or in dry areas, charged dust floating in the working environment or air tends to adhere to the processed film, and when converting the digital image with a scanner using the film with the dust attached, Noise is generated, resulting in a decrease in print quality, which is a major problem.

For this reason, dust removal has been performed by providing a static eliminator or an air spray in the scanner unit, but it has not been enough yet. In addition, there has been a strong demand from the market to improve the time efficiency of recording image data obtained by scanning on an image data recording medium and to facilitate the management of the image data recording medium.

[0004] As an apparatus therefor, there is known an automatic developing system which performs a series of development processing of a color negative film, and scans an undried color film during the series of processing to obtain image data. .

[0005]

The image data obtained by scanning is used for producing a print for a customer or stored in a recording medium for recording data required by the customer.
On the other hand, the film that has been subjected to the photographic processing is handed over to the customer, and the developed film can be used for reprinting by the customer, reading an image under a unique condition using a film scanner or the like, and processing the image.

However, in conventional systems, the scanning of the film and the output of the read image are separated. For example, a system is adopted in which the printing process is started after all the film scanning is completed and all the developing processes are completed, or only the film scanning is performed, and the film is discarded during the processing, and the printing process is not executed. Was. This makes the customer wait and the lab is unable to process efficiently.

In addition, there is another problem that it is difficult to obtain image data of stable image quality by a film scan in an undried state during the above series of processing. The problem to be solved by the invention is that, in the automatic developing system described above, the output of image quality of image data obtained by scanning, the time efficiency of print processing and recording on an image data recording medium are improved, Is to make management easier.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An automatic developing system that performs photographic processing of a film, a photographic processing unit that performs photographic processing of the film, a scanning unit that scans the film, and an image data storage unit that stores image data acquired by the scanning unit. Output means for outputting the image data stored in the image data storage means, wherein the scanning of the film is performed during the photographic processing of the film, and the output of the image data is performed during the photographic processing of the film. Automatic development system, characterized in that the automatic development system is started.

[0009] 2. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning of the film is performed in a wet state during the photographic processing of the film. 3. 3. The automatic developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photo processing unit includes a plurality of processing units, and the scanning of the film is performed during processing in two specific processing units among the processing units. system.

[0010] 4. The specific two processing units are a fixing tank that performs a fixing process of the film, and a stabilizing tank that performs a stabilizing process of the film, and the film is scanned after the processing in the fixing tank is performed. 4. The automatic developing system according to 3, wherein the treatment is performed in a stabilizing tank thereafter.

5. 5. The automatic developing system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of processing units include a drying processing unit, and the film is dried in the drying processing unit after being scanned.

6. The automatic developing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the scanning unit scans the film in a state where conveyance is stopped. 7. 7. The automatic developing system according to claim 6, wherein the film has a plurality of image frames, and the scanning of the film in a state where the conveyance is stopped is performed for each image frame.

8. 8. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes a printing unit that performs a printing process based on the image data. 9. 9. The automatic developing system according to claim 8, wherein said printing means includes printing means for photosensitive material.

10. 10. The automatic developing system according to claim 8, wherein the printing unit includes an ink jet printer. 11. The automatic development system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the output unit includes a recording unit that records the image data on a recording medium for a customer.

12. The automatic development system according to claim 11, wherein the recording medium is a removable medium. 13. Wherein the output means has a transfer means for transferring the image data over a network.
2. Automatic development system according to any one of the above.

14. 14. The automatic development system according to claim 13, wherein the transfer unit transfers the image data to a server on a network. 15. 14. The automatic development system according to claim 13, wherein the transfer means transfers the image data to a customer computer on a network.

16. The automatic development system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the image data recording means can collectively record the image data of one film.

17. Magnetic information reading means for reading magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer, wherein the magnetic information reading means reads at least a part of the magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer before photographic processing is performed on the film 17. The automatic development system according to any one of 1 to 16, wherein

18. 18. The automatic developing system according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of the magnetic information includes information on a print size. 19. 19. The automatic developing system according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of the magnetic information includes information on a photographing condition from a camera that photographed the film.

20. 20. The automatic developing system according to any one of 1 to 19, wherein the scanning unit scans a portion of the film that is oriented substantially vertically.

21. The scanning unit scans a portion of the film that is oriented substantially horizontally, and is located vertically above the portion.
10. The automatic development system according to any one of items 9 to 9.

22. A roller contacting the film immediately before the film reaches the scanning means, wherein the material of the roller is water-absorbing;
22. The automatic development system according to any one of to 21.

23. 23. The automatic developing system according to claim 22, wherein the roller is porous. 24. 22 or 23, wherein the surface material of the roller is any one of polybutyl terephthalate, polyphenylene ether, polypropylene, polyurethane, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol.
3. The automatic development system according to 1.

25. 25. The automatic development system according to any one of 1 to 24, wherein the film is a transmission film.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following.
In FIGS. 1 to 5, common items are denoted by common numbers.

In the following, a description will be given of an apparatus for processing a color film. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to almost all transmission type films. The color film (included in the transmission type film) and the transmission type film may be provided with a magnetic layer on which magnetic information can be written. Transmission films are color negative films, color reversal films, black and white films, copy films,
Refers to transmission type films such as X-ray films and lith films.

Here, the general processing steps of a color negative film (included in a color film) include, for example, the following steps. (1) Color development → bleaching → fixing → washing → drying (2) Color developing → bleaching → fixing → washing → stable → drying (3) Color developing → bleaching → fixing → stable → drying (4) Color developing → bleaching → fixing → First stable → Second stable → Dry (5) Color development → Bleaching → Bleaching and fixing → Washing → Drying (6) Color developing → Bleaching → Bleaching and fixing → Washing → Stable → Drying (7) Color developing → Bleaching → Bleaching and fixing → Stable → Dry (8) Color development → Bleaching → Bleaching and fixing → First stable → Second stable → Drying (9) Color developing → Bleaching → Bleaching and fixing → Fixing → Washing → Stable →
Drying (10) Color development → bleaching → bleach-fixing → fixing → first stable → second stable → drying (11) Color developing → bleach-fixing → stable → drying (12) Color developing → bleaching → first fixing → second Fixing → Stable → Dry (13) Color development → Bleaching → Fixing → First Stable → Second Stable → Third Stable → Dry Among these, (3), (4), (7), (10), (11) ), (12), (13)
Are preferred, particularly (3), (11) is preferred, but in the following (3)
Is used.

The term "photographic processing" as used in the present specification refers to all processing (such as color development processing, bleaching processing, and stabilization processing) of a film as described above performed by an automatic development system. The term "during photographic processing" means a period from the start of processing first applied to the film to the completion of processing last applied to the film in the photographic processing performed by the automatic developing system.

According to the present invention, during the photographic processing of this film,
By scanning the film and starting to output image data, time efficiency is improved. FIG. 1 is an external view of the automatic developing system 1. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a series of chemical treatments for a color film in the automatic developing system 1 and others. The color film 3 pulled out from the color film container 2 (generally called a patrone or a cartridge) is cut at the rear end by the cutter 9 by the cutter 9 and is conveyed in the automatic developing scanning device 1. The cutter 9 is not always necessary. If the color film container 2 and the color film 3 are of a type in which the color film container 2 is engaged, a means for releasing the engagement may be provided instead of the cutter.

When the color film 3 has a magnetic layer, the specific magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer by the magnetic information reading means 10 installed on the transport path of the color film 3 before the color developing tank is Is read. That is,
The magnetic information reading means 10 reads specific magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer before a series of color development, bleaching, fixing, and stabilizing processes on the color film 3 described later are performed.

The color film 3 is provided in the color developing tank 4.
, A bleaching process in the bleaching bath 5, a fixing process in the fixing bath 6, a stabilizing process in the stabilizing bath 7, and finally a drying process in the drying unit 8 to be discharged.

The image data of the color film 3 being transferred from the fixing tank 6 to the stabilizing tank 7 is obtained by the image data obtaining means 11 from the image recorded therein. As the image data acquisition unit 11, a CCD or the like that acquires image data by photoelectric conversion is used. Further, at least one pair of rollers 12 that comes into contact with the color film 3 is provided on a path from the color film 3 out of the liquid in the fixing tank 3 to the image data acquisition unit 11. It is preferable that at least one of the color films 3 of the roller pair has a water absorbing property. This is because, when a large number of droplets adhere to the color film 3 when the color data 3 is scanned by the image data acquiring unit 11 to acquire image data, the droplets disturb the optical path of the image and are originally acquired. Will degrade the quality of the image data to be
This is because this adverse effect can be reduced by making the material of the roller water-absorbing. In addition, this water-absorbing roller, when processing a general transmission type film,
It is preferable that a plurality of rollers are provided on the transport path of the transmissive film between the processing tank immediately before the image data acquiring unit 11 and the image data acquiring unit 11, and in particular, a plurality of rollers in front of the image data acquiring unit 11. When there is a pair, it is preferable that the roller be the one immediately before the image data acquisition means 11 among these rollers. To impart water absorbency to the roller, make the material porous, or make the surface material
Polybutyl terephthalate, polyphenylene ether,
Use any of polypropylene, polyurethane, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol, and set the roller hardness to 10 to 70 (the roller hardness is JI
Hardness measured by the Rockwell hardness measurement method, durometer hardness measurement method, and Barcol hardness measurement method described in S. ), And at this time, the surface tension of the treatment liquid in the treatment tank immediately before the roller is 10 to 50 dy.
When ne / cm, the wettability of the film surface is improved, so that the generation of droplets and the like is suppressed, which is preferable. In addition, the surface tension referred to here is a value measured by a static measurement method that is measured under static conditions, and the measuring method includes a capillary method, a hoau pressure method, a droplet method, a dripping method, and a static drop method. And the ring method.

On the path from the color film 3 going out of the liquid in the fixing tank 3 to the image data acquiring means 11, if a large amount of liquid droplets adheres to the color film 3, the liquid droplets fall and fall into the image. Although it adheres to the data acquisition means 11 and deteriorates the scanning performance of the image data acquisition means 11, the image data acquisition means 11 in FIG. Since scanning is performed from a position vertically above, care is taken to avoid this worry.

Further, since the image data acquiring means 11 scans the image pickup site of the color film 3 in a state where the conveyance is stopped, even if the droplets exist at the image pickup site of the color film 3, the droplets are discharged. Less likely to vibrate,
This has the effect of preventing scattering of image light on the color film 3 due to vibration of the droplets, and image data can be obtained without disturbing image quality. Incidentally, the image data acquisition means 1
In this case, 1 is scanned every single image frame of the color film 3, so that the color film 3 is conveyed intermittently at every position of one image frame at a position facing the image data acquisition means 11. Will be. For this reason,
In other words, although not shown here, since the processing in the fixing tank 6 is continuously performed, the fixing tank 6 and the image data acquisition unit 1 are not illustrated.
An accumulator for the color film 3 may be provided between the accumulator 1 and the color film 1.

Next, description will be made with reference to FIG.
2 differs from FIG. 2 only in the position of the image data acquisition means 11 and the transport direction of the color film 3 there, and therefore only this difference will be described.

In FIG. 3, the image data acquisition means 11
Scans a portion of the color film 3 which is oriented substantially vertically from a position facing the portion. As a result, as in the case of FIG. 2, even when many droplets adhere to the color film 3, the droplets fall and adhere to the image data acquisition unit 11, and the scanning of the image data acquisition unit 11 is performed. It is devised so as not to deteriorate the performance.

The image data acquiring means 11 may use a one-dimensional linear optical sensor or a two-dimensional planar optical sensor. The scanning method may be a reflection scanning method or a transmission scanning method.

Next, description will be made with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention by adding an electric signal processing means to those described in FIG. 2 and FIG.

The control means 13 includes the magnetic information reading means 10,
It controls the overall control while cooperating with the image data acquisition unit 11, the storage unit 14, the image data recording unit 15, and the display unit 16. As described above, when the color film 3 has a magnetic layer, the magnetic information reading means 10 reads specific magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer. Information about the print size (for example, the print size includes a conventional size, a high-definition size, a panorama size, and the like. Depending on the difference between these sizes, the size of the image data obtained by the image data obtaining unit 11 is changed or obtained. Image processing (such as size change, which requires an image processing means not shown here) in some cases.), And information on the conditions for photographing the color film 3 by the camera (for example, the camera). And information such as shooting location, shooting time, etc. It is necessary to change the image acquisition condition by the image data acquisition means 11 and to perform image processing (color conversion processing and the like, not shown here, image processing means) on the acquired image data using the information ), Information specifying the image frame that has been photographed (if this information is used, the image data acquisition unit 11 only needs to scan the area where the image frame actually exists. Information that specifies an image frame to be scanned by the image data obtaining unit 11 (use of this information allows only image frames specified to require image data to be scanned). Therefore, in addition to avoiding unnecessary acquisition of image data, when storing image data on an image data Capacity can be effectively utilized.), And the like. These all affect the processing of the image data when the image data is obtained by the image data obtaining unit 11 or after the image data is obtained by the image data obtaining unit 11. Therefore, the image data acquisition means 1
These pieces of information need to be obtained before scanning at 1 is performed. In the embodiment of the present invention, these information are read by the magnetic information reading means 10 before performing a series of color development, bleaching, fixing, and stabilizing processing of the color film 3, so that this need is satisfied. ing.

The image data recording means 15 stores the image data obtained by the image data obtaining means 11 and stored in the storage means 14 (H
DD, ROM, RAM, etc.)
Image data recording media (floppy disk, CD-
A removable medium such as a ROM, a ZIP, or a DVD is preferably recorded. In this recording, it is preferable that when the image data of one image frame of the color film 3 is prepared in the storage means 14, these are collectively recorded. When the conveyance failure of the color film 3 or the failure of the apparatus occurs, there is a possibility that an incomplete image data recording medium in which all the image data of one image frame of the color film 3 is not stored, If this occurs, physical management of the image data recording medium or re-recording of the image data of the remaining image frames on the image data recording medium will require very troublesome work.

The display means 16 is provided with the image data obtaining means 11
An image can be displayed on the basis of the image data obtained in step (1), but the image data before being recorded on the image data recording medium by the image data recording means 15 is automatically displayed. It is preferable to keep it. Also, the recording permission information which allows the operator who has seen the display means to input information for permitting (or disallowing not to record) the image data on which the image is based on the image data recording medium. Input means may be provided.
By doing so, good image data is recorded on the image data recording medium. When the information of the non-permission is input, the image data acquiring unit 11 scans again, or the image data acquiring unit 11
If the scanning is performed again, the processing of the next color film will be delayed, so that the image data may be acquired by another image data acquiring unit 11 after drying in the drying unit 8.

The network connection means 17 (communication means 17 in the figure) is a means for connecting the image data storage means 14 to the outside. It may be connected to the external network 18 via the network connection means 17 (communication means 17) and may be used for services via an external personal computer (not shown) or the Internet (a type of the external network 18). In this case, after converting the image data stored in the image storage means 14 by a predetermined image conversion processing program, a service for distributing the image data to the customer's home personal computer via the public line via the network connection means 17 or It can be used for services such as storing images on servers installed in laboratories and services that customers can browse through a WWW browser. Further, a service for creating a print based on image data output to the outside via the network connection means 17 can be provided.

As information to be recorded on the image data recording medium, in addition to the image data obtained by the image data obtaining means 11, a thumbnail image of the image data or a main image (original image data) when the thumbnail image is selected. May be recorded such that an image according to (1) is displayed.

The speed at which the recording speed (unit: bps) of the image data by the image data recording unit 15 on the image data recording medium is faster than the speed at which the image data is read by the image data acquisition unit 11 (unit: bps). When the image data obtained by the image data acquisition means 11 from the storage device is sequentially stored in the image data recording medium, the storage means 1
4 is preferable because the capacity of the device can be reduced.

In the above example, the image data obtaining means 11 and the roller pair 12 are provided between the fixing tank 6 and the stabilizing tank 7, but the stabilizing tank 7 and the drying unit 8 are provided. The image data obtaining means 11 and the roller pair 12 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. Further, in the above example, one stabilization tank 7 is shown. However, a plurality of stabilization tanks may be used. In this case, the image data acquisition unit 11 and the roller pair shown in FIGS. 12 may be provided between these stabilizing tanks. Further, the image data acquisition means 11
Is a path from the first time when the transmission type film exits the first processing tank until immediately before entering the drying unit, and may be provided on the transport path outside the liquid.
Regarding the scanning method of the image data acquisition means 11, in a step in which the desilvering step has not been completed, such as after the color developing step or the bleaching step, the reflective scanning is more advantageous, and the desilvering step is completed. After the fixing step and the stabilizing step, the transmission type scanning method is advantageous.

FIG. 5 is a view in which an image output means 21 is further added to the automatic developing system 1 described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 20 denotes a print. Here, the control means 13 is omitted. Examples of the image output unit 21 include a developing machine that obtains a print using a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, a printer that obtains a print using a sublimation-type thermal recording material, an inkjet printer, a printer that uses a full-color direct thermal recording material,
A printer using a post-chelate sublimation heat transfer recording material is exemplified. By doing so, prints and CD-Rs can be delivered to the customer at the same time when film development is completed.

[0048]

According to the automatic developing system of the present invention, the time efficiency of outputting image data obtained by scanning and recording on an image data recording medium is improved, and the management of the image data recording medium is facilitated. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view.

FIG. 2 is a first schematic configuration diagram.

FIG. 3 is a second schematic configuration diagram.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 107 H04N 1/00 107Z

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. An automatic developing system for performing a photographic process on a film, a photographic processing unit for performing a photographic process on the film, a scanning unit for scanning the film, and storing image data acquired by the scanning unit. Image data storage means, and output means for outputting image data stored in the image data storage means, wherein the scanning of the film is performed during photographic processing of the film, and the output of the image data is An automatic development system which is started during the photographic processing of the film. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the scanning of the film is performed in a wet state during photographic processing of the film. 3. The photograph processing unit includes a plurality of processing units, and the scanning of the film is performed during processing in two specific processing units among the processing units. Or the automatic development system according to 2. 4. The specific two processing units are a fixing tank for performing a fixing process on the film and a stabilizing tank for performing a stabilizing process on the film, and the film is processed in the fixing tank. 4. The automatic developing system according to claim 3, wherein a scan is performed later, and then a process in a stabilization tank is performed. 5. The automatic developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of processing units include a drying processing unit, and the film is dried in the drying processing unit after being scanned. system. 6. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein the scanning unit scans the film in a state where conveyance is stopped. 7. The film has a plurality of image frames,
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the scanning of the film while the conveyance is stopped is performed for each image frame.
3. The automatic development system according to 1. 8. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes a printing means for performing a printing process based on said image data. 9. The automatic developing system according to claim 8, wherein said printing means includes a printing means for printing on a photosensitive material. 10. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein said printing means includes an ink jet printer.
3. The automatic development system according to 1. 11. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes a recording means for recording said image data on a recording medium for a customer. 12. The automatic development system according to claim 11, wherein said recording medium is a removable medium. 13. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein said output means has a transfer means for transferring said image data over a network. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said transfer means transfers the image data to a server on a network.
3. The automatic development system according to 1. 15. The automatic development system according to claim 13, wherein said transfer means transfers the image data to a customer computer on a network. 16. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein said image data recording means can collectively record image data of one film. 17. Magnetic information reading means for reading magnetic information recorded on a magnetic layer, wherein said magnetic information reading means comprises:
17. The automatic development system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of magnetic information recorded on the magnetic layer is read before a photographic process is performed on the film. 18. The automatic developing system according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of the magnetic information includes information on a print size. 19. The automatic development system according to claim 17, wherein at least a part of the magnetic information includes information on a condition of photographing from the camera that photographed the film. . 20. The automatic developing system according to claim 1, wherein the scanning unit scans a portion of the film that is oriented substantially vertically. 21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning means scans a portion of the film which is oriented substantially in a horizontal direction, and is located vertically above the portion.
20. The automatic development system according to any one of claims 19 to 19. 22. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a roller that comes into contact with the film immediately before a path where the film reaches the scanning unit, wherein the material of the roller is water-absorbing. The automatic developing system according to the above. 23. The automatic developing system according to claim 22, wherein said roller is porous. 24. The automatic development according to claim 22, wherein the surface material of the roller is any one of polybutyl terephthalate, polyphenylene ether, polypropylene, polyurethane, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol. system. 25. The automatic development system according to claim 1, wherein said film is a transmission type film.