JP2002182314A - Photographic film supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit, without increasing an installation space for a device, interruption processing in which a photographic film other than one beforehand loaded in a film loading section is supplied to an image reading section. SOLUTION: When an AFL(Automatic Film Loader) unit 70 is not operating and an interruption guide member 160 is moved downward to an interrupting position shown in figure, from a stand-by position, a lower face of the leading end of the interruption guide member 160 comes into contact with a bottom face of a reading-and-carrying path 52, and the lower end of the guide groove 162 of the interruption guide member 160 faces the open end 183. In this state, a photographic film 26 is placed on a bottom face of the guide groove 162 and then slid down along the guide groove 162. As a result, the leading end of the photographic film 62 is fed into the reading-and-carrying path 52 via the open end 183. When the interruption guide member 160 is moved upward, on the other hand, to the standby position from the interrupting position, the photographic film 26 can be automatically supplied to a film carrier 46 from the AFL unit 70 through the reading-and-carrying path 52.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic film supply device for separating one photographic film from a film bundle loaded in a film loading section and conveying the photographic film to an image reading section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital scanner for a photographic film includes a line scanner comprising a CCD line sensor or the like while conveying a photographic film on which an image is recorded at a predetermined reading speed in an image reading section. And performs image recording on a recording material, display of an image on a display, and the like using image data obtained by the reading. Some of such digital scanner devices include an auto film loader unit (hereinafter, referred to as an “AFL unit”) attached to the device main body as an optional unit. This AFL
The unit includes, for example, a film holder into which a film bundle in which about 20 photographic films are stacked, and
A feed roller for separating one photographic film from the film bundle loaded in the film holder and feeding the photographic film to a film supply path connected to an image reading unit is provided. The photographic film sent out to the film supply path is conveyed to an image reading unit by a conveying roller, and is line-scanned by the image reading unit to read an image.

In a digital scanner provided with an AFL unit as described above, usually, one photographic film from a film bundle loaded in a film holder is started to be supplied to an image reading section, and then loaded into the film holder. Until all of the photographic films are supplied to the image reading unit,
The film supply by the FL unit is continued, but before all the photographic films are supplied from the film holder to the reading and conveying path, the photographic film other than the photographic film loaded in the film holder is urgently supplied to the reading and conveying path. A process for preferentially reading an image on the photographic film,
So-called interrupt processing may be performed. In order to perform this interrupt processing, a digital scanner device, for example, A
In some cases, the FL unit is detached from the apparatus main body, the film supply path in the AFL unit is separated from the reading conveyance path of the image reading unit, and the photographic film can be directly supplied to the reading conveyance path from outside the apparatus.

[0004]

However, in the above digital scanner, the AFL unit must be movably supported between a position connected to the image reading unit and a position separated from the image reading unit. Therefore, a space for installing the AFL unit detached from the image reading unit is required in addition to the installation space for the device connected to the image reading unit. It will be substantially larger.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an interrupt processing for supplying a photographic film other than a photographic film loaded in a film loading section to an image reading section without increasing the installation space of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic film supply device which can be used.

[0006]

According to the photographic film feeder of the present invention, when the interrupt guide member is moved from the standby position to the interrupt position, the interrupt guide surface passes through the interrupt opening. Is connected to the film transport path, the photographic film is placed on the interrupt guide surface, and the photographic film is slid toward the film transport path along the interrupt guide surface, whereby the photographic film is transported. Since it can be inserted into the path and sent to the image reading position along the film transport path, interrupt processing for supplying photographic film other than photographic film loaded in the film loading unit from the outside of the device to the image reading position is possible. become. At this time, the interrupt processing can be performed only by moving the interrupt guide member from the standby position to the interrupt position. Therefore, in order to perform the conventional photographic film interrupt processing, a film loading unit or a film There is no need to move the transport path itself, and the installation space for the apparatus can be substantially reduced.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Structure of Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an external view of a scanner device provided with an automatic film loader unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention. A schematic configuration of the digital laboratory system used is shown as a block diagram. The digital lab system 10 includes a scanner device 12 and a printer device 14 as shown in FIG. The scanner device 12 includes a line CCD scanner 16 and an image processing unit 1.
The printer device 14 is provided with a laser printer unit 20 and a processor unit 22.

The line CCD scanner 16 is for reading a film image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film. The line CCD scanner 16 is provided with a line CCD 24 (see FIG. 5) in which three rows of sensors for R (red), G (green), and B (blue) photometry are arranged. And outputs image data of three colors of R, G, and B to the image processing unit 18, respectively.

The image processing section 18 performs image processing such as correction on image data from the line CCD scanner 16 and outputs the image data to the laser printer section 20 as recording image data. Further, the image processing unit 18 outputs the image data subjected to the image processing to an external device as an image file (for example,
It is also possible to output to a storage medium such as a memory card or an external storage device such as an HDD, or to transmit to another information processing device via a communication line.

The laser printer unit 20 includes laser light sources for emitting R, G, and B laser lights, respectively. The laser light modulated on the basis of image data for recording input from the image processing unit 18 is printed on photographic paper. Irradiate and form an image (latent image) on photographic paper by scanning exposure. Processor section 2
2, the photographic paper scanned and exposed by the laser printer section 20 is subjected to color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying. Thus, the latent image formed on the photographic paper is developed into a visible image.

FIG. 5 shows a reading optical system 28 including a line CCD 24 installed in the scanner device 12. The reading optical system 28 has a light source 30 such as a metal halide lamp or a halogen lamp. Light source 3
A parabolic reflector 32 for selectively transmitting an IR (infrared light) component is provided such that 0 is located at the focal position. Here, the light emitted from the light source 30 is reflected by the reflector 32 and is irradiated in the direction of the photographic film 26.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reading optical system 28 has, in order from the light source 30 side along the optical axis L, an IR cut filter 34, C () for cutting the IR component of the light emitted from the light source 30. There are provided dimming filters 36C, 36M, 36Y for cyan (C), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), and a light diffusion box 38 for diffusing light irradiated on the photographic film 26. The IR cut filter 34 and the dimming filters 36C, 36M, and 36Y are configured to be independently movable, and adjust the balance of the amount of light of each component color light emitted from the light source 30, the sensitivity of the line CCD 24 to each component color light, and the like. The insertion amount into the optical path is adjusted in consideration of the above. As a result, R, G,
It is possible to adjust the balance of the light receiving amounts of the B3 colors.

As shown in FIG. 1, a flat work table 40 is provided on the scanner device 12 so as to be substantially parallel to the floor F. In this work table 40,
As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 42 penetrating in the thickness direction is formed, and a vibration isolating table 44 attached to the apparatus frame is arranged in the opening 42. The anti-vibration table 44 is supported such that its upper surface is located on the same plane as the upper surface of the work table 40. A housing-like film carrier 46 is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the anti-vibration table 44. I have.

Here, the vibration isolator 44 is attached to the apparatus frame via an elastic member 48 such as rubber rubber, and the elastic member 48 blocks vibration from a vibration source such as a motor outside the apparatus and inside the apparatus. The structure is to be. The anti-vibration table 44 integrally supports the reading optical system 28 together with the film carrier 46. Thereby, the photographic film 26
Vibration is transmitted to the frame when reading the image for
The film carrier 46 and the reading optical system 28 are each kept stationary, so that the reading accuracy of the photographic film 26 due to vibration is prevented from lowering.

As shown in FIG. 5, a lens unit 50 for forming an image of light transmitted through the photographic film 26 is disposed on the side opposite to the light source 30 with the film carrier 46 interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. The line CCD 24 is arranged at an image forming position of the lens unit 50.
Although FIG. 5 shows the lens unit 50 as a single lens, the lens unit 50 may be a single imaging lens or a zoom lens including a plurality of lenses. You may.

The line CCD 24 is provided with three CCD cell rows in which CCD cells are arranged in a line so as to be orthogonal to the direction in which the photographic film 26 is transported by the film carrier 46, and is provided on the light incident side of each line. R,
It is composed of a three-line color CCD to which any one of G and B color separation filters is attached. Therefore, C
The main scanning of the film reading is performed along the arrangement direction of the CD cells, and the photographic film 2 is scanned by the film carrier 46.
The sub-scanning of the film image reading is performed by transporting 6.

In the line CCD 24, three lines (CCD cell rows) are sequentially arranged at predetermined intervals along the transport direction (sub-scanning direction) of the photographic film 26 in the film carrier 46. There is a time difference between the detection timings of the R, G, and B component colors in the same pixel. However, in the present embodiment, the R, G, and B photometric signals of the same pixel are output simultaneously from the line CCD scanner 16 by delaying the output timing of the photometric signal with a different delay time for each component color. It is configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, the film carrier 46 is provided with a slit-shaped reading conveyance path 52 for guiding the photographic film 26 to a predetermined reading position R. One end of the reading conveyance path 52 is connected to the film carrier 4.
6 is open to the distal end surface of the supply guide portion 54 projecting substantially horizontally from the side surface. In the film carrier 46, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a first transport roller pair 56, a second transport roller pair 58, and a third transport roller pair 60 are arranged along the reading transport path 52. Each of the transport roller pairs 56, 58, 60 is composed of a driven roller and a drive roller, and the drive roller of the transport roller pairs 56, 58, 60 receives torque from a transport motor 61 (see FIG. 3). Here, as the transport motor 61, a step motor whose rotation speed and rotation direction can be individually controlled is used.

When the photographic film 26 is supplied into the film carrier 46, the pair of conveying rollers 56, 58, 60
The photographic film 26 is moved along the reading conveyance path 52 along the optical axis L.
Are transported in a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction. In the film carrier 46, as shown in FIG. 4, a slit hole 62 elongated in the width direction of the photographic film 26 along the optical axis L is formed. Accordingly, the light emitted from the light source 30 passes through the photographic film 26 and enters the lens unit 50 above the film carrier 46. Here, the position where the optical axis L of the reading optical system 28 and the photographic film 26 in the film carrier 46 intersect is the reading position R.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film carrier 46 is formed integrally with a substantially cylindrical film winding portion 64 at an end opposite to the supply guide portion 54. Is connected to the other end of the reading transport path 52. The film winding section 64 has an inner wall serving as a guide surface for curving the photographic film 26 according to its winding habit. As a result, the photographic film 26 carried out from the reading conveyance path 52 into the film winding section 64 by the third conveyance roller pair 60 is wound into a roll and stored in the film winding section 64.

In the film carrier 46, as shown in FIG.
The first film sensor 66 is provided between the first transport roller pair 56 and the second transport roller pair 5 between the first transport roller pair 56 and the first transport roller pair 56.
8, the second film sensors 68 are provided respectively. Each of the film sensors 66 and 68 includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit that face each other via the reading and conveying path 52, and the light emitted from the light projecting unit is transmitted to the photographic film 2.
6, the light receiving section outputs a detection signal in synchronism therewith.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic film loader unit (hereinafter, referred to as "AFL unit") 70 is attached to the scanner device 12 as an optional unit on the side of the work table 40 (to the right in FIG. 1). Have been. Above the AFL unit 70, a film bundle 2
A film loader 72 is provided in which each of the film loaders 7 can be loaded. The film loader 72 has a film holder cover 76 disposed on the upper surface thereof, and a circular concave film storage portion 78 formed on the near side of the film holder cover 76. The film accommodating portion 78 has a depth corresponding to the width of the photographic film 26, and a plurality of guide pins 79 are erected on the bottom surface thereof at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction. An elongated groove-shaped film guide path 80 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the film storage section 78.
The film guide path 80 extends into the film holder cover 76. The film holder cover 76 is disposed on the upper surface of the AFL unit 70 so that it can be opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the film loader 72 is provided with a cover sensor 81 for detecting the film holder cover at the closed position. Further, the film loader 72 is provided with a film holder 82 in which the leading end of the film bundle 27 is loaded in the film holder cover 76. As shown in FIG. 6, the film holder 82 is provided with a holding bracket 84 which is bent in a substantially U-shape, and both side plates of the holding bracket 84 move from the base end toward the opening end. It is formed in a tapered shape so that the width becomes narrow,
The interval at the base end is slightly smaller than the width of the photographic film 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, the film holder 82 is provided with a lever member 90 for connecting the holding bracket 84 to the upper surface of the film loader 72 via a connecting shaft 88. As a result, the film holder 82 is supported so as to be swingable about a connecting shaft 88 between a predetermined supply position and a standby position. Here, when the film holder 82 is at the standby position in which the film holder 82 swings clockwise by approximately 90 ° from the supply position shown in FIG. 6, the operator can load the film bundle 27 into the holding bracket 84. As shown in FIG. 3, the film loader 72 is provided with a holder sensor 91 for detecting the film holder 82 at the supply position.

When loading the film bundle 27 into the holding bracket 84 of the film holder 82, first, the operator opens the film holder cover 76, and opens the end portions of the photographic films 26 constituting the film bundle 27. The end of the first frame on the recording image side is aligned so that the film bundle 27 is placed in the film storage section 78 as shown in FIG.
To store. At this time, the film bundle 27 is wound around the outer peripheral sides of the three guide pins 79 so as to bend according to the winding habit, and a part of the remaining rear end side is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the guide pins 79.

Next, the operator moves the leading end side of the film bundle 27 along the film guide path 80 into the film storage section 7.
8 to the film holder 82 side, and the leading end of the film bundle 27 is attached to the film holder 82 at the standby position.
Between the two side plates of the holding bracket 84. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the leading end of the film bundle 27 is curved such that the central portion in the width direction bulges toward the opening end side of the holding bracket 84. The film is pushed into the holding fitting 84 so that the film side ends are pressed against each other. Thus, the photographic film 26 constituting the film bundle 27 can move the photographic film 26 with a small transport resistance in the longitudinal direction of the film, but is held by the holding bracket 84 so that the movement in the film thickness direction is restricted. Will be retained. At this time, the surface (emulsion surface) of the photographic film 26 constituting the film bundle 27 is
4 so as to face the base end side.

As shown in FIG. 4, a motor unit 93 composed of a motor, a torque transmission mechanism and the like is connected to a connecting shaft 88 of the film holder 82. Swing to any of the positions. On the other hand, the film loader 72 is provided with a feed roller 92 so as to face the holding bracket 84 at the supply position. This feed roller 9
The roller surface of No. 2 is made of rubber or the like having a high coefficient of friction and elasticity. Here, the film holder 82
Moves the back of the photographic film 26 located at the lowermost portion of the film bundle 27 to the roller surface of the feed roller 92 when moved to the supply position, and separates the film bundle 27 from the feed roller 92 when moved to the standby position.

The feed roller 92 is connected to a feed motor 94 (see FIG. 4) via a torque transmitting mechanism (not shown). When the feed motor 94 is driven, a predetermined feed direction (in the direction of the arrow CCW) is used. ). Accordingly, when the film holder 82 swings from the standby position to the supply position when the feeding motor 94 is driven, one photographic film 26 located at the lowermost position from the film bundle 27 loaded in the film holder 82 is moved in the feeding direction. The photographic film 26 is separated by a frictional force with the rotating feed roller 92, and is sent downstream (toward the film carrier 46) along the longitudinal direction of the photographic film 26. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the film loader 72 has a film holder 82
A film sensor 95 for detecting the film bundle 27 loaded in the camera is provided. This film sensor 95
Outputs a detection signal when the film bundle 27 (photographic film 26) is present in the film holder 82.

The AFL unit 70 has a film loader 7 downstream of the film loader 72 as shown in FIG.
A film supply path 96 is provided for guiding the photographic film 26 sent out from 2 to the downstream side to the film carrier 46. The film supply path 96 has one end on the upstream side which is open facing the roller surface of the feed roller 92, and the other end on the downstream side which is the tip end face of the supply guide portion 54,
That is, it is opened so as to face one end of the reading transport path 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the AFL unit 70 includes a first conveying roller pair 98, a first guide roller pair 102, and a second
A transport roller pair 100 and a second guide roller pair 104 are arranged. Here, the conveying roller pairs 98 and 100 are each composed of a driven roller and a driving roller, and a torque from a feeding motor 94 is transmitted to the driving roller.
Each of the guide roller pairs 102 and 104 is constituted by a pair of driven rollers.

In the film supply path 96, a loop guide roller 106 is provided between the second conveying roller pair 100 and the second guide roller pair 104. It is supported so as to protrude from the lower surface of the supply path 96. Here, the loop guide roller 106 is moved from the second conveying roller pair 100 to the second
The photographic film 26 sent to the guide roller pair 104 is slightly lifted upward from the lower surface of the film supply path 96. Thus, when the leading end side of the photographic film 26 is transported by the first transport roller pair 56 of the film carrier 46 and the rear end side of the photographic film 26 is transported by the second transport roller pair 100 of the AFL unit 70, The formation of an upwardly bent loop portion 108 (see FIG. 3) in the photographic film 26 between the two transport roller pairs 100 and the second guide roller pair 104 is promoted.

As shown in FIG. 4, a loop detecting lever 110 and a loop sensor 112 for detecting a loop portion 108 formed on the photographic film 26 are arranged in the film supply path 96. Loop detection lever 110
Is supported so as to be swingable about a spindle 114 provided on the downstream side of the loop guide roller 106, and when the loop 108 is not detected, the tip of the shaft 108 contacts the loop guide roller 106. It is held at the detection position by its own weight. The loop detection lever 110 is integrally provided with a substantially fan-shaped striker portion 116 protruding upward near the support shaft portion 114.

The loop detecting lever 110 is connected to the photographic film 2
When the loop portion 108 is formed in 6, the tip portion is pressed upward by the loop portion 108 and swings in one direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) from the non-detection position. At this time, when a loop portion 108 (see FIG. 3) having a predetermined size is formed on the photographic film 26, the loop sensor 112 detects the striker portion 116 of the loop detection lever 110 and outputs a loop detection signal. In the AFL unit 70, the driving of the feeding motor 94 is controlled based on the loop detection signal.

Here, the second guide roller pair 104 located on the downstream side of the loop portion 108 is composed of two driven rollers, and the small transport required for maintaining the loop portion 108 to the photographic film 26 is required. Only resistance works. For this reason, when the tension of the photographic film 26 increases on the downstream side of the second guide roller pair 104, the photographic film 26 forming the loop portion 108 reduces the second guide roller pair 104 so that the tension of the photographic film 26 decreases. To the downstream side of

As shown in FIG. 4, the AFL unit 70 is provided with a film receiving portion 118 below the film loader 72 for receiving the photographic film 26 discharged from the reading and conveying path 52. The photographic film 26 is attached to the film receiving section 118.
One end of a film unloading path 120 for guiding into the inside 8 is connected. Further, the other end of the film unloading path 120 is connected near the downstream end of the film supply path 96.

On the other hand, in the film supply path 96, a transfer junction 122 is provided at a connection with the film discharge path 120. As shown in FIG. 4, the converging portion 122 becomes narrower toward the film carrier 46 between the upper surface of the film supply path 96 and the lower surface of the film discharge path 120 to form a substantially wedge-shaped space. are doing. A pair of guide rollers 124 and 126 are disposed at the transport junction 122, and the lower ends of the guide rollers 124 project from the upper surface of the film supply path 96 into the transport junction 122,
The guide rollers 126 are supported such that their upper ends project from the lower surface of the film unloading path 120 into the converging section 122.

As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially wedge-shaped gate lever 128 having a width narrowing toward the film carrier 46 is disposed in the transfer junction 122.
The gate lever 128 is swingably supported about a swing shaft 129 between a first guide position and a second guide position. Further, the gate lever 128 is always urged to the first guide position shown in FIG. 4 by an urging member (not shown) formed of a coil spring or the like. Here, the leading end of the gate lever 128 at the first guide position is pressed against the roller surface of the guide roller 124. As a result, the film supply path 96 is closed in the transfer junction 122 by the gate lever 128, and the photographic film 26 conveyed from the reading conveyance path 52 to the conveyance junction 122 on the lower surface side to the film discharge path 120. Guide you to break in.

The gate lever 128 allows the photographic film 26 to move from the upstream side of the film supply path 96
When it is conveyed to 2, the photographic film 26 is pressed by the leading end and swings from the first guide position to the second guide position. As a result, the photographic film 26 is
24 and the gate lever 128, and the transport junction 12
2 is guided to be discharged to the reading conveyance path 52.

As shown in FIG. 4, the AFL unit 70 includes a first transport roller pair 9 along a film supply path 96.
8, a first film sensor 130 and a second film sensor 132 are respectively arranged slightly downstream of the transport junction 122. Here, the film sensors 130 and 132 detect the photographic film 26 in the film supply path 96 and output a detection signal.

When the rear end of the photographic film 26 is unloaded from the film outlet 120 into the film receiving section 118, the photographic film 26 is drawn into the film receiving section 118, and the photographic film 26 is moved into the film receiving section 118. A film catcher (not shown) for loading the film into the holder member is provided.

Film carrier 46 and AFL unit 7
0, as shown in FIG.
A wedge-shaped interrupt guide member 160 is arranged on the upper side. The upper surface of the interrupt guide member 160 is inclined downward toward the film carrier 46, and a concave guide groove 162 is formed in the upper surface of the interrupt guide member 160 as shown in FIG. ing. The guide groove 162 extends from the upper end to the lower end of the inclined surface of the interrupt guide member 160. The width of the guide groove 162 is slightly wider than the width of the photographic film 26, and is smoothed so that the photographic film 26 can slide.

Here, on the inner surface of the guide groove 162,
In order to suppress the frictional resistance with the photographic film 26, for example, a low friction material such as Teflon (registered trademark) may be coated, or a brushed material having flexibility may be attached. Further, a concave groove corresponding to the width of the image area (frame area) in the photographic film 26 is formed at the center of the guide groove 162 in the width direction, and the frame area directly contacts the bottom surface of the guide groove 162 by the concave groove. May be avoided.

As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, two guide pins 164 and 166 are provided upright. These guide pins 164 and 166 are
It is engaged with a plate-shaped guide member 168 and a lever member 170 provided in the AFL unit 70, respectively. Here, the lower end of the guide member 168 is fixed to the outer side surface of the AFL unit 70, and an elongated guide hole 169 is formed in the upper part of the guide member 168 along the vertical direction. The one guide pin 164 of the interrupt guide member 160 is slidably inserted. The lever member 170 has a swing shaft 172 whose lower end is implanted on the outer surface of the film supply path 96.
And is swingably supported about the swing shaft 172. An oval connection hole 171 is formed in the upper end of the lever member 170, and the other guide pin 166 is relatively rotatable and slidable in the connection hole 171. Has been inserted.

The interrupt guide member 160 is connected to the AFL unit 70 via the guide member 168 and the lever member 170 as described above, so that a predetermined interrupt position (FIG. 8A) And the standby position (see FIG. 8)
(See (B)). Also AF
When the interruption guide member 160 moves to the interruption position and the standby position, the L unit 70 elastically engages with the interruption guide member 160 and has a constant holding force.
A latch mechanism (not shown) for holding 0 at the interrupt position and the standby position is provided. Thus, when the operator moves the interrupt guide member 160 to either the interrupt position or the standby position against the holding force of the latch mechanism, the interrupt guide member 160 that has moved to any of these positions becomes stable. Is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 7, the AFL unit 70 is provided with a cover member 174 so as to cover the upper surface of the film supply path 96 (see FIG. 4). The cover member 174 has an elongated housing shape along the direction in which the photographic film 26 is conveyed. A guide groove 176 having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the guide groove 162 of the interrupt guide member 160 is provided on the upper surface thereof. Is formed. This guide groove 176
When the interrupt guide member 160 moves to the interrupt position, its lower end is connected to the upper end of the guide groove 162 of the interrupt guide member 160 such that no step is formed along the sliding direction of the photographic film 26. .

The supply guide section 54 of the film carrier 46
Is provided with a part of the reading conveyance path 52 as described above, and one end of the reading conveyance path 52 is opened at the tip of the supply guide portion 54. As shown in FIG. 7, the reading conveyance path 52 has a notch at the center in the width direction on the top surface side and a concave groove formed at the center in the width direction on the bottom surface side. Accordingly, the photographic film 26 in the reading conveyance path 52 is conveyed without contacting the inner surface of the reading conveyance path 52 with only the perforated both ends contacting the inner surface of the reading conveyance path 52 and the center frame area. You.

In the middle of the supply guide 54, as shown in FIG. 8, an interruption opening 178 for opening the reading conveyance path 52 to the outside of the apparatus is formed. Interruption opening 178
Is formed by cutting out the upper side of the supply guide portion 54 so that only the bottom portion of the reading transport path 52 remains.
Thereby, the reading conveyance path 52 in the supply guide section 54
Are formed with opening ends 181 and 183 on the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively, via the interrupt opening 178.

A part of the leading end side of the interrupt guide member 160
As shown in FIG. 8, it is inserted into the reading conveyance path 52 through the interruption opening 178. Interruption guide member 160
When the shutter is at the interrupt position (see FIG. 8A), the lower surface of the leading end thereof is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52, and when at the standby position (see FIG. 8B), The lower surface is separated from the reading conveyance path 52 by a predetermined distance. Thus, the interrupt guide member 160 at the interrupt position closes the upstream open end 181 and makes the lower end of the guide groove 162 face the downstream open end 183. The interruption guide member 160 at the standby position forms a slit-shaped communication portion 184 with the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52, and the communication portion 184 causes the reading conveyance path upstream of the interruption opening 178. 52 and the reading transport path 52 on the downstream side are communicated with each other.

On the lower surface of the leading end of the interrupt guide member 160,
As shown in FIG. 9, a photographic film 26 is provided at the center in the width direction.
The groove 186 extends in the direction of conveyance of the photographic film 26. On both sides of the groove 186, a convex delivery guide 187 extends in the direction of conveyance of the photographic film 26. Thereby, the photographic film 26 is connected to the communicating portion 18.
4, only the both ends of the photographic film 26 are in contact with the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52 and the lower surface of the delivery guide section 187. Regarding the frame area, any one of the reading conveyance path 52 and the interruption guide member 160 No longer touches.

As shown in FIG. 8, an inclined surface 188 which is inclined upward toward the film carrier 46 is formed in the reading guide path 52 at a position corresponding to the lower end of the guide groove 162 in the interrupt guide member 160 as shown in FIG. ing. Accordingly, when the interrupt guide member 160 is moved to the interrupt position, the lower end of the guide groove 162 is slightly lower than the upper end of the inclined surface 188, and the AFL is moved from the film carrier 46 side to the AFL.
The leading end of the photographic film 26 conveyed (reversely fed) to the unit 70 side is prevented from being caught on the lower end of the guide groove 162.

As shown in FIG. 7, the interruption guide member 160 has a plate-like striker portion 19 on one outer surface.
0 is provided. On the work table 40, a position sensor 192 is provided below the striker portion 190, and the position sensor 192 is connected to the interrupt guide member 160.
Is lowered from the standby position to the interrupt position, the striker unit 19
When it is pressed by 0, it outputs a detection signal, and when the interrupt guide member 160 rises from the interrupt position to the standby position and the striker unit 190 separates, the output of the detection signal is stopped.

(Operation of the Embodiment) Next, the operation of the scanner device 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. It is assumed that a film bundle 27 including a plurality of photographic films 26 is loaded in the film holder 82 of the film loader 72. A series of operations described below are controlled by a control unit (not shown) for controlling the entire scanner device 12.

When the power of the scanner device 12 is turned on,
It is determined whether or not the film holder cover 76 is closed based on a detection signal from the cover sensor 81.
At this time, when the film holder cover 76 is not closed, the operation of the AFL unit 70 is controlled to an operation stop state in which the operation of the AFL unit 70 is stopped. When the film holder cover 76 is closed, the AFL unit 70 is operated. It is controlled to a standby state. In the operation standby state, the position of the interrupt guide member 160 is determined based on a detection signal from the position sensor 192. At this time, if it is determined that the interrupt guide member 160 is at the interrupt position, the display unit 152
Is displayed to the operator, and the operation of the AFL unit 70 is prohibited until the interrupt guide member 160 moves from the interrupt position to the standby position.

When the reading start signal is input to the control unit in response to a predetermined operation by the operator while the AFL unit 70 is in the operation standby state and the interrupt guide member 160 is at the standby position, the feed motor 94 is driven. At the same time, the film holder 82 is swung from the standby position to the supply position by the motor unit 93. As a result, the feed roller 92 is pressed against the lowermost photographic film 26 from the film bundle 27 loaded in the film holder 82, and the photographic film 26 is fed into the film supply path 96 by the feed roller 92, and the first The transport roller pair 98 is inserted into the nip portion.

Thereafter, when the first film sensor 130 detects the leading end of the photographic film 26, the motor unit 93 returns the film holder 82 from the supply position to the standby position. The photographic film 26 is composed of a transport roller pair 9
When the leading end reaches the conveying junction 122, the gate lever 128 at the first guide position is swung to the second guide position against the urging force. Let it. As a result, the leading end of the photographic film 26 passes through the space between the gate lever 128 and the guide roller 124 and enters the reading conveyance path 52 of the supply guide 54 from the conveyance junction 122.

The leading end of the photographic film 26 that has entered the reading transport path 52 is transported into the film carrier 46 along the reading transport path 52. At this time, since the interrupt guide member 160 at the standby position forms the slit-shaped communication portion 184 between the interruption guide member 160 and the bottom portion of the reading conveyance path 52, the photographic film 26 is cut through the communication portion 184. Opening 1
The paper is smoothly transported from the reading transport path 52 on the upstream side to the reading transport path 52 on the downstream side.

When the leading end of the photographic film 26 is detected by the first film sensor 66 in the film carrier 46, the driving of the transport motor 61 of the film carrier 46 is started. At this time, the transport motor 61 is controlled to rotate in the normal rotation direction at a constant speed corresponding to the pre-scanning speed for the photographic film 26. As a result, the conveying roller pairs 56, 58, 60 of the film carrier 46 rotate the photographic film 26 at the same speed as the film winding section 64.
It rotates in the direction (forward rotation direction) such that it is conveyed to the side.

When the leading end side of the photographic film 26 is inserted into the nip portion of the first transport roller pair 56 of the film carrier 46, the transport of the photographic film 26 is started by the first transport roller pair 56. Thereafter, when the leading end of the photographic film 26 is detected by the second film sensor 68 provided between the pair of conveying rollers 56 and 58, the control unit starts driving the line CCD scanner 16 in synchronization with the detection.

Thereafter, in the film carrier 46, the leading end of the photographic film 26 is sequentially inserted into the nip portion between the second conveying roller pair 58 and the third conveying roller pair 60, and is read by the conveying roller pairs 56, 58 and 60. The photographic film 26 is transported along 52. At this time, the reading position R
The pre-scanning of the photographic film 26 is performed by the line CCD scanner 16 and the prescanning data obtained by reading the image recorded on the photographic film 26 at a low resolution from the line CCD is output. Based on the prescanning data, the photographic film 26
The number and position of the top image frames, the aspect ratio of each image,
Recognize feature values such as density of each image. The portion of the photographic film 26 where the prescanning is completed is transferred from the reading conveyance path 52 to the film winding section 6 by the third conveyance roller pair 60.
4 and is wound into a roll.

The film transport speed by the transport roller pairs 56, 58, 60 during the above-described prescanning is determined by the AFL.
The speed is set lower than the film transport speed by the transport roller pairs 98 and 100 in the unit 70. Therefore, when the leading end of the photographic film 26 whose rear end is conveyed by the second conveying roller pair 100 of the AFL unit 70 is inserted into the nip portion of the first conveying roller pair 56 of the film carrier 46, the photographic film 26 Is the AFL unit 7
0, a loop portion 108 bent upward at a portion between the second guide roller pair 104 and the second transport roller pair 100.
(See FIG. 3), and the loop portion 108
It increases as the transport time by both the transport roller pair 100 of the AFL unit 70 and the transport roller pair 56 of the film carrier 46 increases. At this time, when the loop section 108 has a predetermined size and the loop detection lever 110 swings to the detection position shown in FIG. 3, the loop sensor 112 outputs a loop detection signal.

When a loop detection signal is output from the loop sensor 112, the feeding motor 94 of the AFL unit 70 is stopped for a preset stop time, and then the driving of the feeding motor 94 is restarted. The stop time is set based on the transport speed of the transport roller pair 56 of the film carrier 46 to a time length in which the loop section 108 does not disappear when the feed motor 94 stops. The control for intermittently driving the feed motor 94 is repeated until the rear end of the photographic film 26 is detected by the second film sensor 132 provided downstream of the second guide roller pair 104. When the end is detected by the second film sensor 132, the feeding motor 94 is stopped in synchronization with the detection.

The second guide roller pair 104 located on the downstream side of the loop portion 108 is connected to the photographic film 26 on the downstream side.
When the tension increases, a part of the loop portion 108 is sent to the downstream side, and the tension of the photographic film 26 is reduced. As a result, the second guide roller pair 104 and the film carrier 4
6 and the photographic film 26 between the first conveying roller pair 56
, The tension of the photographic film 26 can be kept substantially constant, so that a change in the reading speed at the reading position R due to a change in the tension of the photographic film 26 can be effectively suppressed.

When the rear end of the photographic film 26 passes through the reading position R and the prescanning of the photographic film 26 is completed, the transport motor 61 rotating in the normal rotation direction is reversed. Accordingly, the transport direction of the photographic film 26 is also reversed, and the photographic film 26 starts to be transported from the film winding section 64 to the supply guide section 54 along the reading transport path 52. At this time, the transport speed (reading speed) of the photographic film 26 is set based on the prescanning data,
In the line CCD scanner 16, reading conditions for the photographic film 26 are set based on the prescanning data. As a result, the line CCD scanner 16
Fine scanning is performed to read the image of the photographic film 26 passing through the reading position R at a high resolution according to the reading conditions.

At the time of fine scanning, the transport roller pair 5
When the rear end (end on the last frame side) of the photographic film 26 conveyed by the photographic film 6, 58, 60 is conveyed from inside the film carrier 46 to the supply guide section 54 along the reading conveyance path 52, The rear end of 26 is the transport junction 12
Invade 2 The rear end of the photographic film 26 is the first
Gate lever 12 held at the guide position (see FIG. 4)
8 to enter the film unloading path 120.
As a result, the rear end of the photographic film 26 is carried out to the film receiving unit 118 along the film carry-out path 120.

When the rear end of the photographic film 26 is carried out into the film receiving section 118, a film catcher (not shown) installed in the film receiving section 118 transfers the entire photographic film 26 into the film receiving section 118. The photographic film 26 is pulled into the holding bracket 84 (see FIG. 6).
And a plurality of photographic films 26 successively unloaded from the film unloading passage 120 are bundled in a layer.

In the scanner device 12, the AFL unit 7
When one photographic film 26 is sent from the film holder 82 to the film supply path 96 at 0, the presence or absence of the film bundle 27 (photographic film 26) is determined based on the detection signal from the film sensor 95. Film holder 82
If it is determined that the photographic film 26 is present in the film bundle 27, the preceding photographic film 26 is sent out to the film carrier 46, and then the next photographic film 26 is placed in the film holder 82.
From the film supply path 96. When the leading end of the photographic film 26 is detected by the film sensor 132, the photographic film 26 temporarily stops.
The transfer to is resumed. If it is determined from the signal from the film sensor 95 that there is no film bundle 27 in the film holder 82, the operation of the AFL unit 70 is stopped.

In the scanner device 12, the AFL unit 7
If the film holder cover 76 is opened while the operation of the AFL unit 0 is stopped, the AFL unit 70 is immediately put into an operation standby state, and the film holder cover 76 is opened during the automatic supply of the photographic film 26 by the AFL unit 70. And the photographic film 26 in the AFL unit 70
After performing the unloading process, the AFL unit 70 is put into an operation standby state.

During the unloading process of the photographic film 26 in the AFL unit 70, the supply of a new photographic film 26 from the film holder 82 to the film supply path 96 is prohibited, and the photographic film 26 is detected by the film sensor 132 in the film supply path 96. When the photographic film 26 is on the downstream side, the photographic film 26 is discharged to the film receiving unit 118 after pre-scanning and fine scanning are performed at the reading position R. Also film holder 8
When the photographic film 26 sent out from the second to the film supply path 96 is on the upstream side of the film sensor 132, the photographic film 26 is transported to a position where the leading end is detected by the film sensor 132.

If the interrupt guide member 160 is moved from the standby position to the interrupt position while the AFL unit 70 is in the operation standby state, the scanner device 12 can execute the interrupt processing of the photographic film 26. Controlled to interrupt state.

Next, the operation of the scanner device 12 during the interrupt processing will be specifically described. The photographic film 26 from which an image is read during the interruption process has a predetermined number of frames (for example, 6 frames).
Frame) The film piece may be a short film piece cut so as to include the following frame images, or may be any of film strips before cutting into a film piece.

First, when the operator lowers the interrupt guide member 160 from the standby position to the interrupt position while the AFL unit 70 is in an operation stop state, as shown in FIG. The lower surface of the leading end of the sheet guide abuts against the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52, and the lower end of the guide groove 162 of the interrupt guide member 160 faces the opening end 183. In this state, the photographic film 26 is placed on the bottom surface of the guide groove 162, and when the photographic film 26 is slid downward along the guide groove 162, the leading end of the photographic film 26 is read and conveyed through the opening end 183. It enters the road 52. When the operator slides the photographic film 26 on the guide groove 162 further downward, the leading end side of the photographic film 26 is fed into the film carrier 46 along the reading conveyance path 52.

When the leading end of the photographic film 26 fed into the film carrier 46 is detected by the first film sensor 66 (see FIG. 4), the control unit of the scanner device 12 rotates the transport motor 61 in the normal rotation direction. Let it start. As a result, the leading end of the photographic film 26 is
6, the photographic film 26 is nipped by the first pair of conveying rollers 56, and is moved from above the guide groove 162 by the first pair of conveying rollers 56 rotating in the normal rotation direction. It is drawn into 46. This photographic film 26 is composed of a transport roller pair 5
6, 58, and 60 are conveyed to the film winding section 64 side along the reading conveyance path 52, are prescanned at the reading position R, and after prescanning is completed, the conveyance direction is reversed. The fine scanning is performed at the reading position R while being conveyed to the supply guide unit 54 side by 60.

The rear end of the photographic film 26 on which the fine scanning has been completed is opened from the inside of the reading conveyance path 52 to the open end 18.
3 and is sent out onto the guide groove 162 of the interrupt guide member 160. At this time, the photographic film 26
Is sent to the guide groove 162 side by the conveying force from the first conveying roller pair 56 in the film carrier 46. As a result, the rear end side of the photographic film 26 is
Is transported upward along. At the same time as the leading end of the photographic film 26 comes out of the nip portion of the first pair of conveying rollers 56, the conveyance of the photographic film 26 to the guide groove 162 side is stopped. At this time, if the photographic film 26 is a short film piece, the rear end of the photographic film 26 stops on the guide groove 162, and if the photographic film 26 is a long film strip, Film 2
6 is conveyed from above the guide groove 162 to above the guide groove 176 of the cover member 174 and stopped. Further, when the leading end of the photographic film 26 comes out of the nip portion of the first transport roller pair 56, the leading end of the photographic film 26 is inserted into the reading transport path 52. As a result, the photographic film 26 is moved into the guide groove 162 or the guide grooves 162 and 176.
It is prevented from falling off from above and is stably held on the guide groove 162 or the guide grooves 162, 176.

When an image is read from the next photographic film 26 by the interrupt processing while the interrupt processing is continued, the photographic film 26 from which the image has been read from the guide groove 162 or the guide grooves 162 and 176 is removed. Then, if the next photographic film 26 is slid downward along the guide groove 162, this photographic film 26 can be inserted into the reading transport path 52, so that pre-scanning and fine scanning of a plurality of photographic films 26 can be performed. Can be done continuously. Further, the guide groove 162 or the guide grooves 162 and 176
After removing the photographic film 26 from which the image has been read from above, the interruption guide member 160 is raised from the interruption position to the standby position, and the communication portion 184 connects the downstream side of the interruption opening 178 in the reading conveyance path 52 with the communication portion 184. The upstream side communicates and the position sensor 192 turns off. The control unit is a position sensor 1
The end of the interrupt process is determined by turning off the switch 92, and the AFL unit 70 is returned to the operation standby state.

The scanner device 1 of the present embodiment described above
According to FIG. 2, when the interrupt guide member 160 is moved from the standby position to the interrupt position while the AFL unit 70 is in the operation standby state, the lower end of the guide groove 162 passes through the interrupt opening 178 so that the reading conveyance path is moved. 52, the photographic film 26 is placed on the bottom surface of the guide groove 162, and the photographic film 26 is slid along the guide groove 162 toward the reading conveyance path 52. Can be inserted into the reading transport path 52 and sent to the reading position R along the reading transport path 52, so that the photographic film 26 other than the photographic film 26 loaded in the film holder 82 of the AFL unit 70 is
Interrupt processing to supply the reading position R from outside the device.

At this time, the interruption processing of the photographic film 26 can be performed only by moving the interruption guide member 160 disposed above the supply guide section 54 from the standby position to the interruption position. It is not necessary to move the AFL unit 70 itself or the film loader 72 in the AFL unit 70 in order to perform the interrupt processing of the photographic film 26, and the scanner apparatus 1 having the AFL unit 70
2 can substantially reduce the installation space.

(Modification of Embodiment) In the AFL unit 70 according to the present embodiment, the interrupt guide member 160 is supported so as to be movable between an interrupt position and a standby position along the vertical direction. However, the moving direction of such an interrupt guide member is not limited to the vertical direction. For example, figure
As shown in FIG. 10, one end of the interrupt guide member 196 is connected to the cover member 174 via the hinge 194, and the interrupt guide member 196 is moved along the swinging direction about the hinge 194 as shown in FIG. ) And the interrupt position shown in FIG.
It may be supported movably between the standby position shown in FIG. Also in this case, when the interrupt guide member 196 is swung to the interrupt position, the lower surface of the leading end of the interrupt guide member 196 contacts the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52 and the guide groove 1
The lower end of 62 faces the open end 181 of the reading transport path 52. Thus, when the photographic film 26 placed on the bottom of the guide groove 162 is slid downward along the guide groove 162, the leading end of the photographic film 26 is
Inserted into 2. When the interrupt guide member 196 is swung to the standby position, the lower surface of the leading end of the interrupt guide member 196 separates from the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52, and the lower surface of the interruption guide member 196 and the bottom surface of the reading conveyance path 52. A communication portion 198 through which the photographic film 26 can pass is formed between the first and second portions. Further, the interrupt guide member may be formed in a plate shape, and the interrupt guide member may be provided along the upper surface of the cover member 174 so as to be slidable between the interrupt position and the standby position. .

[0079]

As described above, according to the photographic film supply apparatus of the present invention, a photographic film other than the photographic film loaded in the film loading section is supplied to the image reading section without increasing the installation space of the apparatus. Interrupt processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital laboratory system using the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration of a film carrier and an AFL unit in the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a configuration along a photographic film transport path in the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a reading optical system in the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the film holder in the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed in a film transport direction.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an interrupt guide member in the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the interrupt guide member has been moved to an interrupt position.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the interrupt guide member according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the interrupt guide member is at an interrupt position and a standby position, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the interrupt guide member and the supply guide section according to the embodiment of the present invention are cut along the film thickness direction.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing another example of the interrupt guide member according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the interrupt guide member is at an interrupt position and a standby position, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 12 scanner device 26 photographic film 27 film bundle 28 reading optical system 46 film carrier 52 reading conveyance path (film conveyance path) 54 supply guide unit 70 auto film loader unit (photo film supply unit) 72 film loader (film loading unit) 82 film Holder (film loading section) 92 Feed roller (separation and feeding means) 94 Feed motor (separation and feeding means) 96 Film supply path (film conveyance path) 98 Transport roller pair (separation and feeding means) 100 Transport roller pair 102 Guide Roller pair 104 Guide roller pair 160 Interruption guide member 162 Guide groove (interruption guide surface) 178 Interruption opening 187 Delivery guide 196 Interruption guide member R Reading position (image reading position)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A film loading section in which a film bundle in which photographic films are stacked is loaded; and a separation section for separating one photographic film from the film bundle loaded in the film loading section and sending the film in a predetermined feeding direction. Feeding means; a film transport path for guiding the photographic film fed in the feeding direction by the separation feeding means to an image reading position for reading an image from the photographic film; and loading the film in the film transport path. An opening between the unit and the image reading position to the outside of the apparatus, an interruption opening through which the photographic film can pass, and an interruption guide surface exposed to the outside of the apparatus and through which the photographic film can slide. Is provided, and an interrupting position connecting the interrupt guide surface to the film transport path through the interrupt opening and the interrupt guide surface from the film transport path. Photographic film supply apparatus having a interrupt guide member which is movable between a standby position for removal. 2. The photographic film transported from the film loading section to the interrupt opening along the film transport path when the interrupt guide member is moved to the standby position. 2. The photographic film supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a delivery guide unit for guiding the downstream side of the unit. 3. The interrupt guide member at the interrupt position, when the photographic film is transported from the image reading position side to the interrupt opening along the film transport path, the photographic film is 3. The photographic film supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic film is guided on an interruption guide surface, and the photographic film discharged from the film transport path is held on the interruption guide surface.