JP2003270729A - Film holder and film scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a film scanner which allows a user to easily confirm the focus of a film, from which an image will be read, and allows the user to accurately read the image. <P>SOLUTION: The film scanner is constituted of a film holder 200 holding the film having a developed image and a scanner main body part 100 for reading the image on the film by an imaging device. The film holder 200 holds a film F between a plane plate (light guiding plate) 212 and a film retainer 220. The film F held by the film holder 200 has flatness kept by the plane plate, and the focus is confirmed with the film in the film holder 200. Since the image can be read simultaneously with focus confirmation, work from focus confirmation to read is simplified, and a frame image for which focus confirmation has been performed and a frame image to be read are not mistaken for each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a film scanner for reading an image visualized on a silver salt film with an image pickup device and converting the image into an image signal, and particularly, to make it easy to confirm the focus of the image to be read. Film holder and film scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A film scanner has been proposed for capturing an image visualized and photographed on a photographic film such as a silver salt film into a personal computer as data. In this type of film scanner, a strip-shaped film obtained by cutting a 35 mm film or a brownie film into a predetermined number of pieces is held in a film holder, and the film holder is loaded into the film scanner. Further, the loaded film is illuminated by a light source, an image of the illuminated film is formed on an image pickup element such as a CCD line sensor by an image pickup lens, and main scanning is performed in the length direction of the CCD line sensor. At the same time, the film is moved in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction to perform sub-scanning, and the image of each frame of the film is read.

In this type of film scanner, as shown in the conceptual structure of FIG. 7, the film holder 200A has a base portion 210 for holding the film F from both front and back sides and a film retainer 220.
A frame window 230 corresponding to a frame-shaped image (hereinafter referred to as a frame image) visualized on the film F over the film holder 220 is formed, and the frame image of the sandwiched film F is displayed on the frame window 230. Is exposed through. The reading optical system 31 of the film scanner
0 is illuminated by the light source 311 from the back side of the film F through the frame window 230, and the frame image is read by the imaging lens 312 and the CCD line sensor 313 on the front side of the film F.

[0004]

By the way, since the silver salt film sandwiched between the film holders has a structure in which a photographic emulsion is applied to a resin base, the strip-shaped film which has been photographed and developed has a short side direction (hereinafter, It is in a state of being curved with the resin base side being convex along the width direction).
Therefore, when such a film is sandwiched between the base portion 210 and the film retainer 220 of the film holder, the film F is only sandwiched outside the frame window 230, that is, in the outer region of the frame image. The curve of F cannot be suppressed, and the film F is pinched in a curved state as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 7. Therefore, the CCD line sensor 313
Since the flatness of the film F against the film F is impaired, it is difficult to form an image of the entire frame image on the film on the CCD line sensor 313 in a focused state, and it becomes difficult to read the image in focus.

Further, conventionally, when reading is performed, it is necessary to confirm the focus state of the target frame image.
It is difficult to confirm the focus of the film placed in the film holder in a flat state due to the above-mentioned curvature. Therefore, the film is once taken out from the film holder, the target film is placed on a flat light source surface such as a light box, and the film is flattened and then magnified with a loupe or the like to check the focus. Therefore, a device different from the film scanner such as a light box is required, and the work of confirming the focus while holding the film in a flat state becomes troublesome. Further, after confirming the frame image in focus, when the film is put in the fill holder and further loaded in the film scanner, it may become impossible to know which frame image is in focus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a film holder capable of preventing the film from being curved and easily confirming the focus thereof. Another object of the present invention is to provide a film scanner capable of accurately and highly accurately reading an image of a film supported by a film holder.

[0007]

A film holder according to the present invention is a film holder for holding a film having a visualized image, and other than a flat plate on which the film is placed in close contact and an image of the film. And a film retainer for sandwiching the film between the flat plate and the flat plate. Here, the flat plate is preferably composed of a light guide plate capable of guiding light for illuminating the film.

Further, the film scanner of the present invention comprises a film holder for holding a film having a visualized image, and a scanner main body for reading an image of the film with an image pickup device. An observation means for observing the focus of the image is provided. Here, when the flat plate of the film holder of the present invention as a film holder is constituted by a light guide plate, the observing means observes the light source for making illumination light incident on the light guide plate and the image of the illuminated film. It is preferable to have a configuration including a magnifying glass.

Another film scanner of the present invention is
A film holder that holds a film having a visualized image, and a scanner main body that reads an image of the film with an image sensor are provided. And a moving table driving means for moving the image relative to the image.

Further, another film scanner of the present invention comprises a film holder for holding a film having a visualized image, and a scanner main body for reading an image of the film with an image pickup element. A moving table equipped with an image pickup device, a moving table driving means for moving the moving table relative to the film image, and an observing means for observing the focus of the film image are provided.

When the flat plate of the film holder of the present invention as a film holder is formed of a light guide plate, a light source for making illumination light incident on the light guide plate and a movable table are mounted on the scanner body. It is preferable to include a reading optical system that scans the film illuminated by the light guide plate to read an image by the image sensor.

For example, the scanner body is provided with a guide member for supporting both side edges of the film holder, and a light source is provided in the guide member. The film holder has both side edges exposed on both sides of the light guide plate. When supported by the guide member, it is preferable that the both side surfaces are positioned to face the light source so that the light emitted from the light source is guided into the light guide plate. Further, it is preferable that the scanner body has a magnifying glass disposed at a position opposite to the reading optical system on the moving table with the film holder supported by the guide member interposed therebetween.

According to the film holder of the present invention, since the film held by the film holder is pressed by the film retainer while being in close contact with the flat plate, the flatness of the film is maintained and the film is supported by the film holder. It becomes possible to correctly confirm whether or not the image in is in focus.

Further, according to the film scanner of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the focus of the image on the film whose flatness is held by the film holder, by using the film scanner, and to confirm the focus of the image. This eliminates the need for special tools, enables highly accurate focus confirmation, and enables highly accurate reading with a film scanner. Also, after confirming the focus of the frame image for the film held in the film holder, the image is read with the film scanner with the film still in the film holder, so the work from focus confirmation to reading can be simplified. In addition, the frame image for which the focus is confirmed and the frame image for which reading is performed are not mistaken.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanner body 100 of the film scanner of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a film holder 200 used in the film scanner.
Further, in FIG. 3, the film holder 200 is attached to the scanner body 1
It is a front view of the state loaded in 00. First, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, two guide bars 102 are installed in a horizontal direction in a device housing of a film scanner, which is not shown in the figures, and a rectangular guide bar 102 is movable along the guide bars 102. A plate-shaped moving table 101 is mounted.
A rack 103 is integrally formed on one side surface along the length direction of the moving table 101, and a pinion 105 attached to a rotation shaft of a scanning motor 104 fixed to the apparatus housing is meshed with the rack 103. Scanning motor 104
The moving table 101 is capable of reciprocating in the length direction in accordance with the rotating operation of the above.

On the moving table 101, as a reading optical system 110, a 45-degree mirror 111, an imaging lens 112, and a CC along the length direction of the moving table 101 are provided.
A D color line sensor 113 is mounted. The image pickup lens 112 and the CCD color line sensor 113 are aligned and aligned with the optical axis in the length direction of the moving table 101, and the CCD color line sensor 113 is fixedly supported on the moving table 101 by a bracket 115. The CCD color line sensor 113 is composed of a predetermined number of CCD elements arranged in a line (in-line) at a predetermined pixel pitch, and here, in particular, red (R),
It is configured as an RGB line sensor in which three line sensors of green (G) and blue (B) are arranged in parallel. Further, the 45-degree mirror 111 has a reflecting surface inclined in the vertical direction and functions to bend the optical axis of the image pickup lens 112 vertically upward by 90 degrees.

On the other hand, above the moving table 101, a pair of holder guides 122 extend in parallel with the guide bar 102 and are supported by a device casing (not shown). The holder guide 122 has a symmetrical structure,
Each of them has a rectangular frame-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, both ends thereof are opened, and an elongated fluorescent lamp 121 is disposed inside over substantially the entire length. In addition, a guide groove 123 is formed along the length direction on the surface where both holder guides 122 face each other.
The film holder 200 can be inserted therein. Further, a loupe (magnifying glass) guide 124 having an L-shaped cross section is extendedly formed on the upper surface of both holder guides 122 toward the opposite side. In this example, a part of the upper surface of the holder guide 122 is cut and raised to remove the loupe guide 124.
Is formed. Then, both side edge portions 125a are inserted between the upper surface of the holder guide 122 and the loupe guide 124 so as to extend between the loupe guides 124 of the both holder guides 122, and the loupe holder 125 movable along the loupe guide 124 is arranged. It is set up.

The loupe 12 is attached to the loupe holder 125.
6, that is, a convex lens is supported, and the magnifying glass 126 can be visually observed from above through a window (not shown) provided in a device casing (not shown). In addition,
In this embodiment, the loupe 126 is made of transparent resin integrally with the loupe holder 125. Further, a sensor bar 130 is fixedly arranged in a region along the one holder guide 122.
A plurality of position sensors S1 to S6 corresponding to the frame images are supported by the unit 30. This position sensor S
1 to S6 output a predetermined signal when the loupe holder 125 is opposed to each other, and detect the position of the loupe holder 125.

The film holder 200 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b) of the open and closed states of the film retainer, here, a strip-shaped 35 mm film obtained by cutting a 35 mm film every 6 frames (hereinafter, referred to as
A strip-shaped film), and a base portion 210 having a plane dimension slightly larger than that of the strip-shaped film.
10 is provided with a film retainer 220 which is joined at one end in the length direction by a hinge 211 and which can be opened and closed with respect to the base portion 210. The base 210 is made of a transparent or white flat plate, at least the surface of which is in contact with the film, is diffused, and is a resin plate made of a flat transparent resin, and the outer surface (the lower surface of the figure) is a light guide plate 212. And guide frames 213 integrally attached to both side edges of the light guide plate 212 along the length direction. On the inner surface of the light guide plate 212, film guides 214 each having a narrow ridge for determining the position of the strip-shaped film are formed so as to protrude in the length direction and the width direction so as to face each other. In addition, the light guide plate 21
2, both side surfaces 212a in the length direction have the guide frame 213.
And both side surfaces are exposed to the outer surface of the guide frame 213. Further, the guide frame 213 is formed with concave grooves 215 on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and these concave grooves 215 are formed in the opening groove 1 of the holder guide 122 of the film scanner.
It can be inserted between 23.

On the other hand, in the film retainer 220, frame windows 221 are opened at positions corresponding to the frame images of 6 frames existing in the strip film. Although not shown in FIG. 2 on the inner surface of the film retainer 220,
Grooves 222 (see FIG. 3) for receiving the film guide 214 are formed. A hook 223 is provided at the other end of the film retainer 220, and a hook groove 216 with which the hook 223 is engaged is formed at the other end of the light guide plate 212.

FIG. 4 shows an electric circuit diagram of the film scanner. The parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. The CCD color line sensor 113 is driven by a line sensor drive circuit 114 controlled by a system control 140.
The read signal of the film output from the CCD color line sensor 113 is amplified by the amplifier 141, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 142, and then subjected to required image processing in the image processing circuit 143. Then, the required image signal is generated. Also, the memory 144
Is for recording an image signal which has undergone image processing. For example, I
It consists of a C card. The image signal is output to the input / output terminal 146 via the interface circuit 145 and can be connected to a personal computer (PC) not shown. The lighting of the fluorescent lamp 121 is controlled by a light source driving circuit 147 controlled by the system control 140. Rotation of the scanning motor 104 is controlled by the system cotton roll 140, and the scanning motor 104 is configured to reciprocate on the moving table 101. Further, the position sensors S1 to S6
Is output to the system control 140. Further, a display device 148 for displaying various information by the system control 140 is provided. The display device 148 may be configured as a monitor.

A scanner operation using the film holder and the film scanner having the above construction will be described. First, the film holder 200 holds the strip film. As shown in FIG. 2A, the engagement of the hook of the film presser is released to open the film presser to expose the inner surface of the light guide plate 212 of the base portion. Then, as shown in the front sectional view of the main part in FIG. 5, the strip-shaped film F is placed on the inner surface of the light guide plate 212, and the film guide 214 is attached.
The film F is positioned by. At this time, the strip-shaped film F is placed so that the emulsion surface E faces upward. Therefore, the strip-shaped film F is normally placed in a state of being convex downward and curved. Then, the film retainer 220 is closed by the hinge 211, and the hook 223 is engaged with the hook groove 216 to sandwich the strip-shaped film F between the light guide plate 212 and the film retainer 220. As a result, the strip film F is made flat along the light guide plate 212, and each frame image of the strip film F is exposed in each frame window 221 of the film retainer 220.

Then, while the film holder 200 is set so that the film retainer 220 is located on the upper side, the concave groove 215 of the guide frame 213 is inserted between the opening grooves 123 of the holder guide 122 of the scanner body 100 at either end. The guide frame 213 is inserted into the holder guide 122 from the side. Thereby, the film holder 200
Both side surfaces 212a of the light guide plate 212 of each holder guide 12
It will be arranged to face the fluorescent lamp 121 housed in the second unit. Then, when the fluorescent lamp 121 is turned on in this state, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 121 is introduced into the light guide plate 212 from both side surfaces 212a, so that the entire light guide plate 212 is in a state equivalent to a flat light source. The strip-shaped film F will be illuminated. In this state, the operator operates the loupe holder 125 along the loupe guide 124 to move it just above the desired frame image. Then, the light guide plate 21 can be seen with the naked eye from above the loupe 126.
It is possible to confirm the focus state of the frame image by observing the emulsion surface E of the strip-shaped film F placed on the inner surface of No. 2 with a magnifying glass. At this time, since the strip-shaped film F is pressed against the inner surface of the light guide plate 212 by the film retainer 220 and is flattened, the focus state of the frame image can be accurately confirmed.

At this time, the position of the loupe holder 125 is detected by the position sensors S1 to S6 and input to the system control 140. Therefore, when the operator presses a confirmation button or the like (not shown) while confirming the focus of the frame image, the frame number of the frame image corresponding to the position detected by the position sensors S1 to S6 is input to the system control 140. It becomes possible to automatically display the frame number, focus state, etc. on the display device 148.

After confirming the focus state in this way, the operator once attaches the film holder 200 to the scanner body 100.
As shown in the front sectional view of FIG. 6, the guide frame 213 is inserted and stored in the holder guide 122 with the film holder 220 on the lower side. And At this time, both side surfaces 21 of the light guide plate 212 of the film holder 200 are
2a is arranged to face the fluorescent lamp 121 housed in each holder guide 122, which is the same as in the above-described focus confirmation. Further, the strip-shaped film F supported by the film holder 200 faces the 45-degree mirror 111 on the moving table 101 with the emulsion surface E facing downward. Thereafter, the operator operates a selection button (not shown) to select a frame image to be read based on the frame number displayed on the display device 148 and the focus state thereof, and presses the read button (not shown). The reading operation is started.

In this reading operation, first, the fluorescent lamp 121
When the light is turned on, the light emitted from the fluorescent lamp 121 is introduced into the light guide plate 212 from both side surfaces 212a.
The entire 12 is brightened, which illuminates the strip film F. Next, the scanning motor 104 is driven to move the moving table 101 to move the 45-degree mirror 1.
The position of the optical axis of 11 which is directed vertically upward is positioned at one end of the frame image to be read. Then, after performing various pre-processing such as shading correction and setting of CCD accumulation time, the scanning motor 104 is driven again to move the moving table 101 over the length of the frame image.
As a result, a desired frame image of the strip-shaped film F illuminated by the light guide plate 212 is formed on the CCD color line sensor 113 by the imaging lens 112, and the CC
The main scanning is performed in the line direction of the D color line sensor 113, and the sub scanning is performed in the moving direction of the moving table 101 to read the frame image. At this time, fine image data and an image thinned out in the sub-scanning direction are obtained by switching the rotation speed of the scanning motor 104 between high speed and low speed or by appropriately processing the signal read from the CCD color line sensor 113. Data can be selected and obtained, and so-called main scan and pre-scan can be selectively performed.

Even in such a reading operation, the strip-shaped film F is guided by the light guide plate 2 of the film holder 200.
In the state where it is in close contact with 12, the peripheral portion of the film retainer 22
Since the strip-shaped film F is pressed by 0, the strip-shaped film F is kept in a flat state, and reading with high focus accuracy is possible. Also, the film holder 2
After confirming the focus of the frame image on the strip-shaped film F held at 00, the film holder 200 is once taken out from the scanner main body 100, then the film holder 200 is turned upside down and the scanner main body 100 again.
Since the frame image is read by inserting the strip-shaped film F into the film holder 200, the strip-shaped film F is kept held in the film holder 200, and the work from focus confirmation to reading can be simplified and the focus confirmation can be performed. It is also possible to avoid making a mistake between the frame image that has been scanned and the frame image that has been scanned.

In the above embodiment, the position of the loupe holder is detected by a plurality of position sensors. However, the position of the loupe holder is detected by using a potentiometer whose resistance value changes as the loupe holder moves. You may Further, when configuring a film scanner having a simple structure, the position sensor may be omitted.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example of the film holder for supporting the strip-shaped film obtained by cutting the 35 mm film is shown, but the present invention is also applied to the film scanner using the Brownie film or other strip-shaped film. The same can be applied. Further, the flat plate is not limited to the light guide plate as in the above-mentioned embodiment as long as the purpose is to support the film in a flat state.

[0030]

As described above, according to the film holder and the film scanner of the present invention, since the film held by the film holder is pressed by the film retainer while being in close contact with the flat plate, the flatness of the film is maintained. As a result, the image can be checked for focus while the film is still in the film holder. Further, since the focus of the image can be confirmed by the observing means even when the film is put in the film holder and further set in the film scanner, an extra tool for confirming the focus is unnecessary as the film scanner, and the accuracy is high. The focus can be confirmed, and the film scanner can read with high accuracy. Also, after confirming the focus of the frame image of the film held in the film holder, the image is read by the film scanner with the moving table with the film still in the film holder, so the work from focus confirmation to reading is done. It is possible to simplify, and moreover, it is possible to read a suitable image without making a mistake between the frame image for which the focus confirmation is performed and the frame image for which the reading is performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanner body of a film scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a film holder of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the film scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the film scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in the front direction for explaining the operation state of the film scanner of the present invention when checking the focus.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view for explaining an operation state when reading an image in the film scanner of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a conventional film scanner.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Scanner body 101 Moving table 102 Guide bar 103 racks 104 scanning motor 110 reading optical system 111 45 degree mirror 112 Imaging lens 113 CCD color line sensor 121 fluorescent light 122 Holder guide 125 loupe holder 126 loupe 200 film holder 210 Base 212 Light guide plate 220 film holder 221 piece window 140 system control F strip film

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H106 AA33 AA62 AB42                 5C051 AA01 BA03 DA03 DA06 DB01                       DB22 DB24 DB28 DC04 DC07                       DE09 EA01 FA04                 5C062 AB03 AB17 AB29 AC02 AC08                       AC66 AD02 AD05 AD06                 5C072 AA01 BA02 BA04 CA04 CA09                       DA02 DA04 DA21 DA30 EA05                       FA07 FA08 MA01 MB04 QA10                       RA04 VA03

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A film holder for holding a film having a visualized image between a flat plate on which the film is placed in close contact and the flat plate in a region other than the image of the film. A film holder, comprising: a film retainer for sandwiching the film. 2. The film holder according to claim 1, wherein the flat plate is a light guide plate capable of guiding light for illuminating the film. 3. A film holder for holding a film having a visualized image, and a scanner main body for reading an image of the film by an image pickup device, the scanner main body observing a focus of the image of the film. A film scanner, comprising: 4. A moving table having a film holder for holding a film having a visualized image and a scanner body for reading an image of the film by an image pickup device, the scanner body being equipped with the image pickup device. And a moving table driving means for moving the moving table relative to the image on the film. 5. A film holder for holding a film having a visualized image, and a scanner main body for reading an image of the film with an image pickup device, wherein the scanner main body is mounted with the image pickup device. A film scanner, comprising: a table; a moving table driving means for moving the moving table relative to the film image; and an observing means for observing the focus of the film image. 6. The film holder includes a light guide plate on which the film is placed in a close contact state, and a film retainer for sandwiching the film between the light guide plate and a region other than an image of the film. 6. The observation means of the scanner body comprises a light source for making illumination light incident on the light guide plate, and a magnifying glass for observing the image of the illuminated film. The film scanner according to any one of 1. 7. The scanner body is provided with guide members for supporting both side edge portions of the film holder, the light source is internally provided in the guide member, and the film holder has the light guide plate on both side edge portions. 7. Both sides are exposed, and when supported by the guide member, both side surfaces are positioned to face the light source to guide light emitted from the light source into the light guide plate. The film scanner described in. 8. The scanner body has the magnifying glass arranged at a position opposite to a reading optical system on the moving table with a film holder supported by the guide member interposed therebetween. The film scanner according to claim 7, which is characterized in that. 9. The film scanner according to claim 8, wherein the magnifying glass is positionally movable in a direction parallel to the moving direction of the moving table. 10. The film holder is capable of being supported by the guide member in a state in which the front and back of the film holder are reversed with respect to the reading optical system.
10. The film scanner according to any one of items 1 to 9. 11. The film scanner according to claim 8, wherein a surface of the light guide plate opposite to a side on which the film is placed is configured as a light diffusion surface. .