JP2003312096A - Photographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the work incident to a print request of an image when a photographic print was not made due to bad image quality in a photographic printer. <P>SOLUTION: The photographic printer comprising an image input unit IR inputting image data for making a photographic print, an imaging apparatus IC for printing an image on an image recording member PS based on the image data, and a means RI for setting a fact whether the imaging apparatus makes a photographic print or not for each image inputted from the imaging apparatus is further provided with a unit 3 for storing the image data inputted from the image input unit IR, and a means SN for setting a fact whether the image data of an image, which is set not to make a photographic print by the means RI, is stored in the image data storing unit 3 or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with an image input device for inputting image data for producing a photographic print, and an image forming device for print-forming an image on an image recording member based on the image data. The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus provided with print necessity setting means for setting whether or not to make the photographic print in the image forming apparatus for each image input from the image input apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a photographic printing apparatus is an apparatus for producing a photographic print based on image data such as an image of a photographic film input from an image input device or an image taken by a digital camera. Some images input from the image input device are not suitable for producing photographic prints due to poor image quality.
If it is clear that it is not appropriate to make a photographic print due to poor image quality, the operator of the photographic printing device or the automatic determination of image quality can determine whether the photographic print should be taken from the print necessity setting means. It can be set not to make prints. However, even if a photographic print is not produced due to poor image quality or the like, there are cases where the photographic print production client intentionally desires to produce the photographic print. Traditionally, in such cases,
It was necessary for a requester for making a photographic print to bring an image source such as photographic film to a store in which a photographic printing apparatus was installed and to make a request for making a photographic print again.

[0003]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional handling, there has been a problem that the burden on the requester of the photographic print is increased. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to simplify the work incidental to a print production request for an image when a photographic print is not produced due to poor image quality or the like. In point.

[0004]

An image input device for inputting image data for producing a photographic print, and an image on an image recording member based on the image data are provided by providing the structure described in claim 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a print is provided, and print necessity setting means for setting whether or not the image forming apparatus makes the photographic print for each image input from the image input apparatus is provided. In the photographic printing device, an image data saving device for storing and saving the image data input from the image input device, and image data of an image set by the print necessity setting means so as not to produce the photographic print. And a storage necessity setting means for setting whether to store the image data in the image data storage device.

That is, by making it possible to store the image data input from the image input device in the image data storage device, in making a photographic print for the image of the image data stored in the image data storage device, For example, it is possible to request the production of photographic prints by communication means such as a telephone, and it is possible to eliminate the work in which the person requesting the production of photographic prints goes to a store etc. in which the photographic print device is installed and requests the production of photographic prints. Is.
However, for image data for which a photographic print was not produced due to poor image quality, it does not make sense to leave it in the image data storage device, and the photographic print should not be produced by the print necessity setting means. It is generally considered that the image data of the set image is handled so as not to be left in the image data storage device.

However, even if an image is set so as not to make a photographic print, there are cases where it is desired to make a photographic print because of the circumstances of the requester of the photographic print. Even image data for which no print is produced can be saved in the image data saving device. However, if the image data of the image set not to make photographic prints is uniformly stored and stored in the image data storage device, there is no need to save it by nature, and when a request for making photographic prints comes in. The storage capacity of the image data storage device is wasted due to unimaginable image data. Therefore, by saving the image data of the image set not to make a photographic print in the image data saving device by the saving necessity setting means, it is possible to save the image data saving device. While preventing waste of capacity, for example, when the operator of the photo print device is uncertain whether to make a photo print, the photo print is not made but the image data is stored in the image data storage device. In this way, it becomes possible to prepare for the case where you are requested to make a photographic print. Therefore, while rationally utilizing the image data storage device, it is possible to simplify the work incidental to the print production request of the image when the photographic print is not produced due to poor image quality or the like.

Further, by providing the structure according to claim 2, when the photographic print is produced by the image forming apparatus based on the image data stored in the image data storage device, the print is produced. An image data presence / absence display capable of identifying whether or not the image data of the image set by the necessity setting means so as not to produce the photographic print is stored in the image data storage device is displayed together with the image identification information. Display means is provided. That is, when it is set not to make a photographic print for an image, as described above, it is possible to set whether or not the image data of the image is stored in the image data storage device, so that no photographic print is made. The image data may or may not be stored in the image data storage device. Therefore, by making it possible to easily confirm whether or not such image data is stored in the image data storage device by the image data presence / absence display displayed on the display means, the image data is stored in the image data storage device. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the client fails to take appropriate measures such as requesting the client to bring an image source such as a photographic film by misunderstanding whether or not the image is stored in.

Further, by providing the configuration according to claim 3, for the image data of each image input from the image input device or the image data storage device, the number of the photographic prints to be produced is instructed for each image. A print number designating means for inputting is provided, and the display means is provided with a print number display field for displaying the number of instructed production of photographic prints for the image in association with the identification information of the image. The display is configured to be displayed by displaying a character or symbol other than the input value of the number of produced photographic prints and the expected number in the print number display field.

That is, in the photographic printing apparatus,
In many cases, the print number designating means is provided so that the number of photographic prints can be manually set, and the number of photographic prints designated can be displayed on some display device to confirm the input content. Even if an image for which a photographic print has not been made is received again, the operation for setting the number of photographic prints to be made will be performed as described above, and the above-mentioned image data presence / absence confirmation will be confirmed by this normal operation. Will be done. Therefore, the operator of the photographic print device can confirm whether or not the image data of the image for which the photographic print is not produced without special operation is stored in the image data storage device. The device can be made more convenient.

Further, by providing the configuration according to claim 4, in the print number display column, the image data presence / absence display indicates that the image data is not stored in the image data storage device. At this time, the instruction input from the print number designating means is not accepted. That is, by displaying the image data presence / absence display in the print number display field, the operator of the photographic printing apparatus determines whether the image data of the image for which a photographic print is not produced is stored in the image data storage apparatus. Although it can be easily confirmed, there are cases where the user still tries to input the number of photographic prints to be made without noticing. Therefore, in the print number display column, when the image data presence / absence display indicates that the image data is not stored in the image data storage device, the instruction input from the print number designation means is not accepted. By doing so, it is possible to reliably notify the operator that the image data is not stored.

Further, by providing the structure according to the above-mentioned claim 5, a simulation calculation unit for simulating the image of the photographic print formed by the image data input from the image input device, and the simulation calculation. And a monitor for displaying the simulated image obtained by the unit, and is configured to store the image data of the simulated image or the image data that generated the simulated image in the image data storage device. In the display of the monitor in the case of producing the photographic print based on the image data stored and stored in the image data storage device, the image data presence / absence display is displayed in association with the simulated image. It is configured.

That is, in the photographic printing apparatus,
In order to appropriately set print conditions, it is often practiced to obtain a simulated image that simulates an image of a finished print and display it on a monitor.
By storing the image data of such a simulated image or the image data for which the simulated image is generated in the image data storage device as well, when the reprint is requested, the simulation is performed in the same manner as when the first print is received. A photographic print can be produced by displaying the image and performing the same operation. In this way, when the simulated image is displayed in the same way as when the first print is accepted, the simulated image is displayed even for images that are set not to make photographic prints when the first print is accepted, and the photograph is displayed like other images. There is also a possibility of misunderstanding as if a print was made. Therefore, by displaying the image data presence / absence display in association with the simulated image, the operator of the photographic printing apparatus can be accurately notified of the information regarding the presence / absence of image data.

Further, by providing the structure according to claim 6, the image input device is provided with a film reading device for reading an image of a photographic film, and the film reading device produces an image for generating the simulated image. Auxiliary reading for reading an image on the photographic film to obtain data, and a main reading for reading an image on the photographic film to obtain image data to be printed by the image forming apparatus after the auxiliary reading The film, which is configured as described above, and is set not to produce the photographic print by the print necessity setting unit, is set to store the image data in the image data storage device only. Reading control means for causing the reading device to perform the main reading is provided.

That is, in the photographic printing apparatus,
When making a photographic print with an image of a photographic film as an image source, first the auxiliary reading is performed at a low resolution to make the simulated image, and then the auxiliary reading determines, for example, the printing conditions, and then the high reading. It is often practiced to execute the main reading at a resolution and produce a photographic print on an image forming apparatus based on the image data obtained by the main reading. In such a photographic printing apparatus, with respect to an image set not to produce the photographic print, only when the image data is set to be stored in the image data storage device, By executing the main reading, by executing the high-resolution main reading only when necessary, it is possible to suppress the reduction in the processing capability of the film reading apparatus as much as possible.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a photographic printing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The photographic printing device DP illustrated in the present embodiment is known as a so-called digital minilab machine, and as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, a developed photographic film, memory card, MO or CD- A print data input management device DI that takes in image data for producing a photographic print from R or the like and generates image data for exposure
And an exposure / developing device EP for exposing the photographic printing paper 1 as the image recording member PS to the exposure image data generated by the print data input management device DI.

[Schematic Configuration of Print Data Input Management Device DI] The print data input management device DI includes, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, a film scanner 2 as a film reading device FR for reading frame images of photographic film. An image data storage device 3 having a large number of hard disk devices for storing and storing image data of a large number of photographic films output by the film scanner 2, and an external input / output device having a memory reader, an MO drive, a CD-R drive, and the like. Four
And a main control device 6 for controlling the film scanner 2 and the image data storage device 3 as well as managing the entire photo print device DP. Further, the main control device 6 simulates a finished print image. A monitor 6a for displaying and outputting the simulated image and various information is connected to an operation console 6b and a mouse 6c for manually setting exposure conditions and inputting control information. The film scanner 2 functions as an image input device IR that inputs image data for producing a photographic print.

In response to a command from the main control unit 6, the output image data of the film scanner 2 is transferred to the image data storage unit 3.
When it is set to store and store the image data, the read data of the frame image of the photographic film output from the film scanner 2 is sent to the main control device 6 and at the same time, the same data is directly stored in the image data storage device 3. It is sent and stored in memory. The film scanner 2 has two image reading modes of a loaded photographic film, an auxiliary reading for reading an image at a relatively low resolution and a main reading for reading an image at a high resolution. Which mode is to be read? It is instructed from the main controller 6. The auxiliary reading is a reading for setting print conditions and obtaining image data for generating a simulated image to be described later, and the main reading is for reading image data to be printed by the exposure / developing device EP. Read to get. Both the read image data in the auxiliary reading and the read image data in the main reading are configured to be stored in the image data storage device 3, and the image data of the photographic film stored in the image data storage device 3 is reprinted, for example, after print production. When a reprint is produced in response to a request such as the above, in a form similar to that in which image data is sent from the film scanner 2 to the main controller 6,
Both the image data at the time of the auxiliary reading and the image data at the time of the main reading are sent to the main controller 6.

[Structure of Main Controller 6] The main controller 6 is a photograph formed on the basis of image data input from the film scanner 2 and the image data storage device 3 as schematically shown in FIG. A film calculator 2 and a simulation calculator 10 for simulating a print image.
And a print data calculation unit 1 for generating image data for print production, that is, the image data for exposure based on the image data input from the image data storage device 3.
1 and a controller 12 that manages these operations. As described above, the image data received from the image data storage device 3 by the main control device 6 is of the same format as the image data received from the film scanner 2 when the frame image of the photographic film is read by the film scanner 2. Therefore, the simulation calculation unit 10 and the print data calculation unit 11 can process the image data received from the film scanner 2 and the image data received from the image data storage device 3 without distinction.

One of the main functions of the main controller 6 is to display a simulated image obtained by predicting the completed print image on the monitor 6a and accept various image corrections from the operator. The display mode of the simulated image on the monitor 6a is such that the simulated image of a plurality of frames (specifically, 6 frames) is displayed together with various information corresponding to each simulated image. Below, the screen display example of FIG.
In addition, the operation of accepting an instruction input such as image correction from the operator will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 executed by the controller 12 when producing a photographic print of a frame image of photographic film. .

The processing shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is performed when a photographic film is loaded in the film scanner 2 and a print production start instruction for the photographic film is input from the operator console 6b or the like, and the operator console 6b or the like. When the print production start instruction for the image data stored and stored in the image data storage device 3 is input from, the process is started. When the processing of FIGS. 3 and 4 is started, the controller 12 reads the image of the photographic film to make a photographic print (step # 1), and instructs the film scanner 2 to perform the auxiliary reading of the photographic film. The start is instructed (step # 6). The film scanner 2 instructed to start the auxiliary reading reads the image of the photographic film at a relatively low resolution as described above, and sends the read image data to the simulation calculation unit 10 of the main controller 6, and It is also sent to the image data storage device 3 to be stored and stored.

On the other hand, when making a photographic print for the image data stored and stored in the image data storage device (step # 1), whichever image of the image data is stored in the image data storage device 3 is selected. An input screen for designating whether to make a photographic print is displayed on the monitor 6a, the designation is accepted (step # 2), and when the designation is completed (step # 3), it is displayed on the monitor 6a together with the simulated image. The display data of the number of prints produced is set (step # 4). This is a print production process for the image data stored and stored in the image data storage device 3 after the photographic print production process has been performed in the past, and the past photographic print production for the image data read from the image data storage device 3 is performed. The number of sheets is stored in the hard disk device 12a of the controller 12.

Therefore, in the process of step # 4, the print production number of each image stored in the hard disk device 12a is read and the read print production number is set as the print production number to be displayed together with the simulated image. However, when the number of prints produced in the hard disk drive 12a is "0", they are handled slightly differently. That is, the number of prints produced in the hard disk drive 12a is "0".
If it is, the number of prints to be printed is further checked to see if the image data at the time of actual reading has been saved for that image, and if so, the "0" number is displayed as a numerical value together with the simulated image. Set as. on the other hand,
When the image data at the time of the main reading is not saved, the symbol "-" is set as the number of prints to be displayed together with the simulated image, instead of the numerical value "0".
What is set in place of this numerical value "0" may be any character or symbol other than the input numerical value and the expected numerical value of the number of photographic prints produced, in addition to the above-mentioned "-".

Thereafter, the image data storage device 3 is
It is instructed to transmit image data at the time of auxiliary reading of the designated image (step # 5). Film scanner 2
When the reception of the image data of the auxiliary reading transmitted from the device is completed or the transmission of the image data of the auxiliary reading transmitted from the image data storage device 3 is completed (step # 7), the simulation calculation unit 10 is instructed. On the other hand, a simulation operation for simulating a print image based on the image data received is started (step # 8). As a result, the simulation calculation unit 10 starts the calculation process for obtaining the simulated image, and when the calculation process is completed, the fact is transmitted to the controller 12. The controller 12
When the signal is received (step # 9), a simulated image is displayed on the monitor 6a in the display form illustrated in FIG. 2 (step # 10 in FIG. 4). In the display example of FIG. 2, the simulated images S1 to S6 are displayed in upper and lower two stages.

In the display example of FIG. 2, in addition to the simulated images of 6 frames, a color correction button display 32 for instructing and inputting color correction for each frame in correspondence with each simulated image, A print number display field 35 for displaying the number of instructed production of photographic prints is displayed, and a start button display 33 for instructing the start of printing is displayed. Color correction button display 32 and print count display column 35
Which image corresponds to can be confirmed not only by the simulated image itself, but also by the file name display 36,
These function as an image identification display. The numerical value displayed in the print number display field 35 is a default value such as “1” when the simulated image displayed at this time is generated from the image data received from the film scanner 2. If it is generated from the image data received from the image data storage device 3, the numerical value set in step # 4 is displayed.

In the display example of FIG. 2, although "0" is displayed in the print number display field 35 corresponding to the simulated image S2 in the upper center, no photographic print was produced in the previous photographic print production work. This indicates that the image data of the main reading is stored in the image data storage device 3, and the symbol "-" is displayed in the print number display field 35 corresponding to the simulated image S6 at the lower right end, and the previous time is displayed. It means that no photographic print was made during the photographic print making operation, and the image data of the main reading is not saved. Therefore, the display of the symbol "-" in the number-of-prints display column 35 displayed on the monitor 6a which is the display means DM shows that the image data of the image set not to make the photographic print is stored in the image data storage device 3. Functioning as an image data presence / absence display capable of identifying whether or not the image data presence / absence is displayed. As described above, the image data presence / absence display displays a character or a symbol other than the input value of the number of photographic prints produced and the expected value. It is displayed by. The color correction button display 32 is configured to display the color correction setting state as text, and when the operator inputs an instruction for color correction as image correction, the color correction button display 32 is operated with the mouse 6c. By doing. Further, in the screen display of the simulated image of FIG. 2, a print frame 31 for displaying the area that is actually the printed image is displayed in a state of being superimposed on the simulated image of 6 frames.

When the operator inputs an instruction for color correction while the simulated image is displayed as described above (step # 11), the simulated image is recalculated and displayed for that frame (step S11). # 12, # 10),
The color correction instruction input is reflected. Further, by inputting a numerical value from the console 6b in a state where the print number display column 35 corresponding to each simulated image is selected by the mouse 6c (step # 13), the print number display column 3 is displayed.
The numerical value of 5 is updated with the input numerical value (step # 1
5). Therefore, the console 6b functions as a print number designating means PN for instructing and inputting the number of photographic prints produced for each image. The numerical value displayed in the print number display field 35 is read when the screen is updated to another simulated image and when the print start command is issued and registered as the number of photographic prints to be produced. When “” is input, it means that the instruction input is made to not make the photographic print. Therefore, the controller 12,
The console 6b and the mouse 6c function as print necessity setting means RI for setting whether or not to make a photographic print.

By inputting a numerical value into the number-of-prints display field 35, the number of instructed production of photographic prints can be input because the number of prints in the number-of-prints display field 35 is "0" without producing photographic prints in the previous photographic print production work. The same applies to a certain simulated image S2, and since the image data of the main reading is stored in the image data storage device 3, the setting change of the print set number is accepted. However, similarly, regarding the simulated image S6 in which the photographic print was not produced during the previous photographic print producing operation,
Since the image data of the main reading is not stored and stored in the image data storage device 3 (step # 14), the change setting of the number of instructed production of photographic prints cannot be accepted. The operator of the photo print device DP can display the print number display field 35.
Not only the display by the symbol "-" but also the fact that the setting of the number of prints to be produced is not accepted, it can be recognized that the image data at the time of the main reading corresponding to the corresponding simulated image does not exist.

On the display screen of the simulated image of FIG.
Further, even when "0" is input as the number of instructed production of photographic prints in the number-of-prints display field 35 and it is set not to produce photographic prints of the corresponding frame image,
A mode can be set so that the image data of the main reading of the image is stored in the image data storage device 3, and when the "mode change" button display 34 on the display screen of FIG. 2 is operated with the mouse 6c (step # 16), the image data of the main reading for the image for which the designated number of photographic prints is set to "0" is alternately switched to the setting for storing and not storing in the image data storage device 3 (step # 17). . However, this switching operation is possible only when the simulated image generated based on the image data of the auxiliary reading received from the film scanner 2 is displayed. Therefore, the controller 12 and the mouse 6
The function c serves as a storage necessity setting unit SN that sets whether or not the image data of the image set so that the photographic print is not produced by the print necessity setting unit RI is stored in the image data storage device 3. To do.

When the operator completes the input operation of the appropriate image correction instruction for all six frames from the display screen of FIG. 2 and instructs the shift to the setting input work for the next six frames (step # 18) The setting state relating to the screen display at that time is saved in the hard disk device 12a, and the image data of the simulated image is changed to the next 6 frames and displayed again (steps # 19, # 10). By repeating the above work, the work required for all frame images is completed, and when the operator operates the start button display 33 in the monitor screen display of FIG. 2 (step # 20), the settings related to the last screen display are set. State the hard disk drive 12a
(Step # 21), the process at that time is
In the case of processing with the simulated image formed by the image data of the auxiliary reading received from the image data storage device 3 (step # 22), the image data storage device 3
Instructing the transmission of the image data at the time of the main reading for the image for which the number of the photographic prints to be produced is one or more (step # 25). In response to this transmission start instruction, the image data storage device 3 transmits the image data of the instructed image to the print data calculation unit 11, and the print data calculation unit 11 uses the print conditions set on the screen display of FIG. , And converts the received image data into exposure image data and transmits it to the exposure / developing device EP.

On the other hand, when the process at that time is a process using the simulated image formed by the image data of the auxiliary reading received from the film scanner 2 (step # 22), the print data calculating unit 11 is instructed. On the other hand, the number of photographic print production instructions is set to "0", and
Even if it is set not to make a photographic print, the image data at the time of the main reading is instructed to ignore the image set to be stored in the image data storage device 3 even if received from the film scanner 2 ( Then, in step # 23), the film scanner 2 is instructed to start the main reading with the frame image specified (step # 24). At this time, as a general rule, for images for which the number of photographic print production instructions is set to "0",
The film scanner 2 is used as the frame image to be read.
Although it is not included in the frame image instructed in step 1, if the image data at the time of the main reading is set to be stored in the image data storage device 3 even if it is set not to make a photographic print for that image, The frame image to be read is included in the frame image instructed to the film scanner 2. Therefore, the controller 12 only when the image data storage device 3 is set to store the image data of the image set by the print necessity setting means RI so that the photographic print is not produced. It functions as a reading control unit RC that causes the film reading device FR to perform the main reading. In response to the instruction to start the main reading, the film scanner 2 reads the instructed frame image and transmits the image data to the print data calculation unit 11, and the print data calculation unit 11 displays the image data.
The received image data is converted into image data for exposure and transmitted to the exposure / development apparatus EP according to the print conditions set on the screen display.

[Schematic Configuration of Exposure / Development Device EP]
The developing device EP includes an exposure unit 20 that exposes and forms an image of the exposure image data received from the print data input management device DI on the photographic paper 1 inside the housing, and an exposure control device 21 that controls the exposure unit 20. The image forming apparatus IC is configured to form an image on the photographic printing paper 1 by exposure based on the exposure image data input from the print data calculation unit 11 of the print data input management apparatus DI. . The exposure / development device EP further includes a development processing device 22 for developing the photographic paper 1 exposed by the exposure unit 20 and a photographic paper 1 drawn from the photographic paper magazine 8 arranged on the upper surface of the housing. A printing paper transport system PT that transports to the development processing device 22 by a number of transport rollers 25 and the like is provided. The exposure unit 20 is provided with an exposure head 20a in which PLZT minute optical shutters are arranged in a line, and employs the PLZT optical shutter system. Outside the housing of the exposure / development apparatus EP, a sorter for sorting the photographic printing paper 1 that has been subjected to development processing and drying processing by the development processing apparatus 22 for each order, and was discharged from the discharge port of the development processing apparatus 22. A conveyor 27 that conveys the printing paper 1 to a sorter (not shown) is provided. Furthermore, in the middle of the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT,
A cutter 28 for cutting the long photographic paper 1 drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 8 into a set print size is provided.

[Manufacturing Operation of Photographic Print] Next, the manufacturing operation of the photographic print by the photographic printing apparatus DP having the above-described configuration will be schematically described. The operator operates the film scanner 2
When the instruction input for making a photographic print is made for the frame image of the photographic film with the photographic film loaded in the
If a customer who previously made prints has requested to make reprints, and if an instruction to make a photographic print based on the image data stored in the image data storage device 3 is given, exposure is performed by the processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Image data for use is generated and sent to the image forming apparatus IC.

On the other hand, when the operator inputs an instruction to make a photographic print for the image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card, MO or CD-R, the main control device 6 causes the external input / output device 4 to operate. The corresponding drive is instructed to read the image data, the image data is sequentially received from the drive and recorded in the memory, and the exposure image data is generated by the processing similar to the processing of FIGS. Send to. The exposure control device 21 determines, based on the transportation information of the printing paper 1 obtained from the printing paper transport system PT,
When it is detected that the front end of the photographic printing paper 1 has been conveyed to the predetermined exposure start position, the exposure image data is sequentially transmitted to the exposure unit 20 at a speed corresponding to the exposure processing speed of the exposure unit 20. The exposure unit 20 activates each optical shutter of the exposure head 20a based on the received exposure image data to form a latent image of a print image on the photographic printing paper 1. Photographic paper 1 that has been exposed by the exposure unit 20
Is conveyed to the development processing device 22 by the photographic paper conveyance system PT and developed by sequentially passing through the respective development processing tanks. The developed photographic paper 1 is further dried and then conveyed from the discharge port to the conveyor. It is discharged onto 27 and sorted by a sorter for each order.

[Other Embodiments] Other embodiments of the present invention will be listed below. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the film scanner 2 which is the film reading device FR is exemplified as the image input device IR, but the external input / output device 4 is, for example, the image input device IR.
The present invention may be applied as (2) In the above embodiment, the case where the image data storage device 3 is configured to include a large number of hard disk devices is illustrated, but the image data storage medium may be variously changed such as an optical disk or a semiconductor memory. (3) In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus IC is PLZ.
Although the case where the exposure unit 20 of the T light shutter system is provided is exemplified, various concrete configurations of the image forming apparatus IC are used, such as a laser exposure type image exposure apparatus and an inkjet type printing apparatus. Image recording member P that can be changed and is used for producing a photographic print
As for S, the printing paper 1 exemplified in the above embodiment is also used.
Besides, various image recording members PS such as a photosensitive film and various recording papers can be used.

(4) In the above embodiment, the image data existence / non-existence display is used as an image data presence / absence display capable of identifying whether or not the image data of the image set so as not to make a photographic print is stored in the image data storage device 3. Although the symbol "-" displayed in the number-of-prints display column 35 is illustrated, for example, regardless of the number-of-prints display column 35, a character display such as "no data" is displayed. It is possible. (5) In the above embodiment, the case where the original data for generating the simulated image, that is, the image data at the time of the auxiliary reading is stored in the image data storage device 3 is illustrated, but it is obtained by the simulation calculation. The image data of the simulated image may be stored in the image data storage device 3.

[0036]

According to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, the image print data input from the image input device can be stored in the image data storage device so that the requester of the photographic print installs the photographic print device. If you can eliminate the work of going to a store etc. and requesting the production of photographic prints, you can select the option so that the image data of images set not to produce photographic prints can be stored in the image data storage device. By providing the image data storage device, the storage capacity of the image data storage device can be prevented from being wasted. However, for example, when the operator of the photo printing device is uncertain whether or not to make the photo print, the photo print is not made. Data can be stored in the image data storage device and used in preparation for when a photographic print is requested. To become. Therefore, while rationally utilizing the image data storage device, it is possible to simplify the work incidental to the print production request of the image when the photographic print is not produced due to poor image quality or the like.

Further, according to the configuration of the above-mentioned claim 2, when it is set not to make a photographic print for an image, it is set whether or not the image data of the image is stored in the image data storage device. Since it is possible, there are cases where the image data for which a photographic print is not created is stored in the image data storage device and when it is not stored.In such a case,
Whether the image data is stored in the image data storage device can be easily checked by the image data presence / absence display displayed on the display means to determine whether or not the image data is stored in the image data storage device. By making a mistake about whether or not to do so, it is possible to avoid a situation where the client fails to take appropriate measures such as requesting the client to bring an image source such as a photographic film.

Further, according to the structure of claim 3,
To be able to set the number of true prints manually
The above-mentioned print number designation means is provided in
Display the number of production instructions input to the device and display the input content.
I made it so that I can make a photo print.
Request to make photographic print again for the missing image
The number of photographic prints produced as described above when received
You will have to set the
As the image data presence / absence display will be confirmed, a photo
The operator of the printing device can copy without any special operation.
Image data for images that did not produce true prints
You can check whether is stored in the image data storage device.
And make the photo printing device even more convenient.
can do.

Further, according to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, by displaying the image data presence / absence display in the print number display column, the operator of the photographic printing apparatus can select the images for which photographic prints have not been produced. It is possible to easily check whether or not the image data of is stored in the image data storage device, but it is still possible to instruct and input the number of photographic prints to be made without noticing it. In the above, when the image data presence / absence display indicates that the image data is not stored and stored in the image data storage device, the instruction input from the print number designating means is not accepted, and the operation is performed. It is possible to reliably notify the person that the image data is not stored.

Further, according to the above-mentioned structure of the present invention, in order to appropriately set the printing conditions, a simulated image simulating the image of the finished print is calculated and displayed on the monitor. , When you receive a request for reprint, if you display the simulated image in the same way as when you received the first print, the simulated image is displayed even for the image that you have set not to make a photo print when you receive the first print. Since there is a possibility of misunderstanding as if a photographic print was made like other images, the operator of the photographic printing apparatus can display the image data presence / absence display in association with this simulated image. It is possible to accurately notify the information regarding the presence or absence of image data.

Further, according to the above-mentioned structure of the sixth aspect, when a photographic print is produced with an image of a photographic film as an image source, first, the auxiliary reading is executed at a low resolution to produce the simulated image. After the print conditions are determined by the auxiliary reading, for example, the main reading is executed at a high resolution, and a photographic print is produced by the image forming apparatus based on the image data obtained by the main reading. For the image set not to produce the photographic print, by causing the film reading device to perform the main reading only when the image data is set to be stored in the image data storage device. By performing high-resolution main scanning only when necessary, the throughput of the film reader is reduced. It is possible to suppress retroactively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a display example of a simulated image on a monitor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

FR film reader IC image forming apparatus IR image input device PN print number designation means PS image recording member RC read control means RI print necessity setting means SN save necessity setting means 3 Image data storage device 6a monitor 10 Simulated operation unit 35 Print number display column

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image input device for inputting image data for producing a photographic print, and an image forming device for print-forming an image on an image recording member based on the image data. For each image input from the image forming apparatus, there is provided a print necessity setting unit for setting whether or not to make the photographic print in the image forming apparatus. An image data storage device for storing and storing the image data, and whether or not the image data of the image set by the print necessity setting means so as not to produce the photographic print is stored in the image data storage device. A photographic printing apparatus provided with a storage necessity setting means for setting. 2. When the photographic print is produced by the image forming apparatus based on the image data stored and preserved in the image data storage device, the photographic print is not produced by the print necessity setting means. The display means for displaying an image data presence / absence display capable of identifying whether or not the image data of the image thus set is stored in the image data storage device together with the image identification information. Photo printing equipment. 3. With respect to image data of each image input from the image input device or the image data storage device, print number designation means for instructing and inputting the number of photo prints produced for each image is provided, and the display is provided. The means is provided with a print number display field for displaying the number of instructed production of photographic prints for the image in association with the identification information of the image, and the image data presence / absence display is provided in the print number display field for the photograph. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographic printing apparatus is configured to be displayed by displaying an input value of the number of prints to be produced and a character or symbol other than a predetermined numerical value. 4. The instruction input from the print number designation means when the image data presence / absence display indicates that the image data is not stored in the image data storage device in the print number display column. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the photographic printing apparatus is configured not to accept the. 5. A simulation calculator for simulating an image of a photographic print formed by image data input from the image input device, and a simulation image obtained by the simulation calculator. A monitor is provided, the image data storage device is configured to store and store the image data of the simulated image or the image data that generated the simulated image, and the image data storage device is stored and stored. 5. The display of the monitor when producing the photographic print based on image data is configured to display the image data presence / absence display in association with the simulated image. The photographic printing apparatus according to item 1. 6. The image input device includes a film reading device for reading an image on a photographic film, and the film reading device reads an image on the photographic film to obtain image data for generating the simulated image. The auxiliary reading and the main reading for reading the image of the photographic film to obtain the image data to be printed by the image forming apparatus after the auxiliary reading are configured to be performed, and the print necessity setting unit is used. Read control means for causing the film reading device to perform the main reading only when the image data is set to be stored in the image data storage device for the image set not to produce the photographic print. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: