JP2003320733A - Photographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To constitute a photographic printer in which a control mode can be judged from a print sheet when image information stored in a storage medium is printed. <P>SOLUTION: An automatic control mode for printing image information read out from the storage medium M through a media drive D based on DPOF information, and a manual control mode for printing the image information based on information inputted from a keyboard 3 or a mouse 4 are set and identification information for discriminating the automatic control mode from the manual control mode is printed on the back surface of the print sheet P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print unit for printing image information converted into digital signals on a paper sheet, a medium reader for reading information stored in a storage medium, and a manual input for inputting print processing information. And a control unit for controlling the printing unit, and the control unit prints the image information read from the storage medium by the medium reader based on the print control information read from the storage medium. And a second control mode in which image information read from a storage medium by the medium reader is printed based on print processing information from the artificial input unit. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a photographic printing apparatus configured as described above, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-59612. In this conventional technique, when a memory card is set on the upper surface of the main body cover and the image information signal (image information of the present invention) stored in this memory card is printed, the DPOF ( Degita
l Print Order Format) A mode based on the information (corresponding to the first control mode of the present invention) and a mode for artificially designating the print frame number and the number of prints from the operation panel (the first control mode of the present invention). (Corresponding to the two control modes).

[0003]

Considering the printing in the two modes in the conventional example described above, the DPO
When printing is performed based on the F information, proper printing can be performed without the need for manually inputting the print size and the number of prints. Sometimes printing was not done.

To give a specific example, a storage medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark) in which image information captured by a digital camera is stored or a smart medium is received at a store, and a customer prints based on DPOF information. When an order is placed, the printing process is performed by the operator after the procedure of writing the information to that effect on the DP bag or the like and sending the DP bag and the storage medium to the operator who performs the printing process. In this process, the print size and the number of prints may be erroneously input, or the print size and the number of prints may be erroneously set to default values before printing. When a print contrary to the customer's intention is generated in this manner, it is necessary to use a personal computer or the like to display the information of the storage medium on a monitor or the like to confirm the DPOF information stored in the storage medium. However, in the situation where the print processing is finished, it is difficult to confirm whether or not the proper processing based on the DPOF information is performed. In particular, even when printing is performed based on DPOF information, there are many orders for printing one size at a time, such as L size and E size, which are frequently printed,
Even for such processing, there is a demand for a technology for accurately confirming by accurately distinguishing between the processing in which one print is performed by artificially inputting the number of prints and the processing based on the DPOF information. -ing

An object of the present invention is to rationalize a technique for appropriately determining the control mode of print processing after printing image information stored in a storage medium.

[0006]

The features, functions and effects of the photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] A print unit that prints digital signalized image information on a paper sheet, a medium reader that reads out information stored in a storage medium, an artificial input unit that inputs print processing information, and the print unit And a first control mode in which the control unit prints the image information read from the storage medium by the medium reader based on the print control information read from the storage medium. In a photographic printing apparatus configured to execute any one of a second control mode in which image information read from a storage medium is printed based on print processing information from the artificial input unit,
An identification information printing unit that prints identification information indicating that printing has been performed in at least one of the first control mode and the second control mode on the paper sheet is provided.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, when the image information stored in the storage medium is printed, the printing is performed in at least one of the first control mode and the second control mode. Since the identification information indicating the breakage is printed on the paper sheet, the control mode can be identified based on this identification information. That is,
According to the present invention, for example, when image information is printed in a form with a border on print paper as a paper sheet in the first control mode, a character indicating the first control mode is displayed on the border portion. When a symbol or the like is printed, or when image information is printed on the print paper as a paper sheet in the first control mode, the letters or symbols indicating the first control mode are printed on the back surface of the print paper. By configuring the identification information printing means so as to perform, it is possible to properly confirm in which control mode printing has been performed. Especially when the identification information is printed, the second
It is also possible to configure the identification information printing means so that the identification information is printed only on the print paper in the control mode. In this case, the print paper in which the identification information does not exist is in the first control mode. It can be seen that it was printed. As a result, only by providing the identification information printing means for printing the identification information, it is possible to properly determine the control mode of the print processing without confirming the print processing information stored in the storage medium, and the wrong processing is performed. The photographic printing device was reasonably constructed so as to enable proper processing immediately even in the case of an accident.

The features, functions and effects of the photographic printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] In the photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, the identification information printing means is provided with a back surface printing section for printing the identification information on the back surface of the paper sheet.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, since the identification information is printed on the back surface of the paper sheet, as compared with printing on the side (front surface) where the image information is printed,
Even if the image information is printed in a borderless print form, the identification information can be printed without difficulty. As a result, the identification information can be accurately acquired regardless of the print form.

The features, functions and effects of the photographic printing apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] In the photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the identification information printing means generates the identification information for distinguishing between printing in the first control mode and printing in the second control mode. It is configured to include an identification information processing unit that executes printing of this identification information.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, since the identification information for distinguishing between the print in the first control mode and the print in the second control mode is printed, for example, the identification indicating one control mode is performed. The control mode can be easily obtained as compared with the case where only the information is printed. As a result, the two control modes can be accurately distinguished and acquired.

The features, functions and effects of the photographic printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Features] In the photographic printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the storage medium is a portable medium, and the print control information includes DPOF information indicating a print size and the number of prints. It is made of.

[Operations / Effects] According to the above characteristics, image information of portable flash media generally used widely such as compact flash used in digital cameras and smart media has already been standardized as print control information. Printing can be performed based on the DPOF information stored. As a result, highly versatile print processing has become possible.

The features, functions and effects of the photographic printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] In the photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2, the back side printing unit prints correction information at the time of printing image information, and the identification information is in a print row of the correction information or is printed. It is arranged to print at the end of the row.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above feature, since the identification information indicating the control mode is printed on the back surface of the paper sheet by using the back surface printing unit that prints the correction information, there is no need to provide a special printing mechanism. The identification information can be printed by making an improvement to the extent that the processing form is set such that the identification information is added by the back side printing unit. As a result, the identification information can be printed without adding any hardware.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographic printing apparatus is configured with an apparatus main body A in which a table-shaped operating section Ao and a development processing section Ad are integrated, and a scanner unit S separated from the apparatus main body A.

The operating section Ao is a control unit 1 (an example of a control section) which is a general-purpose computer built in the apparatus main body A below the table section, a display 2 for displaying image information and various kinds of information, and a keyboard. 3 and a mouse 4, a plurality of semiconductor drives 5 corresponding to various semiconductor type storage media M (an example of portable media) such as smart media, compact flash, memory sticks, CD-ROM, DVD, MO, etc. And a plurality of disk drives 6 for reading information from the magnetic or optical storage medium M (an example of a portable medium). The semiconductor drive 5 and the disk drive 6 are used as a media drive D (an example of a medium reader).
Collectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the development processing unit Ad has a print size of a long silver salt type photographic paper P (an example of a paper sheet) housed in a roll in a photographic paper magazine 10. An exposure unit Ex as a printing unit that cuts into pieces to expose image information, a development processing unit De that develops the photographic paper P exposed by the exposure unit Ex, and a development processing unit De
And a drying section Dr for drying the photographic printing paper P which has been subjected to the development processing in the inside of the apparatus main body A, and a lateral feeding conveyor 11 for laterally feeding the photographic printing paper P sent from the drying section Dr to the upper surface of the apparatus. And a sorting conveyor 12 that sorts the photographic paper P from the lateral feed conveyor 11 on an order-by-order basis and sends it to the operating section Ao side. A control mechanism 13 for controlling the entire development processing section is provided inside the apparatus main body A.

More specifically, the exposure unit Ex is
A front transport mechanism C in which a plurality of pressure rollers are arranged along the transport path so as to send out the photographic paper P from the photographic paper magazine 10.
1 and a fixed blade 15a and a movable blade 15b so as to cut the printing paper P conveyed by the front conveying mechanism C1 into a print size.
And a plurality of pressure-bonding rollers arranged along the conveyance path so as to convey the photographic printing paper P as a paper sheet cut by the cutting mechanism 15 into a cutting position. The main transport mechanism C2, the digital exposure head 16 that exposes the photosensitive surface side of the printing paper P transported by the main transport mechanism C2 to form a latent image of image information, and the exposure head 16 The back side print head 17 (an example of the identification information printing means / back side printing section) for printing information is provided on the back side (the side opposite to the photosensitive surface) of the photographic printing paper P which has been exposed by. . Although not shown in the drawing, the front conveyance mechanism C1 and the main conveyance mechanism C2 are provided with infrared sensors for detecting the position of the printing paper P on the conveyance paths, and stepping motors for driving the respective pressure bonding rollers. Further, the exposure head 16 is R (red), G (green),
A type in which exposure is performed in such a manner that a laser beam from a B (blue) three-color laser light source is reflected by a rotary polygon mirror and scanning is performed in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the printing paper P is adopted. The back surface print head 17 is of a dot impact type that transfers the ink of the ink ribbon to the back surface of the printing paper P.

As the exposure head 16, a fluorescent beam method, a liquid crystal shutter method, a DMD method, or a FOCRT is used.
And the like can be used, and if the ink is favorably fixed to the photographic printing paper P as the back side print head 17,
A thermal transfer type or an inkjet type may be used.

The development processing section De comprises a plurality of development processing tanks and a development unit 18 having a large number of pressure rollers for carrying the photographic printing paper P to the respective development processing tanks.
The drying unit is configured to include a large number of pressure-bonding rollers that convey the photographic paper, and a blower 19 that supplies heated dry air to the photographic paper conveyed by the pressure-bonding rollers.

The scanner unit S is provided with a film carrier 22 which is replaceable with respect to an upper surface of a casing 21 having a caster at the bottom thereof, and an optical fiber for transmitting a light beam from a light source such as a halogen lamp housed in the casing 21. The housing 2 is provided with a light irradiation system that guides the light to an end portion of an arm 23 arranged above the film carrier 22 via (not shown).
In the inside of 1, the light beam transmitted through the developed photographic film F supported by the film carrier 22 is transmitted from the optical lens to C.
A photoelectric conversion element (not shown) that leads to a photoelectric conversion element such as a CD and converts the image information of the photographic film F into a digital signal is configured. And the film carrier 22
The developed photographic film F is set on the sheet, and the photographic film F is conveyed at a predetermined speed by the film carrier 22 while being irradiated with a light beam from a light source. (Red), G
It functions to perform color separation into three primary colors of (green) and B (blue), obtain them as digital signals, and transfer them to the control device 1.

This photographic printing apparatus prints the image information of the photographic film F digitized by the film scanner S on the photographic paper P and the image information stored in the various storage media M. However, when printing the image information stored in the storage medium M on the photographic printing paper P,
When image information is stored in the storage medium M together with DPOF (Degital Print Order Format) information as print control information, an automatic control mode (first control mode) for executing print processing according to the DPOF information. Example) and a manual control mode (second control mode) for executing the print processing according to the print size and the number of prints artificially input from the keyboard 3 or the mouse 4 as the artificial input unit regardless of the presence or absence of the DPOF information. Printing), identification information indicating the control mode is printed on the back surface of the photographic printing paper P by the back print head 17 in any control mode. The processing mode is set to perform.

The storage structure of information in the storage medium M will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, an order file represented by "ord0001" or the like is formed in the lower layer of the root directory "Root" of the storage medium M as shown in FIG. A file image file indicated by "IMGE" and a print control file indicated by "MISC" are formed. As shown in FIG.
The image information is saved in G format (a format established by the Joint Photographic Experts Group) or the like, and “AUTOPRINT.M” is added to the print control file indicated as “MISC”.
The DPOF information is stored under the file name "RK". The DPOF information saved with the file name indicated by "AUTPRINT.MRK" includes a header section for saving the version of the DPOF information, information of the digital camera used for shooting, and a job section necessary for print processing. The print control information is described in a text format for this job section. Then, in the automatic control mode, the information indicating the image information to be printed, the print size, and the number of prints are specified from the print control information described in the job section that constitutes the DPOF information in the file "AUTPRINT.MRK". Print processing is executed.

Further, this photographic printing apparatus has a storage medium M.
When printing the image information stored in the memory in the automatic control mode, a semiconductor medium M such as a smart media, a compact flash, or a memory stick is assumed, but the storage medium M storing the DPOF information together with the image information. If so, it is possible to print the image information stored in the MD or the CD-R.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to show an outline of the control system of the photographic printing apparatus. That is, the control device 1 connects the media drive D, the keyboard 3, and the mouse 4 via the I / O 31 to the data bus that enables information access to the processing unit CPU represented by a microprocessor. The memory (RAM) 32 and the hard disk 33 are connected to this data bus. Further, to the data bus, the display 2 is connected via the video control unit 34, the scanner unit S is connected via the scanner control unit 35, and the printer control mechanism 13 is connected via the printer control unit 36. , The back side print head 17 is connected via the back side print head control section 37, and a print management section 38 (an example of an identification information processing section) consisting of a program is connected to this data bus to access control information. It is freely configured.

The print management unit 38, as shown in the figure, sets control mode, manual setting, automatic setting,
The correction processing, the print execution, and the back surface print execution are realized. When this processing is performed, image information and character information necessary for the processing are displayed on the display 2. The print management unit 38 is composed of software (program), but the video control unit 34, the scanner control unit 35, the printer control unit 36, and the back side print head control unit 37 each have hardware or software, or , Made up of a combination of hardware and software.

Of the processing in the print management unit 38, the flow of processing when printing the image information stored in the storage medium M can be shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in the figure, after the media print routine is selected, the operator specifies the type of the storage medium M, and the print management unit 38 controls the corresponding drive to store the image stored in the storage medium M. Information is extracted, and the captured image information is displayed as a reduced image in a thumbnail format or the like on the display 2 in units of, for example, 6 frames (steps # 101 and # 102).

Next, the print control mode designation (DPOF)
(Whether printing based on information) is performed, and if the print control mode is the automatic control mode,
Read the DPOF information stored in the storage medium M,
The print control information is acquired from the DPOF information.
When the automatic control mode is designated in this way and the DPOF information is not stored in the storage medium M, the print management unit 38 displays the error information on the display 2 and the manual control mode is set. Prompt for print control information. When the print control mode is the manual control mode, a message prompting the user to input print control information is displayed, and then the operator uses the keyboard 3 or the mouse 4 to make the necessary input. For the input value, the print control information is obtained (steps # 103 and # 104).

When the print control information is acquired in this way, the print control information can be confirmed by displaying the number of prints in the vicinity of the print target among the reduced images already displayed on the display 2. When the automatic correction is selected, the automatic correction is performed, and the correction information is acquired. When the manual correction is selected, the correction information is input according to the operator's correction information. At the same time, the correction information is acquired (step # 105).

After this processing, printing is performed to cut the photographic paper P from the photographic paper magazine 10 into the print size in the exposure section, and then the photographic paper P is cut.
The image information is formed as a latent image by irradiating a light beam from the exposure head 16 on the back side, and then the correction information 40 (collection value information) set for the printing of the image information by the back side print head 16. At the same time, the identification information 41 indicating whether the printing is in the automatic control mode or the manual control mode is printed on the back surface of the photographic printing paper P and sent to the development processing unit De. Next, the latent image of the photographic paper P is visualized in the developing processing unit De, and the photographic paper P thus developed is dried and dried by the drying unit Dr, and then sent out. The process ends when all the items designated as print targets are printed (# 106).
~ Step # 108). The printing paper P printed in this way is sorted on the sorting conveyor 11 in order.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), a position is set on the back surface of the printing paper P at the end of the row of the correction information 40 of the printing paper P, and printing is performed in the automatic control mode. In some cases, the character "-Y" is printed as the identification information 41, and in the case of printing in the manual control mode, "-Y" is printed.
The character “N” is printed as the identification information 41. By the way, neither the characters "-Y" nor the characters "-N" are printed on the back surface of the printing paper P on which the image information of the photographic film is printed.

As described above, in the photographic printing apparatus of the present invention, when printing the image information stored in the storage medium M, the automatic control mode is used in which the print size and the number of prints are set using the DPOF information. Print of
The printing in the manual control mode in which the print size and the number of prints are artificially input and set is realized, and in any control mode, the back side of the photographic paper P is printed with the correction information 40. Since the identification information 41 indicating the control mode is printed, it is possible to immediately identify in which control mode the printed photographic printing paper P is printed. Then, because the identification information 41 is printed, for example, when the operator erroneously prints a print request based on the DPOF information from the customer in the manual control mode, or vice versa. In the situation where you have been requested by the company to print an arbitrary print size for an arbitrary frame with an arbitrary number of prints,
When the operator erroneously prints in the automatic control mode based on the DPOF information, the control mode at the time of printing is accurately grasped based on the identification information 41 printed on the back surface of the photographic printing paper P and the error is dealt with. It is something that can be realized immediately.

[Other Embodiments] In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applicable to, for example, a sublimation type photographic printing device, a non-silver salt type photographic printing device such as an ink jet type, and other than DPOF. In addition, for example, it can be applied to a device that uses print control information arbitrarily set by a specific manufacturer or company group.

Further, according to the present invention, on the front surface side of the photographic printing paper (paper sheet), for example, the identification information is printed on the border portion, or the identification information printed on the photographic printing paper is D.
The identification information is printed only when printing is performed in the automatic control mode (first control mode) in accordance with the print control information such as POF information, or conversely, the manual control mode (second control mode) is used for printing. It is also possible to set the processing mode so that the identification information is printed only when the process is executed.

Further, according to the present invention, the identification information can be printed in a row of correction information, or can be printed in a row different from the row of correction information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire photographic printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage structure of information on a storage medium.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the back side of the photographic paper.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a media print routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Control Units 3 and 4 Human Input Unit 17 Identification Information Printing Means / Backside Printing Unit 38 Identification Information Processing Unit 40 Correction Information 41 Identification Information D Medium Reader M Storage Medium / Portable Media P Paper Sheet Ex Printing Unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A print unit for printing image information converted into a digital signal on a paper sheet, a medium reader for reading information stored in a storage medium, an artificial input unit for inputting print processing information, and the print unit. A first control mode for printing the image information read from the storage medium by the medium reader on the basis of the print control information read from the storage medium; A photographic printing apparatus configured to be able to execute any one of a second control mode in which image information read from a storage medium by a reader is printed based on print processing information from the artificial input unit. , The identification information indicating that the printing has been performed in at least one of the first control mode and the second control mode. Photographic printing apparatus is provided with identification information printing means for printing. 2. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information printing means is provided with a back surface printing section for printing identification information on the back surface of the paper sheet. 3. The identification information printing means is the first
3. An identification information processing unit for generating the identification information for distinguishing between printing in the control mode and printing in the second control mode, and printing the identification information. Photographic printing device described. 4. The storage medium is a portable medium, and the print control information includes DPOF information indicating a print size and the number of prints. Photo printing equipment. 5. The back side printing section prints correction information at the time of printing image information, and the identification information is printed in the print row of the correction information or at the end of the print row. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2, configured as described above.