JP2004110075A - Photograph processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photograph processor having a collation checking function which simplifies a recovery work even though an uncollating negative film and a print exist. <P>SOLUTION: A collation transporting means receives one unit negative film ejected from a negative film ejecting section, receives a print having an image obtained from the one unit negative film from a print ejecting section, combines the negative film and the print as a completed product and transports the product. The means is constituted of a tray conveyor made of a plurality of trays into which completed products are sequentially stored. A trouble detecting means 5i is provided to detect collation mismatch trouble, which provides an adverse effect to the collation of one unit negative film and the print caused by the processing processes of a negative film and a printing paper. Moreover, a notifying means is provided to notify, that the completed product stored in the tray of tray conveyor has collation mismatch trouble, based on the trouble information obtained by the trouble detecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention provides an exposure unit that prints an image of a negative film sent from a negative film supply unit on photographic paper, a negative film discharge unit that discharges the negative film used in the exposure unit, and the printing paper that has been printed. A developing unit that develops the photographic paper, a print discharging unit that cuts the developed photographic paper into a predetermined length and discharges it as a print, and receives one unit of the negative film discharged from the negative film discharging unit and The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus including a collation / conveying unit that receives a print having an image obtained from the one unit of negative film from a print discharge unit, and combines and conveys the prints as a finished product.

In the photographic processing apparatus as described above, the combination of the negative film and the print is defined as one unit of the negative film ordered by the customer or one set of piece negatives (several pieces of films cut every four or six frames). This is normally performed, and one unit is also called one order. Even if the same customer orders printing of several negative films or several sets of piece negatives at the same time, they are processed as separate orders. Photographs of this order, that is, one unit of a piece negative (usually one long negative film is finally cut as a piece negative into a predetermined length) and the print is automatically packed into a DP bag A processing device is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In the step of comparing the piece negative with the print in the photo processing apparatus, one unit of the piece negative inserted into the negative sheet after the exposure processing is stored in a print bag on which the ID number of the piece negative is printed, and the ID number of the print bag is printed. Is compared with the ID number of the print conveyed by the sorter after being sorted for each unit. If the ID numbers match, this one-unit print is stored in a print bag and combined with a piece negative having the same ID number.

In the case of such a collation system, if the ID numbers of the piece negatives and the prints that are continuously conveyed are different, it is necessary to check the ID numbers of the piece negatives and the prints that are conveyed one after another. In such a case, there is a problem that the recovery work is troublesome. In particular, even if only one unit of a piece negative and a print that does not match are present, even the other piece negative and the print that should match the same are to be checked at the time of recovery work. Will decrease.

JP-A-6-43622

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a photographic processing apparatus having a collation check function that makes it easy to recover even if there is a negative film and a print that do not match.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an exposure unit that prints an image of a negative film sent from a negative film supply unit onto photographic paper, and a negative film discharge unit that discharges the negative film used in the exposure unit, A developing unit for developing the printed photographic paper, a print discharging unit for cutting the developed photographic paper to a predetermined length to discharge as a print, and one unit discharged from the negative film discharging unit And a collating and conveying means for receiving the negative film and receiving a print having an image obtained from the one unit of the negative film from the print discharge unit, and conveying the combined prints as a finished product.
The collation / conveying means is configured as a tray conveyor composed of a plurality of trays in which the finished products are sequentially stored. Trouble detecting means for detecting a collation mismatch trouble that adversely affects collation is provided, and based on the trouble information by the trouble detection means, the finished product stored in the tray of the tray conveyor has the collation mismatch trouble. And an informing means for informing.

In the above configuration, when a trouble that causes a mismatch between one unit of the negative film and the print in the collating and transporting unit occurs in each processing step of the negative film or the photographic paper, the trouble detecting unit identifies the trouble with the collating mismatch. It can be detected as a trouble, and it can be pointed out that there is a mismatch between the finished product, which is the object of the above-mentioned mismatch, which is being conveyed by the collating and conveying means, that is, the negative film and the print. As a result, the combination of the negative film and the print for each unit can be checked for each tray of the tray conveyor, so that the operator can easily recognize the mismatch of the specific finished product composed of the negative film and the print. It is only necessary to take out the negative film or print and perform the recovery work, and there is no need to check other finished products that match. In other words, even if the verification mismatch occurs, the recovery operation can be performed easily and quickly, and as a result, the operation rate of the photo processing apparatus is improved.

As the structure of the notifying means, a device that appeals to human vision, hearing, etc. can be used, but it is effective to use a device that can display a color mark, for example, red.

As a preferred embodiment of the tray, it is preferable to provide a film storage unit for storing a negative film and a print storage unit for storing prints on the same tray, and in this case, the film storage unit is obtained from the negative film stored in the film storage unit. Since the prints having the images are stored in the print storage section of the same tray, it is easy to take out the collated print and the negative film and put them in one DP bag. If the discrepancy is indicated by the notification means, the negative film image and the printed image stored in the tray (although they may not be stored at all due to trouble) will not match. Recovery work can be performed by taking out the stored negative films and prints, and the negative films and prints on the other trays can be shipped as they are in a single DP bag.

The trouble detecting means can take various embodiments for detecting when a cause of mismatching occurs when the negative film and the print are finally combined by the matching transporting means. In the processing equipment, the negative film and the photographic paper are continuously processed, so that the matching mismatch does not occur as long as the normal continuous operation is performed. It is conceivable to configure the trouble detecting means so as to detect as a collation mismatch trouble when is interrupted. If a negative film or photographic paper is jammed during transport, it is necessary to remove the negative film or photographic paper from the transport process.However, in the case of a negative film, the transport jam is caused by transport for image reading, cutting into a piece negative, inserting a negative sheet, etc. It is easy to occur, the continuous processing is interrupted, and the negative film is removed. In this case, the collation does not match in the collation conveyance means. Therefore, the trouble detection means detects this trouble, and The collation mismatch is pointed out through the notification means to the tray corresponding to.

Furthermore, if it is determined by image reading check before the printing process that all the images on the negative film are not suitable for normal printing processing, the frame image is not printed. Since the prints do not match, it is also proposed to configure the trouble detecting means to detect as a collation mismatch trouble in such a case.

In other words, the important point of the present invention is that, when the negative film and the print are finally combined by the collating and conveying means in all the processing steps in the photographic processing apparatus, starting from the loading step of the negative film or the photographic paper, the collation mismatch occurs. When a certain cause occurs, the trouble detecting means detects this trouble and indicates that the specific finished product stored and transported in the tray does not match through the notification means, so that other matching finished products can be compared. Is to make the shipping work smoother.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an entire photographic processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention. A negative film 2 (here, a negative film is a long photographic film) is transported through the photographic processing apparatus 1 in accordance with various processes. The transport path of a negative film having a length, a piece negative cut in several frames, and a negative film with a cartridge according to the Advanced Photo System is also schematically shown in FIG. Have been. The photographic processing apparatus 1 includes a negative film supply unit 10, an exposure unit 20 that prints an image of the negative film 2 on a photographic paper 3 drawn from a paper magazine 4, and develops the photographic paper 3 that has been exposed by the exposure unit 20. A developing unit 30 for processing; a drying unit 40 for drying the photographic paper 3 developed by the developing unit 30; and a printing process by cutting the dried photographic paper 3 to a predetermined length (printing the photographic paper 3 A print discharge unit 50 that discharges the cut film having a length as a print 3), and a negative film 2 that cuts the negative film 2 used in the exposure unit 20, inserts it into a negative sheet if necessary, and discharges the negative film. The discharge unit 60, the negative film 2 of one unit loaded from the negative film discharge unit 60 (this unit may be read as one order here for easy understanding) and print discharge. Combined matching one unit of printing which is carried from 50 as finished products, and a conveyor mechanism 70 as the collation conveying means for conveying to the finished product take-out position by the operator.

The negative film supply unit 10 can be loaded with two negative reels 11 each of which is obtained by winding up to 100 negative films 2 joined by a splice tape, and prepares for the negative film 2 pulled out from the negative reel 2. A bar code reader 12 for reading a bar code and a negative cutter 13 for cutting the drawn negative film 2 for each order are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3 (the negative film 2 and the photographic paper 3 are arranged upside down as compared to FIG. 2), the exposure unit 20 includes a reading light source 21a and a mirror on the upstream side in the film transport direction. A film reading device 21 including a tunnel 21b and an imaging device 21c is provided, and an exposure light source 22a, a dimming filter 22b, a mirror tunnel 22c, a negative mask 22d, a printing lens 22e, and a shutter 22f are provided on the downstream side in the film transport direction. An apparatus 22 is provided, and a roller 23a for transporting the negative film 2 from the negative film supply unit 10 through the exposure unit 20 to the negative discharge unit 60, and a motor 23b for driving the roller 23a are provided.

First, the image of each frame of the negative film 2 conveyed by the roller 23a is read by the film reading device 21 and sent to the controller 5 whose detailed block diagram is shown in FIG. The exposure control means 5a of the controller 5 obtains exposure conditions for printing the image of the negative film 2 on the photographic paper 3 based on the image information received from the film reading device 21. When the photographic paper 3 is conveyed to the position of the negative mask 22d, the photographic paper 3 is exposed by controlling the light control filter 22b and the shutter 22f based on the previously obtained exposure condition. Further, the controller 5 processes the image information of the negative film 2 read by the film reading device 21 and displays on the monitor 6a a simulated image of an image obtained when the photographic paper 3 is printed under the determined exposure conditions. The operator can observe the simulated image on the monitor 6a and correct the exposure condition from the console 6b as necessary.

The negative film 2 that has been subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure unit 20 is separated into six or four frames by a negative cutter 25 provided in a negative discharge unit 60 disposed downstream of the exposure device 22 in the film transport direction. The sheet is cut and sent to the conveyor mechanism 70 as a plurality of negative pieces 2. Depending on the specification, the negative piece 2 is inserted into the negative sheet by a negative sheet insertion device (not shown). It is. Note that the negative film 2 conforming to the advanced photo system is pulled out of the cartridge before various processing operations, and is rewound into the cartridge after the processing. Therefore, the negative film 2 after the exposure processing is stored in the cartridge in a conveyor mechanism. It is sent to 70. The series of transport of the negative film 2 from being pulled out from the negative reel 11 to finally being sent to the conveyor mechanism 70 is controlled by the negative film transport control means 5b of the controller 5.

Although not shown, the developing section 30 is provided with a plurality of developing tanks, and after the image of the negative film 2 is printed by the exposing section 20, the photographic paper 3 is transferred to the roller 24a and the roller 24a. The developing process is performed by sequentially passing through the developing tank of the developing unit 30 through the collection printing unit 26 by the motor 24b that drives the 24a. It should be noted that, before the development processing unit 30, if there is a situation where the photographic paper 3 cannot be continuously fed between the exposure unit 20 and the development processing unit 30 despite the presence of the loop unit, emergency evacuation is performed. A cutter 27 for cutting the printing paper 3 is provided.

The photographic paper 3 after the development processing is dried in the drying unit 40, sent to the print discharge unit 50, cut into the finished print 3 by the paper cutter 51, and sent out to the conveyor mechanism 70 by the horizontal conveyor 53. It is. Reference numeral 54 denotes a photographic paper bypass path for discharging the photographic paper 3 in a non-cut state when the photographic paper 3 cannot be sent to the conveyor mechanism 70 due to some trouble. A series of conveyance of the photographic paper 3 or the print 3 and branching to the photographic paper bypass path 54 are controlled by the photographic paper conveyance control means 5 c of the controller 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor mechanism 70 is of a tray conveyor type, and is provided with a plurality of trays 100 driven by a driving unit 90 that transmits a conveying force while being guided by a circulating guide path 80. A negative film carry-in station 71, a standby station 72, a print carry-in station 73, and a collating station 74 are formed on the transport line determined by the circulation guide path 80. As shown in FIG. 6, the orbiting guide path 80 is composed of a pair of right and left rails 81 having a substantially circular cross section and a connecting body 82 connecting the rails 81 at predetermined intervals. And extends along the side walls of the development processing unit 30 and the drying unit 40 between the negative film discharge unit 60 disposed at the upper side and the print discharge unit 50 disposed at a higher position.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the tray 100 includes a traveling unit 110 traveling on a rail 81, and a mounting unit 150 having a film storage unit 150a and a print storage unit 150b. I have. The traveling unit 110 includes a channel-shaped traveling platform 111, four traveling rollers 113 rotatably supported by shafts 112 inside rib portions 111 a and 111 b on both sides of the traveling platform 111, and a mounting unit. An angle bracket 114 (FIG. 9) for attaching the 150 at an angle to the traveling platform 111 is provided. Grooves 113a are formed on the running surface of the running rollers 113, which are attached to the trays eight by eight, in accordance with the shape of the rail 81. The traveling portion 110 sandwiches the right rail 81 at two places between the front upper and lower traveling rollers 113 and the rear upper and lower traveling rollers 113 disposed on the right rib portion 111a, and is disposed on the left rib portion 111b. Stable rail running is achieved by sandwiching the left rail 81 at two places between the upper and lower running rollers 113 on the front side and the upper and lower running rollers 113 on the rear side.

At the negative film loading station 71, one unit of the negative film 2 discharged from the negative film discharging unit 60 is transferred to the film storage unit 150a of the tray 100. In the standby station 72, the tray 100 loaded with the negative film 2 can wait in order to match the timing at which one unit of print 3 printing the image of the negative film 2 loaded on the tray 100 is output from the print discharge unit 50. It is. At the print carry-in station 73, one unit of print 3 printing the image of the negative film 2 stored in the film storage unit 150a is transferred from the print discharge unit 50 to the print storage unit 150b of the tray 100. In the collating station 74, when the collation of the negative film 2 and the print 3 for one unit carried by the tray 100 is confirmed, the negative film 2 and the print 3 are taken out of the tray 100 and put into the DP bag 7. Since such collation / removal for each tray 100 and sending of the tray 100 to the collation station 74 are not synchronized, the tray 100 is stored on the rail 81 at the collation station 74 similarly to the standby station 72. It is possible. The empty tray 100 is sent to the negative film loading station 71 again.

The driving means 90 for transporting the tray 100 employs a chain driving method employing a chain 91 as an endless driving body, and is divided into a first driving device 90a to a sixth driving device 90f as is apparent from FIG. ing. The first driving device 90a is disposed over the verification station 74 and the standby station 72. The second drive device 90b is arranged to move the empty tray 100 to a tray stop position at the negative loading station 71. The third drive device 90c is arranged to move the tray 100 loaded with the negative film 2 to the storage line of the waiting station 72 formed by a part of the first drive device 90a. The fourth driving device 90d is arranged so as to sequentially move the trays 100 stored in the standby station 72 to the tray stop position of the print carrying-in station 73, and as is apparent from FIG. 90d raises the tray 100 steeply. The fifth driving device 90e is further arranged to lower the tray 100 loaded with the prints 3 steeply and to feed the tray 100 to the portion forming the verification station 74 of the first driving device 90a. Since the orbital guide path 80 is curved before 74, the sixth driving device 90f for moving the tray 100 along the curved line is disposed between the fifth driving device 90e and the first driving device 90a. are doing. Each of the above-mentioned driving devices includes a chain 91, a driving sprocket 92 meshing with the chain 91, a direction changing sprocket 93, and a driving motor 94 for driving the driving sprocket 92. At this time, the first, second, third, and sixth driving devices 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90f receive power from the common driving motor 94, but the fourth and fifth driving devices 90d and 90e adjust the timing. Because of the need for the intermittent operation, power is received from the individual drive motors 94. As a link plate of each chain 91, not only a normal link plate 91a but also a traction link plate 91b formed with a traction portion 95 extending at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction of the chain roller is mounted. The tray 100 is being moved via 95.

(4) The engagement between the traction unit 95 and the traveling unit 110 of the tray 100 so that the conveyance force can be transmitted is performed by two methods. That is, in the first driving device 90a, as shown in FIG. 7, the magnet fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 115 extending vertically to the outside of the rib 111b of the traveling platform 110 by the resin 117 to form the storage line. The magnetic force acting between 116 and the pulling portion 95 of the chain 91 creates an engagement between the running portion 110 of the tray 100 and the pulling portion 95 of the chain 91, and as a result, the tray 100 is moved by the chain 91. I have. For this purpose, at least the traction link plate 91b is made of a magnetic material. Therefore, when the tray 100 is prevented from running by a force larger than the magnetic force acting between the tray 100 and the chain 91, the engagement between the magnet 116 and the traction portion 95 is released, and only the chain 91 advances, and the tray 91 advances. 100 remains stopped. As a result, the trays 100 are sequentially stored by the end faces of the traveling platform 111 contacting each other, and when the previous tray advances, the magnets 116 again magnetically engage with the pulling portions 95 of the chain 91. , The subsequent tray 100 also starts to move by the chain 91. That is, the storage of the tray 100 and the supply of the negative film 2 and the print 3 to the take-out position are automatically performed without delay.

In a driving device other than the first driving device 90a, since the tray 100 and the chain 91 only have to move integrally, the claw portions further protruding from the lower ends of the rib portions 111a and 111b of the traveling platform 110 as shown in FIG. When the 118 contacts the traction unit 95 of the chain 91, an engagement capable of transmitting the transfer force between the traveling unit 110 and the traction unit 95 is created. The drive motors 94 are controlled by the conveyor control means 5d of the controller 5 so as to cooperate with each other.

In order to load the negative film 2 from the negative discharge unit 60 at the negative film loading station 71, the tray 100 is stopped by the first stopper device 85 between the second drive device 90b and the third drive device 90c. Further, the tray 100 is stopped by the second stopper device 86 between the fourth drive device 90d and the fifth drive device 90e in order to carry in the print 3 from the print discharge unit 50 at the print carry-in station 73. Since the structures of the first stopper device 85 and the second stopper device 86 are the same, the structure of the first stopper shown in FIG. 9 will be described here.

The first stopper device 85 includes a swing arm 85c swinging around a fulcrum 85b, and a claw provided on one end of the swing arm 85c and provided on the traveling platform 111 of the tray 100 by swinging of the swing arm 85c. An engagement pin 85a engageable with the portion 118, a spring 85d which engages with the other end of the swing arm 85c and urges the swing arm 85c clockwise in FIG. 9 around the fulcrum 85b; A linear drive solenoid 85e is connected to the arm 85c near the engagement pin 85a and swings the swing arm 85c around the fulcrum 85b in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 9 when energized. When the energization of the linear solenoid 85e is released, the engagement pin 85a enters the movement locus of the claw portion 118 of the tray 100, so that the engagement pin 85a slides down the rail 81 inclined downward after detaching from the traction portion 95 of the second drive device 90b. The stopped tray 100 is stopped and held. When the linear solenoid 85e is energized, the engaging pin 85a retreats from the movement locus of the claw portion 118 of the tray 100, thereby allowing the tray 100 to pass. Since the positional relationship between the second stopper device 86 and the fourth drive device 90d and the downward inclination posture of the rail 81 are the same as those of the first stopper device 85, the second stopper device 86 also stops and passes the tray 100 similarly. Can be controlled.

Furthermore, the collation station 74 is also provided with a third stopper device 87 for stopping the head of the tray 100 to be stored. As shown in FIG. 10, the third stopper device 87 is provided with a swing arm 87b swinging in a seesaw manner around a rotation shaft 87c, and provided at both ends of the swing arm 87b and by swinging of the swing arm 87b. A pair of engagement pins 87a that can be selectively engaged with the claw portion 118 of the tray 100, a rotary solenoid 87d connected to a rotation shaft 87c so as to swing the swing arm 87b, and FIG. A spring 87e is engaged with one end of the swing arm 87b so as to bias the swing arm 87b in the clockwise direction. In the third stopper device 87 having such a configuration, when the rotary solenoid 87d is not energized, the swinging arm 87b assumes the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 and stops the leading tray 100 by the urging force of the spring 87e. As described above, the tray 100 following the first tray 100 can be moved on the rail 81 by magnetic force until it comes into contact with the preceding tray 100, but if it comes into contact with the preceding tray 100, it cannot be moved by magnetic force. The trays 100 are stored one after another in a packed state. Then, when the rotary solenoid 87d is energized, the swing arm 87b assumes a posture shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10 against the urging force of the spring 87e, and stops the next tray 100. Tray 100 starts to move via magnetic force by the first driving device 90a. When the energization of the rotary solenoid 87d is further released from this state, the swing arm 87b returns to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 and becomes free once and becomes the new head which is slightly moved by the first driving device 90a. The tray 100 is stopped. The tray 100 deviated from the first driving device 90a approaches the second driving device 90b with the help of the downward inclination posture of the rail 81, and the fourth driving device 90b provided between the first driving device 90a and the second driving device 90b. It is stopped by the stopper device 88.

The fourth stopper device 88 is for taking the timing to send out the tray 100 to the negative film carry-in station 71, and is controlled so as to send out a new tray 100 at the same time as the tray 100 goes out of the negative film carry-in station 71. ing. That is, the third stopper device 87 and the fourth stopper device 88 can feed the stored trays 100 one by one to the negative film loading station 71, and at the same time, the storage lines of the collating station 74 are also sequentially packed. . As shown in FIG. 11, the fourth stopper device 88 has substantially the same structure as the first stopper device 85 and the second stopper device 86, and a description thereof will be omitted.

At the stop position of the tray 100 by the fourth stopper device 88, as shown in FIG. 11, it is detected whether or not the negative film 2 and the print 3 are stored in the film storage portion 150a and the print storage portion 150b of the tray 100, respectively. The light sensor 76 includes an LED 76a and a light receiving element 76b for detecting the presence or absence of the negative film 2, and an LED 76c and a light receiving element 76d for detecting the presence or absence of the print 3. The mounting portion 150 is formed with a hole (not shown) that allows the light emitted from the LEDs 76a and 76c to pass therethrough. The detection signal of the optical sensor 76 is input to the controller 5 to check whether the tray 100 stopped by the fourth stopper device 88 is empty. The above-described first stopper device 85, second stopper device 86, third stopper device 87, and fourth stopper device 88 are also controlled by the conveyor control means 5d of the controller 5.

Here, the structure of the mounting portion 150 of the tray 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The mounting portion 150 has a box-shaped configuration mainly including a top plate 151, a bottom plate 152, a first side plate 153, and a second side plate 154. The print storage section 150b is formed on the top plate 151, and the first side plate 153 and the second side plate 154 are protruded from the top plate 151 so that the prints 3 stacked on the top plate 151 do not slip off, and the protruding portion. Surround the print 3 from two directions. The other two directions are open to facilitate loading and unloading of the print 3. The film storage portion 150a for storing the negative film 2, that is, the piece negative inserted in the bare piece negative or the negative sheet, is formed in a pocket shape between the top plate 151 and the bottom plate 152. In addition, a box body 155 attached to the outside of the second side plate 154 opposite to the film storage section 150a has a cartridge storage section 150c for storing the cartridge 2a in which the negative film 2 is wound according to the advanced photo system. Is formed.

As is clear from FIG. 5, the tray 100 is in an upside-down suspension state during the movement process from the negative film carry-in station 71 to the standby station 72, and there is a possibility that stored items may fall from the film storage portion 150 a or the cartridge storage portion 150 c. The tray 100 is provided with a holding mechanism 160 for holding stored items. As illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, the holding mechanism 160 is fixed to the rotating shaft 161 rotatably supported on the bottom plate 152 via a plurality of bearing brackets 162 and the rotating shaft 161. A claw sleeve 163, a first holding plate 165 that swings around a fixed shaft 164 attached to the top plate 151 in a seesaw manner to hold a negative film stored in the film storage unit 150 a at one end thereof, and a top plate. A second holding plate 168 is provided, which swings around a fixed shaft 167 attached to the shaft 151 in a seesaw manner to hold a cartridge housed in the cartridge housing portion 150c at one end thereof. The first holding plate 165 and the second holding plate 168 swing in the opening direction due to the transmission of the rotational displacement from the claw sleeve 163 due to the contact with the claw portion 163a of the claw sleeve 163. The swing in the direction of pressing the respective stored items is performed by a spring force, and vine springs 166 and 169 are provided for that purpose. In order to operate the rotation shaft 161, a rounded operation piece member 170 is fixed to an end of the rotation shaft 161 on the traveling platform 111 side. As shown in FIG. 15, the posture of the operation top member 170 changes due to the contact movement with the top guide rail 175, and accordingly, the rotation shaft 161 rotates, and the claw sleeve 163 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 14, the claw portion 163a pushes the first and second pressing plates 165 and 168 up against the spring force of the helical springs 166 and 169 to open the posture, and the film storage portion 150a is negatively charged. Storage of the film 2 or storage of the cartridge 2a in the cartridge storage section 150c is permitted. When the contact between the top guide rail 175 and the operation top member 170 is completed, the first and second pressing plates 165 and 168 assume a holding posture of the stored object by the spring force. Therefore, a frame guide rail 175 is provided in an area where the negative film 2 is carried in and carried out of the tray 100.

明 ら か As is apparent from FIG. 4, the controller 5 is configured to perform various functions in addition to the functions described above. Based on the detection result of the negative film 2 pulled out from the negative reel 11 by the screen detection sensor 14, the frame image determining means 5e determines whether the negative film 2 has troubles such as back-burning, all fog, all missing, half-size, etc. Determine whether The negative film ID code allocating unit 5f allocates a negative film ID code corresponding to a film ID (hereinafter, referred to as FID) read from a barcode sticker attached to one unit of the negative film 2 by the barcode reader 12. However, this negative film ID code is used to specify this one unit of the negative film 2 instead of the FID during the processing in the photographic processing device 1. An ID code for the DP bag 7 is linked to each FID, and the negative film 2 having a specific FID is put into the predetermined DP bag 7 by collating these ID codes. . Further, in order to assure that the print 3 made from the negative film 2 is also put in the specific DP bag 7, the exposure unit 20 applies the frame image of the negative film 2 to the photographic paper 3 area printed thereon. A print ID code allocating unit 5g for allocating a print ID code is also provided, and this print ID code is also linked to the negative film ID code. The print ID code is also mechanically formed as a 6-bit code directly on the printing paper 3 by a notcher (not shown). The trouble detecting means 5i detects a matching discrepancy trouble involving forced discharge of the negative film 2 due to a trouble determined by the frame image determining means 5e or a conveyance jam detected by the negative film conveyance control means 5b. The information is linked to the negative film ID code and the print ID code of the negative film 2 in which the matching mismatch trouble has occurred.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of FIG. 16 to help understand the link structure between the various ID codes and the trouble information described above. The order number is also linked to the negative film ID code. When a negative film 2 and a print 3 having a linked negative film ID code and print ID code are loaded on one tray 100, the combination is automatically verified by collation. For this purpose, tray ID code allocating means is used. 5h links the tray ID code to the negative film ID code and consequently to the print ID code. This tray ID code passes through a through hole 121 formed in an ID plate 120 indicating the tray ID code of each tray 100 provided on the traveling platform 111 of the tray 100 at a predetermined position of the guide circulation guide path 80. When read by the sensor 77, it is generated as a 6-bit code and sent to the tray ID code allocating means 5h of the controller 5.

A collation mark display device 180 is provided on the first side plate 153 of the tray 100 so as to be aligned with the bracket 114. The collation mark display device 180 can prevent the negative film 2 and the print 3 that are to be carried into the tray 100 from collation mismatch trouble. It is used as a notifying means for notifying that it has. As shown in FIG. 17, the collation mark display device 180 includes a drum 182 rotatable around an axis 181, an elastic body 183 for elastically holding the drum 182, and a housing 184 accommodating the drum 182. It has. The housing 184 is provided with an opening 184a and a display hole 184b for moving the drum 182 from outside. A part of the peripheral wall surface of the drum 182 is painted in red. When the drum 182 is rotated to the first position, red is displayed from the display hole 184b. You can see white. In other words, in the case of the collation mismatch trouble occurring during the processing of the negative film 2 or the photographic paper 3 in the photo processing apparatus 1, the trouble information is linked to the ID code of one unit of the negative film 2 or the print 3 placed on the same tray 100. When the corresponding tray 100 is stopped at the print carry-in station 73, the collation mark control means 5j of the controller 5 operates the display mark solenoid 89 disposed at the print carry-in station 73 to move the drum 182. The tray is rotated from the second position to the first position to notify the operator that the negative film 2 and the print 3 on the tray are not matched. The drum 182 rotated to the first position is returned to the second position again at the verification station 74.

Next, control regarding the collation between the negative film 2 and the photographic paper, that is, the print 3, in the above-described photographic processing apparatus 1 will be described. In FIG. 4, the controller 5 is shown in a block configuration diagram by controlling the whole of the photo processing apparatus 1, but in FIG. 18, the operation of the whole function of the controller 5 is expressed by a photo processing apparatus control main routine. The photograph processing apparatus control main routine gives instructions to various processing routines as needed to execute necessary processing. FIG. 18 shows, among the various processing routines, a routine related to collation, in particular. Has been mentioned. In any case, the function of the controller 5 is basically realized by a program based on a microcomputer, and the controller 5 can be described in two different forms of a block configuration diagram and a processing routine flowchart.

First, when the negative reel 11 is set, a negative loading processing routine starts. In the negative loading processing routine, as shown in FIG. 19, the negative data of one negative film 2 (usually this unit is 1 order) is read by the optical sensor (# 11), and the normal printing processing is possible. Is determined. That is, it is checked whether or not the frame image of the negative film 2 is back-burned (# 12), whether or not all fogging or all missing (# 13), and whether or not it is half-size instead of full-size (# 14). If the answer is Yes, a selection is made as to whether the negative film 2 unsuitable for such a printing process is forcibly discharged, or whether the negative film 2 is temporarily sent to the negative discharge unit 60 and placed on the tray 100 (# 15). In the case of forced discharge, the negative film 2 is discharged to a discharge negative box via an intermediate discharge line (not shown) based on control by a forced discharge routine (# 16). In any case, if the frame image is inappropriate for the burning process, it is determined that a matching mismatch problem has occurred, and the trouble information is linked to the ID code of the negative film 2 (# 17).

The negative film 2 after the negative loading is cut into one unit, that is, one order unit by the negative cut processing routine, and is sent to the exposure unit 20 in a separated state.
The pre-exposure process is performed on the negative film 2 sent to the exposure unit 20 by a frame image reading routine shown in FIG. In the frame image reading routine, it is checked whether or not a print notch used for positioning the frame image exists (# 21), and if there is a print notch, it is positioned at the scanning position using the print notch (# 22). If there is no print notch, a predetermined frame image is adjusted to the scanning position while detecting the frame image (# 23). Image information (# 24) read from the positioned frame image via the film reading device 21 is stored in the image memory in the controller 5, subjected to appropriate image processing, and displayed on the monitor 6a. Exposure correction is performed on the read frame image as necessary (# 25), and the negative film 2 is sent to the exposure position (# 26). In this negative feed, it is checked whether a negative jam has occurred (# 27). If the negative jam occurs, the negative film 2 is taken out by hand (# 27). The trouble information is linked to the ID code of 2 (# 29). The taken out negative film 2 is loaded on the transport line again after all the negative films wound around the negative reel 11 are processed.

In the exposure processing, it is necessary to control the operation of each element constituting the exposure apparatus 22 as described above. However, the exposure processing routine shown in FIG. 21 is limited to the movement of the negative film 2. In the exposure processing routine, the frame images of the negative film 2 are sequentially exposed on the photographic paper 3 (# 31). However, the exposure per order is large because of the large number of prints per frame image. If the number, that is, the number of prints exceeds 55 (# 32), the value of the print ID is counted up (# 33). This print ID is normally attached to all prints of one order. By stacking the one order negative film 2 and print 3 on the same tray 100, the order number, negative film ID, print ID and The tray ID is linked 1: 1. However, in this embodiment, since the limit of the number of prints to be placed on the tray 100 is 55, a print ID which is shifted up by one is assigned to prints 3 exceeding 55. That is, two (in some cases, more) print IDs are given to one order. As a result, a 1: 1 relationship between the print ID and the tray ID is maintained. Subsequently, in the negative feed in the auto negative mask area, it is checked whether a negative jam has occurred (# 34). If the negative jam occurs, the feeding of the new negative film 2 to the auto negative mask is temporarily stopped. Then, a manual recovery operation such as taking out the negative film 2 by hand is performed, and it is determined that a collation mismatch problem has occurred, and the trouble information is linked to the ID code of the negative film 2 (# 35). The removed negative film 2 is loaded again on the transport line after all the negative films wound around the negative reel 11 have been processed. In the case of No branching in # 34, it is further checked whether or not a trouble of mismatching such as taking out the negative film from the photographic processing device has occurred (# 36). Trouble information is linked to the ID code corresponding to the negative film 2 (# 37). As described above, exposure processing for one order is performed.

The exposed negative film 2 is cut into a predetermined length (4 frames or 6 frames) as a negative piece, and the cut negative film 2 (negative piece) is inserted into a negative sheet, and a negative sheet discharging unit is provided. These processes are performed by a negative discharge routine. In the negative discharge processing routine shown in FIG. 22, the position of the negative film 2 to be cut is aligned with the cutting line of the negative cutter 25 (# 41), and the negative cutter 25 is operated to produce the negative film 2 having a predetermined length. (# 42). The cut negative film 2 is inserted into the negative sheet by a negative sheet insertion device known per se (# 43). However, a trouble that the sheet cannot be inserted in the negative sheet insertion process, for example, the negative sheet is too large. When the negative sheet cannot be folded because it is too small or when the negative sheet can not be inserted because the span of the negative sheet cannot be continued (# 44), the negative film 2 is forcibly discharged (# 45). Putting the negative piece 2 on the tray 100 is abandoned. Therefore, trouble information is linked to the ID code corresponding to the negative film 2 (# 46).

If the processing time from the completion of the exposure of the final frame image in the exposure unit 20 to the discharge from the negative film discharge unit 60 is abnormally long, the negative film 2 discharged from the negative film discharge unit 60 in the form normally inserted into the negative sheet. Will not arrive at the print carry-in station 73 by the time the final frame image is printed and developed and discharged as a print 3 from the print discharge unit 50. As processing for such a situation, there is a negative transport delay processing routine. In the negative transport delay processing routine shown in FIG. 23, the time since the photographic paper 3 on which the final frame image of the negative film 2 to be placed on the tray 100 is printed is sent to the developing section 30: t1 is less than the limit time: T1. It is checked whether or not the time has exceeded the limit time (# 51). If the time exceeds the limit time, the feeding of the photographic paper 3 to the exposure unit 20 is interrupted (# 52), and the print 3 discharged from the print discharge unit 50 is processed for the time being. After the empty tray 100 is sent out toward the print discharge unit 50 (# 53), the negative film 2 of the negative film discharge unit 60 is loaded on the tray 100. Next, the feeding of the printing paper 3 is restarted (# 55). At the same time, the negative film 2 exiting from the exposure unit 20 and extending to the negative film discharge unit 60 is determined to be inconsistent with the verification, and the trouble information is linked to the ID code corresponding to the negative film 2 (# 56). The negative film 2 on which the exposure unit 20 is set is regarded as collatable.

So far, the collation mismatch problem in the processing process related to the negative film 2 has been described, but the collation mismatch problem also occurs in the processing process of the photographic paper 3 (printed and then cut). However, the printing paper 3 is sent out to the exposure unit 20 by a paper loading routine, exposed, and then developed by passing through each processing tank of the development processing unit 30 by a development unit transport routine. Until it is dried, it is usually performed continuously, so that there is no matching mismatch problem. The problem is the print loading process of loading the prints 3 cut from the photographic paper 3 on a predetermined tray 100, and the processing routine is shown in FIG. Prior to the print cutting by the paper cutter 51, the 6-bit notch row for print ID formed on the side end of the photographic paper 3 is optically read (# 61), and the controller 5 internally stores it in the form of a link structure. It is checked whether the print ID matches the print ID (# 62). If the print ID does not match, trouble information is linked to the print ID (# 67). Further, the number of exposed sheets and the number of prints cut from the printing paper 3 by the paper cutter 51 are checked (# 63). In this check, if the number of prints cut by the paper cutter 51 for this order is larger than the number of prints exposed in this order, that is, the number of prints stored in the controller at the time of exposure processing, recovery is temporarily The print 3 is loaded on the tray 100 linked to the print ID. In the case where the number of print cuts by the paper cutter 51 for this order is smaller than the number of prints stored by the controller in this order, the number of prints stored in the controller 5 is reached as a recovery. At this stage, a tray ID is added to prepare a tray for loading the remaining prints. In this embodiment, the number of prints stored in the controller 5 can be calculated using an order notch that divides the photographic paper 3 into order units, and the frame image formed between the order notches is the number of prints. It becomes. Therefore, the above-mentioned troubles occur in the area of the paper cutter 51, in which the order notch is missed (a case where the order notch is not detected even when the specified number is reached) or the order notch is excessively detected (the order notch is detected even when the number is not the designated number). Case) caused by: Anyway, if the numbers do not match, after performing the above-described recovery processing regarding the assignment of the loading tray 100 (# 64), the trouble information is linked to this print ID (# 67). Here, the print length is also checked (# 65). If the print length exceeds a predetermined length, a recovery process such as cutting to a length that can be loaded on the tray 100 is performed (# 66), and a trouble occurs in the print ID. The information is linked (# 67). If there is a trouble such as a failure in the transport system that makes it impossible to carry in the print carrying-in station 73 (# 68), the photographic paper 3 is discharged from the bypass path 54 without cutting (# 69), and a trouble occurs in the print ID. The information is linked (# 67). In this case, since the print 3 is not loaded on the tray 100, the tray 100 is sent to the verification station 74 with only the negative film 2 loaded.

In the verification mismatch notification processing routine, the trouble information is linked to the ID code of the negative film 2 or the print 3 to be loaded by the tray 100 stopped at the print carry-in station 73. As a result, the trouble information is linked to the ID code of the tray 100. In this case, the display mark solenoid 89 is operated to display a red mark, thereby notifying the operator that the negative film 2 and the print 3 on the tray are not matched.

Next, the transport operation of the tray 100 of the conveyor mechanism 70 based on the conveyor mechanism control processing routine will be described.
The storage of the negative film 2 from the negative discharge unit 60 in the negative film loading station 71 to the film storage unit 150a of the tray 100 stopped by the first stopper device 85 is performed by inserting the negative film 2 into a negative sheet and folding the negative film. The negative film 2 as it is, and in some cases, the cartridge of the advanced photo system are automatically processed by a feeder device (not shown) for each unit. The stop by the first stopper device 85 at the negative film loading station 71 is released, and the tray 100 lowered by its own weight engages with the pulling portion 95 of the third driving device 90c, travels on the ascending slope, and further moves to the standby station 72. Are taken over by the first drive device 90a forming the first storage device, and are sequentially stored.

The leading tray 100 stored in the standby station 72 is driven by the intermittently driven chain 91 of the fourth driving device 90d to engage with the towing portion 95, thereby causing the steeply climbing slope to reach the towing portion 95. It goes up every pitch. The conveyance by the fourth driving device 90d is performed by driving the pulling unit 95 by one pitch in conjunction with the release of the stop of the tray 100 by the second stopper device 86 of the print carry-in station 73. Therefore, every time the tray 100 stopped at the print carry-in station 73 receives one unit of print 3 from the horizontal conveyor 53 and descends the slope by the fifth driving device 90e, the next tray 100 is sent to the print carry-in position. Is stopped by the second stopper device 86.

As long as the photographic processing apparatus 1 is operating normally, the negative film 2 is stored in the tray 100 per unit in the order of exposure processing in the exposure unit 20 as long as the number of prints per order does not exceed a predetermined amount. Since the tray 100 that does not store the film 2 does not receive the print 3, the prints are received from the horizontal conveyor 53 in the same order as the above-described exposure processing order, so that the print storage unit 150b of the tray 100 stores the film 3. The print 3 printed with the image of the negative film 2 stored in the storage section 150a is stored. If the number of prints per order exceeds a predetermined amount, a tray 100 is further allocated for the excess prints. However, except for such special cases, the collation may be performed such that the negative film 2 and the print 3 stored in the tray 100 having the predetermined ID code are missing due to a trouble that has occurred in the processing process so far. If the trouble information is linked to the ID code corresponding to the negative film 2 or the print 3 stored or supposed to be stored in this tray 100, it is provided in the print carry-in station 73. The collation mark solenoid 89 is operated to rotate the drum 182 of the collation mark display device 180 of the tray 100 to the first position, and emits a red color indicating inconsistency in the collation to the display hole 184b. When the tray 100 stopped by the second stopper device 86 receives the prints 3 to be combined with one unit of the negative film 2 from the traverse conveyor 53, the second stopper device 86 is released, and the tray 100 weighs itself. , And engages with the pulling portion 95 of the fifth driving device 90 e and descends with the movement of the chain 91. The fifth driving device 90 e is connected to the tray stored in the verification station 74. In accordance with the number of the second stopper devices 86, the intermittent drive of the traction unit 95 to convey one pitch every time the tray 100 is received in conjunction with the operation of the second stopper device 86, regardless of the state of the second stopper device 86. It is possible to switch to a constant drive for transporting 100. The tray 100 descending the slope by the fifth driving device 90e is temporarily taken over by the sixth driving device 90f to enter the storage line of the verification station 74.

The tray 100 that has entered the storage line of the collation station 74 is stopped in order starting with the tray 100 stopped by the third stopper device 87, and the operator removes the negative film 2 and the print 3 from the tray 100 as finished products. Wait for removal. Here, the operator performs a predetermined recovery operation on the tray 100 on which the red collation mismatch mark is displayed. In any case, the tray 100 from which the stored negative film 2 and print 3 have been removed by the operator is replaced by the negative film loading station 71, which has been stopped by the fourth stopper device 88, by the second driving device 90b. When the third stopper device 87 is operated in conjunction with the transfer to the fourth stopper device 88, the third stopper device 87 is fed to the fourth stopper device 88. Accordingly, the trays 100 of the storage line are packed one by one by the first driving device 90a.

The transport control of the tray 100 to the negative film loading station 71 by the second drive device 90b upon release of the fourth stopper device 88 is performed by transferring the negative film 2 to the film storage portion 150a of the tray 100 at the stop position by the first stopper device 85. It is performed every time the storing operation is completed. That is, when the loading of the negative film 2 is completed and the first stopper device 85 releases the stop of the tray 100, the completion of removal of the negative film 2 and the print 3 is detected by the optical sensor 76 provided in the area of the fourth stopper device 88. On the condition that the tray 100 has been stopped, the fourth stopper device 88 releases the holding of the tray 100 and supplies the empty tray 100 to the negative film loading station 71. In conjunction with this, the third stopper device 87 also releases the holding of the tray 100 and sends the tray 100 to the fourth stopper device 88.

In the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which colors are displayed as the notification means for notifying that the negative film 2 or the print 3 to be carried into the tray 100 has a verification mismatch problem has been adopted. As another embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to employ a notification device using visual such as mark display and lamp lighting, or a notification device using hearing such as a buzzer.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photo processing apparatus employing a photo matching system according to the present invention. Schematic diagram of a photographic processing apparatus showing the flow of the negative film and photographic paper according to FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a photographic processing apparatus according to FIG. Controller block diagram Schematic diagram of the conveyor mechanism that constitutes the photo matching system Explanatory drawing showing the relationship between the drive unit and the traveling unit of the tray Explanatory drawing showing the relationship between the drive unit and the traveling unit of the tray Explanatory drawing showing the loading of a negative film into the film storage unit Schematic diagram of the first stopper device Schematic diagram of the third stopper device Schematic diagram of optical sensor Perspective view of tray Sectional view showing the tray holding mechanism Sectional view showing the tray holding mechanism Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of an operation top member Schematic diagram illustrating the link structure of various ID codes Schematic diagram of collation mark display device Illustration explaining the function of the controller Flowchart of negative loading process Flow chart of frame image reading process Exposure process flowchart Negative discharge processing flowchart Flowchart of negative transport delay processing Flowchart of print loading process

Explanation of reference numerals

2 Negative film 3 Printing paper (print)
Reference Signs List 20 Exposure unit 50 Print discharge unit 5i Trouble detection unit 60 Negative film discharge unit 70 Collating and conveying unit 180 Notification unit

Claims (5)

An exposure section for printing the image of the negative film sent from the negative film supply section onto photographic paper, a negative film discharge section for discharging the negative film used in the exposure section, and developing the baked photographic paper A developing unit, a print discharge unit that discharges the developed photographic paper as a print by cutting the photographic paper to a predetermined length, and receives one unit of the negative film discharged from the negative film discharge unit and receives the unit from the print discharge unit. A photographic processing apparatus comprising: a collation transport unit that receives prints having images obtained from the one unit of the negative film and transports them in combination as a finished product;
The collation conveyance means is configured as a tray conveyor composed of a plurality of trays in which the finished products are sequentially stored,
Trouble detecting means for detecting a collation mismatch trouble which has an adverse effect on the collation between the negative film and the print of the one unit which occurred during the processing of the negative film and the photographic paper is provided, and is stored in the tray of the tray conveyor. And a notifying means for notifying that the finished product has the collation mismatch trouble based on the trouble information by the trouble detecting means. 2. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit displays a visually recognizable collation mismatch mark. The tray is provided with a film storage section for storing the negative film and a print storage section for storing the prints, and prints having images obtained from the negative films stored in the film storage section are stored in the same tray. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographic processing apparatus is stored in a print storage unit. 4. The trouble detecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the trouble detecting unit detects a mismatching trouble when a continuous processing step of either the negative film or the photographic paper is interrupted. Photo processing equipment. The photographic processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the trouble detection means detects a matching mismatch trouble when all images of the negative film are not suitable for normal printing processing.

Images