JP2004294461A - Photographic printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic printing system which can surely cut and sort photosensitive materials and is nevertheless simplified in configuration and reduced in cost. <P>SOLUTION: A cut mark 2 for recognizing a printing position of an image is formed by a perforating apparatus 40 at one end in the transverse direction of photographic paper 1 prior to image printing. The other end in the transverse direction of the photographic paper 1 passing an exposing device 38 for image printing is printed with a sort mark 3 indicating the boundary of a case by the exposing device. In a cutting/sorting process, the cut mark 2 is detected by a sorting sensor 50 and the photographic paper 1 is cut by each frame and the simultaneous detection of the cut mark 2 and the sort mark is processed as the sorting information of the case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus for printing an image recorded by a film, a digital camera, or the like on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, and in particular, a step of cutting the photosensitive material for each frame of the image and performing sorting for each case. And a photographic printing apparatus having the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, so-called labs of photo shops and photo development shops have been provided with a photo printing apparatus for printing an image displayed on a film or the like or an electronic image recorded by a digital camera or the like on photographic paper. The photographic printing apparatus is configured such that, while pulling out and transporting a roll of photographic paper, images are sequentially printed on the photographic paper by an exposure unit, and then subjected to development, fixing, washing, and drying processing steps. One method is to cut photographic paper for each frame of an image, obtain one photographic print, and then sort the photographic prints for each matter (for example, for each film in the case of film, or for each medium in the case of electronic images). is there.
[0003]
In this type of photographic printing apparatus, cut marks and sort marks are often handled as follows. That is, immediately after the photographic paper is pulled out of the magazine, a cut mark is formed at one end in the width direction as a mark of the printing position of the image on the photographic paper, and a sort mark indicating the boundary of the case is added to the last of the preceding case. It is formed at the boundary between the frame and the first frame of the subsequent matter. Then, by detecting the cut marks immediately before the exposure unit, the position between the continuous cut marks is recognized as the printing position of the image, the image is exposed and printed at that position, and after undergoing a process from development to drying, the sort mark is obtained. , The photo prints are sorted for each case (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0004]
However, in the photographic printing apparatus described in the above document, the cut mark is formed continuously at one end in the width direction of the photographic paper in accordance with the frame, and the sort mark is compared with the other end for each case. Since the marks are formed after a long time, the operation frequency of the punching device for forming each mark is much higher on the cut mark side. Therefore, the wear of the punch for the cut mark is remarkable as compared with that for the sort mark. Therefore, even when the punch for the sort mark can be sufficiently used, the punch for the cut mark (the device itself or only the blade) is used. ) Had to be replaced.
[0005]
Therefore, the present applicant may alternately form a cut mark at one end and the other end for one case, or change the end at which the cut mark is formed for each case, so that the cut mark is formed at one end and the other end. A photo printing apparatus has been proposed in which the operation frequency of the punching device on the side of the unit is equalized and the replacement cycle of the punching device is lengthened (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-373945). In this case, the sort mark is formed at the end opposite to the side where the cut mark is formed, and the presence of the mark at both ends serves as the boundary of the matter.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-323458 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-266017
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the apparatus according to the above proposal, the control for forming the cut mark is complicated, and the punching device is also provided at both ends in the width direction of the photographic paper. Met.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic printing apparatus which can surely cut and sort photosensitive materials such as photographic paper while simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, the photosensitive material is conveyed while the image is sequentially exposed and printed by an exposure unit on the photosensitive material, then developed and fixed, and then the photosensitive material is cut for each frame of the image. A photographic printing apparatus that sorts the photosensitive material on a case-by-case basis, wherein a cut mark for recognizing a printing position of an image is formed at one end in the width direction of the photosensitive material by a punching device, and the other end in the width direction of the photosensitive material A sort mark indicating the boundary of the matter is given to each part by exposure, and in the cutting / sorting process, the cut mark is detected and the photosensitive material is cut for each frame, and the cut mark and the sort mark are detected substantially simultaneously. And is processed as case sorting information.
[0010]
In the photographic printing apparatus of the present invention, a cut mark formed at one end of the photosensitive material is detected, the printing position of the image is recognized, and the image is printed on the photosensitive material. In the subsequent cutting / sorting process, first, the cut mark is detected, and the photosensitive material is cut for each frame. When the cut mark and the sort mark are detected substantially simultaneously, the cut photosensitive material is sorted for each case. Sort.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the perforated mark is a cut mark at only one end in the width direction of the photosensitive material, and the perforated mark is not formed at the other end. Therefore, the perforating device may be provided only on one end side of the photosensitive material. In addition, the sort mark can be formed by printing the image on the photosensitive material at the exposure unit that prints the image on the photosensitive material, so that a dedicated device for forming the sort mark can be omitted. Therefore, the configuration is simplified and the cost is reduced.
[0012]
The sort mark is formed at the boundary between the last frame of the preceding matter and the first frame of the succeeding matter, and may have any shape such as a linear shape or a circular shape. Even if a misleading image similar to this sort mark exists in the image printed on the photosensitive material, the boundary of the matter is identified by detecting both the cut mark and the sort mark at substantially the same time. Is prevented from being performed, and sorting is reliably performed.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a photographic printing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment. The apparatus 10 irradiates light to a photographic original image recorded on a provided photographic film such as a negative film or a positive film, applies exposure to a photographic paper (photosensitive material) 1, prints an image, develops, fixes, This is a device that creates a photographic print by sequentially performing washing and drying processes. The exposure and printing processes on the photographic paper 1 are performed by the printer unit 11, the developing and washing processes are performed by the developing unit 12, and the drying is performed by the drying unit 13.
[0014]
The printing paper 1 is stored in a magazine 22 in a state of being wound up in a roll shape, and is supplied to the apparatus 10 together with the magazine 22. The printing paper 1 is pulled out of the magazine 22 by a pull-out roller 23, and is conveyed to a printing zone 25 through a perforation device 40 by a guide roller 24. The printing zone 25 is located between guide rollers 26 and 27 arranged vertically, and the printing paper 1 is conveyed downward by these guide rollers 26 and 27. The photographic printing paper 1 is exposed by the exposure device 28 in the printing zone 25, and the image is printed.
[0015]
On the downstream side of the guide roller 27, a printing device 29 for printing information about a printing operation, such as a film frame number and printing data, is arranged on the back surface of the printing paper 1, that is, on the surface opposite to the printing surface of the image. The printing paper 1 is guided by the guide rollers 30 and passes near the printing device 29. On the downstream side of the guide roller 30, a first cutter 31A for cutting the printing paper 1 is arranged. On the downstream side of the first cutter 31A, the printing paper 1 is accumulated in a loop shape, and an inadvertent force is applied to the printing paper 1 due to a difference between the transport speed in the printer unit 11 and the transport speed in the subsequent developing unit 12. A buffer 33 is provided so as not to be added. A second cutter 32 </ b> A that cuts the printing paper 1 is disposed at the end of the buffer 33. The first cutter 31A is used when the operator wants to immediately put the exposed photographic paper 1 into the developing unit 12 for processing. Further, the second cutter 32A operates to prevent a strong tension from being applied to the photographic paper 1 when the photographic paper 1 in the buffer portion 33 is running low.
[0016]
The developing unit 12 is disposed downstream of the second cutter 32A. In the developing unit 12, the developing, fixing, and washing processes are sequentially performed while the photographic paper 1 is being conveyed. The photographic printing paper 1 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is subjected to the drying process in the drying unit 13, and then the photographic prints 1 a are cut by the finishing cutter 34 one by one. The photo prints 1a are sorted and stored in each tray 36 of the sorter 35 on a case-by-case basis (for each film).
[0017]
The perforating device 40 forms a small circular through hole at one end in the width direction of the photographic paper 1, and the through hole recognizes a printing position of an image on the photographic paper 1 and a photographic print 1 a. Is used as a cut mark as a mark when cutting one by one. FIG. 2 shows the photographic paper 1 on which the cut marks 2 are formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the punching device 40 includes a solenoid 41 and a punch 42 that is mounted on the solenoid 41 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and that advances in one axial direction (downward in the figure) by the electromagnetic action of the solenoid 41. I have. The solenoid 41 is supported by a frame 43. An output shaft 41a of the solenoid 41 passes through the frame 43, and a punch 42 is attached to the output shaft 41a via an adapter 44.
[0018]
The punch 42 penetrates a guide block 45 fixed to the frame 43, and a movable blade 42a for forming a cut mark is formed at the tip thereof. A guide plate 46 is fixed to the guide block 45, and a transport path 47 for the photographic paper 1 is secured between the guide plate 46 and the guide block 45. A movable blade 42a of the punch 42 penetrates the guide plate 46, and a fixed blade 46a for forming the cut mark 2 on the printing paper 1 in cooperation with the movable blade 42a is formed. A compression spring 48 that constantly urges the punch 42 in the retracting direction (upward in the drawing) is attached to the guide block 45.
[0019]
According to the punching device 40, when the solenoid 41 is energized, the punch 42 advances, and the movable blade 42a and the fixed blade cooperate to push off one end of the photographic paper 1 in the transport path 47, thereby Cut marks 2 are formed. When the power supply to the solenoid 41 is released, the punch 42 is retracted by the action of the compression spring 48. The operation of the solenoid 41 is detected by a detector (not shown). The drive circuit of the solenoid 41 is controlled by a control unit (not shown), and the control unit is supplied with image information stored in a memory included in the device 10. The image information in this case includes the number of shots of the developed film, the size of the frame (image), and the like.
[0020]
The cut mark 2 formed by the punching device 40 is detected by each of the sensors 51, 52, 31B, 32B shown in FIG. 1 and a predetermined process is performed. That is, an image position sensor 51 for determining the position of an image to be printed on the photographic paper 1 is disposed on the upstream side of the guide roller 26, and a print position sensor for determining a printing position on the upstream side of the printing device 29. 52 are provided. Further, a first cutting position sensor 31B and a second cutting position sensor 32B for determining a cutting position are arranged on the upstream side of the first cutter 31A and the second cutter 32A, respectively. These sensors 51, 52, 31B and 32B are transmissive light receiving sensors composed of a combination of a light emitter and a light receiver receiving light emitted from the light emitter, and one end of the photographic paper 1 on which the cut mark 2 is formed. It is deployed on the department side. That is, when the cut mark 2 passes through the sensor as the photographic paper 1 is conveyed, the light emitted from the light emitter is received by the light receiver, and the cut mark 2 is detected by this. Further, on the upstream side of the finishing cutter 34, a sorting sensor 50 for determining a cutting and sorting position is arranged. The sorting sensor 50 will be described later.
[0021]
In the printing zone 25, an image is printed on the printing paper 1 by the exposure device 28. In the printing zone 25, as shown in FIG. As a result, it is printed on the end opposite to the cut mark 2. The sort mark 3 is a short straight line extending in the width direction of the photographic printing paper 1, and is printed on the joint at the boundary between the last frame of the preceding case 4A and the first frame of the succeeding case 4B. The cut mark 2 is formed at this joint. The sort mark 3 is formed on the basis of the information indicating the boundary of the matter being supplied to the exposure device 28 from the memory.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 4, the sorting sensor 50 is configured by a combination of a cutting position sensor 51 for detecting the cut mark 2 and a case boundary sensor 52 for detecting the sort mark 3. The cutting position sensor 51 includes a light emitter 51a and a light receiver 51b, and is a transmission type light sensor similar to the sensors 51, 52, 31B, and 32B. The subject boundary sensor 52 emits light toward the printing paper 1 and receives light reflected from the printing paper 1 to sense the reflection state of the reflected light. That is, when the sort mark 3 passes through the subject boundary sensor 52 as the printing paper 1 is conveyed, a portion where the reflectance of the reflected light from the sort mark 3 is low is detected, and the sort mark 3 is detected by this. According to the sorting sensor 50, when the cutting position sensor 51 outputs a detection signal, the finishing cutter 34 operates at the cutting position, and when the cutting position sensor 51 and the subject boundary sensor 52 simultaneously output detection signals, the sorting is performed. The mark 3 is recognized, the sorter 35 is activated when the matter is switched, and the photographic print 1a is stored in the tray 36 for each matter.
[0023]
The above is the configuration of the photographic printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Next, the operation of this apparatus 10 will be described.
The photographic paper 1 is pulled out by the pull-out roller 23 and is conveyed to the perforation device 40, where the cut marks 2 are sequentially formed at one end of the photographic paper 1. The cut marks 2 are formed at predetermined intervals based on image information from the control unit that controls the drive circuit of the solenoid 41 in the punching device 40. When the punching device 40 operates, the transport of the printing paper 1 is stopped each time.
[0024]
The printing paper 1 on which the cut marks 2 are formed passes through the image position sensor 51, where the cut marks 2 are detected. When the cut mark 2 is detected, the photographic paper 1 is moved and stopped by a distance corresponding to the frame based on the information on the frame size stored in the memory. In this stopped state, a portion corresponding to a frame on which an image is to be formed (a portion between adjacent cut marks 2) is located in the printing zone 25, and the portion is exposed by the exposure device 28 to print the image. . In a scanning exposure type apparatus using a laser beam, an image is printed while conveying the printing paper 1 at a constant speed. This exposure is sequentially performed with the transport of the photographic paper 1. When information indicating the boundary of the matter is supplied from the memory to the exposure device 28, the sort mark 3 is formed by the exposure device 28 based on the information. It is burned in.
[0025]
On the photographic paper 1 that has passed through the printing zone 25, the cut mark 2 is detected by the print position sensor 28, and based on this, information relating to the printing operation is printed by the printing device 29 on a portion corresponding to the frame on the back of the photographic paper 1. Is done. Next, the printing paper 1 passes through the first cutting position sensor 31B and the first cutter 31A, passes through the buffer unit 33, passes through the second cutting position sensor 32B and the second cutter 32A, and is supplied to the developing unit 12. In the case where development is required immediately or the loop amount in the buffer 33 is reduced, the photographic paper 1 may be cut by the first cutter 31A or the second cutter 32A.
[0026]
The photographic paper 1 supplied to the developing unit 12 is conveyed and passed through each of the liquid tanks, and sequentially undergoes development, fixing, and washing processes. The water-washed photographic paper 1 is supplied to the drying unit 13 and dried. Thereafter, the printing paper 1 passes through the sorting sensor 50.
[0027]
When the printing paper 1 passes through the sorting sensor 50 and the cut mark 2 is detected by the cutting position sensor 51 of the sorting sensor 50, the front and rear of the cut mark 2 are cut by the finishing cutter 34 based on the cut mark 2 and one sheet is cut. Photo print 1a is completed. This photo print 1a is finished by removing joint portions between frames on which the cut marks 2 are formed. The detection of the cut mark 2 and the cutting of the printing paper 1 are repeated, and the cut photographic print 1a is stored in one tray 36 in the sorter 35. Next, when the sort mark 3 is detected by the item boundary sensor 52 of the sorting sensors 50 and at the same time the cut mark 2 is also detected by the cutting position sensor 51, the printing paper 1 is cut by the finishing cutter 34 and Then, the sorter 35 is operated, and the subsequent photographic prints 1a are sorted and stored in the next tray 36.
[0028]
The operation is as described above. According to this embodiment, the cut mark 2 for detecting the cutting position of the photographic paper 1 is formed only at one end of the photographic paper 1, and the cut mark 2 like the cut mark 2 is formed at the other end. No mark is formed by perforation. For this reason, the punching device 40 may be provided only on one end side of the printing paper 1. Then, the sort mark 3 is given by the image forming exposure device 28 as a mark for identifying the boundary of the matter, and in particular, a special device for forming the sort mark 3 is not required. Therefore, the configuration is simplified and the cost is reduced.
[0029]
Further, since the sorting sensor 50 detects the case boundary only when the detection of the sort mark 3 by the case boundary sensor 52 and the detection of the cut mark 2 by the cutting position sensor 51 are both compatible, misjudgment of the case boundary is prevented. , Sorting is performed reliably.
[0030]
For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, an image (the tower spire 61) detected by the subject boundary sensor 52 is located on the side of the frame image where the sort mark 3 is formed (the upper end side in the figure). Or a dark image portion 62), the cut mark 2 is not formed at the opposite end corresponding to that position, so that it is not detected as a matter boundary. In the example of the image shown in FIG. 5A, as shown in the ON / OFF state of the detection signal shown in FIG. 5B, when the sort mark 3 and the cut mark 2 are detected (1), Only in this case, the detection of the boundary of the matter is determined to be “present”. Then, in the case of (2) in which only the sort mark 3 is detected, or in the case of (3) in which only the cut mark 2 is detected, the detection of the boundary of the matter is both "none". In this way, even if an image similar to the sort mark 3 is formed in the image, the boundary of the matter is surely identified.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a cut mark for detecting a frame is formed at one end of a photosensitive material, and a sort mark for detecting a sort is formed at the other end of the photosensitive material at an exposure unit for image formation. Therefore, a perforation device for forming a cut mark may be provided only at one end of the photosensitive material, and a dedicated device for forming a sort mark is not required. Therefore, the configuration is simplified and cost is reduced. It is planned. Further, since the boundary of the matter of the photosensitive material is identified based on the fact that both the cut mark and the sort mark have been detected at substantially the same time, the boundary of the matter is prevented from being erroneously recognized, and the sorting is performed reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a part of a photographic paper on which a cut mark and a sort mark are formed.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a structure of a punching device for forming a cut mark.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a sorting sensor.
5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the features of the sorting sensor, wherein FIG. 5A is a photographic paper, and FIG. 5B is a boundary detection method based on a combination of detection signals of a cutting position sensor and a subject boundary sensor constituting the sorting sensor. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: photographic paper (photosensitive material)
2 Cut mark 3 Sort mark 4A, 4B Case 10 Photoprinting device 28 Exposure device (exposure unit)
40: punching device 50: sorting sensor

Claims (1)

While conveying the photosensitive material, the photosensitive material is sequentially exposed to an image by an exposure unit and printed, and then, after developing and fixing the image, the photosensitive material is cut for each frame of the image, and the cut photosensitive material is removed. A photo printing device that sorts by case,
At one end in the width direction of the photosensitive material, a cut mark for recognizing a printing position of an image is formed by a punching device,
At the other end in the width direction of the photosensitive material, by applying a sort mark indicating the boundary of the matter by exposure,
In the cutting / sorting step, the cut mark is detected and the photosensitive material is cut for each frame, and when the cut mark and the sort mark are detected substantially simultaneously, the information is processed as case sorting information. Photo printing equipment.

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