JP2005015068A - Transferred article detection device and photo processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely prevent a transferred article detection device from being abnormally operated due to the occurrence of detection error while avoiding the complication of a system configuration. <P>SOLUTION: This transferred article detection device comprises a light emitting element 31 and a light receiving element 32 acting, for detection, on a transferred article 2 transferred through a transfer route, and a detection means PD detecting the presence or absence of the transferred article 2 at a detected position based on detection signals of the light receiving element 32. The detection means PD is formed to hold, even when power supply is stopped, the set state of adjustment parameters for adjusting in an appropriate detection state. In the transferred article detection device, when the detection information on the detection means PD is determined to be not normal in the adjustment operation by the change of setting of the adjustment parameters, the adjustment parameters are set so that the detection means PD detects and outputs that the transferred article 2 is present irrespective of the presence or absence of the transferred article 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that detect a transported object that is transported along a transport path, and detects the presence or absence of the transported object at a detection target location based on a detection signal of the light receiving element. The present invention relates to a transported object detection device provided with detection means, and a photo processing device provided with the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such a to-be-conveyed object detection apparatus detects the presence or absence of a to-be-conveyed object in the detection target location of a conveyance path | route, and the detection information is utilized for control of various related apparatuses.
As a general configuration of the transported object detection device, as described in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided, and light emitted from the light emitting element reaches the light receiving element. The presence / absence of the object to be transported at the detection target location is detected depending on the degree to which it is performed.
[0003]
In such a to-be-conveyed object detection apparatus, it is necessary to adjust so that the presence or absence of a to-be-conveyed object can be detected appropriately based on the detection information of a light receiving element. An adjustment operation is performed as an adjustment parameter.
Conventionally, during the adjustment operation of the transported object detection device, when any abnormality has occurred in the light emitting element, the light receiving element, or a peripheral circuit thereof, and the presence or absence of the transported object could not be properly detected. In general, a detection error is displayed and the operator of the apparatus is requested to take necessary measures.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-222466
[Patent Document 2]
JP 7-225283 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-89377 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the operator of the apparatus overlooks the display of the detection error, etc., and shifts to a normal operating state without taking necessary measures, and there is a preceding conveyed object. In some cases, an abnormal operation such as feeding a subsequent object to be conveyed and clogging the object to be conveyed in the conveyance path may occur.
That is, the case where the breaker of the device is accidentally cut before the operator confirms the display of the detection error or the like, or the abnormality occurs in the power supply device of the device temporarily.
Even in such a case, in order to reliably notify the detection error to the operator, for example, the fact that the detection error has occurred in the conveyed object detection device is stored in the nonvolatile memory, and a power supply abnormality has occurred. Sometimes it is conceivable to check the stored information and perform appropriate display or the like, but the control configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated accordingly.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to reliably prevent abnormal operation due to occurrence of a detection abnormality in the conveyed object detection device while avoiding complication of the device configuration. There is in point to do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
By providing the configuration according to claim 1, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that detect a transported object that is transported along the transport path are provided, and the detection target location is set based on a detection signal of the light-receiving element. In the transported object detection apparatus provided with detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the transported object, an adjustment control means for setting and changing an adjustment parameter for adjusting the detection means to be in an appropriate detection state is provided, The adjustment parameter setting state can be maintained even when the energization is stopped, and a detection state determination unit is provided for determining whether or not the detection information of the detection unit is normal during the adjustment operation by changing the adjustment parameter setting. The adjustment control unit adjusts the adjustment when the detection state determination unit determines that the detection information of the detection unit is not normal. Parameter, the said detecting means regardless of the presence or absence of the transported object sets the to output detection shall transferred object is present.
[0007]
That is, when using a transported object detection device having an adjustment function, normally, when the adjustment operation is performed by changing the setting of the adjustment parameter, the adjustment result is retained even at the restart. Even when the energization is stopped, the adjustment parameter setting state can be maintained.
Therefore, when it is determined that the detection information is not normal during the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device, the detection unit detects that the conveyed object exists regardless of the presence or absence of the conveyed object. It is set to do.
[0008]
As a result, even after the energization is stopped for some reason, the state in which the detected object is detected and output is maintained even if the object to be conveyed exists, so that the subsequent object to be conveyed is sent to the detection target location. It is detected that there is a transported object regardless of the transport control operation for the transported object, and that there is an abnormality in the transported object detection device. It is also easy to guess.
Therefore, it is possible to leave information about whether or not the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device has been normally performed by using the adjustment parameter setting state holding function that is originally provided. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the abnormal operation caused by the occurrence of the detection abnormality in the conveyed object detection device while avoiding the complication of.
[0009]
In addition, with the configuration according to the second aspect, the adjustment parameter is a light emission amount of the light emitting element, and the adjustment control unit is configured to change the setting of the light emission amount.
Therefore, for example, when the transported object blocks the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, the detected output is determined to be not normal during the adjustment operation of the transported object detection device. By setting the amount of emitted light to “0” (that is, stopping light emission), or setting the amount of emitted light to be sufficiently small, the detection means has the object to be conveyed regardless of the presence or absence of the object to be conveyed. It is set to detect and output.
The adjustment parameter includes, for example, a current-voltage conversion characteristic of the light receiving element or a comparison target value of a comparator for determining the presence / absence of an object to be transported on the light receiving element side. By directly setting the light emission amount of the element as an adjustment parameter, the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device can be performed accurately.
[0010]
Further, by providing the configuration according to claim 3, the adjustment control means is configured to set the adjustment parameter as digital data having a set number of bits, and includes a memory for storing and holding the adjustment parameter. Yes.
That is, with respect to the method for maintaining the setting state of the adjustment parameter, for example, if an actuator is attached to the potentiometer and the setting state of the potentiometer is changed by the actuator, the potentiometer can be set unless the actuator is operated. The state is stored as the adjustment parameter. By handling the adjustment parameter as digital data, consistency with the adjustment operation of the transported object detection apparatus by a microprocessor or the like is improved. It is also possible to simplify the apparatus configuration.
Note that the memory has a non-volatile function for data such as a flash memory or a non-volatile function for data by battery backup, so that the adjustment parameter can be set even when power is stopped. The setting state can be maintained.
[0011]
In addition, the photo processing apparatus is provided with the transported object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and includes the transported object during an initial adjustment operation. Is determined based on the detection information of the transported object detection device, and when it is determined that the photographic photosensitive material is present, a notification unit notifies the fact. Is configured to do.
[0012]
That is, in the photographic processing apparatus, in order to prevent processing of a photographic photosensitive material with unclear characteristics, the photographic photosensitive material is placed in the conveyance path of the photographic photosensitive material during the initial adjustment operation of the photographic processing apparatus. In many cases, it is checked whether or not the photographic photosensitive material is present, and if the photographic photosensitive material is present, the operator is notified of this fact and a request is made to exclude the photographic photosensitive material from the conveyance path.
[0013]
Therefore, when a detection abnormality occurs during the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection apparatus, the detection unit detects and outputs that the photographic material is present regardless of the presence or absence of the photographic material. By setting, even if any abnormality occurs in the power supply of the photo processing apparatus, it is possible to reliably prevent the photo processing apparatus from operating abnormally.
That is, when a detection abnormality occurs during the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device, the photosensitive material is present in the conveyance path when the power of the photographic processing apparatus is restored and the initial adjustment operation is started. Information to that effect is notified to the operator, and necessary countermeasures can be taken.
[0014]
Further, by providing the configuration according to claim 5, a plurality of pairs of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided with a plurality of locations on the transport path as detection target locations, and the plurality of pairs are provided during the initial adjustment operation. The adjustment operation is sequentially executed for the pair of light emitting elements and light receiving elements.
That is, when a plurality of pairs of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements are provided in the photographic processing apparatus and the adjustment operation is sequentially performed for each pair, even if a detection abnormality occurs in any pair, the abnormal stop immediately Rather than letting it go, it is desirable to continue the adjustment operation for other pairs while retaining information about the detected abnormality.
Therefore, as described above, it is particularly preferable to hold the information when the detection abnormality has occurred as the adjustment parameter setting state for each adjustment operation for each pair of the light emitting element and the light receiving element. .
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments in the case where a transported object detection device of the present invention is provided in a photo print system will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The photographic print system DP exemplified in the present embodiment is known as a so-called digital minilab machine, and as shown in FIG. 5, developed photographic film, memory card, MO or CD-R. An image input device IR for inputting image data for producing a photographic print from the above, and an exposure / development device EP for exposing the image data input by the image input device IR to the photographic paper 2 as the photographic photosensitive material PS; It is composed of
In the present embodiment, an exposure / development apparatus EP, which is an example of a photographic processing apparatus, is provided with a conveyed object detection device, and a photographic photosensitive material PS (more specifically, photographic paper 2) that is an conveyed object is provided. The case where it is set as a detection target will be described.
[0016]
[Schematic configuration of image input device IR]
As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the image input device IR includes a film scanner 3 for reading frame images of a photographic film, an external input / output device 4 including a memory reader, an MO drive, a CD-R drive, and the like, The main control device 5 is configured by a general-purpose small computer system and controls the film scanner 3 and the external input / output device 4 and performs management of the entire photo print system DP. A monitor 5a for displaying a simulated image simulating a finished print image and various control information is connected to a console 5b for manually setting exposure conditions and inputting control information.
[0017]
[Overall configuration of exposure / development apparatus EP]
The exposure / development apparatus EP includes an image exposure apparatus EX, a development processing apparatus PP for developing the photographic paper 2 exposed by the image exposure apparatus EX, and a photographic paper magazine 6 disposed in the casing. Is provided with a photographic paper transporting system PT for transporting the photographic paper 2 drawn out from the paper to the developing device PP.
As shown in FIG. 5, a sorter 7 for classifying the photographic paper 2 developed and dried by the development processing apparatus PP for each order and a development processing apparatus are provided outside the housing of the exposure / development apparatus EP. A conveyor 10 for conveying the photographic paper 2 discharged from the PP discharge port 8 to the sorter 7 is provided.
[0018]
[Configuration of image exposure apparatus EX]
The image exposure apparatus EX includes an image exposure unit 13 that forms an exposure image on the photographic paper 2 by scanning the photographic paper 2 with a laser beam, and an exposure control device 14 that controls the image exposure unit 13. It is configured as.
[0019]
[Configuration of photographic paper transport system PT]
The photographic paper transport system PT is provided with a large number of transport rollers 9 and a transport control device 20 that controls the operation of the transport rollers 9, and transports the photographic paper 2 guided by a photographic paper guide (not shown). .
In the middle of the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT, a cutter 11 for cutting the long photographic paper 2 drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 6 into a set print size, and for distributing the photographic paper 2 to a plurality of conveyance rows. In addition to the sorting device 12, a plurality of paper sensors 21 are provided as a transported object detection device MS for detecting the presence or absence of the photographic photosensitive material PS, that is, the photographic paper 2, in the transport path of the photographic paper transport system PT. FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the paper sensor 21 is arranged in the vicinity of the photographic paper outlet of the photographic paper magazine 6, the downstream position of the cutter 11, and the upstream position and the downstream position of the exposure position by the image exposure unit 13. However, the arrangement position and the number of arrangement of the paper sensor 21 are appropriately changed as necessary.
[0020]
[Configuration of Paper Sensor 21]
As schematically shown in FIG. 2, each paper sensor 21 includes a light emitting element 31 and a light receiving element 32 that act on the photographic paper 2 conveyed along the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT. ing. In the present embodiment, a light emitting diode is illustrated as the light emitting element 31, and a photodiode is illustrated as the light receiving element 32, and the light emitting elements are arranged so as to be distributed across the conveyance path of the photographic paper 2 in the photographic paper conveyance system PT. The presence of the photographic paper 2 can be detected when the photographic paper 2 enters between “31” and the light receiving element 32 and “shields”. In order to prevent the photographic paper 2 from being exposed to light, the light emitting element 31 is composed of an infrared light emitting diode that emits infrared light.
[0021]
The amount of light emitted from the light emitting element 31 of the paper sensor 21 is controlled by digital data of a set number of bits (for example, 8 bits) output from the conveyance control device 20, and the digital data received from the conveyance control device 20 is stored in the paper sensor 21. A register 33 for storing and holding, a D / A converter 34 for converting digital data held in the register 33 into an analog voltage, and a current corresponding to a control voltage value input from the D / A converter 34 as a light emitting element A current control circuit 35 that supplies power to the power supply 31 is provided. Accordingly, the digital data stored and held in the register 33 corresponds to the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element 31 itself.
[0022]
On the other hand, on the light receiving element 32 side of the paper sensor 21, an I / V conversion circuit 36 that converts the output current of the light receiving element 32 to I / V, an output voltage of the I / V conversion circuit 36, and a reference voltage generation circuit 37 are output. A comparator 38 for comparing with a reference voltage is provided.
When the paper sensor 21 is properly adjusted and the photographic paper 2 is not present between the light emitting element 31 and the light receiving element 32, the light emitted from the light emitting element 31 is incident on the light receiving element 32. When the voltage output from the V conversion circuit 36 is higher than the output voltage (reference voltage) of the reference voltage generation circuit 37, and conversely, the photographic paper 2 exists between the light emitting element 31 and the light receiving element 32. The light emitted from the light emitting element 31 is blocked by the photographic paper 2 and hardly enters the light receiving element 32, and the voltage output from the I / V conversion circuit 36 is the output voltage (reference voltage) of the reference voltage generating circuit 37. Lower than.
[0023]
The output of the comparator 38 that compares the two input voltages includes a “transmission” detection state in which the photographic paper 2 does not exist at the detection target portion and a “light-shielding” detection state in which the photographic paper 2 exists at the detection target portion. Information on the state of the photographic paper 2 at the location to be detected by the paper sensor 21 can be obtained as information on the two states. Accordingly, the I / V conversion circuit 36, the reference voltage generation circuit 37, and the comparator 38 constitute detection means PD that detects the presence or absence of the photographic paper 2 in the transport path based on the detection signal of the light receiving element 32.
[0024]
[Adjustment operation of paper sensor 21]
Next, the adjustment operation of the paper sensor 21 executed under the control of the transport control device 20 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the operator inputs an instruction to start the adjustment operation of the paper sensor 21 from the console 5b in a state where the photographic paper 2 does not exist in the conveyance path of the photographic paper conveyance system PT, the conveyance control device 20 starts the process of FIG. Then, the adjustment operation is sequentially performed on the plurality of paper sensors 21. Since the detection target is common, the adjustment operation for each paper sensor 21 is common, and the process of FIG. 3 basically shows the process for one paper sensor 21. Of course, the adjustment results differ depending on the element characteristics due to changes over time and the like, and the adjustment results of the respective paper sensors 21 are stored and stored as will be described later.
[0025]
The conveyance control device 20 stores the number of set bits to be stored and held in the register 33 of the paper sensor 21 as an adjustment parameter for adjusting the detection state so that the paper sensor 21 can appropriately detect the presence or absence of the photographic paper 2 at the detection target portion. Managing digital data.
As described above, the digital data stored and held in the register 33 corresponds to the drive current of the light emitting element 31, and is thus directly connected to the light emission amount of the light emitting element 31.
In the following, this digital data is referred to as “light quantity setting data”. The larger the value of this “light quantity setting data”, the larger the emitted light quantity of the light emitting element 31, and the “light quantity setting data” is set to the maximum value. The description will be made assuming that the light emission amount of the light emitting element 31 is within the maximum rating.
[0026]
When the processing of FIG. 3 is started, the conveyance control device 20 gradually increases the light amount setting data from a state of “0” (that is, a state where the drive current of the light emitting element 31 is “0”) (step #). 3).
As described above, the adjustment operation of the paper sensor 21 is executed in a state where the photographic printing paper 2 does not exist between the light emitting element 31 and the light receiving element 32, so that the light receiving element 32 increases as the light emission amount of the light emitting element 31 increases. The output of the side comparator 38 shifts from the “light-shielding” detection state to the “transmission” detection state.
When the output of the comparator 38 shifts to the “transmission” detection state (Step # 1), the transport control device 20 sets the light emission amount of the light emission amount of the light emitting element 31 at that time to a set multiple (for example, three times) of the normal amount. It is provisionally determined as the optimum light amount used for detecting the presence or absence of the photographic paper 2 during operation (step # 4).
[0027]
On the other hand, even if the light quantity setting data reaches the maximum value, if the comparator 38 does not shift to “transmission” detection (steps # 1 and # 2), either the light emitting element 31 side or the light receiving element 32 side is abnormal. Occurs and the output of the comparator 38 is considered to be not normal, so “detection abnormality registration” is performed (step # 13). Hereinafter, the state where the output of the comparator 38 is not normal may be abbreviated as “detection abnormality”.
In the detection abnormality registration, the light quantity setting data as the adjustment parameter is detected and output (that is, “light-shielding” is detected) as the output of the comparator 38 regardless of the presence or absence of the photographic paper 2. This is done by setting as follows. Specifically, the light quantity setting data is set to “0”, that is, a state in which no driving current is passed through the light emitting element 31, and this setting state is stored in the nonvolatile memory 20 a provided in the transport control device 20. Save and save. Further, the register value of the paper sensor 21 in which the detection abnormality has occurred is set to “0”. Therefore, even when the energization of the exposure / development apparatus EP is stopped, the setting state of the adjustment parameter, that is, the set value of the light amount setting data can be held.
[0028]
When the output of the comparator 38 shifts to the “transmission” detection state before the light amount setting data reaches the maximum value and the “optimum light amount” is provisionally determined (step # 4), the paper sensor 21 A process for confirming whether or not the detection state is normal is executed.
This confirmation process of whether the detection state is normal is performed for the following four items. In the confirmation process of the following four items, when an abnormality occurs in a circuit component or the like after provisional determination of the optimum light amount in step # 4, for example, dust adheres to the light emitting element 31 or the light receiving element 32 in an unstable state. Even when the operating environment of the paper sensor 21 has changed, such as when the attachment state has changed, it can be identified that the detection is abnormal. All items are performed in a state where the photographic paper 2 does not exist at the detection target portion of the paper sensor 21 as before.
[0029]
First, in the first item, the light quantity setting data is set to “0”, and if the output of the comparator 38 is in a “transmission” detection state, it is determined that the detection is abnormal (steps # 5 and # 6). . This determination is based on the fact that when the light quantity setting data is set to “0”, the drive current does not flow through the light emitting element 31, and the light receiving element 32 does not receive light on setting. This is because the comparator 38 needs to be in a “light-shielding” detection state. However, there is almost no detection abnormality in the first item, and there is a strong positive meaning.
For the second item, the light quantity setting data is set to the maximum value, and if the output of the comparator 38 is in the “light shielding” detection state, it is determined that there is a detection abnormality (steps # 7 and # 8). This determination is based on the fact that when the light quantity setting data is set to the maximum value, the light emitting element 31 emits light with the maximum light quantity that can be set. Because there is no room for adjustment anymore.
[0030]
In the third item, the light amount setting data is set to the optimum light amount temporarily determined in step # 4, and if the comparator 38 is in the “light-shielding” detection state, it is determined that the detection is abnormal (step # 9). , # 10). This determination is made in spite of the fact that the light emitting element 31 is operated with a light emission amount sufficiently larger than the light emission amount when it is determined in step # 1 that the state has shifted to the “transmission” detection state. The reason for detecting “shading” is that it is recognized that there has been an abnormality in the provisional determination of the optimum light amount in step # 4. This item also has the meaning of confirming the operation in the same state as when the photographic paper 2 is not present at the detection target location of the paper sensor 21 during the normal operation.
[0031]
The fourth item is that the light amount setting data is set to data that is 1 / N (for example, 1/9) of the optimum light amount temporarily determined in Step # 4, and the comparator 38 is in a state of detecting “transmission”. If there is, it is determined that there is a detection abnormality (steps # 11 and # 12). This determination is based on the fact that the “transmission” is detected even though the light emitting element 31 is operated with a light emission amount sufficiently smaller than the temporarily determined optimum light amount. This is because it is recognized that there was some abnormality regarding the provisional determination of the amount of light. Also, this item does not place the photographic paper 2 at the detection target location of the paper sensor 21, but creates a state that is equivalent to the presence of the photographic paper 2 at the detection target location of the paper sensor 21 during normal operation. It also has the meaning of confirming the operating state. Furthermore, in the process of decreasing the light amount from the optimal light amount in step # 9 to 1 / N of the optimal light amount in step # 11, it is necessary to confirm that the state properly shifts from the “transmission” detection state to the “light shielding” detection state It also has. This is because the optimum light amount is provisionally determined in the process of increasing the light emission amount, so that if there is an excessive hysteresis phenomenon in the output of the comparator 38, the photographic paper 2 is properly detected in the process of decreasing the light reception amount of the light receiving element 32. This is because there is a possibility that it will not be possible to perform.
[0032]
If any one of the above four items of confirmation processing is determined to be a detection abnormality, “detection abnormality registration” is performed (step # 13). This detection abnormality registration is as described above.
On the other hand, when it is determined that all of the above four items of confirmation processing are normal, the optimum light amount provisionally determined in step # 4 is specified as a formal optimum light amount during normal operation, and the value is set. The value is set in the register 33 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 20a provided in the transport control device 20 (step # 14).
When the above processing operation is executed for all the paper sensors 21 (step # 15), the adjustment processing in FIG. 3 is terminated.
From the above, the transport control device 20 functions as the adjustment control means CC that changes the setting of the adjustment parameter for adjusting the detection means PD to be in the proper detection state, and at the time of the adjustment operation by changing the setting of the adjustment parameter. 2 functions as detection state determination means DC for determining whether or not the detection information of the detection means PD is normal.
[0033]
(Initial adjustment operation)
Next, of the initial adjustment operation executed as the exposure / development apparatus EP is turned on, the part related to the paper sensor 21 is based on the flowchart of FIG. A brief description will be given.
[0034]
First, the conveyance control device 20 sequentially reads out the data of the optimum light amount for each of the paper sensors 21 stored and stored in the nonvolatile memory 20a, and sets the data in the register 33 of the corresponding paper sensor 21 (step #). 21, # 22).
Next, it is confirmed for all the paper sensors 21 whether or not the photographic paper 2 exists at the detection target location of each paper sensor 21 (steps # 23 and # 24), and the presence of the photographic paper 2 is detected by any one of them. Then (step # 25), data for stopping the conveyance process of the photographic paper 2 is set (step # 26), and information specifying the paper sensor 21 that has detected the presence of the photographic paper 2 is transmitted to the main controller 5. Then, information for specifying the paper sensor 21 that has detected the presence of the photographic paper 2 and guidance indicating that the conveyance path of the photographic paper 2 should be excluded are displayed on the monitor 5a as the notification means AL (step #). 27).
[0035]
When a detection abnormality occurs in the adjustment operation of the paper sensor 21 and the light amount setting data is stored and stored in the nonvolatile memory 20a as “0”, the output of the comparator 38 is practically irrespective of whether or not the photographic paper 2 is present. Is in a state of detecting “shading”, and is displayed on the monitor 5a as photographic paper 2 is present.
The operator confirms the inside of the housing of the exposure / development apparatus EP by looking at the monitor display, and when the photographic paper 2 does not exist at the detection target portion of the paper sensor 21 designated by the monitor 5a, the operator detects it. It is possible to recognize that an abnormality has occurred.
In most cases, such a detection abnormality occurs due to dust adhering to the light emitting element 31 or the light receiving element 32, and the operator performs an operation to remove the dust attached to the light emitting element 31 or the light receiving element. Will do.
[0036]
[Photo print production operation]
Next, a photographic print production operation by the photographic print system DP having the above configuration will be schematically described.
When the operator inputs an instruction to make a photographic print for a photographic film frame image, the main controller 5 instructs the film scanner 3 to read the photographic film, and the image data of the photographic film is sent from the film scanner 3. Are sequentially received and recorded in a built-in memory.
On the other hand, when the operator inputs an instruction to create a photographic print for image data recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card, MO, or CD-R, the main controller 5 selects the corresponding drive of the external input / output device 4. The image data is instructed to be read, and the image data is sequentially received from the drive and recorded in the memory.
[0037]
Based on the image data input as described above, the main control unit 5 calculates a simulated image that would be obtained when a print was produced using the image data by an image processing circuit (not shown). And display it on the monitor 5a.
The operator observes the simulated image on the monitor 5a, and if an appropriate image is not obtained, the operator performs an exposure condition correction input operation from the console 5b.
The image processing circuit of the main controller 5 generates exposure image data for each of red, green, and blue under predetermined calculation conditions in accordance with the input image data and its correction input.
[0038]
This image data for exposure is sent to the exposure control device 14 of the exposure / development apparatus EP, and when it is detected that the front end of the photographic paper 2 has been transported to a predetermined exposure start position, the image exposure unit 13 prints the photographic paper. A latent image of the print image is formed on No. 2.
The photographic paper 2 subjected to the exposure processing by the image exposure unit 13 is transported to the development processing device PP by the photographic paper transport system PT, and is developed by sequentially passing through the development processing tanks. 2 is further dried and then discharged from the discharge port 8 onto the conveyor 10 and collected by the sorter 7 for each order.
[0039]
[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, the exposure / development apparatus EP is illustrated as the photographic processing apparatus, and the transported object detection apparatus MS that detects the photographic paper 2 as the photographic photosensitive material PS is illustrated. As the processing apparatus, for example, the present invention can be applied to various photographic processing apparatuses such as a photographic film developing apparatus and a film scanner. For the photographic photosensitive material PS to be detected, various photographic photosensitive materials PS are detected accordingly. Can be applied to.
[0040]
(2) Although the light emitting diode is exemplified as the light emitting element 31 in the above embodiment, various light emitting elements such as a laser diode and an EL element can be used.
(3) Although the photodiode is illustrated as the light receiving element 32 in the above embodiment, various light receiving elements such as a phototransistor can be used.
(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the light emitted from the light emitting element 31 is directly received by the light receiving element 32 is exemplified. For example, the light emitted from the light emitting element 31 is printed by an optical fiber. The light is guided to the transport path of the paper transport system PT, and the light emitted from the optical fiber is guided to the light receiving element 32 by another optical fiber, and the light emitting element 31 and the light receiving element 32 are arranged at positions separated from the transport path. You may comprise as follows.
[0041]
(5) In the above embodiment, the case where the presence or absence of the photographic paper 2 is detected by arranging the photographic paper 2 to be detected to pass between the light emitting element 31 and the light receiving element 32 is illustrated. The light that is emitted from the light emitting element 31 and reflected by the photographic paper 2 may be detected by the light receiving element 32.
(6) In the above embodiment, the light emission amount of the light emitting element 31 is used as an adjustment parameter for adjusting the conveyed object detection device MS to an appropriate operation state. For example, the I / V in the above embodiment is used. The adjustment parameter can be variously changed by using the conversion ratio of the conversion circuit 36 or the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generation circuit 37.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the configuration of the first aspect, when a detection abnormality occurs during the adjustment operation of the transported object detection device, the state in which the transported object is present is detected and output even after the energization is stopped. Since it is held, a controlled state in which the subsequent transported object is sent to the detection target portion of the transported object detection device does not become a control state, and the transported object is not related to the transport control operation for the transported object. Since it is detected and output that it is present, it is easy to guess that an abnormality has occurred in the conveyed object detection device.
Therefore, it is possible to leave information about whether or not the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device has been normally performed by using the adjustment parameter setting state holding function that is originally provided. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the abnormal operation caused by the occurrence of the detection abnormality in the conveyed object detection device while avoiding the complication of.
[0043]
Further, according to the configuration of the second aspect, the adjustment operation of the transported object detection device can be accurately performed by directly setting the light emission amount of the light emitting element in which the characteristic is likely to change over time as an adjustment parameter. it can.
Further, according to the configuration of the third aspect, by handling the adjustment parameter as digital data, the consistency with managing the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device by a microprocessor or the like becomes good. It is also possible to simplify the apparatus configuration.
[0044]
Further, according to the configuration of the above-described claim 4, in the photographic processing apparatus, in order to prevent processing of a photographic photosensitive material having an unclear feature, the photographic processing apparatus can perform photographic processing during the initial adjustment operation. It is checked whether or not photographic photosensitive material is present in the photosensitive material conveyance path, and if photographic photosensitive material is present, the operator is informed to that effect so that the photographic photosensitive material is excluded from the conveyance path. Therefore, when the detection abnormality occurs during the adjustment operation of the conveyed object detection device, the detection means sets the adjustment parameter regardless of the presence or absence of the photographic photosensitive material. By setting to detect and output that the image processing device is present, it is possible to reliably prevent the photo processing device from operating abnormally even if there is any abnormality in the power supply of the photo processing device. .
[0045]
According to the configuration described in claim 5, when a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and light receiving elements are provided in the photographic processing apparatus and the adjustment operation is sequentially performed for each pair, any one of the pairs is performed. Even if a detection abnormality occurs, instead of immediately stopping the abnormality, it is desirable to continue the adjustment operation for other pairs while holding information about the detection abnormality, so as described above, For each adjustment operation for each pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, it is particularly preferable that information when a detection abnormality occurs is held as a setting state of the adjustment parameter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photo print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a photographic print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
20a memory
31 Light emitting device
32 Light receiving element
AL notification means
CC adjustment control means
DC detection state discrimination means
EP photo processing equipment
MS Conveyed object detection device
PD detection means
PS Photosensitive material

Claims (5)

A light emitting element and a light receiving element that detect a transported object that is transported along the transport path are provided, and a detecting unit that detects the presence or absence of the transported object at a detection target location based on a detection signal of the light receiving element. A conveyed object detection device,
An adjustment control means for setting and changing an adjustment parameter for adjusting the detection means to be in an appropriate detection state is provided, and is configured to be able to hold the setting state of the adjustment parameter even when energization is stopped.
A detection state determination means for determining whether or not the detection information of the detection means is normal at the time of the adjustment operation by the adjustment parameter setting change,
When the detection state determination unit determines that the detection information of the detection unit is not normal, the adjustment control unit sets the adjustment parameter to the detection unit regardless of the presence or absence of the conveyed object. A to-be-conveyed object detection device configured to detect and output that a to-be-conveyed object exists. The adjustment parameter is a light emission amount of the light emitting element,
The conveyed object detection device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment control unit is configured to change the setting of the light emission amount. The adjustment control means is configured to set the adjustment parameter as digital data having a set number of bits,
The conveyed object detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores and holds the adjustment parameter. The conveyed object detection device according to claim 1 is provided.
At the time of initial adjustment operation, it is determined whether or not the photosensitive material that is the transported object is present in the transport path based on detection information of the transported object detection device, and when it is determined that the photographic photosensitive material is present A photographic processing apparatus configured to notify the user of that fact by an informing means. A plurality of pairs of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided with a plurality of locations on the transport path as detection target locations,
The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment operation is sequentially performed on the plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and light receiving elements during the initial adjustment operation.

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