JP2006154165A - Photo-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo-processing apparatus capable of outputting a beautiful print free from image disturbance and nonuniform coloring even on long photosensitive materials. <P>SOLUTION: The photo-processing apparatus includes: a photosensitive material supply section 33 for conveying photosensitive materials P drawn from paper magazines 3a and 3b storing the long photosensitive materials P; a scanning exposure section 2 for exposing each photosensitive material P while conveying the photosensitive material P, conveyed from the photosensitive material supply section, at a predetermined speed; and a developing section 7 for developing the photosensitive material P exposed by the scanning exposure section. The photo-processing apparatus is provided with loop forming sections 6a and 6b accumulating the photosensitive material P in the upstream and downstream of the scanning exposure section 2. The conveying speed of the photosensitive material P in the scanning exposure section 2 and that of the photosensitive material P in the developing section 7 are set to be made equal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention exposes a photosensitive material supply unit that conveys a photosensitive material drawn from a paper magazine containing a long photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material conveyed by the photosensitive material supply unit while conveying the photosensitive material at a predetermined speed. A loop forming unit that includes a scanning exposure unit and a development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material exposed in the scanning exposure unit, and accumulates the photosensitive material on the upstream side of the scanning exposure unit and the downstream side of the scanning exposure unit The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus.

As a photographic processing apparatus equipped with the photosensitive material supply device described above, a single conveying means for conveying a plurality of sheet-like photosensitive materials arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval along the column direction, and exposing in an exposure area. And a single exposure system in which the size of each image information to be set is at least larger than the size of each photosensitive material, and each of the conveying means can be independently operated to change the conveyance path length of the photosensitive material. There has been proposed a photographic processing apparatus provided with an accumulator in which a plurality of guide members are provided along the row direction of the photosensitive material.
JP-A-8-314022

  However, in the conventional photographic processing apparatus described above, since the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material in the exposure region, that is, the conveyance speed in the development processing section is relatively low with respect to the exposure speed, in order to increase the photographic processing capability. The photosensitive material is transported in parallel to simultaneously expose a plurality of photosensitive materials. When a long photosensitive material is transported and exposed with such an apparatus, the rear end of the photosensitive material is exposed with a cutter during exposure. There is a problem that the image is disturbed by vibration generated when cutting, and the image during exposure is similarly disturbed by an impact caused by a speed difference generated when the leading edge of the exposed photosensitive material is introduced into the development processing unit.

  Therefore, in order to buffer the impact when the trailing edge of the photosensitive material is cut and when the leading edge is inserted into the development processing section, it is necessary to store a part of the photosensitive material in a loop shape by the loop forming section (accumulator). Even in this case, there has been a problem that uneven coloring appears because the time from the exposure to the development processing differs between the front end and the rear end of the photosensitive material. In particular, it was difficult to output a so-called rocker print having a photosensitive material length of 36 inches without color unevenness.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described conventional drawbacks, the present invention is to provide a photographic processing apparatus capable of outputting a beautiful photographic print that does not cause image distortion or color unevenness even with a long photosensitive material.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first characteristic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention is drawn from a paper magazine in which a long photosensitive material is accommodated as described in claim 1 of the document. A photosensitive material supply unit that conveys the photosensitive material, a scanning exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive material conveyed by the photosensitive material supply unit at a predetermined speed, and develops the photosensitive material exposed by the scanning exposure unit. A development processing unit that includes a loop forming unit that accumulates the photosensitive material on the upstream side of the scanning exposure unit and the downstream side of the scanning exposure unit. The material conveyance speed and the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the development processing unit are set to be the same.

  According to the above-described configuration, when the trailing end of the photosensitive material is cut, the photosensitive material is bent by the loop forming portion provided on the upstream side of the scanning exposure unit, so that the impact generated during the operation of the cutter can be buffered. It is possible to avoid disturbance of the image in the photosensitive material during exposure, and because the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the scanning exposure unit and the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the development processing unit are set to be the same, Both the leading edge and the trailing edge of the exposed photosensitive material can be transported to the development processing section after the same amount of time has elapsed after exposure. You can get a print.

  As described in the second aspect, the second characteristic configuration includes a photosensitive material supply unit that conveys a photosensitive material drawn from a paper magazine in which a long photosensitive material is accommodated, and a conveyance by the photosensitive material supply unit. A scanning exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive material conveyed at a predetermined speed, and a development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material exposed in the scanning exposure unit, and an upstream side of the scanning exposure unit and the scanning exposure unit A photographic processing apparatus provided with a loop forming section for accumulating the photosensitive material on the downstream side of the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material transport speed in the scanning exposure section and the photosensitive material transport speed in the development processing section A speed control unit that switches based on the length in the transport direction is provided.

  According to the above configuration, when outputting a photographic print with a long photosensitive material, the speed control unit causes the photosensitive material transport speed in the scanning exposure unit and the photosensitive material transport speed in the development processing unit to be the same. By switching so that both the leading edge and the trailing edge of the exposed photosensitive material can be transported to the development processing section after the same time after exposure, color unevenness due to the time difference after exposure can be achieved. When a short print is output, the speed control unit controls the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the scanning exposure unit to convey the photosensitive material in the development processing unit. By switching so as to be faster than the speed, the photographic processing efficiency can be increased.

  According to the third characteristic configuration, as described in the third aspect, in the second characteristic configuration described above, the speed control unit is configured to perform at least the development when the length of the photosensitive material in the conveyance direction is larger than a predetermined length. The point is that switching is performed so as to be the same as the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material in the processing section.

  According to the above-described configuration, color unevenness is generated by switching the conveyance speed when the conveyance direction length of the photosensitive material is a predetermined length that is longer than the distance between the exposure position in the scanning exposure unit and the entrance of the development processing unit. It can be effectively prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographic processing apparatus capable of outputting a beautiful photographic print that does not cause image disturbance or color unevenness even with a long photosensitive material. became.

  The photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographic processing apparatus 1 includes a photosensitive material supply device 3 and a back print as a printing unit that prints a film ID, a frame number, and the like on the back surface of the photosensitive material P supplied from the photosensitive material supply device 3. Part 4, exposure apparatus 5 having a pair of left and right exposure heads 5a and 5b of a PLZT shutter system as a printing part for exposing the emulsion surface of photosensitive material P after back printing based on output image data, A scanning exposure unit 2 provided with loop forming units 6a and 6b provided for accumulating a part in a loop shape, a color development / fixing processing device 8 for color development / fixation processing of the exposed photosensitive material P, and fixing The development processing unit 7 includes a drying device 9 for drying the subsequent photosensitive material P. The dried photosensitive material is output from the print discharge port 10. These units 2 and 7 are connected by a transport unit having a transport mechanism 11 formed of a plurality of rollers, a conveyor, and the like formed between the photosensitive material supply device 3 and the print discharge port 10.

  On the side facing the print discharge port 10, there are drive commands for drive control units (not shown) of the photosensitive material supply device 3, the exposure device 5, the color development / fixing processing device 8, the drying device 9, and the transport mechanism 11. Is provided, and a control unit 20 is provided for managing the operation status according to reports from the respective drive control units, and the control unit 20 is read with a film scanner 21 that reads image information of the developed negative film or positive film. A monitor 22 for displaying image data, an input device 23 for inputting image data stored in a portable recording medium, and the like are provided.

  Although not shown, the exposure heads 5a and 5b guide light from a light source lamp to a shutter array arranged in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, which is the conveyance direction of the photosensitive material P, through the optical fiber bundle. The photosensitive material P is conveyed one dot row at a time in the sub-scanning direction while being exposed in the main scanning direction by the shutter array, whereby exposure based on predetermined image data is performed on the photosensitive material P. Note that the configuration of the exposure apparatus 5 can use a fluorescent beam system, a liquid crystal shutter system, a laser beam system, etc. in addition to the PLZT shutter system.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit includes a drawer transport unit A as the photosensitive material supply device 3, a pre-sorting transport unit B, a sorting transport unit C, an exposure transport unit D, and a post-exposure transport unit E. Yes.

  The drawer conveyance unit A (photosensitive material supply device 3) is detachably mounted with a pair of left and right paper magazines 30a and 30b in which a long photosensitive material P is accommodated, and is pulled out from one of the paper magazines 30a and 30b. The photosensitive material P is supplied to the photosensitive material supply unit 33 which is a common conveyance path by the advance rollers 31a and 31b, and the photosensitive material P supplied to the photosensitive material supply unit 33 is supplied to the photosensitive material cutting unit 34 by a predetermined print size. And is conveyed in a single row to the pre-sorting conveyance unit B. A photosensitive material detection sensor 35 is provided on the upstream side of the photosensitive material cutting unit 34, and is used to measure the cutting timing of the photosensitive material cutting unit 34 by detecting the front end of the conveyed photosensitive material P.

  The pre-sorting conveyance section B includes a driving roller 9a that abuts on the non-emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material P and a pressure roller 9b that abuts on the emulsion surface side. Thus, a pair of transport roller units 9a and 9b that can press and release the photosensitive material P between the driving roller 9a and the pressure roller 9b are disposed. A loop forming portion 6a for accumulating the photosensitive material P is provided on the downstream side of the transport roller units 9a and 9b. When the loop is formed, a guide plate provided parallel to the transport line is opened and closed vertically to open and close the photosensitive material. It is configured to provide a space that can be accumulated. When a photographic print is output using a long photosensitive material, the photosensitive material P is bent by the loop forming portion 6a, thereby buffering an impact generated when the cutter of the photosensitive material cutting portion 34 is operated.

  On the downstream side of the loop forming portion 6a, correction information indicating the film ID and frame number on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material P drawn from the paper magazines 30a and 30b and image processing performed at the time of print data creation. A back print unit 4 is provided, and two sets of transport roller units 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b are arranged so as to sandwich the back print unit 4. The downstream conveyance roller unit constitutes a photosensitive material carry-out area and has the same configuration as the conveyance roller units 9a and 9b.

  In the drawer transport unit A and the pre-sorting transport unit B (these correspond to the paper supply line), the photosensitive material P is transported in one row, and the exposure transport unit D and the post-exposure transport unit E (these are exposure transports). In this case, the photosensitive material P is simultaneously conveyed in one or two rows. In order to enable conveyance in two rows, a wide conveyance roller unit and a guide member corresponding to each row are provided. However, although the intermediate drive roller 12a is a wide roller that covers two rows, the intermediate pressure roller 12b is divided into a right row and a left row. That is, it comprises an intermediate drive roller 12a that is in contact with the non-emulsion surface side of the cut photosensitive material P, and a first intermediate pressure roller and a second intermediate pressure roller that are displaceable with respect to the intermediate drive roller 12a. In the case of being conveyed in a row, the first intermediate pressure roller presses the photosensitive material P conveyed in the right row, and the second intermediate pressure roller presses the photosensitive material P conveyed in the left row. The crimping / releasing operation can be performed independently of each other.

  The sorting and conveying unit C receives the photosensitive material P cut by the photosensitive material cutting unit 34 in the photosensitive material carry-out area, and a first moving mechanism (not shown) to one row position of the photosensitive material carry-in area provided with the intermediate drive roller 12a. First chucker means 60A that is moved by a second movement mechanism (not shown) and a second chucker means 60B that moves the received photosensitive material P to the other row position in the photosensitive material carry-in area. Yes. Each moving mechanism includes a lateral movement mechanism that moves each chucker means 60A and 60B in the transverse direction of the photosensitive material conveyance direction, and a vertical movement that includes each chucker means 60A and 60B and that moves the lateral movement mechanism in the photosensitive material conveyance direction. The photosensitive material P received from the photosensitive material carry-out area is delivered to the photosensitive material carry-in area in two rows.

  The exposure transport unit D includes a sensor 36 for detecting the front end of the photosensitive material P disposed so as to sandwich the left and right exposure heads 5a and 5b of the exposure apparatus 5, a first exposure transport roller unit on the entrance side, and an exit side A first exposure transport roller unit, the first exposure transport roller unit being in contact with the non-emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material P, and the first exposure transport roller 13a. The first exposure pressure roller 13b is displaceable. The second exposure transport roller unit has a second exposure transport roller 14a that is in contact with the non-emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material P, and a second exposure pressure roller 14b that is displaceable to the second exposure transport roller 14a. ing. The first and second exposure transport rollers 13a and 14a are synchronously driven by a belt transmission mechanism from a single drive source, and the first and second exposure press rollers 13b and 14b are independently opposed to the exposure transport rollers 13a and 14a, respectively. It is possible to displace the perspective.

  The post-exposure transport unit E includes, in addition to the normal transport roller group 16, a loop forming unit 6b for adjusting the transport speed difference of the photosensitive material in the scanning exposure unit 2 and the development processing unit 7 and accumulating the photosensitive material P. Third exposure transport roller units 15a and 15b and a photosensitive material detection sensor 37 are provided. Similarly to the loop forming portion 6a, the loop forming portion 6b is configured such that a guide plate is provided between the transport roller units, and a space in which the photosensitive material can be accumulated is provided by opening and closing the guide plate vertically. The roller unit includes a third exposure conveyance roller 15a that is in contact with the non-emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material P, and a third exposure pressure roller 15b that is displaceable with respect to the third exposure conveyance roller 15a.

  The speed control unit provided in the control unit 20 is configured to switch the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material P based on the length of the photosensitive material P in the conveyance direction. When the photosensitive material P is selected so that the photosensitive material P is longer than the length from the exposure device 5 to the photosensitive material detection sensor 37, the photosensitive material P is switched so as to be at least the same as the conveyance speed in the development processing unit 7. Further, both the front end portion and the rear end portion of the exposed photosensitive material P are conveyed to the development processing portion after the same time has elapsed after exposure, thereby preventing uneven coloring due to a time difference after exposure.

  When a photographic print is output to a short photosensitive material P, the conveyance speed in the exposure scanning unit 2 is switched to be higher than the conveyance speed in the development processing unit 7 so that the output processing efficiency can be increased. ing. When the short photosensitive material P is conveyed to the development processing unit 7, image disturbance occurs due to an impact due to a speed difference. Therefore, when the front end of the photosensitive material P is detected by the sensor 37, the third exposure conveyance roller unit The difference in speed when the photosensitive material P is conveyed to the development processing unit 7 by the guide plate provided between the loop forming unit 6b being opened vertically and deflecting the photosensitive material P. Can be absorbed, and the disturbance of the image can be prevented.

  An example of the speed control operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. The image output to the film scanner 21 is read (S1), and the photosensitive material P is sent out from the paper magazine 30a as shown in FIG. 4A, and the advance roller 31a rotates (S2). The photosensitive material P to be conveyed is supplied from each of the paper magazines 30a and 30b in accordance with the print size to be exposed. When a photographic print is output with a long photosensitive material, the conveyance speed of the development processing unit 7 and When the photographic print is output with the short photosensitive material, the sheet is conveyed at the same speed, and is conveyed at a speed higher than the conveyance speed of the development processing unit 7.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the leading end of the photosensitive material P is detected by the photosensitive material detection sensor 36 (S3), the photosensitive material P is sandwiched between the transport roller units 10a and 10b, and a loop forming portion is formed. The guide plate 6a is opened vertically, the photosensitive material P having a length necessary for image output is sent out from the paper magazine 30a, and the photosensitive material P is accumulated in the loop forming portion 6a (S4). The photosensitive material P reaching the exposure unit 5 is sequentially exposed from the front end side in the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the conveying roller unit 9a sends out the photosensitive material P and the sensor 35 detects the rear end of the photosensitive material P, the cutter of the photosensitive material cutting unit 34 operates to cut the photosensitive material P. (S5). At this time, since the photosensitive material P is accumulated in the loop forming portion, the impact generated at the time of cutting can be buffered, and the exposure portion 5 can avoid the disturbance of the image of the photosensitive material P during the exposure. When the leading edge of the exposed photosensitive material P is detected by the photosensitive material detection sensor 37 (S6), it is determined whether the photosensitive material P is long or short (S7). It is conveyed at the same speed as the processing unit 7.

  When the photosensitive material P is short, when the leading end of the photosensitive material P is detected by the photosensitive material detection sensor 37 (S6), as shown in FIG. 4D, a guide plate provided in the loop forming portion 6b. Are opened vertically, and the photosensitive material P is accumulated. Since the short photosensitive material P is configured such that the conveyance speed in the scanning exposure unit 2 is higher than the conveyance speed of the development processing unit 7, the photosensitive material P is bent by the loop forming unit 6b. It is possible to prevent image distortion due to a speed difference generated between the scanning exposure unit 2 and the development processing unit 7. The photosensitive material P transported to the development processing unit 7 is subjected to color development and fixing processing by the color development / fixing processing device 8, washed with water, dried by the drying device 9, and then printed to the print discharge port 10. (S9).

  In the above example, the case where the photosensitive material P is transported in two rows on the exposure transport line has been described. However, the photosensitive material P may be transported in two or more rows. In the above-described example, an example in which the conveyance speed in the exposure conveyance unit D is switched between a long photosensitive material and a short photosensitive material is shown. However, the conveyance speed in the exposure conveyance unit D is always set to the development processing unit. 7 may be configured to be the same as the conveyance speed in FIG.

Explanation of the overall configuration of the photo processing apparatus Explanatory drawing of the main parts of the photosensitive material transport path flowchart Operation explanatory diagram of photosensitive material supply device

Explanation of symbols

1: Photo processing device 2: Scanning exposure unit 3: Photosensitive material supply device 4: Printing unit (back printing unit)
5: exposure apparatus 6a, 6b: loop forming unit 7: development processing unit 30a, 30b: paper magazine 34: photosensitive material cutting unit 35: photosensitive material detection sensor 36: photosensitive material detection sensor 37: photosensitive material detection sensor P: photosensitive material

Claims (3)

A photosensitive material supply unit for conveying a photosensitive material drawn from a paper magazine containing a long photosensitive material, and a scanning exposure unit for exposing the photosensitive material conveyed by the photosensitive material supply unit while conveying the photosensitive material at a predetermined speed; A development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material exposed in the scanning exposure unit, and a loop forming unit that accumulates the photosensitive material is provided upstream of the scanning exposure unit and downstream of the scanning exposure unit. A photo processing device,
The photographic processing apparatus, wherein the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the scanning exposure unit and the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the development processing unit are set to be the same. A photosensitive material supply unit that conveys a photosensitive material drawn from a paper magazine containing a long photosensitive material; a scanning exposure unit that exposes the photosensitive material conveyed by the photosensitive material supply unit while conveying the photosensitive material at a predetermined speed; A development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material exposed in the scanning exposure unit, and a loop forming unit that accumulates the photosensitive material is provided upstream of the scanning exposure unit and downstream of the scanning exposure unit. A photo processing device,
A photographic processing apparatus provided with a speed control unit for switching a photosensitive material conveyance speed in the scanning exposure unit and a photosensitive material conveyance speed in the development processing unit based on a length in a conveyance direction of the photosensitive material.   The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the speed control unit switches at least the photosensitive material conveyance speed in the development processing unit when the photosensitive material conveyance direction length is greater than a predetermined length.

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