JP2007148620A - Photo printing management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photo printing management device for making proper recovery when a device under operation stops. <P>SOLUTION: This photo printing management device is provided with a correction processing part 54 for correcting a print job list so that any non-output print job is executed, based on the print job list when a photo printer is forcedly stopped. The correction processing part 54 is provided with: a monitor 34 as a job list display part for displaying the corrected print job list; a keyboard 35; and a mouse 36 as correction input parts for definitely inputting the necessary print job from the displayed print job list, and corrects the print job according to the definite input of the correction input part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention generates a photographic print based on digital image data in which a frame image taken on a photographic film is inputted via a film scanner or a photographic image taken on a digital camera is inputted via a media drive. More specifically, the photo print management apparatus will be described in detail. A job list generation processing unit that generates a print job list based on photo print order information input from the order information input unit, and print data based on the print job list A job list update processing unit that outputs to a printer and updates the print job list based on print output information input from the photo printer; and when the photo printer is forcibly stopped, The print job is executed so that the output print job is executed. A photographic print management device including a correction processing unit for correcting the cement job list.

  When image data to be printed based on the print job list and order information corresponding to the image data are input as print data from the photo print management apparatus to the photo printer, the photo printer generates a photo print based on the order information. Output. In such a photographic printer, usually a plurality of photographic prints are processed in the apparatus. For example, a photographic paper cut to a predetermined size in a silver halide photographic printer is output through a process such as exposure, development, bleaching, fixing, and drying while being conveyed, and a paper cut to a predetermined size is conveyed in an inkjet printer It is output through processes such as printing and drying.

  In the above-described photo print management apparatus, the job list is updated based on the print output information output from the photo printer by the job list update processing unit, and unprinted photo prints are always managed.

  When a malfunction such as a paper jam occurs in an operating photographic printer, or when the operator turns off the power carelessly and stops, the remaining photographic paper is removed and the remaining print processing is performed. At this time, the print job list is corrected so that the unprinted photo print is recovered by the correction processing unit.

  However, in the conventional photo print management apparatus described above, the print job list is corrected so that unprinted photo prints can be recovered by the correction processing unit, and therefore remains in the apparatus when the apparatus stops. Since the photo prints being processed were corrected so that they were uniformly reprinted, even if there was something that could be used as a product, it would be duplicated and reprinted. There was a need for improvement. For example, in a silver salt photographic printer, it may be determined that a photo print that has been subjected to exposure, development, bleaching, and fixing and is being dried can be used as a product by visual inspection.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a photo print management apparatus capable of appropriate recovery when an operating apparatus stops in view of the conventional problems described above.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the first characteristic configuration of the photo print management apparatus according to the present invention is the photo print order information input from the order information input unit as described in claim 1 of the claims. A job list generation processing unit for generating a print job list based on the print job list, outputting print data to a photo printer based on the print job list, and generating the print job list based on print output information input from the photo printer A job list update processing unit for updating, and a correction processing unit for correcting the print job list so that an unprinted print job is executed based on the print job list when the photo printer is forcibly stopped. The correction processing unit includes a corrected print job list. A job list display section for displaying the print job list, and a correction input section for confirming and inputting a necessary print job from the displayed print job list, and correcting the print job list based on the confirmation input by the correction input section. It is in.

  According to the above configuration, when the photo printer is forcibly stopped, the correction processing unit corrects the print job list based on the confirmed input by the correction input unit. Print job data for photographic prints that do not need to be reprinted from the photographic printer can be deleted from the print job list, and only print job data for photographic prints that need to be reprinted can be left. In other words, when there is a photo print that can be determined to be used as a product by visual inspection when the photo printer is forcibly stopped, the print job data corresponding to the photo print that can be determined to be used is deleted from the print job list. Then, when the photographic printer is restarted, only the necessary photographic print can be output without outputting the same photographic print as the photographic print that can be determined to be usable as a product without redundantly outputting from the photographic printer. It is.

  According to the second feature configuration, in addition to the first feature configuration described above, the job list displayed by the job list display unit is at least a photo print generated by the photo printer. The order management number printed on the screen is included.

  With the above-described configuration, the user can obtain print job data corresponding to a photo print that can be determined to be usable based on the order management number printed on the photo print and the job list displayed on the job list display unit. It can be easily confirmed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photo print management apparatus that can perform appropriate recovery when an operating apparatus stops.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a photo print management apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a photo processing system will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the external configuration of the photo processing system 1 is that digital image data is edited based on photo print order information set and input by a user, and the photo print order information and the edit processing are performed. Photo print management device 3 that generates and outputs print data based on digital image data, and a photograph as a silver salt photo printer that executes a predetermined print job based on the print data input from the photo print management device 3 A printer 2 is provided, and a photographic print based on the digital image data is output from the photographic printer 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the photographic printer 2 has a two-line printing system that houses a roll-shaped printing paper Pa as a photosensitive material and supplies the printing paper Pa as a photosensitive material supply unit. A paper magazine 21, a sheet cutter 22 for cutting the photographic paper Pa supplied from the photographic paper magazine 21 into a predetermined print size, and an order management number such as an image number are printed on the back of the photographic paper Pa after the cutting. A back print unit 23, an exposure processing unit 24 that exposes the photographic paper Pa based on the print data, and various processing liquids for performing development processing such as developing, bleaching, and fixing the photographic paper Pa after the exposure processing. A plurality of processing tanks 25a, 25b, and 25c filled with, a drying processing unit 29 for naturally drying the photographic paper Pa after the development processing, The dried photographic paper Pa is discharged as a photographic print Pe, a transverse feed conveyor 26, a photographic print detection means 30 for detecting the photographic print Pe discharged to the transverse feed conveyor 26, and discharged to the transverse feed conveyor 26. A sorter 27 is provided for sorting the photographic prints Pe obtained under predetermined conditions.

  The exposure processing unit 24 exposes light beams of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue) while feeding the photographic paper Pa based on the print data input from the photographic print management device 3. The exposure head is configured to perform the exposure in a line along the main scanning direction in synchronization with the transport speed while transporting the photographic paper Pa in the sub-scanning direction. Further, as the exposure head, a fluorescent beam method, a liquid crystal shutter method, a DMD method, a FOCRT method, or the like can be adopted depending on the exposure specification.

  The operation of the photographic printer 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when print data is input from the photographic print management device 3 (SA1), roll-shaped photographic paper Pa stored in two photographic paper magazines 21 is provided. (SA2), the sheet cutter 22 cuts the print size (SA3), and the image number as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the back of the photographic paper Pa cut by the back print unit 23. The order management number Da such as is printed based on the print data (SA4). The order management number Da is set by the photo print management apparatus 3 described later in detail.

  Then, the exposure processing unit 24 performs exposure processing on the photographic paper Pa on which the order management number Da is printed (SA5), and the photographic paper Pa after the exposure processing is developed into a development processing unit having a plurality of development processing tanks. 25 to develop (SA6). Further, after the developed photographic paper Pa is naturally dried in the drying processing unit 29 (SA7), the dried photographic paper Pa is used as a photographic print Pe, and a cross feed conveyor at the top of the photographic printer 2 is used. 26 is discharged. The photographic printer 2 discharges the photographic print Pe, and when the photographic print detection means 30 detects the discharged photographic print Pe, the photographic print management apparatus 3 uses this as print output information. (SA8).

  Then, the photographic printer 2 sorts the photographic prints Pe discharged to the lateral feed conveyor 26 by the sorter 27 so as to satisfy predetermined conditions (SA9).

  The photographic printer 2 is configured to output its activation state to the photographic print management apparatus 3 as an activation confirmation signal. That is, when the photo printer 2 is activated, the start confirmation signal is output to the photo print management device 3, and when the photo printer 2 is stopped, the output of the activation confirmation signal is stopped, The photo print management apparatus 3 is configured to be able to determine the activation state of the photo printer 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the photographic print management apparatus 3 has an external configuration that stores a film scanner 31 that reads an image from a developed photographic film F as digital image data, and digital image data photographed by a digital still camera or the like. And a media driver 32 for reading the digital image data from the digital image recording medium M such as a memory card, and a general-purpose computer as the controller 33. The controller 33 is installed with an application program that operates under the control of a general-purpose operating system and executes various controls of the photo print management apparatus 3, and has a monitor 34, a keyboard 35, a mouse as an operation interface with the operator. 36 etc. are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the functional block configuration of the photo print management apparatus 3 executed by the cooperation of the hardware and software of the controller 33 is a digital image data read by the film scanner 31 or the media drive 32. A semiconductor memory means 50 for temporary recording and generation of a graphic operation screen for displaying print order information and image editing information on the screen of the monitor 34 and displaying operation icons for inputting necessary data for them. In addition, a graphic user interface (GUI) unit 51 that generates various control commands based on input operations from the keyboard 35 and the mouse 36 on the displayed graphic operation screen, and the keyboard 35 and the mouse 36 are input. Photos A job list generation processing unit 52 that generates a print job list based on the print order information, and outputs print data to the photo printer 2 based on the print job list, and the print output input from the photo printer 2 A job list update processing unit 53 that updates the print job list based on information, and the print job so that when the photo printer 2 is forcibly stopped, an unoutput print job is executed based on the print job list. A correction processing unit 54 for correcting the job list is provided.

  The job list generation processing unit 52 is determined for each digital image data by the user via the keyboard 35 or the mouse 36, for example, a density correction value for correcting the image density, or a contrast for correcting the image contrast. As shown in FIG. 6, photo print order information such as a correction value, a color correction value for correcting the color balance of the image, and whether or not to perform special correction on the image is associated with the link data to the digital image data. The print job data Dp (i) is generated by adding the order management number Da to each of them, and the print job list Lp is generated by making it a list for each digital image data. ing.

  The operation of the job list generation processing unit 52 will be described in detail below based on the flowchart of FIG. When the digital image data is recorded in the memory means 50 (SB1), the job list generation processing unit 52 causes the monitor 34 to display the digital image data recorded in the memory means 50 as an image, and An input guide for print order information for the digital image data is displayed (SB2).

  The print order information for the displayed image is displayed on the photo print management apparatus 3 by an input operation from the user based on the input guidance via the keyboard 35 or the mouse 36 as an order information input unit. Is input and set (SB3), the job list generation processing unit 52 adds the print order information and the order management number to link data for linking to the digital image data recorded in the memory means 50. Thus, print job data is generated (SB4). Then, when there are a plurality of digital image data recorded in the memory means 50, the processing of step SB3 and step SB4 is sequentially repeated for the digital image data arbitrarily selected by the user (SB5).

  When there are a plurality of digital image data, the monitor 34 simultaneously displays any image from a predetermined number of images so that it can be arbitrarily selected, and sets the print order information for each image selected by the user. The display screen may be sequentially switched based on an input operation from the user, so that an image that has not yet been displayed is displayed together with the input guidance, and the print order information is set for each display screen. It is good also as composition to do. In any case, it is sufficient that the print order information can be input and set based on the input guidance for any of the digital image data recorded in the memory means 50.

  When the generation of the print job data is completed for each digital image data selected by the user (SB5), the job list generation processing unit 52 displays a print job list in which the generated print job data is listed. Generate (SB6).

  That is, the job list generation processing unit 52 selects, from the digital image data recorded in the memory means 50, digital image data that the user desires to output from the photographic printer 2 as a photographic print, and the digital image data By setting the editing conditions that the user wants to perform in the data, print job data is generated for each digital image data, and further, the print job list is generated by listing each of the generated print job data. It is configured.

  The job list update processing unit 53 generates the print data and outputs the print data to the photo printer 2, and the print job based on the print output information input from the photo printer 2. A print job list updating unit 61 for updating the list is provided.

  The print data generation / output unit 60 is a digital image data to be subjected to photo printing from the memory means 50 based on the print job list generated by the job list generation processing unit 52, that is, based on link data. Is extracted, and the extracted digital image data is subjected to editing processing based on the photo print order information, and is output to the photo printer 2 as print data.

  When the print data generation / output unit 60 outputs the print data to the photo printer 2, the print data corresponding to the print data output to the photo printer 2 in the print job list is added to the photo printer 2. The output date and time is recorded as a marker indicating that print data has been output. The print data generation / output unit 60 is configured to generate print data for print job data in which the output date / time is not recorded.

  Further, the print data generation / output unit 60 generates the print data when the activation confirmation signal input from the photo print management apparatus 3 is detectable, and when the activation confirmation signal is not detected, The execution is reserved, and once the execution is reserved, the details are configured to wait for an input of a reprint signal from a correction processing unit 54, which will be described later, and cancel the reservation.

  When the print output information is input from the photo printer 2, the print job list update unit 61 displays print job data whose output date / time is the past in the print job list. The print job list is updated by deleting the print job list.

  The operation of the job list update processing unit 53 will be described in detail below based on the flowcharts of FIGS. When the print job list is generated by the job list generation processing unit 52 (SC1), the print data generation / output unit 60 sets the print output confirmation flag F1 (SC2). Here, the print output confirmation flag F1 is reset when the activation confirmation signal input from the photo printer 2 is not detected, and the details are set again by the input of a reprint signal from the correction processing unit 54 described later. It is comprised so that. Then, as described above, the activation confirmation signal is output when the photographic printer 2 is normally activated, and stops when a paper jam or other abnormality occurs, or the power switch is turned off. This signal is sometimes turned off.

  If the print output confirmation flag F1 is set (SC3), the print data generation / output unit 60 selects print job data on which the output date / time is not recorded based on the generated print job list. Based on the selected print job data, digital image data to be subjected to photographic printing is extracted from the memory means 50 (SC4).

  Then, print data is generated by editing the extracted digital image data based on the photographic print order information corresponding to the extracted digital image data (SC5), and the generated print data is sent to the photographic printer 2. Output. (SC6) Then, the output date of the print data is recorded in the print job data corresponding to the output print data in the print job list (SC7).

  Then, the processing from step SC2 to step SC5 is repeated for every print job data until there is no print job data in which the output date / time is not recorded (SC8).

  When the print job list is generated by the job list generation processing unit 52 (SD1) and the print output information is input from the photo printer 2 (SD2), the print job list update unit 61 outputs the output date and time. The print job list is updated by deleting from the print job list the print job data with the most recent date and time (SD3).

  Then, the processing from step SD2 to step SD3 is repeated until there is no print job data in the print job list (SD4).

  That is, the job list update processing unit 53 waits for the print job data corresponding to the print data output to the photo printer 2 to be output from the photo printer 2 based on the print data, It is configured to delete from the print job list.

  The correction processing unit 54 includes the print job data when the print job data exists in the print job list and the output date / time is recorded, and the activation confirmation signal input from the photo printer 2 is interrupted. The output date and time recorded in the list is erased.

  In other words, the correction processing unit 54 causes the job list update processing unit 53 to generate the print data again when the photo printer 2 is forcibly stopped during execution of the photo print processing, and the generated print By re-outputting the data to the photographic printer 2, the same photographic print as the photographic print that could not be output from the photographic printer 2 while outputting the print data before the forced stop is obtained. When the printer is restarted, the photo printer 2 is configured to reprint.

  Further, the correction processing unit 54 displays the print job list on the monitor 34 before deleting the output date and time recorded in the print job list, and also displays the print job list from the keyboard 35 and the mouse 36. The print job data can be selectively erased based on an input operation.

  In other words, the correction processing unit 54 can print a photographic print that does not need to be reprinted when the photographic printer 2 is restarted by a user operation via the keyboard 35 or the mouse 36 as a correction input unit. In order to prevent reprinting by the photographic printer 2, print job data that does not require reprinting can be erased.

  The operation of the correction processing unit 54 will be described in detail below based on the flowchart of FIG. When the activation confirmation signal from the photo printer 2 is interrupted (SE1), the correction processing unit 54 determines that the photo printer has been forcibly stopped (SE2), and the print date and time output is recorded in the print job list. Check if there is job data. That is, the photo printer 2 checks whether there is print job data corresponding to print data for which a predetermined print job is being executed.

  When there is print job data in which the output date and time is recorded in the print job list (SE3), an input operation from the keyboard 35 or the mouse 36 as a correction input unit is performed on the monitor 34 as a job list display unit. Then, a print job data deletion guide screen is displayed so that the user can delete any print job data from the print job list (SE4).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the print job data deletion guide screen includes a print job list Lp at the time when the activation confirmation signal from the photo printer 2 is stopped, and arbitrary print job data from the print job list. , A delete icon Id for confirming the deletion, a reprint start icon Ir for starting the reprint, and the like are displayed.

  Here, when the activation confirmation signal from the photo printer 2 is stopped, the print data generation / output unit 60 retains the output of the print data because the activation confirmation signal is not inputted. Further, the print job list update unit 61 does not receive the print output signal when the photo printer 2 is forcibly stopped, and at least until the photo printer 2 is restarted. The job list is not updated. That is, when the activation confirmation signal from the photographic printer 2 is stopped, the print job list at the time when the activation confirmation signal from the photographic printer 2 is stopped remains until the photographic printer 2 is restarted. . Then, the print job list is displayed on the print job data deletion guide screen as a print job list when the activation confirmation signal from the photo printer 2 is stopped.

  That is, on the print job data deletion guide screen, the digital image data that has not yet been output as a photo print from the photo printer 2 among the digital image data for which the user has input the print order information can be confirmed. Although it is output to the photographic printer 2, digital image data that has not yet been output as a photographic print from the photographic printer 2 can be confirmed.

  Further, by including the order management number Da in the print job list displayed on the print job data deletion guide screen, the user can control the order management number Da printed on the back of the photographic paper Pa, and the print job list. The print job data that is not desired to be reprinted unnecessarily can be easily identified by the order management number Da included in the.

  The correction processing unit 54 may be configured to display the monitor 34 with the corresponding thumbnail images added to the print job list for each print job data, as shown in FIG. Good. The user can more easily identify print job data that is not desired to be reprinted unnecessarily.

  The correction processing unit 54 selects arbitrary print job data from the print job list by an input operation from the user via the keyboard 35 or the mouse 36 as the correction input unit, and operates the delete icon Id. When the deletion is confirmed (SE5), the print job data whose deletion is confirmed is deleted from the print job list (SE6), and the print job data updated to the print job list from which the print job data is deleted is deleted. A guidance screen is displayed (SE7).

  When the reprint icon Ir is operated (SE7), the output date and time recorded in the print job list is deleted (SE8), and the reprint signal is output to the print data generation / output unit 60 (SE8). SE9). That is, the print output confirmation flag F1 is set.

  At this time, if the photo printer 2 is restarted, the set state of the print output confirmation flag F1 is maintained, and the job list update processing unit 53 resumes the generation and output of print data as described above.

  In other words, when there is a photo print that can be determined to be used as a product by visual inspection when the photo printer is forcibly stopped, the print job data corresponding to the photo print that can be determined to be used is deleted from the print job list. Then, when the photographic printer 2 is restarted, only the necessary photographic prints are output without causing the photographic printer 2 to output the same photographic prints that can be determined to be usable as commodities, without overlapping the photographic prints. be able to.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the case where a silver salt type photographic printer is applied to the photographic printer 2 has been described. However, an ink jet printer may be applied to the photographic printer 2.

  Further, the print job data deletion guide screen is not limited to the display as shown in FIG. 11, but only the print job data that remains in the photo printer and has not yet been output from the photo printer is displayed. May be. In other words, by merely selecting reprints of the stayed photo print job, a photo print that is initially desired to be printed when the photo printer is restarted can be obtained as a result.

  Note that the above-described embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the specific configuration and the like of each block can be changed and designed as appropriate within the scope of the effects of the present invention.

Illustration of functional block configuration of photo print management device Explanatory drawing of the external structure of the photo print system Illustration of photo printer Flow chart for explaining the operation of the photo printer Illustration of order management number printed on the back of photographic paper Illustration of print job list A flowchart for explaining the operation of the job list generation processing unit Flow chart for explaining the operation of the print data generation / output unit Flowchart for explaining the operation of the print job list update unit Flow chart for explaining the operation of the correction processing unit Illustration of the print job data deletion guide screen Illustration of a print job list containing thumbnail images

Explanation of symbols

1: Photo print system 2: Photo printer 3: Photo print management device 33: Controller 34: Monitor 35: Keyboard 36: Mouse 50: Memory means 51: GUI
52: Job list generation processing unit 53: Job list update processing unit 54: Correction processing unit 60: Print data generation output unit 61: Print job list update unit

Claims (2)

A job list generation processing unit that generates a print job list based on photo print order information input from the order information input unit, and print data is output to a photo printer based on the print job list, and is input from the photo printer. A job list update processing unit for updating the print job list based on the print output information, and an unprinted print job based on the print job list when the photo printer is forcibly stopped. A photo print management apparatus comprising a correction processing unit for correcting a print job list,
The correction processing unit includes a job list display unit for displaying a corrected print job list and a correction input unit for confirming and inputting a necessary print job from the displayed print job list. A photo print management apparatus for correcting the print job list based on the print job list.   2. The photo print management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job list displayed by the job list display unit includes at least an order management number printed on a photo print generated by the photo printer.