JP2007204257A - Photograph printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology capable of increasing the option loading number of sheet magazines without largely changing specifications of a conventional photograph printer. <P>SOLUTION: This photograph printer prints a photographing image on photographic paper sent out by microcomputer control from a photographic paper magazine storing the photographic paper. The photographic paper magazine is provided with operation apparatuses 19a and Ma operating by a signal from a microcomputer 30. A signal conductor switching circuit 60 operated by a switching control signal from the microcomputer, is interposed between signal conductors between an IO port 33 of the microcomputer and the operation apparatuses for selectively connecting a plurality of operation apparatuses to a common IO port. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a photographic printing apparatus for printing a photographed image on an image forming sheet sent out by a microcomputer control from a sheet magazine storing image forming sheets, and a plurality of the sheet magazines can be loaded and each sheet magazine can be loaded. The present invention relates to a device provided with an operating device that operates in response to a signal from the microcomputer.

  In a general photo printing apparatus of the type described above, a long photographic paper wound in a roll shape is used as an image forming sheet, and the roll photographic paper is a paper as a sheet magazine in a state of being wound around a core. Stored in a magazine. The photographic paper drawn out from the paper magazine is cut into an appropriate length based on the print size, and is subjected to exposure and development processing to form a photographic print. At this time, the length of one of the print sizes is arbitrarily set according to the feed length, but the other length of the print size is defined by the width of the original roll-shaped photographic paper, so it is desirable unless the paper magazine is changed. Can not choose the length. Furthermore, varieties of user preferences demand photographic papers of various materials and various print sizes, and in order to satisfy these demands, a number of paper magazines storing different photographic papers are provided. Furthermore, in order to suppress the time-consuming work of reloading paper magazines as much as possible, it is necessary to increase the number of paper magazines that can be simultaneously loaded in one photo printing device. For example, two paper magazines are loaded inside the main body. There has also been proposed a paper magazine that can be optionally loaded outside the main body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-309226 A (paragraph number 0012-0017, FIG. 3)

  With the widespread use of digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones, the diversification of print sources has progressed, and the demand for an increased number of sheet magazines that can be loaded simultaneously into a single photo printing device has increased. Therefore, it is desired that at least an optional sheet magazine can be loaded as an option. The sheet magazine is equipped with a device for exchanging signals with the microcomputer for the purpose of controlling the feeding of the stored image forming sheets. When the sheet magazine is added, the signal is exchanged with the added sheet magazine. Therefore, it is necessary to secure the IO port of the microcomputer, but the number of IO ports prepared in the microcomputer mounted for controlling the photo printing apparatus is not sufficient. However, drastically changing the specifications of the conventional photo printing apparatus, for example, increasing the number of seat magazine option loading by increasing the number of microcomputers for loading the sheet magazine option is costly. Unacceptable.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of increasing the number of option magazines loaded without significantly changing the specifications of a conventional photographic printing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the photographic printing apparatus for printing a photographed image on an image forming sheet sent out by a microcomputer control from a sheet magazine for storing an image forming sheet, in the present invention, a plurality of the sheet magazines can be loaded. Each sheet magazine is provided with an operation device that operates according to a signal from the microcomputer, and a plurality of operation devices are selectively used as a common IO port between signal lines between the microcomputer IO port and the operation device. A signal line switching circuit operated by a switching control signal from the microcomputer for interfacing with the microcomputer is interposed.

  In this configuration, a signal line switching circuit is provided in advance between the signal line from the IO port assigned in advance for control related to the sheet magazine and the signal line connecting between the operating devices attached to one sheet magazine. In addition to the input / output terminal for the signal line to the operation device attached to the original sheet magazine, the signal line switching circuit is connected to the operation device attached to at least another optional sheet magazine on the secondary side. Prepare input / output terminals for signal lines. By operating this signal line switching circuit with a switching control signal from the microcomputer, the IO port assigned for one sheet magazine can be selectively used for other optional sheet magazines. become. For example, three sheet magazines A, B, and C are provided as standard, and added to the photo print device that uses the signal line switching circuit described above for the signal line from the IO port assigned for the C sheet magazine. When the D sheet magazine is loaded, the operation device attached to the D sheet magazine is connected to the spare input / output terminal of the signal line switching circuit, so that the C sheet is connected to the C sheet magazine. The IO port assigned to the magazine can be selectively used. Thereby, the microcomputer provided in the photographic printing apparatus can cope with the demand for increasing the number of option magazines loaded in the IO magazine.

  Since a one-chip microcomputer is generally used as a control microcomputer in a photographic printing apparatus, and the number of IO ports of the microcomputer is not so large, the present invention is advantageous. However, the IO port problem is solved by the above solution, but an internal timer is required to generate a pulse-shaped switching control signal for the signal line switching circuit, and this internal timer is also used for other processing. There is a case where there is nothing left to do. In order to solve such a problem, when the CPU of the microcomputer is a CPU with a built-in AD converter, it is preferable to generate a switching control signal for the signal line switching circuit by the timing of AD start and AD end of the built-in AD converter. Proposed as one of the preferred embodiments.

  As an operation device connected to the IO port via the signal line switching circuit according to the present invention, in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a motor for conveying an image forming sheet in the sheet magazine, and each sheet magazine And a code reader that reads a code provided to identify the specification of the image forming sheet stored in the printer. Data can be exchanged between the same IO port and a plurality of sheet magazine motors and code readers simply by generating a switching control signal. Note that when the switching destination is two systems, the signal line switching circuit may be configured in a simple flip-flop format. However, when the switching destination is three systems or more, in addition to the switching control signal, a multi-bit switching destination designation code is used. A configuration may be adopted in which data is received and an IO port is assigned to a switching destination adapted to the bit code.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a photographic printing apparatus adopting an IO port switching technique according to the present invention. This photographic printing apparatus performs exposure processing and development processing on photographic paper P as an image forming sheet. The photographic image data (hereinafter simply referred to as a photographic image) captured from a print station 1B as a photographic printer that prints the photographic image on the photographic paper P, and an image input medium such as a developed photographic film 2a or a digital camera memory card. And an operation station 1A for generating and transferring print data used in the print station 1B.

  This photo printing apparatus is also called a digital minilab. As can be understood from FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the printing station 1B is equipped with three sheet magazines 10 and another sheet magazine 10 Can be loaded as an option. Since the photographic paper P as an image forming sheet is stored in these sheet magazines 10, the sheet magazine 10 is hereinafter referred to as a photographic paper magazine. One is called the first photographic paper magazine 10A and the second photographic paper magazine 10B, the one loaded outside is the third photographic paper magazine 10C, and the one that is additionally loaded above the third photographic paper magazine 10C. It will be called an optional photographic paper magazine or a fourth photographic paper magazine 10D. These photographic paper magazines 10 are provided with a pressure-type driving roller 11 driven by an in-magazine transport motor Ma in order to pull out the roll-shaped photographic paper P stored therein. The photographic paper P drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 10 is fed toward the sheet cutter 13 by a pressure-bonding type driving roller unit 12 driven by the magazine outside conveyance motor Mb.

  Further, each photographic paper magazine 10 is provided with a magazine ID code setting device 19b capable of displaying several bits of digits, and a magazine ID for reading the magazine ID code set by the magazine ID code setting device 19b. A code reader 19a is provided on the housing side of the photographic printing apparatus so as to face the code setting device 19b. As will be described in detail later, by interpreting the magazine ID code sent from the code reader 19a, various types of information such as the specifications of the photographic paper P stored in each photographic paper magazine 10 can be acquired.

  The photographic paper P drawn from the photographic paper magazine 10 and cut to the print size by the sheet cutter 13 is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper P with print processing information such as color correction information and frame number by the back print unit. Further, the print exposure unit 14 exposes the photographed image to the surface of the photographic paper P, and the exposed photographic paper P is developed by being sent to a processing tank unit 15 having a plurality of development processing tanks. . The photographic paper P that has exited the processing tank unit 15 is sent to the sorter 17 from the transverse feed conveyor 16 at the top of the apparatus after drying, and is accumulated as a so-called photographic print P on each tray of the sorter 17 in order units.

  As described above, the photographic paper transport line 18 is laid in order to transport the photographic paper P at a transport speed adapted to various processes for the photographic paper P. The photographic paper P stored in each photographic paper magazine 10 is drawn out from the photographic paper magazine 10 along the photographic paper conveyance line 18 and is returned to the photographic paper magazine 10 again at the end of use. A plurality of nipping and conveying roller pairs including a chucker type photographic paper conveying unit 18a are arranged on the photographic paper conveying lines before and after the print exposure unit 14 with respect to the photographic paper conveying direction.

  As can be understood from FIG. 1, a door that opens the inside is provided on the front side of the casing of the print station 1B, and the first photographic paper magazine 10A is opened by opening the door provided in the casing. Alternatively, magazine replacement by pulling out the second photographic paper magazine 10B to the front, that is, photographic paper replacement, can be performed, and the third photographic paper magazine 10C is pulled out by opening the door of the sub-housing outside the housing. All magazines can be exchanged. Similarly, the optional replacement of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D can be performed by opening the door of the sub-housing for housing the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D.

  The print exposure unit 14 applies R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to the printing paper P conveyed in the sub-scanning direction based on print data from the operation station 1A along the main scanning direction. A line exposure head for irradiating laser beams of the three primary colors (1) is provided. The processing tank unit 15 includes a color developing tank 15a for storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing tank 15b for storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a stabilizing tank 15c for storing a stable processing liquid.

  At the upper position of the desk-like console of the operation station 1A, there is disposed a film scanner 4 for acquiring photographed image data (hereinafter simply referred to as a photographed image except for special cases) from the photographed image frames of the photographic film 2a. The media reader 6 that acquires image data from various semiconductor memories and CD-Rs used as photographed image recording media mounted on a digital camera or the like also functions as the operation control controller 3 of this photographic printing apparatus. Built into a general-purpose computer. The general-purpose personal computer is also connected with a monitor 5 for displaying various types of information and a keyboard and mouse as operation input devices used as operation input units used for various settings and adjustments.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a conveyance microcomputer 30 for conveyance control of the photographic paper P in the photographic paper conveyance line 18 of the print station 1B and an exposure microcomputer 40 for exposure control in the print exposure unit 14 are provided. The microcomputers 30 and 40 are linked to each other and operate in conjunction with the operation control controller 3 of the operation station 1A.

  The conveyance microcomputer 30 is composed of a one-chip microcomputer incorporating an AD converter 30a, and various functions for photographic paper conveyance control including photographic paper magazine management are constructed by hardware and / or software. As a typical example, a magazine information recognition unit 51 for recognizing magazine information such as photographic paper specifications of the stored photographic paper P using a magazine ID code of each photographic paper magazine 10 sent from the code reader 19a, this photograph A magazine selection unit 52 that selects a photographic paper magazine 10 to be used in each print order from a plurality of photographic paper magazines 10 loaded in the printing apparatus, and a drive roller 11 provided in each photographic paper magazine 10 is driven. In-magazine transport control unit 53 for controlling the in-magazine transport motor Ma, the photographic paper transport line 18 magazine outside conveyance control unit 54 that controls the magazine out conveying motor Mb which drives the arranged driving roller unit 12 to be mentioned.

  The magazine information recognition unit 51 receives a magazine ID code detection signal read through a code reader 19a from a magazine ID code setting unit 19b provided in each photographic paper magazine 10, generates a magazine ID code, and stores the magazine ID code. As a key, information on the photographic paper P stored in each photographic paper magazine 10 (photographic paper size width, new photographic paper length, remaining photographic paper, etc.) is extracted from a magazine information table storing magazine information. Has been built.

  Although not shown, each photographic paper magazine 10 or photographic paper transport line 18 is provided with a sensor for detecting the rear end of the photographic paper P drawn from the photographic paper magazine 10, that is, for detecting whether the photographic paper has run out. In order to prompt the operator to replace the magazine when this sensor is activated, a function for sending a photographic paper out signal to the operation station 1A so that a warning to that effect is given through the monitor 5 and other notification means (buzzer, lamp, etc.) The transfer microcomputer 30 is constructed.

  The conveyance microcomputer 30 is composed of a one-chip microcomputer incorporating an AD converter 30a and is provided with a relatively large number of IO ports. However, as in the case of this photographic printing apparatus, two or more photographic paper magazines 10 are provided. In the case where it is equipped and one or more optional photographic paper magazines 10 can be loaded, an IO port assigned to the photographic paper magazine 10 when the optional portion is included, specifically, an IO port terminal (hereinafter referred to as an IO pin) is provided. It will be insufficient. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, at least a part of the signal lines from the IO pins of the transfer microcomputer 30 is supplied to the plurality of photographic paper magazines 10, that is, the plurality of photographic paper magazines 10 by the signal line switching circuit 60. The operation equipment provided in the system is configured to be selectively usable.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the IO port 31 is assigned to the first photographic paper magazine 10A, and the IO pins PA01 to PA03 are connected to the driver A that drives the transport motor Ma of the first photographic paper magazine 10A. The IO pins PA04 to PA07 are connected by signal lines, and are connected to the code reader 19a of the first photographic paper magazine 10A by signal lines. Similarly, an IO port 32 is assigned to the second photographic paper magazine 10B, and its IO pins PB01 to PB03 are connected to a driver B that drives the conveyance motor Ma of the second photographic paper magazine 10B by signal lines. The IO pins PB04 to PB07 are connected to the code reader 19a of the second photographic paper magazine 10B by signal lines. On the other hand, the IO port 33 is assigned to both the third photographic paper magazine 10C and the optional fourth photographic paper magazine 10B, and the signal line switching circuit 60 is interposed in the signal line. A driver C for driving the conveyance motor Ma of the third photographic paper magazine 10C is connected to the output terminal group 61a of the signal line switching circuit 60, and a fourth photographic paper magazine is connected to the output terminal group 61b of the signal line switching circuit 60. A driver D for driving the 10D conveying motor Ma can be connected, and the output terminal group 62a of the signal line switching circuit 60 is connected to the code reader 19a of the third photographic paper magazine 10C. The 60 output terminal groups 62b can be connected to the code reader 19a of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D.

  An IO port 33 is assigned to the signal line switching circuit 60, and its IO pins PC01 to PC03 are connected to the primary side input / output terminal group 63 of the signal line switching circuit 60 through signal lines, and the IO pins PC04 to PC07. Are connected to the primary side input / output terminal group 64 of the signal line switching circuit 60 through a signal line, and the IO pins PC08 to PC09 are connected to the switching mode input terminal group 65 of the signal line switching circuit 60 through a signal line. The pin PC10 is connected to the switching control signal input terminal 66 of the signal line switching circuit 60 through a signal line.

  The switching mode input terminal group 65 receives a 2-bit switching mode generated at the IO pins PC08 to PC09, triggered by an H level timing generated at the IO pin PC10 and entering the switching control signal input terminal 66. The switching destination of the input / output terminal group 63 and the primary side input / output terminal group 64 is determined. In this example, the switching destination is the secondary side input / output terminal group 61a or 61b and the secondary side input / output terminal group 62a or 62b. As a result, the signal line switching circuit 60 is controlled by the switching mode signal and the switching control signal. The IO port 3 can be used by either the third photographic paper magazine 10C or the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D. Of course, since 2 bits are given as the switching mode signal, the fifth and sixth photographic paper magazines can be further added with this configuration, and the first photographic paper magazine 10A to the fourth magazine. It is also possible to share 10D by switching 10D.

  The switching control signal that enters the switching control signal input terminal 66 of the signal line switching circuit 60 is a pulse signal that maintains a certain length of H level. In order to generate the switching control signal in the microcomputer 30, a timer is used. Will be used. However, the timer built in the microcomputer 30 is likely to be used for other processing, and cannot be normally used to generate this switching control signal. For this reason, the function of the AD converter 30a built in the microcomputer 30 is used, and the AD start and AD end timings of the AD converter 30a are read from the corresponding register, for example, from the L level to the H level at the AD start timing. A configuration is adopted in which a pulse signal that rises to H and falls from the H level to the L level at the AD end timing and is supplied to the IO pin PC10 as a switching control signal is employed. Such a signal line switching circuit 60 can be easily configured with an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

An example of an algorithm for selecting and using the IO port 33 in the third photographic paper magazine 10C and the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D in the IO port combined technology thus configured will be described below.
When driving the transport motor Ma of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D (supplying a motor control signal to the driver D):
(1) The IO pin PC01 to PC03 of the IO port 33 is set as an output mode and data of a motor control signal is given.
(2) A bit indicating a switching mode for selecting the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D is set to the IO pins PC08 to PC09 of the IO port 33.
(3) The state of the IO pin PC10 of the IO port 33 is changed from L level to H level to L level using the AD start and AD end timings of the AD converter 30a.
(4) Based on the state change of the IO pin PC10 as the switching control signal, the signal line switching circuit 60 determines the switching mode from the bit values of the IO pins PC08 to PC09.
(5) The signal line switching circuit 60 connects the input terminal group 63 to the output terminal group 61b and the primary side input / output terminal group 64 to the secondary side input / output terminal group 62b based on the determined switching mode. As a result, the primary input / output terminal group 63 for the motor control signals given to the PC01 to PC03 of the IO port 33 is connected to the secondary input / output terminal group 61b. Sent to D.
(6) The driver D drives the transport motor Ma of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D based on the received motor control signal.
When reading the value of the code reader 19a of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D (supplying a motor control signal to the driver D):
(1) Prepare to receive a magazine ID code as an IO pin PC04 to PC07 input mode of the IO port 33.
(2) A bit indicating a switching mode for selecting the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D is set to the IO pins PC08 to PC09 of the IO port 33.
(3) The state of the IO pin PC10 of the IO port 33 is changed from L level to H level to L level using the AD start and AD end timings of the AD converter 30a.
(4) Based on the state change of the IO pin PC10 as the switching control signal, the signal line switching circuit 60 determines the switching mode from the bit values of the IO pins PC08 to PC09.
(5) Based on the determined switching mode, the signal line switching circuit 60 sets the primary side input / output terminal group 63 to the secondary side input / output terminal group 61b and the primary side input / output terminal group 64 to the secondary side input. Connected to the output terminal group 62b. As a result, the primary input / output terminal group 64 connected to the PC04 to PC07 of the IO port 33 is connected to the secondary input / output terminal group 62b, so that the code reader 19a of the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D The detection signal enters the IO pins PC04 to PC07.
(6) From the received magazine ID code, the microcomputer 30 ascertains the specifications, manufacturer, photographic paper width, paper quality, etc. of the photographic paper P stored in the fourth photographic paper magazine 10D.

  When driving the conveyance motor Ma of the third photographic paper magazine 10C or reading the value of the code reader 19a of the third photographic paper magazine 10c, the third photographic paper magazine 10C is connected to the IO pins PC08 to PC09 of the IO port 33. Since only the bit indicating the switching mode for selection is different, and the subsequent steps can be performed in a similar procedure, the description will not be repeated here.

  Thus, in the photographic printing apparatus of the present invention, even if the photographic paper magazine 10 is added, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the control system, and the optional loading number of the photographic paper magazine 10 is set to the IO port of the magazine control microcomputer. The number can be increased without being limited to the number of timers and the number of usable timers.

Schematic external view of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention Schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a print station that constitutes a photographic printing apparatus Explanatory drawing explaining the mechanism of photographic paper conveyance inside the magazine and photographic paper conveyance outside the magazine Explanatory drawing explaining IO port selection in photographic paper magazine management microcomputer

Explanation of symbols

10: photographic paper magazine (sheet magazine)
10A: First photographic paper magazine (sheet magazine)
10B: Second photographic paper magazine (sheet magazine)
10C: 3rd photographic paper magazine (sheet magazine)
10D: 4th photographic paper magazine (sheet magazine)
19a: Code reader (operating device)
30: Microcomputer 30a: Microcomputer built-in AD converter 51: Magazine information recognition unit 52: Magazine selection unit 53: Magazine transfer control unit 54: Magazine transfer control unit 60: Signal line switching circuit Ma: Magazine transfer motor (operating device)
P: photographic paper (image forming sheet)

Claims (3)

A photo printing apparatus for printing a photographed image on an image forming sheet sent out by a microcomputer control from a sheet magazine storing image forming sheets, wherein a plurality of the sheet magazines can be loaded and each sheet magazine is supplied from the microcomputer. In those equipped with operating equipment that operates by signals,
Signal line switching operated by a switching control signal from the microcomputer to selectively connect a plurality of operating devices to a common IO port between signal lines between the microcomputer IO port and the operating device A photographic printing apparatus comprising a circuit.   2. The microcomputer according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is a one-chip microcomputer including a CPU with a built-in AD converter, and the switching control signal is a pulse signal generated by AD start and AD end timings of the AD converter. Photo printing device.   The operating device is a code reader that reads a code provided to identify a specification of an image forming sheet stored in each sheet magazine and a motor for conveying the image forming sheet in the sheet magazine. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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