JP2511513B2 - Photosynthesis printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is a photograph for composite printing of a main image recorded on a photographic film and an illustration image such as a character, a picture, or a computer graphic (CG). The present invention relates to a synthetic printing device.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, as a postcard, a synthetic print photograph in which an image of a person or the like is printed as a main image on a color photographic paper (color paper) and an illustration image such as a greeting is printed adjacent to the image is widely used.

When producing this composite print photograph, for example, a photographic printing apparatus is used in which an illustration image exposure stage and a main image exposure stage are arranged side by side in a belt-shaped color paper transfer path.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the above-mentioned photographic printing apparatus, after printing exposure on the first exposure stage, color paper is quantitatively sent, the frame that has been exposed to printing is set on the next exposure stage, the next printing exposure is performed, and a composite print is performed. Trying to get.
When changing the print frame size or composite pattern, move one of the exposure stages along the color paper transport path and set the distance between the exposure stages to the print frame size or composite pattern type. I am trying to change it. Therefore, when the size of the print frame is changed, a moving means for moving the exposure stage is required, which causes a problem that the apparatus configuration becomes complicated.

The present invention is for solving the above problems, and provides a photocomposite printing apparatus capable of easily changing the size of a print frame or a composite pattern when creating a composite print photo such as a postcard. The purpose is to provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is arranged between each exposure stage, and a loop forming stage for storing a photosensitive material in a loop, and the length of the loop in this loop forming stage is determined by the size of pintocoma and the composite pattern. And a means for adjusting the length to a certain length according to the type.

[Action]

A photosensitive material such as a color vapor is set on the first exposure stage, and, for example, an illustration image is printed and exposed.
When a suitable number of frames are printed and exposed by the first exposure stage, the print frames are stored in the loop forming stage and formed into a loop. The length of this loop is set to a predetermined length according to the size of the print frame and the composite pattern. After the loop length has been reached, the color paper is transferred by one frame at each exposure stage to perform printing exposure. Therefore, by maintaining the loop length at a fixed length, the frame positions on the exposure stage are aligned,
Unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to move any of the exposure stages to align the frame positions, and the configuration is simplified.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the photosynthetic printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 is a color paper, which is wound into a roll and stored in a magazine 3. The color paper 2 is set on the exposure stage 6 for the illustration image and the exposure stage 7 for the main image by the pair of conveying rollers 4 and 5. Each transport roller pair 4,
5 is rotated by pulse motors 10 and 11 driven by drivers 8 and 9. Each of the exposure stages 6 and 7 is provided with a pressure plate 13 for holding the color paper 2 flat and variable easel masks 14 and 15. Adjustable easel mask 14,15
, The mask opening size changes according to the size of the illustration image exposure frame and the main image exposure frame.

Above each of the exposure stages 6 and 7, an illustration image printing exposure unit 20 and a main image printing exposure unit 21 are provided. Furthermore,
A loop forming stage 23 is provided between the exposure stages 6 and 7 for temporarily storing the color paper 2 on which the illustration image has been exposed and exposed in a loop. Further, guide rollers 26 and 27 and dancer rollers 28 and 29 are provided between the exposure stage 6 for the illustration image and the magazine 3 and between the exposure stage 7 for the main image and the take-up reel 25. There is. The dancer rollers 28, 29 are biased in one direction by a spring material 30 or the like, and store the color paper 2 in a loop. Then, when a tension exceeding the urging force of the spring material 30 acts on the color paper 2, the dancer rollers 28, 29 move against the urging force of the spring material 30 and an unreasonable tension is applied to the color paper 2. Prevent.

A dancer roller 32 is attached to the loop forming stage 23 via a movable arm 33 so as to be vertically displaceable. The downward displacement of the dancer roller 32 forcibly stores the color paper 2 in a loop. The movable arm 33 is rotatable about the mounting shaft 33A. The movable arm 33 is provided with a biasing means 34 for biasing the movable arm 33 up and down or downward.

Further, at the center of rotation of the movable arm 33, a potentiometer for converting the rotational displacement of the arm 33 into an electric signal.
35 is attached, and this electric signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 36 and sent to the controller 40. Based on this signal, the controller 40 controls the rotation of the conveyance roller pair 4 of the illustration image exposure stage 6 to hold the movable arm 33 at a constant angle. As a result, the loop length of the color paper 2 forcibly looped by the dancer roller 32 is kept constant. The movable arm 33
Is the exposure stage 7 where the tip of the color paper 2 is the main image.
Is urged upward by the urging means 34 so as to be retracted above the color paper 2 until it is caught by the conveying roller pair 5, and after the paper tip is caught by the conveying roller 5, It is urged downward by the urging means 34.

Further, on the loop forming stage 23, the color paper 2
There is provided a movable guide plate 38 for guiding the leading end of the sheet to the conveying roller pair 5 of the main image printing exposure section 21. The movable guide plate 38 is swingably attached to the shaft of the lower roller of the conveying roller pair 4 on the exit side of the illustration image printing / exposure unit 20, and is horizontal when the front end of the color paper 2 is guided.
When the loop is formed, it rotates downward to enter the retracted state.

The illustration image printing / exposure unit 20 is configured as follows. The white light from the light source 50 is sufficiently diffused by the diffusion box 51, and then the lith film 53 for illustration image on the board holder 52.
Illuminate. The diffusion box 51 is a rectangular tube having an inner surface serving as a mirror surface, and diffusion plates are attached to both ends of the rectangular tube to sufficiently diffuse the burning light. The illustration image such as characters and pictures recorded on the lith film 53 is exposed to the exposure stage 6 by the printing lens 55.
An image is formed on the color paper 2. A shutter 56 is provided between the printing lens 55 and the lith film 53 to control the exposure time so as to obtain a predetermined exposure amount. The shutter 56 is driven by the shutter drive unit 57. In addition,
The illustration image may be printed by exposing the lith film to a color paper, and in this case, the lens 55 and the shutter 56 can be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lith film 53 for illustration images
Is attached to a film holder (frame) 58, which constitutes an illustration image printing board 59. The illustration image printing board 59 is detachably attached to the board holder 52. Board holder 52 is holder body 61
And a board retainer 62 which cooperates with this and holds the illustration image printing board 59 therebetween. Holder body 61
The mounting groove into which the illustration image printing board 59 is inserted
63 are provided.

The illustration image lith film 53 can be easily created by photographing a document with a lithographic negative and then developing the photograph. In this lith film, when a document written in black on a white background is photographed, white characters in which character portions are transparent are recorded. When a document is photographed in which the character portion is white and the surroundings are black, a lith film in which the portions other than the character are transparent can be obtained. When recording colored characters on color paper, it is only necessary to use a lithographic film in which the characters are transparent and adjust the ratio of the three-color exposure amount. Instead of the lith film, a transparent or opaque plastic sheet or the like may be used, and characters may be printed or punched on this. Also, in addition to characters, pictures, CG, and the like can be recorded on the lith film.

A plurality of illustration image printing boards 59 are prepared for each type of composite pattern with the main image. An example of this composite pattern is shown in FIG. 3 together with its exposure position. In FIG. 3A, the lower third of the vertical postcard is printed and exposed on the illustration image exposure stage 6 as the illustration image exposure area 65, and the remaining upper two-thirds is the main image exposure area 66. The color paper 2 is shown in a continuous state when it is printed by exposure on the image exposure stage 7. Further, FIG. 2B shows that the left quarter of the horizontal postcard is the illustration image exposure area 67, and the remaining right quarter is the main image exposure area 68. The one after baking exposure is shown. A dashed-dotted line 69 in the figure indicates the center position of the illustration image exposure stage 6 by a dashed-dotted line 70.
Indicates a center position of the main image exposure stage 7, and a two-dot chain line 71 indicates a planned cutting line for cutting the color paper 2 as a post card.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, when the combined pattern of the illustration image and the main image is changed, the center position 70 of the exposure stage of the main image is displaced by L1 accordingly.
Conventionally, the shift amount L1 is corrected by moving either one of the exposure stages 6 and 7, but in the present invention, the loop length of the loop forming stage 23 is increased or decreased by the shift amount L1. Done in. In order to automatically set the loop length, each illustration image printing board 59 is provided with an identification signal section 75 for identifying the type of the composite pattern, as shown in FIG. Also, this identification signal section 75
Changes the composition pattern, so the main image exposure area 6
When the size of 6,68 fluctuates, in order to automatically set the printing magnification for printing and exposing this main image on the color paper 2 at the optimum magnification, and the magnification balance value for correcting the exposure amount. Is also used.

The identification signal portion 75 is provided at a position close to the corner of the frame 58, and is configured by arranging a plurality of light shielding portions 76 and a plurality of light transmitting holes 77 side by side. By the permutation, the types of composite patterns of various printing boards are identified.
The identification signal section 75 can be formed by cutting out a part of the frame 58, or can be recorded as an optical mark on the surface of the frame 58 by coating or printing. Further, it may be composed of a conductive part and a non-conductive part like a DX code of Patrone. The identification signal section 75 can also be formed at a position that does not affect the illustration image in the margin portion of the lith film in which the illustration image is recorded.

The board holder 52 has an illustration image printing board 59.
A signal section reading sensor 79 for detecting the identification signal section 75 when the is attached is provided. The signal portion reading sensor 79 is for detecting the presence or absence of light shielding to identify the type of composite pattern of the illustration image printing board. A transmission type sensor is used as the signal portion reading sensor 79, but a reflection type sensor may be used instead. In this case, marks having different reflectances, such as white or black, are layered on the surface of the frame 58. Also,
By using a switch that is mechanically turned on instead of the optical sensor, the illustration image printing board can be identified.

The main image printing exposure unit 21 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as follows. White light emitted from the light source 80 passes through a cyan filter 81, a magenta filter 82, and a yellow filter 83, and then enters a diffusion box 84. The filters 81 to 83 of the respective colors are adjusted in the amount of insertion into the printing optical path 86 by the filter adjusting unit 85 to adjust the light quality of the printing light.

The printing light diffused by the diffusion box 84 illuminates the negative film 88 set on the film carrier 87. The film carrier 87 is composed of a carrier base 90 and a film retainer 91 that holds the negative film 88 in cooperation with the carrier base 90. The film retainer 91 is pressed against the negative film 88 to secure its flatness during exposure of the main image by a spring material or the like, and is released when the negative film 88 is moved. ing.

A zoom lens for forming a main image on the color paper 2 is provided between the negative film 88 and the color paper 2.
92 are arranged. The zoom lens 92 is driven by the focal length adjusting means 93 and forms a main image on the color paper 2 with an optimum printing magnification. A lens turret can be used instead of the zoom lens 92. A shutter 94 is arranged below the zoom lens 92, and is controlled by the shutter drive unit 95 so that a predetermined exposure amount is obtained.

A light receiver 96 is arranged diagonally below the film carrier 87. The light receiver 89 includes a lens and a light receiving sensor, and measures the average transmitted light of the main image. This photometric value is converted to a density value by the logarithmic conversion unit 97 and then sent to the controller 40.

The controller 40 identifies the type of the illustration image printing board 59 set in the board holder 52 based on the signal from the signal section reading sensor 79, and obtains the printing magnification of the main image according to the identification data. Since the relationship between the printing magnification and the magnification balance value is stored in ROM40A, this ROM40A
Using the magnification balance value M _i (i represents any one of B, G, and R) read from, and the average transmission density value D _i output from the logarithmic conversion unit 97 Calculate the quantity E _i ,
Based on this, the filter adjusting unit 85 is controlled.

log E _i = α _i × (D _i −D N _i ) + β _i + M _i DN _i : Normal control negative density value D _i : Main image density value to be printed α _i : Coefficient β _i : Constant It is composed of a well-known microcomputer, and each unit is controlled by a program stored in a built-in ROM 40A based on various data stored in the RAM 40B and detection signals from various sensors.

The RAM 40B stores optimal printing exposure conditions for printing the main image for each type of composite pattern. The printing exposure conditions are a loop length determined for each composite pattern for positioning the illustration image exposure frame on the main image exposure stage 7 by a fixed amount, and a variable easel for printing the main image on the main image exposure area 66. Mask 1
Magnification balance value M _i for printing the main image in the main image print area at the proper density when the mask size is set to 4,15 and the mask opening set to this size, and the main image is optimal for the main image print area. There are focal length data and the like of the zoom lens for print exposure at various magnifications, and these are recorded in the form of print channels. The print channel stores each data of printing exposure conditions for each kind of composite pattern with the identification number obtained by the reading of the identification signal section 75 as search data. It should be noted that each of the above-mentioned data is obtained in advance for each type of synthetic pattern of the illustration image printing board 59.

A keyboard 98 is connected to the controller 40. The keyboard 98 is provided with a print key 99 that is operated when starting printing, a numeric key 100 for specifying the number of prints, and other control keys.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the illustration image baking board 59 is placed in the board holder 52.
Then, the main image negative film 88 is set on the film carrier 87. After this, the numeric keys on keyboard 98
Operate 100 to input the number of prints. Then, by operating the print key 99, the controller 40 reads the identification signal section 75 of the illustration image printing board 59 with the signal section reading sensor 79.

In the controller 40, the signal from the signal reading sensor 79 is first decoded by the decoder to obtain the identification number. Next, the search circuit searches the print channel corresponding to this identification number from the RAM 40B using the identification number as search data.
Each part is controlled based on the printing exposure conditions obtained from this print channel. That is, first, each variable easel mask 14, 15 is set to a predetermined aperture size based on the printing exposure condition. Further, the zoom lens 92 is driven by the focal length adjusting means 93. Further, the loop length obtained by the search is temporarily stored, and on the basis of this, the rotation of each of the conveying roller pairs 4 and 5 is controlled so that the loop length is kept constant as described later.

The negative film 88 for the main image is not only the 135 type full size, but also the 135 type and half size
10 sizes, 126 sizes, etc. can be used. When using a negative type film other than the 135 type full size, the film size is input to the controller 40 via the keyboard 98, and the printing magnification is controlled in consideration of the film size.

Next, the controller 40 sets the illustration image exposure unit 20.
The illustration image is printed and exposed with. First, the conveying roller pair 4
Then, the unexposed color paper 2 is set on the exposure stage 6 for the illustration image. After that, printing exposure of the illustration image is performed. In the same manner, the illustration images for the number of prints are printed and exposed.

When the exposure exposure of the illustration image of an appropriate number of frames is performed, the controller 22 stores the color paper 2 on which the illustration image exposure has been performed on the loop forming stage 17 for a predetermined length. This storage is performed as follows. First, in order to insert the front end of the exposed color paper 2 into the entrance side conveyance roller pair 5 of the main image exposure stage 7, the main image exposure stage 7 is synchronized with the conveyance roller pair 4 of the illustration image exposure stage 6. The conveying roller pair 5 is rotated. When this dent is detected by the tip detection sensor (not shown), the rotation of the conveyance roller pair 5 of the main image exposure stage 7 is stopped and only the conveyance roller pair 4 of the illustration image exposure stage 6 is rotated. As a result, the transport roller pair 4
The color paper discharged from the printer is forcibly stored in a loop by the downward displacement of the dancer roller 32. The downward displacement amount of the dancer roller 32 is detected by the potentiometer 35 as the rotation angle of the movable arm 33, and the rotation of the transport roller pair 4 is controlled so that the loop length obtained by the search is obtained based on this. After the loop of a certain length is formed in this manner, printing exposure is performed in synchronization with each of the exposure stages 6 and 7. When the exposure is completed on each of the exposure stages 6 and 7, first, the conveyance roller pair 5 of the main image exposure stage 7 is rotated by a fixed amount, and the exposed color paper 2 is transported by one frame. Due to this movement, the loop length becomes shorter than a predetermined value, so that the dancer roller 32 is displaced upward. The upward displacement of the dancer roller 32 is detected by the potentiometer 35. Based on this signal, the controller 40 rotates the conveying roller pair 4 of the illustration image exposure stage 6 to keep the loop amount at a constant value. Therefore, the main image area 66 can be accurately positioned on the main image exposure stage 7.

At the beginning of the exposure of the main image, the light receiver 96 is activated to obtain the average transmission density D _i of the frame to be printed on the negative film 88. The exposure amount calculation unit of the controller 40 calculates the optimum exposure amount at the time of main image printing exposure from the magnification balance value M _i and the density value D _i, and controls the filter adjustment unit 85 based on this. If the filter adjusting unit 85 cannot correct the opening, the opening time of the shutter 94 is controlled. In this way, the shutter 94 is opened for a predetermined time after the dimming of the printing light,
Since the main image is printed and exposed at a predetermined position close to the exposure area where the illustration image is printed and exposed, the illustration image and the main image can be easily combined and printed.

The color paper 2 that has been synthetically baked is taken up by a take-up reel 25, developed by a processor (not shown), and cut into each frame.

When another main image is desired to be printed and exposed while keeping the illustration image as it is, it can be set on the film carrier 87 of the negative film 88 for the new main image and the number of copies can be designated by the keyboard 98. In this case, in order to prevent the occurrence of paper loss corresponding to the loop length in the loop forming stage, the loop length is set until the front end side of the unexposed portion of the color paper 2 is positioned on the illustration image exposure stage 6. Reverses the corresponding amount. This reverse feed is also performed so that the loop length becomes a constant value, so that it is possible to perform the reverse feed by an accurate amount and eliminate the paper loss. Specifically, first,
The main image exposure is performed based on the output signal of the potentiometer 35 so that the conveying roller pair 4 of the illustration image exposure stage 6 is fed backward by a fixed amount corresponding to the loop length and the loop amount is always kept constant in correspondence with this. The rotation of the conveying roller pair 5 on the stage 7 side is controlled.

When the illustration image is replaced, a desired illustration image printing board is set in the board holder 52, and the negative film 88 for the main image is set in the film carrier 87. After this, after setting the desired number of prints, by operating the print key 99, in the same manner as described above, the optimum printing exposure condition of the main image is set according to the composite pattern of the set illustration image printing board. It
That is, according to the composite pattern, the variable ease masks 14,1
The aperture size of 5 is set, and the zoom lens 92 is set to the optimum printing magnification corresponding to the print area of the main image. Further, the loop amount is set according to the new combined pattern, and the rotations of the conveying roller pairs 4 and 5 are controlled so as to keep the loop amount constant. Therefore,
The illustration image and the main image are created with a proper exposure amount without deviation.

Further, when changing the print size, a new print size is input to the controller 40 via the keyboard 98. Based on this input, the controller 40 obtains a loop length that matches this print size, controls the rotation of each of the transport roller pairs 4 and 5 so that this loop length is obtained, and sets the angle of the movable arm 33 to a predetermined value. Set to the value. As a result, the print size can be easily changed by changing the loop length without moving any of the exposure stages as in the conventional case.

In the above embodiment, the identification signal section 75 for identifying the composite pattern is obtained on the illustration image printing board, the sensor detects this, and the loop amount is automatically set according to the composite pattern. However, this can also be entered using the keyboard. Further, a lithographic film, a negative film, or the like was used for the exposure portion for printing the illustration image and the main image, but a light emitting device such as a CRT can also be used for this. Further, in the above embodiment, the displacement of the dancer roller is detected by using the potentiometer, but instead of this, a rotary encoder may be used.

Further, although the above-mentioned embodiment is one in which the present invention is applied to the photosynthesis printing apparatus, the present invention can be applied to the case where different images are printed and exposed by a plurality of exposure stages in addition to the synthetic printing.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the loop forming stage is provided between the exposure stages, and the length of the loop is adjusted to a constant length according to the size of the print frame and the type of the combined pattern. Therefore, it is not necessary to move any one of the exposure stages according to the size of the print frame, etc., and it is possible to create a composite photograph without a shift with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a photosynthetic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an illustration image printing board and a board holder. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are explanatory views showing the positional relationship between the illustration image exposure stage and the main image exposure stage. 2 …… Color paper 4,5 …… Conveying roller pair 6,7 …… Exposure stage 20 …… Illustration image printing exposure section 21 …… Main image printing exposure section 23 …… Loop forming stage 32 …… Dancer roller 33 …… Movable arm 40 …… Controller.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photosynthesis printing apparatus in which a plurality of exposure stages are provided in a belt-shaped photosensitive material transfer path, and different images are printed and exposed on each exposure stage to combine the images. And a means for adjusting the length of the loop in the loop forming stage to a constant length according to the size of the print frame or the type of the composite pattern. A photo-synthesis printing device characterized in that