JP2577645B2 - Printing method of micro film printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial application field) The present invention retrieves designated image information from a large number of image information imprinted on a microfilm by blip, and prints the enlarged image information. The present invention relates to a printing method in a microfilm printer.

(Technical Background of the Invention) As an automatic microfilm search method, a document mark (hereinafter referred to as "blip") method is known. In this method, a blip corresponding to image information is printed in advance for each frame of a reduced image of a microfilm, and at the time of retrieval, a specified frame is input by a keyboard, and the blip is moved by an optical sensor while running the film. This is for reading and enlarging and projecting image information of a designated frame on a screen of a reader. Further, there is a printer in which image information to be printed and the number of prints are specified in advance, and printing is automatically performed to output a hard copy.

However, since the specification of the blip is not standardized in the microfilm, when a blip attached based on the specification of a certain reader is read by another reader, there is a problem that the image position is shifted. That is, the relative position of the image to the blip changes depending on the specifications of the reader device, the micro camera, and the like. For this reason, when printing the read image, there is a problem that the printing position is shifted from the designated position on the paper.

Further, in the same film, each piece of image information is printed by the same camera under the same conditions, so that each piece of image information is printed in the same size and in the same direction. In some cases, the image may be inclined at the same angle. Therefore, depending on the film, there is also a problem that the printed image does not conform to the size of the paper or is printed with an inclination. Under such circumstances, in an advanced search system connected to a computer, for example, an image of a plurality of target frames specified in advance is automatically searched from an auto stocker containing a large number of cartridges and continuously printed out. In this case, unless the printing conditions are changed for each film, a large number of misprints may occur. For this reason, it was also difficult to make the print of the microfilm unmanned.

Further, particularly when printing with a negative film, there is also a disadvantage that a large black frame appears around the image and the amount of consumed toner increases.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
When printing image information retrieved by blip, a microfilm printer suitable for unmanned printing by eliminating misprints by enabling image information to be printed at the specified appropriate position on the print paper with the specified dimensions It is a first object of the present invention to provide a printing method.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a printing method of a microfilm printer which can reduce the consumption of toner without forming a black frame around an image.

(Constitution of the Invention) According to the present invention, there is provided a microfilm printer which searches for and prints predetermined image information using a large number of imprinted blips with a substantially fixed positional relationship with the image information. A printing method for a microfilm printer, wherein the steps are performed for each different film: (a) a step of searching for image information specified first by the blip; (b) reading the searched image information with an image sensor. Determining the relative position, dimensions, and inclination of the image information with respect to the position of the blip; (c) a film advance correction amount, a zoom correction amount, and a rotation correction amount for printing the image information at a specified position, size, and inclination. Obtaining and storing print conditions including: (d) using the print conditions obtained in step (c) Step to continue printing in the same printing condition to (e) other image information of the same film; performing lint. Is achieved by

Here, the film feed correction amount may be such that the position correction in the film width direction can be performed together with the correction in the longitudinal direction of the film.

The second object is achieved by adding a masking range for erasing a black frame portion around the image to these printing conditions and masking this masking range during printing.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part thereof, FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a blip, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process for obtaining printing conditions.

The microfilm used in this embodiment is a roll microfilm 2 shown in FIG. 5, and a document mark for search, that is, a blip 6 (6a, 6a) is placed above and below each frame 4 on which image information of the roll microfilm 2 is recorded.
b) is imprinted. These blips 6 identify three types, large, medium and small, based on changes in their vertical position and their width. For example, it is assumed that a film number, a block number, and a page number are respectively identified. The film 2 is housed in a cartridge 8 (FIGS. 1 to 3) and loaded into a reader / printer device 10.

The reader / printer device 10 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, a transmissive screen 14 is arranged on the front surface (the right side surface in FIG. 1) of the case 12, and the image of the frame 4 of the cartridge 8 is enlarged and projected on the screen. The cartridge 8 is loaded in a loading section 16 located below the screen 14.
The leading end of the film 2 wound on the supply reel 18 in the cartridge 8 is pulled out by the loading mechanism and wound around the winding reel 20. Both reels 18, 20
A light source 22 is disposed below the space therebetween. The light emitted from the light source 22 passes through the film 2 and is guided to the screen 14 via an optical system including a projection lens 24, an image rotation prism 26, a plurality of reflection mirrors 28, 30, 32, and the like. As a result, the image information recorded on one frame 4 of the film 2 is enlarged and projected.

A mirror that can move back and forth on the optical axis between the reflection mirrors 28 and 30
34 is provided, and the image projection light is
It is led by 34 to a printer device 36 located below it.
The printer device 36 is, for example, of the PPC type, and forms an electrostatic latent image of an image by exposing a photosensitive drum 36a (see FIG. 3). This is transferred onto a print sheet and fixed. In addition, the printer device 36 is provided with a masking device 38 for blocking the incidence of projection light, and in particular, in the case of a negative film, blocks the incident light that forms a black frame portion in the image.

The film feed mechanism is shown in FIG. When the cartridge 8 is loaded in the loading section 16, the micro switch 40 detects this, and the CPU 102 described later activates the loading mechanism. That is, the opening provided at the bottom of the cartridge 8
A roller (not shown) is brought into contact with the reel 18 from 8a to draw out the leading end of the film 2 and wound around the take-up reel 20 via guide rollers 42 and 44. In the vicinity of the guide rollers 42 and 44,
Sensors 46 and 48 for detecting the presence or absence of the film 2 are provided. The endless belt 50 is pressed against the take-up reel 20, and is brought into close contact with the film 2 wound there. This endless belt 50
Is wound around the guide rollers 52, 54, 56 and the drive roller 58. The drive roller 58 is driven by a motor 60,
The belt 50 is moved in the direction of arrow A, that is, in the winding direction.
As a result, the film 2 is wound on the reel 20 while being sandwiched between the belt 50 and the reel 20. The rotation shaft of the motor 62 is automatically connected to the supply reel 18 when the cartridge 8 is loaded. The film 2 is rewound by driving the reel 18 in the direction of arrow B by the motor 62. Also at this time, the belt 50 runs with the film 2.

A tension roller 64 is pressed against the endless belt 50 with a predetermined pressure, and applies an appropriate tension to the belt 50. The rotation speed of the tension roller 64 is detected by the encoder 66. Based on the output pulse signal of the encoder 66, the travel amount of the endless belt 50, that is, the travel amount of the film 2 is obtained by the CPU 102 described later.

The blip 6 provided on the film 2 includes two sets of light-emitting elements 68 (68a, 68b) and light-receiving elements 70 which are located at a fixed distance l from the optical axis C of the light source 22 on the supply reel 18 side.
(70a, 70b). Here, of the light emitted from the light emitting element 68, only the light passing through the blip 6 is selected by the slit 72 and guided to the light receiving element 70. The outputs of these light receiving elements 70 are input to the CPU 102, and the type of the blip 6 and the number of passages are integrated, so that the frame 4
Identify. Since the distance between the detected position of the blip 6 and the optical axis C is constant l, the frame 4 being projected can be identified by monitoring the film traveling amount detected by the encoder 66. That is, when the blip 6 of the target frame 4 is detected, the film 2 is further moved therefrom by a distance l.
If the target frame 4 is sent to the take-up reel 20 side,
Will be inside.

The image information of the target frame 4 entering the optical axis C in this manner is projected on the screen 14. Here the projection lens
The magnification of 24 is variable by a motor 74, and the rotation angle of the image rotation prism 26 is variable by a motor 76 (FIG. 3).

Behind the screen 14, there is a CC as an image sensor
The movable plate 80 holding the D line sensor 78 is the guide rail 8
It is arranged movably to the left and right on 2,84. As shown in FIG. 2, both ends of a wire 90 wound around a pair of pulleys 86 and 88 are fixed to the movable plate 80. Pulley 88
Is rotated by a motor 92, and a wire 90 traveling therewith moves the movable plate 80 left and right.

Next, the control device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 100 includes a digital processing device (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 102, input / output interfaces (I / F) 104 and 106, a ROM 108 for storing an operation program and the like, an image signal read by a line sensor 78, and various data. And the like for storing RAM 110 and the like. Various signals are input to the CPU 102 via the input I / F. For example, an image signal a read by the line sensor 78,
Output signals from the microswitch 40, the sensors 46 and 48, the light receiving element 70, the encoder 66, and the like are input. Also keyboard 11
From 2, the identification code of the target image or the identification code of the image to be printed is input.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a manual speed setting device for inputting a feed direction and a feed speed of the film 2. This speed setting device
When the operation knob 116 of the 114 is rotated left or right from the neutral position, the amount of rotation is input to the CPU 102. The CPU 102 controls the feed direction and speed of the film 2 in accordance with the direction and amount of rotation of the operation knob 116 from the neutral position. That is, when the operation knob 116 is at the neutral position, the film 2 is stopped, and when the film 2 is turned to the left, the motor 60 is operated to cause the film 2 to travel leftward in FIG. Drive to the right.

Reference numeral 118 denotes an odometer, which indicates a running distance from the leading end side of the film. That is, the traveling distance of the endless belt 50 traveling with the film 2 is obtained by adding and subtracting the output pulse signal of the encoder 66 by the CPU 102, and the calculation result is displayed on the odometer 118.

Reference numeral 120 denotes a digital printer which prints an image read by the line sensor 78 as necessary, or
An image sent from another device may be output to the printer 120 by connecting another reader / printer device to the printer device 02.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, a printing method according to this embodiment will be described. When the frame 112 of the target image to be printed is input and started by the keyboard 112, the CPU 102 performs the operations of the respective steps shown in FIG. 4 in order according to the operation program stored in the ROM 108. That is, the CPU 102 first drives the motor 74 so as to minimize the magnification of the projection lens 24 (FIG. 4,
Step 200), the motor 60 is driven to take up the film 2 of the cartridge 8 loaded in the loading section 16 onto the take-up reel 20. At this time, the blip 6 is read by the light receiving element 70 to search for the designated frame 4 (step 202).
The reason for setting the projection lens 24 to the minimum magnification is to read the blip 6 correctly. When the target frame 4 is detected, the CPU 102
Moves the film 2 further by the distance l between the optical axis C and the light receiving element 70 to align the target frame 4 with the optical axis C. And the projected image of this frame 4 is screen
The image is read by moving the movable plate 80 while enlarging and projecting the image to 14. The CPU 102 detects the coordinates of the four corners of the image information from the output image signal a of the line sensor 78 and the position of the line sensor 78 at this time.

These coordinates are described in, for example, JP-A-1-225284 and JP-A-1-22.
It can be determined by the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5282 or the like. In these methods, the edge of the image on the line sensor (on the main scanning line) is detected from the state of black-and-white reversal, and the coordinates of the obtained edge are sequentially rewritten while moving the line sensor. It is assumed that the position changed to decrease or vice versa is the corner of the image.

When the coordinates of the four corners of the image are obtained in this way, the CPU 102
Detects the relative position between the coordinates of this image and the coordinates of the blip 6 (step 204). That is, in FIG. 6, it is detected how much the center G of the image F is shifted from the center E of the print paper D (or the screen 14), and the image F is positioned at the center of the print paper D (the screen 14). Correction amount Δl of the film feed amount is calculated. The feed correction amount .DELTA.l includes a correction amount .DELTA.l _y correction amount .DELTA.l _x and the film width direction of the film feed direction, separately providing a mechanism for moving the film in the width direction (not shown) for correction .DELTA.l _y This is possible. The print paper size and print position when printing are
(Step 206), the CPU 102 obtains and stores conditions for printing the image F at a correct position (indicated by H in FIG. 6) on the sheet (step 208). This printing condition is a film feed correction amount Δ for aligning the image F to a predetermined position H on the sheet.
1, a zoom correction amount d for changing the magnification, and a rotation correction amount Δθ for preventing the image from being tilted on the sheet. In the case of a negative film, since a black frame appears outside the image, it is desirable that the outside of the coordinates of the four corners of the image F entering the position H after the position correction be masked by the masking device 38. In this case, the masking range is also one of the printing conditions.

CPU102 is moved by the correction amount .DELTA.l _x forwards the location of the film 2 by a motor 60, 62, if the further film having a width direction of the correction mechanism, to move in this direction correction amount .DELTA.l _y simultaneously. Further, the CPU 102 performs the zoom correction for the zoom correction amount α by the motor 74, and further performs the image Δθ
Perform rotation correction by rotating. As a result, the image is aligned with the proper position H in the print paper D (step 210).

The CPU 102 executes printing next (step 21).
2) At this time, the masking device 38 is simultaneously operated so that the masking range is not printed as a black frame (step 214). If there is no change in the cartridge 8 and there is no instruction to change the print conditions (step 216), C
The PU 102 continues printing while changing the image thereafter using the printing conditions stored in step 208 (step 102).
218). If the replacement of the cartridge 8 is detected by the microswitch 40 or if there is an instruction to change the printing condition from the keyboard 112 (step 216), the CPU 102 returns to step 200 and obtains the printing condition again.

In the above embodiment, the position for detecting the blip 6 and the frame 4
Is separated by a distance l from the position where the image of
In the present invention, the distance 1 may be set to 0, and these may be read at the same position in the length direction of the film 2.

In the above embodiment, the coordinates of the image information
The image is read at 78 and is determined from the manner of inversion of the black and white area of the image, but the present invention is not limited to this method.

(Effect of the Invention) As described above, in the invention described in claim (1) of the present application, when printing the image information retrieved by the blip on a predetermined print sheet, the image information is transferred to a designated position on the print sheet. The printing conditions for printing with the dimensions and the image rotation angle specified in (1) are obtained and stored each time printing is first performed on a different film, and thereafter, printing is performed on the same film under these printing conditions. It is like that. Therefore, the designated image information can be printed under the same conditions, the operation is simple, and the effect of eliminating misprinting can be obtained. For this reason, it is also possible to make prints unmanned by a search system connected to a computer.

In the invention described in claim (2), when there is a black frame outside the image information such as a negative film, the range of the black frame (masking range) is obtained as one of the printing conditions. By printing while masking this masking range, the black frame is not printed, and the effect of reducing the toner consumption can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is an overall schematic view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part thereof, FIG. 3 is a system diagram of control signals thereof, FIG. 4 is a flow chart of operation, and FIG. Diagram showing a blip, sixth
The figure shows the process for obtaining the print conditions. 2 ... microfilm, 4 ... frame, 6 ... blip, 10 ... leader printer, 78 ... CCD line sensor as image sensor.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A microfilm printer for retrieving and printing predetermined image information by using a large number of imprinted blips with a substantially fixed positional relationship with the image information and performing the following steps for each different film. Characteristic printing method of microfilm printer: (a) a step of retrieving the image information specified first by the blip; (b) reading the retrieved image information with an image sensor and a relative position of the image information with respect to the position of the blip A step of obtaining dimensions and inclination; (c) a step of obtaining and storing printing conditions including a film feed correction amount, a zoom correction amount, and a rotation correction amount for printing this image information at a designated position, size, and inclination. (D) executing printing under the printing conditions determined in step (c); Step to continue printing in the same printing conditions with respect to other image information of e) the same film. 2. The printing conditions include: a film feed correction amount for positioning image information at an appropriate position; a zoom correction amount;
3. The printing method for a microfilm printer according to claim 1, wherein the rotation correction amount and the masking range are set.