JP2661381B2 - Photo printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus for performing a printing operation based on data of various printing conditions optically read from a photographic negative film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional printing apparatus for printing a color image from photographic negative film on photographic paper, printing conditions such as image density are optically read from a negative film in advance, and light from a light source is converted into three primary colors based on the data. There is known a device in which the density is adjusted by each of the dimming filters, the light is radiated on a negative film, and printed on a photographic paper via a lens unit.

When reading printing conditions with the above-described conventional printing apparatus, a light source different from a printing light source is provided, and a single-length film including a plurality of image frames is irradiated by the different light source, and each frame is illuminated. The image density information is read, an average of the image information is calculated to calculate an average density, and a printing condition for each frame is set based on the average density to print.

When a large number of baking operations are continuously performed, a plurality of negative films are spliced together and wound on a supply reel, and the film is fed from the reel at a high speed.

[0005]

In general, a photo lab where a general photographer requests development and printing of a color photograph is generally provided with a plurality of the above printing devices.

A plurality of printing apparatuses provided in such a developing laboratory are, for example, one of three printing apparatuses having a service size of photographic paper and another having a solid finish.
The other is allocated for the L size, and each is used in a dedicated manner. In this case, in general, the order of the service size is large, for example, occupies 80% of all orders, and the others are 10% each. For this reason, there is a general tendency that the printing rate for the service size has a high operating rate and the other apparatuses have a low operating rate.

[0007] In general, when the baking operations in the printing apparatus, the reading operation of the printing condition by the scanner unit is faster than baking operation by the baking unit. On the other hand , the scanner unit may include, for example, an operation of displaying an image state on a television screen for monitoring and checking the image state while reading the image density. In such a case, the processing capacity of the scanner unit decreases, and consequently, the processing capacity of the printing unit also decreases . Under these circumstances
Various attempts have been made to improve the efficiency of the entire photographic printing equipment.
It has been done. However, as described above, multiple lines
, The utilization rate is clearly extremely high in each line.
May be low, link them to other lines and work
Aggressive proposals, such as utilizing
No plans have been made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional printing apparatus.
By separating the unit and the printing unit
And when those multiple lines are provided, one line
Enable the printer of another line to operate with the control signal of
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic printing apparatus that can effectively use the above line .

In order to solve the above problems this invention, a plurality
Photographic negative films of a book spliced together and wound
Transfer the negative film from the supply reel along the specified transport path
Negatives provided in the path of the transport unit that sends while guiding
Each image position of film, film type, scanner light source
From the detector that detects the image density due to the
A scanner control unit that outputs control signals based on seed information
Prepare and take out the negative film on the way
A rotary drive shaft that can set the take-up reel on the road
Controller and the above control signals are stored in the storage unit for printing.
Adjust the light of the light source with the dimming filter based on the above control signal
Print the image on photographic paper through the lens unit.
A printing control unit that controls each drive unit is provided, and
Rotary support shaft and film image position where take-up reel can be set
A printing unit with a detector for collating
Provided separately and independently, and the scanner controller
Communication and disconnection can be freely connected to the control unit with a communication cable.
And the scanner controller stores the above control signal
Burn-in control of the storage memory and the reader that reads its contents
Section has a reader for the storage memory, and the communication cable
The scanner control unit can be used with the scanner unit when cutting
The above control signals are independently stored in a portable storage memory,
Burning control with a burning unit with a portable storage memory
The above control signal is read by the reader of the
The photographic printing apparatus was constructed so as to print independently .

[0010]

The photographic printing apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above can be used as an online system for connecting a separately provided scanner unit and printing unit to perform a normal printing operation, or a mechanical and electrical system for both units. It can be used for any off-line system that can be disconnected and work independently.

When an online system is used, image information on the image position, film type, image density, etc. of a negative film is read by a detector, and a scanner control unit, based on these data, obtains an average image, image printing density, etc. The printing conditions are calculated and a control signal is output. This control signal is stored in the printing control unit and output to the drive unit in accordance with the timing of the printing operation, and the printing operation is performed.

Next, when used as an off-line system, the negative film to the ordinary transport line is wound up by a take-up reel outside the transport path on the way. Further, the communication cable from the scanner control unit to the printing control unit is disconnected.

An external storage memory for storing in advance a negative film from which image information has been read on another idle line and a control signal based on the read data is set in the printing unit, which is an off-line system. You.
The reading of the image information is the same as the operation in the above-described online system, and at that time, the data of the control signal is stored in the external storage memory.

When the control signal is read from the external storage memory by the printing unit, the printing operation is automatically performed. In the off-line scanner unit disconnected during that time, the operation of reading image information of another negative film is performed in parallel.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The printing apparatus includes a scanner unit 1, a printing unit 2, and a transport unit 3 for transporting a photographic negative film between the two units.

The transport unit 3 guides a negative film F sent from a supply reel 4 in which a plurality of negative films are spliced and wound together along a predetermined path via a number of guide rollers and guides (not shown). The negative film F is fed from a scanner unit 1 to a printing unit 2 while feeding is given by a roller 6 driven by a pulse motor and adjusting tension through a dancer roller 7 on the way.

A notch detector 8, a splice detector 9, a DX code detector 10, and the like are provided in the middle of the transport path in the scanner unit 1 as shown in the figure.
The notch detector 8 is a sensor that detects a notch formed in the center position of each screen frame of the negative film in advance and detects the position of each image in the film length direction. The splice detector 9 is a sensor that detects a position where a plurality of films have been spliced in advance using an optical signal. The DX code detector 10 is a sensor that detects a DX code written on each end of the negative film for each frame, and obtains information such as a film type by an optical signal.

Further, in the middle of the path, a screen detector 12, an image density detector 13, which operates by receiving light from a light source 11 composed of a halogen lamp in three directions and receiving one of the three lights, respectively.
And a monitor TV camera 14 provided with a notch blade for notch engraving at the same position.

Some screen detectors 12 have no notch depending on the type of film. In this case, the screen detector 12 is a sensor that receives an optical signal with a photo sensor and detects an image position. The image density detector 13 separates the image density of the negative film into three primary colors, and receives the image density for each color with a sensor. The obtained image density information is sent to a microcomputer described later, and the average image density for each film is calculated from the density information for each image frame. The printing condition for each frame is calculated based on this average image density. Is sent to the printing unit 2.

The TV camera 14 has a monitor T (not shown).
V is provided so that each image can be confirmed by human eyes. A notch blade is provided at the same position as the monitor optical axis position, and a notch is carved for each image on the film.

In the printing unit 2, another set of notch detectors 18 is provided along the transport path to check the position of the frame of each image to be printed on the negative film F sent by the transport unit. , Splice detector 19
Is provided. Both detectors are the same as the notch detector 8 and the splice detector 9, respectively.

As a printer unit for printing each image frame of the fed negative film F, light from a light source 21 composed of a halogen lamp is adjusted by a dimming filter 22 for three primary colors as shown in FIG. A mechanism is provided for irradiating the negative film F to the printing paper 26 which is sent from the supply reel 25 via the lens unit 24 to print each image.

The above is a mechanism for performing a normal printing operation by combining the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 1 on a one-to-one basis (hereinafter referred to as an online system). The printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 2 described above.
Are mechanically and electrically separated (hereinafter, referred to as an off-line system) so that they can work independently.

In order to allow the above-mentioned units to be separated and operated (see FIG. 2), the negative film F is fed to the scanner unit 1 from the middle of the transport path where the negative film F is sent from the scanner unit 1 to the printing unit 2. Another path 3 ′ is provided which is drawn out of the roller 6 and wound up without passing through the path. 15 is a take-up reel 17 '
This is a rotation drive shaft for rotationally driving (see FIG. 2).

In order to allow the negative film F to be fed into the printing unit 2 from the middle of a normal transport path, a rotary support for rotating and supporting a supply reel 17 (the wound one, see FIG. 2). A shaft 16 is provided.

Further, in order to perform an electrical disconnection, a disconnectable communication cable 36 between the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 2 is detached, and each unit is used as an external storage memory of a control circuit described later. Card readers 34 and 42 for reading / writing data from / to a memory card 35 are provided.

FIG. 3 is an overall schematic block diagram of a control circuit for controlling the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 2. This control circuit includes a scanner control unit 31 (microcomputer) and a printing control unit 41 (microcomputer).

The scanner control unit 31 includes the detectors 8 to
Signals 10, 12, and 13 are sent, and power is supplied to the light source 11 and the notch solenoid 14. Further, a keyboard 32 for correcting data such as image density information and the like, a display 33 for displaying a film type and the like, and a card reader 34 for an IC card 35 are provided. The burn-in control unit 41 receives signals from the detectors 18 and 19, includes a card reader 42 for reading / writing an IC card 35 ′ (memory of another line), and controls the drive circuits 43 to 46. Outputs a signal to supply reel 25
Motor 47 for sending out the photographic paper, filter driving section 4
8, the light source 49, the shutter 50 and the like are driven and controlled.

In the control circuit, the scanner controller 31 reads the position information of each frame image in the length direction of each film by the detectors 8, 9, or 12, and detects the corresponding position information in the detector. 10, the DX code information, the frame number, and the image density information from the linear image sensor 13 are read and sent to the scanner control unit 31. The scanner controller 31 calculates the average density based on the image density information as described above, and determines the printing density condition for each frame. In this case, when the density is to be further corrected for the burn-in condition based on the calculation according to the order of the customer or the like, the adjustment is performed by the correction input from the keyboard 32.

A signal output from the scanner control unit 31 based on these density conditions is used as a signal for controlling the type of the light control filter 48, the filter application time, the shutter speed, and the like via the communication cable 36 via the printing control unit. 41, and inserted into the card reader 34
It is recorded on the C card 35 as control data.

The printing control unit 41 stores the control signal in its internal memory via the CPU, outputs the control signal again from the storage memory in accordance with the operation timing of the printing printer, and drives the driving circuits 43 to 46 and the like. Perform printing.

The above is the operation in the case where the printing apparatus is used as an online system. The case where this apparatus is used as an offline system will be described.

When used as an offline system,
Image density information, position information, DX code information, etc. are read in advance by the scanner unit 1 of another line (however, the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 2 have the same function) as in the above-described online system, and the density condition is calculated. The control signal after the operation is stored in the IC card 35 '.
The read negative film is the take-up reel 1 of another line.
Winded at 7 '.

As shown in FIG. 2, the take-up reel 17 is
The IC card 35 'is set on the rotation support shaft 16 of the printing unit 2 and sent to the printer unit, and the IC card 35' is set on the card reader 42 and a control signal is sent from the printing control unit 41 to each of the drive circuits 43 to 46. In this way, the printing unit is operated with full automation. In this case, the negative film F is not set in the normal transport path from the scanner unit 1 to the printing unit 2, and the communication cable 36
Connection is also removed.

While the printing unit 2 is operated independently, the scanner unit 1 can be driven independently since the connection is disconnected. Accordingly, an operation of reading image information of another rolled film can be performed during that time.

The printing apparatus of the present invention, which can be used for both the online system and the offline system as described above, can improve the operation rate of a desired line in the case where a plurality of lines are provided and operated, as follows. . FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

Now, it is assumed that four lines are provided as a printing device. (A) and (b) are service size lines, (c) is a line with a blind finish, and (d) is L
Size line. As a general tendency, the service size line is about 80% of the total printing amount, and the (c) line is about 1%.
0%, the line (d) is about 10%. X is a processor for developing the printed photographic paper.

Therefore, the operation rate of the line (b) out of the lines (a) and (b) is increased. At this time, the line (b) disconnects the mechanical and electrical connection between the scanner unit 1 and the printing unit 2 as an off-line system as described above. Prior to this, various information of a predetermined negative film is read by using the scanner unit 1 of the line (c) which has been paused beforehand, and the control information is stored in an IC.
The negative film and the IC card 35 'are recorded on the card 35' and set in the printing unit 2 of the line (b).

In this way, the printing unit 2 of the line (b) is automated thereafter, and the operation proceeds unattended even at night.
In the meantime, the operation of reading information from another negative film can be performed by the scanner unit 1 of the line (b). Further, when increasing the operation rate of the line (a), the line (d) is used. Since the operation times of the printers of lines (c) and (d) are shorter than those of lines (a) and (b), all the scanner units are used in parallel by using the scanner unit 1 while the printers are at rest. 1 is operated, a reading operation requiring a worker is performed in the daytime, and the printing operation is performed by the printing unit 2 of the line (a) or (b) in the daytime or night (a), (b). Valid for entire line
It can be used .

[0041]

[Effect] As described above in detail, photo according to the present invention printing apparatus DE separation scanner unit and baking units
Provided standing, mechanically both units together comprise corresponding to even the unit controller of respectively the unit and freely electrically connected disconnected, the negative film read image information by the scanner unit of the other line Since the take-up reel and the storage memory storing the control signal can be set in the off-line printing unit, it can be used as a normal printing device, and the scanner unit and the printing unit can be separated and work independently. Therefore, there is an advantage that a specific line can be effectively used by using a line which is stopped in a developing station provided with a plurality of lines of the same apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a photographic printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram when two units of a printing apparatus are separated.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the entire control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of using the system as an offline system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 scanner unit 2 printing unit 3 transport unit 4 supply reel 8, 18 notch detector 9, 19 splice detector 10 DX code detector 11 light source 12 screen detector 13 linear image sensor 14 monitor TV camera 15 rotation drive shaft 16 rotation Support shaft 17, 17 'take-up reel 21 Light source 22 Light control filter 26 Printing paper 31 Scanner control unit 34, 42 Card reader 35, 35' IC card 41 Burn-in control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of photographic negative films are spliced together.
Negative film is supplied from the supply reel wound and rice
Of the transport unit that feeds while guiding along the transport path of
Each image position and film type of negative film provided in the path
Detects image density due to light from scanner light source, etc.
Output a control signal based on various information from the detector
Equipped with a scanner controller, and take a negative film
Rotation that can set the take-up reel in the path where it unwinds and winds
A scanner unit having a drive shaft;
The light of the printing light source is stored in the storage unit based on the control signal.
Adjust with dimming filter and print on photographic paper through lens unit
There is a print control unit that controls each drive unit to print images.
Rotation support for setting the take-up reel in the middle of the path
Has detector to match axis and film image position
Separately and independently from the printing unit,
A communication cable connects the controller to the burn-in controller.
Communication and disconnection are possible with the
Portable storage memory for storing signals and reading their contents
A reader and a reader for the storage
The scanner unit when the communication cable is disconnected.
The above control signal is stored in the portable storage memory of the scanner controller.
A printing unit that stores data independently and inserts the portable storage memory.
For knits, read the above control signal with the reader of the printing control unit
It is configured to print independently by the control signal.
Photo printing equipment .