JP2685368B2 - Image frame detection method and apparatus and photographic film carrier - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image frame detecting method and device for detecting image frames recorded on a photographic film, and a photographic film carrier for sequentially positioning each image frame at a printing position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic printing apparatus, a negative carrier is installed at a printing position in order to sequentially position a developed negative film at a printing position. The negative carrier includes a base and a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the base. The base has a negative film guide path provided with a printing opening corresponding to an image frame. Rollers that are driven to rotate by the driving force of a pulse motor are provided in the guide path in the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the negative film. Further, an idle roller that is paired with these rollers and that sandwiches the negative film is attached to the lid. For this reason, when the lid is closed and the negative film is inserted from the side of the negative carrier, the negative film can be pinched and transported along the guide path.

A detection device for detecting an image frame edge is provided on the guide path upstream of the printing opening. This image frame edge detecting device is disclosed in
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 11329, a cold cathode tube or a halogen lamp is arranged on the back side of the guide path, and a slit hole is formed in the guide path so that light emitted from the cold cathode tube or the halogen lamp is projected on the guide path. Irradiation to negative film.

In addition, a light receiving sensor is provided on the lid corresponding to the slit hole, so that light transmitted through the negative film is received. The transmission density of the negative film is calculated based on the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor. Generally, the transmission density is low in the base portion of the negative film, and high in the image frame range.
By comparing the transmission density difference with a predetermined transmission density, the boundary between the image frame and the base portion, that is, the image frame edge is detected and positioned at the printing position.

Thus, even if the image frame pitch recorded on the negative film fluctuates due to a feed error at the time of photographing by the camera, the positioning can be automatically and accurately performed at the printing position, and the error due to the quantitative feed is eliminated. Can be. Further, since it is not necessary to detect the notch provided for each image frame, the configuration of the negative carrier itself is simplified.

[0006]

However, a cold cathode tube or a halogen lamp, which is a light source for detecting the transmission density of a negative film, is severely deteriorated with time and has a short life. For this reason, replacement of the light source and the like become frequent, and maintainability is poor. Further, although the light quantity may change due to the temperature change, the light quantity control of the cold cathode tube or the halogen lamp is complicated and the light quantity cannot be easily changed. Further, since the amount of light detected by the light receiving sensor also changes due to this change in the amount of light, the comparison balance with a predetermined transmission density is disturbed, and an accurate image frame edge cannot be detected.

Further, since the light source such as the cold cathode tube or the halogen lamp is a so-called surface light source, it is necessary to prevent blurring by using an optical system such as a slit or a cylindrical lens. Becomes complicated,
The negative carrier itself also becomes large.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention detects the image frame edge by the relative density difference within one measurement range, so that the image frame edge is always accurately detected regardless of the accuracy and performance of the light amount adjustment. The object is to obtain an image frame detection device that can do this.

In addition to the above-mentioned object, an image having a long service life, improved maintainability, little change in light quantity due to temperature changes, and simple initial light quantity control can reliably position the image frame at the printing position. The aim is to obtain a frame detection method and a photographic film carrier.

[0010]

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention described in claim 1
Is a light-projecting unit and a light-emitting unit that are provided across the guideway of photographic film.
And a light-receiving part, and the light beam emitted from the light-emitting part is received by the light-receiving part.
Receiving light and photographic film based on the amount of light received
An image frame detection device for detecting the upper image frame,
The light-projecting section is arranged along the width direction of the photographic film.
A light emitting diode array with a number of light emitting diodes
Configure I, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes, the co when emitting at least two colors or more different colors, so that the light emission amount of their respective becomes the same amount as that quantity of each color of light emitting diodes is determined It has a feature.

The invention according to claim 2 relates to a photographic film.
It is equipped with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit sandwiching the guide path.
The light beam emitted from the light section is received by the light receiving section, and this light is received.
Detects image frames on photographic film based on the received light amount
An image frame detecting device, which is configured to
Multiple light emitting diodes arranged along the width direction of the rum
It is characterized in that it is constituted by a light emitting diode array provided with, and the light emitting diode is turned on only when the photographic film is moved.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as claim 1 or 2.
In the invention according to claim 2, by detecting the amount of light received by the photographic film by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, detection of a splice tape connecting the photographic films, detection of a management tape attached for each photographic film, and The feature is that the notch provided corresponding to each image frame is detected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image frame detection method for detecting an edge of an image frame recorded on a photographic film, which is arranged in the width direction of the photographic film without the photographic film. The maximum value of the light emission amount of the plurality of light emitting diodes is adjusted according to the range of the light amount that can be received by the plurality of light receiving units, and the correction value of the light receiving amount is adjusted based on the error of the light receiving amount of each light receiving unit. The feature is that the edge of the image frame is detected based on the transmission density distribution of the photographic film obtained after the determination and correction of the received light amount.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the amount of received light in the invention according to the fourth aspect, a temporary edge is set based on a maximum point of the amount of received light, and the local minimum is within a predetermined distance from the temporary edge. It is characterized in that a point is obtained and a half point between the maximum point and the minimum point of the received light amount is set as an edge of an image frame.

The invention according to claim 6 is a photographic film carrier for transporting a photographic film on which image frames are continuously recorded and for sequentially positioning each image frame to a printing position, wherein a light beam is applied to the printing position. A base provided with a guide passage for guiding the photographic film provided with a passage opening, an openable / closable lid that covers the guide passage of the base, and a photograph provided on the guide passage upstream of the printing position. photographic film and a plurality of light emitting diodes through the slit hole provided on the front Symbol draft within path arranged along the width direction of the film is transmitted through the photographic film guide path, from being provided on the lid the light emitting diode a sensor for detect the transmitted light, the positioning control means for positioning the discriminated image frame edge of the image frame to the printing position on the basis of the detected amount of the sensor , The has.

[0017]

The light emitting diodes are arranged along the width direction of the photographic film to form a light projecting section. The light emitting diode is
Since the variation in light amount is small and the change in temperature is small, there is no variation in the transmitted light amount of the photographic film received by the light receiving section. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an accurate amount of transmitted light of the photographic film,
The image frame and the base portion can be reliably distinguished.

Since the light emitting diode has a long life,
The periodical replacement work that occurs when a cold cathode tube, a halogen lamp, or the like is applied as a light source is reduced, and maintenance workability is improved.

Basic using light emitting diode as described above
In the configuration, according to the invention of claim 1 , the plurality of light emitting diodes are selected so as to develop at least two different colors, and the numbers of the light emitting diodes are set so that the respective light emitting amounts become the same amount. I have decided. For example, when R (red) and Y (yellow) are selected, Y has a poor light emission efficiency and is arranged at a ratio of R: Y = 1: 2. That is, the arrangement order is R from the one end in the width direction of the photographic film.
YYRYYYRY ... As a result, the amount of light of each color becomes substantially uniform, and the amount of transmitted light of the color image can be reliably detected.

In addition to R, Y, the light emitting diode is G
It is optimal to add (green) or the like to form three colors, but even two colors can sufficiently detect image frames.

Further , in the above basic structure, according to the invention of claim 2 , the light emitting diode is turned on only when the photographic film is moved. Since the blinking of the light emitting diode has a good responsiveness, it can be turned on only when the photographic film is moved. This is effective in terms of life and heat generation.

According to the invention described in claim 3, wherein the billing
In addition to the effect of claim 1 or claim 2, a splice tape that joins together for processing a plurality of photographic films in a roll shape by a light projecting portion (light emitting diode) and a light receiving portion for detecting the image frame. Can be detected. In addition, a management tape on which a number such as an ID is recorded may be attached to each photographic film.
The light receiving section can detect the presence or absence of this management tape.

When detecting each tape, an infrared or near infrared light emitting diode is required. That is, for example, an infrared (800 nm to 900 nm) light emitting diode is installed at the tape detection position in the light emitting diode array.

Further, a semi-circular notch called a notch is provided at one end in the width direction of the photographic film corresponding to each image frame. This notch is used as a reference for positioning a print position by sending a fixed amount when an image frame cannot be detected, but if a part of the light receiving part is arranged corresponding to this notch forming position, Notches can be detected.

That is, the image frame detection device according to the first or second aspect can be applied not only to the detection of the image frame but also to the secondary sensor such as the detection of the splice tape.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention , when the image frame is positioned at the printing position, the image frame edge is detected based on the amount of received light. By the way, in order to accurately detect the amount of received light, it is necessary to recognize the amount of light emitted from a plurality of light emitting diodes and the light receiving state at the amount of received light. The light emitting diode rarely changes its light amount with time due to intermittent lighting or changes with temperature, and may be adjusted at an initial stage.

That is, in the state where there is no photographic film, first, in the light receiving section, in order to calculate the amount of received light,
It needs to be converted to a digital value, and this convertible range is limited. Therefore, the current for emitting light from the light emitting diode is adjusted so that the maximum value of the amount of light emitted from the light emitting diode falls within the range where the light receiving unit can receive light.

Next, the respective light receiving parts may differ in the light receiving amount even if the light emitting amount is constant depending on the arrangement state or the like. A correction value for correcting this is determined. This correction value is defined as a coefficient that keeps the amount of light received by each light receiving unit to a constant value.

After the initial adjustment is completed, the image frame edge is detected. While the photographic film is being conveyed, the amount of light transmitted from the light emitting diode is received by the light receiving portion, and the value received by each light receiving portion is corrected to obtain the amount of received light. Since the amount of received light is low in the image frame portion and high in the base portion, the image frame edge is at a position where the amount of received light changes abruptly, and the image frame edge obtained in this way is fed, for example, based on the printing position. Specify according to the amount. That is, the relative position between the printing position X and the image frame edge detection position Y is predetermined, and for example, when a photographic film is conveyed by a pulse motor, the distance is represented by the difference in the number of pulse readings. Here, if it is stored as the pulse reading number when the image frame edge is detected, the distance between the X and Y becomes the offset amount, and the pulse reading number obtained by adding this offset amount is the image frame edge burn-in. It is the number of pulse readings that are positioned at the position X. As a result, the image frame edge can be accurately positioned at the printing position.

As described above, by using the light emitting diode, it is possible to always perform accurate positioning of the image frame at the printing position only by adjusting the light amount and the like in the initial stage.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the image frame edge is specified, the amount of light received by the photographic film when the image frame is conveyed by a predetermined distance from the central part of the normal image frame to the central part of the adjacent image frame. obtain. A maximum point of the amount of received light within this predetermined distance range is specified, and the point where the amount of received light is 90 to 95% from this maximum point of the received amount of light is set as a temporary edge of the image frame. In the case of an image frame having a good exposure state, the provisional edge substantially coincides with the actual image frame edge. However, in the case of underexposure or overexposure, the transmission density distribution varies, and the image frame edge is not accurate. Here, a minimum point within the range of the predetermined distance from the temporary edge is obtained, and a half point between the maximum received light amount maximum point and the minimum received light point is determined as an image coma edge. In this way, even for an underexposed or overexposed image frame, the image frame edge can be detected without a large error.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a film carrier for positioning the image frame is arranged near the printing position, and the photographic film is conveyed along the guide path provided in the film carrier. A printing opening is provided in the guide path, and image frames are sequentially positioned in the printing opening, and fixed by a mask provided on the lid, and post-printing processing is performed.

A slit hole is provided upstream of the printing opening of the guide path, and a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged on the back surface side of the guide path. Therefore, the light beam from the light emitting diode is detected by the sensor through the photographic film passing through the guide path, and the amount of received light can be obtained. Since the edge of the image frame is obtained based on the amount of received light, the positioning control unit can reliably position the image frame at the printing position.

Since the film carrier is provided with an image frame edge detecting function using a light emitting diode as a light source and a photographic film conveying function, and a printing opening is provided, the apparatus constituting each function can be made compact. it can.

[0035]

1 and 2 show a printer processor 10 as a photographic printer to which the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of the printer processor 10 will be described.

The printer processor 10 is covered with a casing 12 on the outside. The printer processor 10 includes a work table 14 projecting from the casing 12 to the left in FIG. On the upper surface of the work table 14, a negative carrier 18 on which a negative film 16 is set is placed. The detailed configuration of the negative carrier 18 will be described later.

A light source section 36 is installed below the work table 14. The light source unit 36 includes a light source 38.
The light beam emitted from the light source 38 reaches the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 via the filter unit 40 and the diffusion tube 42. The filter unit 40 is composed of C, M, and Y
Each of the filters is configured to be able to protrude and retract on the optical axis of the light beam.

An optical system 46 is attached to the arm 44 protruding from the printer processor 10. Optical system 4
Reference numeral 6 includes a lens 48 and a shutter 50, and is arranged on the optical axis of the light beam. The light transmitted through the negative film 16 passes through the lens 48 and the shutter 50, and forms an image of the negative film 16 on the photographic paper 54 set in the exposure chamber 52.

The optical system 46 also includes a density measuring device 56 such as a CCD for measuring the density of the negative film 16. The density measuring device 56 is connected to the controller 162, and an exposure correction value at the time of exposure is set based on data measured by the density measuring device 56 and data input by a key operator.

Here, the light source section 36, the optical system 46, and the exposure chamber 52 enable a printing process to form an exposure section 58.

A mounting portion 60 is provided above the arm 44. The mounting unit 60 is configured to mount a paper magazine 64 that winds and stores the photographic paper 54 on a reel 62 in a layered manner.

A roller 66 is arranged in the vicinity of the mounting portion 60, and the photographic printing paper 54 is nipped and conveyed to the exposure chamber 52.
Further, a roller 68 is disposed near the exposure chamber 52, and sandwiches the photographic paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 has been printed in the exposure chamber 52, and conveys it to the reservoir 70 adjacent to the exposure chamber 52.

In the reservoir section 70, the printing paper 54 which has been subjected to the printing process is stocked, and the exposure section 58 for carrying out the printing process and the developing process are carried out.
The difference in processing time between the processor 72 and each of the fixing and rinsing processes is absorbed.

The printing paper 54 discharged from the reservoir 70
Is transported to the color developing section 74 of the processor section 72 adjacent to the reservoir section 70. The color developing section 74 includes the photographic paper 54.
Is immersed in a developing solution to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a bleach-fixing unit 76 adjacent to the color developing unit 74. The bleach-fixing section 76 immerses the printing paper 54 in a fixing solution to perform a fixing process. The photographic paper 54 subjected to the fixing process is conveyed to a rinsing unit 78 adjacent to the bleach-fixing unit 76. The rinsing section 78 immerses the printing paper 54 in washing water to perform a washing process.

The photographic printing paper 54 that has been washed with water has a rinse portion 78.
Is transported to the drying unit 80 adjacent to. The drying unit 80 winds the printing paper 54 around a roller and exposes the printing paper 54 to high-temperature air for drying.

The photographic printing paper 54 is sandwiched by a pair of rollers 82A, and the photographic printing paper 54 which has been dried is discharged from the drying section 80 at a constant speed. A pair of rollers 82B is disposed above the rollers 82A, and is intermittently rotated corresponding to the processing of the cutter unit 84 disposed downstream of the drying unit 80. As a result, the cutter section 84 is
The print paper 54 is composed of a cut mark sensor 86 for detecting a cut mark given to the print paper 54 and a cutter 88 for cutting the photographic paper 54. The photographic paper 54 is cut for each image frame and discharged to the outside of the casing 12 of the printer processor 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, each control is controlled by the controller 162. The controller 162
It is configured to include a microcomputer 164.
The micro computer 164 includes a CPU 166 and a RAM 1
68, ROM 170, input / output port 172, and a bus 174 such as a data bus and a control bus connecting them.
It is constituted by.

The controller 162 is connected to a transport controller 176 for controlling the transport system of the negative film 16 and the photographic paper 54 in the printer processor 10, the light source 38 in the exposure unit 58 is turned on, and the filter unit 40 is moved to the optical path. Appearance of images, frame feed with negative carrier 18, shutter 50
An exposure control unit 178 for controlling an exposure system such as opening and closing of the camera is connected. In the controller 162, the drying unit 80
The detection of the cut mark by the cut mark sensor 86 in the drying control unit 182 for controlling the driving of the fan and the heater in the
Control unit 184 for controlling the cutting of the photographic paper 54 by the printer
Is connected.

FIG. 4 shows a negative carrier 18 according to this embodiment.
It is shown. The negative carrier 18 is mainly composed of a pedestal 200 as a base and an opening / closing cover 202 as a lid.

The pedestal 200 is formed with a negative film transport path 204 as a guide path. A printing opening 206 is provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the negative film transport path 204, and serves as an irradiation port of a light beam from the light source 38 provided in the printer processor 10.

The size of the printing opening 206 is the same as that of the full-size image frame 16A of the negative film 16. In the negative film transport path 204, transport rollers 208, 210, and 212 correspond to the back surface (lower surface) of the negative film 16 on the upstream side (left direction in FIG. 4) and downstream side (right direction in FIG. 4) of the printing opening 206. It is arranged. As shown in FIG. 5, each transport roller 208, 210, 21
2 and 213, the sprocket 214 is attached to one end of the rotation shaft in the axial direction, and the endless timing belt 216 is provided.
Meshes with the teeth formed in the teeth.

The timing belt 216 is wound around a sprocket 214 attached to the most upstream transport roller 208 and a sprocket 214 attached to the rotary shaft of the pulse motor 218. The pulse motor 218 is connected to the control device 220 (see FIG. 10) via a driver 222, and is step-driven in accordance with a drive signal from the control device 220. Thus, when the pulse motor 218 rotates, the transport rollers 208, 210, 212, and 213 are driven in the same rotation direction at the same rotation speed.

The open / close cover 202 is pivotally supported by a bar 226 fixed to the pedestal 200 at the lower end of a cover body 224 having a housing shape, and can be opened and closed with respect to the pedestal 200 around the bar 226. ing.

A through hole 228 corresponding to the baking opening 206 is provided at the bottom of the cover body 224.
The cover body 224 is closed and the upper guide base 230 is positioned at a position corresponding to the negative film transport path 204.
The negative film guide wall 232 is integrally formed, and a gap is formed between the tip of the negative film guide wall 232 and the bottom surface of the negative film transport path 204. Further, this gap size is slightly larger than the thickness of the negative film 16 and secures a transport path at the end in the width direction of the negative film.

The conveying rollers 208, 210, 212 and 21 are provided between the guide walls 232.
3, the idle rollers 234, 236, 238
And 239, and by closing the opening / closing cover 202, the idle rollers 234, 23
6, 238 and 239 and the conveying rollers 208, 210 and 2
The transporting force can be transmitted to the negative film 16 by sandwiching the negative film 16 with the negative films 12 and 213.

An upper mask 240, which is movable relative to the upper guide base 230 and has an opening at a position corresponding to the through hole 228, is arranged at the central portion of the upper guide base 230 in the negative film conveying direction. . The upper mask 240 is detachably attached to the mask base 242. That is, the upper mask 240 includes a mask provided with an opening for a full size and a mask provided with an opening for a panorama size, and these have different sizes according to the image frame size recorded on the negative film 16 (see FIG. 6). Can be exchanged accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mask base 242
Both ends in the width direction are bent so that the tips are opposed to each other and have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a rail portion 244 is formed. This rail portion 244 has an upper mask 24
By inserting 0, the upper mask 240 is supported by the mask base 242. Also, the upper mask 24
A notch 246 of one type (for example, an upper mask 240 for a full size) is formed at the insertion end of the zero, and a limit switch 248 is attached to the far side of the rail 244 corresponding to this.

The signal line of the limit switch 248 is connected to the control device 220. Therefore, the contact of the limit switch 248 is switched only when the panorama size upper mask 240 is inserted, and the type of the upper mask to be inserted can be determined by the on / off state of the limit switch 248.

The mask base 242 is a cover body 224.
Is supported via a shaft near the center of rotation of the base 200, and corresponds to a solenoid body 250 provided on the pedestal 200 when the cover body 224 is closed. When the solenoid main body 250 is energized, the mask base 242 is attracted by the magnetic force, and the upper mask 240 can be brought into close contact with the printing opening 206 of the negative film transport path 204, thereby holding the negative film 16 positioned on the optical axis P. You can do it.

As shown in FIG. 8, a rectangular groove 252 is formed on the bottom surface of the negative film conveying path 204 on the upstream side of the printing opening 206, and a transparent glass plate 254 is fitted thereinto to form a peripheral guide surface. It is said to be the same. This groove 252
A slit hole 256 penetrating to the back surface of the negative film transport path 204 is formed at the bottom of the film. Slit hole 25
6 is provided along the width direction of the negative film transport path 204. On the back side of the negative film transport path 204 corresponding to the slit hole 256, a light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as an LED chip) 258 serving as a light projecting section is provided in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204, that is, in the width direction of the negative film 16. Are arranged along the line.

As shown in FIG. 9, this LED chip 2
Numeral 58 indicates R (red) and Y (yellow).
The LED chips 258 of colors are arranged on the substrate 260, and the arrangement order is RYYRYYRYY.
R: Y = 1: 2. Thereby, the luminous efficiency of each color is made equal.

Each LED chip 258 has a common signal line 2
The light emitted by a signal from the control device 220 is transmitted through the negative film 16 conveyed along the negative film conveyance path 204.

The slit hole 256 corresponds to the screen detection sensor 264 provided on the upper guide base 230 of the cover body 224 when the cover body 224 is closed. Therefore, the transmitted light amount of the light beam transmitted through the negative film 16 is detected by the screen detection sensor 264. As shown in FIG. 6, four screen detection sensors 264 are arranged along the width direction of the negative film 16 and are connected to the control device 220 by independent signal lines. The control device 220 obtains the photographic film transmission density distribution based on the output signal from the screen detection sensor 264, and detects the boundary between the image frame 16A and the base portion, that is, the image frame edge.

By the way, the screen detection sensor 264 is
As shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement is within the range of the vertical dimension (width direction of the negative film 16) of the full-size image frame 16A, and a panorama-size image in which two intermediate images are taken as a panorama image The frame 16B is within the range of the vertical dimension of the frame 16B.
B is outside the range of the vertical dimension. For this reason, 2
The value detected by the screen detection sensors 264 is negative film 1
If it is detected as the base density of No. 6, it can be determined that the image frame 16B is a panoramic size image frame.

The bottom surface of the negative film conveying path 204 further upstream of the slit hole 256 has a slightly deeper center portion so that it does not come into contact with the negative film 16 when the negative film 16 is conveyed. That is, since only the width direction both ends of the negative film 16 come into contact with each other, the image surface is not damaged. Two circular holes 266 and 268 are provided along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204 on the bottom surface having the bottom depth.
0 and 272 are respectively buried. These LEDs
The elements 270 and 272 are each connected to the control device 220 and emit light in response to a signal from the control device 220.

The LED element 270 near the slit hole 256
Is used to detect a splice tape applied for bonding when a plurality of negative films 16 are connected to form a roll and a management tape attached to each negative film 16, and to insert a negative film in the negative film transport path 204. The mouth-side LED element 272 is used for detecting the presence or absence of the negative film 16 and corresponds to the tape sensor 274 and the negative presence / absence sensor 276 attached to the upper guide base 230 side, respectively. The tape sensor 274 and the negative sensor 276 are connected to the control device 220, respectively.

The LED element 270 and the LED element 272
LED elements 280 are buried at both ends in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204. This LE
The D element 280 is connected to the control device 220, and corresponds to the bar code sensors 282 provided at both ends in the width direction of the upper guide base 230. Barcode sensor 282
Are connected to the control device 220. Negative film 1
The bar code assigned to 6 is transmitted by the LED element 280, detected by the bar code sensor 282, and decoded by the control device 220.

The bar code sensor 282 is attached to a top member 284 that can be swung with respect to the upper guide base 230, and can follow the meandering of the negative film 16 when it is being conveyed. Therefore, the bar code given to the narrow portion at the width direction end of the negative film 16 can be read regardless of the meandering of the negative film 16. As shown in FIG.
The distance is determined based on one side.

As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 220
Has a CPU 286, a RAM 288, a ROM 290, an input port 292, an output port 294, and a bus 296. The output port 294 is connected to a pulse motor 218 via a driver 222 and a solenoid body 250 via a driver 298, respectively.

The output port 294 has L
Through the ED driver 300, the LED elements 270, 2
72, 280 and the substrate 260 of the LED chip 258.

The tape sensor 27 is connected to the input port 292.
4 and a negative presence / absence sensor 276 are connected via a comparator 302 and an inversion circuit 304. The input port 292 has two barcode sensors 282 and 4
Screen detection sensors 264 are connected to the amplifiers 306 and A, respectively.
/ D converter 308. Further, the input port 292 has four key switches 310A, 310B, 3C provided on the pedestal 200 of the negative carrier 18.
10C and 310D are connected. With this key operation, the stop position of the negative film 16 can be moved forward, backward, and finely adjusted.

The control device 220 is connected to the controller 162 on the printer processor 10 side. Signals are exchanged with the controller 162 when the positioning of the image frame is completed, when the printing process is completed, and the positioning of the next image frame is instructed, or when an error occurs in the negative film transport system or screen detection in the negative carrier 18. May have. Here, if an abnormality occurs, the printer processor 1
The alarm is attached to an alarm (not shown) and the processing is stopped. However, the control of the negative carrier 18 limits the output of the abnormal signal manually, automatically or fully automatically. You can do it.

Here, in the case of manual operation, since the operator is near the apparatus, it is not necessary to notify the abnormality, and in the case of fully automatic operation, all the abnormalities are notified and the processing is stopped. It is not suitable from the aspect. That is, for example, when there is a super-over-exposed image, the optimal printing process cannot be obtained by the automatic processing, but at the time when a series of operations is completed rather than switching to manual processing each time, Re-baking is more efficient. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the control state (manual, automatic,
The output form of the abnormal signal is changed in accordance with (fully automatic).

Table 1 shows the presence / absence of an abnormal signal output in each control state according to the abnormality content. Note that a circle in the control state column indicates that an abnormal signal is output, and a cross indicates that no abnormal signal is output.

[0075]

[Table 1] The ROM 290 stores a program for correcting the mounting position of each sensor and correcting a deviation of a detection value of each sensor, and is set as a correction coefficient when the negative carrier 18 is shipped. The mounting position correction measures the distance to each sensor based on one side of the printing opening 206 by the number of pulses of the pulse motor 218, and corrects an error with the number of pulses stored in advance in design. In addition, the deviation of the detection values of the respective sensors may be determined by the image detection sensors 264 such that the four screen detection sensors 264 detect the amount of light emitted from the LED chip 258 as the same amount of light.
A correction coefficient is determined for each.

When the negative carrier 18 is shipped, the A / D converter 30 for converting the values detected by the screen detection sensor 264 and the bar code sensor 282 into digital values.
The light emission amounts of the corresponding LED elements and LED chips are determined so as to match the range of 8.

The RAM 288 has a screen detection sensor 264.
A map for determining the transmission density of the negative film based on the data detected by the method is stored. This allows
One transfer by the pulse motor 218 (in this embodiment,
(The transport from the center of the image frame 16A or 16B to the center of the adjacent image frame is performed once). The edges of the image frames are determined based on this transmission density distribution, and the edges of each image frame are stored in correspondence with the number of feed pulses of the pulse motor 218.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. First,
The normal printing procedure will be described.

When the processing is started, the light source 38 is turned on,
The negative carrier 18 is driven to position the negative film 16. The L of the negative film 16 is measured by the density
An ATD (average transmission density) is measured, an exposure correction value is set from the measured data and data manually input by a key, and an exposure amount (exposure time) is calculated to obtain an optimum printing condition.

By the way, the negative film 16 may have a mixture of image frames 16A for full size and image frames 16B for panoramic size. In these printing processes, the negative mask area, the printing magnification, the photographic paper mask area, and the photographic paper transport amount are different. Therefore, after passing one of them, the same size is printed first, and then the other size is continuously printed. Baking is more efficient. For this reason, in the present embodiment, respective printing conditions are set according to the upper mask 240 currently loaded on the mask base 242. The type of the upper mask 240 is the mask base 242
Can be determined by the on / off state of the limit switch 248. Therefore, control is performed so that only the image frames of the type detected by the limit switch 248 are positioned and other types of image frames are passed.

Here, two of the four screen detection sensors 264 of the negative carrier 18 at both ends are outside the range of the vertical size of the panorama size image frame 16B and the vertical size of the full size image frame 16A. Since it is within the range of 2
When each screen detection sensor 264 detects the base density of the negative film 16, the panorama size image frame 1
6B, and when the image density is detected, it can be determined as a full-size image frame 16A. So, for example,
When the upper size mask 240 for full size is loaded and the panorama size image frame 16B is detected by the screen detection sensor 264, this is passed and the next full size image frame 16A is positioned at the printing position. Thereby, the baking treatment can be performed under the same conditions, and the baking treatment efficiency is improved.

Next, the photographic printing paper 54 is conveyed to the exposure chamber 52 for positioning, and the shutter 50 is opened. This allows
The light beam emitted from the light source 38 passes through the filter section 40 and the negative film 16 and reaches the exposure chamber 52, and the printing paper 54 positioned in the exposure chamber 52 starts printing an image on the negative film 16 according to the exposure conditions. The C, M, and Y filters located on the optical axis of the light beam are moved. After a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the shutter 50 is closed. Thus, the printing process for one frame of the image on the negative film 16 is completed. By repeating this, the printed portions of the printing paper 54 are sequentially conveyed to the reservoir 18.

The photographic printing paper 54 conveyed to the reservoir portion 70 is conveyed to the color developing portion 74 and immersed in a developing solution to be subjected to a developing process. The developed photographic paper 54 is supplied to a bleach-fixing unit 76.
And is subjected to a fixing process. Photographic paper 54 that has been subjected to fixing processing
Is conveyed to a rinsing unit 78 and subjected to a water washing process. The photographic paper 54 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed to the drying unit 80 and subjected to the drying process.

The photographic printing paper 54 that has been subjected to the drying processing is the cutter unit 8
At 4, a cut mark is detected and cut for each image.

By the way, in the negative carrier 18, the image frame positioning can be performed not only automatically but also manually. Further, in the automatic operation, so-called automatic control in which the operator is nearby and the printing start button is operated by the operator,
The timing of the start of printing is also determined by the control device 22 of the negative carrier 18.
There is a so-called fully automatic control that is performed by exchanging signals between the controller 0 and the controller 162 of the printer processor 10.
It can be switched between three stages (manual, automatic, fully automatic).

Here, in this embodiment, according to each control,
The output of the abnormal signal from the negative carrier 18 is restricted to prohibit the use of a useless alarm in spite of the presence of the operator.

That is, as shown in Table 1, in the case of manual control, negative size abnormality (code No. 8), unexposed negative (code No. 10), fog negative (code No. 11), negative end abnormality (code No. 11). An error signal is output only in the case of .12).
In the case of full-automatic control, only the finish is abnormal, and the frame interval failure (code:
No. 3), Frame length error (Code No. 4), Negative size error (Code No. 8), Tip error (Code No. 9), Unexposed negative (Code No. 10), Fog negative (Code No. 11) , Outputs an error signal when there is a negative end error (code No. 12).

In the case of automatic control, an abnormal signal is output when all abnormalities occur. As described above, by changing the output of the abnormal signal in accordance with the control mode, it is possible to make full use of the feature of the automatic operation without notifying by useless alarm even when the operator is present.

Further, the unnecessary abnormal signal output causes the processing of the printer processor itself to be stopped each time, and the work for error processing can be omitted, thus improving the work efficiency.

In this embodiment, the negative carrier 18 automatically positions each image frame 16A (16B) of the negative film 16 at the printing position (fully automatic), and the screen detection sensor 264 detects each image frame. Edge is detected, and this image frame edge is detected by the pulse motor 218.
The transport control is performed according to the number of feed pulses.

The image frame positioning procedure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step 400
At, it is determined by the negative presence / absence sensor 276 whether or not the negative film 16 is inserted into the negative carrier 18. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 402 to turn off the LED chip 258. If an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 404 and the LED chip 25
8 is turned on. Thus, the light source is the LED chip 258
, It is easy to turn on and off, and the life is not shortened.

In the next step 406, the negative film 1
When it is determined that the transfer for positioning the printing medium 6 to the printing position has been started, the process proceeds to step 408 and the slit hole 2 is formed.
The amount of light transmitted through the negative film 16 after passing through 56 is detected, and then A / D converted at step 410,
Each data is stored in correspondence with the number of sending pulses (step 412).

Until it is judged at the next step 414 that the conveyance is stopped, the steps 408, 410 and 41 are carried out.
Step 2 is repeated, and if it is determined in step 414 that the conveyance has been stopped, the process proceeds to step 416 to create a transmission density distribution in one conveyance based on the stored data. Next, at step 418, a maximum point (maximum density value) is selected from the created transmission density distribution, and the number of sending pulses P _MAX corresponding to the maximum point is set. In the next step 420, the number of feeding pulses P _A ′ of a density value which is 92% of the maximum point is determined as a temporary edge, and then in step 422, a predetermined pulse (12 in this embodiment) is applied from this temporary edge P _A ′. (Pulse), the minimum point (minimum density value) is selected, and the number of feed pulses P corresponding to this minimum point
Set _MIN . In the next step 424, 50% of the maximum point feed pulse P _MAX and the minimum point feed pulse P _MIN is _calculated.
, Ie, (P _MAX + P _MIN ) / 2,
Pulse P corresponding to the edge of image frame 16A (16B)
Determine _A.

The image frame edge pulse P _A thus determined has a substantially constant position not only on the negative film 16 of normal exposure but also on the negative film 16 of underexposure or overexposure, and the detection error is positioned. It can be suppressed to a range that does not hinder the operation.

At the next step 426, the printer process is executed.
When the positioning instruction is given from the controller 262 of the
Is determined, and if it is determined that there is an instruction,
Proceeding to step 428, the current feed pulse number P_XRead
And then at step 430 this current feed pulse
P_XAnd image frame edge pulse number P_AAnd the feed amount P
_DRIVEIs calculated (P_DRIVE= P_A−P_X).

At the next step 432, the negative film is conveyed by the calculated feed amount P _DRIVE . This conveyance is determined to be the conveyance in step 406. In other words, the edge of the image frame 16A (16B) two frames before is detected upstream of the frame during conveyance for positioning.

When the predetermined image frame 16A (16B) is positioned at the printing position, a positioning completion signal is output to the controller 162 of the printer processor 10 in step 434, and in response thereto, the printer processor 10 outputs the above-mentioned signal. A baking process is performed.

At the next step 436, it is judged whether or not there is an instruction to end the printing process. If a negative judgment is made, the processing is continued. Therefore, if the judgment is affirmative, then the processing is moved to step 438. LED chip 258
Is turned off and the process ends.

The above is the image frame positioning control. In order to perform such positioning control, the screen detection sensor 2
It is required that the detection accuracy of H.64 and the mounting position accuracy from the printing position be accurate. For this reason, in this embodiment,
The accuracy is corrected when the negative carrier 18 is shipped.

First, the procedure for adjusting the light emission amount of the LED chip 258 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. LED
The amount of light emitted by the chip 258 is determined by the screen detection sensor 26.
4 is detected and A / D converted.
The converter 308 defines a range that can be converted.
Therefore, in step 450, the negative film 16
In the state where it is determined that there is no light, the LED chip 258 is caused to emit light in step 452, and the respective screen detection sensors 26 are turned on.
4 (step 454), and then step 456.
In, the largest value of the maximum values of the detected light amounts is selected.

The maximum value L of the selected light amount_MAXAnd A /
Maximum range A / D of D converter 308 _MAXAnd compare
At step 458), at step 460, L_MAX= A
/ D _MAXDrive by the LED driver 300 so that
Control the dynamic voltage. Thereby, the screen detection sensor 264
Is the dynamic value of the A / D converter 308.
Ensure that data is read without departing from the range.
Can be. Also, an LED chip 258 is suitable as a light source.
Light amount adjustment is easy, and light amount control is simple.
You can simply do it.

Next, even if the four screen detection sensors 264 detect the same light amount, a slight error (deviation) occurs due to the accuracy. If the same amount of light is detected, it is preferable that the output is the same, so that it is necessary to correct this deviation. The sensor output deviation setting control procedure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 500, when it is determined that the negative film 16 is not present, the LED chip 258 is caused to emit light in step 502 and detected by each screen detection sensor 264 (step 504), and then in step 506, Each detected screen detection sensor 264
Find the maximum value of each. Note that the control so far is the same as the LED chip light amount control, and thus may be stored at the stage of selecting the maximum value.

At the next step 508, the deviation of the other three output maximum values is obtained with reference to the one sensor output maximum value, and at step 510, each screen detection sensor 264.
Is stored as the correction coefficient α.

For example, when the screen detection sensor 264 is S _A , S _B , S _C , and S _D, and the light amount is expressed with the sensor S _A as a reference (S _A = 1.0), other sensors are used. Output is S _B = 0.9, S _C = 0.8, S _D =
Assuming 0.9, the correction coefficient for each sensor is α _SA =
1.00, α _SB = 1.11, α _SC = 1.25, α _SD = 1.11. That is, the correction coefficient α stored in step 510 is multiplied when data is input from each screen detection sensor 264. According to this, an appropriate value can be applied at the time of A / D conversion, and an accurate transmission density distribution can be created.

Next, each sensor (screen detection sensor 264,
The mounting positions of the barcode sensor 282, the tape sensor 274, and the negative presence / absence sensor 276) are determined based on one side of the printing opening 206 at the printing position of the image frame as the number of feed pulses of the pulse motor 218. If it is shifted at the stage of assembly, it will be different from the predetermined number of feed pulses. For this reason, it is necessary to correct the number of feed pulses predetermined in design according to the mounting accuracy. Hereinafter, the sensor mounting accuracy correction will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Since the same processing is performed separately for the position correction of each sensor, here, the negative presence / absence sensor 276 is used.
Will be described as an example. At step 550, it is determined whether the reference lith film 312 has been detected. The reference lith film 312 is a type of a photolithography film in which a high density (opaque) portion is present in the middle of a low density (substantially transparent) portion in place of the negative film 16 and the edge thereof is sharp.

When it is determined that the transparent portion is not detected and the boundary with the high density is detected, an affirmative determination is made in step 550,
In step 552, the reference lith film 312 is transported by a predetermined amount. This predetermined amount is determined by setting a predetermined detection point to the printing opening 2.
This is the amount of conveyance for positioning to the right end of 06.

At the time when the predetermined amount has been conveyed, the operator judges whether the edge of the high and low density coincides with the right end of the printing opening, and when it judges that they coincide with each other in step 554, the standard lith film is discharged. Operate the feed key of. By the operation of the feed key, the process moves from step 554 to step 556, and the reference lith film 312
Is performed, and the process ends.

If the feed key is not operated in step 554, it is determined in step 558 whether or not the fine adjustment key for fine adjustment has been operated. If the determination is negative, steps 554 and 558 are skipped. repeat. here,
When the fine adjustment keys 310B and 310C are operated in step 558, the reference lith film 31 is
2 moves slightly to position the edge of high or low density at the right end of the printing opening 206.

In the next step 558, after the fine adjustment (after one operation), the process proceeds to step 560, and the predetermined vehicle after the adjustment at that time is newly updated and stored, and the process proceeds to step 554.

By repeating the above steps until the edge of high and low density is surely positioned at the right end of the printing opening 206 by carrying a predetermined amount in step 552, the correction of the mounting position accuracy is completed.

With other sensors, the same processing procedure as described above can be performed by selecting which sensor is used to perform the detection in step 550. Accordingly, the accurate position can be stored as the feed amount irrespective of the error at the time of assembling the sensor, so that the assembling work can be made rough and the workability is improved.

Further, particularly in the screen detection sensor 264, when the four screen detection sensors 264 are not parallel along the image frame edge, the image frame edge may be largely displaced. However, by performing the above-described correction, since the four screen detection sensors 264 are arranged in parallel along the apparent image frame edge, the image frame edge can be reliably detected.

[0115]

As described above, the image frame detecting apparatus according to the present invention detects the image frame edge by the relative density difference within one measurement range, thereby irrespective of the accuracy and performance of the light amount adjustment. It has an excellent effect that the image frame edge can always be detected accurately.

Further, the image frame detection method and the photographic film carrier according to the present invention have a long service life and improved maintainability, there is almost no change in light quantity due to temperature changes, and initial light quantity control is simple and reliable for the printing position. It has an excellent effect that an image frame can be positioned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer processor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer processor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller of the printer processor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a negative carrier.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a transport system of a negative carrier.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the size of an image frame recorded on a negative film.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mask base.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a guide path of a negative carrier.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an LED chip.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control device for a negative carrier.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a printing opening and a sensor position.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of image frame positioning control.

FIG. 13 is an LED chip light emission both adjustment control flowchart.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a sensor output deviation correction control.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a sensor mounting accuracy correction control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 Negative film 18 Negative carrier 206 Printing opening 218 Pulse motor 220 Control device 240 Upper mask 242 Mask base 246 Notch 248 Limit switch 254 Transparent glass plate 256 Slit hole 258 LED chip 264 Screen detection sensor 270 LED element (for tape sensor) 272 LED Element (for negative sensor) 274 Tape sensor 276 Negative sensor 280 LED element (for barcode sensor) 282 Barcode sensor

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light projecting section and a light receiving section provided with a guide path of a photographic film interposed therebetween, and a light beam projected from the light projecting section is received by the light receiving section, and based on the received light amount received. An image frame detecting device for detecting image frames on a photographic film, wherein the light projecting section is constituted by a light emitting diode array having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged along a width direction of the photographic film , Light emitting diodes must have at least two different colors.
With emitting consisting colors, each light emission amount of light emission of each color so that the same amount diodes
An image frame detection device characterized in that the number of cards is determined . 2. A photographic film guide path sandwiched between
The light beam emitted from the light emitting unit is provided with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit.
Is received by the light receiving section, and the image is taken based on the received light amount.
An image frame detector that detects image frames on true film
The light projection parts are arranged along the width direction of the photographic film.
In a light emitting diode array with multiple light emitting diodes
Therefore, the light emitting diode is provided only when the photographic film is moved.
An image frame detection device characterized by being turned on . 3. The detection of the amount of light received by the photographic film by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, detection of a splice tape connecting the photographic films, detection of a management tape attached to each photographic film, and each image frame. claim 1 also characterized in that the detection of notches provided corresponding
Is the image frame detection device according to claim 2 . 4. An image frame image recorded on a photographic film.
Image frame detection method for detecting
Arranged across the width of the photographic film without the film
The maximum value of the light emission amount of the multiple light emitting diodes
Adjust according to the range of the amount of light that can be received on the side of the
And the amount of received light based on the error
It is obtained after calculating the correction value of and correcting the received light amount.
Image frame error based on the transmission density distribution of the photographic film.
An image frame detection method characterized by detecting a frame. 5. The amount of received light is based on a maximum point of the received light amount.
The provisional edge and set by Zui, distance from the temporary edge of predetermined
The minimum point within the range of
Define 1/2 point between the small dots as the edge of the image frame
5. The image frame detection method according to claim 4, wherein: 6. A photographic file in which image frames are continuously recorded.
While transporting the rum, each image frame is sequentially moved to the printing position.
The photographic film carrier to be decided, the printing position
The photographic film is guided by a light beam passage opening.
And a base with a guideway that
Openable / closable lid and the seizure position of the guide path
Is arranged on the upstream side of the photographic film along the width direction of the film.
Proposed through slit holes arranged in the guideway
Multiple light emitting diodes that transmit photographic film on the inner path
And the image from the light emitting diode provided on the lid.
A sensor that detects the light transmitted through the true film, and
The edge of the image frame is determined based on the amount of light received and received, and the image frame is detected.
A photographic film carrier having a positioning control means for positioning the sheet to the printing position .