JP3058661U - Photographic paper cartridge and exposure type video printer using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Configuration] A barcode 30 is provided on the surface of the photographic paper cartridge 12. The barcode 30 is the data area 3
0a and the data area 30b.
Paper information indicating the exposure conditions of the photographic paper 14 stored in the cartridge is stored in 0a, and size information indicating the paper size is stored in the data area 30b. The barcode 30 is read by the barcode reader 28 when the photographic paper cartridge 12 is mounted on the main body of the video printer 10. [Effect] Since the paper size can be known when the photographic paper cartridge is mounted, optimal image processing can be performed in advance.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a photographic paper cartridge of an exposure type video printer and an exposure type video printer using the same, and more particularly to a photographic paper cartridge and an exposure type video printer using the same, for example, for storing at least one photographic paper in a light-shielded state. About.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 An example of a conventional photographic paper cartridge of this type of an exposure type video printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-48776 [G03C1 / 76], which was published on Feb. 20, 1999. In the printing paper and the paper package, a bar code indicating an exposure condition is provided on the surface of each leaf of the photographic paper stored in the cartridge, and an exposure head that matches the exposure condition is controlled.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 In an exposure type video printer, image processing needs to be performed according to the paper size. Therefore, in addition to such exposure conditions, it is conceivable to record paper size information (size information) in a barcode. . However, in this prior art, since a barcode is provided on the photographic paper (or data sheet), that is, the exposure condition and size information cannot be read unless the photographic paper is pulled out from the cartridge. Generally, the printing paper is pulled out of the cartridge after the image processing is completed. In this case, even if the size information is present on the printing paper, the image processing cannot be performed in advance.

[0004] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a photographic paper cartridge capable of detecting a paper size and performing optimal image processing in advance.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a photographic paper cartridge storing at least one photographic paper in a light-shielded state, a data area including at least the size of the photographic paper is machine-readable on the surface thereof. A photographic paper cartridge which is recorded so as to be removable. A second invention is an exposure-type video printer using a photographic paper cartridge that stores at least one photographic paper in a light-shielded state, in which the size of the photographic paper recorded machine-readable on the surface of the photographic paper cartridge is considered. This is an exposure type video printer which controls a position of an exposure head according to a data area, a reading means for reading the data area, and a size of photographic paper.

[0006]

[Action]

 In the first invention, a machine-readable data area is recorded on a photographic paper cartridge. Information such as photographic paper exposure conditions and paper size is recorded in the data area, and the data area is formed of, for example, a barcode. Therefore, when the cartridge is mounted on the exposure type video printer, information such as the exposure condition of the photographic paper and the paper size can be detected.

In the second invention, when the photographic paper cartridge as described above is inserted into the main body, the data area is read by a barcode reader as a detecting means. Therefore, the exposure condition and the paper size of the photographic paper can be detected. In the exposure type video printer, the position of the exposure head is controlled according to the paper size, and the exposure head is exposed under the detected exposure condition, and printing is performed.

[0008]

[Effect of the invention]

 According to these inventions, the paper size can be detected when the cartridge is mounted, so that optimal image processing can be performed in advance. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

Referring to FIG. 1, an exposure type video printer 10 of this embodiment includes a photographic paper cartridge 12, and the photographic paper cartridge 12 is detachably provided to the main body of the exposure type video printer 10. At least one photographic paper 14 is stored in the photographic paper cartridge 12 in a light-shielded state. When the photographic paper cartridge 12 is mounted, the photographic paper 14 can be taken out. The exposure type video printer 10 is provided with a pickup roller 16, and the photographic paper 14 is taken out by the pickup roller 16. The photographic paper 14 thus taken out is sent out to a conveyance path 18, and is conveyed to a printing section 22 by a feed roller 20. The printing unit 22 is provided with an exposure head 24, and an image is formed on the printing paper 14 by the exposure head 24. When printing is completed, the image is fixed on the printing paper 14 by the exposure head 24, and the printing paper 14 is discharged from the main body of the exposure type video printer 10 by the discharge roller 26. At this time, the feed roller 20 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which the photographic paper 14 is taken out, and sends the photographic paper 14 to the discharge roller 26.

The exposure type video printer 10 includes a bar code reader 28, which is provided near the photographic paper cartridge 12 and near the insertion port 10 a of the photographic paper cartridge 12. The barcode reader 28 reads a barcode 30 described later formed on the photographic paper cartridge 12. The photographic paper cartridge 12 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, a barcode 30 is formed on a part of the photographic paper cartridge 12 main body. The main body of the photographic paper cartridge 12 is provided with a paper feed port 12a. The barcode 30 includes a data area 30a for paper information such as exposure conditions and a data area 30b for paper size information (size information). The barcode 30 is formed at a position where the barcode reader 28 can read the photographic paper cartridge 12 when the cartridge 12 is mounted on the main body of the exposure type video printer 10. The exposure video printer 10 processes image data based on the size information stored in the bar code 30. That is, based on the size information, the size of the image data is optimized (image processing), the movement of the exposure head 24 is controlled (the position of the exposure head 24 is controlled), and the exposure head 24 is used for fixing. Control the position. The paper feed port 12a is normally closed, and shields the photographic paper 14 from light as described above. When the photographic paper cartridge 12 is mounted on the main body of the exposure type video printer 10, the paper supply port 12a is opened. Is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the exposure type video printer 10 includes a CPU 32, and the exposure head 24, the barcode reader 28, the RAM 34, and the ROM 36 are connected to the CPU 32. The CPU 32 detects the sheet information and the size information given from the barcode reader 28 and stores them in the RAM 34. The paper information and the size information once stored in the RAM 34 are retained until the photographic paper cartridge 12 is replaced. The ROM 36 stores exposure conditions for printing on the printing paper 14 and information for controlling the position of the exposure head 24. The CPU 32 executes the exposure control stored in the ROM 36 based on the sheet information stored in the RAM 34. The condition and the information for controlling the position of the exposure head 24 are referred to. The image data of the image to be printed is stored in the RAM 34. Therefore, the CPU 32 determines the exposure head based on the exposure conditions referred to by the ROM 36, the information for controlling the position of the exposure head 24, and the image data stored in the RAM 34. 24 is controlled.

The control of the position of the exposure head 24 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the printing area of the printing paper 14 is determined according to its size. The ROM 36 also has a print start position (main scan direction start position and sub-scan start position), a print end position for one line (main scan direction end position), and a print end position for all lines (sub-scan direction end position). The position is stored in accordance with the size of the photographic paper 14, and the CPU 32 controls the position of the exposure head 24 based on the stored position. Therefore, when printing, when the printing paper 14 is fed, the exposure head 24 is moved to the printing start position. Subsequently, exposure is started, and the exposure head 24 is moved in the main scanning direction. When printing is performed for one line, that is, when the exposure head 24 reaches the main scanning end position, the exposure is temporarily interrupted, and the exposure head 24 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by one line and moved to the main scanning start position. Is done. Then, the exposure is restarted. Such operations are repeatedly performed, and when the exposure head 24 reaches the end position in the sub-scanning direction and the end position in the main scanning direction, the exposure ends. That is, exposure for one image is completed. When the exposure is completed, the photographic paper 14 is conveyed in a direction opposite to that at the time of the exposure, is fixed by the exposure head 24, and is discharged from the exposure type video printer 10. That is, at the time of fixing, the exposure head 24 is moved while tracing in the main scanning direction line by line from the end position in the sub-scanning direction to the start position in the sub-scanning direction. If there is the next print, the CPU 32 executes the image processing again, but ends the processing if there is no next print.

The above operation is performed by the CPU 32 in accordance with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the power of the main body of the exposure type video printer 10 is turned on, the process starts, the bar code 30 is read in step S1, and the paper information and the size information are stored in the RAM. In a succeeding step S3, it is determined whether or not a printing start is awaited. Here, if “YES”, the process returns to the step S3, but if “NO”, an image process is performed based on the size information in a step S5. In a succeeding step S7, the photographic paper 14 is fed, and in a step S9, it is determined whether or not the exposure head 24 is at the start position in the sub-scanning direction. If "NO" here, the process returns to the step S7, but if "YES", it is determined in a step S11 whether or not the exposure head 24 is at the start position in the main scanning direction. Here, if “YES”, the process proceeds to a step S15 shown in FIG. 6, but if “NO”, the exposure head 24 is moved to a main scanning direction start position in a step S13, and the process returns to the step S11.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step S15, exposure is performed based on size information. In step S17, the exposure head 24 is moved in the main scanning direction. In step S19, it is determined whether the exposure head 24 is at the end position in the main scanning direction. Here, if "NO", the process returns to step S19, but if "YES", the exposure is temporarily stopped in step S21, and the exposure head 24 is moved by one line in the sub-scanning direction. In the subsequent step S23, it is determined whether or not the exposure for one sheet has been completed, that is, whether or not the exposure head 24 has reached the end position in the sub-scanning direction and has reached the end position in the main scanning direction. Here, if “NO”, the exposure is temporarily interrupted and the process returns to step S11. If “YES”, the printing paper 14 that has been exposed (printed) in step S25 is determined based on the paper information. Establish. In a succeeding step S15, it is determined whether or not there is a next print. If "YES", the process returns to the step S3. If "NO", the process is terminated.

According to this embodiment, a bar code 30 including a data area 30 a for paper information and a data area 30 b for size information is formed on the photographic paper cartridge 12, and the photographic paper cartridge 12 is attached to the main body of the exposure type video printer 10. Since the data areas 30a and 30b are read at the time of insertion, optimal image processing can be performed in advance based on the size information. Therefore, the time required to print the image data can be reduced.

Further, since the position of the exposure head 24 is controlled based on the size information, printing and fixing can be performed appropriately. In this embodiment, the bar code 30 including the data area 30a of the paper information and the data area 30b of the size information is formed. However, the data areas 30a and 30b may be formed by a color code (checkered code). Good. Further, the bar code and the color code may be formed of an invisible ink such as an infrared or ultraviolet light sensitive ink. In this case, it is necessary to use an infrared element or an ultraviolet element so that the bar code reader and the color code reader can read the invisible ink.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a photographic paper cartridge shown in FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of image data processing in the exposure type video printer shown in FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a photographic paper shown in FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of processing by a CPU shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of the processing of the CPU shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Exposure type video printer 12 ... Printing paper cartridge 24 ... Exposure head 28 ... Barcode reader 30 ... Barcode 32 ... CPU

Claims (6)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A photographic paper cartridge for storing at least one photographic paper in a light-shielded state, wherein a data area including at least the size of the photographic paper is recorded on a surface thereof in a machine-readable manner. Paper cartridge. 2. The photographic paper cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said data area includes an exposure condition of said photographic paper. 3. The photographic paper cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said data area is formed of a bar code. 4. A photographic paper cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said data area is formed of a color code. 5. The photographic paper cartridge according to claim 3, wherein said data area is formed of invisible ink. 6. An exposure type video printer using a photographic paper cartridge for storing at least one photographic paper in a light-shielded state, wherein data including a size of the photographic paper recorded machine-readable on a surface of the photographic paper cartridge. An exposure video printer for controlling a position of an exposure head according to an area, reading means for reading the data area, and a size of the printing paper