JP3258594B2 - Photographic film information reader - 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 film information reading apparatus for reading information on a photographic film.

[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 high in the base portion of the negative film, and low 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.

On the other hand, an ID code and a frame number are recorded on the negative film as bar codes at the ends in the width direction. The negative carrier is provided with a light emitting section for reading the bar code and a bar code sensor separately from the image frame detecting device.

In order to ensure that the bar code sensor can read the bar code, it is necessary to consider the meandering of the negative film during transport. For this reason, the transport path of the negative film may be moved as close as possible to the width direction of the negative film so as not to cause the meandering, or a barcode sensor may be attached to a swingable frame member so as to follow the meandering of the negative film. Then, it is necessary to position the barcode sensor at a predetermined distance inward from the widthwise end of the negative film. Usually, when the negative film transport path is narrowed, the negative film may cause jamming. Therefore, the bar code sensor is configured to follow the negative film.

[0008]

However, if the image frame detecting device and the bar code sensor are separately provided, there is a problem that the number of components is large and the device itself becomes large. Further, since the mechanism for causing the bar code sensor to follow the meandering of the negative film is mechanical, if the movement becomes slow due to the intrusion of dust or dirt, the bar code may be erroneously read or cannot be read.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic film information reading apparatus which can reduce the size of the apparatus, eliminate a mechanical operation mechanism, and can surely read a bar code. It is.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light projecting section provided with a guide path for a photographic film interposed therebetween, and an effective light receiving area arranged along the width direction of the photographic film. A photographic film information that is provided with a CCD line sensor having a width equal to or greater than the width of the photographic film, receives the light beam emitted from the light projecting unit with the CCD line sensor, and reads information on the photographic film based on the amount of received light. a reading device provided with a widthwise end detector for detecting a widthwise end portion of the <br/> photographic film during conveyance at any time from the output value of the CCD line sensor, photo from the output value of the CCD line sensor
Obtain data on the amount of light transmitted through the film, and
Photographic film detected at any time by the width direction edge detection means
The output value of the pixel within a predetermined amount from the width direction end of
It is characterized that you applied as de data.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the CCD line sensor is arranged along the width direction of the photographic film. As a result, the received light amount data can be obtained not only in the range of the image frame but also in the entire width direction of the photographic film. For this reason, the bar code attached to the width direction end of the photographic film can be read, and the detection of the image frame and the bar code can be detected by a single CCD line sensor, thereby reducing the number of parts. As a result, the size of the device itself can be reduced.

Further, by setting the effective receiving area of the CC D line sensor guideway width or more, meandering of the photographic film is prevented from deviating from the effective light receiving range of the CCD line sensor. Further, the CCD direction is detected by the width direction detecting means.
Detect the width direction edge of photographic film from the output value of the in-sensor.
Can be issued.

The received light amount data in the range of the image frame is
By selecting a specific number of locations that do not deviate from the image frame range and creating the transmission density distribution, the image frame edge can be detected. On the other hand, the longitudinal dimension (dimension along the width direction of the photographic film) of the bar code provided in the width direction of the photographic film is smaller than the meandering width during the conveyance of the photographic film. It cannot be limited to individual places. For this reason, the width direction edge of the photographic film is first detected from the output data of the CCD line sensor. This can be reliably detected because there is a difference between the amount of light received when no photographic film is present and the amount of light transmitted through the photographic film base.

Next, a detected value of a pixel located a predetermined amount inside on the basis of the detected width direction edge of the photographic film is used as bar code detection data. by this,
Even if the photographic film meanders, the end of the width of the photographic film in the width direction is detected as needed, and this is used as a reference, so that the barcode can be reliably read .

[0017]

[0018]

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 outside of the printer processor 10 is covered with a casing 12. 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 provided 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 an arm 44 projecting 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 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 section 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 disposed in the vicinity of the mounting section 60, and transports the photographic paper 54 to the exposure chamber 52 while holding the photographic paper 54 therebetween.
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 printed is stocked, and an exposure section 58 for performing printing processing and a developing
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 paper 54 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is rinsed 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 printing paper 54 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers 82A, and the dried printing paper 54 is discharged from the drying unit 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.

Each control is controlled by the controller 162 as shown in FIG. 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 control section 176 for controlling the transport system of the negative film 16 and the photographic paper 54 in the printer processor 10, turns on the light source 38 in the exposure section 58, and shifts the optical path of the filter section 40. Appearing, moving forward by the 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 provided 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 the size 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 transport roller 208 on the most upstream side and a sprocket 214 attached to the rotation 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 supported by a bar 226 fixed to the pedestal 200 at the lower end of a housing-like cover body 224, and can be opened and closed with respect to the pedestal 200 about the bar 226. ing.

At the bottom of the cover body 224, a through hole 228 corresponding to the printing opening 206 is provided.
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.

Further, between the guide walls 232, the conveying rollers 208, 210, 212 and 21 are provided.
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.

At the center of the upper guide base 230 in the direction of transport of the negative film, 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. . 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 includes 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 transport path 204 on the upstream side of the printing opening 206, a transparent glass plate 254 is fitted therein, and the surrounding guide surface is formed. It is considered flush. 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 main body 224 when the cover main body 224 is closed. Therefore, the transmitted light amount of the light beam transmitted through the negative film 16 is detected by the CCD line sensor 264. As shown in FIG. 6, the screen detection sensor 264 is disposed along the width direction of the negative film 16, and its effective light receiving range is
It is larger than the negative film transport path 204. C
The CD line sensor 264 is connected to the control device 220. In the control device 220, the screen detection sensor 26
4 at predetermined four pixels in the image frame range (FIG.
From the photographic film transmission density distribution based on the output signal, and the boundary between the image frame 16A and the base portion, that is, the image frame edge is detected.

The CCD line sensor 264
As shown in FIG. 6, the image scanning line is within the range of the vertical dimension (width direction of the negative film 16) of the full-size image frame 16A, and the middle two are taken as panoramic images. Image frame 16B of size
, And the two at both ends are outside the range of the vertical dimension of the panorama-size image frame 16B. For this reason, when the detection values in the two scanning lines at both ends are detected as the base density of the negative film 16, it can be determined that the image frame 16B is a panoramic size image frame.

The CCD line sensor 264 can read a bar code given to the negative film 16. That is, the CCD line sensor 2
The bar code 265 is read by the pixel corresponding to the width direction edge of the negative film 16 in 64.

By the way, since the negative film 16 may meander during transportation, it is not possible to specify the pixel from which the bar code 265 is read. For this reason, in this embodiment,
The width direction edge of the negative film 16 is detected by the CCD line sensor 264, and a bar code is detected based on output data from a pixel located a predetermined amount inside the detected width direction edge.

The bottom surface of the negative film transport path 204 further upstream of the slit hole 256 has a slightly deeper central portion so that the negative film 16 does not come into contact with the negative film 16 when the negative film 16 is transported. 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.

LED element 270 near 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.
As shown in FIG. 11, the distance of each sensor is determined based on one side of the printing opening 206.

As shown in FIG.
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 ports 294 each have L
Through the ED driver 300, the LED elements 270, 2
72, 280 and the substrate 260 of the LED chip 258.

The input port 292 has a tape sensor 27
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 C
The CD line sensor 264 is connected via a sample hold circuit 306 and an A / D converter 308, respectively. A clock signal is input to the sample hold circuit 306 and the A / D converter 308, and the output timing of the detected data to the input port 292 is obtained.

Further, to the input port 292, four key switches 310A, 310B, 310C and 310D provided on the pedestal 200 of the negative carrier 18 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 of the printer processor 10. 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 .

Here, in the case of manual operation, the operator
, There is no need to report any abnormalities. In the case of full automatic operation, all abnormalities are reported and the processing is stopped, which is not appropriate in terms of work efficiency. 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 for the contents of the abnormality. 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.

[0059]

[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 measuring device 56.
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.

In some cases, the negative film 16 contains a mixture of the image frame 16A for the full size and the image frame 16B for the panorama size. In these printing processes, since the negative mask area, the printing magnification, the photographic paper mask area, and the photographic paper transport amount are different, one of them is passed, the same size is printed first, and then the other size is continuously printed.
It is more efficient person who baked in. 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.

In this case, two of the four scanning lines of the negative carrier 18 at both ends thereof correspond to the panorama size image frame 16.
B is outside the range of the vertical dimension of B and within the range of the vertical dimension of the full-size image frame 16A. Therefore, when the pixels corresponding to these two scanning lines detect the base density of the negative film 16, The image frame 16B can be identified as a panoramic image frame 16B, and when the image density is detected, the image frame 16A can be identified as a full size image frame 16A. Therefore, for example, when the full-size upper mask 240 is loaded and the screen detection sensor 264 detects the panorama-size image frame 16B, the image frame 16B is passed and the next full-size image frame 1B is detected.
6A is positioned at the printing position. Thereby, the baking treatment can be performed under the same conditions, and the baking treatment efficiency is improved.

The output data of each scanning line is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the A, B, C, and D pixels from one end of the effective light receiving range of the CCD line sensor 264 are assumed.

Next, the 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 paper 54 conveyed to the reservoir 70 is conveyed to the color developing unit 74 and immersed in a developing solution to perform 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 dried photographic paper 54 is supplied to the cutter unit 8.
At 4, a cut mark is detected and cut for each image.

Incidentally, in the negative carrier 18, image frame positioning can be performed not only automatically but also manually. In addition, in the automatic operation, an operator is next to the image forming apparatus 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).

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, a negative size error (code No. 8), an unexposed negative (code No. 10), a cab negative (code No. 11), and a negative end error (code No. 11) An abnormal signal is output only in the case of .12).

In the case of the fully automatic control, a frame interval defect (code No. 3), a frame length error (code No. 4) other than a case where printing control can be performed without any trouble due to only an abnormal finish,
Negative size error (code No.8), tip error (code No.9
), Unexposed negative (code No. 10), cab negative (code N
o.11), Outputs an abnormal signal when the negative end is abnormal (code No.12).

In the case of automatic control, an abnormal signal is output in all abnormal cases. 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 processing of the abnormal signal causes the processing of the printer processor itself to be stopped each time, so that the work for error processing can be omitted and the work efficiency is improved.

In the present embodiment, the positioning of the negative film 16 to the printing position of each image frame 16A (16B) is automatically performed by the negative carrier 18 (fully automatic). Is detected, and the edge of this image frame is detected by the pulse motor 2
The transport control is performed in accordance with the number of 18 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).

This detection position is, as shown in FIG.
A from one end of the effective light receiving range of the CCD line sensor 264
It is assumed that the data is output data from the pixels of the, B, C and D. This position coincides with the scanning line shown in FIG.

At the next step 414, the above steps 408, 410 and 41 are performed until it is determined that the conveyance has been stopped.
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 determined in this manner is at a substantially constant position not only for the negative film 16 of the normal exposure but also for the negative film 16 of the underexposure or overexposure. Can be suppressed within a range that does not cause any trouble.

In 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).

In the next step 432, the negative film is transported 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 the printer processor 10 responds to this by responding to this. A baking process is performed.

In the next step 436, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the burning process has been issued. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 400, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 438. LED chip 258
Is turned off and the process ends.

The above is the image frame positioning control. To perform such positioning control, it is required that the detection accuracy of the CCD line sensor 264 and the mounting position accuracy from the printing position be accurate. For this reason, in the present embodiment, accuracy correction is performed 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
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, the signal from the CCD line sensor 264
In one scanning line, even if the same light amount is detected, 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 in each scanning line (step 504), and then detected in step 506. The maximum value of each scanning line is determined. 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.

In the next step 508, the deviation of the other three output maximum values is determined based on one output maximum value, and in step 510, it is stored as a correction coefficient α for each scan line. For example, the pixels (sensors) corresponding to the scanning lines are S _A , S _B , S _C , and S _D , respectively, and the sensor S
_{When the} light amount is expressed with reference to _A (S _A = 1.0), the outputs of the other sensors are S _B = 0.9 and S _C
= 0.8 and S _D = 0.9, the correction coefficient of each sensor is α _SA = 1.00, α _SB = 1.11, α _SC = 1.25, α _SD =
It becomes 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, A / D
At the time of conversion, an appropriate value can be applied, and an accurate transmission density distribution can be created.

Next, each sensor (CCD line sensor 26)
4, the mounting position of the tape sensor 274 and the negative presence / absence sensor 276) is 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 the phase is shifted, the number of feed pulses differs from the predetermined number. 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.

The same processing is performed separately for the position correction of each sensor.
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.

If the transparent portion is determined to be undetected, and if a boundary with a high density is detected, an affirmative determination is made in step 550, and
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 point when the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount, the operator determines whether the edge of high density or low level coincides with the right end of the printing opening, and if it is determined in step 554 that the edge is high, the reference lithographic film is discharged. Operate the feed key. 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 has not been operated in step 554, the flow advances to step 558 to determine whether or not the fine adjustment key has been operated for fine adjustment. In the case of a negative determination, steps 554 and 558 are performed. 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.

At the next step 558, after the fine adjustment (after one operation), the process proceeds to step 560, the predetermined amount after the adjustment is newly updated and stored, and the process proceeds to step 554.

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

The other sensors can be operated in the same processing procedure as described above by selecting which sensor performs 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.

In particular, in the case of the CCD line sensor 264, if the pixels of the four scanning lines are not parallel along the image frame edge, the image frame edge may be largely shifted. However, by performing the above correction, since the four pixels are apparently arranged in parallel along the image frame edge, it is possible to reliably detect the image frame edge.

Next, control for reading a bar code attached to the width direction end of the negative film 16 by the CCD line sensor 264 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, at step 600, the variable N is cleared, and at step 602, the variable N is incremented.

In the next step 604, the N-th light receiving amount of the CCD line sensor 264 (initially one end because N = 1) is obtained from the CCD line sensor 264.
At 6, it is determined whether or not the amount of light received is equal to or greater than the amount of light received at the base of the negative film. Here, if a positive determination is made,
Since it is determined that there is no negative, the process proceeds to step 602 and N is sequentially incremented. The process continues until a negative determination is made in step 606, that is, it is determined that there is a negative.

If it is determined in step 606 that there is a negative, the position of the pixel corresponding to N is determined to be at one end of the negative film 16 and a predetermined amount (see FIG.
6 (a and b) (N + a and N +
The pixel corresponding to b) is set as a pixel for reading a bar code (step 608).

In the next step 610, a numerical value P corresponding to the pixel at the other end of the effective light receiving range is substituted for a variable N.
That is, P is the number of pixels of the CCD line sensor.

At the next step 612, 1 is subtracted from the variable N, and the routine proceeds to step 614, where the Nth position of the effective light receiving range of the CCD line sensor 264 (initially, the other end because N = P). In step 616, it is determined whether or not the received light amount is equal to or greater than that of the base portion of the negative film. Here, if the determination is affirmative, it is determined that there is no negative, so the process proceeds to step 612 and N
Are sequentially subtracted, and a negative determination is made in step 616, that is,
Continue until it is determined that there is a negative.

If it is determined in step 616 that there is a negative, the position of the pixel corresponding to N is determined to be the other end of the negative film 16 and a predetermined amount (a and a shown in FIG. b) minus the positions (Na and N-
The pixel corresponding to b) is set as a pixel for reading a bar code (step 618).

As a result, even if the negative film 16 has meandering, the width direction edge of the negative film 16 is detected, and pixels for barcode detection are set based on the detected width direction edge. Barcodes can be reliably detected.

In this embodiment, the pixels for detecting the image frame range are determined to be the A-th, B-th, C-th and D-th pixels from one end of the effective light receiving range of the CCD line sensor 264. May be the distance from the end. Although the data to be used is output data from one pixel, an average value in the vicinity of the set pixel may be used.

[0110]

As described above, the photographic film information reading apparatus according to the present invention can be downsized.
There is an excellent effect that a bar code can be read reliably without a mechanical operation mechanism.

[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.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing positions of pixels of a CCD line sensor applied as output data.

FIG. 17 is a control flowchart for detecting a barcode.

[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 CCD line sensor 270 LED element (for tape sensor) 272 LED Element (for negative sensor) 274 Tape sensor 276 Negative sensor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light emitting unit provided across a guide path of a photographic film, and a CCD line sensor arranged along the width direction of the photographic film and having an effective light receiving range equal to or larger than the width of the guide path. The light beam emitted from the light emitting unit is
What is claimed is: 1. A photographic film information reading device which receives light by a CD line sensor and reads information on the photographic film based on the amount of light received, comprising : It includes a widthwise end detection means for detecting at any time, permeable to the photographic film from the output value of the CCD line sensor
Data on the amount of light passing by
Width direction edge of photographic film detected at any time by the feeding means
The output value of the pixel inside a predetermined amount from
Photographic film information reading apparatus according to applied to said isosamples to.