JP3327369B2 - Photo film processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developed long photographic film formed by connecting a plurality of films with a connecting member, and cutting the film in the region of the connecting member again to reduce the length thereof. The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a photographic film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a photographic film having been photographed is developed by an automatic developing apparatus, a small-sized developing apparatus is constructed such that the developing processing is performed separately for each order, that is, for each film. Have been. However, 1
Since it is inefficient to develop the individual photographic films one by one, in a large-scale automatic developing apparatus, the ends of photographed photographic films of a plurality of orders are connected to each other by a connecting member (splice tape or the like) to form a long photographic film. The long photographic film is continuously developed and wound up into a roll. Then, the developed long photographic film wound up in a roll like this,
For example, in the case of performing a baking process with an automatic baking device, in the related art, it is conventionally wound up in a roll shape while performing the baking process in a long state, and then cut by an order using a cutting device.

However, photographic films that have been developed include:
For example, in the case of a normal 135 film, if there is a full size or panorama size in which the frame length of each image is 36 mm,
There is also a half size with a frame length of 17 mm. in this case,
There is no problem if the automatic baking device can quickly respond to all sizes, but in full size and panorama size,
The size of the photographic paper is different, and the stretching rate must be changed accordingly.In addition, in the case of half size, in addition to the stretching rate, the direction of the photographic paper is reversed vertically and horizontally, etc.
As a practical matter, there is a limit to the measures taken by the automatic printing apparatus.

Therefore, conventionally, when a special panorama size or half size film is present in a long photo film, the special panorama size or half size film is skipped while the long photo film is being used. First, only a full-size film is once wound into a roll while being baked, and then the panorama-sized film, which has been skipped, is baked again, and then cut every order. The same applies to a film in which a full size and a panoramic size are mixed in one order. Even in such a film, after the burning process of the full size film is completed, the burning process is performed again, and thereafter, Had been disconnected. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, various processes from printing to cutting are performed due to the fact that the image frame length is not always constant in a developed long photographic film formed by connecting a plurality of films with a connecting member. There is a problem that the operation becomes very complicated and the efficiency is poor.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem by connecting a developed long photographic film formed by connecting a plurality of films with a connecting member. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic film processing apparatus in which a region of a connecting member does not adversely affect the film transport when the film is transported and processed while being cut again by shortening the region.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the processing apparatus of photographic film according to the present invention, the transport of
The connecting member of the long photographic film to be connected
When it is detected by the hook detecting means, the first cutting device
An operation of cutting the long photographic film;
Cut a part of the photographic film in the width direction of the film
The operation is lacking. According to this configuration, a long photograph
When the splicing member of the film is detected by the splicing part detection means
The become as to cut the region of the connecting member elongated photographic film by the first cutting device, when the shortening of every order for example, even photographic film in the film width direction in the region of the tether second It can be cut out by a cutting device. For this reason, even if there is a portion that protrudes in the width direction in the region of the connecting member, which has an adverse effect in the subsequent transport process, it is possible to delete this.

[0007] When the region of the connecting member of the long photographic film is cut by the first cutting device, the following cutting positions are conceivable: (1) At least one of the connecting members is attached to the film on the downstream side in the transport direction. (2) Cut the film on the upstream side in the transport direction; (3) Cut the film on the upstream side in the transport direction so as to leave all the connecting members on the film on the downstream side in the transport direction. Cut only; in any of these cuts, at least a part of the connecting member will remain on the film on the downstream side in the transport direction,
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the remaining connecting member is provided with data on the film,
Useful in later film processing. To this end, a reading device for reading the film data provided on the connecting member and outputting the content thereof may be provided in the film transport path. As film data,
It is particularly recommended that the barcode is a film identification barcode printed on a connecting member.

In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the second cutting device is arranged so that the width of the leading end of the film on the upstream side in the transporting direction falls within the width of the film on the downstream side in the transporting direction. Some cut the area. According to this configuration, the leading end of the film on the upstream side in the transport direction is
Because the film completely fits within the width of the trailing edge of the downstream film in the transport direction, in the subsequent transport, the leading end of the upstream film in the transport direction, which is still connected by the link member after the film is shortened, is Obstacles in transport can be reliably avoided.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if the first cutting device and the second cutting device are integrated, components and control can be shared, which can contribute to cost reduction. Another advantage is that less space is required. Conversely, when the conventional cutting apparatus is later mounted or provided as an option, the second cutting apparatus is formed separately from the first cutting apparatus. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a photographic film processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entirety of an automatic printing and exposure apparatus to which the photographic film processing apparatus of the present invention is applied, in which an image information reading device 20 and a printing and exposure device 30 to be described later are installed. The image information reading device 20 reads the image information of the photographic film 10 and displays it on the display 2, and the operator operates the keyboard 3 based on the displayed contents, so that the printing exposure device 30 prints the photographic paper with an appropriate exposure amount. The print is finally exposed after being exposed and then subjected to processing such as development, and is discharged to the print storage unit 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of developed photo films 10 are wound on the reel 1. As shown in FIG. The film 10 described in this specification is defined in two senses: a short photographic film 10a ordered by a customer and completed with a development process;
The long photographic film 10b, which is made longer by sequentially connecting the rear end 11 of the short photographic film 10a of one order unit and the front end 12 of the other photographic film 10a with a splice tape 13 as an example of a connecting member. (See FIG. 4). The long photographic film 10b is cut again in units of one order before the exposure printing process, if necessary, but the film shortened by this cutting is also defined as the short photographic film 10a. A dancer 5 for removing the slack of the photographic film 10 is provided near the mounting axis of the reel 1 and is directed from the reel 1 to an image information reading device 20 or a printing exposure device 30 which is an example of an exposure processing device. In addition, a film transport means 40 for transporting the photographic film 10 wound on the reel 1, specifically, a long film 10b is provided.

The film transport means 40 includes a first transport section and a second transport section. The first transport section includes a first drive roller 42 driven by a pulse motor 41 and a first drive roller 42. Two drive idle rollers 43 in contact with the rollers 42, a second drive roller 45 rotated and driven by the DC motor 44, a drive idle roller 46 in contact with the second drive rollers 45, Roller 4
7 and a pair of idler rollers 48 and the like that contact each other.
It is transported to zero. In the transport path of the first transport unit,
A film cutting means 6, which will be described in detail later, is provided. Here, the long film 10b is cut and divided into short films 10a corresponding to one order unit, or a part of the film is cut off.

The second transport section of the transport means 40 transports the photographic film 10a, which has been shortened by the film cutting means 6, to the image information reading device 20, and a third transport section.
It comprises a driving roller 49, a driving idler roller 50, a pair of idler rollers 51, and the like. A sensor group is provided in the transport path of the transport means 40. For example, a film detection sensor 81 that detects the presence of the photographic film 10 is located on the upstream side of the first drive roller 42 in the transport direction.
However, on the lower side in the transport direction, an end detecting sensor 82 as a connecting portion area of the photographic film 10 connected by the splice tape 13, that is, the rear end 11 or the leading end 12 or the connecting portion detecting means for detecting the splice tape 13.
Are respectively provided, and these two detection sensors 81, 82 are provided.
Is composed of a light emitter and a light receiver.

On the downstream side of the edge detection sensor 82 in the transport direction and on the upstream side of the film cutting means 6 in the transport direction, whether or not the photographic film 10 of each order is suitable for processing by the printing exposure apparatus 30. An image frame discriminating means 83 for discriminating whether or not the image frame is provided is provided. The image frame discriminating means 83 comprises two image frame detection sensors 83a and 83b, which are a light emitting device and a light receiving device, and detects a frame of a film image based on the amount of light transmitted through the photographic film 10. The frame length of each image of the photo film 10 is determined. Specifically, based on the frame edge detection signal, the image frame pitch of each order is measured, and the length of the image frame in the width direction is measured.
It is configured to determine whether each image frame is a full size, a panorama size, or a half size. A discharge mechanism 7 is provided on the lower side in the transport direction than the film cutting means 6 for removing unnecessary portions of the film from the transport path.

The discharge mechanism 7 has a waste box 7a disposed below the conveyance path and an opening of the waste box 7a.
A swingable guide member 7b having a slit through which the film passes, and a solenoid (not shown) for swinging and driving the guide member 7b are provided. In a state shown by a solid line in FIG. And in the state shown by the imaginary line, the unnecessary portion of the film is guided and falls into the waste box 7a.

A loop tank 8 is disposed on the lower side in the transport direction than the discharge mechanism 7, and the inside of the loop tank 8 is formed as a loop holding space 8a for accommodating and holding the photographic film 10 in a loop. At the same time, an openable / closable loop guide 8b is provided at the opening of the loop tank 8, and is configured to be opened / closed by a DC motor (not shown). On the downstream side of the loop tank 8 in the transport direction and on the downstream side of the second drive roller 45 in the transport direction, a leading end detection unit including a light emitter and a light receiver for detecting the leading end of the photographic film 10 is provided. A sensor 84 is provided. Further, on the further downstream side in the transport direction than the leading end detection sensor 84, the photographic film 10 for one order, which is determined to be inappropriate by the image frame determining means 83, is read by the image information reading device 20 or the printing exposure device. A transport path branching means 90 is provided as processing avoidance means for avoiding processing by the apparatus 30.

The transport path branching means 90 transports one order of the photographic film 10 determined to be inappropriate to the transport means 40.
5 for transporting by diverging from the second transport section of FIG.
As shown in detail in the figure, a through-diameter path 91 that is directed obliquely upward is opened in a frame disposed above the transport path of the transport unit 40,
A path change member 93 is swingably mounted around a shaft 92 provided in the through path 91, and the path change member 93
Are driven to swing by a solenoid 94. And near the end of the through-path 91,
A fourth driving roller 96 that is rotated by a DC motor 95 is provided, and a driving idler roller 97 attached to the shaft 92 is in contact with the fourth driving roller 96. The photographic film 10 that has entered the through path 91 is forcibly conveyed, and
A first rear end detection sensor 8 for detecting the rear end of the photographic film 10 is provided on the upper side and the lower side of the through path 91 in the conveying direction.
5 and a second rear end detection sensor 86 are provided.

The image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure device 30 described above are arranged in this order below the conveying path branching means 90 in the conveying direction. The image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure device 30 have a conventionally known structure, and the image information reading device 20 includes a lamp 21, a mirror tunnel 22, and an imaging device 23.
The printing exposure apparatus 30 includes an exposure lamp 31, a light control filter 32, a mirror tunnel 33, an optical system 34, a shutter 35, and the like.
The image 0 is stretched and printed on the photographic paper 9.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the film cutting means 6 moves the long film 10b in the transport direction so that the spliced tape 13 remains on the rear end 11 of the film 10a on the front side in the transport direction. Back film 1
In addition to the first cutting device 60 that cuts at the leading end 12 of the splice tape 13 at the leading end 12 of the splice tape 13, as shown in FIG. A second cutting device 70 is provided for cutting the end 11 and the front end 12 of the film 10a on the rear side in the transport direction along an arc-shaped cutting line: m. Long film 10
b, the execution order of the first cutting device 60 and the second cutting device 70 can be determined by restrictions such as the arrangement of the two, and the present invention does not limit the order, but is shown in FIG. This is the case where the side cutout by the second cutting device 70 is executed before the cutting and splitting by the first cutting device 60.

As schematically shown in FIG. 7, the first cutting device 60 includes a vertically movable upper blade 61 provided to traverse the film transport path, and a lower blade 61 fixed on the film transport path. A blade 62 is provided, and the film is cut along a cutting line: k shown in FIG. 6A by the upper blade 61 descending toward the lower blade 62. The second cutting device 70 also includes a pair of left and right upper blades 71a and 71b provided on both sides of the film transport path and a pair of lower blades 72a and 72b fixed on the film transport path. When the blades 71a and 71b descend toward the lower blades 72a and 72b, respectively, the cutting line shown in FIG.
Cut both sides of the film in an arc. As shown in FIG. 6A, the size of the notch is determined by the width of the rear end 11 of the front film 10a and the width of the rear film 10a.
Even if the width of the front end 12 is shifted and connected (the maximum shift amount can be estimated from experience), the splicing tape 13 is cut by the notch processing and the cutting processing by the second cutting device 70 and the first cutting device 60. The width of the rear end 12 which is kept connected is set so as to be within the width of the front film 10a.

The specific structure of the second cutting device 70 is shown in FIG. 8 and includes a lifting table 73 on which upper blades 71a and 71b are mounted and a lifting pin 7 fixed to the lifting table 73.
4, an upper cam follower 75 and a lower cam follower 76 provided at predetermined intervals on the elevating pins 74;
An eccentric cam 77 disposed in a space between the upper cam follower 75 and the lower cam follower 76;
A motor 78 for rotating the drive 7, and a frame 79 functioning as a support for the lift table 73 and as a guide for the lift pins 74. That is, the upper cam follower 75 or the lower cam follower 76 accompanying the rotation of the eccentric cam 77.
Alternatively, the lifting pins 74, and consequently the upper blades 71a and 71b are raised with respect to the frame 79 through contact with both, and with the further rotation of the eccentric cam 77, the lifting pins 74 and consequently the upper blade 71a And 71b are lowered. By appropriately selecting the shape of the eccentric cam 77, the upper blades 71a and 71b are raised by one rotation of the motor.
A reciprocating movement of descent can be created, but such an elevating mechanism itself belongs to a known technique, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

The structure of the first cutting device 60 is also substantially the same as that of the above-described second cutting device, and the description thereof will be omitted. Of course, various other known mechanisms can be adopted as the structure of the elevating mechanism, and the structure is not limited in the present invention. In the case where the first cutting device 60 and the second cutting device 70 are integrally configured, the respective lower blades 6
By forming the 2 and 72 together or by devising the shape of the eccentric cam, the motor 78 can also be used, which contributes to cost reduction. When the long film 10b is cut into units of one order by the above-described cutting means and divided into short films 10a, as shown in FIG.
0a, the ID information for identifying the film 10a, preferably a bar code 14, is printed on the splice tape 13; In order to use this information.

Next, the operation of the automatic printing exposure apparatus will be described. First, the reel 1 on which the developed long photographic film 10b is wound is set, and the reel 1 is attached to the leading end or the leading end of the long photographic film 10b. The leader is hung on the dancer 5 and inserted into the path of the conveying means 40.
When the film detection sensor 81 detects the presence of the long photo film 10b, the pulse motor 41 operates to rotate the first drive roller 42 to convey the long photo film 10b, and the solenoid of the discharge mechanism 7 operates. The guide member 7b is swung to bring it into the state shown by the imaginary line in FIG.

In this state, when the end detecting sensor 82 detects the connecting end of the long photographic film 10b, the first cutting device 60 is operated, and unnecessary portions such as the leading end of the long photographic film 10b and the leader are read. In this case, the leading end of the long photographic film 10b is
Since it is guided by b and hangs down, the cut unnecessary portion falls into the waste box 7a. Then, the guide member 7
b returns to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the long photographic film 10b having the leading end portion cut passes through the slit of the guide member 7b to reach the second drive roller 45, where
It is driven and conveyed by the driving roller 45 and reaches the leading end detection sensor 84. When the leading edge detection sensor 84 detects the leading edge of the long photographic film 10b, the DC motor 44 stops, the rotation of the second drive roller 45 stops, and the loop guide 8b of the loop tank 8 changes to the virtual line in FIG. To open the opening of the loop tank 8.

In this state, the first driving roller 42
Is driven to rotate and continuously transports the long photo film 10b, and as shown in FIG.
Hangs downward to form a loop in the loop holding space 8a. Then, when the end detecting sensor 82 detects the next connecting end, the rotation of the first drive roller 42 is stopped based on the detection result, and the second cutting device 70 is first operated to activate the splice tape of the film. 13 is cut along the cutting line m in FIG. 6B and the first drive roller 42 is further rotated by a predetermined distance.
(A) Cutting line: Cut at k. As a result, the one-order photo film 10a is cut off from the long photo film 10b while the corresponding splice tape 13 is attached. The barcode 14 printed on the splice tape 13 is read by a barcode reading sensor 87 provided at an appropriate position on the transport path, and is used in a later film processing process. Second again
When the drive roller 45 rotates, the one-order photo film 10a is conveyed.
When the rear end of Oa comes off the front end detection sensor 84, the loop guide 8b of the loop tank 8 closes.

The one-order photographic film 10a separated from the long photographic film 10b is already printed by the image frame discriminating means 83.
It is determined whether or not the processing is suitable for the processing by. That is, it is determined whether the image frame of the photo film 10a is a full size or a panorama size suitable for the printing exposure device 30 of the automatic printing device, or an inappropriate half size. 3
If the size is suitable for 0, it is conveyed to the next image information reading device 20, where necessary information is read and displayed on the display 2, and then printed and exposed on the printing paper 9 by the printing exposure device 30. When the rear end of the photo film 10a passes through the second rear end detection sensor 86, the first drive roller 42 is driven to rotate again, and the same operation is repeated.

However, if the image frame of the photographic film 10a is of an inappropriate size for the exposure device 30, the path changing member 93 is swung by the operation of the solenoid 94, and the photographic film 10a is guided by the path changing member 93. Enters the through path 91, and is discharged out of the transport path by the rotation of the fourth drive roller 96 by the operation of the DC motor 95. In this case, when the rear end of the photographic film 10a passes through the first rear end detection sensor 85, the first drive roller 42 is driven to rotate and the same operation is repeated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an automatic printing exposure apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a main part of an automatic printing exposure apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a main part of an automatic printing exposure apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a photographic film lengthened by a splice tape.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing details of a conveying path branching unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a processed shape of a photographic film by a cutting means.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of first and second cutting devices.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a second cutting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a short film 10b long film 13 splice tape 60 first cutting device 70 second cutting device 82 joint detecting means

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A processing of a photographic film in which a developed long photographic film formed by connecting a plurality of films with a connecting member is cut again in the region of the connecting member to shorten the length, and processed while transporting the short film. In the apparatus, a connecting portion detecting means for detecting a region of a connecting member of the long photographic film, and a first cutting for cutting the long photographic film in the region of the connecting member to shorten the long photographic film. devices and the includes a space portion of the photographic film in the connecting member and the second cutting device cutting off the film width direction, before the connecting member of the long photographic film is conveyed
When detected by the connecting portion detecting means, the first cutting device
Cutting the long photographic film with the
Cut a part of the photographic film in the width direction of the film
And a notch operation . 2. The long photographic film according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting device cuts the long photographic film so as to leave at least a part of the connecting member on the film on the downstream side in the transport direction. Photo film processing equipment. 3. The photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first cutting device cuts the film on the upstream side in the transport direction. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first cutting device cuts only the film on the upstream side in the transport direction so as to leave all of the connecting members on the film on the downstream side in the transport direction. Photo film processing equipment. 5. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second cutting device cuts the area of the connecting member such that the leading end width of the film on the upstream side in the transporting direction falls within the width of the film on the downstream side in the transporting direction. 5. The processing apparatus for a photographic film according to 3 or 4. 6. A photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first cutting device and said second cutting device are integrated. 7. The photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first cutting device and said second cutting device are formed separately. 8. A photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member left on the shortened film is provided with data relating to the film. 9. A photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a reading device for reading the film data provided on said connecting member and outputting the contents. 10. The photographic film processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said film data is a film identification barcode printed on said connecting member.