JP3444405B2 - Photo 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 feeding / conveying unit for conveying photographic paper cut into print sizes to an exposure unit, and a allocating unit for allocating photographic paper exposed by the exposure unit to a plurality of columns of conveying systems. The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus including: a photographic printing paper sorted into a plurality of rows by the sorting unit;

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a photographic processing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-120904, and in this conventional example, an upstream side of a distribution means (corresponding to a distribution unit of the present invention). If there is no photographic paper in the sheet, or if the photographic paper does not pass within the time set on the upstream side of the sorting means, or if the time from the printing exposure process to the start of transport of the photographic paper exceeds the predetermined time, The control mode is set so that the photographic printing paper is conveyed to the development processing section without being distributed by the distribution means. In other words, in the conventional example having the sorting means, the photographic paper is distributed and set in the plurality of rows of conveyance paths, and the photographic paper is developed at the same time when the photographic paper is set in each of the plurality of rows of conveyance paths. If the printing paper is set in all of the rows for a long time due to some reason, it will be processed so that the latent image is not degraded. It is supposed to be transported to the department.

[0003]

However, as in the conventional example, the presence or absence of photographic paper at the upstream position of the sorting means can be determined,
Whether or not the printing paper passes within the set time is determined, and based on the time from the exposure to the start of the transportation of the printing paper, the conveyance start of the printing paper already set to the sorting means is started. To make a judgment, it is necessary not only to arrange a sensor such as a detection sensor at the upstream position of the sorting means for judging the presence or absence of photographic paper, but also to perform a processing by a dedicated control routine for making this judgment. Therefore, it may take a long processing time to cause a delay in other control.

An object of the present invention is to reasonably construct an apparatus capable of developing a photographic paper which has already been sorted by a simple process without leaving it for a long time.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention (claim 1), as described at the beginning, a feeding / conveying unit for conveying a photographic paper cut into a print size to an exposing unit, A sorting unit that sorts the photographic paper exposed by the exposure unit into a plurality of rows, and the photographic paper that is sorted into a plurality of rows by this sorting unit are sent to the development processing unit in a state of being aligned in a plurality of rows of transport paths. In a photographic processing device equipped with a parallel transport section,
For each of several rows of transport routes, set position of that transport route
Alignment sensor that detects when photographic paper is conveyed to the table
The photographic paper is set at the alignment position with this alignment sensor.
Based on this set information
Timer information that gives the value of the timer that starts
Control of photographic paper transport on multiple transport routes based on
For controlling a plurality of transport paths.
Of the sorting units, the printing paper is sorted last
Set information from other transfer routes except the transfer route
Based on the
Based on the set information of the transport route that is sorted last
Drive all the transport paths to send out photographic paper in parallel
This control means controls all transport routes.
Before the photographic paper is set on the
If the value of the reference time information set for
Send the photographic paper set in the parallel transport section to the development processing section.
The present invention is configured so as to perform the control for projecting , and its action and effect are as follows.

A second feature of the present invention (claim 2) is that in claim 1, the first printing paper is set in one of the transport paths.
If it is determined based on the set information that the
The timer starts the time measurement, and this timer information is used as the reference time information.
The next paper is set in the transport path before the
If it is determined based on the set information that
Clear the timer information of and restart the timer
By repeating the processing in the order of starting,
Before the last photographic paper is loaded in the
When the value of the reference time information is reached, it is set in the transport route.
The control mode of the control means is set so as to start the conveyance of the printing paper.
It is at a set point, and its action and effect are as follows.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009] [Operation] According to the first aspect, the printing paper from the sorting unit is set against the conveying path of the plurality of rows of parallel conveyor section
If it is determined, the control means is based on the set information.
Stop feeding the printing paper on the feeding path, and
If it is determined that the paper is loaded, the timer
Start time. After this, the sorting unit finally sorts
Make sure that the photographic paper to be sorted is set in the transport path.
In other words, the control means drives all the conveyance paths to print the photographic paper.
Is controlled so that the control means
Timer information is set in advance before the photographic paper is set.
When the specified reference time information value is reached, parallel transport
Control to send the photographic paper set in the printer section to the development processing section
It will be done. Therefore, exposed photographic paper can be transported in parallel.
Not left in the room for a long time.

According to the second feature, the husband of the parallel transport unit
The printing paper is set within the standard time for each transport route.
Photographic paper is not sent out when
Appropriate processing is performed when processing is performed at remote intervals
In addition, the photographic paper will be
If it is not set, it has already been
The printed photographic paper is sent out, so the exposed photographic paper is
It is not left on the road for a long time.

[0011]

[0012]

[Effects of the Invention] Therefore, a processing device which can send out the already exposed exposed printing paper to the developing processing section without leaving it for a long time to perform the developing processing is rational with a simple processing form. It was constructed. In addition, as long as the printing paper is supplied within the fixed time, the exposed printing paper is developed through the multi-row transport path, and even if the printing paper is not supplied within the fixed time, The development process can be started, and when the photographic papers are set in the transport paths of a plurality of rows, these exposed photographic papers can be rapidly developed.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2, silver salt photographic paper 1
A photographic processing apparatus that exposes image information (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper) and develops it is shown. In other words, the developing processing apparatus carries out the unloading roller group 2 for unloading the photographic printing paper 1 from the photographic paper magazine 1M, the cutter 3 for cutting the photographic printing paper 1 from the unloading roller group 2 into a print size, and the cutter 3 for cutting. A pre-transport mechanism FC (an example of a supply transport unit) that transports the printed photographic paper 1 to an exposure unit P including an exposure head 4, an exposure transport mechanism PC that transports the photographic paper 1 in the exposure unit P, and this exposure. A post-conveyance mechanism RC that sends out the exposed photographic paper 1 from the conveyance mechanism PC, a distribution unit SC that distributes the exposed photographic paper 1 from the post-conveyance mechanism RC into a plurality of rows of conveyance systems, and this distribution unit S.
A parallel transport mechanism LC for sending the photographic printing paper 1 sorted into a plurality of rows by C (an example of a parallel transport unit), and this parallel transport mechanism L.
A discharge / conveyance mechanism EC that conveys the photographic paper 1 conveyed in an aligned state to the development processing section D, and a development processing section D that develops the photographic paper 1 from the discharge / conveyance mechanism EC, then performs drying processing and then sends it out. And is configured.

The pre-conveying device FC has a large number of nipping rollers 5 for nipping and conveying the photographic printing paper 1, and two stepping type front-conveying motors F for driving the nipping rollers 5.
The exposure / transport device PC including M and FM is wound around three pulleys 6 and has a plurality of ventilation holes, and a suction for applying a negative pressure to the side opposite to the transport surface of the transport belt 7. The duct 8 and the stepping-type exposure transport motor PM that drives the endless transport belt 7 via the pulley 6 are provided. Further, the photographic paper 1 is provided in the carrying system of the exposure carrying device PC.
Position sensor PS for detecting that the exposure position has reached
Is equipped with.

In this development processing apparatus, image information of a photographic film (not shown) is read by a photoelectric conversion unit (not shown) as R,
Processing for converting the digital signals of the three primary colors G and B and storing them in the frame memory is performed. When the exposure head 4 exposes the printing paper 1, the image information from the frame memory is read. Each line is read in the main scanning direction, and the exposure head 4 is moved in a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction at a speed synchronized with the reading (the exposure transport motor PM is moved with the exposure head 4 fixed). It may be driven to move the photographic printing paper 1). or,
As the engine of the exposure head 4, a liquid crystal shutter system, a laser exposure system, a CRT system, a fluorescent tube system, etc. are known. Here, a line exposure print head using the liquid crystal shutter system is used. Light rays of three primary colors of R, G, and B from the head 4 are guided to the photographic printing paper 1.

The post-conveying device RC has a double-belt belt 10 wound around a pulley 9 so that the photographic printing paper 1 is nipped and conveyed.
This belt 1 is configured to be sandwiched and conveyed by arranging
A stepping type rear conveyance motor RM for driving 0 is provided, and a back print mechanism 11 and a back print position sensor 11S are arranged in the middle of the conveyance path of the rear conveyance device RC. The back print position sensor 11S detects that the photographic printing paper 1 has been sent to the back printing mechanism 11. The back printing mechanism 11 has a film ID on the back surface (anti-emulsion surface) of the photographic printing paper 1. For printing the frame number, the frame number, and correction information indicating the image processing performed at the time of creating the print data, a dot-in-pack printer is usually used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sorting unit SC includes a three-belt belt 16 wound around a pulley 15.
And a frame 17 for supporting the three-piece belt 16 and the sorting / transporting motor SM. A screw shaft 18 for feeding in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the photographic paper 1 and a stepping motor type distribution motor SSM for driving the screw shaft 18 are provided. Further, the distribution unit SC is provided with a home position sensor 17S which detects that the frame 17 is located at one moving end.

The parallel transport mechanism LC has a front transport section LCf for independently transporting the photographic paper 1 along three transport paths by vertically arranging five belts 22 wound around a pulley 21. , A belt 5 with five threads wound around a pulley 23 to convey the photographic paper 1 from the belt 22 for three rows at a time
4 is arranged in the upper and lower sides of the nipping conveyance type rear conveyance section LCr.
Three parallel conveying motors LM1, LM1, LM1 of stepping motor type for independently driving the strip and the central one
And three alignment sensors AS, BS, CS for detecting that the photographic printing paper 1 has reached the transport ends of the transport lines A, B, C as the three-row transport paths, and the rear transport unit LCr is A stepping motor type feeding motor LM2 for simultaneously driving the five belts 24 is provided.

The discharge / conveyance mechanism EC comprises a large number of nipping rollers 27, and a stepping-type ejection / conveying motor EM for driving the nipping rollers 27.

Of the photographic processing apparatus, only the control system for conveying the photographic printing paper 1 can be represented as shown in FIG. 5, and this control system includes a microprocessor (not shown). The exposure position sensor PS and the back print position sensor 11 with respect to the control device 28 (an example of control means).
A system in which signals from the S, home position sensor 17S, three alignment sensors AS, BS, and CS are input is formed, and two front transport motors FM, exposure transport motors PM, rear transport motors RM, and sorting transport motors are formed. An output system is formed for each of the SM, the distribution motor SSM, the three parallel conveyance motors LM1, the feeding motor LM2, and the discharge conveyance motor EM.

When the photographic paper 1 is exposed by this photographic processing apparatus, the photographic paper 1 from the photographic paper magazine 1M is sent out by the carry-out roller group 2 and the sending length is the print size of the photographic paper 1. When it reaches, the cutter 3 is operated to cut the photographic paper 1, and the photographic paper 1 cut in the print size is supplied to the exposure section P by the front transport mechanism PC. Next, the photographic printing paper 1 supplied to the exposure section P is exposed by moving the exposure head 4 in the sub-scanning direction as described above while being set at the exposure position by the exposure transport mechanism PC. When finished, the exposure and transport mechanism P
The exposed printing paper 1 is sent by C. Next, the photographic printing paper 1 is transported by the rear transporting mechanism RC and, at the same time, necessary information is printed on the back side of the photographic printing paper 1 by the back printing mechanism 11 and then sent to the sorting unit SC. The transport path up to this point is in the form of a single straight line, and the printing paper 1 sent to the sorting unit SC has three transport lines A of the parallel transport mechanism LC.
By driving the belt 22 corresponding to each of B and C, the belt 22 is set at the conveyance end portion (setting position),
When the photographic printing paper 1 is set on each of the three transport lines A, B and C, the discharging belt 24 is simultaneously driven to send out the respective photographic printing papers 1 to the discharging transport mechanism EC for developing processing. Has become.

Next, the operation mode when the photographic printing paper 1 is distributed by the distribution unit SC will be described. When the photographic printing paper 1 is set to the setting position of the transport line A by the sorting unit SC, the sorting unit SC is set to the home position (upper moving end in the figure) as shown in FIG. The photographic printing paper 1 sent from the rear transport mechanism RC is received, and the frame 17 of the sorting unit SC is moved in the direction of the transport line A while being transported by the sorting unit SC, and then as shown in FIG. To
When the photographic paper 1 supported by the sorting unit SC reaches the position of the belt 22 corresponding to the transport line A in the parallel transport mechanism LC, the movement is stopped, and in this stopped state, the photographic paper 1 of the sorting unit SC is moved to the belt 22. Delivered.
The photographic printing paper 1 thus delivered is conveyed until the alignment sensor AS detects the photographic printing paper 1, as shown in FIG. 4C, and stops when it is detected. This stop position is the set position.

It should be noted that the photographic paper 1 is placed at the set position on the conveyance line B.
When setting, the center position of the sorting unit SC in the width direction is aligned with the transport path of the rear transport mechanism RC, and in this state, the sorting unit SC receives the photographic paper 1 and the frame 17 of the sorting transport unit SC. The photographic printing paper 2 is delivered as it is to the front transport section LCf of the parallel transport mechanism LC without moving. When the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the setting position of the transport line C, the sorting unit SC is set at a position opposite to the case where the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the transport line A, and the photographic printing paper from the rear transport mechanism RC is set. 1
Is received, and the frame 17 of the sorting unit SC is moved in the opposite direction to the case where the photographic printing paper 1 is set on the transport line A, but the basic control form does not change. When the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the respective set positions of the three conveyance lines A, B, C, the rear conveyance section LC
As described above, the photographic printing paper 1 at the three set positions is simultaneously sent out by the operation of r.

The transport mode described above is performed when the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the set position of the parallel transport device LC within a preset time, but in this photographic processing device, the exposure section P is used. If it takes time to perform the exposure process, or if the transport system on the transport side of the sorting unit SC has a problem and the transport of the printing paper 1 to the sorting unit SC is delayed, or if transport is impossible, the set position is set. On the other hand, the control operation for sending the photographic printing paper 1 that has already been set to the developing processing section is set as shown in the following flowchart.

That is, the parallel transport mechanism L is used as management information obtained by the detection operation of the photographic printing paper 1 set on the parallel transport mechanism LC by the sorting unit SC.
Set information for determining that the photographic printing paper 1 is set on C (in the present embodiment, the alignment sensors AS, BS, C
S detection information) and photographic paper 1 based on this set information
And timer information for giving a value of a timer for starting timing when it is determined that the parallel transport mechanism LC is set at a timing set based on the management information.
To start transportation. Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
When it is determined that is set based on the detection result of the alignment sensor AS, a timer (configured by software) starts measuring time, and this measured value (timer information)
If it is not determined based on the detection result of the alignment sensor BS that the photographic printing paper 1 has been set at the setting position of the transport line B before 30 seconds as the preset reference time information has elapsed, The motor LM2 is driven to send out the photographic printing paper 1 on the transport line A, and after the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the set position on the transport line A, the set position on the transport line B is set before the time value reaches 30 seconds. When it is determined that the photographic printing paper 1 is set on the basis of the detection result of the alignment sensor BS, the timer is newly started after the time measurement of the timer is cleared, and this time measurement value Similarly, when it is not determined based on the detection result of the alignment sensor CS that the photographic printing paper 1 has been set at the setting position of the transport line C before 30 seconds as preset reference time information has elapsed. , The feeding motor LM2 is driven to feed the photographic printing paper 1 on the carrying line A and the carrying line B, and after the photographic printing paper 1 is set at the setting position of the carrying line B, the measured value is When it is determined based on the detection result of the alignment sensor CS that the printing paper 1 is set at the setting position of the transport line C before reaching 30 seconds, at the same time as this determination, the feeding motor LM2 is driven to drive the transport line. Printing paper 1 of A, the conveyance line B, and the conveyance line C
Are transmitted at the same time (# 101 to # 108
Step).

As described above, according to the present invention, when the feeding of the succeeding printing paper 1 is delayed or a situation in which the printing paper 1 is not fed occurs before all the printing papers 1 are sorted by the sorting unit SC to the plural rows of transport systems. However, the exposed photographic printing paper 1 that has already been distributed is sent to the development processing section D without being left for a long time and the development processing is performed to maintain good image quality. As long as the photographic printing paper 1 is supplied inside, the exposed photographic printing paper 1 is developed through a plurality of rows of conveying paths. Therefore, by processing the photographic printing paper 1 in parallel, it is possible to spend a sufficient time. The development processing can be performed. In particular, in the present invention, whether or not the photographic paper 1 can be sent out is determined based on whether or not the photographic paper 1 is set in the parallel transport mechanism LC. Therefore, a sensor for determining the presence or absence of the photographic paper 1 on the upper hand side of the sorting unit SC. There is also a good aspect that the control can be performed by an independent process of only simple information such as the presence or absence of the setting of the printing paper 1 and the time elapsed from the setting without the necessity of providing the above or performing complicated control.

[Other Embodiments] In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention transmits a light beam from a light source to a frame image of a film in an exposure unit and projects the transmitted light beam onto a photographic paper through a lens. The present invention can be applied to a photographic processing apparatus having a structure of exposing, and the number of routes to be sorted by the sorting unit may be two or four or more. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit that controls the start timing of the conveyance in the parallel conveyance mechanism LC is configured as one of the functions of the control device that also controls the conveyance in the front conveyance mechanism FC or the exposure conveyance mechanism PC. However, a timer circuit is separately provided, and the parallel conveyance mechanism L is provided by the information of the timer circuit and the detection information of the alignment sensors AS, BS, CS.
It may be configured by a logic circuit that controls only the conveyance at C.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of a photographic paper conveyance path.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of a photographic paper conveyance path.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a transportation system of a portion of a distribution unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of a distribution unit.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of a control system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a printing paper management routine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 photographic paper 28 Control means FC supply and transport section SC sorting transport unit LC parallel transport section P exposure section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03D 3/12 B65H 29/60 G03B 27/46 G03D 13/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A supply / conveyance unit for conveying photographic paper cut into print sizes to an exposure unit, a distribution unit for allocating the photographic paper exposed by the exposure unit to a plurality of rows, and a plurality of rows by this distribution unit. A photographic processing apparatus comprising: a parallel conveyance section that sends out distributed photographic paper to a development processing section in a state where the photographic papers are set in a plurality of rows conveyance path in an aligned state, wherein the parallel conveyance section has a plurality of conveyance paths. For each
When the photographic paper is transported to the set position on the transport path,
It is equipped with a standard alignment sensor, and the alignment sensor
Set information showing that the photographic paper has been set in
The value of the timer that starts timing based on the set information is given.
Based on the timer information that can be obtained,
A control unit for controlling the conveyance of the printing paper is provided, and the control unit controls the sorting unit among a plurality of conveyance routes.
Remove the transport path where the photographic paper is finally distributed from the knit.
Transport based on set information from other transport routes
The conveyance of the route is stopped, and the photographic paper is sorted at the end.
Drive all transport routes based on the set information of transport routes
Control is performed to feed out the photographic paper in a parallel state, and this control means sets the photographic paper in all the transport paths.
The timer information before the reference time
When the information value is reached, it is set in the parallel transport section.
Control to send out the printed photographic paper to the developing section
A photo processing device that is configured . 2. When it is determined based on the set information that the first printing paper has been set in one of the conveyance paths, the timer starts counting the time before the timer information reaches the value of the reference time information. When it is determined based on the set information that the next printing paper has been set in the conveyance path, the first timer information is cleared and the processing is repeated in the order of starting the new timer measurement, The control mode of the control means is set so that when the timer information reaches the value of the reference time information before the last photographic paper is set in the transport path, the transport of the photographic paper set in the transport path is started. The photographic processing device according to claim 1 .