JP3719488B2 - Photo printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is arranged in an exposure unit that exposes an image to a photosensitive material cut to a print size, a development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material, and a conveyance path between the exposure unit and the development processing unit. In addition, the present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus including a sorting unit that sorts the conveyed photosensitive material from a single-row transport state to a multi-row transport state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a photographic printing apparatus, an image of a developed negative film is exposed to paper (corresponding to a photosensitive material), and the exposed paper is developed and dried, and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. In this case, there is a method in which the long paper fed from the paper magazine is cut into a print size before the exposure unit and then subjected to exposure processing, development processing, and the like. Then, until the exposure process is completed, the paper is transported in a single row state, and after the exposure process is completed, the photo printing is provided with a sorting unit for sorting the paper from the single row transport state to the multi-row transport state. There is a device.
[0003]
Since the processing speed in the exposure section is considerably faster than the processing speed in the development processing section, if the processing speed of the exposure section is matched with the development processing section having a low processing speed, the processing capability of the entire photographic printing apparatus is lowered. Therefore, in order to absorb the difference in processing speed between the two as much as possible, the invention is devised so that the processing speed in the exposure unit is not reduced as much as possible by carrying the paper in multiple rows after the exposure processing is completed. In the multi-row state, the paper passes through the development processing unit and the drying processing unit, and is finally accumulated in an order unit by the order sorter.
[0004]
Here, the relationship between the sorting order and the frame number when sorting and transporting will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown here, there are two rows. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state when sorting is performed. In the one-line transport unit, the paper is transported in the order of frame numbers, and the sorting unit F causes the front lane (corresponding to the first transport path) to the back side. Allocation is performed alternately in the order of lanes (corresponding to the second transport path). As a result, the front lanes are transported in the order of frame numbers 1, 3, 5, 7,..., And the back lanes are transported in the order of frame numbers 2, 4, 6, 8,. The frame number is printed on the back side of the paper by the printing device.
[0005]
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the photographic printing apparatus, and FIG. 10 is a view B in FIG. The lower side of FIG. 9 corresponds to the front side of the apparatus, and the upper side of FIG. 9 corresponds to the back side of the apparatus. When the image is exposed in the exposure unit 1 and the processing in the development processing unit 3 and the drying processing unit is completed, the paper is discharged from the print discharge unit 43 to the outside of the apparatus. A transverse conveyor 40 is provided at a position facing the print discharge unit 43, an order sorter 41 is provided on the front side of the transverse conveyor 40, and a large paper tray 42 is provided on the back side of the transverse conveyor 40. The transverse feed conveyor 40 operates to send small paper (service size, etc.) to the order sorter 41, and operates to send large paper (4 cuts, etc.) to the large paper dedicated tray 42 ( Arrow C direction). The order sorter 41 is a well-known mechanism that circulates and drives a large number of trays 41a along a circulation path, and one order 41 of paper is mounted on one tray 41a.
[0006]
Here, the order of the papers loaded on the tray 41a will be described. When the papers sorted into two rows as shown in FIG. 9 are discharged from the print discharge unit 43, the front lane Are the frame numbers 1, 3, 5, 7... And the back lane is the frame numbers 2, 4, 6, 8,... 5 ... That is, the papers are stacked in the order of the frame numbers.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 11, there is a type in which a large paper dedicated tray 42 is disposed on the front side and an order sorter 41 is disposed on the rear side. 7 are stacked in the order of 2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5,... From the bottom of the tray 41a in terms of frame numbers. If they are not stacked in the order of the frame numbers, the operator's inspection work becomes complicated. Therefore, in the case of a photographic printing apparatus having a structure for performing sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. 7, the layout of the order sorter and the like is limited to that shown in FIG. 9, and the structure for performing sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. In the case of this photo printing apparatus, the layout shown in FIG. 11 could not be adopted. That is, in the conventional photographic printing apparatus, the procedure for sorting and conveying is fixed, and it cannot cope with the change of the layout.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic printing apparatus capable of sorting and conveying that can cope with a layout change of an order sorter or the like.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention includes an exposure unit that exposes an image to a photosensitive material cut into a print size, a development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material, the exposure unit, and the development. are arranged in the conveying path between the processor, the distributing section for distributing the photosensitive material conveyed from one column transfer state in the multi-row conveying state, multi discharged through said developing unit A conveying means that receives the photosensitive material in a row and conveys the photosensitive material to a stacking unit where the photosensitive material is accumulated, and a frame number of the photosensitive material in multiple rows received by the conveying means is directed downstream in the conveying direction of the conveying means. And a control unit that can change the order in which the photosensitive materials are distributed.
[0010]
The operation of the photographic printing apparatus according to this configuration is as follows.
(1) The long photosensitive material is cut into a print size before exposing an image.
(2) An image is exposed to a photosensitive material cut to a print size.
(3) The exposed photosensitive material is distributed from one line to multiple lines in the distribution unit.
(4) A predetermined process such as a development process is performed in multiple rows.
(5) Multi-line photosensitive materials discharged after being subjected to predetermined processing are conveyed and accumulated.
[0011]
The operation of the sorting unit is controlled by the control unit, and the discharged multi-row photosensitive material is received and transported by the transport unit. The control unit receives the multi-row photosensitive material received by the transport unit. The order in which the photosensitive materials are distributed can be changed so that the frame number becomes smaller toward the downstream side in the conveying direction . Therefore, when the arrangement of the order sorter or the like is changed according to the specifications in the photo printing apparatus, the sorting order may be changed corresponding to the arrangement of the order sorter. As a result, the photosensitive materials can be accumulated in the order of the frame numbers in the order sorter, and the operator's inspection work is not complicated.
[0012]
In the example of FIG. 7 which has already been described, the distribution is alternately performed in order from the front side, but this can be alternately performed in order from the back side as shown in FIG.
As described above, it was possible to provide a photographic printing apparatus capable of sorting and transporting that can cope with a layout change of an order sorter or the like.
[0013]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sorting unit includes a sorting unit that is movable perpendicular to the transport path in order to distribute the photosensitive material to the first transport path and the second transport path,
The sorting unit includes a first transfer unit that transfers the photosensitive material to the first transfer path, and a second transfer unit that transfers the photosensitive material to the second transfer path,
The control unit may be configured such that, prior to the sorting operation, the first transfer unit or the second transfer unit is made to wait so as to face the transfer path of the one-line transfer.
[0014]
According to this configuration, the distribution unit includes the distribution unit, and the distribution unit further includes the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit. When sorting is performed in order from the first transport path, the first transfer unit is set to face the transport path for one-line transport prior to the sorting operation. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently perform sorting and conveyance. When the first photosensitive material is received, the sorting unit is moved in a direction orthogonal to the transport path, and the first transfer unit is opposed to the first transport path. Then, the photosensitive material is sent out to the first transport path.
Note that when sorting is performed in order from the second transport path, the second transfer unit may face the transport path for one-line transport prior to the sorting operation.
[0015]
As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the photosensitive material is received at the other delivery portion in conjunction with the operation of delivering the photosensitive material from one of the first delivery portion and the second delivery portion. Are configured to perform the above.
[0016]
According to this configuration, when the photosensitive material is sent from the first delivery section (second delivery section) to the first delivery path (second delivery path), the other second delivery section (first delivery section) carries the single row. The photosensitive material can be received from the transport path. Therefore, the sorting operation can be advanced efficiently.
[0017]
As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sorting unit is movable in both directions perpendicular to the direction parallel to the transport path in order to distribute the photosensitive material to the first transport path and the second transport path. Equipped with multiple roller units,
The plurality of roller units includes a first roller unit that delivers the photosensitive material to the first conveyance path, and a second roller unit that delivers the photosensitive material to the second conveyance path,
The controller may be configured to wait for the first roller unit or the second roller unit to face the conveyance path for the one-line conveyance prior to the sorting operation.
[0018]
In this configuration, a sorting unit is configured by a roller unit, and even one roller unit can be sorted. However, by providing a plurality of roller units, a sorting operation can be efficiently performed. Efficiency can be increased. Also, prior to the sorting operation, the sorting operation can be efficiently performed also in this point by waiting the first roller unit or the second roller unit so as to face the conveyance path of the one-line conveyance. it can.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a photographic printing apparatus.
<Configuration of photo printing device>
This photographic printing apparatus is roughly provided with an exposure unit 1 and a development processing unit 3. Among these, the exposure unit 1 mainly includes a paper magazine 5 in which a paper 4 (corresponding to a photosensitive material) is wound in a roll shape, a cutter 6, an exposure table 7 including a conveyor belt, a light source 8, and a mirror. A known configuration including a tunnel 9, a negative mask 10, and a lens unit 11 is provided. The cutter 6 cuts the long paper 4 drawn out from the paper magazine 5 into a print size, and the image is exposed after being cut into the print size.
[0020]
The paper 4 subjected to printing exposure is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in a single row state by a conveying device 8 composed of a roller group. A sorting unit 10 is provided before the paper 4 is fed to the development processing unit 3, and includes a sorting unit 11 and a feeding unit 12. The sorting unit 10 is provided to sort the paper 4 from the one-row transport state to the two-row transport state (corresponding to the multi-row transport state). The sorting unit 11 is constituted by a belt conveyor and can move in a direction perpendicular to the transport path (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1). The feeding unit 12 is also constituted by a belt conveyor. After being sorted into two rows by the sorting unit 10, the paper 4 is sent to the development processing unit 3.
[0021]
The development processing unit 3 includes a development processing tank 14 including a plurality of processing tanks that store a development processing solution. The paper 4 that has passed through the development processing unit 3 is sent to the drying processing unit 15, and is appropriately dried while the paper 4 passes through the conveyance path of the drying processing unit 15. The paper 4 is discharged from the print discharge unit 43 and is stacked on a tray 41a of an order sorter 41 (corresponding to the stacking unit ) by a lateral feed conveyor 40 (corresponding to the transport unit ) (FIG. 9, (See FIG. 10).
[0022]
<Configuration of distribution unit>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sorting unit 10. The left side in FIG. 2 corresponds to the upper side of the conveyance path, and the right side corresponds to the lower side. On the upper side, the paper 4 is conveyed in a single row, and on the lower side, the paper 4 is conveyed in a two-row state. Further, the lower side of FIG. 2 in the two-row transport state is the front lane (corresponding to the first transport path), and the upper side is the back lane (corresponding to the second transport path).
[0023]
The distribution unit 11 includes a first delivery unit 11a and a second delivery unit 11b. The first delivery unit 11a receives the paper 4 and sends the paper 4 to the front lane. The second delivery unit 11b receives the paper 4 and sends out the paper to the back lane.
The feeding unit 12 includes a first unit 12a and a second unit 12b that can be driven independently. The first unit 12a is located in the front lane, and the second unit 12b is located in the back lane.
[0024]
The control unit 20 is configured with a microcomputer as a core, and controls the operation of the sorting unit 11 and the feeding unit 12. The control unit 20 can select and control whether to start sorting from the front lane first or from the back lane first. Which one is selected is performed based on a command from the keyboard 21, for example.
[0025]
<Distribution action>
Assume that the arrangement of the order sorter 41 and the large paper tray 42 in the photographic printing apparatus is as shown in FIG.
Prior to the sorting operation, the first transfer unit 11a of the sorting unit 11 is faced in advance to the transport path for the one-line transport (FIG. 2A). When the first paper 4 (frame number 1) of one order is conveyed, the paper 4 is received by the first delivery unit 11a. When the acceptance is completed, the sorting unit 11 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the transport path, and the first delivery unit 11a is opposed to the first unit 12a (FIG. 2B).
[0026]
Then, the paper 4 with the frame number 1 is sent from the first delivery unit 11a to the first unit 12a. At this time, the second delivery unit 11b is in a state in which the next paper 4 can be received, and simultaneously with the delivery, the second number 4 paper 4 is received by the second delivery unit 11b. Next, the sorting unit 11 is slid, and the second delivery part 11b faces the second unit 12b (FIG. 2C).
[0027]
Then, the paper 4 with frame number 2 is sent out from the second delivery section 11b to the second unit 12b. At this time, the first delivery unit 11a is in a state where it can accept the paper 4 with the next frame number 3, and simultaneously with the delivery, the first delivery unit 11a accepts the paper 4 with the frame number 3 in the first delivery unit 11a.
By repeating the above procedure, sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. 7 can be performed. As a result, the paper can be stacked on the tray 41a in the order of the frame numbers.
[0028]
Next, it is assumed that the arrangement of the order sorter 41 and the large paper tray 42 in the photographic printing apparatus is opposite to the structure shown in FIG. 9 as shown in FIG. The distribution operation in this case will be described with reference to FIG.
Prior to the sorting operation, the second delivery unit 11b of the sorting unit 11 is faced in advance to the transport path for the one-row transport (FIG. 3A). When the first paper 4 (frame number 1) of one order is conveyed, the paper 4 is received by the second delivery unit 11b, and the sorting unit 11 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance path, so that the second delivery unit 11b faces the second unit 12b (FIG. 3B).
[0029]
Then, the paper 4 with frame number 1 is sent out from the second delivery section 11b to the second unit 12b. Simultaneously with this delivery, the paper 4 with frame number 2 is received by the first delivery section 11a. Next, the sorting unit 11 is slid, and the first delivery part 11a faces the first unit 12a (FIG. 3C).
[0030]
Then, the paper 4 with the frame number 2 is sent out from the first delivery unit 11a to the first unit 12a. Simultaneously with this delivery, the paper 4 with frame number 3 is received by the second delivery section 11b.
By repeating the above procedure, sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. 8 can be performed. As a result, the paper can be stacked on the tray 41a in the order of the frame numbers.
[0031]
<Configuration of distribution unit according to second embodiment>
Although the distribution unit described with reference to FIG. 2 has a configuration using a belt conveyor, a configuration example of the distribution unit using a roller mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.
The sorting unit sorts the front side chucker 30 (corresponding to the first roller unit) and the back side chucker 31 (corresponding to the second roller unit) in order to sort the one-row transport state into the two-row transport state. I have. The front side chucker 30 includes a pair of sandwiching rollers 30a and 30b and a support portion 29 that supports the sandwiching rollers 30a and 30b. The support portion 29 is slidable along the first guide 32 in a direction orthogonal to the transport path. Further, the first guide 32 is slidable in a direction parallel to the transport path along the second guide 33.
[0032]
The back side chucker 31 has the same configuration, and includes a first guide 34 and a second guide 35. The paper 4 received by the front side chucker 30 is transferred to a roller 25 provided in the development processing unit 3. The paper 4 received by the back side chucker 31 is transferred to a roller 26 provided in the development processing unit 3. Thus, the front side chucker 30 and the back side chucker 31 are movable in a direction orthogonal to the direction parallel to the transport path.
[0033]
<Distribution operation of the second embodiment>
First, the sorting operation when the photographic printing apparatus has the structure of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG.
Prior to the sorting operation, the front side chucker 30 is kept waiting at the receiving position so as to face the conveyance path of the one-line conveyance. The back side chucker 31 is located on the lowermost side of the sorting unit (FIG. 5A). The front-side chucker 30 receives the paper 4 with frame number 1, moves it along the first guide 32 and the second guide 33, and delivers it to the roller 25 (FIG. 5B). At this time, the back side chucker 31 has moved to the receiving position and receives the paper 4 with frame number 2. The back side chucker 31 is moved along the first guide 34 and the second guide 35 and delivered to the roller 26 (FIG. 5C). At this time, the front side chucker 30 has moved to the receiving position and receives the paper 4 with the frame number 3.
[0034]
By repeating the above procedure, sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. 7 can be performed. As a result, the paper can be stacked on the tray 41a in the order of the frame numbers.
[0035]
Next, the sorting operation when the photographic printing apparatus has the structure shown in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
Prior to the sorting operation, the back side chucker 31 is kept waiting at the receiving position so as to face the conveyance path of the one-line conveyance. The front side chucker 30 is located on the lowermost side of the sorting unit (FIG. 6A). The back side chucker 31 receives the paper 4 with the frame number 1, moves it along the first guide 34 and the second guide 35, and transfers it to the roller 26 (FIG. 6B). At this time, the front side chucker 30 has moved to the receiving position, and receives the paper 4 with frame number 2. The front-side chucker 30 is moved along the first guide 32 and the second guide 33 and transferred to the roller 25 (FIG. 5C). At this time, the back side chucker 31 has moved to the receiving position and receives the paper 4 with the frame number 3.
[0036]
By repeating the above procedure, sorting and conveying as shown in FIG. 8 can be performed. As a result, the paper can be stacked on the tray 41a in the order of the frame numbers.
[0037]
<Another embodiment>
(1) Although this embodiment distributes and conveys in two rows, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to the case of distributing and conveying in three or more rows.
When transporting in three rows, provide the front lane, middle lane, and back lane, for example,
Front lane: 1, 4, 7 ...
Intermediate lane: 2, 5, 8 ...
Back lane: 3, 6, 9 ...
If you want to sort like
Front lane: 3, 6, 9 ...
Intermediate lane: 2, 5, 8 ...
Back lane: 1, 4, 7 ...
It is possible to switch between the cases of sorting as shown in FIG.
[0038]
(2) When transporting paper in multiple rows, it may be transported in a state where the tops of the paper are aligned, or may be transported in a staggered state.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a photographic printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining sorting and conveyance in the first embodiment (1).
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining sorting and conveyance according to the first embodiment (2).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sorting unit according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining sorting and conveyance according to the second embodiment (2).
FIG. 7 is a plan view (1) illustrating sorting and conveying
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining sorting and conveying (2)
9 is a plan view of the photographic printing apparatus as viewed from above. FIG. 10 is an arrow B in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a photographic printing apparatus having a different specification from that of FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exposure part 3 Development processing part 4 Paper 10 Distribution part 11 Distribution unit 11a 1st delivery part 11b 2nd delivery part 20 Control part 30 Front side chucker 31 Back side chucker

Claims (4)

An exposure unit that exposes an image to a photosensitive material cut into a print size;
A development processing unit for developing the photosensitive material;
A sorting unit that is arranged in a transport path between the exposure unit and the development processing unit and sorts the transported photosensitive material from a single-row transport state to a multi-row transport state;
A conveying means for receiving the multiple rows of photosensitive materials discharged through the development processing unit and conveying the photosensitive materials to a stacking unit where the photosensitive materials are stacked;
A control unit that can change the order in which the photosensitive materials are distributed so that the frame numbers of the photosensitive materials in multiple rows received by the conveying unit become smaller toward the downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveying unit . A photographic printing apparatus characterized by that. The sorting unit includes a sorting unit that is movable perpendicular to the transport path in order to distribute the photosensitive material to the first transport path and the second transport path,
The sorting unit includes a first transfer unit that transfers the photosensitive material to the first transfer path, and a second transfer unit that transfers the photosensitive material to the second transfer path,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to wait for the first transfer unit or the second transfer unit to face a transfer path of one-line transfer prior to a sorting operation. Photo printing equipment.   In conjunction with the operation of feeding the photosensitive material from one of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit, the other delivery unit is configured to receive the photosensitive material. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 2. The sorting unit includes a plurality of roller units movable in both directions perpendicular to the direction parallel to the transport path in order to distribute the photosensitive material to the first transport path and the second transport path,
The plurality of roller units includes a first roller unit that delivers the photosensitive material to the first conveyance path, and a second roller unit that delivers the photosensitive material to the second conveyance path,
The control unit is configured to wait for the first roller unit or the second roller unit to face the conveyance path of the first row conveyance prior to the sorting operation. The photographic printing apparatus described.

Images