JP3758071B2 - Optical shutter exposure system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical shutter type exposure apparatus, and more specifically, a light source capable of forming a light beam, a plurality of optical shutter elements for exposing a photosensitive material with the light beam based on instructed image information, Condensing means for condensing the luminous flux and sending it to the optical shutter element, a dimming filter that can be arranged in the luminous flux to adjust the optical wavelength distribution of the luminous flux, and a dimming filter The present invention relates to an optical shutter type exposure apparatus provided with filter driving means for changing the amount of entry into the luminous flux.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the above-described optical shutter type exposure apparatus, in order to compensate for a shortage of light that tends to occur when the light from the light source lamp is directly input to the input portion of the optical shutter element, the light emitted from the side surface of the lamp is Collected by a condenser mirror in the back to make a light beam of nearly parallel light, and further condensing this light beam by a condenser lens such as a convex lens provided as a condensing means, and provided as an input part of an optical shutter element It was input to the light guide rod made of glass. As a result, the light beam having a relatively large cross-sectional area from the light source composed of the light source lamp and the condensing mirror is significantly condensed to a light beam having a small cross-sectional area comparable to the input part of the optical shutter element by the convex lens as the light collecting means. Then, a light beam whose amount of light per unit area is sufficiently increased is input to the input portion of the optical shutter element. Generally, a dimming filter such as R, G, B (or Y, M, C) is disposed between the light source lamp and the optical shutter element. These light control filters have a function of adjusting the light wavelength distribution held by the light emitted from the light source lamp to match the characteristics of the photographic paper as the final object for image exposure. In addition, these dimming filters are configured so that the amount of light entering the light beam can be changed by the filter driving means, so that the irradiation light from the light source lamp can be finely adjusted. Conventionally, the dimming filter has been arranged on the downstream side of the convex lens as the condensing means with respect to the path of the light beam emitted from the light source lamp.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described optical shutter type exposure apparatus, the light control filter is configured to control the light beam after condensing by a convex lens. Therefore, even if the light adjustment filter is slightly inserted and removed, the light wavelength distribution after light control greatly affects. As a result, there is a problem in that it is difficult to sufficiently finely control the amount of light entering the light beam of the light control filter by the filter driving means, in other words, there is a problem that the light control resolution is low, and there is room for improvement.
[0004]
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to improve the light control resolution by the light control filter while using the light control filter of the same color density in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to the prior art exemplified above. Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical shutter type exposure apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an optical shutter exposure apparatus according to the present invention has the characteristic structure described in claim 1 of the claims.
Incidentally, an optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is:
The dimming filter is arranged to enter the light beam at a position upstream of the light collecting means on the path of the light beam.
[0006]
Due to such a characteristic configuration, in the optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, the dimming filter uses a convex lens to emit a light beam from a light source composed of, for example, a light source lamp and a reflection mirror. Since the light is dimmed before it is collected, the effect of the constant insertion / removal amount of the dimming filter on the light wavelength distribution after dimming is arranged downstream of the convex lens. As a result, the amount of light entering the light beam of the light control filter by the filter driving means can be controlled sufficiently finely, and the light control can be performed while using a light control filter having the same color density as the conventional one. An optical shutter exposure apparatus provided with a high-resolution light control filter was obtained.
[0007]
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an appearance of a printer processor known as a so-called digital minilab machine, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the same. The digital print unit 5 of the printer processor employs an optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to the present invention.
[0009]
(Schematic configuration of printer processor)
The printer processor adopts a digital exposure type, and here, a film scanner unit 3 that reads a photographed image from an image frame of a developed photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as film) 1, and a reading through the film scanner unit 3. A controller 7 for processing the digital image data generated to generate print data; a digital print unit 5 for exposing an image corresponding to the frame image to the photographic paper 2 based on the print data; and the exposed photographic paper 2 And a development processing unit 6 for performing development processing. The photographic paper 2 developed by the development processing unit 6 is discharged as a finished print through a drying process.
[0010]
The film scanner unit 3 determines an illumination optical system 30, an imaging optical system 40, a photoelectric conversion unit 50 using a line CCD sensor 51 as a photoelectric conversion element, and a light irradiation range on the film 1 as main components. 1 is provided with an auto film mask 10 that conveys 1 in the sub-scanning direction for scanning by a line CCD sensor.
The illumination optical system 30 includes a halogen lamp 31 housed in the first lamp house 3a as a white light source, and the light beam from the halogen lamp 31 is color-distributed and light intensity is adjusted by the dimming filter 32 and the mirror tunnel 33. After the distribution is adjusted, the film 1 on the auto film mask 10 is irradiated. The imaging optical system 40 that processes the transmitted light beam from the film 2 includes a lens unit 41 and a mirror 42 that changes the direction of light. The dimming filter 32 is provided with a setup filter 32a used at the time of adjustment, and the setup filter 32a can be set on the optical axis by a command from the controller 7.
[0011]
The photoelectric conversion unit 50 that photoelectrically converts the light beam guided by the imaging optical system 40 includes three CCD sensors 51 a, 51 b, and 51 c that are assigned as line CCD sensors 51 to detect each of R, G, and B colors. Each CCD sensor has a large number (for example, 5000) of CCD elements arranged in the main scanning direction, that is, in the width direction of the film 1. A color filter that passes only the red component of the light transmitted through the film 1 passes through the imaging surface of the red CCD sensor 51a, and only a green component of the light transmitted through the film 1 passes through the imaging surface of the green CCD sensor 51b. The color filter is provided with a color filter that passes only the blue component of the light transmitted through the film 1 on the imaging surface of the blue CCD sensor 51c, and basically only the blue component, the red component, and the green component, respectively. Perform photoelectric conversion.
[0012]
When the frame image of the film 1 is positioned at the scan position set in the auto film mask 10, the frame image reading process is started, and the transmitted light of the frame image is sent by the film 1 by the film transport mechanism 9. The images are sequentially read by the three CCD sensors 51a, 51b and 51c of R, G and B. Since the CCD sensors for R, G, and B are arranged at intervals of several pixels along the conveyance direction of the film 1, the detection timings for the R, G, and B component colors in the same pixel are used. Although a time difference occurs, this is associated with R, G, B image signals of the same pixel and stored in a predetermined memory of the controller 7 by signal processing at the subsequent stage of the photoelectric conversion unit 50. Such control of the illumination optical system 30, the imaging optical system 40, and the photoelectric conversion unit 50 of the film scanner unit 3 is performed by the controller 7. Incidentally, the controller 7 to which the monitor 7a for displaying various processing information and the console 7b for inputting various processing commands are connected has a microcomputer system composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O interface, etc. as a core member. It is configured, and various functions necessary for controlling each unit as described above are realized by hardware and / or software.
[0013]
As described above, the digital print unit 5 is composed of the optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to the present invention, and here is mainly composed of a PLZT shutter type line exposure head.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the exposure head for exposing the latent image on the photographic paper 2 employs a shutter array 25a in which shutter elements composed of PLZT elements are gathered in a line ( FIG. 4 shows two rows of shutter elements in the form of a first row 25A1 formed by odd-numbered shutter elements in the main scanning direction and a second row 25B1 formed by even-numbered shutter elements). The shutter array 25a made of this PLZT element is made of a transparent ferroelectric ceramic material obtained by adding lanthanum to lead zirconate titanate, and utilizes the electro-optic effect of this material. The light of each color of R, G, and B is alternately introduced into each shutter element via a large number of optical fibers 25c. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, between the light source 5b and the optical fiber 25c, there is a rotary filter 22f composed of optical filters of R, G, and B, and this rotary filter 22f is about 12 Rotational light control device 22 including a motor 22M that is driven at a high speed of 1,000,000 rpm. By controlling the rotational phase of the rotary filter 22f, only one of R, G, and B selectively enters the optical axis from the light source at each moment, and the selected color is passed through the color filter. Is sent to each shutter element of the shutter array 25a through the bundled optical fiber 25c. Further, when a predetermined level of voltage is applied to each shutter element, a light transmission state is established, and when the application of the voltage is stopped, a light blocking state is established. Accordingly, when a driving voltage is applied from the controller 7 to the shutter corresponding to each pixel based on the print data, the shutter is opened and the light of the color introduced from the light source is irradiated onto the photographic paper 2. .
[0014]
The light source 5b of the digital print unit 5 includes a halogen lamp 15 housed as a white light source in the second lamp house 5a (installed behind the first lamp house 3a), and the light beam from the halogen lamp 15 is The first light beam BL1 is formed. A part of the first light beam BL1 is formed by a concave mirror 16 provided as reflecting means. The first light beam BL1 passes through the infrared absorption filter 17 provided for cutting the heat rays included in the light beam, and then travels toward the condenser lens 18 installed as a light collecting unit.
A dimming filter 20 is disposed between the halogen lamp 15 and the condenser lens 18, more specifically, between the infrared absorption filter 17 and the condenser lens 18. The dimming filter 20 includes three dimming filters 20R, 20G, and 20B each having R, G, and B (or Y, M, and C) colors. All of these three dimming filters 20R, 20G, and 20B are used as actuators 21R, 21G, and 21B (an example of filter driving means) that can be independently operated in accordance with an instruction signal sent from the controller 7. Since it is supported, the amount of each filter 20R, 20G, 20B entering the first light beam BL1 is steplessly changed according to the characteristics of the photographic paper used, the light emission characteristics of the halogen lamp 15, and the like. (In FIG. 3, as an example, the red dimming filter 20R enters the first light beam BL1 most deeply, and the other green and blue dimming filters 20G and 20B enter relatively shallowly. The amount of entering the dimming filter for each color can be arbitrarily set). Further, these three dimming filters 20R, 20G, and 20B are arranged so that the cross-sectional area before being condensed by the condenser lens 18 enters the first light beam BL1 having a relatively large diameter. Therefore, as compared with the case where the condenser lens 18 is arranged so that the cross-sectional area after condensing enters into the second light beam BL2 having a small diameter, more delicate dimming is performed by the driving operation of the same actuators 21R, 21G, and 21B. An effect is obtained. In other words, a higher dimming resolution can be obtained while using a dimming filter having the same color density and an actuator having the same driving characteristics.
[0015]
The light that has passed through the condenser lens 18 becomes the second light beam BL2 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first light beam BL1 and enters the light receiving window 22w provided in the rotary light control device 22. Since the light receiving window 22w is provided at a position away from the rotational axis of the rotary filter 22f by a predetermined distance, incident light incident from the light receiving window 22w is based on the rotation of the rotary filter 22f. The light passes through the filter 22f having a different color between B and is emitted from the rotary light control device 22.
On the downstream side of the rotary light control device 22, a glass light guide rod 23 having a prism shape or the like is vertically supported coaxially with the light receiving window 22 w. The downstream end face of the glass light guide rod 23 is connected to face the end face of the bundled optical fibers 25c.
By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the light emission points constituting the shutter array 25a are formed by the first row 25A1 formed by the odd-numbered light emission points in the main scanning direction and the even-numbered light emission points. The first row 25A1 and the second row 25B1 are arranged in a state separated by about 5 pixels in the sub-scanning direction (the photographic paper exposure / conveying direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction. ing. Incidentally, the light emission points in the first row 25A1 and the light emission points in the second row 25B1 are arranged in the main scanning direction at a pitch of about 120 μm.
By the way, the optical shutter type exposure apparatus used for the digital print unit 5 is not limited to the PLZT shutter type, but instead, a large number of swinging operations provided in a liquid crystal shutter type or a DMD (digital micromirror device). It is also possible to apply a method of exposing a light beam to photographic paper through a possible micromirror.
[0016]
Returning to FIG. 2, two photographic paper magazines 2A and 2B are provided on the most upstream side of the digital printing section 5. Each photographic paper magazine 2A and 2B has a photographic paper with the emulsion surface facing outward. 2 is stored in a roll shape. Further, on the downstream side of the photographic paper magazines 2A and 2B, a photographic paper transport mechanism 8 that transports the photographic paper 2 to the development processing unit 6 while processing the photographic paper 2 is provided. On the upstream side of the photographic paper transport mechanism 8, there is a photographic paper supply line 8A for transporting the photographic paper 2 in a single row to the sorting device 4, and in a continuous form, the sorting device 4 extends in the direction of paper penetration in FIG. There are an exposure transport line 8B and a development transport line 8C for transporting the cut photographic papers 2 distributed in two rows to the exit of the development processing unit 6 in two rows.
The photographic paper supply line 8A adjacent to the photographic paper magazines 2A and 2B includes a drawer transport unit including a roller group that selectively draws the photographic paper 2 from one of the photographic paper magazines 2A and 2B and hands it to the paper cutter 12. The photographic paper 2 cut in accordance with the print size by the paper cutter 12 is transferred to the sorting device 4 and a pre-sorting transport unit. The sorter 4 sorts the photographic paper 2 sequentially sent in a single row from the photographic paper supply line 8A into two rows of the exposure conveyance line 8B. In the exposure conveyance line 8B, the cut photographic papers 2 arranged in two rows along the main scanning direction of the shutter array 25a are simultaneously exposed.
[0017]
A back print unit 13 is provided on the downstream side of the paper cutter 12. The back print unit 13 prints a film ID, a frame number, and correction information indicating image processing performed at the time of creating print data on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photographic paper 2, and is usually dot-in-pack. The printer is used.
The members constituting the exposure conveyance line 8B are exposed by the intermediate conveyance roller unit 80A constituting two carry-in areas of the exposure conveyance line 8B and the shutter array 25a of the digital printing unit 5 along the conveyance direction of the photographic paper. The first exposure transport roller unit 80B on the entrance side and the second exposure transport roller unit 80C on the exit side are disposed so as to sandwich the point from the upstream side and the downstream side. In contrast, it is a set of pressure rollers that can be displaced near and far.
The sorting device 4 includes a chucker-type XY movement mechanism that receives the photographic paper 2 cut by the paper cutter 12 and alternately transfers it to the left and right row positions of the intermediate conveyance roller unit 80A. . Of course, when handling a wide large photographic paper 2, the exposure is performed in only one column, so that the photographic paper 2 received from the photographic paper supply line 8 </ b> A is simply transferred to the intermediate conveyance roller unit 80 </ b> A as it is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a printer processor as an embodiment of an optical shutter type exposure apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of respective parts of the printer processor of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic partially cutaway side view showing the vicinity of the second lamp house of the printer processor. FIG. 4 is a perspective view conceptually showing the main configuration of the digital print section of the printer processor of FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photo film 2 Printing paper 3 Film scanner part 5 Digital print part 6 Development processing part 7 Controller 15 Halogen lamp 16 Concave mirror 18 Condensing means (condenser lens)
20R, 20G, 20B Dimming filter 22f Rotating dimming filter 23 Glass light guide rod 25a Shutter array 25c Optical fiber BL1 First light beam BL2 Second light beam

Claims (1)

A light source capable of forming a light beam for exposure, a plurality of optical shutter elements for exposing a photosensitive material with the light beam based on instructed image information, and condensing the light beam and sending it to the optical shutter element Condensing means, a dimming filter that can be arranged in the light beam to adjust the light wavelength distribution possessed by the light beam, and a filter drive for changing the amount of the dimming filter entering the light beam And an optical shutter type exposure apparatus provided with a means,
An optical shutter type exposure apparatus in which the light control filter is disposed so as to enter the light beam at a position upstream of the light condensing means on the path of the light beam.

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