JP3913313B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of an image recording apparatus that performs image recording on a photosensitive material by digital exposure, and performs predetermined processing such as development and drying to produce a print.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, printing of images taken on photographic films such as negative films and reversal films (hereinafter referred to as films) onto photographic materials such as photographic paper is performed by making the projection light of the film incident on the photosensitive material. In this method, the photosensitive material is subjected to surface exposure, so-called direct (analog) exposure.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent years, a printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read, and the read image is converted into a digital signal. Digital photo as image data, scanned and exposed to photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to this image data, recorded image (latent image), subjected to predetermined processing such as development processing, and output as print (photo) The printer was put into practical use.
According to this digital photo printer, it is possible to perform various image processing that cannot be performed by a normal direct exposure printer, such as sharpness (sharpening) processing or partial image correction, on an image reproduced for printing. A print in which a higher quality image is reproduced can be stably output, and a plurality of images can be easily synthesized and characters can be easily synthesized. Also, an image (image data) to be reproduced for printing can be supplied as an image file to a computer or various image devices, or an image file can be received from these to reproduce an image.
[0004]
Incidentally, regardless of digital exposure or analog exposure, a normal photo printer uses a silver salt photographic photosensitive material as a photosensitive material to be printed. As is well known, a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material is subjected to a wet development process such as a color developer, a bleach-fixing solution, and water washing, whereby a latent image recorded by exposure is visualized and then dried. To be printed.
Such wet processing is performed by sequentially immersing the photosensitive material in a processing tank filled with the processing solution. However, the color density of an image by development is affected by the temperature of each processing solution. Therefore, in the developing device of the photo printer, the temperature of each processing solution is kept within a predetermined range (usually about 38 ° C.) during operation in order to stably produce an appropriate print.
Therefore, when the photo printer is activated, it is not possible to create a print until each processing tank reaches a predetermined temperature and the developing device starts up.
[0005]
However, the treatment liquid is usually an aqueous solution, and in consideration of ensuring immersion (treatment) time necessary for proper color development and performing a large amount of treatment continuously, each treatment tank is relatively large. Therefore, it takes time to start up the developing device, resulting in a loss of time and work efficiency.
In addition, by arranging a reservoir and stocker for temporarily storing the exposed photosensitive material, it is possible to perform operations such as printing while waiting for the developing device to stand up. Further, the conveyance and control of the photosensitive material are complicated, and if the exposed photosensitive material is left undeveloped for an excessively long time, there is a problem of image quality deterioration due to the latent image retraction, which is not preferable.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is a digital image recording apparatus suitably used for the above-mentioned digital photo printer. Print creation work by the operator in front is possible, and print creation can be started automatically in response to the startup of the developing device. Image reading (input) after stopping the developing device, when the device is not operating at night or on holidays It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that can accept an image file or the like and has extremely good operation efficiency.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a memory for storing image data for recording a plurality of frames subjected to image processing, and a recording light modulated in accordance with the recording image data stored in the memory. A recording means for scanning and exposing the photosensitive material to record an image, a developing processing means for subjecting the photosensitive material on which an image has been recorded by the recording means to a predetermined developing process, and a rise of the developing processing means at startup In response to detection of the rising edge of the development processing means by the detection means. In a state where the development processing unit is not started up An image recording apparatus comprising start control means for starting image recording of stored image data for recording is provided.
[0008]
Further, the memory includes a built-in memory, a memory included in an image data supply source that supplies image data to the recording unit, and External memory connected to the recording means in It is preferable that it is 1 or more selected from.
[0009]
Furthermore, it is preferable that the memory is connected to an external communication means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of an example of a digital photo printer that uses the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
An illustrated digital photo printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as a photo printer 10) includes an input device 12, an output device (printing developing device = printer processor) 14 which is an image recording apparatus of the present invention, and an image server 16. It is configured. The input device 12 is composed of a scanner 18 and an image processing device 20, and the output device 14 is composed of a printer 22 and a processor 24 as development processing means.
In such a photo printer 10, an image photographed on the film F is read by the scanner 18, subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing device 20, and sent to the printer 22 as recording (digital) image data. Upon receiving the image data, the printer 22 scans and exposes the photosensitive material A with recording light modulated in accordance with the image data, records a latent image, performs development and drying processing by the processor 24, and performs (finished) printing. To do.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of the input machine 12.
The scanner 18 photoelectrically reads an image photographed on the film F. The light source 26, the variable aperture 28, and the image photographed on the film F are R (red), G (green) and B ( A color filter plate 30 having three color filters of R, G, and B for separating into three primary colors (blue) and rotating and allowing any color filter to act on the optical path of the reading light, and incident on the film F A diffusion box 32 for making the reading light uniform in the surface direction of the film F, an imaging lens unit 34, a CCD sensor 36 which is an area sensor for reading one image (one frame) taken on the film F, And an amplifier (amplifier) 38.
[0013]
In the scanner 18, the reading light emitted from the light source 26, adjusted in light amount by the variable aperture 28, passed through the color filter plate 30, adjusted in color, and diffused in the diffusion box 32 enters the film F and is transmitted therethrough. Thus, the projection light carrying the image photographed on the film F is obtained.
[0014]
The projection light of the film F is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 36 by the imaging lens unit 34 and is read photoelectrically by the CCD sensor 36.
The imaging lens unit 34 is, for example, a combination of a known zoom lens and a focus adjustment lens, and performs magnification and focus adjustment according to the size and form of the film F (film or slide, etc.). The CCD sensor 36 is, for example, an area CCD sensor of 1380 × 920 pixels, and the CCD sensor 36 is configured to be two-dimensionally movable in the pixel arrangement direction by an amount corresponding to a half pixel. The number of pixels can be apparently increased up to 4 times.
An output signal from the CCD sensor 36 is amplified by an amplifier 38 and sent to the image processing apparatus 20.
[0015]
In the scanner 18, such image reading is performed three times by sequentially inserting the R, G, and B color filters of the color filter plate 30, whereby an image photographed on the film F is converted into R, G, and B 3. Read by separating into primary colors.
In the scanner 18, preferably, prior to this image reading, the image captured on the film F is coarsely determined in order to determine image reading conditions such as the aperture value of the variable aperture 28 and the accumulation time of the CCD sensor 36. Read ahead is performed. Alternatively, prior to image reading, pre-scanning may be performed to determine image reading conditions and image processing conditions in the image processing apparatus 20.
[0016]
As described above, the image processing apparatus 20 is a part that performs predetermined image processing on the image information read by the scanner 18 and outputs the image information to the printer 22 of the output machine 14 as recording image data.
The image processing apparatus 20 also determines the above-mentioned image reading conditions and controls and manages the entire photo printer 10, and is usually constituted by a workstation, a computer, or the like. Further, the image processing apparatus 20 may include a drive for recording and reading data (various data including image data) on a storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM.
[0017]
The image processing apparatus 20 includes an A / D (analog / digital) converter 40, a LUT (look-up table) 42 for log-converting a signal, a data correction unit 44, an image memory 46, an image processing unit 48, And an image buffer 50.
The image processing apparatus 20 also includes a keyboard 52 and a mouse 54 for inputting various conditions and processing instructions (settings), various instructions such as frames to be printed, the number of prints, and color / density correction, and a scanner. 18 is connected to a display 56 for displaying an image read at 18 and various conditions such as various operation instructions and setting / registration screens for specifications.
[0018]
The output signal from the scanner 18 (amplifier 38) sent to the image processing apparatus 20 is sent to the A / D converter 40, converted into a digital signal, log-converted by the LUT 42, DC offset correction by the data correction unit 44, Predetermined processing such as dark correction and shading correction is performed and sent to the image memory 46.
The image memory 46 is a frame memory for storing one frame of image data read by the scanner 18. The R, G, and B image data of the film F read by the scanner 18 are sequentially stored in the image memory 46. Sent and memorized. When performing pre-scanning, a memory for pre-scanning image data may be provided separately.
[0019]
The image processing unit 48 is configured by combining a CPU, a memory, various image processing circuits, and the like. When image data is stored in the image memory 46, the image data is first thinned out and read. The image processing conditions are determined from the thinned image data, and then the image data is read from the image memory 46. According to the determined image processing conditions, color / density correction and compression / decompression of a dynamic range that retains intermediate gradations (Applying a dodging effect by image processing), electronic scaling processing (image enlargement / reduction), sharpening processing (sharpness), and the like are performed to obtain image data for recording, and the printer 22 or image buffer Output to 50.
[0020]
The image buffer 50 functions as a memory of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, and can store a large number of frames of image data. If necessary, the image buffer 50 stores image data processed by the image processing unit 48. To do.
As such an image buffer 50, any known memory can be used as long as it has a necessary storage capacity such as a hard disk (HD) or a RAM (random access memory).
[0021]
The output device 14 that receives the image data from the input device 12 and records the image according to the image data to create a print is composed of the printer 22 and the processor 24 as described above.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the printer 22.
The printer 22 cuts the photosensitive material A into a predetermined length according to the print for creating the cut sheet, and then records a back print and a latent image by digital exposure, and the exposed photosensitive material A is processed by the processor 24. This is a device for supplying to (developing unit 108).
Such a printer 22 basically exposes (prints) the photosensitive material A at an exposure position X, a photosensitive material supply unit 52 (hereinafter referred to as supply unit 52), a printing device 54 that records a back print. The exposure unit 56 for recording the latent image and the sorting unit 58 are configured.
[0023]
Although not shown in order to simplify the drawing and clarify the apparatus configuration, the photosensitive material A is conveyed from the supply unit 52 to the exposure unit 56 (scanning conveyance unit 76) to the recording apparatus 10, Conveying means for supplying the photosensitive material A that has been exposed to the developing unit 108 of the processor 24 is arranged, and further, a conveying guide for the photosensitive material A, various sensors, and the like are arranged as necessary.
The conveying means for the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited, and all known sheet material conveying methods such as a conveying roller pair, a conveying roller, a belt conveyor, a nip belt, lift conveyance using suction, and the like can be used. .
[0024]
In the recording apparatus 10, the supply unit 52 includes loading units 60 and 62, drawer roller pairs 64 and 66, and cutters 68 and 70.
The loading sections 60 and 62 are portions for loading a magazine 72 in which a long photosensitive material A wound in a roll shape with the recording surface (emulsion surface) facing outside is housed in a light-shielding casing. Both loading units are usually loaded with magazines 72 that store different types of photosensitive material A such as size (width), surface type (silk, mat, etc.), specification (thickness, type of base, etc.), and the like.
The recording apparatus 10 in the illustrated example is an apparatus capable of loading two magazines, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of magazines that can be loaded may be one or three. The above magazines may be loaded.
[0025]
The supply unit 52 pulls out the photosensitive material A of the corresponding magazine 72 by the drawing roller pairs 64 and 66 and transports it to the printing device 54 downstream in the transport direction of the photosensitive material A (hereinafter referred to as downstream). The conveyance by the pair of drawing rollers 64 and 66 is stopped when the length of the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream from the cutters 68 and 70 reaches the length corresponding to the print produced, and then the cutters 68 and 70 are operated. The photosensitive material A is cut into a cut sheet having a predetermined length.
In the illustrated apparatus, the cutters 68 and 70 are arranged corresponding to the loading units 60 and 62, respectively. However, the photosensitive material A supplied from the loading units 60 and 62 is cut by one cutter. There may be.
[0026]
The photosensitive material A cut by the cutters 68 and 70 is sequentially conveyed to the printing device 54.
The printing device 54 has a photo shooting date, a print printing date, a frame number, a film ID number (code), a camera ID number used for shooting, and a photo printer ID number on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material A. For example, a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, an ink jet printer, etc. can be suitably used for a non-contact type recording method such as an ink jet printer. In particular, an ink jet printer using a water-insoluble, hot-melt ink that is solid at room temperature is preferably exemplified.
In the illustrated example, the photosensitive material A is guided and conveyed by a guide 54 a that also serves as a platen, a back print is recorded by the printing device 54, and then conveyed to the exposure unit 56.
[0027]
Note that the printing device 54 is preferably configured to be capable of printing two or more lines in accordance with the new standard New Photo System.
In the illustrated apparatus, the back print is recorded prior to the exposure. However, in the present invention, the printing device 54 is arranged downstream of the exposure position X, and the back print is performed after the exposure. The structure which records may be sufficient.
[0028]
The exposure unit 56 exposes the photosensitive material A by a so-called digital raster scanning exposure using recording light (light beam L) modulated in accordance with digital image data while scanning and transporting the photosensitive material A to form a latent image. It is a part which records.
Such an exposure unit 56 includes an exposure unit 74 which is a light beam scanning device, and a scanning conveyance unit 76. The scanning conveyance unit 76 holds the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X while maintaining the exposure position X (see FIG. In addition to being conveyed in the middle arrow b direction, the exposure unit 74 deflects the light beam L modulated in accordance with the image to be recorded in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3 and in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 4) for exposure. By entering the position X, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam L to record a latent image.
[0029]
FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the exposure unit 74.
The exposure unit 74 is a three-laser light anomalous incidence optical system (three-light source non-multiplexing optical system) that scans and exposes the photosensitive material A using light beams of three primary colors, and a recording control unit 78 and a laser light source 80 (80R). , 80G, 80B), and a collimator lens 82R, a condenser lens 84 (84R, 84G, 84B), and an AOM 86 (86R, 86G, 86B) along the traveling direction of the light beam L emitted from the laser light source 80. A reflection mirror 88 (88R, 88G, 88B), a cylindrical lens 90 (90R, 90G, 90B), a polygon mirror 92, an fθ lens 94, a cylindrical mirror 96, and reflection mirrors 98 and 100. Configured.
[0030]
The three-light source non-multiplexing optical system of the illustrated example has three lasers that emit light beams with predetermined wavelengths corresponding to the red (R) exposure, the green (G) exposure, and the blue (B) exposure of the photosensitive material A, respectively. The light beam L emitted from each laser light source is incident on one point of the reflecting surface 92a of the polygon mirror 92 at a slightly different angle (for example, about 4 °), and is deflected in the main scanning direction by using the light source. This is an optical system that forms images at different angles on the same main scanning line and scans the same main scanning line at intervals. In the present invention, in addition to this, it is also possible to use a multiplexing optical system that converts the modulated light beam into one light beam using a dichroic mirror or the like.
For example, the laser light source 80R is a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits a light beam Lr with a wavelength of 662 nm for R exposure, and the laser light source 80G uses a SHG element that emits a light beam Lg with a wavelength of 532 nm for G exposure. The laser light source 80B is a wavelength conversion laser using an SHG element that emits a light beam having a wavelength of 473 nm for B exposure.
[0031]
The collimator lens 82R shapes the light beams Lr emitted from the laser light source 80R into parallel light, and the condensing lens 84 condenses the corresponding light beam L on the AOM 86.
The AOM (acousto-optic modulator) 86 modulates each light beam L according to image data (that is, a recorded image). The modulation method is not particularly limited, and may be intensity modulation or pulse (width or number) modulation. In addition to AOM, EOM (electrical Optical Various modulators such as a modulator can be used. Further, when the light source of the light beam can be recorded by direct modulation, the light source may be modulated.
[0032]
The AOM 86 is driven by the recording control unit 78. The recording control unit 78 is provided with a memory 102 for storing image data.
The memory 102 also has a function as a memory of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. For example, 40 frames of image data of a plurality of frames, for example, image data of the most commonly used L size (89 mm × 127 mm) print is stored. It is a frame memory that can be stored. As the memory, various known writable storage media such as a hard disk and a RAM (Random Access Memory) can be used as long as they have a necessary storage capacity.
[0033]
At the time of normal print creation, image data from the image processing unit 48 of the image processing apparatus 20 is sent to the recording control unit 78. The recording control unit 78 is connected to a rising edge detection unit 122 described later. When the photo printer 10 is activated, the recording control unit 78 responds to a detection signal from the rising detection unit 122 as necessary. Then, image recording by the printer 22 is started.
The recording control unit 78 sequentially stores the supplied image data in the memory 102. When the photosensitive material A is conveyed to a predetermined position, the corresponding image data is read from the memory 102 at the same timing, and the calibration is performed. The AOM 86 is driven to modulate the light beam L in accordance with the obtained image data.
[0034]
The light beam L modulated by the AOM 86 then enters the reflection mirror 88. The reflection mirror 88 is used for turning back the optical path of each light beam L so that they are incident on the same line on the same line or on the same point of the reflection surface 66a of the polygon mirror 92 which is an optical deflector. is there.
The cylindrical lens 90, the fθ lens 94, and the cylindrical mirror 96 constitute a surface tilt correction optical system, and correct the surface tilt of the polygon mirror 92. Further, the fθ lens 94 is used to correctly form each light beam L at any position on the main scanning line.
The cylindrical mirror 96 constitutes a surface tilt correction optical system, and each light beam L is bent and incident on the reflection mirror 98. The reflection mirror 98 bends each light beam again and enters the reflection mirror 74, and the reflection mirror 74 The light beam L reflected by 74 is incident on the exposure position X (scanning line) on the photosensitive material A that is sub-scanned and conveyed by the scanning and conveying means 76.
[0035]
In addition to the light beam scanning device, the exposure unit 74 includes a PDP (plasma display) array, an ELD (electroluminescent display) array, an LED (light emitting diode) array, an LCD (liquid crystal display) array, and a DMD. (Digital micromirror device) Various types of digital raster exposure means using various light emitting arrays, spatial modulation element arrays, etc. extending in the direction orthogonal to the scanning conveyance direction such as arrays and laser arrays can be used.
[0036]
On the other hand, the scanning conveyance unit 76 includes a pair of conveyance rollers 76a and 76b arranged with the exposure position X (scanning line) interposed therebetween, and an exposure guide 76c for holding the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X more preferably. The photosensitive material A is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (arrow b direction in FIG. 3) perpendicular to the main scanning direction by the conveying roller pairs 76a and 76b while holding the photosensitive material A at the exposure position X by the exposure guide 76c. .
As described above, since the light beam L is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam L modulated according to the image to be recorded, and the latent image is recorded. Is done.
In addition, as the scanning conveyance means, scanning conveyance using an exposure drum that conveys the photosensitive material Z while holding it at the exposure position X, and two nip rollers that contact the exposure drum with the exposure position X interposed therebetween. Means and the like are also preferably exemplified.
[0037]
The photosensitive material A that has been exposed is sequentially conveyed to the sorting unit 58. The distribution unit 58 distributes the photosensitive material A in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as a lateral direction for convenience) as necessary.
Currently, in general silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials used for photography, development processing and exposure require more time. Therefore, when continuous exposure is performed, the development processing is not in time, and the exposed photosensitive material is not. It is necessary to temporarily store the material in a stocker or the like.
The distribution unit 58 is arranged to eliminate this inconvenience, and distributes the photosensitive material A conveyed in a single row in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction to form a plurality of rows overlapping in the conveyance direction. As a result, it is possible to improve the processing capacity of the processor 24, for example, if it is two rows, it is possible to perform processing that is slightly less than twice that of a single row, and if it is three rows, it is possible to perform processing that is slightly less than three times. Is offset.
[0038]
In the recording apparatus 10, not all of the photosensitive material A is distributed, but when a large size that cannot be processed in a plurality of rows or when a single processing is performed, the sorting is not performed. It is supplied to the processor 24 as it is.
Also, when sorting, the entire size is not sorted into the same number of columns, but according to the size of the photosensitive material A, for example, the L size is divided into three rows and the 6 cuts are divided into two rows. May be performed.
Furthermore, although the image recording apparatus of the present invention has a reduced processing capability, the distribution unit 58 may not be provided as a low-cost apparatus.
[0039]
The sorting device in the sorting unit 58 is not particularly limited, and various methods for sorting the sheet material into a plurality of rows can be used.
For example, a device that sorts using a circular turret that rotates about the center; the photosensitive material A conveying means is divided into a plurality of blocks in the conveying direction, for example, three blocks, and the central block among them is moved laterally A belt conveyor as a downstream conveying means for placing and conveying the photosensitive material A, and a lift conveying means for lifting the photosensitive material A using a suction cup or the like and conveying it in the lateral direction. A device that transports and distributes the photosensitive material A that has been transported to the belt conveyor from the upstream and transported to a predetermined position in the lateral or oblique lateral (downstream) direction by the lift transport means; A plurality of belt conveyors arranged at intervals from each other, and the photosensitive material A arranged between the belt conveyors is distributed by being conveyed in the lateral direction. And a moon roller (D roller) pair, the photosensitive material A conveyed to the predetermined is carried from the upstream to the belt conveyor position, distributed and transported laterally device by half-moon roller pair; and the like.
[0040]
In the distribution unit 58, the photosensitive materials A distributed in the horizontal direction as necessary to form a plurality of rows are further transported and supplied to the processor 24 from the discharge port 106 by the transport roller pair 104.
[0041]
As shown in FIG. 1, the processor 24 includes a developing unit 108, a drying unit 110, a discharge unit 112, and a sorter 114.
The developing unit 108 includes a color developing tank 116, a fixing bleaching tank 118, and washing tanks 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d. The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is recorded by the printer 22 is conveyed at a predetermined speed. Then, it is sequentially immersed in each tank and subjected to a wet development process to visualize the latent image.
[0042]
In the developing unit 108, rising detection means 122 (hereinafter referred to as detection means 122) is arranged.
The detecting means 122 detects the temperatures of the color developing tank 116, the fixing bleaching tank 118, the washing tanks 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d when the photo printer 10 is started, and when the temperatures of all the tanks reach a predetermined temperature. As described above, the rising signal of the processor 24 is sent to the recording control unit 78 of the printer 22.
In addition to the above, the rise detection of the processor 24 may take into account the temperature of the drying unit 110 or the like. However, when the photo printer 10 is started, the temperature rise in each tank of the developing unit 108 is generally the most time-consuming. Therefore, the rise of the processor 24 can be detected by detecting the temperature of each tank of the developing unit 108.
[0043]
The photosensitive material A that has been subjected to the development processing is directly carried into the drying unit 110, is transported through the drying unit 110, is dried by a known means such as hot air drying, is printed, and is further transported to the discharge unit 112. And discharged to the sorter 114.
The sorter 114 is a known sorter, for example, by sliding a plurality of shelves arranged in a straight line or rotating a number of shelves arranged in a circle, thereby switching the individual shelves to print the print discharge port of the discharge unit 112. The prints are sorted and stored.
[0044]
In the photo printer 10, the image server 16 is connected to the input device 12 (image processing device 20) and the output device 14 (printer 22).
The image server 16 is, for example, an image memory configured by a personal computer and a memory such as a hard disk and capable of storing multiple frames of image data. The image server 16 stores the image data processed by the image processing apparatus 20 and stores the image data. The processed image data is transferred to the image processing apparatus 20 and the printer 22. That is, this image server 16 also has an effect as a memory of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.
[0045]
Preferably, the image server 16 is connected to various networks (communication means) such as, for example, a wide area network (WAN) or a local area network (LAN) such as Ethernet. An Ethernet card for connecting to a network, a modem for connecting to a WAN via a communication line, software for connecting to a network, etc. are provided as necessary.
In the illustrated example, the image server 16 is connected to the WAN via the modem 124 and is connected to the user terminal 128 connected to the same WAN via the modem 126. The image server 16 receives and stores image data from the user terminal 128 by the WAN, and transfers the stored image data to the image processing apparatus 20 and the printer 22.
[0046]
As the image server, various storage means having a desired storage capacity such as a combination of a storage device such as a magneto-optical storage medium and a drive can be suitably used.
[0047]
Hereinafter, the operation of the photo printer 10 will be described to describe the image recording apparatus of the present invention in more detail.
As described above, at the time of normal print creation, the image of the projection light emitted from the light source 26 and transmitted through the film F is imaged on the CCD sensor 36 by the imaging lens unit 34 in the scanner 12 to be photographed on the film F. The image is separated into R, G and B by the action of the color filter plate 30 and read sequentially.
[0048]
The image (data) of the film F read by the scanner 12 is sequentially sent to the image processing apparatus 20, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 40, log-converted by the LUT 42, and predetermined by the data correction unit 44. Are corrected and stored in the image memory 46. When the image data is stored in the image memory 46, the image processing unit 48 thins and reads the image data to determine the image processing conditions, and then reads the image data from the image memory 46, and according to the determined image processing conditions. The image is processed and sent as image data for recording to the recording control unit 78 of the exposure unit 74 arranged in the printer 22.
[0049]
On the other hand, in the printer 22, the recording control unit 78 stores this image data in the memory 102 and sends information on the image data (print to be created) to the supply unit 52. Material A is supplied sequentially.
The photosensitive material A supplied from the supply unit 52 is recorded as a back print by the printing device 54, and is then sent to the exposure unit 56 (scan transporting means 76).
When the photosensitive material A is conveyed to a predetermined position, the recording control unit 78 reads the corresponding image data from the memory 102. When the leading end of the photosensitive material A is conveyed to the exposure position X, the AOM 86 is corresponding to the image data. Is driven to modulate the light beam L, and the scanning conveying means 76 is driven. By The photosensitive material A to be scanned and conveyed is two-dimensionally exposed to record a latent image.
The photosensitive material A on which the latent image is recorded in the exposure unit 56 is then distributed into a plurality of rows as necessary by the distribution unit 58 and supplied to the developing unit 108 of the processor 24.
[0050]
While being conveyed, the photosensitive material A supplied to the developing unit 108 is dipped in the color developing tank 116, the fixing bleaching tank 118, and the water washing tank 120 for development, and then dried in the drying unit 110 and discharged in the discharging unit 112. Are discharged to the sorter 114 and sorted for each film F1 or the like.
[0051]
Here, in the photo printer 10 according to the present invention, the image buffer 50 is arranged in the image processing apparatus 20, the memory 102 is arranged in the recording control unit 78 of the printer 22, and the image server 16 is connected. The processor 24 is provided with detection means 122 for detecting the rising edge.
By having these, the image recording apparatus of the present invention can effectively utilize the time for waiting for the processor 24 to rise and the like, and can perform highly efficient print creation without wasting time.
[0052]
For example, even when the photo printer 10 is started up at the start of work or the like and the processor 24 is not started up, the image taken on the film F is read by the scanner 18 to store a large amount of image data, and the processor When the start-up 24 is completed, creation of a print by the printer 22 can be started.
Specifically, when the photo printer 10 is activated and the light source 26 of the scanner 18 is stabilized, the operator starts reading the image of the film F. The image reading is performed in the same manner as the normal image reading described above, and the image data of the film F read by the scanner 18 is sequentially sent to the image processing device 20, and the A / D converter 40 to the image processing unit 48. Is subjected to predetermined processing to obtain image data for recording.
The obtained image data for recording is sent to and stored in one of the image buffer 50 of the image processing apparatus 20, the memory 102 of the printer 74, and the image server 16, for example, the image buffer 50. In the present invention, the memory for storing the image data when the processor 24 is not started up may be arbitrarily selected by the operator, or may be automatically selected by the photo printer 10.
[0053]
While the image data is accumulated in the image buffer 50 in this way, the detection means 122 of the processor 24 measures the temperature of each tank of the developing unit 128. When all the tanks of the developing unit 108 reach a predetermined temperature, the detection unit 122 sends a signal to the effect that the start of the processor 24 is completed to the recording control unit 78 of the printer 22 (exposure unit 74).
The recording control unit 78 that has received a signal indicating completion of the rise of the processor 24 starts image recording by the printer 22. That is, the recording control unit 78 sequentially reads out the image data stored in the image buffer 50 and stores the image data in the memory 102, and also sends the image data information to the supply unit 52. Photosensitive material A is sequentially supplied.
[0054]
The subsequent operations are the same as those in the normal print creation described above. The photosensitive material A is recorded with a back print, a latent image is recorded with the exposure unit 56, and distributed as necessary to develop the development unit. 108, subjected to predetermined processing such as a color developing tank, a fixing bleach tank, and a water washing tank, dried in the drying unit 110, and discharged from the discharge unit 112 to the sorter 114.
[0055]
Such image data storage may be performed not only when the photo printer 10 is started but also after the processor 24 is turned off at the end of work.
For example, only the input device 12 of the photo printer 10 is operated immediately before the end of work, and the image data is stored in the image buffer 50 of the image processing apparatus 20, the memory 102 of the printer 74, and the image server 16 in the same manner as the previous image reading. Remember.
When the photo printer 10 is activated on the next day, similarly, the recording control unit 78 of the printer 22 reads out the image data stored in the memory in response to the detection unit 122 detecting the rise of the processor 24, and the supply unit Information is output to 52, and the printer 22 automatically starts image recording.
At this time, the photo printer 10 is automatically started using a timer or the like, so that more efficient print creation can be performed.
[0056]
Further, in the illustrated photo printer 10, the image server 16 is connected to the user terminal 128 by the WAN.
As a result, even when the photo printer 10 is not in operation after the lab store is closed at night or on a holiday, only the image server 16 is operated and image data (image file) is received from the user by the WAN. As described above, after the photo printer 10 is started up, the printer 22 may automatically start image recording in response to detection of the rise of the processor 24 by the detecting means 122. it can. In this case as well, more efficient print creation can be performed by automatically starting the photo printer 10 with a timer or the like.
Since the communication charge is cheap at night, according to this method, it is possible to create an economically advantageous print. Of course, image data may be received from the user and stored in the image server 16 while the photo printer 10 is creating a print.
[0057]
Note that when image recording is performed using image data stored in the image server 16, the image data may be directly transferred to the printer 22, and the image data is sent to the image processing device 20 as necessary. The image may be transferred to the printer 22 after performing necessary image processing.
[0058]
In the illustrated photo printer 10, the output device 14, which is the image recording apparatus of the present invention, has three memories: an image buffer 50 of the image processing apparatus 20, a memory 102 of the printer 74, and an image server 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may have any one or two memories.
In the illustrated example, only the image server 16 is connected to the communication means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the input machine 12 and the output machine 14 may be connected to the communication means. A plurality of parts may be connected to the communication means.
[0059]
The image recording apparatus of the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. .
For example, the output device 14 in the illustrated example performs various processes such as exposure after the photosensitive material A is cut into a print size to form a cut sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photosensitive material is not limited thereto. The image forming apparatus is configured to perform frame information formation, exposure, back print recording, development processing, etc. without cutting the image, and finally cut into a predetermined length to obtain a single (finished) print. Can be suitably used for the image recording apparatus described in each specification such as Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-294165 and 7-332189.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a print creation operation by an operator is performed even before the developing device is started up, and image data for recording a plurality of frames subjected to image processing is recorded. In a state where the development device is not up It is possible to read out the recording image data stored in the memory sequentially and automatically start print creation in response to the detection of the rising edge of the developing device by the detection means. An image recording apparatus is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of a digital photo printer using an image recording apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an input device of the digital photo printer shown in FIG.
3 is a schematic diagram of a printer (printing apparatus) of the digital photo printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a schematic perspective view of an exposure unit of the printer shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 (Digital) Photo Printer
12 Input machine
14 output machine
16 Image server
18 Scanner
20 Image processing device
22 Printer
24 processor
48 Image processing unit
50 image buffers
52 (Photosensitive material) supply section
54 Printing device
56 Exposure section
58 Sorting part
72 Magazine
74 Exposure unit
76 Scanning conveying means
78 Recording controller
102 memory
108 Development section
110 Drying section
112 Discharge section
114 Sorter
112 (rising) detection means
124,126 modem
128 user terminals
F film
A Photosensitive material

Claims (3)

A memory for storing image data for recording a plurality of frames subjected to image processing;
Recording means for scanning and exposing a photosensitive material with recording light modulated in accordance with recording image data stored in the memory to record an image;
Development processing means for performing predetermined development processing on the photosensitive material on which an image is recorded by the recording means;
Detecting means for detecting the rise of the developing processing means at startup;
Start control means for starting image recording of image data for recording stored in a state where the development processing means is not raised in the memory by the recording means in response to detection of rising of the development processing means by the detection means; An image recording apparatus comprising:   2. The memory according to claim 1, wherein the memory is one or more selected from a built-in memory, a memory included in an image data supply source that supplies image data to the recording unit, and an external memory connected to the recording unit. Image recording device.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is connected to an external communication unit.

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