JPH0193959A - System for reproducing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily prepare a full-color print from an arbitrary original image holding body by coupling a film scanner, an image processor and an electrostatic plotter. CONSTITUTION:When a film is scanned by a film scanner 1, at first, the information of black are read and the picture information of black are outputted through an image processor 2 to an electrostatic plotter 3. Then, a recording head 35 electrifies to a recording needle based on the black picture information and the information are written to a paper by the discharge of the needle. After that, a developing agency is supplied from a developing device 37b of black and stuck to a part, in which the information are written by the charge of the paper, and the black image to correspond to the image surface of the film is formed to the paper. Next, a supplying axis 32 is reversely revolved and a paper 30 is coiled to the axis 32. Then, the picture information of cyan are written and developed and further, the same operation is executed in the order of magenta and yellow. Thus, the full-color print is prepared and a recorded paper 31 is successively coiled through a pulley 38 by a coiling axis 33.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Fields> The present invention is a method for reading images of 35 mm color film, etc.
It relates to an image reproduction system that makes it possible to create human-sized color prints in AO resize based on the read image information, and in particular uses an arbitrary size original image carrier and scans information on the image of the film. This invention relates to a device that allows color prints to be made in any human size based on the above.

(Prior Art) A slide device is commonly used as a device for transmitting light through an image on a slide film and reproducing the image information. Furthermore, it has become common practice to read image light with a television camera and reproduce the image information on a television.

When reproducing a slide film image as described above as a television image, even if the scanning of the image is relatively coarse,
Although the image is perceived as relatively clear by the human eye, when the image is reproduced as a hard copy, it is difficult to reproduce it due to problems such as the small number of image information reading elements such as line image sensors. The roughness of the color copy image is noticeable, and the roughness of the screen is more noticeable than that of a photo.

In addition, full-color printers that create color copies using color originals create color copies at a relatively small magnification, but when creating color copies, they print cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The document is scanned multiple times by the image reading device in correspondence with the color of each image.

Then, based on the image information obtained by scanning each color by the image reading device, a color toner image forming means is activated to transfer the image onto the paper, and finally, the color toner image is transferred in small pieces. A method is used in which paper is introduced into a fixing device and fixed, thereby creating a color copy.

Furthermore, as a printer that is connected to a computer device and creates color copies using the output of the computer, there are devices such as the "Versatic" electrostatic printer (product name), but in the case of such a full color printer, , image processing is performed by a computer, which not only complicates the mechanism of the device but also requires the use of a very expensive computer device.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, in the conventional device as described above,
For example, color copies cannot be easily made from negative color film, positive color film, color photographs, or any other image information carrier; It has the disadvantage of being limited.

In addition, for example, in a device that reproduces film images as a color copy using a relatively simple device such as a printing device for television images, color copying is difficult due to problems such as the number of line image sensors used. The image will be relatively rough, and you will not be able to obtain the fine detail that you would get with a photograph, and even if you can make a large-sized color copy such as AO resize, it will not be able to be used as a copy. It's not something you get.

Furthermore, with electrophotographic copying devices such as full-color printers, the enlargement ratio for the original is limited, so it is not possible to create color copies of arbitrary thickness, and it is not possible to make color copies of arbitrary sizes. In the case of an electrostatic printer that is used in connection, there are problems such as the inability to directly create a color copy using an original such as a color film.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention solves the drawbacks of conventionally used devices as described above. The object of the present invention is to provide an image reproduction system that can easily create color copies of any size using negative or positive film, color photographs, etc. as original documents.

(Means and operations for solving the problems) The image reproduction system of the present invention reads the image information of a document and outputs the image information line by line as an electrical signal (contact information output means and the image information output means). It is composed of an image signal processing means for processing image information from the means, and a printer for making a color copy, and the color copy is made at an arbitrary magnification based on the image information output from the image information output means. This is a device that allows you to enlarge and create.

Further, as the image information output means used in the image reproduction system of the present invention, a positive film or a negative film is used, and the image is read by a line image sensor as an image@reading device and sent to the image signal processing means as an electric signal. It is possible to use a device that outputs the output toward the target.

The image signal processing stage f of the present invention has a buffer 7 memory corresponding to the reading line, processes the image information output from the image information output means, and outputs print information to the printer.

Further, the printer of the present invention uses an electrostatic color plotter and is configured as a device that can create full-color copies based on print information output from the image signal processing means.

Since the image reproduction system of the present invention is a device having the above-described configuration, it is possible to configure a system with a simple mechanism without using a computer or the like.

Then, by selecting the image information output means, using a positive or negative color film as the original, the transmitted light transmitted through the film is converted into an electric signal by the line image sensor, and the signal is processed by the image signal processing means. It is now possible to easily create a large-sized copy using a color photograph or hand-drawn drawing as an enlarged full-color print.

(Example) The configuration of the image reproduction system of the present invention will be described according to the illustrated example.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present invention includes a film scanner 1 for reading an image on a film as an image information output means, an image processing device 2 as an image information processing means, and creating a full color print. Electrostatic plotter 3 installed as a printer for
It consists of

The image reproduction system of the present invention reads image information of an original image carrier such as a film in a film scanner 1, and transfers the obtained image information to an image processing device 2.
In the image processing device 2, the electrical signal from the film scanner 1 is output as print information to the electrostatic plotter 3. At that time, as shown in FIG. Processes the information of the read image.

That is, in the image reproduction system of the present invention, the image on the film 5 is read row by row or line by line by the line image sensor, and the read image information is converted into density information for each column in the image processing device 2. Disassemble. Then, the area gradation of the portion corresponding to the column portion 5a in that row is reproduced for the corresponding portion 6a of the column of the print 6.

In that case, for a specific portion 5a of the film 5, the density of the image is expressed by the number of dots in the print 60 portion 6a, and if the density information is 50%, the density of the image is expressed by the number of dots in the print 60 portion 6a. Correspondingly, writing with dots is performed in 6a.

Then, the film image information described above is decomposed into each row and column information within each row, and the density information within each row is reproduced as area gradation in the corresponding part of the print. Let them do it.

In the image processing device, the image information read by the film scanner 11 is matched with the image recording device of the electrostatic plotter 3, and the signal is processed by the image processing device. Image information is input to the image processing device 2 as the light transmittance of the film. If this light transmittance is directly output as both images r1 degree, the image signal will be significantly different from the image seen by the human eye, so the luminous density when the light transmittance is seen by the human eye is 1) Perform the operation of converting to s.

Further, when controlling the conversion, it is necessary to perform image information processing operations in accordance with the luminous density DS as described above and the characteristics of the image output of the electrostatic plotter. For example, when the output characteristics of an electrostatic plotter are as shown in FIG. 2a, when a particular portion 6a of the print 6 is output as a circle a2 with the pixel a1 inside, That is, the area gradation reproduced as a print is output strongly relative to the size of the pixel dot.

In other words, in that case, the relationship between the image density information input to the image processing device 2 and the density information output to the electrostatic plotter 3 is a curve as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 2b. Become.

Therefore, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the curve of the graph is input to the visual density input Dsin and to the output section IJ! to the printer. Dsout is indicated by a chain line'? The image density is corrected so that it becomes a 1' centerline, and the value controlled thereby is set as the area gradation, and the operation is performed to output it to the printer.

Further, the image processing device 2 in the image reproduction system of the present invention processes the image information read by the film scanner 1 line by line in correspondence with the reading. Then, the information input from the film scanner 1 is
Since the image is configured to be immediately transferred to the electrostatic plotter 3, it is only necessary to provide a line buffer inside the image processing device 2, and there is no need to provide a storage means of the ancient R. Become something.

Furthermore, in the image reproduction system of the present invention, the image writing speed Vp in the electrostatic plotter 3 is set to be higher than the scanning speed V3 of the film or the like in the film scanner 1.

Therefore, for image information read in rows by the film scanner 1, the electrostatic plotter 3
Since writing is performed at a higher speed than the reading speed of the film scanner, the electrostatic block 3 is always in a state where the image signal from the image processing device 2 is output.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a slide film reading device that can be used as the film skiner 1 of the present invention. The slide film 10 used in this film scanner is a positive film used in a normal slide device, and is formed with an image plane 10b positioned inside a frame 10a, as shown in FIG. 3b. .

In the film scanner of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, three fluorescent lamps 12 are used as the light source, as shown in the figure.
is used. This lamp is a blue lamp 12b,
It consists of 12r for red and 12q for green.
In order to control the illumination α4 of each lamp, a red mirror 14r and a green mirror 14g are arranged.

These mirrors 14r and 14o are both formed as half mirrors, and it is possible to use a commercially available dichroic mirror (trade name). It is also possible to use other mirror means as long as it is a mirror that only reflects light.

Furthermore, in the lamp device of the present invention, among the lamps described above, the light of the blue lamp is on an extension of the optical axis of the lens, and the light of the other two lamps is incident on the optical axis via the mirror. They are arranged in such a positional relationship. Therefore, the lamp 12o for green and the lamp 12o for red
The light beams r and r are reflected by the respective mirrors 14Cl and 14r and transmitted through the image portion of the film 10.

Further, a lens 15 is provided on the extension of the light beam, and a film holding device is provided at the focal position of the lens 15 so that the film 10 can be moved from 1 to 1.
A line image sensor 16 is provided at the focal point of the light emitted from the sensor. A COD line image sensor can be used as the line image sensor 4/16, and the optical information read by the line image sensor is converted into an electrical signal and input to the image information processing device. Become something. Note that the line image sensor of the present invention can be used for one line, multiple lines,
Alternatively, it is configured so that each line can be read simultaneously, and the image information processing unit 11 processes the image information in accordance with the read line.

The relationship among this lamp, mirror, lens, and line image sensor is as shown in Figure 3a.
By scanning the film 10 in the direction of the arrow, image information can be read.

In the film scanner 1 of the present invention, image information obtained by the line image sensor 16 as described above is input to the image information processing device 2, and the image light is processed. In the image information processing device, the image information is processed through the steps shown in FIGS. 3C (a) to C) (9). Initial processing information is set according to the timing chart shown in the figure.

When starting the operation of the scanner 1, first, after the warm-up is completed, without putting the film into the sensor 1 and without lighting the lamp, as shown in FIG.
The image signal is read by the line image sensor. Then, this image signal reading operation is performed sequentially for each color of blue (B), red (R), and green (G), and the resulting dark data[)d
is read, and the data Dd is converted to dark RΔM1. for each pixel in each cycle of B, R, and G. :Write.

Next, as shown in Figure (b), with a transparent film (or ND filter) inserted at a position away from the focal point of the lens, the lamp is turned on and bright data is read by the line image sensor. This operation is performed, and the value obtained thereby is set as Dp. This operation is performed for each color B, R, and G as described above, and each bright data vp is written into the coefficient RAM. When setting the bright data, the ND filter is mounted at a position shifted from the focal length to prevent reading errors due to scratches on the filter.

By attaching the filter and measuring the transmitted light, the planar distortion of the filter itself,
(Measurement 1 (i) of bright data Vp can be obtained in a state where the influence of (n, etc.) is not read by the line image sensor.

Thereafter, the film 10 is set, the film 10 is actually read, the data obtained thereby is set as image data Vi, and the data conversion operation is performed.

When converting the data as described above, the conversion coefficient is set according to the equation (1), and subsequent reading signals of film images are converted in accordance with the value.

In other words, if the conversion coefficient is μ, then tl = (Vi - Vd) / (Vp - Vd) Dark correction is performed on the read image as described above, and the coefficients obtained thereby and the coefficients of the coefficient RAM are By reading out synchronously and multiplying by the coefficient,
Perform shading correction. Note that the above-described correction operation will be explained in the section of the control operation of the control device of the present invention.

In addition, when performing dark correction in step 1'3 of the control operation of the present invention described above, as shown in the timing chart of Fig. 3d, the line image sensor is used in the order of R, G, and B. Detection movement (1) First, the lamp and line image sensor are activated after red, and while the data obtained by this is in operation, data is written in the image processing device, correction values are set, etc. As described above, the dark correction operation is performed for each color so that the next step can be carried out.

Then, as shown in Figure 3a, the cellar is placed in the holder.
-t, by moving the holder in the horizontal direction, the image information of the film is read line by line, and the read information for each line is sent to the image processing device 2. input and process the image as described above.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, a positive film is used as the original, and the light transmitted through the film is
The explanation has been given using a type of device that reads with a line image sensor as an example, but in the case of negative film, by providing the image processing device 2 with image information inversion means, it is possible to process it in the same way as in the case of positive film. becomes possible.

In addition, the image information output means of the present invention can be configured as a device that uses a color photograph or the like and reads the reflected light, in addition to obtaining the transmitted light of the film as image information.

In that case, use a photo holder instead of the film holder, place a lamp, line image sensor, etc. at a predetermined angle to the photo reading surface, and illuminate the photo screen with light from the lamp. It is preferable to configure the sensor so that the reflected light is focused on the line image sensor.

As the electrostatic plotter 3 connected to the image processing device 2 of the present invention for producing full-color prints, it is possible to use, for example, a device having a mechanism as shown in FIG. 4. In this electrostatic block-3, the paper 30 uses paper specially treated for electrostatic printers.
The paper 30 is set in a wound state around the supply shaft 32, and the recorded paper 31 is wound around the winding shaft 33.

Furthermore, a recording head 35 and a back electrode 36 are disposed at the paper feeding start end of the electrostatic plotter 3 of the present invention so as to sandwich the paper therebetween, and a developing device 37 is disposed following the recording head 35. The developing device 37 includes yellow 37y1, black 37b1, cyan 37C1, and
Magenta 37m are arranged in sequence, and each developing device attaches its specific color developer to the paper each time the paper passes.

In the image reproduction system of the present invention, when the film is scanned by the film scanner 1, black information is first read, the black image information is output to the electrostatic plotter 3 via the image processing device 2, and the black image information is outputted to the recording head. 35 is
The recording needle is energized based on the black image information, the information is layered onto the paper by discharge from the needle, and developer is applied from the black developing device 27b to the portion where the information is read by the electrical charge on the paper. It is applied and deposited to form a black image on the paper that corresponds to the image side of the film.

Next, the supply shaft 32 is reversed, the paper 30 is wound around the shaft 32, and the cyan image information is loaded and developed, and the same operation is performed for magenta and yellow in that order, thereby creating a full-color print. The recorded paper 31 is sequentially wound onto the winding shaft 33 via the pulley 38.

As the printer of the present invention, in addition to the electrostatic plotter with the mechanism described above, a full color printer with any configuration can be used, and the TA4
1! i etc. are not particularly limited.

In the apparatus of the present invention described above, each component is controlled by a control device as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the read signal processing section, which controls the lighting of the lamp and the temperature of the lamp, and in step 40, drives the film in the film scanner 1, and controls the optical information of the film. Performs the reading operation. The reading speed at that time is 16 m5ec/1ine
The image information obtained by the line image sensor is output for A/D conversion in step 41.

Next, dark correction in step 42 and shading correction in step 43 are performed, and these correction operations are performed as detailed in the explanation section of FIG. 3 above.

After the corrections are made in steps 42 and 43 as described above, the S/P
Conversion is performed, and through steps 45 and 46, color correction and log conversion to the printer are performed, and the converted color information drives the printer to produce a full color print.

In step 44, by changing the writing and reading timings of the 16 m5ec/1ine serial signals of the read information of each color of R, D, and B to the buffer memory, each color information is converted to 48 m5ec/1ine.
It converts into a parallel signal of e and outputs it.

Also, the color correction in steps 45 and 46 and 10g,
In the conversion, the color characteristics of the entire reading system based on the spectral characteristics of the lamp, mirror, and line image sensor are corrected, converted into a density signal, and outputted to the color processing section of the printer.

As described above, in the apparatus of the present invention, the image information read by the film scanner 1 is processed as described above in the image signal output device, converted into an ink sheet in the printer, and then printed in full color in the color printer. Output as a printout.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, a case where an electrostatic plotter is used as a color printer is exemplified, but the apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned model, and can be used with the above-mentioned electrostatic plotter. Any device having similar functions can be used, and the control circuit can be configured according to the characteristics of the printer.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the image reproduction system of the present invention has the above-described configuration, by combining a film scanner, an image processing device, and an electrostatic plotter, it is possible to reproduce full-color images from any original image carrier. Prints can be easily created, and the configuration of the device can be simplified.

Furthermore, in the image reproduction system of the present invention, it is possible to easily create large prints such as AO resized full-color prints, and the cost of creating such prints can be significantly reduced compared to photographs, etc. It is possible to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the image reproduction system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the mode of image information processing by the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2a is an explanatory diagram of the output of pixels of the printer, Figure 2b is an explanatory diagram of the printer's input/output characteristics;
The figures show the image & wh removal mechanism in the film scanner of the present invention, Fig. 3a is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3b is an explanatory diagram of the film, and Figs. Fig. 3d is a timing diagram showing the movement of the control, and Fig. 4 is an explanation showing the configuration of the electrostatic plotter of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control device of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 in the figure: film scanner, 2: image processing device, 3: electrostatic plotter, 5:
...Film, 6...Print, 10...
...Film, 12...Lamp, 14...
... Mirror, 15 ... Lens, 16 ...
・・Line image sensor-130・・・・・・Paper,
35...recording head, 36...back electrode, 37...developing device. l Fig. 2 Fig. 2α Noa Fig. 2b Fig. νJ/A/ Fig. 3a Fig. 3b/ Fig. 3C Fig. 3d Fig. 4

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) An image information output means for reading an image on a film, etc. and outputting an image reading signal as an electric signal, an image signal processing means for processing the image information from the image information output means, and from the image signal processing means. and a printer device for creating a color print based on the image signal of the printer, and is capable of creating a print enlarged at an arbitrary magnification based on the image information read by the image information output means. An image reproduction system characterized by comprising: (2) A slide film is used as the original image carrier of the image information output means, the light passing through the film is imaged on a line image sensor, and the image information obtained by the line image sensor is converted into an image signal for each line. 2. The image reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein the image reproduction system is configured to output the image information to a processing means and operate a printer based on the image information for each line. (3) A device for reading reflected light from an original image is used as the image information output means, and the image reflected light is output as an electrical signal by a line image sensor. image playback system. (4) The image signal processing means is a device that has a buffer memory corresponding to the reading line, processes the image signal based on the signal output from the image information output means, and outputs print information to the printer means. An image reproduction system according to claim 1, characterized in that the image reproduction system is configured as follows. (5) Using an electrostatic color plotter as a printer,
Claims 1 to 4 are characterized in that the apparatus is configured to be able to create full-color prints based on print information input through image signal processing means.
The image reproduction system according to any one of paragraphs.