JPH03287152A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the saturated state of a photometry instrument by arranging a dipping filter composed of an opaque member where a large number of fine holes or narrow width slits are pierced for setting copying conditions so as to be inserted/taken out into/of an exposing optical path between a light source and a film carrier. CONSTITUTION:An original image supported by a film carrier 11 is exposed to a copying sensitive material by irradiating it with light beams via a dimmer filter 17 from the light source 19. At time, the dipping filter 34 is arranged so as to be inserted/taken out into/of the exposing optical path between the light source 19 and the film carrier 11. The dipping filter 34 is composed of a metallic plate 38, etc. where a large number of the narrow width slits 46 are pierced and inserted into the exposing optical path, so that the quantity of the light beams received by the photometry instrument 16 is reduced. Thus, the saturated state of the photometry device 16 can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a copying machine, and particularly to standard exposure conditions set when the copying machine is used for the first time, and standard exposure conditions set when the copying machine or developer changes. The present invention relates to a copying apparatus equipped with a neutral density filter that allows easy setting of copying conditions such as determining standard exposure conditions to be corrected.

[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention] In order to consistently produce good quality color prints using a printer processor, which is one of the copying devices, it is necessary to perform the developing process correctly and to set the exposure conditions of the printer section accurately. It is necessary to set the device to For this reason, standard exposure conditions are set when the printer processor is installed, but if you use color paper with a different emulsion number, replace the printer lamp, replace the processing solution, or change the season, the content of the photo may change. When the color changes from having many colors to having fewer colors or vice versa, the color development conditions of the print change, so it is necessary to correct and reset the standard exposure conditions.

Furthermore, since the coloring conditions of the print change due to dirt or deterioration of the light source system including the light control filter, halogen lamp, reflector, etc., it is necessary to correct and reset the standard exposure conditions in the same manner as described above.

To correct the standard exposure conditions, use a standard negative film that has an area corresponding to a negative photographed with an average subject color around the area corresponding to a negative photographed with a gray subject, and print and develop from this standard negative film. The density of the test print is compared with the density of a standard reference print that has been printed and developed in advance (target density) for correction. That is, since the above reference negative film has a standard subject density and a medium color subject density,
The standard exposure conditions are corrected so that prints obtained from this reference negative film develop neutral colors.

However, since the above method uses a reference negative film, the correction accuracy may deteriorate due to discoloration of the reference negative film, and since the reference negative film is manually set on the negative carrier, dirt on the reference negative film may cause the correction accuracy to deteriorate. There is a problem that the correction accuracy decreases. Further, since it is necessary to create a reference negative film for each film type, there is a problem in that the burden on the creator increases as the number of film types increases.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6L-113233
The publication discloses that a flap is provided with a test film for making a test copy in contact with the copying material, and a test copy is made on the copying material to determine appropriate exposure conditions. This method has the advantage that the test film is automatically set, so there is no reduction in correction accuracy due to dirt, but since the test film is used, the same problem of fading as described above occurs. In addition, since the test film is in contact with the copying material, it is not possible to measure the light source system through the test film, so it is possible to determine whether the change in exposure conditions was caused by the printer's light system. deterioration)
There was a problem in that it was not possible to distinguish whether the change occurred due to the change, and it was not possible to correct the exposure conditions depending on the cause of the change. In addition, if you directly measure the light source system, the charge at the measurement position will become saturated, making it impossible to measure the light at the dimmer filter position or through the dimmer filter, so insert a reference negative film, etc. between the photometer and the light source. It is necessary to dim the light. However, disposing a negative film or the like between the photometric device and the light source has undesirable problems such as fading and density changes due to temperature.

In order to prevent saturation of the photometer, inserting a perforated plate into the exposure optical path is a cut filter method in which cyan, C, magenta, M, and yellow filters are inserted to cut R, G, and B light independently. , G, and B filters to form R, G, and B light and control the exposure amount of each independently. However, C,M.

Insert a Y filter into the optical path, and adjust R and G depending on the insertion amount.
When using a perforated plate with a photochromic filter method to control the exposure amount of the SB, if the hole diameter is large, the amount of light passing through the perforated plate will change rapidly as the photochromic filter moves, and the photometric value will change smoothly. The problem is that it doesn't. If the diameter of the hole is made smaller to solve this problem, the amount of light will change due to clogging caused by lumps or the like.

The present invention was developed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it prevents the saturation of the photometry device and accurately measures the light source diameter such as fluctuations in the light source, the position of the dimmer filter, and photometry through the dimmer filter. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus having functions such as functions that can be easily performed and functions such as managing exposure conditions.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for setting copying conditions in a copying apparatus that exposes an original picture supported on a film carrier to a photosensitive material for copying by irradiating light from a light source through a light control filter. The present invention is characterized in that a neutral density filter made of an opaque member having a large number of fine holes or narrow slits is arranged so as to be movable into and out of the exposure optical path between the light source and the film carrier.

The neutral density filter can be formed by integrating a transparent member and an opaque member. Further, one narrow slit may be formed in the opaque member in a direction different from the direction of the plural narrow slits.

In the present invention, the neutral density filter is placed in the exposure optical path, and at least one of fluctuations in the amount of light irradiated to the original image, the position of the dimmer filter, and fluctuations in the development process of the photosensitive material for copying is measured, or a standard At least one of setting exposure conditions, managing standard exposure conditions, and maintaining standard exposure conditions can be performed.

[Effect]

The copying apparatus of the present invention irradiates light from a light source through a light control filter to expose an original picture supported on a film carrier onto a photosensitive material to be copied. A neutral density filter is arranged removably in the exposure optical path between the light source and the film carrier. This neutral density filter is composed of an opaque member made of a metal plate or the like in which a large number of fine holes or narrow slits are bored. By inserting this neutral density filter into the exposure optical path, the amount of light received by the photometric device is reduced, thereby making it possible to prevent the photometric device from becoming saturated. The neutral density filter may be inserted at any position between the film carrier and the light source, but it is suitable between the diffusion box provided in the light source system and the light source. A transparent member may be used integrally with the opaque member, and a multilayer film may be deposited on the transparent member to impart wavelength selectivity.

Furthermore, since the opaque member has fine holes or narrow slits, the change in the amount of light passing through the neutral density filter per unit movement of the light control filter is small, and the photometric value when the light control filter moves is small. changes can be smoothed out. Furthermore, since the opaque member and the transparent member are combined, clogging of the opaque member can be prevented by orienting the transparent member to the side where dust and the like tend to adhere. When the neutral density filter is placed near the light source, one narrow slit may be provided in a direction different from the multiple slits in order to prevent the effects of thermal expansion.

By manually or automatically inserting the above-described neutral density filter into the exposure optical path and performing photometry, it is possible to measure fluctuations in the amount of light irradiated onto the original image, that is, fluctuations in the amount of light of the light source system, and the position of the dimmer filter. Furthermore, if the photometric value measured through the neutral density filter is used as a reference, at least one of setting, managing, and maintaining standard exposure conditions can be performed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve the effect that photometry of a light source system can be performed accurately and stably by using a neutral density filter made of an opaque member having fine holes and the like. In addition, since the photometry of the light source system can be performed with high accuracy using a neutral density filter, it is possible to automatically and accurately set copying conditions such as setting, managing, and maintaining standard exposure conditions. Effects can be obtained.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer processor to which the present invention is applicable. This printer processor is C, M, Y
A light control filter 17 consisting of a filter, and a light diffusion box 1
5 and a light source section 10 equipped with a halogen lamp 19, and a paper magazine section 12 containing color paper. Further, a photometer 16 is arranged to measure the screen average density (LATD) of the color negative film held between the negative carrier 11, and this photometer 16 automatically corrects standard exposure conditions and The light control circuit 50 is connected to a control circuit 50 for controlling the exposure conditions by controlling the light control filter. The color paper pulled out from the paper magazine section 12 has a negative film image printed thereon in the exposure section 14, and is supplied to the color developing section 20 of the processor section via the reservoir section 18. The color paper developed in the color developing section 20 is fixed in a bleach-fixing section 22, and then washed with water in a rinsing section 24 to create a color 0-print. The washed color print is dried in a drying section 26 and then cut into image units in a cutting section 28. A densitometer 30 connected to a control circuit 50 is arranged in the hook section 28 so as to sandwich the color print being transported. Further, the control circuit 50 includes:
A CRT 51 for displaying data and the like and a keyboard 53 for inputting data and the like are connected.

A neutral density filter 34 is arranged between the light control filter 17 of the light source section 10 and the light diffusion box 15 so as to be insertable into the exposure optical path. The neutral density filter 34 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, it includes a vapor deposition filter 36 on which a multilayer film is vapor-deposited and a metal slit filter 38. This neutral density filter 34 may be placed between the negative carrier and the light source, but preferably between the light diffusion box and the light source. Note that instead of the vapor deposition filter 36, white plate glass,
Colored glass filters may also be used. Both ends of the vapor deposition filter 36 are supported by slit filters 38 which are bent into a U-shape. A pair of spacers 44 having substantially the same width as the bent portion of the slit filter 38 are interposed between the bottom surface of the vapor deposition filter 36 and the bottom surface of the slit filter 38 so that the bottom surfaces do not come into contact with each other. This spacer 44 prevents heat from being conducted from the slit filter 38 to the vapor deposition filter 36 and damaging the vapor deposition filter 36, and can be omitted. One end of a mounting arm 40 is fixed near the corner of the slit filter 38. The other end of the mounting arm 40 is fixed to the rotating shaft of a motor 42. Therefore, by rotating the motor 42, the neutral density filter 34 rotates in a horizontal plane around the rotation axis of the motor 42. On the bottom surface of the slit filter 38, a large number of slits 46 of a predetermined width are formed in parallel over the entire surface at predetermined intervals by etching or the like. The slit filter preferably has a light attenuation rate of 172 or more. That is, the width of the slits 46 is 1.0 mm or less, and the interval between the slits 46 is 1.0 mm. On++n or more is preferable. When the slit width becomes wider, the slit rJJ becomes wider and the shape of the light control filter 1 2 is affected. On the other hand, if the slit width is narrow, it will be affected by dirt and dust. Therefore, it is better to make the slit width as wide as possible. Since the neutral density filter is located near the light source, it becomes hot, and especially in the case of a slit, the metal expands, causing significant deformation. In order to prevent this expansion of the metal, it is preferable to provide one narrow slit 45 in a direction different from the slit direction, for example, in a right angle direction as shown in FIG. Note that a large number of fine holes may be formed instead of the slits. The diameter of the hole is 1.
It is preferably 5 mm or less, preferably less than 1.0++o++.

Both sides of the slit filter 38 are painted black to prevent reflection.

The vapor-deposited filter 36 has a multilayer film deposited so that the transmittance distribution follows the curve shown in FIG.

Therefore, the transmittance distribution of the neutral density filter 34 is larger in the long wavelength band than in the short wavelength band. Dark filter 3
4 preferably has the average spectral distribution of the average subject of various film types, but may have the above characteristics or flat characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 5, the above-mentioned neutral density filter 34 is arranged so that the length direction of the slit 46 of the neutral density filter 34 faces the moving direction of the dimming filter 17 (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5). has been done. In this way, since the length direction of the slit faces the direction of movement of the dimmer filter 17, the amount of light passing through the dimmer filter 34 changes continuously according to the movement of the dimmer filter, and photometry It is possible to prevent the value from changing stepwise. Further, since the slit filter 38 is disposed below the vapor deposition filter 36, the slits can be prevented from being clogged due to dust, burning of fibers, etc.

In addition, in the above, the vapor deposition filter 36 and the slit filter 3
8 to constitute the neutral density filter 34, however, the neutral density filter 34 may be constructed by sandwiching a slit filter between a pair of vapor-deposited filters.

Further, when the width of the slit 46 or the micropore is 0.3 mm or more, clogging is less likely, and it is not necessary to use a transparent member for the opaque member.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. First, the control circuit 50 performs printing by controlling the dimmer filter 17 based on the exposure control value 3 4 Ej shown in the following equation.

ogE j-33 (Aj (dDj-dwj) +dwj) +Cj ・ ・ ・ (1) However, dDj=Dj-DNj...(2) j: Any one of 1 to 3 representing either R or GXB DJ: Image density of the film image frames to be printed (e.g. average density of all screens) or density of a neutral density filter DNj: Average image density of standard negative film or a number of film frames (e.g. average full screen density) or Slope control value AJ for the density S of the neutral density filter 34: Color correction value CJ: Color balance value that depends on the characteristics of the printer, film, and photographic paper Next, the color balance value Cj, which is one of the standard exposure conditions.
This section explains how to set the standard value.

Exposure conditions are set when the printer processor is in a standard state and the developer is in a standard state. The neutral density filter 34 is removed from the exposure optical path, and color correction is performed using the printer processor's formula (1) above using a reference negative film (a negative or eyeball negative that has conditions that allow proper printing of a large number of film frames). Exposure is performed using an automatic correction exposure function (full correction or high correction) in which the value AJ is set to a value of 1.0 or more or less than 1.0 and close to 1.0. The exposed print is subjected to development, fixing, and drying processing by the processor section of the printer processor, thereby creating a print.

The screen density of this print is measured, and this measured value is set as the target density value. This target density value is determined for each film type using a reference negative film for each film type. Next, the morph 42 is driven to insert the attenuation 5 6 optical filter 34 into the exposure optical path, and exposure is performed with full correction or high correction according to the above equation (1). Then, a color balance value is determined so that the screen density of the print obtained by this exposure becomes the target density value, and this value is set as Cj'. Next, a color balance value CJ is determined so that the print density obtained by exposing the reference negative under the same full or high correction conditions as above becomes the target density value. Even if it is a full or high correction, the characteristics of the reference negative and the neutral density filter are different, so the color balance value CJ and the color balance value CJ
′, there is a characteristic difference ΔCJ between the reference negative and the neutral density filter for each primary color, that is, for each R, G, and B color. In normal cases, exposure is performed using the color balance value Cj, but when managing standard exposure conditions, etc., the standard exposure conditions are managed by exposure using the color balance value CJ', and the color balance value CJ' is corrected to the color balance value CJ according to the characteristic difference ΔCJ. Note that when the spectral characteristics of the neutral density filter and the spectral characteristics of the reference negative film are similar, they may be managed as Cj=Cj'.

In addition, in the above, the target density value and the characteristic difference △Cj are determined by photometry.
etc., but when setting standard exposure conditions for multiple printer processors of the same model, the standard exposure conditions are the same, so the target density value and characteristics of a specific printer processor can be determined by photometry. Difference Δc
j, etc., and for the remaining printer processors, calculate the target density value, color balance value CJ1CJ', and characteristic difference ΔCJ.
The standard exposure conditions may be set manually.

Next, a method for managing and maintaining the standard exposure conditions set as described above will be explained. Standard values are set in advance for the average image density DNJ1 slope control value sj and color balance value CJ1CJ' as standard exposure conditions. Standard exposure conditions, target density value PDBASE, etc. are stored in advance in the memory of the control circuit. This target density value is stored for each channel, that is, for each film type. When the chia channel is designated and the switch for correcting the exposure conditions is turned on, the correction routine shown in FIG. 7 is activated, and in step 102 the lamp of the densitometer 30 is turned on. After several tens of seconds have elapsed after the lamp is turned on, the concentration measurement using the densitometer 30 becomes possible.

In step 104, the morph 42 is driven to insert the neutral density filter 34 into the exposure optical path. In step 106, the lamp of the light source section 10 is turned on, and the integrated transmission density of the light transmitted through the neutral density filter 34 is photometered by the photometer 16. The photometric value at the time of photometry is stored in the memory as DJ. In the next step 108, the average image density DNj stored in the memory is fetched, and in step 110, the absolute value of the difference between the photometric value DJ and the average image density DNJ is calculated by a predetermined value.

Compare with. If Dj - DNj ≧Do, it is determined that the light source system has changed due to dust adhering to the light source, deterioration of the halogen lamp, etc., and the process proceeds to step 112.
The average image density DNj is corrected in , and the corrected DNj
remember.

If Dj-DNj l<Do, it is determined that there is no change in the light source system, and the process directly proceeds to step 114.

In step 114, the color correction value A3 is set to 1.
Set to a value greater than or equal to 0 or less than 1.0 and close to 1.0. This makes the color correction a high correction or full correction, meaning that when determining the exposure of the three primary colors, any one of the three primary colors has no influence or only a slight influence of the other two primary colors. You can make it happen. In this way, high correction or full correction is achieved by the characteristic A of the conventional reference negative and the characteristic B of the neutral density filter 34, as shown in FIG.
This is to correct the difference.

In the next step 116, the exposure control value E] is calculated based on the above equation (1) using the color balance value CJ' and the corrected DNJ.

Then, in step 118, exposure is performed by controlling the light control filter based on the exposure control value EJ, and the exposed paper is developed.

In the next step 120, it is determined whether the print has reached the photometry position by determining whether a predetermined time period of 9 0 has elapsed since exposure. When it is determined that the print has reached the photometric position, the density of the print is measured by the densitometer 30 in step 122, and the measured value is stored in the memory as PDJ. In step 124, the target density value PDj corresponding to the designated channel is determined.
uAsE is read, and in step 126 it is determined whether the absolute value of the difference between the print photometric value PDj and the target density value P D J BASE is greater than or equal to a predetermined value PDo. PDj-P
When DjllASH≧PDO, the target density value cannot be obtained even though the variation in the light source system has been corrected in step 112, so there is a variation in at least one of the paper and the paper processing system (particularly the developer). In step 128, the photometric value PDJ is determined to be the target density value P.
The slope control value sj is corrected and the color balance value CJ is corrected in consideration of the characteristic difference ΔCJ so that D J BASH is obtained, and the results are stored in the memory. As a result of the above, the slope control value and the color balance value are corrected so that the density of the reference print becomes the target density, and the correction can be made by separating the printer section from the paper and paper processing system.

In the above example, the automatic exposure correction function of the printer processor is activated, and the color balance value C3 for exposure is calculated using the target density value obtained from the reference negative film and the color balance value CJ' when using the neutral density filter. Although an example of correcting the density has been described, the target density value obtained from the neutral density filter may be used for management as follows. First, appropriate standard exposure conditions are set in the printer processor by a method using a conventional reference negative film or a method using the above-mentioned neutral density filter. A neutral density filter is inserted into the exposure optical path, and the density of the print created by the automatic exposure correction function of the printer processor is set as the target density. In management after setting the target density, the color balance value CJ' is corrected and set so that a print of this target density can be obtained under constant exposure conditions without using the automatic exposure correction function.

Here, if the spectral characteristics of the neutral density filter deviate from those of the reference negative film (for example, the density difference is ±0.3 or more), the color balance value CJ' should be adjusted between the neutral density filter and the reference negative film. By correcting the characteristic difference ΔCJ' with respect to the film, a print density closer to that of medium and wide colors can be obtained. Then, the print density closer to this more medium-wide color is set as the target density. The color balance value for management at this time is C.
'+△CJ', but the actual print value is △Cj=
0 so that printing is performed under appropriate standard exposure conditions.

In addition, above we have explained examples of measuring fluctuations in the light source system, measuring fluctuations in the paper processing system, and setting, managing, and maintaining standard exposure conditions. You may do so. These measurements and settings are included in the setting of copy conditions in the present invention.

For printers that measure light by dividing a film image into multiple parts, compare the measured values with a reference value, select a photometric value, and control exposure based on the average density of the selected photometric values, exposure conditions are set for each film type. Since this is not necessary, it is suitable as a copying apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer processor to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a side view of a neutral density filter, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the neutral density filter, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the characteristics of a vapor-deposited filter. , FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the neutral density filter, and FIG.
The figure is a diagram showing the difference in characteristics between the reference negative film and the neutral density filter, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the correction routine under standard exposure conditions. 34... Neutral density filter, 36... Vapor deposition filter, 38... Slit filter.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a copying device that exposes an original picture supported on a film carrier to a copying sensitive material by irradiating light from a light source through a light control filter, there are many fine holes or narrow slits for setting copying conditions. A copying apparatus characterized in that a neutral density filter made of a perforated opaque member is arranged in an exposure optical path between a light source and a film carrier so as to be able to enter and exit. (2) Claim (2) characterized in that the neutral density filter is formed by integrating a transparent member and the opaque member.
1) The copying device described above. (3) The opaque member having a plurality of narrow slits has one narrow slit formed in a direction different from the slit direction. Copying equipment. (4) Place the neutral density filter in the exposure optical path and measure at least one of fluctuations in the amount of light irradiated to the original image, the position of the light control filter, and fluctuations in the development process of the photosensitive material for copying, or standard exposure. Claim (1): At least one of setting conditions, managing standard exposure conditions, and maintaining standard exposure conditions.
Copying device as described.