JPH0458012B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer that prints image information recorded on microfilm.

[Conventional technology]

In the past, there were devices that reduced and recorded document images on microfilm to store and retrieve document images as they were, but recently, as an alternative to this, two-dimensional scanning using photoelectric conversion technology using laser light or CCD elements has been introduced. An image information retrieval device that uses a device to decompose a document image into pixels and convert it into an electrical image device, and then stores this image signal at high density in an optical disk storage device or a magneto-optical storage device, and an image information retrieval device that uses microfilm and optical Image information retrieval devices have been developed that treat disks or magneto-optical disks in the same way as image recording media.

In this type of device, in addition to optical disks and microfilms that store images, so-called search data such as codes and keywords indicating the location of document images and the content of the image information are also stored in storage devices such as magnetic disks. By inputting a search code or keyword as necessary, image information corresponding to the search code or keyword is searched.

When the searched image is found on the microfilm, the microfilm is loaded into the microfilm search and reading device in the image information retrieval device, and the frame containing the desired image is automatically searched and brought to the scanning position. . The image is then scanned by a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD and converted into an electrical image signal. The electrical image signal is sent to a printer such as a laser beam printer, and the image is printed on printing paper.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image information retrieval device to which the present invention is applied, in which 30 is a workstation that controls the entire device, 31 is a microfilm retrieval/reading device, 32 is a document reading device, and 33 is a workstation that controls the entire device.
34 is a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as LBP) for obtaining a hard copy, and 34 is an optical disk storage device. Note that a liquid crystal printer, an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, etc. can be used as the printer. ₃₃₁ is a cassette containing small size print paper (for example, A4 size paper), and ₃₃₂ is a cassette containing large size print paper (for example, A3 size paper).

However, microfilm is often imprinted with a mixture of large and small originals, such as A4 and A3 versions, as shown in Figure 2, and different sizes are printed on a single film. The frames are mixed.
In the figure, 1 is a microfilm, 2 is a search mark,
3 is a small image frame recording an A4 version manuscript, 4 is A3
This is a large image frame that records the original version. The search mark 2 is placed at a predetermined position of each frame, in this embodiment, on the lower side near the tip of each frame, and has a different density from the surrounding area.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the microfilm reading section. When light emitted from the light source 13 is collected by the condenser lens 14 and irradiated onto the microfilm 1, the image on the microfilm is transferred to the projection lens 15.
The image is enlarged and focused on the CCD 16.

The image on the microfilm is two-dimensionally scanned, photoelectrically converted and read by a CCD. In this case, main scanning is performed on the CCD, and sub-scanning is performed on the CCD.
This is done by moving the microfilm or by moving the microfilm. The following will explain the method of moving the CCD.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above configuration, if a microfilm containing both large and small image frames is loaded, the following disadvantages occur. In other words, CCD1 in sub-scanning
If the distance to move 6 is 3 small image frames,
4 as shown in FIG. 4, and in the case of large image frame 4, as shown in FIG. Conventionally, the operator looked at the image on a monitor screen ₃₀₁ , etc., judged its size, and then instructed the sub-scan length and print paper size, or included the frame size in the search data. There was an inconvenience in having to enter the information shown.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1037/1983 discloses that notches are provided on the sides of each frame on a film, and the size of the frame is determined by measuring the distance between the notches. In this method, after the notch of the frame to be printed is detected by a notch detector, the film is fed until the notch detector detects the notch of the next frame, and the pulse signal generated during this feeding is recorded by a counter. The notch of the desired frame to be printed is detected by counting the notches, determining the frame size by measuring the interval between the notches, and then feeding the frame whose size has been determined to the printing position. There is a problem in that it takes time to copy a desired frame after printing, and especially when printing a large number of frames, the copying operation time becomes extremely long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a microfilm printer that can easily print a large number of frames in a short time without requiring manual instruction.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a feeding means for feeding a film, and first and second means for detecting marks provided corresponding to each frame on the film or a blank space between frames. The second detection means detects a mark provided on a frame of a predetermined size or a blank space between the frame and the next frame. The first frame size signal is arranged at a predetermined distance from the first detection means in the film feeding direction so as to be able to detect the blank area of the frame, and when each detection means simultaneously detects a mark or a blank area, outputs a first frame size signal. a means for outputting a second frame size signal when the first detection means detects a mark or a blank area and the second detection means does not detect a mark or a blank area; and means for outputting a second frame size signal based on the frame size signal; The present invention is characterized by having a paper size selection means for selecting a size.

[Function] When the first detecting means detects a mark or a blank area of a desired frame to be printed, the size of the desired frame can be immediately determined by the output of the second detecting means, and printing paper of a predetermined size is printed. It is possible to automatically select and immediately start printing a desired frame.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a detector for detecting the interval between marks, which includes, in addition to the normal search mark detector 5, a second mark detector 6 for detecting the search mark of the next frame. There is. 2 is a search mark for the target frame 3 to be printed, 7 and 8 are optical fibers,
9 and 10 are photoelectric conversion elements such as photodiodes;
2' is a search mark for the frame next to the target frame, 11
is an optical fiber, and 12 is the same photoelectric conversion element as 9 and 10.

In the above configuration example, when the target frame is a small image frame, when the search mark detector 5 detects the search mark 2 of the target frame 3 and stops as shown in FIG. The details of this target frame retrieval operation are well known in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-260, and will therefore be omitted here).The second mark detector 6 detects the retrieval mark 2' of the next frame.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the control circuit of the present invention. In the case of FIG. 6, photoelectric conversion elements 9, 10,
Since all of the amplifier circuits 12 detect the mark, the amplifier circuits 17, 18, and 19, which output a logic "1" signal when a mark is detected, all output a logic "1". Therefore, the AND gate 20 opens and at the same time the search mark detection signal is output, the AND gate 21 opens.
Also opens and outputs logic "1" to the AND gate 25. The output signal of the AND gate 21 is sent as a small image frame detection signal to the workstation 30, and from there to the LBP 33, where a small size print paper (for example, A4 size paper) is selected as the print paper. In this state, microfilm reading begins. That is, the CCD 16 is supplied with a read clock and a sub-scanning motor (not shown).
rotates and the CCD begins to move in the sub-scanning direction.

Next, the main scanning number signal, which is output every time one main scanning is completed, enters the clock input terminal CLK of the counter 24.
The counter 24 starts counting operation. When the number of main scans C required for small image frame scanning is reached, the counter 24
A logic “1” signal from the output C of the AND gate 2
Appears on 5th. Since the AND gate 25 is open as described above, it outputs a logic "1" signal, and the OR gate 27 outputs a scanning stop signal. With this signal
The CCD reading clock stops, the sub-scanning motor also stops, and main scanning and sub-scanning are completed. At this time, the AND gate 22 is closed because a logic "0" signal is input thereto by the inverter 23.

At this time, the CCD moves by the sub-scanning length a in FIG. 4 and is at the position indicated by the dotted line, and a hard copy output on small-sized print paper is obtained from the CBP 33.

When the next target image frame to be printed is the large image frame 4, the microfilm 1 stops in the state shown in FIG. 7 after the search operation is completed, as in the case of the small image frame 3. At that time, the search mark detector 5 detects the search mark 2, but
The second mark detector 6 has not detected the search mark 2' of the next frame.

Therefore, in FIG. 9, the outputs of amplifier circuits 17 and 18 are logic "1", but since the output of amplifier circuit 19 is logic "0", AND gates 21 and 25 are closed,
AND gates 22 and 26 are open. At this time, the signal output from the AND gate 22 is sent as a large image frame detection signal to the workstation 30, and from there to the LBP 33, where large-sized print paper (for example, A4 size paper) is selected as the print paper. Ru. In this state, reading of the microfilm starts, and the counter 2 starts reading as described above.
A main scanning number signal is input to the output C, and a logic "1" signal is eventually output to the output C, but since the AND gate 25 is closed, this signal is ignored.

Next, when the counter 24 reaches the number of main scans d (c<d) required for scanning the large image frame 4, a logic "1" signal is output from the output d of the counter 24, passes through the AND gate 26, and then passes through the OR gate 27. The signal is then output as a scanning stop signal. This signal causes the CCD reading clock to stop, the sub-scanning motor to stop, and main and sub-scanning to be completed. At this time, CCD
has finished moving the sub-scanning length b in FIG. 5, and has moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line. Also, LBP3
3 provides a hard copy printed on large-sized paper. In other words, the CCD 16 detects the interval between search marks on the microfilm.
The scanning length is controlled and the necessary printing paper is selected.

Moreover, FIG. 8 shows a special case, that is, when the last frame of the microfilm is the target frame, and the second mark detector 6 naturally detects the next frame since there is no longer one. The search mark of the frame is never detected. This is the same whether the final frame is small image frame 3 or large image frame 4 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the scanning control circuit shown in FIG. 9 operates in exactly the same way as when the target frame is a large image frame, and when the final frame is a small image frame, extra scanning is performed, and the scanning control circuit shown in FIG. It will be a hard copy, but
Necessary information is not lost and there is no real harm.

In other words, even if for some reason the frame interval between the last frame or the next frame is longer than the predetermined frame interval, it is treated as a large image frame and processed. be.

As shown in Figure 2, microfilms have search marks not only at the front edge of each frame, but also at the center of each frame, at the rear edge, or at other locations. There are various spacings, but in one microfilm, the marks are placed at a fixed position for each frame, and the intervals between the frames are constant, and the present invention can use these microfilms. . When using these microfilms, the search mark detector 5 and the second mark detector 6 scan the microfilm in a certain range (approximately 1/2 of the frame interval) in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction. is also configured to move slightly.

Furthermore, in order to increase the margin of the detector against slight deviations in the frame interval, the configuration of the second mark detector 6 is to use a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and to increase the distance between the optical fibers of the detection section in the film feeding direction. It is preferable to arrange them with spaces between them in the same manner as the search mark detector 5.
In this case, it goes without saying that the OR signal of the outputs of the amplifier circuits for a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is used instead of the output of the amplifier circuit 19 in FIG. 9.

Furthermore, FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention, which is a microfilm printer equipped with a microfilm retrieval/reading device 31. 35
36 is a keyboard for inputting search contents, print conditions, etc., and LBP.

In such a configuration, the aforementioned small image frame detection signal or large image frame detection signal is directly transmitted from the microfilm search/reader 31 to the LBP 36.
and is used to select the paper required for each.

It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to conventional microfilm printers that perform analog optical scanning (film movement, mirror movement, lens movement, lens and light source movement, etc.). The selection of the print paper required to obtain the print is automatically made. As an analog type printer, for example, a microfilm image is optically projected onto a print paper made of a photoconductor to obtain a print, or a microfilm image is optically projected onto a photoconductor to form a print on the photoconductor. An electrophotographic copying device is used to obtain a print by transferring an image onto printing paper.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a detector for detecting the interval between marks, in which the mark detector 5 shown in FIG. Set the device 5 to the reference position I
By moving at a constant speed in the direction A shown by the arrow from Detect the interval between marks. The mark detector 5 detects the next mark 2'
After detecting , it returns to the original reference position I.

In addition, the present invention also provides a blank space 2'' between frames (Fig. 2).
can also be used as a mark.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when the first detection means detects a mark or a blank area of a desired frame to be printed, the film is not fed.
Since the size of the desired frame can be immediately determined based on the output signal of the second detection means, the printing operation for the desired image frame can be started in a short time, and as a result, the time required to copy a large number of frames can be significantly reduced. can be shortened to Further, the burden on the user is reduced, and the efficiency of use of the device can be significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an image retrieval device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of the microfilm, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the main part of the microfilm reading section, and FIG. 4 is a small A diagram showing the necessary sub-scanning length for an image frame, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the necessary sub-scanning length for a large image frame, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a mark detector when searching for a small image frame. FIG. 7 is a diagram when searching for a large image frame, FIG. 8 is a diagram when searching for the last frame, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of the control circuit of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG.
This figure is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the image search device, and FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the mark detector. 1...Microfilm, 2...Search mark,
3...Small image frame, 4...Large image frame, 5...Search mark detector, 6...Second mark detector, 1
6...CCD, 17,18,19...amplifier circuit,
20, 21, 22, 25, 26...and gate, 23...inverter, 24...counter, 27...or gate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a feeding means for feeding the film, and first and second detection means for detecting marks provided corresponding to each frame on the film or a blank space between the frames, and the second detection means includes: When the first detection means detects a mark provided on a frame of a predetermined size or a blank area, the first detection means detects a mark provided on a next frame or a blank area between the frame and the next frame. The apparatus is arranged at a predetermined distance from the means in the film feeding direction, and outputs a first frame size signal when each detecting means simultaneously detects a mark or blank area, and the first detecting means detects the mark or blank area. The present invention further includes means for outputting a second frame size signal when the second detection means does not detect a mark or a blank area when the second detection means detects a mark or a blank area, and a paper size selection means for selecting the size of printing paper based on the frame size signal. Features of microfilm printer.