JPH05333440A - Image copying device and film holding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the high accurate control of image density (AE) by using an image rotating optical system(prism) when a pied image is obtained by projecting the image of a microfilm at an exposure part as for an image copying device and to realize the arrangement of an operation switch whose workability is excellent as for a film holding device. CONSTITUTION:By previously rotating and moving the prism held by a prism holder 21 in a prescribed direction by a stepping motor 25 before an AE action, AE photometry at a position near the emitting surface of the prism can be executed within effective luminous flux by using an AE sensor 20 provided on the lower surface of a scanning case 13. In the film holding device used when image information recorded on the microfilm F is read by a reader printer or the like, the operation switch for operating the reader printer is provided in the film holding device main body. Besides, a connection cable for transmitting the operation signal of the operation switch to the reader printer is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The first invention relates to an image copying apparatus for projecting an image on an exposure unit to obtain a copied image, and more particularly, an image copying apparatus with an AE function for automatically adjusting a copying image rotating function and an exposure amount. It is about.

A second invention relates to a film holding device such as a micro reader printer.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device of this type, there is a microfilm reader printer.

This microfilm reader printer is a device for enlarging and projecting a microfilm image on a screen and, if necessary, obtaining a copy print on paper.

In an image shot on a microfilm, the frames are not always oriented in the same direction. This is due to human or mechanical mistakes at the time of shooting and unevenness in the direction of characters and patterns.

For this reason, it is necessary to provide an image rotating means in the microfilm reader printer so that an upright image can be obtained when the image on the microfilm is projected / copied.

As one of the means, a means is known in which a prism is rotatably arranged around the optical axis in the print optical path to rotate an image.

A ladder prism is mainly used as a prism for rotating an image. This prism has an optical property of rotating an image at an angle twice the rotation angle by rotating about an axis parallel to the total reflection surface. That is, according to the optical properties of the trapezoidal prism, it is possible to rotate the image by 90 ° by rotating the trapezoidal prism by 45 °, for example.

In general, a microreader printer magnifies a photographic image on a microfilm so that the image can be externally observed on a display device such as a screen or a CRT, and the magnified image is transferred to a photoreceptor. It is configured so that a copied image is formed by projecting onto a light receiving sensor such as a photosensitive drum or CCD.

At this time, a film holding device called a carrier is used to hold the microfilm and search for necessary information in the recorded image. An operation switch for taking a hard copy of the enlarged and projected image is provided on the reader printer main body side that does not hinder the movement of the carrier.

[0011]

By the way, when the above-mentioned conventional ladder prism is used, in order to reduce the aberration (distortion) due to the prism and to reduce the size of the prism, the prism P is changed as shown in FIG. It was necessary to shift the emission optical axis L2 with respect to the incident optical axis L1 and further tilt it.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, when the image density control (AE) is attempted to be performed in a structure in which the sensor 20 composed of a photoelectric conversion element is advanced and retracted in the vicinity of the exit surface of the prism P, the following problems occur. occured.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show rotation directions (three types) of the prism P and effective light beams L and A for image projection / exposure when the prism portion is viewed from the front of the reader / printer main body.
In the schematic view showing the positional relationship with the E sensor 20, as described above, since the incident optical axis L1 to the prism P and the outgoing optical axis L2 are deviated, the outgoing optical axis L is rotated with the rotation of the prism P.
2 also rotates. As a result, the effective light flux L also naturally rotates, and if a plurality of sensors 20a to 20c perform AE, some sensors may not be able to receive the effective light flux L in some cases. Accurate AE cannot be performed because erroneous information is generated from the sensor that cannot receive the effective light flux L, for example, the sensor 20a in FIG. That is, depending on the rotation direction of the prism P, AE becomes impossible. On the contrary, if the number of sensors is reduced, the same problem arises that the AE cannot be performed with high accuracy because the number of photometric samples is too small. Therefore, in order to perform AE with high accuracy, it is better that the number of sensors is larger.

On the other hand, with respect to the AE photometric position, the closer the photometric position is to the exit surface of the prism P, the wider the light amount can be measured by the sensor having the same light receiving area, which is excellent in terms of cost and size.

Further, if an operation switch of the reader / printer is provided within the working range of the carrier which is the film holding device of the above-mentioned conventional example, the image information recorded on the microfilm is searched for, and when the copying is attempted, the carrier is carried out. However, the operation switch of the reader printer had to be provided outside the working range of the carrier because the operation switch was hidden and the desired image could not be obtained.

FIG. 13 shows a conceptual diagram for explaining the working range of the carrier. 201 is a carrier body which is the body of the film holding device, 202 is a pressure plate glass on which the microfilm is set, and 208 is the maximum working range of the carrier body 201. The pressure plate glass 202 is made of two transparent flat glass plates and can hold the microfilm by sandwiching it. The carrier main body 201 of FIG. 13 holds a fish type microfilm, and it is possible to two-dimensionally move within a coordinate plane represented by X and Y in the drawing to search and hold an image recorded on the film.

Generally, the image information of the fish type microfilm is recorded in a lattice pattern, and the carrier body 201
Is moved in X-Y coordinates to search. In order to see the image of a part of the microfilm held by the platen glass 202, the carrier body 201 is moved to the range of A shown by the dotted line, and to see the image of the b part, the carrier body 201 is shown in the B line. Move to the range. Similarly, in order to see the images at the four corners (a, b, c, d) of the microfilm, the carrier body 201 must be able to move freely within the frame indicated by the dotted line.

Further, depending on the recorded image images, there are vertical image images and horizontal image images, so that the projection image must be rotated.

Then, a larger work space is required, and the inside of the chain double-dashed line 208 shown in FIG. 13 is the working range of the carrier body 201, and the operation switches of the reader / printer are not provided inside this in the present situation. is there.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view for explaining the problems of the conventional film holding device. 211 is a table, 212
Represents a screen. This figure shows a general small reader printer with a fish carrier attached.
This reader printer is designed to reduce the installation floor area, and the table surface is the fish carrier body 2
It is slightly smaller than the work range 208 of 01. A copy switch 271, a stop clear switch 272, and a plus key 27 which is a copy number setting switch.
Operation switch 207 consisting of 3, minus key 274
Is not provided on the table surface, and is provided between the screen 212 and the fish carrier. Although it seems that the operability is not sacrificed at first glance,
Actually, the arm must be lifted high in order to push the operation switch 207 of the reader / printer, and the position of the screen 212 is forced to be set upward for the operation switch 207, so that the operator looks up at the screen 212. Be forced into a different posture. This results in a considerably high degree of fatigue when handling the microfilm for a long time.

In this way, the arrangement of the operation switch 207 so as to avoid the working range of the carrier body 201 cannot avoid the enlargement of the reader / printer, and the operator is far away when he wants to make a copy after searching the image image of the film. The operation switch 207 had to be operated. In addition, the carrier body 2 is designed so that the reader printer can be made smaller and the operability is not sacrificed.
If an operation switch is provided just outside the operation range of 01, the copy switch 271 of the operation switch 207 is inadvertently touched during operation of the carrier body 201, and unnecessary copying is performed, or paper or toner is removed. Not only is it wasted, but the screen 212
Therefore, the projection image disappears, and until the copying operation of the reader printer ends, it is not possible to search for the image image and observe itself.

In view of the problems of the above-mentioned conventional example, the first invention is to provide an image copying apparatus using more sensors and capable of AE photometry at a position closer to the exit surface of the prism. And

A second aspect of the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the second aspect is to provide a film holding device which is compact and enables the arrangement of operation switches with good workability. is there.

[0024]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an image copying apparatus for obtaining a copy image by projecting an image of a microfilm on an exposure section, in an exposure path.
An image rotation optical system in which the total reflection surface of the image rotation prism is positioned parallel to the projection optical axis from the film original, and the image rotation optical system is rotatably mounted around this projection optical axis. The image rotation optical system has a driving unit for biasing and a light amount detecting unit for adjusting the image density based on the detected light amount, and the image rotating optical system is rotationally moved in a predetermined direction by the driving unit when the light amount is detected.

In the film holding device used when the image information recorded on the microfilm is read by the reader printer, an operation switch for operating the reader printer is provided in the film holding device main body, and an operation signal of the operation switch is supplied. An operation signal transmission member for transmitting to the reader / printer is provided.

[0026]

The image copying apparatus having the above structure is
By rotating the image rotation optical system (prism) in advance in a predetermined direction by the driving means, many sensors can be used to perform photometry for image density control at a position closer to the exit surface of the prism.

In the film holding device having the above-mentioned structure, the operation switch and the operation signal transmitting member of the reader / printer are provided in the film holding device main body, so that the operation switch can be arranged so as to avoid the working range of the film holding device. The reader / printer can be downsized without needing to do so, and the operation switch can be operated at the shortest distance even when making a hard copy after searching the image on the microfilm.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
It will be explained based on.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams of a microfilm reader printer as an image copying apparatus, showing a reader state and a print state, respectively.

In the figure, F is a microfilm, 1 is an illumination lamp, and 2 is a spherical mirror. The illumination light of the illumination lamp 1 illuminates the microfilm F via the mirror 3 and the condenser lens 4. Reference numeral 5 is a projection lens, 21 is a prism holder as an image rotating system to be described later, 6 and 7 are reader mirrors that form a reader optical path, and the mirror 7 is rotatably provided around a shaft portion 8. 9 is a screen. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote print mirrors that form the optical path of the printer, and are arranged in the scan case 13 so as to form a right angle with each other. This scan case 13
In order to expose and scan the image, it is moved in a direction orthogonal to the reader optical path by a driving unit (not shown). Reference numeral 14 denotes a photosensitive drum around which known image forming means such as a charging device, a developing device, and a transfer device, which are not shown, are arranged, and copying is performed on the copying paper S by an electrophotographic method. Reference numeral 15 is a paper feed cassette, and 16 is a paper discharge tray.

At the time of the leader, the scan case 13
Is stationary at a position behind the mirror 7 as shown in FIG. 1, and the image light of the microfilm F is projected on the screen 9 through the projection lens 5, the prism holder 21 and the mirrors 6, 7. To be done.

On the other hand, at the time of printing, first, the mirror 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow c shown in FIG. 1 by a driving means (not shown), and then the scan case 13 is moved in the direction of arrow d shown in FIG. (Preliminary scanning), and when the exposure start position indicated by the solid line is reached, the image light of the microfilm F is passed through the print mirrors 11 and 12 through the print mirrors 11 and 12 while being reversely moved in the direction of arrow e from that position by a clutch means (not shown). 14 is exposed by scanning. The scanning exposure is performed until the scan case 13 reaches the position shown by the chain double-dashed line.

Even after the scanning exposure is completed, the scan case 13 continues to move, and stops when it reaches the stationary position shown in FIG. After the scan case 13 is stationary, the mirror 7 is pivotally returned to the position forming the reader optical path.

A one-dimensional image sensor (C
(CD or the like) may be arranged, and a copy image may be obtained by the output of the image sensor and the laser beam printer.

Next, the AE sensor and the image rotation system will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an AE sensor, which is integrally attached to the lower surface of the scan case 13 and moves integrally during the preliminary scan of the scan case 13 described above so that the AE sensor crosses the effective light beam portion. For receiving sample light.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the prism holder 21 as an image rotating system.

In the figure, a prism holder 21 holds an image rotating prism 22 and is supported rotatably around an incident optical axis, and a gear 23 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof. And the prism holder 21 is a gear 23
Rotation is given by the stepping motor 25 via the meshing gear 24, and the stepping motor 25 rotates in accordance with the amount of rotation given by the operator from the operation section, and the prism 22 also rotates. As a result, the optical properties of the prism 22 act to rotate the image. Further, a projecting piece 26 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the prism holder 21, and a direction detecting sensor 27 is provided which detects the rotation of the projecting piece 26 and detects whether or not the prism 22 is in a predetermined direction. There is. Then, when the projecting piece 26 rotates with the rotation of the prism holder 21 and blocks the detecting portion of the sensor 27, it is detected that the prism 22 has reached a predetermined direction.

Here, by setting the predetermined direction of the prism 22 to, for example, the direction of the prism P shown in FIG. 8 and arranging the sensors 20a to 20c at the positions shown in the drawing, the prism 22 is set in the predetermined direction. With, all the sensors can always operate effectively.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system for operating this embodiment.

In the figure, the control circuit 31 is connected to an image rotation input section 32 and an AE operation switch 33 provided in an operation section (not shown), and further, to the AE sensor 2.
0, the direction detection sensor 27, the printer unit 35 that performs a series of image copying operations, and the motor drive circuit 34 are connected to the stepping motor 25.

The operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in # 1, the operator presses a copy start button (not shown), and then in # 2, it is determined whether or not the AE operation switch 33 on the operation unit is turned on by the operator in advance. If the AE operation switch 33 is not turned on in # 3, the copying by the image exposure of # 9 is performed after the preliminary scan by the movement of the scan case 13 of # 8, and the copying ends in # 10. On the other hand, A in # 2
When the E operation switch 33 is turned on, whether or not the prism 22 is positioned in the predetermined direction in # 3, that is, whether or not the projecting piece 26 of the prism holder 21 blocks the detecting portion of the direction detecting sensor 27. If it is determined that the prism 22 is not in the predetermined direction, the driving force is applied to the stepping motor 25 in # 4, and the prism 22 rotates until it reaches the predetermined direction and a signal is generated from the direction detection sensor 27. To do.

At this time, the rotation amount of the stepping motor 25 is controlled by the control circuit 31 until the prism 22 reaches a predetermined direction.
Remembered by Then, at # 5, when the prism 22 reaches the predetermined direction, the scan case 13 starts moving and a preliminary scan is performed. In step # 6, the AE sensor 20 at the time of the preliminary scan passes through the effective light beam to perform photometry for AE, and the image density is automatically determined. # 6 in A
After the E metering is completed, the stepping motor 25 rotates in the reverse direction by the amount rotated in # 3 to # 4. As a result, the image exposure is performed at the rotation angle designated by the operator in # 9, and the image copying is completed in # 10.

The image density can be adjusted by controlling the light amount of the illumination lamp 1, but the diaphragm of the projection lens 5 may be automatically changed or controlled by the developing bias of the developing device.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the second invention. 301
Is a carrier body which is the body of the film holding device, 302 is a pressure plate glass, 302 'is an opening / closing hinge of the pressure plate glass, 30
3 is a handle, 304 is a movement guide rail in the X-axis direction,
305 is a movement guide rail in the Y-axis direction, 306 is a connection cable as an operation signal transmission member, 307 is an operation switch (371 is a copy switch, 372 is a stop switch, 373 is a plus key of a copy number setting switch, 3
74 is a minus key of the copy number setting switch, 375
Indicates the clear key of the number setting switch).

The drawing shows a film holding device for holding a sheet-shaped microfilm, which is called a fish carrier, and comprises a carrier body 301 and a guide member 313 for guiding the movement of the carrier body 301.

The pressure plate glass 302 is composed of two transparent and flat float glasses, and the one shown in the figure can be opened and closed with a hinge 302 'as a fulcrum, and the lower glass not shown in the figure is a carrier body. It is fixed, and a microfilm can be sandwiched and held between two pressure plate glasses. The carrier body 301 includes a movement guide rail 304 in the X-axis direction and a movement guide rail 3 in the Y-axis direction.
05 allows free movement in the XY plane, and the operator can retrieve the image image recorded on the microfilm by holding the handle 303. Connection cable 306
Can be connected to a connector (not shown) on the reader printer side, and transmits an operation signal of an operation switch 307 provided near the handle 303 to the reader printer side.

Although not shown in the figure, the opening / closing hinge 30
2'is provided with a micro switch, and when the pressure plate glass 302 is open, the operation switches 307 do not accept any input. That is, when the pressure plate glass 302 is opened due to film exchange or the like, even if the operation switch 307 is touched by mistake, unnecessary copying is not performed.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the film holding device according to this embodiment is applied to a reader printer. As can be seen from the figure, it is not necessary to set the operation switch 307 of the reader / printer at a distant place due to the limitation of the operation range and size of the fish carrier, so that the reader / printer can be downsized and the operator can easily operate it. Key layout is feasible. Further, due to the unreasonable key arrangement, the operation switch 307 is accidentally touched during the operation of the fish carrier, unnecessary copying is performed, and paper and toner are not wasted.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the second invention.
The same components as those of the first embodiment of the second invention described above are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. 309 is an electric knob,
Reference numeral 310 represents a scan lever. This figure shows a film holding device that holds a band-shaped microfilm and can wind the film by an electric motor incorporated therein.

When the belt-shaped microfilm stored in the cartridge case is mounted, the leading end of the film is automatically loaded on the take-up reel, and the electric knob 309 can be used to fast forward or rewind.

The scan lever 310 is a lever for switching the projection area of the microfilm in the Y-axis direction so that the image images recorded in two rows on the band-shaped microfilm can be viewed separately.

In this type of film holding device, the operation switch 307 is not provided because of the wide moving range of the movable part like the film holding device (fish carrier) of FIG. The electrical equipment and the like occupy a large area, and the film holding device itself becomes large. Therefore, when the film holding device is attached to the reader printer, a table area substantially equivalent to the working range 208 of the fish carrier shown in FIG. 13 is filled. Therefore, the film holding device main body 301 is provided with an operation switch 307.

Connection cable 3 as operation signal transmitting member
06 is connectable to a connector (not shown) on the reader / printer side, and transmits an operation signal of an operation switch 307 provided near the electric knob 309 to the reader / printer side.

The connecting cable 306 is slightly different from that of FIG. In general, an operator manually operates the fish carrier as shown in FIG. 6, whereas an electric film holding device for a belt-shaped microfilm as shown in FIG. 8 is supplied with power from the reader printer side. It is a thick cable that includes not only the signal lines but also the power lines that can carry the current necessary for driving the motor.

As a matter of course, the connector portion has a common shape so that it can be connected to any film holding device regardless of the carrier for fish film or the carrier for roll film.

Although not shown in the figure, a film detection sensor is provided on the reel on the winding side, and the operation switch 7 does not accept an input when the film is not loaded.

With this structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment of the second invention can be obtained.

Although the film holding device main body 301 discloses only the operation switches used for printing, of course, the image rotation input section 32 and the AE operation switch 33 shown in the image copying apparatus with the AE function are provided. The operation unit may be provided in the film holding device body 301.

[0061]

As described above, in the first invention, A
Prior to the E operation, the prism forming the image rotation optical system is rotationally moved in a predetermined direction by the driving means in advance, so that more sensors can be used and AE photometry can be performed at a position closer to the exit surface of the prism. Therefore, there is an effect that the image density control with high efficiency and high accuracy can be made inexpensive.

In the second aspect of the invention, it is not necessary to set the operation switch of the reader printer at a remote place due to the limitation of the operating range and size of the film holding device, which leads to downsizing of the reader printer and work for the operator. It is possible to realize an operation key arrangement with good performance.

Further, due to the unreasonable key arrangement, the operation switch is accidentally touched during the operation of the film holding device,
There is no need to waste paper or toner by making unnecessary copies.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a micro-reader printer as an image copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention, showing a reader state.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the microreader printer in the same printing state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the image rotation optical system of the same.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system for operating the same.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the copying operation and the like.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a film holding device according to a first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the film device is used for a reader printer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a film holding device according to a second embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 9 is an optical path diagram of an optical system including a trapezoidal prism of a conventional image copying apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between one rotation direction of the prism and the AE sensor when the prism portion is viewed from the front direction of the reader printer body.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between another rotation direction of the prism and the AE sensor.

[FIG. 12] Similarly, another rotation direction of the prism and AE
It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship with a sensor.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a moving range of a device body of a conventional film holding device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a reader printer in which a conventional film holding device is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Micro Film 5 Projection Lens 6 Reader Mirror 7 Reader Rotating Mirror 9 Screen 11, 12 Print Mirror 14 Photosensitive Drum 20 AE Sensor 21 Prism Holder 22 Prism 25 Stepping Motor 27 Direction Detection Sensor 301 Carrier Body (Film Holding Device Body) 306 Connection Cable (operation signal transmission member) 307 Operation switch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image copying apparatus for obtaining a copy image by projecting an image on a microfilm onto an exposure section, wherein:
An image rotation optical system in which the total reflection surface of the image rotation prism is positioned parallel to the projection optical axis from the film original, and the image rotation optical system is rotatably mounted around this projection optical axis. An image characterized by having drive means for biasing and light quantity detecting means for adjusting the image density based on the detected light quantity, and at the time of detecting the light quantity, the image rotation optical system is rotationally moved in a predetermined direction by the driving means. Copying device. 2. A film holding device used when reading image information recorded on a microfilm by a reader printer, wherein an operation switch for operating the reader printer is provided in a film holding device main body, and an operation signal of the operation switch is supplied. A film holding device comprising an operation signal transmission member for transmitting to the reader printer.