JPH06317856A - Exposure device for image printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the distance where film is fed from starting the detection of image information till finishing exposure to a photo-sensitive material in an exposure device for an image printer. CONSTITUTION:This exposure device for the image printer is provided with a control means C controlling the actuation of a feeding means T and an exposing means P so that the image information of each frame is successively projected and exposed to a frame on a feeding terminal side from a frame on a feeding starting side by the exposing means P after successively detecting the image information of all the frames of film 2 to the frame on feeding terminal side from the frame on the feeding starting side by an image information detecting means 3. An auxiliary feeding means M feeding the film 2 so that the film 2 fed to detect the image information and ejected from the terminal part of a feeding path L may be restored to the feeding path L in a state where the starting part is positioned at a head is provided, and the control means C controls the actuation of the means M so that the film 2 is fed by the means T to be exposed continuously to the feed of the film 2 by the means T in order to detect the image information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transporting means for transporting a film having a plurality of frames along a transporting path, a light projecting means for projecting light toward an exposure position on the transporting path, and the light projecting means. Image information detecting means for detecting image information of the film portion projected by the film, and the film at the exposure amount obtained based on the detection information of the image information detecting means while projecting light by the light projecting means. Of the exposure means for projecting and exposing the image information of each frame on the photosensitive material, and after the image information of all the frames of the film is sequentially detected by the image information detecting means from the frame on the transport start side to the frame on the transport end side. Control means for controlling the operation of the carrying means and the exposing means so that the image information of each piece is sequentially projected and exposed by the exposing means from the piece on the carrying start side toward the piece on the carrying end side. Image printer An exposure apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the exposure device of such an image printer, the image information detecting means and the exposing means are necessary for projecting and exposing the image information of the film and the light projecting means necessary for detecting the image information of the film. It is configured so as to simplify the device configuration and the device management by sharing the same light projecting means. Generally, in an image printer, the image information of the film is detected by the image information detecting means, and the exposing means is exposed with the exposure amount obtained from the detected information. Exposed
For example, for convenience of management of the photosensitive material such as photographic paper, the film information is sequentially detected by the image information detecting means from the frame on the transport start side to the frame on the transport end side, and then from the frame on the transport start side. The image information of each frame is sequentially projected and exposed by the exposing means toward the frame on the transporting end side.

Conventionally, when handling a film that has been loaded into an image printer for exposure, the image information of one film is detected while the film is being conveyed along the conveyance path, and when the detection is completed, the film is fed to the beginning side of the conveyance direction. The film is moved back along the transport path until the frame is located at the exposure position, and then the film is exposed along the transport path again while the image information of each frame of the film is sequentially exposed from the frame on the transport start side to the photosensitive material by the exposure means. I was letting it. In other words, the film once transported to detect the image information of the film is retracted,
The operation of carrying again and exposing was performed.

[0004]

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the distance that the film is conveyed from the start of the detection of the image information to the end of the exposure of the photosensitive material becomes long, and the film is damaged during the conveyance. Therefore, improvement has been desired. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to shorten the distance that the film is conveyed from the start of detection of image information to the end of exposure of a photosensitive material.

[0005]

An exposure device for an image printer according to the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a film having a plurality of frames along a conveying path, and a light projecting means for projecting light toward an exposure position on the conveying path. Means, an image information detecting means for detecting image information of the film portion projected by the light projecting means, and a light source based on the detection information of the image information detecting means while projecting light by the light projecting means. The exposure means for projecting and exposing the image information of each frame of the film on the photosensitive material at different exposure amounts, and the image information of all the frames of the film from the frame on the transport start side to the frame on the transport end side in sequence. After being detected by the information detecting means, the operation of the conveying means and the exposing means is performed so that the image information of each piece is sequentially projected and exposed by the exposing means from the piece on the conveying start side to the piece on the conveying end side. Control Be one in which the means provided,
The first characteristic configuration conveys a film that has been conveyed for the detection of the image information and discharged from the end portion of the conveyance path so as to return to the conveyance path with the start end portion located at the beginning. An auxiliary transport unit is provided, and the control unit is configured to transport the film by the transport unit for the exposure following the transport of the film by the transport unit for detecting the image information. It is configured to control the operation of the auxiliary transport means.

A second characteristic structure of the present invention is the loop according to the first characteristic structure, wherein the auxiliary conveying means conveys the film discharged from the end portion of the conveying path to the end portion of the conveying path. The auxiliary transport path, the control means performs return transport of the film to the transport path as the end portion of the film is discharged from the end portion of the transport path. , And is configured to control the operation of the auxiliary transport means. A third characteristic configuration of the present invention is that, in the second characteristic configuration, the loop-shaped auxiliary conveyance path is configured to invert the film and convey the film to the conveyance path.

[0007]

According to the first characteristic construction of the present invention, while the film is being conveyed by the conveying means under the control of the control means, the image information of all the frames of the film is sequentially conveyed from the frame on the conveying start side by the image information detecting means. It is detected by the image detecting means. When the detection is completed for all the frames and the film is discharged from the end portion of the conveyance path, the control means, in the state where the start end portion of the film in the conveyance at the time of detecting the image information is positioned at the beginning,
The auxiliary transport means is operated so that the film returns to the transport path. When the film returns from the frame on the starting end side to the transport path, the exposing means exposes the image information of each frame of the film with the exposure amount obtained based on the detection information detected by the image information detecting means in the order of returning. The material is exposed.
That is, the film conveyed for the detection of the image information of the film is exposed by returning it to the conveyance path with the end of the film which is the starting side of the conveyance at the time of the detection as the leading end.

According to the second characteristic construction of the present invention, the film discharged from the end portion of the transport path is transported through the loop-shaped auxiliary transport path under the control of the control means, and at the time of detecting the image information. The film is returned to the trailing end of the transport path with the leading end of the film being transported positioned at the beginning. The film returned to the terminal end of the transport path was subjected to exposure processing of the photosensitive material from the frame at the transport start end side at the time of image information detection to the photosensitive material by the exposure means, and the film was inserted for image information detection. It is sequentially discharged from the side. According to the third characteristic configuration of the present invention, the loop-shaped auxiliary transport path reverses the front and back of the film discharged from the end portion of the transport path and returns the film to the end portion of the transport path.

[0009]

According to the above-mentioned first characteristic construction, the film conveyed for detecting the image information of the film is exposed by returning it to the conveying path with the frame on the starting end side at the time of the detection as the head. Therefore, the distance that the film is conveyed from the start of image information detection to the end of exposure of the photosensitive material can be shortened, and the degree of damage to the film during conveyance can be reduced. According to the second characteristic configuration, in addition to the effect of the first characteristic configuration, the film for which the exposure process has been completed is sequentially ejected from the side where the film is inserted for image information detection, so the operator The exposed film can be taken out from the side where the film is inserted into the image printer, and the work amount of the operator required for handling the image printer can be reduced. According to the third characteristic constitution, in addition to the effect of the second characteristic constitution, the length of the auxiliary conveying path itself for returning the film to the conveying path in order to reverse the front and back of the film and return it to the terminal end of the conveying path. Can be shortened, and the degree to which the film is damaged during transportation can be further reduced. That is, for example, when returning a film discharged in a state of facing the front in a state of facing the front, a long transport path is required to eliminate damage due to twisting of the film, but avoiding this, the film can be avoided. The damage of can be suppressed.

[0010]

Embodiments of an image printer to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in an exposure device 1 of an image printer, a scanner unit 3 as an image information detecting means for detecting image information of a film 2 and an image of the film 2 are projected and exposed on a photographic paper 4 as a photosensitive material. A projection exposure section P as an exposure unit, an auxiliary transport path R for returning the film 2 whose image information has been detected by the scanner unit 3 to the projection exposure section P, and the film 2 of the film 2 based on the detection information of the scanner unit 3. An optimum exposure amount for projecting and exposing an image on the photographic paper 4 is calculated for each frame of the film 2 and a control unit C for controlling the operation of each unit is provided.

When one film 2 is inserted into the image printer, the image information is detected by the scanner unit 3 while the film 2 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. When the detection of the image information for one line 2 is completed, it returns to the position of the negative mask 14 which is the exposure position of the projection exposure unit P via the auxiliary transport route R. After that, the image is sequentially exposed on the photographic printing paper 4 for each frame with the exposure amount obtained by the control section C for each frame. The photographic printing paper 4 is pulled out from a magazine (not shown) that stores the photographic printing paper 4 in a roll shape in synchronism with the exposure operation of the projection exposure unit P, and is conveyed in a direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. The photographic printing paper 4 exposed by the projection exposure unit P is sent to a developing processing device (not shown) for development processing.

Each component will be described below. The projection exposure unit P has a light source 10 as a light projecting means, and a heat ray absorption filter 1 for removing infrared rays from the light emitted from the light source 10.
1, a light control filter 12 for adjusting the color balance of the light applied to the film 2, a mirror tunnel 13 for uniformly mixing the light passing through the light control filter 12, a film 2 which holds the film 2 and is exposed on the photographic paper 4. A negative mask 14 that defines the range, a printing lens 15 that forms an image of the film 2 on the photographic paper 4, and a shutter 16 are provided on the same optical axis. Guide plates 2 for sandwiching and guiding the film 2 from above and below are provided on both sides of the film 2 transport path of the negative mask 14.
2 and rollers 20 and 21 for transporting the film, respectively. These rollers 20 and 21 are connected by a belt (not shown), and the motor M1 connected to the rotating shaft of the roller 20 drives the film 2 in a linkable manner so that the direction of transport of the film 2 can be switched.

The scanner unit 3 has a CCD line sensor 30 for converting the transmitted light of the film 2 into an electric signal, a condenser lens 31 for condensing the transmitted light of the film 2 on the CCD line sensor 30, and a transmitted light of the film 2. The color filter 32 for decomposing light of each of the three primary colors of red, green and blue, and the CCD line sensor 30 for the transmitted light of the film 2
There is provided a mirror 33 that is bent in the direction of the existence of.
The scanner unit 3 is arranged such that the introduction port 34 for introducing the light to be detected is located at the end of the mirror tunnel 13 of the projection exposure unit P, and is emitted from the light source 10 of the projection exposure unit P to emit the film 2 The red, green, and blue color filters 32 are individually placed in the optical path of the light transmitted through
The light is decomposed into the light of each of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue for photometry. The light receiving elements of the CCD line sensor 30 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the film 2, and the image information of the entire image of the film 2 can be detected by detecting while the film 2 is being transported.

The auxiliary transport path R comprises a horizontal guide portion H, a vertical guide portion V, and an inclined guide portion S, and these three guide portions H, V, S form a loop-shaped transport path. The roller 40 is provided near the center of the horizontal guide H, at the boundary between the horizontal guide H and the vertical guide V, at the boundary between the vertical guide V and the tilt guide S, and near the center of the tilt guide S. , 41, 42, 43 are provided respectively, the roller 40 and the roller 41 are connected by a belt (not shown), and are driven in conjunction with each other by a motor M2 connected to the rotation shaft of the roller 41. Are connected by a belt (not shown) and are driven in conjunction with each other by a motor M3 connected to the rotation shaft of the roller 42.

In the vertical guide V, a guide plate on one side is composed of a swing guide 44, and the swing guide 44 is swung by a motor (not shown) with its upper end portion as a swing shaft to convey the film 2 shown in FIG. Posture with the path closed,
The transport path of the film 2 shown in FIG. 2 is switched to the opened posture. When the swing guide 44 is in the open posture, the film 2 can be accumulated in a loop shape as shown in FIG. Horizontal guide part H and inclined guide part S
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a movable guide 45 movable between the inlet side of the horizontal guide portion H and the outlet side of the inclined guide portion S. A motor M4 connected to the rotation axis α changes the posture so as to follow the conveyance path of both guide portions H and S, and slides by a solenoid (not shown) or the like.

A guide plate 48 advances the film 2 along the conveyance path of the film 2 other than the rollers 40, 41, 42, 43, the swing guide 44, and the moving guide 45 of the guide portions H, V, S. It regulates the direction. Further, in the auxiliary transport path R, a film end detection sensor 46 formed of an optical sensor is provided between the roller 40 and the roller 41 of the horizontal guide portion H, and a film end detection formed of an optical sensor is provided between the rollers 42 and 43. A sensor 47 is provided.
The film 2 that has passed through the negative mask 14 is conveyed so as to sequentially pass through the horizontal guide portion H, the vertical guide portion V, and the inclined guide portion S, and when the detection of the image information for one film 2 is completed, the front and back sides are reversed. The state is returned to the negative mask 14.

Next, the control of the operation of each section by the control section C will be explained based on the flow chart of FIG. The swing guide 44 and the movement guide 45 are in the initial state of the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. When the film 2 is inserted, the motors M1, M2 and M3 are actuated to convey the film 2 in the direction of arrow A, and the image information of the film 2 is transferred from the frame on the starting side to the ending side of the transportation by the scanner unit 3. The frames are sequentially detected (step # 1). When the film end detection sensor 46 detects the end of the film 2 conveyance, it is determined that one film 2 has passed through the projection exposure section P (step # 2), or the film end detection sensor 47 conveys the film 2. The detection of the image information in step # 1 is continued until it is determined that the starting end of the film 2 has reached the predetermined stop position by detecting the starting end (step # 3).

While the image information is detected by the scanner unit 3, the film 2 is conveyed and passes through the horizontal guide portion H and the vertical guide portion V of the auxiliary conveyance path R, and the starting end thereof reaches the film end detection sensor 47. Then, in step # 3, it is determined that the starting end of the film 2 has reached a predetermined stop position, and the process branches to step # 4. At this point in time, since the transport of the leading end portion of the film 2 has not stopped, the process branches to step # 5, the motor M3 is stopped to stop the transport of the leading end portion of the film 2, and the swing guide 44 is moved to the position shown in FIG. Open the posture shown (step # 6). By continuing the detection of the image information of the film 2 by the scanner unit 3 while the film 2 is being conveyed while the conveyance of the leading end portion of the film 2 is stopped, the auxiliary conveyance path R is provided with the film 2 as shown in FIG. A loop is formed.

When the detection of the image information of all the frames of one film 2 is completed and the film end detection sensor 46 detects the end of the film 2, in step # 2, the projection exposure portion P of the film 2 is passed. Is determined to have been completed, and the process branches to step # 7. Here, the motor M2 is stopped to stop the conveyance of the end portion of the film 2, and the movement guide 4
5 is moved to an upper position, that is, a posture along the conveyance path of the inclined guide portion S indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 1 and 2 (step # 8). When the movement of the movement guide 45 is completed, the motor M3 is actuated to start the conveyance of the leading end portion of the film 2 (step # 9), and the film 2 is fed at the leading end portion of the film 2 when the image information is detected. When it is positioned, it is returned toward the roller 21. At this time, at the same time, the motor M1 is operated in the direction in which the film 2 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the arrow A.

When the starting end of the film 2 reaches the roller 21, the film 2 is fed to the negative mask 14 and the light control filter 12 and the shutter 16 are adjusted so that the exposure amount obtained by the control unit C is obtained based on the detected image information. Is controlled to repeatedly convey and stop frame by frame, the photographic printing paper 4 is sequentially exposed from the frame on the transport start side to the frame on the transport end side in the order in which the image information is detected by the scanner unit 3 ( Step # 10). When the film edge detection sensor 47 detects the end of the film 2 while repeating the projection exposure in the projection exposure unit P, it is determined that the end of the film 2 has completed passing through the swing guide 44 (step # 12), and the swing is performed. Close the guide 44 (step # 1
4). When the exposure of the photographic printing paper 4 has been completed for all the frames of one film 2, the process branches to step # 15 in step # 11, and the moving guide 45 is moved to the lower position, that is, the solid line in FIGS. Move to the position shown.
The film 2 on which all the frames have been exposed is taken out of the image printer from the side where the film 2 is inserted.

Therefore, the negative mask 14 and the rollers 20, 2
1 and the guide plate 22 constitute a transport path L having the roller 21 as a terminal end, and the rollers 20, 21 and the motor M1 are
It functions as a transport unit T that transports the film 2 along the transport path L. Auxiliary transport route R and motors M2, M3
M4 constitutes auxiliary transporting means M for returning the film 2 to the transporting path L in a state where the starting end portion is located at the beginning, and the control portion C
Serves as a control unit that controls the operations of the transport unit T, the projection exposure unit P, and the auxiliary transport unit M.

[Other Embodiments] Other embodiments will be listed below. In the above embodiment, the auxiliary transport path R is formed in a loop shape of a substantially triangular shape including the horizontal guide portion H, the vertical guide portion V, and the inclined guide portion S, but is formed in a teardrop shape or a rectangular shape. May be.

In the above embodiment, the film 2 is returned to the transport path L in the loop-shaped auxiliary transport path R in a state where the film 2 is turned upside down. However, the auxiliary transport path R is formed linearly in the horizontal plane, The film 2 discharged from the trailing end of the transport path L is accumulated in the auxiliary transport path R with a configuration in which the central portion of the auxiliary transport path R can be rotated in the horizontal plane, and when the discharge is completed, the auxiliary transport is performed. Route R 180 °
Alternatively, the film may be rotated to return the film 2 to the trailing end of the feeding path L with the leading end of the feeding as the leading end.

In the above-described embodiment, in the auxiliary transport path R, the transport start end portion of the film 2 is set as the leading end and is returned to the end portion of the transport path L.
It may be formed so as to straddle over, and the film may be returned to the starting end side of the conveying path L in the projection exposure unit P, that is, the side where the film 2 is first inserted, with the conveying start end part of the film 2 as the leading end.

In the above-described embodiment, the film 2 is returned to the transport path L by the auxiliary transport path R, but a holding member for sandwiching and holding the transport start end portion of the film 2 discharged from the end portion of the transport path L is provided. When the film 2 is completely discharged from the trailing end, the holding member may be brought into close contact with the trailing end of the transport path L so that the transport start end of the film 2 is returned to the transport path L. .

In the above embodiment, the scanner unit 3 is configured using one CCD line sensor 30, the color filter 32 individually inserted in the optical path, and the like.
It is also possible to use three CCD line sensors and use the respective CCD line sensors corresponding to the three primary colors of red, green and blue. Further, instead of the CCD line sensor as the light receiving element, another light receiving element such as a MOS type may be used,
The optical path of the projection exposure unit P is divided by a half mirror etc.
Alternatively, the image information of the film 2 may be detected by a MOS image sensor.

It should be noted that reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structures of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an operating state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 film 3 image information detecting means 4 photosensitive material 10 light projecting means C control means L transport path M auxiliary transport means P exposure means R auxiliary transport path T transport means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means (T) for transporting a film (2) having a plurality of frames along a transporting path (L), and a light projecting means for projecting light toward an exposure position on the transporting path (L). 10), an image information detecting means (3) for detecting image information of the film portion projected by the light projecting means (10), and the image while projecting by the light projecting means (10). An exposure means (P) for projecting and exposing image information of each frame of the film (2) on the photosensitive material (4) with an exposure amount obtained based on the detection information of the information detection means (3); ), The image information of all the frames is sequentially detected by the image information detection means (3) from the frame on the transport start side toward the frame on the transport end side, and then from the frame on the transport start side to the frame on the transport end side. So that the image information of each frame is sequentially projected and exposed by the exposure means (P). Control means for controlling the operation of said conveying means (T) and said exposure means (P) (C)
An exposure device for an image printer, comprising: a film (2) that is transported for the detection of the image information and discharged from the end of the transport path (L). Auxiliary transporting means (M) for transporting the transporting path (L) back to the transporting path (L) is provided, and the control means (C) uses the transporting means (T) to detect the image information. The operation of the auxiliary transport means (M) is controlled so that the transport of the film (2) by the transport means (T) for the exposure is performed subsequent to the transport of the film (2). Image printer exposure device. 2. A loop-shaped transporting means for transporting the film (2) discharged from the end portion of the transport path (L) to the end portion of the transport path (L) by the auxiliary transport means (M). It is configured to include an auxiliary transport path (R), and the control means (C) discharges the end portion of the film (2) from the end portion of the transport path (L).
2. An exposure device for an image printer according to claim 1, wherein the exposure device of the image printer is configured to control the operation of the auxiliary transport means (M) so that the film (2) is transported back to the transport path (L). 3. The loop-shaped auxiliary transport path (R) comprises:
The exposure device for an image printer according to claim 2, wherein the film (2) is configured to be turned upside down and transported to the transport path (L).