JPH07104393A - Method and device for printing photograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve printing efficiency by positioning a printing frame made to coincide with a printing condition so that it is preferentially printed, reading and storing the other printing information and selecting the next-rank printing condition after the whole printing frames corresponding to the identical printing information to the printing condition are printed. CONSTITUTION:The auxiliary information recorded every frame is read while a film is carried in one direction by a film carrying means 5. That means, the information of the respective frames of the roll-like film is successively read and the whole data thereof is stored in a storage means 2. Simultaneously, the distances of the respective frames are calculated back and stored in the storage means 2. Next, the printing processing order(condition) of the whole frames is decided and the printing processing of the respective frames made to coincide with the printing order is executed while the film is rapidly carried in an identical direction. After the printing processing of the frames made to coincide with the identical printing condition is finished, the film is carried again and the printing processing of the frame made to coincide with the second printing condition is executed. In such a way, the carrying and the printing of the film are repeatedly executed for every printing condition. Then, when the printing processing of the whole frames is finished, the printing processing of the next film is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image printing method and an image printing apparatus for printing a photographed image of a photographic film on photographic paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a photographed image of a photographic film is printed on photographic paper, for example, a photographic film having different printing sizes may be printed. Also, when shooting with a camera etc., the shooting image range is changed, and it is printed in the same size as the normal shooting, so that it is possible to obtain the same effect as changing the shooting magnification without switching the shooting lens. is there.

As described above, when a photographic film having different print sizes mixed is printed or when the printing magnification is changed to obtain the same effect as changing the photographing magnification, the operator visually confirms the printing process. Are doing.

[0004]

By the way, at the time of photographing or at a reception shop, for example, a desired printing size (for example, service size, panoramic size) or a printing magnification (pseudo-zoom) can be input to the photographic film. At that time, the printing size and the printing magnification are detected for each photographic film, and also for each printing frame, and the printing paper size and the printing magnification are changed and printing is performed. The printing efficiency was poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and automatically sets the baking conditions even when the baking pieces having different baking conditions are mixed, and shortens the time for changing the settings to improve the baking efficiency. A first object of the present invention is to provide an improved image printing method and image printing apparatus.

Next, the second problem to be solved will be described.

Conventionally, when printing a film,
From the screen (main image) imprinted on the film, data such as color balance and brightness is detected by a sensor and compared with a data set (table) that has been empirically created in advance by a huge test. A method of performing a printing process by selecting a printing condition for matching data has been implemented.

However, there are cases where even a huge amount of data cannot be applied to various user shooting conditions,
There were times when it was judged that the print had bad color balance and unsuitable brightness, contrary to the user's intention, or sometimes it was a defective negative that was not suitable for printing.

As a method for easily responding to such changes, a system has been proposed in which shooting conditions and the like are recorded on the film at the time of shooting and the recorded information is used at the time of printing processing. .

In order to record the shooting conditions and the like on the film at the time of shooting, it is necessary to provide a special recording means for the shooting means (camera) in a portion which does not damage the shooting screen, and the amount of recorded information Also, because of the limited number of cameras and the fact that cameras with recording means are not widely used, laboratories that handle printing processes are forced to take very troublesome measures.

If the photographing information can be surely used, there is a great advantage that a print that is easily adapted to the user's intention can be obtained.

With respect to the printing apparatus, a huge amount of data is carried on the back, and a proper printing condition can be supplied by a simpler system rather than searching for an appropriate printing condition by comparing with individual films. Another advantage is that you can get a print.

However, in the conventional printing apparatus,
Since the film is configured to be fed frame by frame, when reading recorded information, there is a problem that the reading accuracy cannot be obtained because the film transport speed greatly changes due to film stop and transport. Also, because many users have cameras that do not have photographing information recording means, and the useful life of the cameras is long, the new system described above cannot be switched at the same time, no matter how convenient. Therefore, how to effectively cope with the time when the old type and the new type are mixed is a problem that leads to improvement of serviceability.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image printing method capable of accurately reading photographic information in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. Further, it is also possible to provide an image printing method capable of efficiently performing a photographic printing process reliably and with a high yield by one system even if a film on which shooting information is recorded and a film on which shooting information is not mixed are mixed. Is the purpose of.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, the image printing method of the present invention provides a film transporting means for supporting a developed film and transporting it through a printing exposure section, and the film transporting means. An exposure unit for transmitting and illuminating with a light source to form an optical image of the transmitted light on a photographic paper, an additional information reading unit for reading additional information recorded separately from the main image on the film, and the additional information. And a control means for controlling the printing conditions according to the above, and while the film transport means transports the entire length of the film in one direction, all the supplementary information is read and stored collectively, and then the film is reversed. While feeding, the photographic film is moved so as to prioritize the printing frame of the photographic film on which the printing information that matches the preset printing conditions is recorded, and is positioned at a predetermined printing position. After baking gutted with frame of those of the set printing condition and same baking information, is characterized in that so as to select the next order of the baking conditions.

In the above-mentioned image printing method, the second printing condition is selected so that it has a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition.

Further, the image printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a film transporting means for supporting the developed film and transporting it through the printing exposure section, and a illuminating image transmitted by the transmitted light by illuminating the film with a light source. An exposure unit for forming an image on the film, an additional information reading unit for reading additional information recorded separately from the main image on the film, a control unit for controlling the printing conditions according to the additional information, and the printing conditions. A printing condition setting means for setting, a printing information reading means for reading the printing information recorded on the photographic film, a printing information storage means for storing the read printing information, and a film transporting means for transporting the photographic film, An optical printing unit for printing the photographed image of the photographic film on photographic paper and a printing condition selection unit for selecting the printing condition are provided, and the film transport unit is provided with While conveying the film full-length in direction,
All the incidental information is read and stored in a lump, and then while the film is being fed back, a printing frame of the photographic film in which the printing information that matches the printing conditions preset by the printing condition setting means is recorded is displayed. As the priority printing process, the photographic film is moved by the film conveying means and positioned at a predetermined printing position, and at the same time as the movement of the photographic film,
Other printing information is read by the printing information reading means, stored in the printing information storage means, and after the printing information having the same printing information as the preset printing conditions is printed by the optical printing means for all printing frames, It is characterized in that the next baking condition is selected by the baking condition selecting means.

In the image printing apparatus, the printing condition selecting means selects the next printing condition with a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition.

According to the present invention, while transporting the entire length of the film in one direction, all supplementary information is read and stored in a lump, and then the film is fed in reverse and the same printing information as the preset printing condition is set. After baking all of the baking pieces, select the next baking condition and automatically set the baking conditions even when there are mixed baking pieces with different baking conditions. Is improved.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second printing condition is selected such that the one having a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition is selected, the time for changing the setting is shortened, and the printing efficiency is improved. To do.

[0021]

In the present invention, the information additionally recorded on the film separately from the main image means the information recorded by the recording means separately from the image photographed on the film as the main image. , Information using characters or symbols recorded on the peripheral portion of the film by optical writing means, or information recorded by magnetic recording means on the magnetic recording layer by providing a magnetic recording layer on the film surface And so on.

The information recorded by the optical writing means is read by the photoelectric reading means, and the information recorded by the magnetic recording means is read by the magnetic reading means.

The read information is sent to the control means for carrying out comparison and arithmetic processing, and appropriate printing processing conditions are selected for the information, and the color balance, brightness (density) is selected.
Is used to control the. In the present invention, the additional information reading may be performed by providing the reading means in the vicinity of a portion where printing exposure is performed, but when the information record is close to or overlaps with the main image, the additional information reading is performed. Since it is not preferable that the means causes a missing portion in the main image, the supplementary information is read in advance at a place other than the portion where the exposure is performed to align the image frames.

Further, the reading operation is omitted for the film in which the incidental information is not recorded, or the portion of the same film in which the incidental information is not recorded, is omitted.
It was designed to improve the work efficiency of reading and printing.

As a means for contributing to the work efficiency as described above, the film conveying means is used. The film is supported on a film conveying means, and the film is intermittently conveyed at fixed intervals to reach an image frame to be printed and exposed, and the film is stopped and printed.

Further, the supplementary information is read one by one for each film without waiting for the exposure for exposure, and the information is stored in the storage means so that the exposure for exposure is continuously performed separately. A film that does not record additional information because it reduces the loss of time required to switch the operation when performing additional information reading and printing exposure for each image frame, and that some films do not yet have additional information recorded. Regarding, in order to contribute to the improvement of work efficiency by deactivating the incidental information reading means, while conveying the entire length of the film in one direction by the film conveying means,
All the supplementary information is collectively read and stored, and then the film transport means is reversed to feed the film in reverse, and the image frame to which the supplementary information corresponds is printed on the basis of the supplementary information. The conditions were controlled so that the baking process was performed.

As described above, the matching between the supplementary information and the image frame corresponding to the supplementary information is performed by adding the frame number of the image frame to the supplementary information or storing the supplementary information in order. Sometimes, the distance information from the leading edge of the film is created according to the image frame interval of the film, stored together, and when the film is fed back as described above, the distance information is subtracted by the control means. Then, there is a method of converting the incidental information into a position in the reverse direction and matching with the reversely fed film.

In the present invention, the incidental information may be not only the photographing conditions but also the baking conditions intentionally added by the photographer, the print size information, the print shape information, the date information and the like.

[0029]

Embodiments of an image printing method and an image printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image printing apparatus.

This image printing apparatus comprises printing information reading means 1
A print information storage unit 2, a print condition setting unit 3, a print condition selection unit 4, a film transport unit 5, and an optical print unit 6. The printing information reading means 1 reads the printing information recorded on the photographic film F. Examples of the printing information include a printing size and a printing magnification. The image sticking information storage unit 2 stores the image sticking information read by the image sticking information reading unit 1. The printing condition setting means 3 drives the optical printing means 6 based on the read printing information to set the printing conditions. The printing conditions are set according to the printing information, for example, such as the printing size and the printing magnification. Printing condition selection means 4
Selects the printing conditions.

FIG. 2 is an image printing process diagram (flow chart) of this image printing apparatus.

The photographic film F is fed by the film conveying means 5.
The auxiliary information recorded for each frame of the photographic film F is read while being conveyed in one direction. That is, the supplementary information of each frame of one roll of photographic film F is sequentially read, and all the data is stored in the printing information storage means 2. At the same time, the distance of each frame of the photographic film F is calculated backward and stored in the storage means 2. Next, the printing order (conditions) of all the frames of the photographic film F is determined, and each frame that matches the printing order is printed while the photographic film F is rapidly conveyed in the same direction as described above. After the completion of the printing process of the frames having the same printing conditions, the photographic film F is rapidly transported again to perform the printing process of the frames that meet the second printing conditions. In this way, the film conveyance and the printing process are repeated for each printing condition in sequence, and the printing process of all the frames of one photographic film F is completed, and the process proceeds to the next photographic film F.

In the above-mentioned processing operation, conveyance and stop of the photographic film F are rapidly activated, whereas changes in the printing conditions, for example, movement of the lens of the printing machine for changing the printing magnification and changes in the frame, are not rapidly changed. Impossible and takes a considerable amount of time. This is because if the photographic film F in which frames with different printing conditions are mixed is sequentially conveyed one by one and the printing condition setting is changed for each frame, the time loss becomes large.

Next, more specific embodiments of the image printing method and the image printing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 3 is a plan view of a negative carrier of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a negative carrier, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a negative carrier of another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a printing state of a photographic film.

The image printing apparatus includes a printing paper transporting means 100 for transporting the printing paper P, a film transporting means 5 for transporting the photographic film F, and an optical printing means for printing the image of the photographic film F on the printing paper P. 6 and 6 are provided.
The photographic paper transporting means 100 includes a transport belt 101 and a rotary shaft 10.
2. The photographic printing paper P, which is composed of the stepping motor 103 and cut by the cutter 104, is supplied onto the conveyor belt 101 and conveyed by the conveyor belt 101. Further, the film conveying means 5 includes a negative carrier 50 and a stepping motor 5
1. The photographic film F is composed of a feed roller 52 and the like, and is conveyed while being guided by a negative carrier 50. The optical printing unit 6 is composed of a light source 60, a guide filter 61, a lens 62, a shutter 63 and the like.

The negative carrier 50 has a guide portion 50a for the photographic film F, as shown in FIG.
An exposure stage 53 is formed at the center of the. A frame code sensor 80, which reads the frame code 70 of the photographic film F, and a D of the photographic film F on the loading side of the photographic film F.
A DX sensor 81 for reading the X code 71, a screen sensor 82 for detecting a photographing screen 72 of the photographic film F, and a printing information reading means 1 for reading printing information 73 such as a printing size and a printing magnification are provided.

Further, the negative carrier 50 can be constructed as shown in FIG. The negative carrier 50 is provided with a DX sensor 81 and a printing information reading means 1 on the carry-in side of the photographic film F, and a frame code sensor 80 on the carry-out side of the photographic film F. This photographic film F
Is the frame code 70, DX code, as shown in FIG.
71, printing information 73 such as printing size information and printing magnification is recorded, and these are magnetically recorded in a photographic film having a magnetic recording layer.

The photographic film F is inserted into the negative carrier 50, and when the photographic film F is conveyed, the frame code 70 is read by the frame code sensor 80 and the DX sensor
The DX code 71 is read by 81, the photographing screen 72 of the photographic film F is detected by the screen sensor 82, and the printing information 73 such as the printing size and the printing magnification of the photographic film F is read by the printing information reading means 1. The burning information 73 read by the burning information reading means 1 is stored in the burning information storage means 2, and the burning information 73 of each burning piece is the piece number from the DX code 71 or the frame code 70 (for example, 1, 1A, 2). ) Corresponding to
Alternatively, it may be stored as a serial number from the first printing piece to the last printing piece.

Each printing frame of this photographic film F is stopped on the exposure stage 53 to print it on photographic paper.

Therefore, the photographic film F is moved by the film conveying means 5 so that the printing frame of the photographic film F on which the printing information 73 matching the printing condition preset by the printing condition setting means 3 is recorded is preferentially printed. Then, it is positioned at a predetermined printing position, and simultaneously with the movement of the photographic film F, other printing information 73 is read by the printing information reading means 1, stored in the printing information storage means 2, and preset by the optical printing means 6. After the baking conditions having the same baking information 73 as the above-mentioned baking conditions are baked for all the baking frames, the next baking condition is selected by the baking condition selecting means 4.

Based on the read printing information 73, the printing condition setting means 3 sets printing conditions such as a printing size and a printing magnification according to the printing information 73. For example, the size (for example, cut length) of photographic paper and Change the magnification of the lens. The same printing conditions as the printing conditions such as the printing size and the printing magnification are selected, the photographed image 72 of the photographic film F having the same selected printing conditions is printed on the photographic paper P, and all the printings under the same printing conditions are selected. Repeat until is finished.
By changing the following printing conditions, similarly, the same printing conditions as the printing conditions such as the changed printing size and printing magnification are selected, and the photographed image 72 of the photographic film F having the same selected printing conditions is selected. Printing is performed on the printing paper P, and the process is repeated until all printing is completed.

As described above, in order to improve the efficiency of printing, pieces of the same size or pieces of the same magnification are printed together based on the information on the printing size and the printing magnification. For example, only a frame of a certain size and magnification is printed while the photographic film F is conveyed in the backward direction. Next, the size and the magnification are changed, and the photographic film F is printed while being conveyed in the forward direction.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the change time of the printing paper size and the print magnification for changing the print size and the zoom magnification change time in the pseudo zoom print. It can be applied not only to printing cut photographic paper but also to printing roll photographic paper.

Next, a specific structure for achieving the second object of the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the photographic printing apparatus, in which the film conveying means 201 is on a main body 209 having a light source 202 for transmitted illumination and a mirror tunnel 203 for making the light source light uniform, Winding means 206, 207 and conveying rollers 210, 2
The film F is conveyed in the left-right direction by the 11 and the accumulating roller 208 and the like. The film F is clamped by the negative carrier 205 in the exposure unit 204, stopped, and is transmitted and illuminated by the light source 202, and is imaged on the photographic paper P stretched in the dark box 221 via the bellows 213 by the printing lens 212. Is exposed by printing.

The photographic printing paper P is stretched from the original winding magazine 216 to the winding magazine 217 by the conveying rollers 218, 219 and the accumulating roller 220, and is kept flat in the printing section 215.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the film conveying means and the incidental information reading means. The film F sent to the left by the conveying roller 210 is wound up by the film winding means 206. When the film F is fed to the left, the incidental information read means 222a and 222b read the incidental information recorded on the film side edge, and the information is sent to the control means 223. The permissible fluctuation range of the transport speed at this time may be within a range of ± 10% of the average transport speed. The read information is stored in the control means 223 one after another, and when one film F is completed, a reverse feed command is sent from the control means 223 to the transport means,
The transport roller 210 reverses to transport the film F to the right. Then, by the control means 223, after the transport and the positioning of each film frame of the film F are stopped, the supplementary information corresponding to the image frame is called, and the printing conditions are controlled to perform the printing process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the series of operations described above. That is, after the start, the film F is fed in one direction, the additional information is read, the distance information of the film image frame is added, and the data is stored for each film. The distance is inversely calculated, the film is reversely fed, the stored additional information is called, and the image frame is printed based on the additional information. Then, when one film is finished, the next film F is sequentially fed (one-way feed),
Repeat. For the film F on which the supplementary information as described above is not recorded, first, the supplementary information reading means 222
Since it is confirmed by a and 222b that there is no information, the control means 223 switches it, and the reading means (not shown) reads the image information from the image itself of the image frame.

Even when the film F with the additional information recorded and the film F without the additional information are mixed in this way, the printing control corresponding to each of them can be smoothly and efficiently performed by the automatic switching in the same printing apparatus.

The information additionally recorded on the film of the present invention separately from the main image is the information recorded by the recording means separately from the image photographed on the film as the main image.

In the supplementary information reading, the supplementary information is preliminarily read at a position other than the portion where the exposure is performed, and the image frames are aligned.

Further, the additional information is read one by one for each film without waiting for the printing exposure, and the information is stored in the storage means, and the printing exposure is continuously performed separately. This is to reduce the loss of time required for switching the work when reading additional information and printing exposure for each image frame.

Then, subsequently, the film transport means is reversed to feed the film F backward.

The film conveying means 5 moves the photographic film F so as to preferentially process the printing frame of the photographic film F in which the printing conditions matching the printing conditions preset by the printing condition setting means 3 are stored. Then, it is positioned at a predetermined printing position, and at the same time as the movement of the photographic film F, other printing information is read by the printing information reading means 1,
The optical printing means 6 stores the information in the printing information storage means 2 and the optical printing means 6
In step 2, after the same baking information as the preset baking conditions is printed for all the baking pieces, the baking condition setting means 4 selects the next baking condition.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photographic film is moved so as to preferentially process the printing frame of the photographic film on which the printing information that matches the preset printing conditions is recorded, and the photographic film is moved to the predetermined printing position. Positioning is performed, and at the same time when the photographic film is moved, other printing information is read and stored, and the same printing information as the preset printing conditions is printed for all printing frames, and then the next printing condition is selected. ,
Even when the baking pieces having different baking conditions are mixed, the baking conditions are automatically set, and the time for changing the setting is shortened to improve the baking efficiency.

Further, according to the present invention, since the second printing condition is selected with a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition, the time for changing the setting is shortened and the printing efficiency is improved.

Further, since the present invention is configured as described above, even if a film on which shooting information or the like is recorded as supplementary information in addition to the main image and an unrecorded film are mixed, one film can be efficiently produced. The system ensures that the photoprinting process is performed with good yield.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an image printing process of the image printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a negative carrier.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a negative carrier of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a printed state of a photographic film.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a photo printing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a film conveying unit and an additional information reading device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of reading film additional information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printing Information Reading Means 2 Printing Information Storage Means 3 Printing Condition Setting Means 4 Printing Condition Selection Means 5 Film Conveying Means 6 Optical Printing Means 201 Film Conveying Means 202 Transmitted Illumination Light Source 204 Exposure Units 205 Negative Carriers 206, 207 Film Winding Means 209 Main body 210, 211 Conveying roller 212 Printing lens 215 Printing section 216 Original winding magazine 217 Take-up magazine 218, 219 Conveying rollers 222a, 222b Additional information reading means 223 Control means F Photographic film P Printing paper

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masanori Makino 1st Sakura-cho, Hino City, Tokyo Konica Stock Company In-house

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A film transport means for supporting a developed film and transporting the film through a print exposure section, and an exposure section for transmitting and illuminating the film with a light source to form an optical image by the transmitted light on a photographic paper. It has an auxiliary information reading means for reading information additionally recorded on the film separately from the main image, and a control means for controlling the printing condition according to the additional information, and the film transport means allows one-way operation. While conveying the full length of the film, all the supplementary information is read and stored in a batch, and then while the film is being fed back, the print information of the photographic film in which the print information matching the preset printing conditions is recorded is recorded. Move the photographic film so as to perform preferential printing, position it at a predetermined printing position, print the same printing information as the previously set printing conditions for all printing frames, and then print the next printing. An image printing method characterized in that a printing condition is selected. 2. The image printing method according to claim 1, wherein the second printing condition is selected at a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition. 3. A film transport means for supporting a developed film and transporting it through a print exposure section, and an exposure section for transmitting and illuminating the film with a light source to form an optical image of the transmitted light on a photographic paper. Incidental information reading means for reading information additionally recorded on the film separately from the main image, control means for controlling the baking conditions according to the incidental information, and baking condition setting means for setting the baking conditions, A printing information reading means for reading the printing information recorded on the photographic film, a printing information storage means for storing the read printing information, a film carrying means for carrying the photographic film, and a printed image of the photographic film. An optical printing unit for printing on paper and a printing condition selection unit for selecting printing conditions are provided, and the film transporting unit transports the entire film length in one direction. , All the supplementary information is read and stored in a lump, then while the film is fed back,
The photographic film is moved by the film conveying means to a predetermined printing position so as to preferentially process the printing frame of the photographic film on which the printing information matching the printing condition preset by the printing condition setting means is recorded. Positioning, and simultaneously with the movement of this photographic film, other printing information is read by the printing information reading means and stored in the printing information storage means, and the same printing information as the preset printing conditions is set by the optical printing means. An image printing apparatus characterized by selecting the next printing conditions by the printing condition selection means after printing all the printing frames. 4. The image printing according to claim 3, wherein the printing condition selecting means selects the next printing condition with a magnification close to that of the priority printing condition. apparatus.