JPH07333756A - Method and device for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable image formation to be carried out under the optimum exposure conditions that match the kind of a photographic light source by designating a main part on a monitor image reproduced from image signals read by an image sensor, and detecting information about the colors of the main part for the identification of the kind of the photographic light source. CONSTITUTION:To reproduce a document image formed on a transparent negative film, an image sensor 106 reads an entire color document image prior to exposure onto a photographic material, and the image signals read are reproduced for display on a monitor 19, and the main part of the document image is designated by means of a main part designation means 208 while the monitor image displayed is being looked at. The kind of the photographic light source of the color document image, say, daylight, fluorescent light, morning light or evening light is identified according to information about the colors of the main part designated, and the exposure is calculated on the basis of information about the kind of the photographed document identified, information about the main part, and information about all the image signals so as to determine the proper exposure conditions, and after adjustments the document image is exposed on the photographic material and developed to reproduce a visible image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus for forming a visible reproduced image from a color original image of a negative film, a reversal film, a photograph, a printed matter, etc., and more specifically, a photographing light source for a negative film, a reversal film, etc. The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus capable of discriminating a species and performing exposure control according to the discriminated photographing light source species information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a color copying apparatus or various color printers, a reflection original such as a printed matter is usually used as a target original image. However,
With the diversification of image information recording in recent years, an image forming apparatus capable of reading an image of a transmissive positive original such as a slide, a proof, a microfilm, etc. in addition to a reflective original such as a printed matter or a photograph and recording it on a photosensitive material is put into practical use. Has been converted. In an image forming apparatus capable of using both a reflection original and a transmission positive original, a light source unit and a film scanning unit forming an exposure optical system for forming an image by the transmission positive original are loaded in the image forming apparatus, and a user The exposure optical system is selected according to the original type and the size of the transparent positive original to perform image exposure on the photosensitive material. The present applicant proposes an image forming apparatus capable of reproducing such a positive document image in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-2.
No. 44693. This image forming apparatus is provided with a manual adjustment unit for color and / or density in image formation by an exposure optical system selected according to a reflection original or a transmission positive original, and a reference chart or a standard original set for each original type is provided. The image can be reproduced and the user can easily adjust the color and / or density manually by looking at the reproduced image. A high quality image can be formed.

On the other hand, in a photographic printing apparatus for printing a transparent negative original such as a negative film or a negative original plate, since the photograph is taken by an unspecified number of general users,
Original type (including negative type, film maker, sensitivity, etc.),
Since the light source type for photographing and the photographing state of the original are not constant, the image characteristic amount such as the large area transmission density (hereinafter referred to as LATD) of the original image is obtained, and these image characteristic amounts are statistically processed to obtain an appropriate exposure. The conditions, that is, the exposure amount of one-shot exposure (especially exposure time) and the color filter condition (insertion amount) are determined. Normally, in a negative film or the like taken by a general user, since the negative type, the photographing light source type, the photographing state, etc. are not constant, the normal negative in which the color and the density are balanced is about 60 to 70% of the whole, and the density is It is said that about 20 to 30% of negatives have a density feria having a biased scene, and 5 to 10% are negatives having a color feria having a biased color. For this reason, conventionally, a transparent negative document such as a negative film has been printed by a skilled person using a printing apparatus exclusively for photography.
Other various image feature amounts are obtained, complicated processing is performed, or visual inspection (negative inspection) is performed to determine exposure conditions,
It was exposed and developed on the basis of the exposure conditions to obtain a printed image. A large number of such photographic printing apparatuses are used.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention can easily disclose an image recording apparatus and an image recording method from an original film such as a negative film in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 3-192247 and 3-192248 even if they are not skilled. is doing.

Further, the applicant of the present invention has filed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-2560.
No. 32, not only a transparent positive original image, but also a transparent positive original image such as a slide is read by an area sensor or the like, and statistical processing is performed on the image feature amount obtained not only when the photographing state is proper but also when it is not proper. By so doing, an image recording apparatus is proposed in which an appropriate exposure condition can be obtained and an appropriate image can be recorded even by an unskilled person.

[0006]

By the way, as described above, particularly in the case of a transparent negative original image, a subject having several steps as compared with a reflective original and a deviation in color or density even when compared with a transparent positive original. Many of them have feria, and in the conventional basic exposure control, daylight (daylight) is used as the standard for color adjustment. Therefore, depending on the type of light source used, a beautiful finish with well-balanced color and density can be obtained. There was a problem that I could not. For this reason, conventionally, statistically various characteristic quantities were used to determine the type of photographic light source for a negative document (negative film frame), such as daylight, fluorescent light, or tungsten light. It is difficult to accurately determine the type of photographic light source, because the color information such as background and background is not sufficiently taken into consideration.

Further, the large area average transmission density (LATD value) of the negative original image was used to obtain the deviation on the color coordinates, and the color tone was forcibly changed as a whole. Since it was not possible to reliably identify which part of the frame was the main part and which part was the color of the main part, such as gray or flesh color, the pass rate of the finished reproduced image was lowered. For example, a negative film of a person in the lawn shot in daylight has an M (magenta) taste, so
When exposed and printed with correction by ATD, the face of a person in the obtained reproduced image has an M taste. On the other hand, in the negative film in which the person in front of the wall in the room was photographed under a fluorescent lamp, the gray of the background would have an M taste. The bag has a G taste. Therefore, it has been insufficient to use LATD to determine the photographing light source type of a negative original image. Therefore, L
In addition to the ATD, there are some that use a plurality of characteristic quantities such as the average density of the negative original image, its hue, the hue of the highest density point, and the area ratio of a specific color to determine the type of the taken original. There is a problem that the pass rate of the obtained reproduced images is low because statistical processing is performed without specifying the parts and their colors.

On the other hand, in a photographic printing apparatus for one-shot exposure, a method of designating the main part and optimizing the finish of the main part from the main part information and LATD information has been proposed. Although the pass rate can be increased, there is a problem that it is not possible to correct the deviation of the color balance due to the difference of the photographing light source type which is present in about 5% in a general negative film. Further, in a conventional copying apparatus or image forming apparatus for copying a reflective original, an image can be formed from a transparent positive original such as a reversal film, but an image can be formed from a transparent negative original such as a negative film. There is no image forming apparatus capable of designating the main part, and further, it is not considered to perform image exposure on the photosensitive material by slit scanning exposure in such an apparatus. There is a problem in that the color balance cannot be easily corrected, and thus the pass rate of the obtained print reproduced image cannot be increased.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to read a color original image with an image sensor, and to designate a main part by a monitor image reproduced from the read image signal. Accurately detects color information,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and apparatus capable of accurately determining the photographing light source type of the color original image and performing image formation under the optimum exposure condition according to the photographing light source type.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention reads a color original image by an image sensor and reproduces the read image signal on a monitor.
The position of the main part of the color original image is designated in the reproduced monitor image, the photographing light source type of the color original image is discriminated based on the color information of the designated main portion, and the discriminated photographing light source type information, the main An image forming method characterized in that a proper exposure amount is determined on the basis of copy information and all image signal information, and the color original image is exposed on the photosensitive material at the determined proper exposure amount and developed to form a reproduced image. Is provided.

Here, it is preferable that the photographing light source type is any one of daylight, fluorescent light, tungsten light, sunrise and sunset, and the monitor image displayed on the monitor is calculated from the image signal. It is preferably a reproduced image processed by a large area transmission density.

According to the present invention, an image sensor for reading a color original image, a memory for storing an image signal read by the image sensor, and a color original image reproduced by using the image signal stored in the memory. A monitor to be displayed, a main part designation means for designating a main part of the color original image from the monitor display image displayed on the monitor, position information of the main part designated by the main part designation means, and storage in the memory The color information of the main portion is calculated using the image signal thus generated, and the light source type determining means for determining the light source type of the color original image based on the color information of the main portion, and the determining means determine the light source type. An exposure calculation means for calculating a proper exposure condition based on the photographed document type, the position information of the main part, and the image signal stored in the memory; Was proper exposure conditions in the exposure of the color original image on a photosensitive material, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising an image forming means for obtaining a developed and reproduced image.

[0013]

According to the image forming method of the present invention, when a transparent negative original image such as a negative film is reproduced, the entire color original image is read by the image sensor and the read image signal is monitored prior to the exposure of the photosensitive material. Is reproduced and displayed on the monitor, preferably the density is adjusted using a large area transmission density (LATD) and displayed on the monitor, and the user specifies the main portion of the original image by looking at the displayed monitor image and Depending on the color information of the main part, the photographing light source type of the color original image, for example, daylight, fluorescent light, tungsten light, morning sun,
A setting such as the setting sun is discriminated, and an exposure calculation is performed based on the discriminated photographed document type information, the main portion information, and all image signal information to obtain a proper exposure condition, for example, color and / or density, and the proper exposure is performed. After adjusting the conditions, the color original image is directly exposed on the photosensitive material and developed to form a visible reproduced image.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention implements the image forming method described above. The image of a color original is read by an image sensor, the image signal is stored in a memory, and the image is reproduced and displayed on a monitor. The main part is specified on the monitor image displayed by the specifying means, and the color information of the main part is calculated from the position information of the main part and the image signal by the photographing light source type discriminating means to discriminate the photographing original type, and the exposure calculating means. Calculates the proper exposure condition based on the photographed document type, main position information, and image signals of all color document images, and the image forming means directly exposes and develops the color document image on the photosensitive material under these proper exposure conditions. To obtain a reproduced image.

Therefore, according to the image forming method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to accurately discriminate the photographing light source type of the color original image, and therefore, regardless of the photographing light source, the visible image having the optimum finish with the density and color balance always maintained. A reproduced image can be obtained.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image forming method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus for carrying out the image forming method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagrammatic sectional view of the internal structure. FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the slit scanning exposure device and the film scanning unit. The image recording apparatus of the illustrated example is an apparatus that uses a photothermographic material that requires a heat development step as a recording material and that transfers an image to an image receiving material having an image receiving layer in the presence of an image forming solvent such as water. Yes, not only reflective originals such as printed matter and photographs and transparent positive originals such as 135-size slides and proofs, but also original images of transparent negative originals such as negative films are positive-positive photosensitive materials and negatives corresponding to the originals. A device capable of recording an image on a positive photosensitive material. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

The photosensitive material that can be used in the image recording apparatus of the present invention is one that can obtain a visible image by subjecting a latent image obtained by imagewise exposure to a predetermined visualization process. It may be of any type. Examples of the light-sensitive material include conventional color photographic light-sensitive materials (negative film, reversal film, color photographic paper, etc.), color diffusion transfer light-sensitive materials, color heat-developable light-sensitive materials, color light-sensitive pressure-sensitive materials and the like. When a positive image is formed using a reflective original such as a printed matter or a photograph or a positive original such as a transmissive positive original such as a slide or a reversal film as an original, a so-called positive-positive type photosensitive material for each of the above photosensitive materials is used. In the case of forming a positive image using a transparent negative original such as a negative film or a negative original, that is, a negative original, a so-called negative-positive type photosensitive material may be used.

The image recording apparatus 10 as described above is constructed in a box shape as a whole, and the apparatus body 12 has a front door 14
And the side door 16 and the like are attached. The inside of the apparatus main body 12 can be exposed by opening each door. Note that each door is provided with a safety device by a so-called interlock mechanism (not shown) so that the power of a predetermined portion can be turned off at the same time when the door is opened.

A platen cover 17 for holding an original placed on a platen (original plate) is detachably attached to the upper portion (left side in the drawing) of the apparatus main body 12 of the image recording apparatus 10. In addition, at the upper part (right side in the figure) of the device main body 12,
A film scanning unit 18 for copying small transparent originals such as 5 size negative films and slides is detachably mounted. When copying a relatively large transparent document such as a 4 × 5 size slide, proof, or sleeve, the platen cover 17 is removed or opened so that the transparent document is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface covering the platen. A light source unit for copying is placed. Further, in the upper part of the apparatus main body 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, behind the film scanning unit 18, prior to exposure to the photothermographic material,
A monitor 19 for displaying a document image read by a line sensor 160 described later is arranged.

The apparatus main body 1 of the image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
2 inside, the photosensitive material magazine 20 is located below the central portion.
And a photosensitive material roll 22 in which the photothermographic material A is wound in a roll shape is housed inside. The photothermographic material A is wound and housed so that its photosensitive (exposure) surface faces downward when pulled out. A drawing port for the photothermographic material A is formed in the upper right portion of the photosensitive material magazine 20 in the figure, and a pair of drawing rollers 24 for drawing and conveying the photothermographic material A from the photosensitive material magazine 20 are arranged in the vicinity thereof. ing.

Photothermographic material A of pull-out roller pair 24
The cutter 2 is provided downstream (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream”) in the conveying direction of the sheet.
6 is arranged to cut the photothermographic material A drawn from the photosensitive material magazine 20 into a predetermined length. The cutter 26 is composed of, for example, a fixed blade and a movable blade, and cuts the photothermographic material A by vertically moving the movable blade by a known means such as a cam and engaging with the fixed blade. After the operation of the cutter 26, the pull-out roller pair 24 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the photothermographic material A is fed back to the extent that the leading end is slightly sandwiched by the pull-out roller pair 24. Further, after the reverse feeding, the nip of the photothermographic material A by the pull-out roller pair 24 may be released to prevent damage to the tip portion.

On the downstream side of the cutter 26, a pair of conveying rollers 28 and 3 are arranged so as to convey the photothermographic material A upward.
No. 0, conveyance guide plates 32, 34 and 36 are arranged to convey the photothermographic material A to the exposure section 38. The exposure unit 38 is set between the pair of transport rollers 38a and 38b, and an exposure device 40 is provided on the upper portion. In the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the photothermographic material A is exposed in the exposure unit 38 while being conveyed while being defined at a predetermined position by the conveyance roller pairs 38a and 38b.
Alternatively, slit scanning exposure is performed by the slit light carrying the document image information from the film scanning unit 18.
The exposure device 40 and the film scanning unit 18 will be described later.

A conveyance guide plate 42 is provided on the side of the exposure section 38.
a and a switchback unit 4 having a transport roller pair 44
2 is provided, and a water coating section 46 is installed below the exposure section 38. The photothermographic material A, which is drawn out from the photosensitive material magazine 20 and conveyed, and exposed imagewise in the exposure section 38, is once carried into the switchback section 42 by the conveying roller pair 44 and the like, and then the conveying roller pair 44 is reversed. Is discharged from the switchback unit 42, guided by the conveyance guide plate 48, and conveyed to the water application unit 46.

The water coating section 46 has a coating tank 50 filled with an image forming solvent, and a guide member 52 arranged so as to face the coating tank 50. In addition, the water application section 4
The photothermographic material A at the upstream end of the coating tank 50 of No. 6
A supply roller 54 for carrying the toner into the coating tank 50, and a squeeze roller pair 56 for removing excess water from the photothermographic material A are arranged at the downstream end thereof. The photothermographic material A exposed in the exposure unit 38 passes between the coating tank 50 and the guide member 52 by the supply roller 54, is coated with water as an image forming solvent, and is sandwiched and conveyed by the squeeze roller pair 56. By doing so, excess water is removed.

On the bottom surface of the coating tank 50, that is, on the surface of the photothermographic material A facing the exposed surface, a plurality of rows of ribs are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the conveying direction of the photothermographic material A. The frictional resistance when the photosensitive material A passes is reduced, and at the same time, the heat-developable photosensitive material A is prevented from being scratched at a certain position. On the other hand, the guide member 52 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, is rotatably supported coaxially with the supply roller 54, and is configured to be capable of coming into contact with and separating from the coating tank 50.

A thermal development transfer section 58 is arranged downstream of the water application section, and the photothermographic material A from which excess water has been removed by the application of water and the squeeze roller pair 56 is fed.

On the other hand, an image receiving material magazine 60 is arranged on the right side of the photosensitive material magazine 20 in the drawing, and an image receiving material roll 62, in which the image receiving material B is wound in a roll shape, is housed inside. The image receiving material B is wound and stored so that the image transfer surface of the image receiving material B faces upward. Further, the image receiving material B is formed to have a smaller dimension in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the transport direction) than the photothermographic material A in order to facilitate peeling after thermal development described later. An outlet for the image receiving material B is formed in the lower left portion of the image receiving material magazine 20 in the figure, and a pull-out roller pair 64 that pulls out and conveys the image receiving material B from the image receiving material magazine 60 is arranged in the vicinity thereof. After the image receiving material B is drawn by the drawing roller pair 64, the drawing roller pair 64 releases the nipping of the image receiving material B and prevents the leading end from being damaged.

A cutter 6 is provided downstream of the pair of pull-out rollers 64.
6 is arranged and the image receiving material B pulled out from the image receiving material magazine 60 is cut into a predetermined length. Cutter 66
Is composed of, for example, a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the movable blade is moved up and down by a known means such as a cam to engage with the fixed blade to cut the image receiving material B. The image receiving material B is cut into a shorter length than the photothermographic material A in order to facilitate peeling after the heat development described later.

Downstream of the cutter 66, a pair of conveying rollers 6
8, 70 and 72 and conveyance guide plates 774, 76 and 78 are arranged, and the image receiving material B cut into a predetermined length is conveyed from below the photosensitive material magazine 20 to above and is carried into the heat development transfer section 58. Here, the pair of conveying rollers 72 also serves as a registration roller for correcting so-called skew of the conveyed image receiving material B, whereby the image receiving material B has its skew corrected and the thermal development transfer portion 58.
Be delivered to.

A laminating roller 80 for laminating the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B is arranged downstream of the squeeze roller pair 56 and the conveying roller pair 72.
The bonding roller 80 is a roller whose outer peripheral surface is covered with silicon rubber (for example, thickness 2.53 mm, hardness about 40 degrees), and is urged by a predetermined force (for example, about 9 kg) at both ends in the axial direction. It is pressed against the heating drum 82 of the heat development transfer section 58. The laminating roller 80 is connected to the drum motor 84 by a known driving force transmission system (not shown), and the driving force of the drum motor 84 is transmitted to rotate the laminating roller 80. In the copying machine 10 of the illustrated example, the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B by the bonding roller 80 are used.
The conveyance speed by the squeeze roller pair 56 and the conveyance roller pair 72 is slightly (for example, about 2%) with respect to the conveyance speed of
The photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are set to be late, and are conveyed by the bonding roller 80 while receiving a slight back tension.

The photothermographic material A comprises a squeeze roller pair 8
6 is carried in between the laminating roller 80 and the heating drum 82, while the image receiving material B is the photothermographic material A.
When the photothermographic material A is carried in by a predetermined length in advance, the photothermographic material A is carried in between the bonding roller 80 and the heating drum 82, and both are superposed. As described above, the photothermographic material A has a size slightly longer than the image receiving material B in both the width direction and the longitudinal direction (conveying direction). The image receiving material B is projected.

A cam 86 and a filler 88 are fixed to the side surface of the heating drum 82 of the heat development transfer section 58.
The cam 86 is configured to be engageable with peeling claws 90 and 92 of the heating drum 82, which will be described later, and is sequentially engaged with the peeling claws 90 and 92 to rotate by the rotation of the heating drum 82. The filler 88 is used to detect the alignment of the heating drum 82 with the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B.

Inside the heating drum 82, a pair of halogen lamps 82a and 82b are arranged. The halogen lamps 82a and 82b are each, for example, 400
It has outputs of W and 450 W, and raises the surface of the heating drum 82 to a predetermined temperature (for example, 82 ° C.). In the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, both halogen lamps 82a and 82b are used when the temperature of the heating drum 82 is raised,
In normal operation after the heating drum 82 reaches a predetermined temperature,
It is configured to use only the halogen lamp 82a.

A roller 94 is provided around the heating drum 82.
An endless belt 96 stretched around five rollers a, 94b, 94c, 94d and 94e is pressed against the rollers. The endless belt 96 has a structure in which a woven fabric material is covered with rubber.
The rollers 94a, 94b, 94c and 94d are each made of stainless steel, and the roller 94e is made of rubber.
The outer side of the endless belt 96 between 4a and 94e is pressed against the outer circumference of the heating drum 82. Further, the roller 94c is
Both ends in the axial direction have a shape in which the diameter gradually increases toward the outside of the axis, and the heating drum 82 is provided at both ends in the axial direction.
It is urged by a force of about 2 kg in a direction away from.
As a result, the endless belt 96 is kept at a constant tension to maintain the pressure contact force to the heating drum 82, and the endless belt 96 is prevented from being biased due to rotation.

As described above, the roller 94e is a rubber roller and is connected to the drum motor 84 by a known driving force transmission system (not shown). That is, the copying apparatus 1 in the illustrated example
At 0, the endless belt 96 is rotated by rotating the roller 94e, and the rotational force is transmitted by the frictional force between the endless belt 96 and the heating drum 82, and the heating drum 82 is driven.

The drum motor 84 has a plurality of driving parts, that is, a driving force transmission system (not shown) known in the art.
The roller 94e, the laminating roller 80, the squeeze roller pair 56, and the bending guide roller 97, the peeling roller 98, the photosensitive material discharge roller pairs 100 and 102, the image receiving material discharge roller pairs 104, 106 and 108, which will be described later, are driven together. ing.

The heat-developable photosensitive material A and the image receiving material B adhered by the adhering roller 80 are kept in the superposed state and are spread over almost 2/3 of the heating drum 82 (between the rollers 94a and 94e). , Heating drum 8
2 and the endless belt 96 are nipped and conveyed. In the apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the heating drum 82 rotates (that is, the roller 94 in the state where the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are completely housed between the heating drum 82 and the endless belt 96).
(rotation of e) is stopped, and the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are heated for a predetermined time. In the image formation of the illustrated example,
The photothermographic material A releases a movable dye when heated, and at the same time, this dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material B, and a visible image is formed on the image receiving surface of the image receiving material B. .

A bending guide roller 97 is arranged downstream of the roller 94e in the rotation direction of the heating drum 82. The bending guide roller 97 is a roller made of silicon rubber, and is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 82 with a predetermined force, so that the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B conveyed by the heating drum 82 and the endless belt 96 are transferred. Further convey.

The peeling claw 9 is provided downstream of the bending guide roller 97.
0 and pinch roller 110 are arranged. The peeling claw 90 is rotatably supported at its central portion, and is rotated by the action of the above-mentioned cam 86, so that the heating drum 82 is rotated.
It is possible to approach and separate from the surface of. Also, pinch roller 1
10 is normally contacted with the bending guide roller 97 with a predetermined pressure, and when the peeling claw 90 comes into contact with the heating drum 82 in accordance with the rotation of the peeling claw 90, it is separated from the bending guide roller 97. Composed.

When the photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B are conveyed to the position of the peeling claw 90, the peeling claw 90 is brought into contact with the heating drum 82 by the action of the cam 86, and they are superposed by a predetermined length in advance. The tip of the photothermographic material A is engaged with the peeling claw 90 to heat the photothermographic material A to the heating drum 82.
Peel from. When the predetermined length of the tip of the photothermographic material A is peeled from the heating drum 82, the peeling claw 90 is separated from the heating drum 82 by the action of the cam 86, and at the same time, the pinch roller 110 is brought into contact with the bending guide roller 97. The peeled end of the heat-developable photosensitive material A to the pinch roller 1
It is sandwiched by 10 and the bending guide roller 97. Therefore, the photothermographic material A separated from the heating drum 82
Is pinched and conveyed downward by the pinch roller 110 and the bending guide roller 97.

Downstream of the pinch roller 110 and the bending guide roller 97, a pair of photosensitive material discharge rollers 100 and 1 are provided.
02, a plurality of guide rollers 112, a conveyance guide plate 114
Is arranged, and the photothermographic material A separated from the heating drum 82 is conveyed downward, and further conveyed leftward in the drawing,
It is configured to be accumulated in the waste photosensitive material storage box 116. Here, the pair of photosensitive material discharge rollers 100 and 102
Is 1 to 1 than the peripheral speed of rotation of the heating drum 82.
The heat-developable photosensitive material A is set so as to be delayed by about 3% so as not to apply an excessive tension to the photothermographic material A. Further, a drying fan 124 is arranged near the transport guide plate 114 to accelerate the drying of the photothermographic material A.

A peeling roller 98 and a peeling claw 92 are arranged downstream of the bending guide roller 97 and the peeling claw 90 in the rotation direction of the heating drum 82. The peeling roller 98 is a roller made of silicon rubber having a surface roughness of 25 S or more, is brought into contact with the outer periphery of the heating drum 82 at a predetermined pressure, and is rotated by the action of the drum motor 84 as described above. On the other hand, the peeling claw 92
Is rotated by the action of the cam 86 described above, and is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 82. When the photothermographic material A is peeled off and only the image receiving material B is conveyed by the heating drum 82, the peeling claw 92 is caused by the action of the cam 86.
Comes into contact with the heating drum 82 to peel off the front end of the image receiving material B, and also comes into contact with the heating drum 82 at the peeling roller 98.
And the peeling claws 92 bend and guide the image receiving material B downward.
Transport.

Downstream of the peeling roller 98, a pair of image receiving material discharging rollers 104, 106 and 108, and a conveyance guide plate 1 are provided.
17 and 118 are arranged, and the image receiving material B separated from the heating drum 82 is conveyed further downward and leftward in the drawing,
The sheet is discharged onto a tray 126 fixed to the left side surface of the apparatus body 12. Here, the drum fan 120 is disposed near the transport guide plate 117, and accelerates the drying of the image receiving material B together with the heating by the heating drum 82. It should be noted that the drum fan 120 operates only when necessary in accordance with the atmospheric conditions in order to make the temperature distribution of the heating drum 82 uniform. Further, a ceramic heater 122 is arranged on the transport guide plate 118 to further accelerate the drying of the image receiving material B.
The temperature of the ceramic heater 122 is around 70 ° C.

The heat development transfer section 5 having the above-mentioned structure.
8 is configured as one unit as a whole, and is configured to be rotatable with respect to the apparatus main body 12 in the direction opposite to the water application section 46. Therefore, after the side door 16 of the apparatus main body 12 is opened, the heat development transfer portion 58 is moved open so that the jamming process and the like can be easily performed. The image forming means of the present invention is configured inside the apparatus main body 12 as described above.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the image recording apparatus 10
The exposure device 40 and the film scanning unit 18 will be described. The exposure device 40 is basically an exposure optical system used when copying a reflective original such as a printed matter or a photograph, and copying an image of a relatively large transparent original such as a proof or a sleeve. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the main body 12 of the image recording apparatus 10, a platen (original plate) 130 such as transparent glass for placing a reflective original and a reflective original are fixed to the original table 130. A detachable platen cover (original pressure plate) 17 is arranged. Also,
When copying an image of a relatively large transparent original such as a proof or a sleeve, the platen cover 17 is removed, and a transparent original light source unit for illuminating the transparent original placed on the original table 130 from above is predetermined. Placed in the position.

Below the document table 130, a light source 134 for exposure when copying an image of a reflection document and a reflector 13 are provided.
6 and the mirror 138 are integrally arranged in the light source unit. In the illustrated apparatus, the reflector 136 also serves as a slit that regulates the width in the scanning direction of the reflected light (or the transmitted light of the transmissive original) reflected by the reflective original emitted by the light source 134. The light source unit moves the lower surface of the document table 130 in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow a, and irradiates the reflection document with the light source 134. When copying a large transparent original using the transparent original light source unit, the light source unit scans the lower surface of the original table 130 without turning on the light source 134, and the transmitted light of the transparent original passes through the slit. .

The reflected light emitted from the light source 134, reflected by the reflection original, passed through the slit, and reflected in the predetermined direction by the mirror 138, is then reflected by the two mirrors 140a.
And 140b are incident on a mirror unit configured integrally, and are reflected in a predetermined direction along the optical path L. This mirror unit is configured to move in the same direction as the above-mentioned light source unit at a speed of 1/2.

On the downstream side of the mirror unit in the optical path L, there is arranged a lens unit 142 in which an image forming lens and a variable diaphragm for adjusting the amount of light (that is, density) are integrally formed. The variable diaphragm is composed of, for example, two light-shielding plates which are arranged so as to face each other in a direction orthogonal to the optical path L and which can be inserted into the optical path. adjust.

A color filter unit for color balance adjustment is arranged downstream of the lens unit 142. The color filter unit is, for example, a Y (yellow) filter 14
4Y, M (magenta) filter 144M, C (cyan)
It is composed of three color filter plates of filter 144Y,
The color balance of the reflected light is adjusted by adjusting the insertion amount of each color filter plate into the optical path L.

Downstream of the color filter unit in the optical path L,
Mirrors 146, 148 and 150 that reflect the reflected light in a predetermined direction are arranged. The reflected light traveling along the optical path L is reflected by each of these mirrors in a predetermined direction,
And the image is formed on the photothermographic material A, which is scanned and conveyed in the exposure section 38, for exposure. Here, the mirror 148 is configured to be rotatable, and in image recording of a reflective original and a large transparent original using the exposure device 40, FIG.
In image recording of a small transparent original T such as a color negative film using the film scanning unit 18, it is moved to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.

Further, the exposure device 40 is provided with an image sensor (not shown) for measuring the amount of reflected light for each of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a document image is prescanned to obtain an original image. After reading, the variable diaphragm of the lens unit and the insertion amount of each color filter plate of the color filter unit into the optical path L are determined.

As described above, the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example
Is a device capable of recording an image of a small transparent original such as a color negative film or a slide, and is a device main body 12
In the upper right part of the figure, a film scanning unit 18 constituting a slit scanning exposure optical system for copying an image of the transparent original T is detachably mounted, and inside the exposure device 40 which is below the film scanning unit 18, The zoom lens 152 and the mirror 154 which form the slit scanning exposure optical system of the transparent original T, and further, the moving mirror 156, the imaging lens 158, and the line sensor 160 for measuring the light quantity and color of the transmitted light of the transparent original T. Are placed.

The film scanning unit 18 includes a light source 162.
Is emitted to the transparent original T that moves in synchronization with the conveyance of the photothermographic material A, and the transmitted light that has passed through the transparent original T and passed through the slit 164 is 200% to 850% by the zoom lens 152. By enlarging and projecting on the photothermographic material A, the photothermographic material A is exposed by the transmitted light of the transmissive original T, and the image of the transmissive original T is copied.

The light source 162 may be any color light source such as a halogen lamp or a flash lamp. A reflector 166a that reflects the light from the light source 162 to the transparent original T side is disposed above the light source 162, and below the reflector 166a, the reflector 1 faces the reflector 166a.
66b is arranged to further improve the light efficiency. An opening for light to pass through is formed at the lower end of the reflector 166b.

An IR cut filter 16 for cutting infrared rays is provided downstream of the light source 162 along the optical path Lt.
8. UV cut filter 17 for cutting ultraviolet rays
A BG notch filter 172 for separating 0 and blue light and green light is arranged.

Downstream of the B-G notch filter 172,
A filter unit that adjusts the color balance of the light that illuminates the transparent original T and adjusts the color balance of the formed image is arranged. The filter unit includes a Y filter 174Y and an M filter 174.
It is composed of three color filter plates of M and C filters 174C, and a driving device 176 for inserting each filter into the optical path Lt. The adjusting device 176 includes a driving source such as a pulse motor and a known moving (transmitting) means such as a rack and pinion. When the image forming conditions are set, the color adjustment amount by the user, the exposure correction condition of the transparent original T, and the like are set. According to the color adjustment amount, each color filter is inserted in the optical path Lt by the set insertion amount. In this way, the color balance of the light irradiating the transparent original T, that is, the light exposing the photothermographic material A is adjusted by each color filter, and the color balance of the formed image is adjusted.

A variable diaphragm 1 for adjusting the amount of light (light intensity) of the light irradiating the transparent original T (that is, exposure light) is provided in the opening below the reflector 166b downstream of the filter portion.
84 is arranged, and the drive device 18 is provided in the variable diaphragm 184.
6 is provided. The variable diaphragm 184 is composed of a light-shielding plate, an ND filter having a density gradient, and the like. In the apparatus of the illustrated example, the light amount is adjusted by adjusting the amount of insertion into the optical path Lt by the device 186. Drive device 18
6 has a configuration similar to that of the driving device 176, and when the image forming conditions are set, the variable diaphragm 184 is moved according to the density adjustment amount by the user, the exposure adjustment condition of the transparent original T, and the like. , The amount of insertion of the variable diaphragm 184 into the optical path is adjusted. In this way, the exposure amount to the photothermographic material A, that is, the density of the formed image is adjusted. The amount of insertion of each filter into the optical path by the driving device 176 and the amount of insertion of the variable diaphragm 184 into the optical path by the driving device 186 are controlled by the control device 178.
Determined by

Downstream of the variable aperture 184, the slit 164 for determining the width of the exposure slit for the photothermographic material A, the color of which is adjusted by the filter portion, and the light of which the light amount (density) is adjusted by the variable aperture 184 are diffused and mixed. A diffuser glass 180 and a Fresnel lens 182 are disposed to make the light uniformly incident on the transparent original T without uneven color or uneven illumination.

The transparent original T is loaded on the scan table 188 arranged downstream of the Fresnel 182. The scan table 188 holds the transparent original T at a predetermined position and conveys the transparent original T in the arrow direction in the figure in synchronization with the conveyance of the photosensitive material A in the exposure device 40.
The transparent original T is scanned.

A transparent original T based on the scan table 188
The moving method is not particularly limited, and any known conveying means such as screw transmission, winding transmission, rack and pinion, etc. can be used. Further, the moving speed of the transparent original T is set such that the conveying speed of the photosensitive material A is 1, and the film scanning unit 1
When the copy magnification by 8 is n, it becomes 1 / n.

The transmitted light which has passed through the transparent original T has an optical path Lt.
, And enters the zoom lens 152 arranged in the exposure apparatus 40. The zoom lens 152 has a slit 1
200% to 850% of the transmitted light of the transparent original T that has passed through 64.
Then, the image is formed at the exposure position of the exposure unit 38 after being enlarged to%.

The transmitted light of the transparent original T which has passed through the Zumm lens 152 is deflected by about 90 ° in the optical path by the mirror 154, and is incident on the mirror 150 while the optical path L of the reflected light from the reflective original is aligned with the optical path. As described above, when the image of the transparent original T is copied using the film scanning unit 18, the mirror 148 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in the figure.

The transmitted light of the transparent original T which is incident on the mirror 150 and reflected downward is similar to the reflected light from the reflective original, and a predetermined amount of the photothermographic material A which is scanned and conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 38a and 38b. An image is formed at the exposure position of, and this is subjected to slit scanning exposure. Here, the transparent original T moves by the scan table 188 in synchronization with the scanning and conveying speed of the photothermographic material A, that is, when the enlargement magnification of the projection optical system is n, it is 1 / n of the photosensitive conveying speed. As a result, the transparent original T moves over the entire image area, so that the entire image of the transparent original T is scanned and exposed on the photothermographic material A.

The apparatus of the illustrated example reads the image of the transparent original T by performing a prescan before recording the image of the transparent original T, and the exposure amount at the time of image recording, that is, the Y filter 174Y, the M filter 174M in the filter section, and the Optical path Lt of three color filter plates of C filter 174C
To the optical path Lt of the variable diaphragm 184 is determined.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Zunemu lens 1
Upstream of 52, the mirror 1 that can be inserted into the optical path Lt
56 are arranged. The mirror 156 is inserted in the optical path Lt as shown by the dotted line in the drawing during pre-scanning, and deflects the transmitted light of the transparent original T by 90 °. Mirror 15
The transmitted light whose optical path is deflected by 6 is the photometric lens 15
The focus is adjusted by 8, and the line sensor 160 is made incident and forms an image.

As shown in FIG. 4, the line sensor 160 is composed of three rows of line sensors: a line sensor having an R filter, a line sensor having a G filter, and a line sensor having a B filter. Each line sensor has, for example, a 256-pixel MOS (NMOS or CMO).
S) A line sensor, which can read the image of the transparent original T with a resolution of 256 pixels per line for each color of R, G, and B.

The image data signal output of the line sensor 160 is transferred to the control device 178, and the control device 178 uses the image signal read by the line sensor 160 to display a reproduced image on the monitor 19 and to display these images. The image feature amount is obtained from the signal, an appropriate exposure condition is obtained, and the position information of the main part designated by the main part designation means in the monitor image of the monitor 19 is received to obtain accurate color information of the main part and other image features. The amount of the light source is determined, the photographing light source type is discriminated from the main part color information, and the obtained photographing light source type information, the main part information (the image feature amount of the main part) and the read image signal (the image feature amount of the entire image) Using these, the exposure conditions are corrected, and the exposure conditions obtained by further manually adjusting the color and / or density to these exposure conditions and the corrected exposure conditions are obtained. Was exposure conditions, the adjustment amount of the color and / or density corresponding to the correcting exposure conditions or manual adjustment exposure conditions, i.e. color filter 174C, 174
M, 174Y, and / or the amount of insertion of each of the variable apertures 184 into the optical path Lt is calculated, and the information signals of these insertion amounts are output to the driving device 176 of the color filter 174 and the variable aperture 184.
Of the scan table 18
In addition to the drive device (not shown) of No. 8, the drive control of the image recording device of the illustrated example is performed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 178 controls the signal processing circuit 190, the display frame memory 192, the calculation frame memory 194, the display look-up table (hereinafter referred to as LUT) 196, and the 3 × 3 matrix correction. It has a circuit 198, a luminance color separation (hereinafter referred to as YC separation) circuit 200, a video signal generation circuit 202, a CPU section 204 and a mechanical control section 206. Here, the signal processing circuit 190 is a circuit that performs various image signal processing such as dark correction, log conversion, and bright output correction on the image signal read by the line sensor 160, and the CPU unit 20.
Controlled by 4.

The display frame memory 192 is a memory for storing a color image signal of one frame (one original document) processed by the signal processing circuit 190, and is necessary for displaying a fine reproduced image on the monitor 19. Amount of image signal, eg 8 of each of 3 colors for 256 × 256
It is used to store bit data (256 × 256 × 8 × 3b). The calculation frame memory 192 is stored in the display frame memory 192, for example, in an amount necessary to calculate the exposure condition of the same color image signal of one frame (one original) processed by the signal processing circuit 190. 1/4 of the data amount, that is, each 8-bit data of three colors for 128 × 128 (128 × 128 × 8
Store x3b). The image data in the calculation frame memory is read by the CPU unit 204 for the exposure condition calculation, but may be updated after correction.

Display look-up table (LUT) 1
Under the control of the CPU unit 204, a display unit 96 displays the image data stored in the display frame memory 192 based on the large area average transmission density (LATD) value obtained by the CPU unit 204. Used to convert G and B color densities. The 3 × 3 matrix correction circuit 198 is a CP
Under the control of the U unit 204, color correction of the display R, G, B color density image data obtained by the LUT 196 is performed. Thus, R, G, B color density image data corrected by LATD is obtained. Next, the YC separation circuit 200 receives the correction circuit 19
R, G, B image data signals color-corrected by
The luminance signal of the pixel and the color difference signal obtained by subtracting the luminance signal from the R, G, B image data signals are separated and converted. Subsequently, the video signal generation circuit 202 D / A converts the YC separated image data signal to generate a video signal, and then transmits the video signal to the monitor 19.

The monitor 19 is composed of, for example, a small LCD (liquid crystal display), receives the video signal generated by the video signal generation circuit 202, reproduces the original image with good reproducibility in terms of color and density, and displays it. A main part specifying means 208 such as a mouse is connected to the monitor 19 and can specify a main part of the original image on the reproduced image displayed on the monitor screen. The monitor 19 is not limited to the LCD, and a display device such as a CRT may be used. Also, the main part designation means 208
Is not limited to the mouse, and for example, a main part of the monitor reproduced image can be designated by a cursor displayed on the monitor screen, a keyboard or the like may be used, or other means may be used. The main part position information specified by the main part specifying means 208 on the screen of the monitor 19, for example, the position information of the two-dimensional coordinates (xy coordinates, rθ coordinates, etc.) or the address information of the display frame memory 192 is the CPU part 204. Be transmitted to.

The main part of the original image in the present invention is the most important object in the original image, and in the case of a normal original, in the case of an original image including a person, the skin color in terms of the person's face and color. Part, even if it does not include people, cars, furniture, signs, animals, flowers, plants, buildings, mountains, sea,
The main part of the original image, such as the sky, that occupies the center and occupies a predetermined area or more, and is the most important part of the original image. Will be described.

The CPU section 204 forms a main part of the exposure control device 178, and performs all the slit scanning exposure of the transparent original T by the slit scanning exposure optical system including the film scanning unit 18 and the synchronous transport system of the photothermographic material. Operation, for example, operation of reading original image of original by prescan, processing of read image data, display of reproduced image on monitor 19,
Calculation of exposure conditions, accurate color information calculation of main part using designated main part position information by main part designation means 208, determination of photographing light source type by main part color information, determined photographing light source type and main part information And the adjustment of the exposure conditions using the read image data, the adjustment of the exposure conditions or the corrected exposure conditions by the manual adjustment of the color and / or the density by the manual adjustment means 210, and the appropriate exposure conditions (correction value, adjustment value) thus obtained. According to the filter 174Y
The amount of insertion of the 174M and the variable stop 184 into the optical path Lt is determined and transmitted to the mechanical control unit 206.

Here, the CPU part 204 receives the main part position information designated by the main part designating means 208,
A pixel at the main position is specified, and a predetermined number (for example, 8 pixels, 24 pixels, etc.) around the specified pixel of interest whose image signal data is not extremely different from the image signal data of the pixel of interest. Of the target pixel and the image signal data of the peripheral pixel (each color, R, G,
For each B), obtain the main concentration. In the present invention, the concentration of the main part is not limited to this, and may be obtained by another known method.
The difference between the density of the main part and the LATD obtained in this way can be used as the main part correction value, or a value in which a correction value depending on the type of photographing light source described later is added can be used as the main part correction value.

The densities of the respective colors (R, G, B) thus obtained, that is, the densities of the main parts are stored as color information of the main parts in advance in the memory of the CPU 204 or an external memory (not shown). The main part, for example, the color balance of the main part density compared with the skin color information of the person's face,
That is, the type of photographing light source is determined based on the color. For example,
When there is no tint in the color information of the person's face, which is the main part, and the color balance is balanced as a flesh color, the shooting light source is daylight, and when it is blue (B / C), the shooting light source is tungsten. It is determined that the light source is an electric light and the photographing light source when the color is pink (M) is a fluorescent light, and the light source when the color is blue (B) is the sunrise or the sunset.

The present inventor
G100 (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) is used as a reference film, various color negative films are used, and the same scene in which a person is in the center is photographed with various photographing light sources and developed, and then the person's face is lined. The measurement was performed with R, G, B sensors having the same spectral characteristics as the sensor 160. The photographing light sources used were daylight, a fluorescent lamp, and a tungsten lamp. FIG. 6 shows the obtained measurement data plotted on the color coordinates centered on gray in the reference film. As is apparent from FIG. 6, the area on the color coordinate of the skin color of the face of the person in daylight in the negative document is on the cyan (C) axis or in the vicinity of the C axis. The area on the color coordinate of the flesh color of the face of a person photographed under a fluorescent lamp on the negative document is on or near the B axis, and it can be seen that it is a flesh color with a magenta (M) taste. The area on the color coordinates of the flesh color of the face of a person photographed under a tungsten electric light in a negative document is at an intermediate position between the B axis and the C axis, and is blue (B.
C) It can be seen that the skin color has a taste.

The distribution or area of the data on the color coordinates of the skin color of the person of the photographic film under each light source as shown in FIG. 6 is stored in the memory (which can be read by the CPU unit 204), and the CPU unit 204 By comparing with the color information of the main part of the negative document calculated in step 1, the photographing light source of the negative document can be determined. It should be noted that in the present invention, the color of the main part is not limited to the skin of the person, and it is possible to specify something other than the face of the person as the main part. In this case, the difference of the photographing light source type is stored in the memory, and when the user designates the main portion in the main portion designating means 208, the type or the color of the main portion is specified or input at the same time. You can leave it.

After that, in the CPU section 204, when the negative original is photographed in daylight, L
The proper exposure condition (C, M, Y, D) calculated using the ATD and the main part density is used as it is as the optimum exposure condition. On the other hand, when the photographing light source of the negative document is a fluorescent lamp, the appropriate exposure condition corresponding to daylight photographing is
Magenta (M) key +2, yellow (Y) key-
Adjust only two steps. At this time, the cyan (C) key and the density (D) key are not adjusted. On the other hand, when the photographing light source of the negative document is a tungsten electric lamp, for example, C is adjusted by +2 key and Y is adjusted by -3 key. Further, when the negative document is one taken in the morning sun or sunset, for example, only Y is adjusted by -2 key. Here, the correction amount for one step of the color key, that is, one key is 10% with respect to the color density, and the correction amount for one step of the density key, that is, one key is 20% with respect to the color density. . As described above,
The CPU unit 204 determines optimal exposure conditions (C, M, Y, D) in consideration of the photographing light source type (information), main part density (information), and read image signal data (LATD), specifically,
C, M, Y filters 174C, 174M to the optical path Lt,
The insertion amount of 174Y and the variable stop 184 is calculated and determined.

The mechanical control unit 206 controls the driving device 176 of the color filters 174Y to 174C of the slit scanning exposure optical system and the driving device 186 of the variable diaphragm 184 to set the insertion amount of each color filter 174Y to 174C and the variable diaphragm 184 into the optical path Lt. The amount of movement, for example, if a step motor is given as the number of steps, the scan table 188 on which the transparent original T is placed by pre-scanning and main scanning is conveyed, and the photothermographic material A during main scanning is used.
The present invention controls the drive of the image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention, which performs slit scanning exposure of the transparent original T including the synchronous conveyance of the above.

By the way, the photometric line sensor 160 used in the present invention has, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 4, as described above, and the read image data is used for displaying the original image on the monitor and calculating the exposure condition. Since the same image is used for the monitor image, the monitor image displayed on the monitor 19 and the print image have a high match, and the pass rate of the reproduced print image is extremely high.

In the present invention, the spectral sensitivity of the line sensor 160, which is a photometric image sensor, is preferably matched to the spectral sensitivity of the negative heat-developable photosensitive material used, and slit scanning of a transparent negative document is performed. It is preferable to control the color and density at the time of exposure, and to control only the density at the time of exposing a transparent positive original.

As described above, in the CPU section 204, the exposure conditions in consideration of the LATD, the main part density (correction value), and the photographing light source type, specifically, the color adjustment, that is, the Y, M, and C color filters 174Y. , 174M, 174
The position of C, that is, the amount of insertion into the optical path Lt is determined.
The density adjustment amount, that is, the position of the variable diaphragm 184, that is, the amount of insertion into the optical path Lt can be similarly determined. Therefore, in the image recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example, the original image T is pre-scanned by the line sensor 1 before the slit scanning exposure (main scanning) of the photothermographic material.
It is possible to read the image at 60, display it on the monitor 19, and specify the main part to calculate an appropriate exposure condition according to the state of the original image, for example, the type of photographic light source of the negative film and the photographic state, and obtain the obtained exposure. Since the document image T can be slit-scanned and exposed on the photothermographic material under the conditions, a reproduced image to be obtained can be a high-quality image with proper density and color.
Therefore, the print image obtained by the illustrated image recording apparatus 10 has a high pass rate without failure even if it is a ferria negative by a different light source, which cannot be avoided in the past.

The image recording apparatus 10 of the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and the operation of copying the image of the transparent original T will be described below. The operator first loads the transparent original T on the scan table 188, sets the copy magnification, and then presses the start button. Then, the light source 162 is turned on, and the transparent original T
Scanning is started, and pre-scanning is started.

The light emitted from the light source 162 passes through the IR cut filter 168, the UV cut filter 170, and the BG notch filter 172 and enters the transparent original T, and transmits the image information of the transparent original T. It becomes light and passes through the slit 164. At this time, the color filters 174Y to 174C and the variable diaphragm 184 are retracted from the optical path Lt. These are transparent originals T
It may be inserted in the optical path Lt according to the standard exposure condition of.

The transmitted light which has passed through the slit 164 is shown in FIG.
Is deflected by 90 ° by a moving mirror inserted in the optical path Lt as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1, imaged on the line sensor 160 by the imaging lens 156, and photometry is performed for each color of R, G, and B. , The image of the transparent original T is separated into each color of R, G and B, and the image of the transparent original T is read with a resolution of 256 pixels per line.

The output from the line sensor 160 is transferred to the control device 178, and the control device 178 processes this output as described above, performs correction processing by, for example, LATD, and reproduces the original image read on the monitor 19. It is displayed as an image (a positive image if the transparent original T is a negative film). The operator observes this monitor display image and designates the main part by the main part designation means such as a mouse. The CPU unit 204 of the control device 178 calculates accurate color information of the main portion, that is, the main portion density using the designated main portion position information and the image signal stored in the calculation frame memory 194, and separately calculates the memory. In comparison with the color information of the main part under various photographing light sources stored in, for example, the skin color information of the face of a person, the photographing light source type of the negative film T is discriminated and Various image feature amounts are determined as described above from the type (or correction amount by this) and the main part density (information) LATD, and the optimum exposure condition, that is, each color filter in the filter unit is determined from these image feature amounts. The amount of insertion of the plates 174Y to 174C into the optical path Lt and the amount of insertion of the variable stop 184 into the optical path Lt are determined, and instructions are given to the drive devices 176 and 186.

In accordance with the exposure conditions thus determined, the driving devices 176 and 186 cause the color filter plates 174Y to 174C and the variable stop 184 to move the optical path L.
When t is inserted, the moving mirror 156 moves to the position shown by the solid line in the drawing and retracts from the optical path Lt, and the light source 162
Is turned on and scanning of the transparent original T is started, and main scanning, that is, image exposure of the transparent original T is started. As described above, the scanning speed at this time depends on the scanning speed of the photothermographic material A in the exposure section 38 and the image recording magnification.

The light emitted from the light source 162 is the IR cut filter 168, the UV cut filter 170 and the B cut filter 170.
Each of the color filters 174Y to 174Y that has passed through the G notch filter 172 and has been inserted according to the exposure conditions as described above.
The color and the density (the amount of light) are adjusted by 4C and the variable diaphragm 184 to enter the transparent original T, and become the transmitted light carrying the image information of the transparent original T and pass through the slit 164. The light that has passed through the slit 164 is the zoom lens 1
It is enlarged to a set magnification by 52 and reflected by the mirror 154. Here, as described above, since the mirror 148 is rotated to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3 during the image recording of the transparent original T, the transmitted light is reflected by the mirror 150, and the above operation is performed. An image is formed on the photothermographic material A that is drawn out from the photothermographic material magazine 20 at the same timing, cut into a predetermined length, and conveyed by the exposure unit 38, and this is subjected to slit scanning exposure.

Photothermographic material A subjected to slit scanning exposure
Is once conveyed to the switchback unit 42, then conveyed in the opposite direction and then conveyed to the water application unit 46, and after the water application unit 46 is coated with water as the image forming solvent, the above operation and timing are adjusted. The image receiving material B, which has been pulled out from the image receiving material magazine 60, cut into a predetermined length and conveyed, is bonded by the bonding roller 80 and is carried into the heat development transfer section 58. The photothermographic material A and the image receiving material B, which are nipped and conveyed by the endless belt 96 and the heating drum 82 and subjected to the heat development transfer portion, firstly, the photothermographic material A is peeled from the heating drum 82 by the peeling claw 90. Then, the image receiving material B to which the image has been transferred is separated from the heating drum 82 by the separating claw 92. The peeled photothermographic material A is guided by the transport guide plate 114 or the like and carried into the waste photosensitive material storage box 116, while the image receiving material B on which the image is transferred is guided by the transport guide plate 118 or the like. It is ejected to the tray 126 and made into a hard copy.

In the above description, the image formation using the image forming apparatus of the present invention using a transparent original, particularly a negative film as the original is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be used for image copying using a positive transparent original or image formation using a reflective original such as a printed matter or a photograph.

Although the image forming apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

[0093]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Prior to the exposure of the photosensitive material, the original image, especially a transparent negative original in which there is a possibility that color feria including density feria and color feria due to different light sources may exist, is pre-scanned, read and displayed on the monitor, Specify the main part with, from the read image signal and the main part position information, first calculate the accurate color information of the main part, and determine the shooting light source type based on this color information. Since the proper exposure conditions can be set using the main part information and the image signal, it is possible to determine the proper exposure conditions even for a document such as a negative film having a variation in the photographing light source and the photographing conditions. It is possible to obtain a print image in which color and density are properly reproduced. Also,
According to the present invention, the same sensor is used for monitoring and photometry, and its spectral sensitivity is preferably matched to the spectral sensitivity of the negative photosensitive material requiring color adjustment, so that the degree of coincidence between the monitor image and the print image is high. A print image with an optimum finish can be obtained from a negative document and a positive document (transparent positive document, reflective document). Therefore, according to the present invention, the pass rate of the printed image is high.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an exposure device and a film scanning unit of the image recording device shown in FIG.

4 is a schematic plan view of a line sensor used in the slit scanning exposure optical system of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an exposure control apparatus used in the slit scanning exposure optical system of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a distribution of skin color of a human face in a standard negative film of the same scene shot under different light sources in color coordinates.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Image Recording Device 12 Device Main Body 18 Film Scanning Unit 19 Monitor 38 Exposure Section 40 Exposure Device 42 Switchback Section 46 Water Application Section 58 Heat Development Transfer Section 80 Bonding Roller 82 Heating Drum 90, 92 Peeling Claw 96 Endless Belt 134, 162 Light source 152 Zoom lens 156 Moving mirror 158 Imaging lens 160 Line sensor 164 Slit 174C Cyan filter 174M Magenta filter 174Y Yellow filter 176, 186 Adjusting means 184 Variable aperture 188 Scan table 190 Signal processing circuit 192 Display frame memory 194 Operation frame memory 196 Look-up table for display 198 3 × 3 matrix correction circuit 200 Luminance color separation circuit 202 Video signal generation circuit 204 CPU section 206 memory Control unit 208 main unit specifying unit 210 manual color density adjusting means A photothermographic material B image receiving material

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A color original image is read by an image sensor, the read image signal is reproduced on a monitor, the position of the main portion of the color original image is designated in the reproduced monitor image, and the designated main portion is designated. The photographing light source type of the color original image is discriminated from the color information, the proper exposure amount is determined based on the discriminated photographing light source type information, the main part information and the whole image signal information, and the proper exposure amount is determined. An image forming method, which comprises exposing a color original image to a photosensitive material, developing it, and forming a reproduced image. 2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the photographing light source type is any one of daylight, fluorescent light, tungsten light, sunrise and sunset. 3. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the monitor image displayed on the monitor is a reproduced image processed by the large area transmission density calculated from the image signal. 4. An image sensor for reading a color original image, a memory for storing an image signal read by the image sensor, and a monitor for reproducing and displaying the color original image using the image signal stored in the memory. ,
The main part designation means for designating the main part of the color original image from the monitor display image displayed on the monitor, the position information of the main part designated by the main part designation means, and the image signal stored in the memory are displayed. The color information of the main part is calculated by using the color information of the main part, and the light source type determining means for determining the light source type of the color original image based on the color information of the color original image; Exposure calculation means for calculating appropriate exposure conditions based on the position information of the main part and the image signal stored in the memory;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that obtains a reproduced image by exposing and developing the color original image on a photosensitive material under the obtained proper exposure conditions.