JPH08166640A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a printing system facilitating various printing processing. CONSTITUTION: In the printing system 10, exposure stages 20A-20E are provided at an exposure process 12 and photosensitive material magazines 22A-22E housing photosensitive material supplied to the exposure stages 20A-20E are loaded into a photosensitive material loading part 14 connected to the exposure process 12. A mini-laboratory system 18 is constituted of a processor 16 provided on a downstream side in the printing system 10, and performs a development processing after exposure an image by supplying the photosensitive material required by respective exposure stages 20A-20E from the photosensitive material loading part 14. Various exposure systems such as a surface exposure system for a light transmissible original or a reflection original, a slit exposure system for the light transmissible original or the reflection original and a digital exposure system or the like are applied for the exposure stages 20A-20E, so that image exposure on the photosensitive material of various kinds and sizes is facilitated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print system for exposing a light-sensitive material to an image, and more particularly to a print system capable of performing various image exposure processes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image recorded on an original such as a negative film is obtained as a photographic print by exposing this photosensitive material such as photographic paper or the like and then developing this photosensitive material. A printing device that exposes an image recorded on such a negative film onto a photographic paper and a processor device that develops the image-exposed photographic paper are integrated into one.
There are printer processors used in minilabs and the like. In such a printer processor, mainly E size or L
The size is set to print quickly to a standard size.

In recent years, with the diversification of image processing, the demand for various print processing is increasing. Such demands include, for example, enlarging and printing an image recorded on a negative film and performing trimming even when the image is exposed on photographic paper. Although it is sufficient to have a double function and the like, since it is different from the normal exposure work, the time required for one printing becomes long, which hinders the quick printing work of the standard E / L size.

Not only photographic paper but also OHP (over hea
There are increasing demands for printing on film for dprojector) and reprinting such as large stretching from a positive image of photographic paper typified by photographic print. In addition to this,
With the diversification of image processing, it is necessary to print an image converted into an electric signal on a photosensitive material.

Various printer processors have been proposed for each of such diversified print processes. However, since each of them is an independent device, printing to a standard size is performed in a minilab or the like. Although the number is smaller than that of the processing, in order to meet the diversified demands of the printing processing, it is necessary to separately provide a dedicated device for performing each printing processing, which requires a large installation space.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a printing system which can cope with various printing processes.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which light emitted from a light source is imaged on a photosensitive material to perform image exposure on the photosensitive material. An exposure process including a photosensitive material loading unit to be loaded; and an exposure process including at least two exposure units capable of performing image exposure on the unexposed photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material loading unit; And an exposure operation unit that can be operated separately from the exposure unit.

A printing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the printing system according to the first aspect, characterized in that the exposure step includes an exposure section for exposing the unexposed photosensitive material by different exposure methods.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system according to the second aspect, wherein the photosensitive material loading section is different in type or size and a plurality of photosensitive materials supplied to any of the exposure sections are provided. It is characterized by being loaded.

[0010]

In the printing system of the present invention, the exposure step and the photosensitive material loading section are included, and the exposure step is provided with at least two exposure sections, at least one of which can be operated separately from other exposure sections. Then, the photosensitive material is supplied from the photosensitive material loading section to each exposure section. Therefore, it is possible to perform the exposure processing in parallel in at least two exposure units. For example, if each exposure unit can perform image exposure on the same photosensitive material, a large amount of printing processing is performed in a short time. be able to.

In addition, the printing system of the present invention is provided with an exposure section configured by different exposure methods. Thereby, for example, the exposure operation such as the magnification can be changed to perform the exposure operation on the photosensitive material in parallel.

The exposure method is a surface exposure method in which light from a light source is applied to the entire surface of the original to form reflected light or transmitted light on the photosensitive material, and the original and the photosensitive material are irradiated with slit light on the original surface. It is possible to use a slit exposure method in which transmitted light or reflected light is imaged on the photosensitive material while relatively moving the and, and a digital exposure method in which the photosensitive material is scanned and exposed by spot light according to image data converted into an electric signal. it can.

Further, in the printing system of the present invention, photosensitive materials of different types and sizes can be loaded in the photosensitive material loading section. As a result, it is possible to perform image exposure on photosensitive materials of different types and sizes in parallel.

The photosensitive material loading section is loaded with the photosensitive material used in each of the exposing sections, and the photosensitive material transport path is switched to the exposing section in which the common photosensitive material can be used. The same photosensitive material may be supplied to the same.

In such a printing system of the present invention, a plurality of exposure units may be integrally provided, or the individually provided exposure units may be arranged adjacent to each other. Further, as the exposure unit, those configured by various exposure methods can be used, and it is possible to perform the exposure work under desired exposure conditions (magnification, etc.) on images recorded on various originals. Good.

[0016]

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below.

Specific Example 1 FIGS. 1 and 2 show a print system 10 as an example of the basic configuration of the present invention. The printing system 10 includes an exposure process 12 and a photosensitive material loading unit 14 into which a photosensitive material supplied to the exposure process 12 is loaded. Further, a processor 16 for developing the photosensitive material image-exposed in the exposure step 12 is arranged on the downstream side of the printing system 10, and the printing system 10 and the processor 16 constitute a minilab 18. Has been done.

The processor 16 stores processing solutions such as a developing solution (color developing solution), a fixing solution (bleach-fixing solution), and washing water (stabilizing bath solution, rinsing solution). The imagewise exposed light-sensitive material is dipped in these processing solutions and then dried to be finished as a photographic print.

In the processor 16, transfer racks are arranged in the respective processing tanks to form a transfer path for sequentially transferring the photosensitive material from the upstream processing tank to the downstream processing tank. It is preferable that the processor 16 be capable of processing two or more types of photosensitive materials at the same time. In this specific example, as an example, the processing sections 16A and 16B are each provided with a conveyance path, and each of the photosensitive materials is processed. Parallel processing is possible.

The exposure step 12 is provided with a plurality of exposure stages 20 (in this embodiment, there are five exposure stages 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and 20E) as an exposure unit. In addition, in the sensitive material loading unit 14,
A plurality of (five in FIG. 1 as an example) magazine receivers 14A
To 14E are provided, and the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E each containing a photosensitive material can be loaded therein.

Exposure stage 20A provided in exposure step 12
As 20E, there can be applied, for example, those which image-wise expose a photosensitive material by various exposure methods as shown below.

An image surface of a transparent original such as a negative film is irradiated with uniform planar diffused light from a light source, and the transmitted light is imaged on the surface of a photosensitive material through an optical lens system to perform image exposure. Surface exposure method for original images.

A surface exposure method for a reflection original image in which uniform planar diffused light is applied to a document from a light source, and reflected light from the document is imaged on a photosensitive material through an optical lens system to perform image exposure.

Slit-shaped light is emitted from a light source onto a transparent original, and the light transmitted through the original is imaged on a photosensitive material via an optical lens system. At this time, the light source, the document, and the photosensitive material are moved relative to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slit light to move the irradiation position of the slit light from the light source to the document and the image forming position on the photosensitive material. A slit exposure method for transparent originals that exposes images by using

Slit-shaped light is emitted from a light source onto a transparent original, and the slit-shaped light reflected from the original is imaged on a photosensitive material via an optical lens system. At this time, the light source, the document, and the photosensitive material are moved relative to each other in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slit light to move the irradiation position of the slit light from the light source to the document and the image forming position on the photosensitive material. A slit exposure method for reflective originals that exposes images.

A digital exposure method in which light corresponding to an image signal converted into an electric signal (for example, an image signal converted into a digital signal) is applied to the photosensitive material to expose the photosensitive material.

In this digital exposure system, the light of the light source is changed in accordance with the time-series raster image data as image signals, the data-compressed image data and the character data, and the light is changed according to the image data. The photosensitive material may be exposed by main scanning and sub-scanning, and image exposure may be performed by converting image data converted into digital signals into analog signals.

The exposure stages 20A to 20E are constructed so as to perform image exposure by any of these exposure methods, and the size of the photosensitive material that can be exposed is set as necessary. In each of the exposure stages 20A to 20E, the exposure methods may be different, and the size of the photosensitive material that can be exposed may be the same, and the type and size of the exposure method or the photosensitive material that can be exposed are different. May be

Further, the exposure step 12 is provided with an exposure operation part (not shown) for performing an exposure process operation on each of the exposure stages 20A to 20E. Prior to the exposure process, which of the exposure stages 20A to 20E is used for exposure, information regarding the original document (whether it is a transparent original document or a reflective original document,
Information such as the document size), information regarding the photosensitive material (type, size, etc.), information regarding various exposure conditions such as exposure magnification, and the like are input.

On the other hand, the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 14 contain the photosensitive material used in any of the exposure stages 20A to 20E in the exposure step 12. As the photosensitive material to be housed and loaded in the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E, positive type or negative type, photographic paper, PET or other transparent support film of different types and various sizes are loaded. be able to.

These photosensitive materials are used in the exposure stage 20A.
To 20E, the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E store the photosensitive materials in a roll shape or when the photosensitive materials are sheet-shaped photosensitive materials in a stacked manner. . In the photosensitive material loading unit 14, the roll-shaped photosensitive material is pulled out from the photosensitive material magazine 22 to perform the exposure process 1.
When it is supplied to No. 2, it is pulled out and cut by a required length or a predetermined size.

It is preferable that the type and size of the photosensitive material loaded in each of the magazine receivers 14A to 14E are preset in the photosensitive material loading section 14. Also,
In each of the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E, an index indicating the type, size, etc. of the photosensitive material contained therein is written, and in each of the magazine receivers 14A to 14E of the photosensitive material loading unit 14,
You may make it provide the detection means which detects an index from the sensitive material magazine 22 loaded. If the type, size, etc. of the photosensitive material loaded in the photosensitive material loading unit 14 are clear, the exposure operation in the exposure step 12 can be smoothly performed.

The indexes provided in the photosensitive material magazine 22 are optical information such as preset marks and bar codes,
It can be written by various methods such as magnetic information recorded at a predetermined position. The sensitive material loading unit 14 may be provided with a photoelectric sensor, an optical information detecting unit such as a bar code reader, and a magnetic information detecting unit such as a magnetic head according to the recording method of the index. Each magazine receiving 14
It is possible to clearly determine what kind of photosensitive material is loaded in A to 14E.

The photosensitive material loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 14 is
It is extracted by the request from the exposure process 12. Such a request for the photosensitive material in the exposure step 12 is made based on the exposure condition or the like input by the above-described exposure operation unit, and the photosensitive material loading unit 14 requests the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material is requested. The transfer path of the photosensitive material provided between the loading section 14 and the exposure step 12 is switched to send the requested photosensitive material to a predetermined exposure stage 20.

At this time, the photosensitive material may be supplied to each of the exposure stages 20A to 20E from each of the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E loaded in the photosensitive material loading unit 14, but the photosensitive material may be supplied. In order to simplify the structure for supplying, it may be limited to which of the exposure stages 20A to 20E is supplied depending on the loading position of the photosensitive material magazines 22A to 22E.

In this printing system 10, as an example, the photosensitive material is exposed from the photosensitive material magazines 22A and 22B loaded in the magazine receivers 14A and 14B to the exposure stage 20.
A, 20B can be supplied to the magazine receiver 14C, 1
The photosensitive material magazines 22C and 22D loaded in 4D can be supplied to the exposure stages 20C and 20D, respectively.
In addition, the photosensitive material magazine 2 loaded in the magazine receiver 14E
The photosensitive material can be supplied from 2E to the exposure stage 20D and the exposure stage 20E.

On the other hand, between the exposure step 12 and the processor 16, it is possible to convey the photosensitive material which has been subjected to image exposure from each of the exposure stages 20A to 20E to each of the processing sections 16A and 16B of the processor 16. Which of the processing units 16A and 16B the photosensitive material is to be sent from each of the exposure stages 20A to 20E is determined, for example, from the processing state of the photosensitive material in each of the processing units 16A and 16B.

The print system 10 thus configured
Then, various exposure processes can be performed in parallel to obtain a photographic print. In addition, the exposure stages 20A to 20E
By providing a plurality of exposure stages 20 capable of processing the same photosensitive material, it is possible to rapidly perform a large amount of exposure processing in a short time. Further, by combining the exposure stage 20 that rapidly advances the exposure process and the exposure stage 20 that performs the special exposure process, various exposure operations can be smoothly advanced without mutual interference of the operations. We can answer your request for print processing.

Further, in the printing system 10 and the minilab 18 provided with the printing system 10 as described above, the photosensitive material can be conveyed between the photosensitive material loading section 14, the exposure step 12 and the processor 16 in various configurations. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive material drawn from the photosensitive material magazine 22D loaded in the magazine receiver 14D can be supplied to each of the exposure stages 20D and 20E. Further, the photosensitive material processed by the exposure stages 20A and 20B is sent to one of the processing sections 16A, and the exposure stages 20C to 2C
The photosensitive material processed in 0E may be sent to the other processing section 16B.

The print system 10 may have various configurations, for example, the photosensitive material magazines 22A and 2A.
A part of the photosensitive material loading unit 14 in which 2B is loaded and the exposure stages 20A and 20B for processing the photosensitive material supplied from the photosensitive material magazines 22A and 22B are integrated to form a part of the printing system 10. May be. Further, a processor 1 is provided in a part of the printing system 10.
A part of the minilab 18 may be configured by a minilab in which one of the six processing units 16A is integrated.

Next, specific examples 2 to 5 of the printing system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In the specific examples described below, the same members, including the members shown in the first specific example, are assigned the same reference numerals and overlapping description is omitted.

Specific Example 2 In the printing system 30 according to the specific example 2 shown in FIG. 3, negative exposure stages 34 and 36 are provided in the exposure step 32 as exposure units. In addition, the photosensitive material loading unit 38 connected to the exposure process 32
The photosensitive material magazines 40, 42, and 44 are loaded in the. The photosensitive material magazine 40 loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 38 accommodates rolled E-sized width printing paper (paper), and the sensitive material magazine 42 stores rolled L-sized width paper. It is housed. The sensitive material magazine 44 contains 8 × 10 size paper wound in a roll. Sensitive material magazine 44
As the tray, a tray formed by stacking 8 × 10 size sheet-shaped papers may be used.

In this exposure step 32, the negative exposure stages 34 and 36 are used for a general negative film (135 mm wide negative film (135
Film) is used as an original, and on one of the negative exposure stages 34, an exposure method for a transparent original is used in which the 135 film and the photosensitive material are exposed while being exposed, and recording is performed on the 135 film. This image is exposed on an E-size or L-size printing paper at a predetermined magnification.
The paper is supplied from a sensitive material sensitive material magazine 40 containing E size printing paper (paper) or a sensitive material magazine 42 containing L size paper.

In the negative exposure stage 36, 135
The image recorded on the film is so-called greatly stretched to 8 x 1
A 0 size photographic print is obtained, and the negative exposure stage 36 is supplied with paper from a photosensitive material magazine 44 containing 8 × 10 size paper of the photosensitive material loading section 38. ing. The negative exposure stage 36 is configured to perform image exposure with slit light emitted from a light source while moving the paper and the 135 film at speeds corresponding to magnifications, respectively.
It is configured by a slit exposure method for transparent originals.

The negative exposure stage 36 is provided with a function for changing the magnification, trimming and the like by using a zoom lens, a variable focus lens (varifocal lens) or the like in the exposure optical system, and only a large extension exposure is required. Instead, a special exposure process can be performed.

On the other hand, each of the negative exposure stages 34 and 36 is provided with exposure operation sections 46 and 48 (including, for example, an operation panel provided with various exposure operation switches). These exposure operation units 46 and 48
Then, various exposure-related settings such as the number of prints and exposure conditions when performing exposure processing of 135 films by the negative exposure stages 34 and 36 are performed. This exposure operation unit 46
Then, the exposure size of the E size or the L size is selected, whereby the exposure magnification is switched in the negative exposure stage 34. Further, the exposure operation section 48 is adapted to input processing information at the time of exposure such as exposure magnification and trimming, and the negative exposure stage 36 is provided with various information according to the processing conditions input from the exposure operation section 48. Exposure processing is possible.

On the downstream side of the printing system 30,
A processor 16 is provided, which constitutes a minilab 50. In addition, in this minilab 50, E size / imagewise exposed by the negative exposure stage 34
8 × 10 L size paper is sent to the processing unit 16A, developed, and image-exposed on the negative exposure stage 36.
The paper of the size is sent to the processing unit 16B and developed.

In the minilab 50 equipped with the printing system 30 as described above, when the E or L size printing process is set together with the exposure condition from the exposure operation unit 46 and the instruction to start the exposure is input, the photosensitive material is loaded. The paper is requested to the section 38 to start the exposure. In the photosensitive material loading unit 38, when the paper is supplied to the negative exposure stage 34, either the E size width or the L size width is exposed to the exposure operation unit 46.
It is designed to be selected and supplied according to the input from.

In the negative exposure stage 34, the photosensitive material loading section 3
Sequentially 135 pieces of paper of the specified size supplied from 8
The image recorded on the film is exposed and sent to the processing unit 16A of the processor 16. Since the negative exposure stage 34 uses a surface exposure method, it is possible to quickly perform image exposure on paper and obtain an E size / L size photographic print.

On the other hand, when the image recorded on the 135 film is greatly stretched and printed, the exposure condition and the like are input from the exposure operation unit 48 and the exposure process is performed by the negative exposure stage 36. In the negative exposure stage 36, the image recorded on the 135 film is enlarged and exposed on 8 inch × 10 inch photographic paper.

Since the paper for performing such large stretching has a relatively large size, when the surface exposure method is used,
At the time of exposure, it is necessary to keep the 135 film and the paper still so as to secure a wide exposure space for irradiating the entire surface of the paper with light. Here, by using a slit exposure method for the negative exposure stage 36, it is necessary to secure a large exposure space corresponding to the magnification in the transport direction (scanning direction) of the printing paper along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the slit light. However, the size of the apparatus is reduced as compared with the case where surface exposure is performed.

As described above, the negative exposure stages 34 and 36 are
The image-exposed paper is then sent to the processor 16 where it is continuously developed and finished as a photographic print.

As described above, in the print system 30, the negative exposure stage 34 is operated by the operation of the exposure operation section 46.
Thus, while the E-size or L-size general print processing is performed quickly, the negative exposure stage 36 is operated by the operation of the exposure operation section 48 provided separately from the exposure operation section 46.
Therefore, it is possible to perform special exposure processing in parallel, which requires a relatively long time for the exposure operation, and it is possible to cope with diversification of print processing for 135 films.

In the processor 16, the processing unit 16
Although separately provided as A and 16B, since the photosensitive materials exposed by the negative exposure stages 34 and 36 are both negative-type silver salt photographic papers, the processor 16 uses the same processing liquid. Development processing is possible and preferred. At this time, by providing a plurality of paper transport sequences, it is possible to prevent the mutual processing from interfering with each other and delay the progress of the processing, and it is possible to perform efficient printing processing. In particular, when the E / L size print needs to be performed quickly, it is possible to prevent the E / L size print from being stagnant because the enlarged print is processed. .

Specific Example 3 FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a print system 60 according to a specific example 3. In this printing system 60, a negative exposure stage 34 and exposure stages 64, 66, 68 are provided in the exposure step 62. In this exposure step 62, the exposure operation unit 46 to which the negative exposure stage 34 is connected and the exposure stages 64 and 66,
An exposure operation unit 70 to which 68 is connected is provided.

Further, the printing system 60 is provided with a photosensitive material loading section 72, and a minilab 80 is constituted by the processor 16 provided on the downstream side.

In the photosensitive material loading section 72, the photosensitive material magazines 40 and 42 for accommodating the papers of E size width and L size width to be supplied to the exposure stage 34, as well as the exposure stages 64 and 6 are provided.
Sensitive material magazine 7 containing photosensitive material to be supplied to 6 and 68
4, 76 and 78 are loaded.

The photosensitive material magazine 74 loaded in the photosensitive material loading section 72 accommodates L-size width photographic printing paper (AP paper) for auto-positive, which is supplied to the exposure stage 64. 76 is A for 8x10 size
The P paper is wound into a roll and accommodated therein, and the AP paper accommodated in the photosensitive material magazine 76 can be supplied to each of the exposure stages 64, 66 and 68. Further, the photosensitive material magazine 78 winds and stores an 8 × 10 size OHP auto positive film (AP film for OHP) in a roll shape.
The film can be supplied to the exposure stages 64 and 68.

On the other hand, L size and 8 × 10 size APs
The exposure stage 64 to which the paper or the AP film for OHP is supplied is configured by a slit exposure method for a transparent original, and the AP paper and the transparent original supplied from the photosensitive material loading unit 72 are moved at speeds corresponding to the exposure magnification. The exposure is performed while moving with. It should be noted that the exposure stage 64 is capable of exposure by switching the magnification depending on the photosensitive material to be image-exposed or exposure at an arbitrary magnification by a zoom lens or the like.

Further, the exposure stage 66 to which the 8 × 10 size AP paper is supplied, is a slit exposure for a reflective original for exposing the slit light emitted from the light source and reflected by the original to form an image on the AP paper. The scheme is used. Here, for example, a photographic print or the like can be used as the original, and the image recorded on the photographic print is exposed on an AP paper of 8 × 10 size. It can be enlarged and copied like a copy.

The exposure stage 68 uses a slit exposure method for a transparent original, which exposes an image recorded on a transparent original such as a film on an AP paper of 8 × 10 size and an AP film for OHP.

On the other hand, the paper exposed by the negative exposure stage 34 is sent to the processing section 16A of the processor 16 for development processing, and the photosensitive material subjected to image exposure by the exposure stages 64, 66, 68. The material (AP paper, AP film for OHP) is sent to the processing unit 16B and developed.

In the minilab 80 constructed in this way,
E size or L of the image recorded on the 135 film (negative film) by the negative exposure stage 34 and the processing unit 16A.
The print processing to the size can be performed quickly. Further, it is possible to concurrently perform positive printing in which an image recorded on a transparent original or a reflective original is printed on L size, 8 × 10 size AP paper and 8 × 10 size OHP AP film. That is, the printer processor for the negative film and the printer processor for the positive print are integrated, and the E / L size print processing can be performed quickly in a comparatively small space, and at the same time, greatly enlarged, the copy of the photographic print, the OHP are performed. Special print processing such as print processing on the application AP film can be performed in parallel.

The exposure stages 64, 66 and 68 are
Not limited to the slit exposure method, a surface exposure method may be used in which the original and the photosensitive material (AP paper, OHP AP film) are stopped at predetermined positions and exposed.

Further, it is preferable that the processor 16 connected to the printing system 60 uses the same processing liquid for the processing units 16A and 16B, but if necessary, it is possible to independently control the temperature, prepare the replenishing liquid, and process time. Control of various parameters for processing the light-sensitive material such as Taking a developing tank (color developing tank) as an example,
The temperature of each tank can be controlled separately, the concentration of the replenisher can be changed even if the same color developing solution is used, and the supply replenisher can be used for either one replenisher or each replenisher. You may add a separate chemical | medical agent, etc. As a method of changing the processing time (developing time), it is possible to change the conveying speed or change the path length (conveying path length) in the developing tank. Such processing conditions in the processor 16 may be set in advance according to the type of photosensitive material to be processed.

In the photosensitive material loading section 72, the exposure process 62 is performed.
It is sufficient to load a photosensitive material of a type and size that can be processed by. For example, in the exposure stages 64 and 68, not only positive type but also negative type photosensitive material can be exposed. Therefore, 8 × 10 size paper (for negative film) is accommodated and loaded in the photosensitive material magazine 76. be able to.

In the photosensitive material loading section 72, a photosensitive material magazine (sensing material) for storing a photosensitive material (film or the like) having a transparent support such as an OHP film (both negative type and positive type) in a roll shape. It is preferable to partition the material magazine 78) and other sensitive material magazines (sensitive material magazines 40, 42, 74, 76) to shield light.

For example, since the OHP film has a transparent support, when the other photosensitive material magazine 76 or the like is exchanged, the light irradiates the outer peripheral portion of the OHP film wound in a roll due to a light piping phenomenon. Then, not only the outer peripheral portion but also the inside is exposed to cause fog. At this time, the light sensitive material magazine 78 containing the OHP film is shielded separately from other light sensitive material magazines 76,
Even when another photosensitive material magazine 76 or the like is exchanged, it is possible to reliably prevent the OHP film in the photosensitive material magazine 78 from being inadvertently exposed, and to prevent the film from becoming unusable.

Concrete Example 4 FIG. 5 shows a printing system 100 according to Concrete Example 4. The printing system 100 includes an exposure process 102 and a photosensitive material loading unit 106. The exposure process 102 includes the negative exposure stage 3
4 and a digital exposure stage 104. Further, in the photosensitive material loading unit 106, together with the photosensitive material magazines 40 and 42, 8 × 10 size digital printing paper (D
The photosensitive material magazine 108 in which P paper) is wound into a roll and accommodated is loaded.

The digital exposure stage 104 includes a plurality of (three as an example) exposure operation units 110, 112, and 1.
14 is connected. These exposure operation units 110-1
A personal computer (not shown) having an image processing function is provided at 14, and for example, an image converted into a digital signal is displayed on a display unit such as a CRT and various image processings (for example, image correction, character data conversion, etc.) are performed. Composition,
After the gradation conversion is performed), the processed image data is output to the digital exposure stage 104 together with the information about the exposure condition.

Further, the digital exposure stage 104 has
DP paper is supplied from the photosensitive material magazine 108, and the digital exposure stage 104 scans and exposes this DP paper according to image data, exposure conditions, etc. input from the exposure operation units 110 to 114. , Is designed to record images.

In the print system 100, the minilab 120 is composed of the processor 16 connected to the downstream side, and the processing unit 1 of the processor 16 is provided.
6B image-wise exposed by the digital exposure stage 104 D
P paper is sent and developed.

On the other hand, the exposure operation sections 110 to 114 are connected to a scanner 116 for reading an image recorded on a document and converting it into a digital signal (image data), and an external storage device 118 for inputting / outputting image data. (Only the exposure operation unit 110 is shown in FIG. 5). Exposure operation section 110-1
In 14, the image data read by the scanner 116 and the image data read from the external storage device 118 are processed. In addition, the exposure operation unit 110
In 114, the processed image data can be directly output to the digital exposure stage 104, and the processed image data can be stored in the external storage device 118 and output to the digital exposure stage 104 at a predetermined timing.

The storage medium used for the external storage device 118 may be a hard disk or the like for recording image data as magnetic information, or a so-called MO disk or the like for recording as optical information can be used. It is preferable to use a recording medium having a large storage capacity. Also,
The external storage device 118 can store image data input as image data via various communication means and can output the stored image data.

Note that, for example, an MO disk applicable as a storage medium of the external storage device 118 has a large storage capacity, is small in size, and is easy to carry, and by taking out / loading the MO disk, image data to / from the external storage device 118 can be obtained. May be input / output. That is, the image data processed by another computer system is used for this MO.
The disk is stored, and this MO disk is stored in the storage device 118.
Loaded into the exposure operation unit 110-1.
14 or directly through the digital exposure stage 104
Can be transferred to and imagewise exposed.

The scanner 116 may be connected to the digital exposure stage 116 so that the scanner 116 causes the digital exposure stage 104 to perform image exposure while reading the original image. The digital exposure stage 1
A storage unit 04 is provided with a storage unit that temporarily stores image data for exposure, and the exposure operation units 110 to 11 are provided.
The image data transferred from No. 4 and the image data read by the scanner 116 are temporarily stored in this storage means, and image exposure is performed based on the stored data. As the storage means provided in the digital exposure stage 104, general data temporary storage means such as a frame memory, a FIFO memory, a line memory, a register in the CPU, and a combination thereof can be applied.

DP used for such digital exposure
For the paper, for example, a silver salt photographic type light-sensitive material that develops C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) by being exposed to light having different wavelengths and developing processing can be used. On the exposure stage 104, for example, as a digital writing device, spot light having a wavelength corresponding to each color is scanned and irradiated according to color image data to expose the DP paper.
The digital exposure stage 104 includes C, M,
Not only Y, but R (red), G (green), B (blue)
It is also possible to emit light capable of color development and to perform image exposure on a negative type color paper or a direct type color paper.

In the digital exposure stage 104,
Not only the method of main scanning and sub-scanning the spot light source of three wavelengths described above, but also image exposure may be performed using a linear light source in which a large number of point light sources such as LEDs are linearly arranged.
In addition, the CRT is used as a linear or planar light source,
When you want to display an image according to the image data on the top, CRT
The light-sensitive material may be exposed by the light emitted from.

Print system 1 configured in this way
In the minilab 120 equipped with 00, an image recorded on a general 135 film is exposed on a paper of E size / L size width at a predetermined magnification by the negative exposure stage 34 by the operation of the exposure operation unit 46, and E It is possible to obtain size / L size photographic prints.

Further, in the minilab 120, digital printing processing for image-exposing the DP paper according to the image data processed by each of the exposure operation sections 110 to 114 on the digital exposure stage 104 can be performed in parallel. Further, in the exposure step 102, the processing of the image data, which requires a longer time than the exposure time, is performed by the exposure operation units 110-1.
Since the processes can be performed separately at 14 without interfering with each other, smooth digital print processing is possible.

In the exposure step 102, a so-called local network (LAN) may be configured by the digital exposure stage 104, the exposure operation units 110 to 114, the scanner 116 and the external storage device 118. As a result, the exposure operations corresponding to the image data processed by the exposure operation units 110 to 114 can be efficiently and smoothly performed without interfering with each other.

The image data transferred to the digital exposure stage 104 may be data-compressed. By transferring or storing the image data after compressing the data, it is possible to efficiently use the storage medium and reduce the time for data transfer. When performing data compression in this way, the exposure operation units 110 to 114
It is only necessary that the data can be compressed and the data compressed by the exposure operation units 110 to 114 and the digital exposure stage 104 can be returned.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows a printing system 130 applied to the fifth embodiment. In the exposure process 132 of the print system 130, the exposure operation unit 4
A negative exposure stage 34, where the exposure operation is performed by 6;
The exposure stages 64, 66, 68 and the exposure operation units 110, 112, 1 in which the exposure operation unit 70 performs the exposure operation.
The digital exposure stage 104 in which the exposure operation is performed at 14.
Is provided, and the sensitive material magazine 4 is provided in the sensitive material loading section 134.
0, 42, 74 to 78, 108 are loaded. In addition, the print system 130 includes a mini-lab 14 with a processor 16 provided on the downstream side.
Configures 0.

In the minilab 140 provided with the printing system 130 as described above, it is possible to quickly carry out the printing process of E / L size of 135 film, and to perform various exposure operations without interfering with the printing process. Can be done in parallel. As a result, it is possible to meet any print processing request with a relatively small installation space.

The photosensitive material (paper or film) image-exposed by the exposure stages 64-68 and the digital exposure stage 104 is sent to the same processing section 16B. The photosensitive material is sent from the exposure stage 104 to the processing section 16B by waiting until the processing section 16B can process the photosensitive material and then sending it out after the processing becomes possible.

Although the printing systems of various configurations have been described in specific examples 1 to 5, the printing system of the present invention is not limited to these, and may include a plurality of exposure units. As long as it has any configuration. For example, a plurality of digital exposure stages may be provided, and an exposure operation unit to which each exposure stage is connected may be configured to read an image of a document and image-expose an arbitrary photosensitive material according to the read image. It may be.

Further, in the processor section provided on the downstream side of the printing system of the present invention, it is sufficient that the photosensitive material image-exposed in the exposure section can be processed promptly without delay. The processing can be performed quickly.

[0089]

As described above, in the printing system of the present invention, since the exposure process is provided with a plurality of exposure parts, for example, it is possible to correspond to the exposure of the photosensitive material according to the size and type, and the same size. And various types of light-sensitive materials, it is possible to deal with a large amount of exposure processing quickly.
As a result, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that various print requests can be surely and quickly dealt with.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a basic configuration of a print system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a print system of the present invention according to specific example 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print system according to a second specific example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print system according to a third specific example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a print system according to a specific example 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a print system according to specific example 5.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 30, 60, 100, 130 Printing system 12, 32, 62, 102, 132 Exposure process 14, 38, 72, 106, 134 Sensitive material loading unit 20A to 20E Exposure stage (exposure unit) 22A to 22E, 40 to 44, 74-78, 108
Sensitive material magazine 34, 36 Negative exposure stage 64-68 Exposure stage 104 Digital exposure stage

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing system for forming an image of light emitted from a light source on a photosensitive material to perform image exposure on the photosensitive material, comprising: a photosensitive material loading section in which an unexposed photosensitive material is loaded; Exposure step comprising at least two exposure sections capable of performing image exposure on the unexposed light-sensitive material supplied from an exposure section, and an exposure operation section capable of operating at least one of the exposure sections separately from other exposure sections. A printing system comprising: 2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the exposure step includes an exposure unit that exposes the unexposed photosensitive material by a different exposure method. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the photosensitive material loading unit is loaded with a plurality of photosensitive materials of different types or sizes and supplied to any of the exposure units.