JPH09146175A - Image printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print an image with a proper exposure amt., in printing the image, while relatively shifting a picture display means and a photosensitive material. SOLUTION: A prescribed-shaped mask 34 is attached to the light exit side of a liquid crystal panel 31, to shield a blackout region 31BR by the frame part 34B of the mask 34, so that a region corresponding to a photographic printing paper 54 is exposed with transmitted light A3 of an index image after passing through the mask 34 and a part of transmitted light Bt3 of the blackout region 31BR. Therefore, only the region 80 of the photographic printing paper 54 corresponding to the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 is exposed with exposure light from a light source 26 by the first image printing processing. The region 80 is not overlapped with the region printed in the next image printing processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image printing apparatus, and more particularly to an image printing apparatus capable of performing exposure while relatively shifting a predetermined printing area of a photosensitive material and an image display means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer such as a liquid crystal panel, which transmits or shields light to form an image and prints the transmitted image on a photosensitive material, a central portion of an image display surface is used as an image display area and an image is displayed around the periphery. It is often used as a non-display area, and as a result, the image is displayed in the central portion of the image display surface. There are cases where about 1/100 of the total amount of transmitted light leaks from the pixels arranged around the image display surface and controlled to be in the light-shielded state.
A leak light of about 0 does not cause a change in density of the photosensitive material (exposure amount E ₁ , see FIG. 5C), and there is no problem. Also, 1
Even if the portions of the photosensitive material exposed by the leaked light of about / 100 are overlapped and exposed, the exposure amount is only about 1/50 (exposure amount E ₂ , see FIG. 5 (C)), and Doesn't affect much.

However, when an image is subsequently exposed on the surface of the photosensitive material which has been exposed with light of about 1/100, the exposure amount becomes 1
/ 100 will be added (exposure amount E ₄ , FIG.
(C)). This is a light amount variation of the light-sensitive material, that is, a light amount variation in a portion where the change in the density characteristic is large (the slope is large) (coloring density difference D, see FIG. 5C), resulting in a large influence on the density.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the index print (vertical 5 × horizontal 8) in which images are printed in close proximity, the liquid crystal panel LP as shown in FIG.
When one row is displayed on the upper side and the photosensitive material CP is exposed while moving for each row, the leakage light at the previous exposure overlaps the image printing area at the current exposure (in FIG. 5A). The shaded area) and the density fluctuate, resulting in poor finish accuracy.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and when an image is printed while the image display means and the photosensitive material are relatively displaced, an appropriate exposure amount is used. An object is to provide an image printing apparatus capable of printing an image.

[0006]

An image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image display means is provided with an image display surface capable of displaying an image by controlling a light transmission state, and the image display surface is predetermined. The area not corresponding to the image display area or the area on the photosensitive material corresponding to this area is shielded so as to prevent the light from reaching the photosensitive material regardless of the light transmission state, and an exposure light source. It is characterized in that it has an exposure means for performing exposure while relatively shifting a predetermined printing area of the photosensitive material and the image display means by light.

According to this, the light-shielding means shields a region that does not correspond to the image display region or a region on the photosensitive material corresponding to this region to prevent the light from reaching the photosensitive material regardless of the light transmission state. The photosensitive material corresponding to this area is not exposed. Here, the area that does not correspond to the image display area refers to a so-called blackout area in the image display means, which is an image non-display area in which a light non-transmission state is designated. As a result, the area on the photosensitive material exposed by the image display area is not overlapped by the light exposing the blackout area.

Therefore, it is possible to print an image with an appropriate amount of exposure without exposing the image printing area on the photosensitive material in duplicate.

An image printing apparatus according to a second aspect is the image printing apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the above, the image displayed in the image display area of the image display means is an index image that constitutes an index print in which the images are formed in close proximity over a plurality of columns.

According to this, even if the index images are printed in close proximity over a plurality of rows by the light shielding means, the image printing areas are not exposed in an overlapping manner. As a result,
An index image can be printed with a preset exposure amount to produce a clear index print with an appropriate exposure amount.

An image printing apparatus according to a third aspect is the image printing apparatus according to the first aspect.
Alternatively, in the second aspect, the light shielding unit is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive material, and is attached to a moving mechanism that makes the light shielding unit correspond to an image display area of the image display unit.

[0012] According to this, since the area other than the image printing area is securely shielded in the vicinity of the photosensitive material by the light shielding means, it is possible to surely prevent the image printing area from being overlappingly exposed by the blackout area. It is possible to prevent exposure by light such as light reflected by metal parts near the exposed portion. Moreover, since the light shielding means and the printing region of the photosensitive material can be aligned by the moving mechanism, the alignment can be facilitated and the assembling property can be improved.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer processor 10 includes a printer section 58 for exposing the photographic printing paper of the main print and the sub-print, and developing, fixing, rinsing and drying the exposed printing paper. Processor unit 72 for processing
And is composed of

In the printer section 58, a negative carrier 1 for setting the negative film 16 on a work table (not shown).
8 are arranged. On the other hand, a main exposure light source unit 36 is installed below the work table.

A light source 38 is installed in the main exposure light source section 36, and the light emitted from the light source 38 is used for the negative carrier 1.
The color correction filter (hereinafter referred to as Color-Correction Filter) so that the negative film 16 set to 8 is irradiated.
: A CC filter) 40 and a diffusion tube 42 are sequentially arranged. CC filter 40 is C (cyan), M
The filter is composed of (magenta) and Y (yellow) filters, each of which operates under the control of the CC filter control unit 39, and is capable of appearing and retracting on the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source 38.

Above the negative carrier 18 (upper side in FIG. 1), a main exposure optical system 46 and a sub-printing section 22 for exposing sub-printing such as index printing are provided.

In the main exposure optical system 46, a half mirror 43, an exposure lens 48 for changing the exposure magnification, a black shutter 50 and a mirror 51 are arranged in this order from the light emitting side of the negative film. An image is formed on the photographic printing paper 54.

The photographic printing paper 54 is accommodated by being wound up in layers on a reel (not shown) above the printer unit 58, pulled out by a roller (not shown), and conveyed to the printer unit 58. (Fig. 1
In this case, only the roller 68 is conveyed) and a predetermined image printing process is performed. The printing paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 has been printed in the printer unit 58 is further conveyed to a processor unit 72 described later by a plurality of roller pairs (not shown).

The processor section 72 includes a color development processing tank in which a color development processing solution is stored, a bleach-fixing processing tank in which a bleach-fixing processing solution is stored, and a plurality of rinse processing tanks in which a washing processing solution is stored. A tank is provided, and the photographic printing paper 54 sequentially passes through each tank to perform development, fixing, and washing with water. The photographic printing paper 54, which has been washed with water, is conveyed, dried in a drying unit (not shown), cut into an appropriate size in a cutter (not shown), and then discharged from the printer processor 10. .

The cutter, not shown, is provided with a paper density measuring unit 88. The paper density measuring unit 88
The densities of the images on the developed photographic printing paper 54 facing each other are measured, and the measurement results are transmitted to the main controller 20.

The half mirror 43 in the printer unit 58
A photometric lens 45 and a half mirror 47 for changing the magnification of the photometric image are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the optical path reflected by. The photometric lens 45 is fixed at a predetermined magnification in the present embodiment.

In the direction in which light is reflected by the half mirror 47, the scanner 108 composed of an image sensor or the like is provided.
Are arranged, and the scanner 108 is
An image signal processing unit 102 for performing a predetermined image processing on the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 read by the above is connected.

The image signal processing unit 102 includes a simulator 1
04 is connected, and the simulator 104 displays a simulation image of a print when the image of each frame of the negative film 16 is produced based on the set conditions. An image memory 106 for storing image data is connected to the image signal processing unit 102, and the image signal processing unit 102 includes the scanner 108.
The image data of each frame of the negative film 16 read in step 3 is stored in the image memory 106.

On the other hand, on the downstream side of the optical path passing through the half mirror 47, there is provided a negative density measuring section 56 for measuring the image density of each frame of the negative film 16, and the negative density measuring section 56 is The scanner 56B includes an image sensor and the like, and a negative density measuring device 56A that measures the image density of each frame of the negative film 16 read by the scanner 56B. This negative density measuring instrument 5
6A is connected to the main control unit 20.

The sub-printing section 22 has a light source 26 for index image exposure which is operated and controlled by a light source control section 24.
As a light emitting diode (hereinafter, R-
26A, a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as G-LED) 26B that emits green light, and a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as B-LED) 26C that emits blue light.
Is provided. Each diode is a G-LED 26B
And the light emitted from the B-LED 26C are arranged by the dichroic mirror 28 so as to coincide with the exposure optical axis X of the light emitted from the R-LED 26A.

On the downstream side of the exposure optical axis X by the light source 26,
A liquid crystal panel 31 is provided, and the liquid crystal panel 31 is
It is connected to the sub-control unit 23 via the liquid crystal panel driver 32. The liquid crystal panel 31 includes a liquid crystal panel driver 3
An image display surface 31A configured by vertically and horizontally arraying a plurality of liquid crystal elements capable of transmitting exposure light according to a signal from 2.
Wiring for electrically controlling the liquid crystal element is arranged,
It is composed of an outer shell 31B that is not exposed by the exposure light (see FIG. 2). Further, on the image display surface 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31, an index image to be printed is displayed in one line in the central portion, so that the image display area 31T is displayed.
R is formed in a substantially central portion of the image display surface 31A, and a blackout area 31BR is formed around the image display area 31TR (see FIG. 2). A mask 34 is provided on the exit side of the liquid crystal panel 31, which will be described later.

An exposure lens 35 having a variable magnification is disposed between the mask 34 and the printing paper 54 on the exit side of the liquid crystal panel 31, and the transmission image of the liquid crystal panel 31 is formed by the exposure lens 35. An image is formed on the photographic printing paper 54 at a predetermined magnification. The exposure lens 35
In this embodiment, is fixed at a predetermined position on the optical axis X so that the image is combined on the printing paper 54 at a predetermined magnification.

The liquid crystal panel 31 has a liquid crystal panel driver 3
2 is connected to the sub-control unit 23. Sub control unit 2
Reference numeral 3 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an input / output controller and the like, and is connected to the image memory 106.

The sub-control unit 23 reads the image data of each frame of the negative film 16 stored in the image memory 106 and forms one index image data in which the frame images are arranged according to a predetermined rule. There is. The index images corresponding to the image data of a predetermined number of frames of the formed index image data of one case, for example, the image data of 5 frames (for one column) are set by the sub-control unit 23.
A signal corresponding to the transmission state of each liquid crystal element is output to the liquid crystal panel driver 32. As a result, the liquid crystal panel driver 32 controls the transmissive state of each liquid crystal element in accordance with this signal to display the index image on the image display surface 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31. Further, it is also possible to display on the liquid crystal panel 31 an image corresponding to the image data of only the R, G, and B color components of the image data for one column.

The sub-control unit 23 is connected to a conveyance control unit 70 that controls the conveyance of the rollers 68 that convey the photographic printing paper 54. The conveyance control unit 70 controls the drive of a motor (not shown) based on an instruction from the sub-control unit 23, and operates a roller 68 connected to the motor to operate the photographic paper 5 at a predetermined amount.
4 is conveyed, and the printing area of the next one column of the index image is arranged below the optical axis X.

The light source controller 24 described above is connected to the sub controller 23. The sub-control unit 23 calculates an appropriate correction amount of the light amount based on the light amount values of R, G, and B colors measured by a light source light amount sensor (not shown) provided on the light source 26 side of the liquid crystal panel 31, and the light source 26 The light amount of each component of is corrected by the light source controller 24. Similarly, the sub-control unit 23 controls the liquid crystal panel driver 32 based on the transmitted light amount value measured by a transmitted light amount sensor (not shown) provided on the printing paper 54 side of the liquid crystal panel 31 so that the transmitted light amount is appropriate. Then, the density of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 is adjusted.

The printer processor 10 is provided with a main control unit 20 for controlling and monitoring the entire printer processor 10, like the sub-control unit 23. The main control unit 20 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM, a ROM, an input / output controller, and the like. Main control unit 2
The CC filter control unit 39, the negative density measuring device 56A, the image signal processing unit 102, and the sub-control unit 23 described above are connected to 0, and monitor and control the operation of each of these components.

Further, the main control section 20 controls the CC filter control section 39, the image signal processing section 102 and the sub control section 23 on the basis of the density measurement value of the print image input from the paper density measurement section 88. The exposure condition is corrected so as to obtain an appropriate image.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mask 34 provided on the exit side of the liquid crystal panel 31 has a light transmission port 34A provided in the central portion and a frame portion 34B as a light shielding portion which defines the light transmission port 34A. The long side of the light transmission opening 34A (the side extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 2) is a rectangular member composed of The side that extends to) is approximately equal to.

On the other hand, the size MS of the short side (the side extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 2) of the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 along the conveyance direction of the printing paper 54 is the image display surface 31 of the liquid crystal panel 31.
The size is smaller than the dimension LS of the short side of A (the side extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 2), and a portion of the blackout region 31BR formed around the image display surface 31A is shielded so that the exposure light is exposed to the mask 34. Not to pass through. Also,
The dimension MS of the short side of the light transmission opening 34A is determined by the image display area 31.
It is larger than the dimension of the short side of TR, which allows the exposure light of the image displayed in the image display area 31TR to pass therethrough even without precise assembly.
The dimension of the short side of the light transmission port 34A is equal to the total dimension of the short side of the image row and the blank area of the photographic printing paper 54. In accordance with the above, the middle line of the other blank portion of the image row and the other end of the light transmission opening 34A are aligned. As a result, even the margin portion is prevented from being overlaid.

In the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34, the center line of the light transmission port 34A is aligned with the center line of the image display surface 31A, and the liquid crystal panel 3 is formed.
1 is attached to the exposure light emitting side. Therefore, the blackout area 31BR is divided into an area facing the light transmission opening 34A and an area facing the frame portion 34B. As a result, only the exposure light that has exposed the blackout region 31BR facing the frame portion 34B is only exposed to the frame portion 3.
4B is blocked so that it does not pass through the mask 34.

Therefore, by attaching the mask 34 of a predetermined shape to the exit side of the liquid crystal panel 31, the mask 3
The frame portion 34B of No. 4 shields the blackout area 31BR on the peripheral side of the image display surface 31A on the exit side, so that the light exposing this portion does not expose the photographic paper 54.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the printer section 58 of the printer processor 10, the negative film 16 on which the image to be printed is recorded is set on the negative carrier 18, and the negative film 16 is transmitted by the light source 38. The density of the image on the negative film 16 formed by the light transmitted through the negative film 16 is measured by the negative density measuring unit 56. Measured negative film 1
Based on the density of the image of No. 6, the main control unit 20 sets appropriate exposure conditions (for example, the insertion amount of each filter of the filter unit 40). Based on the set exposure conditions,
The image on the negative film 16 is printed on a predetermined printing area of the printing paper 54. The printed printing paper 54 is conveyed to the processor unit 72, where it is developed, fixed, washed with water, and dried. The dried printing paper 54 is cut into image frames by a cutter (not shown), becomes a photographic print, and is discharged.

On the other hand, in the image exposure process in the sub printing unit 22, the image of the negative film 16 transmitted by the light source 38 is read by the scanner 108, and the read image data is read by the image signal processing unit 102 in the image memory 1.
06. By the sub-control unit 23, the image memory 10
The image data corresponding to the blue image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31 so that the blue component of the image data (hereinafter referred to as the blue image) is formed on the photographic paper 54, and the B-LED 26C is read. Is turned on for a period of time according to the set exposure conditions. Thus, the photographic paper 54 is exposed to the blue image of the image data. Thereafter, similarly, the red component (red image) and the green component (green image) of the image data are also displayed on the liquid crystal panel 31, and the images of the respective components are superimposed on the photographic paper 54 by the corresponding light sources 26. Upon exposure, the image to be printed is exposed on the photographic printing paper 54.

Next, the image printing process will be described with reference to FIG. When the start of exposure preparation is instructed by the sub-control unit 23, the index image for one column to be printed is displayed on the image display unit 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31, and the image display area 31TR and the black image are displayed on the image display surface 31A. Out region 31BR is formed.

Of the exposure light from the light source 26, the liquid crystal panel 3
The light A ₁ reaching the first image display area 31TR exposes the index image and reaches the mask 34 (light A ₂ ). The light transmission opening 34A of the mask 34 is used for the image display area 3
Since it is set larger than 1TR, the liquid crystal panel 3
The transmitted light A _{2 of} No. 1 passes through the mask 34 without being blocked by the frame 34B and exposes a predetermined printing area of the photographic printing paper 54 as light A ₃ .

Blackout area 31 of liquid crystal panel 31
The exposure light B _{1 that} has exposed BR is emitted from the liquid crystal panel 31 and reaches the mask 34. The exposure light Bb ₂ reaching the frame portion 34B of the mask 34 is blocked, and as a result, the mask 34
Do not pass. On the other hand, the light Bt ₂ reaching the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 passes through the mask 34 without being blocked. Therefore, of the exposure light B ₁ for the blackout area 31BR of the liquid crystal panel 31, only the light Bt ₃ that has reached the light transmission port 34A and passed through the mask 34 reaches the photographic paper 54 and the corresponding photographic paper 54. The blank area is exposed.

Therefore, the transmitted light A ₃ of the index image that has passed through the mask 34 and a part of the blackout area 31B.
The corresponding area 8 of the photographic printing paper 54 by the transmitted light Bt _{3 of} R
0 is exposed. When one exposure process is completed, the roller 68 conveys the photographic paper 54 by a predetermined amount according to an instruction from the conveyance control unit 70, and the next printing area is positioned. At this time, the area 80 does not overlap with the printing area in the next image printing process even in the margin.

As a result, the area of the photographic printing paper 54 that is exposed by one image printing process is duplicated in a continuous process even if the exposure light of the blackout area 31BR of the liquid crystal panel 31 is exposed. There is no. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fog and print the image with the set exposure amount.

In the present embodiment, the mask 34 provided with the hollow light transmission port 34A is used.
The form 4 is not limited to this. For example, the light transmission port 34A
A transparent member, such as a glass plate, may be fitted into the. In this case, a dustproof effect on the image display surface 31A of the liquid crystal panel 31 can also be achieved.

Although the liquid crystal panel 31 is used as the image display device in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, those listed in Table 1 can be used.

[0048]

[Table 1]

Further, in the present embodiment, the position of the mask 34 is set to the liquid crystal panel 3 in order to eliminate the deviation between the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 and the image display region 31TR of the liquid crystal panel 31.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. The mask 34 need only be arranged between the light source 26 and the photographic printing paper 54 and need not be attached to the liquid crystal panel 31. Further, the arranged position is not limited to the liquid crystal panel 31 side between the liquid crystal panel 31 and the printing paper 54,
For example, it may be arranged on the side of the printing paper 54.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the arrangement position of the mask 34 in which the mask 34 is arranged on the photographic paper 54 side together with the moving mechanism 90.

The moving mechanism 90 is disposed on the upper portion of the mask 34 (see FIG. 4).
It is composed of a driving portion 92 arranged near the upper side and a sliding portion 94 arranged in the lower portion (lower side in FIG. 4). A supporting portion 95 is attached to the upper photographic printing paper 54 side of the mask 34, a rotating shaft 96 penetrates the shaft center of the supporting portion 95, and a shaft hole 97 through which the rotating shaft 96 of the supporting portion 95 penetrates. The groove is formed in a spiral shape in one direction. A motor 99 to which a rotary shaft 98 is connected is provided near the tip of the rotary shaft 96, and the motor 99 is attached to a casing (not shown). Grooves are formed in the rotary shaft 98 and the rotary shaft 96 in a spiral shape in one direction, and the rotary shaft 98 and the rotary shaft 96 are in contact with each other so that these grooves match. This allows
When the motor 99 is driven, the rotary shaft 98 rotates at a predetermined speed, and accordingly, the rotary shaft 96 in contact with the rotary shaft 98.
Is rotated so that the supporting portion 95 fixed to the mask 34 moves on the rotating shaft 96.

A sliding groove 100 is provided in the sliding portion 94, and the lower portion of the mask 34 is slidably accommodated therein. As a result, when the mask 34 is moved by the drive of the drive unit 92, the mask 34 is fixed by the sliding groove 100 so as not to be displaced from a predetermined position and slides on the sliding groove 100.

The motor 99 is connected to the movable controller 110, and is driven and stopped in accordance with an instruction from the movable controller 110. Movable controller 110
Is connected to the main control unit 20, calculates the deviation amount based on the data from the paper density measuring unit 88 connected to the main control unit 20, and drives the motor 99 with a driving amount based on the obtained deviation amount. Is designed to drive. The shift amount can be calculated as the size of the image displaced due to the shift between the liquid crystal panel 31 and the mask 34. When the shift amount is obtained, a correction amount that is the same amount as the shift amount in the opposite direction is set, and thus the shift amount can be corrected.

Therefore, the mask 34 can be slid along the conveyance direction of the printing paper 54 by the moving mechanism 90.
When the movable control unit 110 instructs the drive of the amount obtained from the displacement amount based on the data from the paper density measuring unit 88, the displacement amount is corrected by operating the motor 99.

Next, the operation of the moving mechanism 90 will be described. When the image is printed at the position where the mask 34 is fixed, the measurement result by the paper density measuring unit 88 is input to the movable control unit 110.

The movable control unit 110 calculates the amount of deviation between the image display area 31TR of the liquid crystal panel 31 and the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 based on the measurement result from the paper density measurement unit 88. The shift amount can be calculated from the print color density value of the display image.

When the shift amount is obtained, the correction amount is set from this, the motor 99 is driven by the correction amount, and the rotary shaft 98
Rotates a predetermined amount.

When the rotary shaft 96 rotates with the rotation of the rotary shaft 98, the supporting portion 95 fixed to the mask 34 moves on the rotary shaft 98, and the mask 34 moves along the sliding groove 100. Image display area 3 of mask 34 and liquid crystal panel 31 is moved.
The deviation from 1TR is corrected.

As a result, the assemblability is improved by eliminating the precise positioning of the mask 34, and
Since the position of the mask 34 can be appropriately modified, only a predetermined area of the photographic printing paper 54 can be exposed accurately.

Further, by disposing the mask 34 on the side of the printing paper 54, flare due to incidence of light reflected by metal parts or the like in the vicinity of the printing area can be prevented, and it is possible to eliminate the need to further provide a flare prevention member. can do.

As another example of the arrangement position of the mask 34, the mask 34 may be arranged on the light source 26 side of the liquid crystal panel 31. In this case, a mechanism similar to the moving mechanism 90 is installed in the liquid crystal panel 31.
Alternatively, it can be arranged on the mask 34 to correct the amount of deviation.

In the present embodiment, the movement of the mask 34 is performed by the moving mechanism 90. However, the mechanism is not limited to the moving mechanism 90 as long as it can move the mask 34.

In the present embodiment, the dimension of the short side of the light transmission port 34A of the mask 34 is set to be equal to the total of the dimension of the side along the carrying direction of the index image and the dimension of the margin, but at least the image The size is not limited as long as it does not overlap with the printing area. For example, the size may be the same as the size of the short side of the image display region 31TR, and in this case, the light that has exposed the blackout region 31BR may not expose the printing paper 54 at all. Further, the dimension may be equal to the image rows adjacent to both sides of the image row printed on the photographic printing paper 54, that is, the dimension including the margin portions on both sides, even if the margin portions are overlapped and exposed. This is effective when the print color density value does not increase. As a result, it is possible to efficiently prevent fogging in the image sticking area without requiring precise positioning.

In the present embodiment, the mask 34 has a rectangular shape with the frame portion 34B and the light transmission port 34A is provided at the center, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each side of the frame portion 34B may be separated and movable, and the size of the light transmission port 34A formed by the frame portion 34B may be changeable. In this case, a changing mechanism similar to the moving mechanism 90 can be disposed on at least two sides of each of the separated frame portions 34B so as to be movable.
As a result, even if the range of the blackout area 31BR is changed according to the size of the image to be printed, it is possible to prevent fogging due to double exposure according to the changed size.

In the present embodiment, the production of an index print in which a plurality of images recorded on a photographic film are printed at one time has been described as an example, but the invention is not limited to the index print. The same can be done for normal size printing.

Further, in the present embodiment, the exposure process is continuously performed by shifting the position relative to the liquid crystal panel 31 by the conveyance of the printing paper 54, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printing position on the printing paper 54 may be moved by shifting the liquid crystal panel 31 during exposure. In this case, the position of the light transmission opening 34A of the mask 34 is moved together with the liquid crystal panel 31.

In this embodiment, the printer section 58 and the processor section 72 are integrated and applied to a so-called minilab capable of continuous processing. However, image printing processing and developing processing are separately performed. The same can be applied to a large laboratory to be conducted.

[0068]

According to the present invention, the image is printed by shielding the area which does not correspond to the image display area or the area on the photosensitive material corresponding to this area by the light shielding means. It is possible to print an image with an appropriate exposure amount without exposing the exposure light by overlapping the regions.

Further, by using the light shielding means to produce the index print without overlappingly exposing the image printing area, it is possible to obtain a clear index print printed with an appropriate exposure amount without fog.

Further, by providing the light shielding means with a moving mechanism for aligning with the printing area of the photosensitive material, the alignment can be facilitated and the assemblability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the periphery of an image printing area in the printer processor.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of image printing processing in a printer processor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the periphery of another image printing area in the printer processor.

5A is a conceptual diagram of conventional index printing, FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal panel displaying an index image of FIG. 5, and FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an exposure amount and a print color density by a conventional image printing process. It is a graph showing a relationship.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer Processor 20 Main Control Section 22 Sub Print Section (Exposure Means) 23 Sub Control Section 26 Light Source 31 Liquid Crystal Panel (Image Display Means) 32 Liquid Crystal Panel Driver 34 Mask (Shading Means) 54 Printing Paper (Photosensitive Material) 58 Printer Section 90 Moving mechanism (moving mechanism)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image display means having an image display surface capable of displaying an image by controlling a light transmission state, and an area not corresponding to a predetermined image display area of the image display surface or corresponding to this area. The light-blocking means for blocking the area on the photosensitive material to prevent the light from reaching the photosensitive material regardless of the light transmission state, and the predetermined printing area of the photosensitive material and the image display means by the light from the exposure light source. An image printing apparatus comprising: an exposure unit that performs exposure while relatively shifting the and. 2. The image displayed in the image display area of the image display means is an index image that constitutes an index print in which the images are formed close to each other in a sub-number sequence. The image printing apparatus described. 3. The light shielding means is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive material, and is attached to a moving mechanism that makes the light shielding means correspond to an image display area of the image display means. Alternatively, the image printing apparatus described in 2.