JPH09282622A - Recognizing system for cleaning member and cleaning member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically switch modes by judging which of a photographic film or a cleaning member is carried and switching a mode to a cleaning mode when a cleaning member is carried. SOLUTION: A film 2 is a long-length material and its top end has an inclined edge face 2A and a notch 2B formed near the end face 2A. A cleaning leader 80 is housed in the same cartridge as for the film 2. The cleaning leader 80 also has the same inclined edge face 80A and a notch 80B the same as for the film 2, and moreover, it has another notch 80C formed near the notch 80B. The tail end of the leader 80 has an end perforation 81. By detecting the second notch 80C of the leader 80 by an optical sensor, the system judges that the leader 80 is carried and the controller recognizes that the leader 80 is carried and switches a made to a cleaning mode.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a first mode in which a photographic film is transported along a transport path to perform a predetermined process, and a second mode in which a cleaning member is transported to the transport path to clean the transport path. And a cleaning member recognition system for a photo processing device capable of performing modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a transport path for transporting a photographic light-sensitive material such as a film in a photographic processing apparatus, dust peeled off from the film accumulates in the transport path while the film is repeatedly transported many times. , It adversely affects the transportation of the photographic light-sensitive material. In particular, in a film having a magnetic recording portion represented by an advanced photographic system, when the magnetic layer or a protective layer for protecting the magnetic layer is peeled off, the film adheres to the magnetic head and the reading accuracy by the magnetic head is deteriorated. There is also the problem of doing so. For this reason, the film transport path and the magnetic heads and sensors arranged on the transport path are regularly cleaned.

By the way, in the case where the cleaning member is conveyed to the film conveying path of the photographic processing equipment to perform cleaning (second mode) and the predetermined processing is performed to the film (first mode), the photographic processing equipment is used. The control performed by is different. When the film is conveyed, the magnetic information recorded on the film is read by the magnetic head, and the image of the film is printed and exposed on the photographic paper. Control each detector of. on the other hand,
When the cleaning member is conveyed, it is not necessary to perform reading with a magnetic head or printing exposure.

Therefore, when cleaning the inside of the conveying path (second mode) after performing predetermined processing (first mode) on the film in the photographic processing equipment, first, the cleaning member is set, and then photographic processing is performed. A keyboard or the like connected to the device is manually operated to switch from the first mode to the second mode, and control suitable for the cleaning member is performed. The same applies to switching from the second mode to the first mode.

[0005]

However, manually setting the mode in this manner takes time and labor, and reduces the work efficiency of the photographic processing. Further, if the cleaning member is erroneously conveyed while being set in the first mode, such magnetic information exists in the cleaning member, even though the magnetic head tries to read the magnetic information. There is also a problem that erroneous detection is performed because the above is not done.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of automatically switching between a normal photo processing mode and a cleaning mode. Another object of the invention is to allow photographic film and cleaning members to be recognized in photographic processing equipment. Still another object of the present invention is to improve the work efficiency of photographic processing in a photographic processing device.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by a first mode in which a photographic film is conveyed along a conveying path to perform a predetermined process, and a cleaning member in the conveying path. A cleaning member recognition system for a photographic processing apparatus capable of executing a second mode of carrying a sheet to carry a cleaning of a carrying path, and determining which of the photographic film and the cleaning member has been carried. The second mode is executed when a determination unit is provided and it is determined that the cleaning member has been conveyed. Accordingly, when either the photographic film or the cleaning member is set in the photographic processing device and conveyed, it is possible to determine which has been conveyed. Therefore, switching from the first mode to the second mode, Also, it is possible to automatically switch from the second mode to the first mode. As a result, it is not necessary for the operator to manually switch the modes, so that the work efficiency of photo processing in the photo processing device can be improved.

In the above new system, as an example for discriminating between the cleaning member and the photographic film, it is possible to form the cleaning member so as to have a shape different from that of the photographic film and detect the different shape. In particular, it is preferable that the cleaning member is formed in a long shape similar to that of the photographic film, and the shape of the tip portion thereof is different from that of the photographic film. By making the shape of the tip end part different, it is possible to immediately determine which of the cleaning member and the photographic film has been conveyed.

As a mode in which the shapes of the cleaning member and the photographic film are made different, (1) holes or notches are formed in the photographic film, and (2) a number of holes or notches different from the holes or notches of the photographic film are formed in the cleaning member. For example, forming a notch, or (3) forming a hole or notch having a different shape from the hole or notch of the photographic film in the cleaning member. Of course, above
A mode in which (2) and (3) are combined may be adopted. As a result, it is possible to easily realize the discrimination between the cleaning member and the photographic film by using the well-known sensor. In particular, it is preferable that the sensor for reading the information recorded on the photographic film can also serve as the sensor.

Further, it is preferable that the cleaning member is contained in the same cartridge as the cartridge containing the photographic film. As a result, the cleaning member can be handled in the same manner as a photographic film, and it can be expected that the working efficiency of the photographic processing equipment will be further improved.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the photo printing apparatus 1 includes an exposure unit 100 that projects and exposes image information of the film 2 onto the photographic paper 3, a development processing unit 101 that develops the exposed photographic paper 3, and the operation of each unit. And a controller 102 for controlling. An operation console 103 for inputting various control instructions and a monitor 104 for displaying image information read by a scanner unit (not shown) are connected to the controller 102.

When the film 2 to be printed is inserted into the exposure section 100, the image information of the film 2 is read for each frame and the image information is sent to the controller 102. The controller 102 reads the read film 2
The exposure condition for each frame is determined based on the image information of.
Then, an image that would be obtained by projection exposure on the photographic printing paper 3 according to the determined exposure condition is simulated and displayed on the monitor 104. Also, the cleaning leader 8
When 0 is inserted, the path of the film 2 to be conveyed is cleaned.

The operator of the photographic printing apparatus 1 has a monitor 104.
If an appropriate image is not obtained by looking at the display of, the operator can input the correction instruction of the determined exposure condition from the console 103,
The controller 102 corrects the exposure condition based on the correction instruction and determines the final exposure condition. Then, based on the determined exposure condition, the operation of each part of the exposure unit 100 is controlled to project and expose the image information of the film 2 on the photographic printing paper 3 pulled out from the photographic printing paper magazine 4.

The film 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The film 2 described here is used in a so-called advanced photographic system, and includes an image area 2a on which an image is imprinted and a magnetic recording section 2 provided above and below the image area 2a.
b and perforations 2c. Film 2
Is stored in a state that it is wound around a spool provided inside the cartridge 70. When the drive shaft is inserted into the hole 71 and the spool is rotated, the film 2 is automatically pulled out from the pull-out port 72. It is configured.
The cleaning leader 80 (cleaning member) is shown in FIG.
As described above, the film 2 is stored in the same cartridge 70 in which the film 2 is wound and stored. Cleaning reader 80
Has an elongated shape similar to that of the film 2, and its width dimension is the same as or smaller than that of the film 2. The length of the cleaning leader 80 is the film 2
It is not necessary to match with, and the length may be set to the length required for cleaning.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the difference in outer shape between the film 2 and the cleaning leader 80. FIG.
As shown in (a), the film 2 has an elongated shape, and an inclined end surface 2A is formed at the tip thereof. A cutout 2B is provided near the end surface 2A. As shown in FIG. 8B, the cleaning leader 80 is also provided with an inclined end surface 80A and a cutout 80B similar to the film 2. Further, another notch 80 is provided near the notch 80B.
C is provided. Further, an end perforation 81 is provided at the rear end of the cleaning leader 80.

As a suitable material for the cleaning leader 80, a synthetic fiber impregnated with a resin may be used. An example of synthetic fiber is Wiping Cloth (trade name: Zavina Minimax) manufactured by Kanebo Co., Ltd.

Next, the structure of each part of the photo printing apparatus 1 will be described. In the exposure unit 100, a film transport unit 5 for transporting and positioning the film 2, an exposure light source 6, and yellow, magenta, and cyan filters in and out of the exposure optical path cause irradiation light from the exposure light source 6. Light adjusting filter 7 for adjusting the color balance of the film, a mirror tunnel 8 for uniformly mixing the light whose color balance has been adjusted by the light adjusting filter 7, and a printing lens 9 for forming image information of the film 2 on the photographic paper 3 A shutter 10, a conveyance roller 11 for conveying the photographic printing paper 3, and a motor 12 for driving the conveyance roller 11.
Is provided. The dimming filter 7 and the shutter 10 are controlled by the controller 102, and the position of each filter of the dimming filter 7 and the opening time of the shutter 10, that is, the exposure time are controlled according to the exposure conditions determined by the controller 102.

The structure of the film transport unit 5 provided in the exposure section 100 will be described below. The film transport unit 5 is an example of a photographic processing device. The film transport unit 5 has a structure in which an upper unit 20 and a lower unit 21, which are a pair of frames, are pivotally connected to each other around a shaft 22, and are biased toward the open side by a spring 23.
A state in which the upper unit 20 and the lower unit 21 are open is shown in FIG. 2, and a plan view of the lower unit 21 is shown in FIG.

Details of the lower unit 21 are shown in FIGS.
Is shown in Drive rollers 24, 25, 26 are provided to convey the film 2 and the cleaning leader 80. A lower guide 27 is formed by making a portion of the film 2 scheduled to pass through the image plane to guide and support the left and right ends of the film 2. The drive motor 28 includes drive rollers 24, 25,
26 is driven via the belt 29. The optical sensor 30 includes a light emitting portion 30a and a light receiving portion 30b, and detects optical data of the film 2. The optical sensor 30 also detects a difference in outer shape between the film 2 and the cleaning leader 80 (this point will be described later). As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of optical sensors 30 are provided in the width direction of the transport path. The negative mask 31 has an opening 31 a that defines a region of the image portion of the film 2 to be printed on the photographic printing paper 3.

The magnetic head unit 32 includes a pair of magnetic heads 32a for reading information magnetically recorded on the magnetic recording portion 2b of the film 2. A pair of magnetic heads 32a is provided corresponding to the pair of upper and lower magnetic recording portions 2b shown in FIG. The lower cleaning belt 46 and the fan 48 form part of a dust removing device that removes dust on the film surface. The drive motor 28 drives the lower cleaning belt 46 via a transmission mechanism (not shown).

A guide member 35 is provided between the magnetic head unit 32 and the lower cleaning belt 46. The inclined portion 35a is provided so that the film 2 that has passed through the dust removing device is smoothly conveyed to the magnetic head unit 32.
Are formed. A movable head member 37 for cleaning the magnetic recording portion 2b of the film 2 is arranged near the lower cleaning belt 46.

The cartridge holder 40 has a film 2
Alternatively, the cartridge 7 that houses the cleaning reader 80
0 is retained. The cartridge 70 is supported in the longitudinal direction by being sandwiched by a pair of wall surfaces 41.
Further, the protrusion 42 provided on the wall surface 41 is inserted into the hole 71 of the cartridge 70, so that the cartridge 7
Zero positioning is performed. The lid 43 is around the rotation axis 44,
It can be opened and closed, and in order to hold the cartridge 70, as shown in FIG. 2, the lid 43 may be opened. The drive motor 28 conveys the film 2 and the cleaning leader 80 and drives the lower cleaning belt 46.

Details of the upper unit 20 are shown in FIG. An upper guide 50 is provided by recessing a portion of the film 2 that is supposed to pass through the image plane, and supports the left and right ends of the film 2 together with the lower guide 27. Crimping roller 5
4, 55 and 56 are the upper unit 20 and the lower unit 2
1 and drive rollers 24, 2 respectively in a state where
It is installed at a position facing 5, 26. A light receiving unit 30b is provided at a position facing the light emitting unit 30a of the optical sensor 30. Further, an upper cleaning belt 47 is provided at a position facing the lower cleaning belt 46. The upper cleaning belt 46 is driven by a motor and a transmission mechanism (not shown). Further, a fixed head member 38 is provided at a position facing the movable head member 37.

The upper unit 20 and the lower unit 21 are engaged by the engaging portion 45. The engagement portion 45 is configured by a hook portion 45 a provided on the lower unit 21 and a claw portion 45 b provided on the upper unit 20.

Next, the operation of the above-described film transport unit 5 will be briefly described. First, the operation (first mode) when performing a predetermined process on the film 2 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the transport path shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As can be seen from FIG.
The output signal of the optical sensor 30 is input to the controller 102, and the controller 102 also controls the operations of the spool of the cartridge 70, the drive rollers 24, 25, 26, and the magnetic head 32a.

First, with the film transport unit 5 opened, the cartridge 70 containing the film 2 is set in the cartridge holding portion 40. Cartridge 70
After setting, the film transport unit 5 is closed. Then, the spool of the cartridge 70 is driven by a predetermined start signal, and the film 2 is pulled out from the cartridge 70. Drawn film 2
Is transported in the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 by the drive motor 28 (step # 1).

The end face 2 of the leading end of the film 2 that has been pulled out
When A passes through the optical sensor 30, it detects this (step # 2). In this step # 2, film 2
Alternatively, it is possible to recognize that one of the tips of the cleaning leader 80 has been conveyed, but it cannot be recognized which is the other. Even after the above detection, the film 2 is continuously conveyed, and the optical sensor 30 detects the cutout 2B (step # 3). Within a predetermined time after detecting the notch 2B,
It is determined whether the second notch has been detected (step # 4). If the second notch is present, it is the cleaning leader 80 that has been conveyed, and if not, it is the film 2 (see FIG. 8A). Therefore, since the second notch is not detected when the film 2 is conveyed, the discriminating means of the controller 102 first recognizes that the film 2 has been conveyed in step # 4. When the film 2 is recognized in step # 4, the process proceeds to step # 5. In Step # 5,
The normal process for the film 2 is started (first mode).

In the first mode, the optical sensor 30 reads the information optically recorded on the film 2, the magnetic head 32a reads the information from the magnetic recording portion 2b of the film 2, and the photographic printing paper 3 for the image of the film 2 is read. Printing exposure and the like are performed. More specifically, the film 2
Is conveyed in the direction of arrow A, the magnetically recorded information corresponding to all the frames 2a is read, and then the film 2 is temporarily moved to the direction of arrow B.
Direction and rewind. Then, the film 2 is conveyed again in the direction of arrow A, and the frame 2a of the film 2 is printed and exposed in the exposure unit 100. When the film 2 is printed and exposed, the frame 2a of the film 2 is positioned and stopped at the opening 31a to perform the exposure. When the printing exposure of the film 2 is completed, the film 2 is rewound into the cartridge 70 (step # 6).

Next, the operation (second mode) for cleaning the transport path of the film transport unit 5 will be described. First, with the film transport unit 5 opened, the cartridge 70 containing the cleaning leader 80 is set in the cartridge holding unit 40. After setting the cartridge 70, the film transport unit 5 is closed. Then, the cleaning leader 80 is pulled out from the cartridge 70 by a predetermined start signal. The drawn cleaning leader 80 is
The drive motor 28 causes the arrow A in FIGS.
Is conveyed in the direction (step # 1).

When the end face 80A of the leading end of the cleaning leader 80 that has been pulled out passes the optical sensor 30, this is detected (step # 2). Next, the optical sensor 30
Detects the cutout 80B (step # 3). Notch 80
After detecting B, it is determined whether or not the second notch is detected (step # 4). Since the second notch 80C is present in the cleaning leader 80, this is detected by the sensor 30 and the discriminating means of the controller 102 first recognizes that the cleaning leader 80 has been conveyed in step # 4. This step # 4
When the cleaning reader 80 is recognized in step # 7,
Move to In step # 7, cleaning by the cleaning reader 80 is started (step # 7).
The cleaning leader 80 is controlled so as to be sent out by a predetermined amount (step # 8). By transporting the cleaning leader 80 in the transport path, dirt on the magnetic head in the transport path is cleaned. When the cleaning leader 80 is sent out, the optical sensor 30 moves toward the end perforation 81 as shown in FIG.
Is detected (step # 9). After the detection, the cleaning leader 80 is rewound into the cartridge 70 (step # 6).

Next, another embodiment of the cleaning leader 80 will be described. FIG. 9A is an example in which a hole (perforation) 80D is formed instead of the notch. FIG. 9B
Is an example in which the length of the notch 80E is increased. FIG.
In (c), a notch 80F is formed at a position farther from the tip than the notch 80B in FIG. 8 (b). In this case, the film 2 or the cleaning leader 80 can be detected by the difference in the distance or time from the detection of the leading edge in step # 2 of FIG. 7 to the detection of the first notch in step # 3.

In FIG. 9D, a black sheet 80G is attached, and the cleaning leader 80 can be detected from the difference in reflectance. FIG. 9E shows a pair of holes 80 in the conveyance width direction.
It is an example of forming H. FIG. 9F is an example in which a hole 80I is formed at a position facing the width direction of the notch 80B in FIG. 8B.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. (1) As the predetermined processing in the first mode, in addition to the processing described in this embodiment, reading of an image by the CCD sensor and writing of information by the magnetic head can be mentioned. (2) In this embodiment, the film 2 used in the advanced photographic system has been described, but other films, for example, 13
It goes without saying that even 5 films can be applied. In this case, the cleaning leader 80 may form a notch having a shape different from the shape of the notch used for detecting the 135 film. Also, the cleaning reader 80
In, a special hole or a notch may be formed in a portion corresponding to the DX detection portion of the 135 film, or a special barcode may be formed. (3) As the cleaning cartridge 70 for accommodating the cleaning leader 80, the same cartridge 70 for accommodating the film 2 is used, but if it can be attached to the cartridge holding part 40 of the film transport unit 5, It does not have to be the same. (4) The film transport unit 5 has been described as an example of the photographic processing equipment, but it is not always necessary that the equipment be unitized. Further, it can be used for cleaning not only the film 2 but also the conveyance path of the printing paper 3.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a photo printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a film transport unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a film transport unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a transport route.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a cleaning leader is pulled out from a cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the film is pulled out from the cartridge.

[Fig. 7] Operation flowchart

FIG. 8 is an external comparison diagram of the film and the cleaning leader.

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the cleaning leader.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 film 2B notch 5 film transport unit 30 optical sensor 32a magnetic head 70 cartridge 80 cleaning leader 80B, 80C, 80E, 80F notch 80D, 80H, 80I hole 81 end perforation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first mode in which a photographic film is transported along a transport path to perform a predetermined process and a second mode in which a cleaning member is transported to the transport path to clean the transport path can be executed. A cleaning member recognition system for a photographic processing device, comprising: a determining unit that determines which of the photographic film and the cleaning member has been conveyed, and the determination unit determines whether the cleaning member has been conveyed. A cleaning member recognition system, wherein the cleaning member recognition system is configured to perform a second mode. 2. The cleaning member is formed to have a shape different from that of the photographic film, and the determination is made by detecting the different shape. Cleaning member recognition system. 3. The cleaning member according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning member is formed in an elongated shape similar to that of the photographic film, and a shape of a tip portion thereof is different from that of the photographic film. Cleaning member recognition system. 4. The photographic film is provided with holes or notches, and the cleaning member is provided with a number of holes or notches different from the holes or notches. The cleaning member recognition system described. 5. The hole or notch is formed in the photographic film, and the hole or notch having a different shape from the hole or notch is formed in the cleaning member. The cleaning member recognition system described. 6. The cleaning member recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning member is contained in the same cartridge as the cartridge containing the photographic film. 7. A cleaning member used in the cleaning member recognition system according to claim 1.