JPH1090808A - Photographic processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the saving of copying image checking process even in the case plural copying devices are provided. SOLUTION: Respective copying devices (printer processor) 12A to 12X connected to a control device 36 transmit image data obtained by picking up the image of a photographic print obtained by exposing a negative image by a CCD 18 to the device 36 while corresponding to information discriminating the copying device and the cartridge of a negative film, etc. The device 36 simultaneously displays plural photographing print pictures on a display 38 based on the received information so as to make an operator check the plural photographic print pictures, and informs the device 12 by which the image data is transmitted of the frame number and the exposure correcting data, etc., of the photographic print in the case a faulty photographic print exists. The device 12 sets a cartridge by a negative automatic changer 24, positions the negative image to be printed again, and prints the negative image again with corrected exposure in accordance with the exposure correcting data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic processing system, and more particularly to a photographic processing system provided with a copying apparatus for copying a film image recorded on a photographic film onto a copy material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographic processing system for processing a photographic film on which an image is recorded has been known. In this type of photographic processing system, a photographic film brought in through a DPE store or the like is subjected to processing such as development by a film processor, and the visualized film image is exposed to photographic paper by a printer processor to perform development of the photographic paper. Perform the processing, cut the photographic paper in print image units with a cutter, sort the print images by order with a sorter and collate with photographic film, and put the photographic film and print image corresponding to the same order in the same DPE bag. And return it to the user through a DPE store or the like.

In the above-mentioned photographic processing, exposure conditions for exposing a film image to photographic paper are not appropriate, dust is adhered to the film image at the time of exposure, or the film image is scratched. In such a case, a print image having an appropriate finish may not be obtained. Therefore, in the photographic processing system, a photographic paper processed by the printer processor is set in a verification machine, and a verification step is performed in which an operator visually verifies whether or not the finish of the printed image is appropriate.

In this verification step, it is verified whether or not the finish of the print image is proper, and when it is determined that the finish is not proper, the operator determines how to correct the exposure condition. The printer processor corrects the exposure conditions of the print image determined to be improper in the verification process according to the result of the determination by the operator, and re-exposes the film image on the photographic paper under the corrected exposure condition.

[0005]

By the way, especially in a photographic processing system in which a large amount of photographic film to be processed is brought in, in order to be able to process a large amount of photographic film per unit time, various types of photographic processing system are constituted. Although a plurality of photo processing devices are provided to improve the processing capability, such a photo processing system also has a plurality of printer processors, so that each printer processor is compatible for performing the verification process. And multiple operators were required.

In order to save labor in the verification process, it is conceivable that the photographic paper processed by each printer processor is set back to a single verification machine and the verification is performed by a single operator. However, the work of resetting the photographic paper processed by each printer processor to a single verification machine is very complicated, and conversely, the burden on the operator may increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and even when a plurality of copying apparatuses are provided,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic processing system capable of saving labor in a process of verifying a copied image.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographic processing system comprising at least one copying apparatus for copying a film image recorded on a photographic film onto a copy material. A photographic processing system comprising: an imaging unit that captures a copy image copied on a copy material by the copying device and outputs image information representing the copy image; a display unit for displaying an image; Display control means for displaying a copy image on the display means based on the image information output from the imaging means; and re-copying of a specific film image corresponding to a specific copy image among the copy images displayed on the display means. Input means for inputting information for instructing and information for instructing correction of copy conditions when re-copying the specific film image, and a specific film through the input means If the re-copying of the image is instructed, in the copying apparatus or the copying apparatus to another copying apparatus,
Re-copy control means for controlling the specific film image to be automatically re-copied to a copy material under a copy condition corrected in accordance with an instruction input through an input means. And

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the copied image copied on the copy material by the copying apparatus is picked up by the image pickup means, and the copied image is displayed on the display means by the display control means based on the image information output from the image pickup means. Is displayed. This allows the operator to visually check the copy image displayed on the display means, thereby verifying the finish of the copy image. Further, even when a plurality of copying apparatuses are provided, a copy image copied on a copy material by each copying apparatus is captured by the imaging unit, and image information representing the copy image copied by each copying apparatus is displayed. Since the copied image output from the imaging means and copied by each copying apparatus is displayed on the display means, the work of resetting the copied image copied by each copying apparatus to a single verification machine can be performed. It becomes unnecessary.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, information for instructing re-copying of a specific film image corresponding to a specific copying image among the copying images displayed on the display means, and copying conditions for re-copying the specific film image. Input means for inputting information for instructing correction of the specific film image is provided. When re-copying of the specific film image is instructed through the input means, the re-copy control means Is controlled so as to be automatically re-copied to the copy material under the copy conditions corrected in accordance with the instruction input via the. Incidentally, the copying apparatus for re-copying the specific film image may be a copying apparatus which has previously copied the specific film image to the copying material, or may be used when the photographic processing system has a plurality of copying apparatuses. May be a copying apparatus different from the copying apparatus (for example, a copying apparatus dedicated to re-copying).

According to the above, the finish of the copy image displayed on the display means is verified, and if a copy image having an incorrect finish is detected, the specific film image corresponding to the detected specific copy image is detected via the input means. If the information for instructing the re-copying of the specific film image and the information for instructing the modification of the copying condition when re-copying the specific film image are input, the re-copying of the specific film image is automatically performed. Therefore, even when a plurality of copying apparatuses are provided, it is possible to save labor in a step of verifying a copied image.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the display control means preferably causes the display means to simultaneously display a plurality of copied images copied on the copy material by the copying apparatus. Thus, when a plurality of film images having similar image contents (for example, images having the same main subject but different backgrounds) are recorded on the photographic film, these film images are copied to a copy material. By comparing the obtained copied images on the display means, it is possible to test the variation in the finish of the copied images obtained from a plurality of film images having similar image contents.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the copying apparatuses are provided, and a plurality of the image pickup means are provided corresponding to the copying apparatus. Outputting the device identification information for identifying the corresponding copying device in association with the image information representing the captured copied image, and displaying the copied image copied on the copying material by the plurality of copying devices. Each of which is displayed on the display means, wherein the recopy control means responds to the image information of the specific copy image when the recopy of the specific film image corresponding to the specific copy image is instructed through the input means. And performing control so that re-copying is performed by the copying apparatus that has copied the specific copy image based on the apparatus identification information output from the imaging unit.

When a plurality of copying apparatuses are provided, and when a re-copy of a specific film image is instructed, the specific film image is re-copied by the copying apparatus which previously copied the specific film image. The recopy control means must identify the copying apparatus that previously copied the particular film image with the copy material. In contrast, in the invention of claim 3, a plurality of image pickup means are provided corresponding to the copying apparatus, and the apparatus identification information for identifying the corresponding copying apparatus is output in association with the image information. In the means, based on the apparatus identification information, it is possible to easily identify the copying apparatus that has previously copied the specific film image, and control so that the specific film image is re-copied by the identified copying apparatus. be able to.

A copying apparatus that performs at least re-copying irradiates the copying material with light transmitted or reflected by the film image located at the copying position, thereby copying the film image onto the copying material (a so-called copying apparatus). In the case of an analog type copying apparatus), the re-copying of the specified specific film image can be performed as follows.

That is, the invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
In the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 3, at least the copying apparatus for performing re-copying irradiates the copy material with light that has transmitted or reflected the film image located at the copy position, thereby applying the film image to the copy material. A copying apparatus for copying, further comprising positioning means for setting a designated photographic film in the copying apparatus and positioning a designated film image at a copying position of the copying apparatus; and
Image identification information for identifying a film image corresponding to the captured copy image and film identification information for identifying a photographic film on which the film image is recorded are output in association with the image information representing the captured copy image, The re-copy control means, when instructed to re-copy a specific film image corresponding to the specific copy image via the input means, a film output from the imaging means corresponding to the image information of the specific copy image Based on the identification information and the image identification information, the positioning means is instructed to position the specific film image at the copy position, and the correction amount of the copy condition in accordance with the instruction input through the input means is determined. It is characterized by outputting to a copying apparatus. This allows the analog type copying apparatus to automatically copy the specific film image again.

Further, at least a copying apparatus which performs re-copying controls a copying operation on a copy material in pixel units based on image information indicating an image to be copied, and copies an image on the copy material (a so-called digital type). In this case, the designated specific film image can be re-copied in the following manner.

That is, the invention described in claim 5 is based on claim 1.
4. A copying apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the copying apparatus that performs at least re-copying controls the copying to the copying material on a pixel basis based on the image information representing the image to be copied, and copies the image to the copying material. A recopying control unit, wherein when a recopying of a specific film image corresponding to the specific copying image is instructed, the recopying control unit responds to an instruction to correct a copying condition input through the input unit. The image information representing the specific copy image is corrected, and the corrected image information is output to the copying apparatus as image information representing an image to be copied. As a result, the digital copying machine can automatically re-copy the specific film image.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a photographic processing system 10 according to the present invention. The photo processing system 10 includes a plurality of printer processors 12 (reference numerals “12A” and “12A” in FIG.
B,..., "12X"), and each printer processor 12 is provided with a negative autochanger 24 (in FIG. 1, reference numerals "24A", "24X").
B ",...," 24X "). As will be described in detail later, the printer processor 10 includes a printer unit 14, a processor unit 16, a CCD image sensor 18 which forms a part of the image pickup means of the present invention, and a sorter 20, which control the printer processor 10. It is connected to the section 22.

The control section 22 of the printer processor 12 includes a microprocessor and the like. The control unit 22 is connected to a control unit 26 of a negative autochanger 24 which also includes a microprocessor and the like. Although details will be described later, the negative auto changer 2
4 is a container driving unit 28, a cartridge unloading / loading unit 3
0, a cartridge transport section 32, and a display section 34, which are connected to the control section 26 of the negative autochanger 24.

The control unit 22 of the printer processor 12
Is a management device 36 composed of a microcomputer or the like.
It is connected to the. The management device 36 includes a display 38 as a display unit of the present invention for displaying images and the like,
A keyboard 40 as an input means of the present invention for an operator to input various information is connected.

Next, the configuration of the printer processor 12 will be described. In the present embodiment, the printer processor 12
A, 12B,..., 12X have the same configuration.
As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior of the printer processor 12 is covered by a casing 42, and a negative film 44 is provided.
Unit 1 for exposing an image recorded on a photographic paper 46
And a processor unit 16 for performing processing such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying on the photographic paper 46 on which the image has been exposed.
And

First, the configuration of the printer unit 14 will be described.
A work table 48 is attached to the printer processor 12 on the left side in FIG. 1 so as to protrude from the casing 42, and a negative carrier 50 is provided on an upper surface of the work table 48. The negative carrier 50 includes a transport roller (not shown), and the cartridge 44 </ b> A of the negative film 44
Is set, the negative film 44 is pulled out from the cartridge 44A and transported.

Negative film 44 by negative carrier 50
A light source 52 that emits exposure light for printing an image recorded on the negative film 44 is disposed below the transport path. On the light emission side of the light source 52, a color correction filter 54, a diffusion box 56, and a distribution prism 58 are sequentially arranged. The color correction filter 54 is capable of moving forward and backward independently of each other with respect to the exposure light path.
It is composed of three sets of filters, M (magenta) and Y (yellow). The transport path of the negative film 44 is formed between the diffusion box 56 and the distribution prism 58, and the distribution prism 58 distributes the light transmitted through the negative film 44 in two directions.

An exposure lens 6 is provided on the optical path of one of the lights distributed in two directions by the distribution prism 58.
0, a black shutter 62, and a mirror 64 that reflects the exposure light in a substantially right angle direction are arranged in this order. The distribution prism 58, the exposure lens 60, the black shutter 62, and the mirror 64 are housed in a cover 66 formed on the upper side of the negative carrier 50. The exposure light reflected by the mirror 64 is applied to the photographic paper 46 located at the exposure position in the exposure chamber 68, and the image of the negative film 44 is exposed to the photographic paper 46. A photometer (not shown) is provided on the other optical path of the light distributed by the distribution prism 58.
Are arranged, and the photometry of the negative image is performed by the photometer.

On the other hand, a mounting portion 70 is provided at the upper right corner of the casing 42 in FIG. The mounting section 70 is configured such that a paper magazine 74 for winding and storing a long photographic paper 46 as a copy material in a layer form on a reel 72 is detachable. A roller pair 76 is arranged near the mounting portion 70, and the photographic paper 46 pulled out from the paper magazine 74 and fed into the casing 42 (into the exposure chamber 68) is sandwiched by the roller pair 76 in the horizontal direction. Along the exposure chamber 68.

In the vicinity of the upper left corner in the exposure chamber 68 in FIG. 2, a winding roller 78 is provided. The photographic paper 46 conveyed along the horizontal direction is wound around the winding roller 78, the conveyance direction is changed by approximately 90 °, conveyed vertically downward, and reaches the exposure position. The photographic paper 46 is substantially U-shaped between the roller pair 76 and the winding roller 78.
A first stock portion 80 for guiding and stocking in a character shape is formed.

Below the exposure position in the exposure chamber 68, rollers 82A, 82B and 82C are arranged. The photographic paper 46 on which the image of the negative film 44 is exposed at the exposure position is transported by the rollers 82A, 82B, and 82C so that the transport direction is substantially 90 degrees.
° and is conveyed to the processor unit 16. Roller 8
A cutter 84 is arranged downstream of 2A. The cutter 84 cuts the rear end of the printing paper 46 on which the image has been exposed. The unexposed photographic paper 46 cut by the cutter 84 and remaining in the exposure chamber 68 can be rewound to the paper magazine 74 again.

Between the rollers 82A and 82B, there is formed a second stock section 86 for guiding and stocking the photographic paper 46 on which an image has been exposed in a substantially U-shape. The printer unit 14 is provided by the second stock unit 86.
The difference in processing time between the processor and the processor 16 is absorbed. Although not shown, a cut mark applicator is provided near the exposure position in the exposure chamber 68 for applying a cut mark to the photographic paper for cutting the photographic paper 46 for each image frame.

Next, the configuration of the processor section 16 will be described. The processor section 16 includes a color developing tank 88 storing a color developing solution and a bleach developing tank 9 storing a bleach-fixing solution.
And a plurality of rinse tanks 92 in which washing water is stored, and the photographic printing paper 46 is sequentially transported through the color developing tank 88, the bleach developing tank 90, and the plurality of rinse tanks 92 to perform color developing and developing. Each process of bleach-fixing and washing is performed in order. As a result, the image (photo print: copy image of the present invention) exposed on the photographic paper 46 is visualized. The photographic paper 46 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is supplied to a drying unit
Transported to In the drying unit 94, the photographic paper 46 is wound around a roller and dried by exposing it to high-temperature air.

The printing paper 46 is nipped by a pair of rollers (not shown), and is discharged from the drying unit 94 at a constant speed after the drying process is completed. On the downstream side of the drying unit 94, a cut mark sensor 9 for detecting a cut mark provided on the photographic paper 46 is provided.
6, a CCD image sensor 18, and a cutter 98 for cutting the photographic paper 46 are provided in this order. The CCD image sensor 18 corresponds to the image pickup means of the present invention, and the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the photographic paper 46 enters the photographic paper 4.
The print image (one frame) recorded in No. 6 is divided into a large number of pixels, and each pixel is separated into three colors of R, G, and B and imaged.

Although not shown, the cut mark sensor 96 and the cutter 98 are also connected to the controller 22.
The control unit 22 controls the operation of the cutter 98 based on the detection result of the cut mark by the cut mark sensor 96 so that the printing paper 46 is cut for each image frame. The photographic paper 46 (photo print) cut for each image frame by the cutter 98 is discharged out of the printer processor 12.

On the upper side of the processor section 16, the photographic paper 4
Sorters 20 are arranged corresponding to the outlets 6. The sorter 20 includes a large number of storage sections each capable of storing a plurality of photographic prints. According to an instruction from the control section 22 (see FIG. 1), the same sort of photographic prints discharged out of the body of the printer processor 12 is performed. The photographic prints discharged to the outside of the printer processor 12 are sorted so that the photographic prints corresponding to the order are stored in the same storage unit.

Next, the negative autochanger 24 will be described. In this embodiment, the negative auto changer 2 is used.
, 24X have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the negative auto changer 24 is attached to one end of a work table 48 of the printer processor 12. The negative auto changer 24 is provided with a loading section 104 for loading a container 102 containing a cartridge 44A of a negative film 44.

The container 102 has a disk shape, and is provided with a plurality of circular storage portions 102A along the circumferential direction near the outer peripheral side in the radial direction. The storage section 102A has an inner diameter dimension large enough to store the cartridge 44A, and an identification number is assigned to each storage section in advance to identify each storage section 102A. Further, the outer peripheral portion provided with the storage portion 102A is rotatable around the central portion, and the container 1 loaded in the loading portion 104 is
02 (the outer peripheral portion) is a container driving unit 28 (see FIG. 1).
3 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The container driving unit 28 controls the container 10 in response to an instruction from the control unit 26.
Rotate 2.

An opening 106 is provided on a side surface of the negative auto changer 24, and an endless transport belt 108 is provided so as to pass through the opening 106.
The transport belt 108 includes a roller 110 disposed near the negative carrier 50 on the work table 48 and a roller (not shown) disposed inside the negative auto changer 24.
A groove 48 </ b> A for accommodating the transport belt 108 is formed on the upper surface of the work table 48.

The cartridge transport section 32 (see FIG. 1)
The cartridge 44 includes a transport belt 108 and a drive mechanism for driving the belt. The cartridge 44 mounted on the transport belt 108 is responsive to an instruction from the control unit 26.
A is transported from the inside of the negative auto changer 24 to a predetermined delivery position near the negative carrier 50 or from the delivery position to the inside of the negative auto changer 24.

Further, a cartridge take-out / load unit 30 (FIG. 1)
The storage unit 10 of the container 102 positioned at a predetermined access position according to an instruction from the control unit 26.
2A, take out the cartridge 44A and transport the belt 1
The cartridge 44A placed on the conveyor belt 08 or on the conveyor belt 108 and transported to the inside of the negative auto changer 24 is loaded into the storage portion 102A of the container 102 positioned at the above-mentioned entrance / exit position.

Above the loading section 104, a display section 34 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like is provided, and an operation section 112 having a number of switches for giving various instructions to the negative autochanger 24 is provided. Is provided. The display unit 34 displays information such as a message in response to an instruction from the control unit 26.

Next, as an operation of this embodiment, first, a cartridge loading process executed by the control unit 26 of the negative auto changer 24 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. The processing described below is executed by each of the negative auto changers 24A, 24B,..., 24X.

In step 150, the printer processor 1
It is determined whether a cartridge transport request has been received from the second control unit 22. If the determination is negative, step 15
Then, it is determined whether or not a cartridge return notification has been received from the control unit 22. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 154, and determines whether a container replacement request has been received from the control unit 22. If the determination in step 154 is also negative, the process returns to step 150, and steps 150 to 154 are repeated until any of the above determinations is affirmative.

When a cartridge transport request is received from the control unit 22, the determination at step 150 is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 156, where it is determined whether a cartridge number has been designated by the control unit 22. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 158, where the unprinted cartridge 4
4A (the cartridge of the negative film 44 which has not been exposed to the photographic paper 46) is determined by the container drive unit 28 so that the storage unit 102A is positioned at the entrance position. Container 1
02 (initially, the cartridge 44A stored in each storage section 102A of the container 102).
Are all unprinted, any storage unit 102A may be positioned at the in / out position.)

Next, the cartridge 44A is taken out of the storage section 102A positioned at the loading / unloading position by the cartridge take-out / loading section 30, and is placed on the transport belt 108.
A is transported to the delivery position by the cartridge transport unit 32. As a result, the unprinted cartridge 44A is delivered to the printer processor 12. This step 158 corresponds to the positioning means according to the fourth aspect.

In the next step 160, the cartridge 4
The printer processor 12 uses the identification number assigned to the storage unit 102A from which the 4A has been taken out as the cartridge number.
And the controller number is stored in a memory or the like, and the process returns to step 150. Storage section 102A storing unprinted cartridge 44A
Is determined based on the cartridge number stored in the memory.

When the cartridge 44A is delivered to the printer processor 12 as described above, the negative image recorded on the negative film 44 in the cartridge 44A is exposed on the photographic paper 46 as described later. ,
When the exposure for the negative image is completed, the negative film 44 is stored in the cartridge 44A.
After A is set at the delivery position, the control unit 22 transmits a cartridge return notification.

When the cartridge return notification is received, the determination at step 152 is affirmed, and the routine proceeds to step 166, where the cartridge 44A located at the delivery position is transported by the cartridge transport section 32 into the negative autochanger 24. At step 168, the cartridge 44A conveyed into the negative autochanger 24 by the cartridge unloading / loading section 30 is removed from the cartridge 44A.
A is stored in the storage section 102A corresponding to A (that is, the storage section 102A positioned at the entrance position in step 158).

In the next step 170, the container 102
It is determined whether or not there is an unprinted cartridge 44A. If the determination is affirmative, the process is simply notified to the control unit 22 of the printer processor 12 in step 172, and the process returns to step 150. Container 1 as above
While there is an unprinted cartridge 44A in 02,
A cartridge transport request and a cartridge return notification are alternately transmitted from the control unit 22 of the printer processor 12, and
Steps 158 and 160, and steps 166-1
The processing of 72 is alternately repeated, and the number of unprinted cartridges 44A stored in the container 102 gradually decreases. Then, the unprinted cartridge 44A disappears in the container 102, and step 17 is executed.
If the determination of 0 is denied, the process returns to step 150 after notifying the control unit 22 of the printer processor 12 that there is no unprinted cartridge 44A in step 174.

When printing is performed on all the cartridges 44A stored in the container 102, if there is a cartridge 44A to be reprinted, the control unit 22 specifies the cartridge number of the cartridge 44A to be transported. When transport of the cartridge 44A is requested and there is no cartridge 44A to be reprinted, the control unit 22 transmits a container replacement permission signal.

When the cartridge number of the cartridge 44A to be conveyed is designated and the conveyance of the cartridge 44A is requested, the judgments at steps 150 and 156 are affirmed, and the routine goes to step 162. Step 162
Then, the container 102 is rotationally driven by the container drive unit 28 so that the storage unit 102A corresponding to the cartridge number specified by the control unit 22 is positioned at the in / out position, and the cartridge removal / loading unit is positioned from the positioned storage unit 102. 30, the cartridge 44A is taken out, placed on the conveyor belt 108, and
The upper cartridge 44A is transported to the delivery position. This step 162 also corresponds to the positioning means according to the fourth aspect.

Thus, the cartridge 44A corresponding to the designated cartridge number is stored in the printer processor 1
2 and the printer processor 12 performs reprinting.

When a container exchange permission signal is received from the control unit 22, the determination at step 154 is affirmed, and the routine goes to step 176. At step 176, a message requesting replacement of the container 102 is displayed on the display unit 34, and the operator is notified of the unprinted cartridge 44.
A is requested to replace the container 102 in which A is stored, and in the next step 178, the process waits until the container 102 is replaced. Then, when the container 102 is replaced, a notification of completion of replacement is transmitted to the control unit 22 in step 180, and the process returns to step 150.

Next, the control unit 2 of the printer processor 12
The exposure process executed in Step 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step 200, a cartridge transport request is transmitted to the control unit 26 of the negative auto changer 24. In the next step 202, it is determined whether or not the cartridge 44A has reached the delivery position, and the process waits until the cartridge 44A reaches the delivery position. Cartridge 44A (in this case, unprinted cartridge 44A
When A) reaches the delivery position, the process proceeds to step 204,
The cartridge number notified from the control unit 26 of the negative auto changer 24 is stored in a memory or the like.

In the next step 206, the cartridge 44A which has reached the delivery position is set at a predetermined position of the negative carrier 50, and the negative film 4 from the cartridge 44A is set.
4 is withdrawn. In step 208, the negative image recorded on the negative film 44 pulled out from the cartridge 44A is positioned at the exposure position. Thus, steps 206 and 208, together with the previous steps 200 and 202, also correspond to the positioning means according to the fourth aspect. In the next step 210, the negative image positioned at the exposure position is measured by a photometer, exposure conditions are determined based on the photometric results, and the determined exposure conditions are stored in a memory or the like. In step 212, the photographic paper 46 is exposed to the negative image positioned at the exposure position under the exposure conditions determined previously.

In the next step 214, it is determined whether or not all the negative images recorded on one negative film 44 have been exposed to the photographic paper 46. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 208, and steps 208 to 214 are repeated until the determination is positive. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 216, where the negative autochanger 2
The control unit 26 transmits a cartridge return notification to the control unit 26, and determines the response to the cartridge return notification in the next step 218. If the response is a completion notification, the unprocessed cartridge 44A is present in the container 102 loaded in the negative autochanger 24, so the process returns to step 200, and the "no print cartridge is not present" is received from the negative autochanger 24. Steps 200 to 218 are repeated until notified.

During this time, the photographic paper 46 on which the negative image has been exposed
Are sequentially sent to the processor unit 16 where processing such as development is performed, and the exposed image is visualized. Then, when the photographic paper 46 reaches the site where the CCD image sensor 18 is provided, an interrupt is generated, and the control unit 22 executes a print result imaging process (see FIG. 6) described below in parallel with the exposure process shown in FIG. Be executed. This print result imaging process corresponds to the imaging unit of the present invention.

In step 250, it is determined whether or not the print image (the portion where the print image is recorded on the photographic paper 46) has reached the image pickup position of the CCD image sensor 18, and the process waits until the determination is affirmative. Step 250
Is affirmative, the conveyance of the photographic paper 46 is stopped in step 252, and the print image recorded on the photographic paper 46 is positioned at the imaging position of the CCD image sensor 18.

In the next step 254, the print image positioned at the image pickup position is picked up by the CCD image sensor 18, and in step 256, a frame number is assigned to the picked-up print image. Then, in step 258, the image data obtained by the imaging is
In step 260, the transport of the photographic paper 46 is resumed. In step 262, it is determined whether or not all the print images corresponding to one negative film 44 stored in the single cartridge 44A have been captured. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 250, and step 262
Steps 250 to 262 are repeated until the determination in step (2) is affirmed.

If the determination in step 262 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 264, where the cartridge number of the cartridge 44A of the negative film 44, the frame number of each print image, and image data corresponding to a series of print images for which imaging has been completed. The information is edited into, for example, the format shown in FIG. 7A and transmitted to the management device 36, and the print result imaging process ends.

The cartridge number corresponds to the film identification information described in claim 4, and the frame number corresponds to claim 4.
And the image data corresponds to image information representing a copied image. The frame number may be given mechanically in the order of recording the negative images on the negative film 44, may be given by reading the frame number optically recorded on the negative film 44, or may be given. If a magnetic recording unit is provided in the unit, the frame number magnetically recorded in the magnetic recording unit may be read and assigned.

Further, the printer addresses shown in FIG.
.., 12X are identification codes assigned to the respective printer processors 12 and correspond to the apparatus identification information according to the third aspect. in this way,
The output of information in step 264 is described in more detail below.
It corresponds to the output of information by the imaging means according to the third and fourth aspects.

In the above-described print result imaging process, exposure of the negative image recorded on one negative film stored in the single cartridge 44A to the photographic paper 46 is performed in steps 200 to 218 in FIG. Since each time a print image arrives at the imaging position, the interrupt is executed,
Each time the negative image recorded on the negative film of the book is exposed to the photographic paper 46, a photographic print recorded on the photographic paper 46 is taken, and the image data obtained by the imaging is stored in a frame number and the like. The information is transmitted to the management device 36 together with the identification information.

In the exposure processing shown in FIG.
The exposure of the negative image to all the cartridges 44A stored in the cartridge is terminated, and in step 218, the negative autochanger 24 outputs "no print cartridge unprinted".
Is determined to have been notified, the process proceeds to step 220, and the image data of the photographic print obtained from the negative images of all the cartridges 44A stored in the container in the print result imaging process described above is stored in the management device 36.
And waits until the determination is affirmative.

Here, the photo print verification processing executed by the management device 36 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the management device 36 receives the information indicating the photographing result of the photographic print from the printer processor 12, an interruption routine is activated and the received information is temporarily stored in a memory or the like. Step 270 of the photo print verification process
Then, it is determined whether information is received from the printer processor 12 based on whether or not the information representing the photographic print imaging result received from the printer processor 12 is stored in the memory, and waits until the determination is affirmed. I do. If the determination in step 270 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 272, and based on the image data included in the received information, as shown in FIG. Are displayed at the same time. This step 272 corresponds to the display control means of the present invention, more specifically, the display control means according to the second aspect. By displaying a plurality of photographic print images at the same time in this manner, when negative images having similar image contents are recorded on the negative film 44, the negative prints are obtained from these negative images in a test for photographic print images described later. It is also possible to test the variation of the finished photographic print.

In the present embodiment, the display is adjusted in advance so that the appearance of the photographic print image displayed on the display 38 matches the actual photographic print. The number, size, and the like of the photo print images simultaneously displayed on the display 38 can be specified by the operator, and a specific photo print image can be enlarged and displayed according to the operator's specification.

At step 274, the operator is requested to verify a predetermined number of photographic print images displayed on the display 38 by displaying a message on the display 38 or the like. Thus, the operator refers to the photo print image displayed on the display 38, and verifies whether the density and color of the photo print are appropriate, whether there is a flaw, whether dust is attached, and the like.

In the next step 276, it is determined whether or not information indicating the end of the verification has been input from the operator via the keyboard 40 to determine whether the verification for a predetermined number of photographic print images displayed on the display 38 has been completed. Determine whether or not. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 278, where it is determined whether an instruction to reprint a specific photographic print image has been input. Step 2
If the determination at 78 is also negative, the process returns to step 276, and steps 276 and 278 are repeated.

A specific photo print image determined to be reprinted is input, for example, a frame number (in the example of FIG. 9, a frame number is displayed corresponding to each photo print image), or When the operator instructs the display location of the specific photo print image on the display 38 by pointing the display device with a pointing device such as a light pen or a mouse, the determination in step 278 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 280 to reprint. Is stored in a memory or the like.

In step 282, it is determined whether or not the operator has input an exposure correction amount for correcting the exposure amount for the photographic print image for which reprinting has been instructed. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 276. If the determination is positive, the exposure correction amount input in step 284 is stored in a memory or the like as exposure correction data.
Return to step 276.

If the determination in step 276 is affirmative, the flow shifts to step 286 where all image data included in the information received from the printer processor 12 are displayed on the display 38 as photographic print images for verification. Is determined. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 272, and the processing after step 272 is repeated. If the determination in step 286 is affirmative, step 28
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a photo print image for which reprint is instructed, among all the photo print images corresponding to the information received from the printer processor 12.

If there is no photographic print image for which reprinting has been instructed, all the verification results for the photographic print image displayed on the display 38 are "passed". The information indicating that the test result is passed is transmitted to the printer processor 12 that is the information transmission source that can be identified from the address, as the information indicating the test result, and step 2
Return to 70.

If there is an instructed photographic print image for which reprinting has been instructed, the flow shifts to step 292, where the information is transmitted to the printer processor 12 which can be identified from the printer address included in the received information. ,
As information representing the test result, information instructing reprinting of a specific photographic print, that is, the frame number and exposure correction data of the photographic print image instructed to be reprinted stored in the memory are shown in FIG. The edited information is transmitted in the format shown in FIG.
Return to

Steps 288 and 282 correspond to the recopy control means of the present invention. In particular, the processing of transmitting the information indicating the verification result to the printer processor 12 of the information transmission source in step 292 is described in more detail in the claims. This corresponds to the recopy control means described in item 3.

The above-described processing is executed each time information indicating the result of photographing a photographic print is received from any one of the plurality of printer processors 12A, 12B,..., 12X. Processing results (finished photo prints) in each of the print processors are centrally verified and managed. Therefore, the operator performs verification of the photo prints created by each of the plurality of printer processors without going to the location where each printer processor is provided or transporting the photo print to the location where the operator performs verification. be able to.

As described above, since the printer processor 12 transmits the information indicating the photographing result of the photographic print to the management device 36 in units of cartridges, the verification of the photographic print in the management device 36 is also performed in units of cartridges. The information indicating the test result is also transmitted from the management device 36 to the printer processor 12 in cartridge units. In the exposure processing shown in FIG. 5, if the determination in step 220 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 222, and waits until the test results for all cartridges are received from the management device 36, and then the test results are rejected (reprinting). (Instruction) is determined.

If the test results for all cartridges are passed (OK), the negative autochanger 2
Since it can be determined that the processing for all the cartridges 44A in the container 102 loaded in No. 4 has been completed,
In step 224, a container replacement permission signal is transmitted to the negative auto changer 24, and in step 226, the process waits until the replacement of the cartridge 44A is completed. When the completion of the replacement of the cartridge 102 is notified from the negative auto changer 24, the process returns to step 200, and
The processing after 00 is repeated.

On the other hand, if there is a cartridge whose test result is rejected (reprint instruction), the process proceeds from step 222 to step 228. In step 228, in order to perform reprinting for a cartridge whose verification result is rejected, the transfer of the cartridge corresponding to the cartridge number notified from the management device 36 is performed by the autochanger 2.
4 in the next step 230, and waits until the cartridge 44A of the designated cartridge number reaches the delivery position.

If the determination in step 230 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 232, where the cartridge 44A that has reached the delivery position is set at a predetermined position on the negative carrier 50, and the negative film 44 is pulled out from the cartridge 44A. In step 234, of the negative images recorded on the negative film 44 pulled out from the cartridge 44A, the negative image of the frame number for which reprinting has been instructed by the management device 36 is positioned at the exposure position.

The above steps 228 to 234 are described in claim 4.
The negative image corresponding to the photographic print for which reprinting has been instructed is automatically positioned at the exposure position. In addition, since the positioning of the negative image to be reprinted in steps 228 to 234 is performed based on the information transmitted in step 292 of the photographic print verification processing executed by the management device 36, the step 292 is described in claims. 4 corresponds to the instruction to the positioning means of the recopy control means.

In the next step 236, the exposure conditions at the time of the previous exposure of the positioned negative image are fetched from the memory, and the fetched exposure conditions are corrected by the exposure correction data received from the management device 36. Is determined. And in step 238,
The negative image positioned at the exposure position is exposed on the photographic paper 46 under the previously determined exposure conditions.

In the next step 240, of the negative images recorded on the negative film 44 in the cartridge 44A set at the predetermined position, all the negative images for which reprinting has been instructed by the management device 36 are executed. It is determined whether or not exposure has been performed. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 234, and steps 234 to 240 are repeated. If the determination in step 240 is affirmative, a cartridge return notification is transmitted to the negative autochanger 24 in step 242, and the process waits until a response is received from the negative autochanger 24 in step 244.

When a response is received from the negative autochanger 24, the flow shifts to step 246 to determine whether or not reprinting has been executed for all cartridges for which reprinting has been instructed. If the determination is negative, step 22
8 and the other cartridges 4 for which reprinting has been instructed.
The processing of steps 228 to 246 is repeated for 4A. In the above-described reprint, the photographic print is imaged by the print result imaging process described above, and information such as image data is transmitted to the management device 36. Verification of the photographic print is performed.

If the determination in step 246 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 220, where the processing after step 220 is performed, and all the cartridges 44 in the container 102 are processed.
The reprinting process is repeated until the management device 36 notifies A that the test result has passed. The control unit 22 of the printer processor 12 controls the photographic print obtained by the reprint to be stored in the same storage unit as the storage unit of the sorter 20 in which the photographic print obtained by the first print is stored. The sorter 20 is controlled.

In the above description, the same negative image is reprinted by the printer processor 12 that has performed the first print on the negative image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be provided, and reprinting may be performed by this copying apparatus. In addition, as a copying apparatus dedicated to reprinting, so-called digital copying, in which copying to a copy material such as photographic paper is controlled pixel by pixel based on image data representing an image to be copied and the image is copied to the copy material. The use of the apparatus is preferable because it is not necessary to remove the cartridge 44A containing the negative film 44 on which the negative image to be reprinted is recorded from the container 102 for reprinting.

As a digital type copying apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a copying apparatus 116 for exposing an image to photographic paper 46 by a print head 118 based on input image data can be used. The print head 118 modulates, for example, laser light for each of the R, G, and B component colors according to the recording signal, and scans the photographic paper 46 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the photographic paper 46. , A print head configured to expose and record an image on the photographic paper 46 can be used. Alternatively, a display means such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel may be provided, an image represented by the recording signal is displayed on the display means, and the image displayed on the display means is exposed and recorded on the photographic paper 46 (for example, display). In the case where a CRT is used as a means, it can be realized by irradiating the light emitted from the CRT directly or through a spatial light modulator to the photographic paper 46,
In the case where a liquid crystal panel is used as the display means, it can be realized by irradiating the photographic paper 46 with light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel).

When a digital copying machine dedicated to reprinting is provided as described above, the exposure processing of the printer processor 12 can be performed independently of the photographic print verification result in the management device 36. Steps 220, 222, and 228 to 246 need not be performed, so that the number of processed printer processors 12 per unit time can be improved. The management device 36
In the case where the verification result is unsuccessful, the image data for displaying the photographic print image is corrected by the exposure correction data input from the operator, and is displayed again on the display 38 to perform the verification again. The image data can be output to a copying machine dedicated to reprinting when the test passes.

In the above description, the photographic processing system 10 provided with a plurality of printer processors 12 as a copying apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention includes a single copying apparatus. It is also possible to apply to a photo processing system.

Further, in the above description, transmission of information including image data from the printer processor 12 to the management device 36, verification of a photo print in the management device 36, and transmission of the verification result from the management device 36 to the printer processor 12 are all performed. Although the case where a single cartridge is used as a unit has been described, a predetermined number of cartridges, for example, a single container 10
The above process may be performed with all cartridges housed in 2 as one unit.

Further, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide the management device 36 in close proximity to the printer processor 12, so that the management device 36 may be installed in a lab where the printer processor 12 and the like are installed. Printer processor 1
The management device 36 may be installed in a remote place different from the lab where the second and the like are installed, and information may be transmitted and received via a communication line such as a telephone line.

[0089]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when a plurality of copying apparatuses are provided,
This has an excellent effect that labor saving in the process of examining a copied image can be realized.

The invention according to claim 2 has the following advantages in addition to the above effects.
This has the effect that it is also possible to test the variation in the finish of a copied image obtained from a plurality of film images having similar image contents.

The third aspect of the present invention provides the above-described effect,
When the re-copying of the specific film image is instructed, it is possible to easily identify the copying apparatus that has previously copied the specific film image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a photo processing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer processor.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a negative auto changer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a cartridge loading process executed by the negative autochanger.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exposure process performed by the printer processor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print result imaging process executed by the printer processor.

7A is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a format of information transmitted from the printer processor to the management device, and FIG. 7B is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a format of information transmitted from the management device to the printer processor.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a photo print verification process executed by the management device.

FIG. 9 is an image diagram showing a display example of a photo print image on a display of the management device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital copying apparatus as another example of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 photo processing system 12 printer processor 18 CCD image sensor 24 negative autochanger 36 management device 38 display 40 keyboard 116 copying device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A photographic processing system provided with at least one copying machine for copying a film image recorded on a photographic film onto a copying material, wherein the copying device captures the copied image copied on the copying material by the copying device. Imaging means for outputting image information representing the copied image; display means for displaying the image; display control means for displaying a copied image on the display means based on the image information output from the imaging means; Inputting information for instructing re-copying of a specific film image corresponding to a specific copy image of the copy images displayed on the display means and information for instructing correction of copy conditions when re-copying the specific film image; Input means for performing a re-copy of a specific film image via the input means. Re-copy control means for controlling the specific film image to be automatically re-copied to a copy material under a copy condition corrected in accordance with an instruction input through the input means. Characterized photo processing system. 2. The photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein said display control means simultaneously displays, on said display means, a plurality of copied images copied on a copy material by said copying apparatus. 3. A plurality of copying apparatuses are provided, and the imaging means is provided in plurality corresponding to the copying apparatuses, and the apparatus identification information for identifying the corresponding copying apparatuses is copied by the imaged copying apparatus. The display control means displays the copied images copied on the copy material by a plurality of copying apparatuses on the display means, respectively, and the re-copy control means outputs the image data corresponding to the image information representing the image. When re-copying of the specific film image corresponding to the specific copy image is instructed via the means, the specific copy image is output based on the device identification information output from the imaging unit corresponding to the image information of the specific copy image. 3. The photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that re-copying is performed by the copying apparatus that has performed the copying. 4. A copying apparatus for performing at least re-copying is a copying apparatus for copying a film image onto a copy material by irradiating the copy material with light transmitted or reflected by the film image located at the copy position. Positioning means for setting the designated photographic film in the copying apparatus and positioning the designated film image at the copying position of the copying apparatus; and the imaging means identifies a film image corresponding to the captured copied image. And outputting the film identification information for identifying the photographic film on which the film image is recorded, in association with the image information representing the captured copied image. When a re-copy of a specific film image corresponding to the specific copy image is instructed via the image forming means, Based on the film identification information and the image identification information output from the CPU, instruct the positioning means to position the specific film image at the copy position, and copy conditions according to the instruction input through the input means. 4. A photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein the correction amount is output to the copying apparatus. 5. A copying apparatus for performing at least re-copying, wherein the copying apparatus controls copying to a copying material pixel by pixel based on image information representing an image to be copied, and copies the image to the copying material. The recopy control means, when instructed to recopy a specific film image corresponding to the specific copy image, represents the specific copy image in response to an instruction to correct the copy conditions input via the input means. 4. The photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image information is corrected, and the corrected image information is output to the copying apparatus as image information representing an image to be copied.