JPH1090870A - Photographic processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic processing device where prints ejected from a print ejecting part are prevented from overflowing even in the case that a conveyer mechanism for collation is not operated by normal timing. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a tray conveyer mechanism 70 carrying the prints having images obtained from one unit of negative film 2 ejected from a negative film ejecting part 60 and one unit of the negative film ejected from a print ejecting part 50 by a tray 100 capable of storing and a delay predicting means predicting the arrival delay of the tray to a print carry-in station. In the case that the arrival delay of the tray to the print carry-in station 73 is predicted by the delay predicting means, the feeding of photographic paper 3 to a developing processing part 30 is interrupted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure section for printing an image of a negative film sent from a negative film supply section onto photographic paper, a negative film discharge section for discharging the negative film used in the exposure section, A developing section for developing the exposed photographic paper; a print discharge section for cutting the developed photographic paper to a predetermined length to discharge as a print; A negative film loading station for loading a unit of negative film, a print loading station for loading a print having an image obtained from the one unit of negative film from the print discharge unit, the loaded negative film and the loaded print; And a conveyor mechanism provided over a collating station for collating and transporting Apparatus on.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic processing apparatus as described above, a combination of a negative film and a print is made by one negative film or a set of piece negatives ordered by a customer (several pieces of film cut every four or six frames). ) Is usually performed as one unit, and this one unit is also referred to as one order. Even if the same customer orders printing of several negative films or several sets of piece negatives at the same time, they are processed as separate orders. Photographs of this one order, that is, one unit of piece negative (usually one long negative film is finally cut to a predetermined length as a piece negative) and the print is automatically packed in a DP bag A processing device is known, for example, from JP-A-6-43622. In the piece negative and print collating station in this photographic processing apparatus, one unit of the piece negative inserted into the negative sheet after the exposure processing is stored in a print bag printed with the ID number of the piece negative,
The ID number of the print bag is compared with the ID numbers of the prints sorted by unit and conveyed by the sorter,
When the ID numbers match, this one-unit print is stored in a print bag and combined with a piece negative having the same ID number.

In such a photographic processing apparatus, a photographic paper on which a frame image of a negative film is printed is developed and then cut by a paper cutter (a print is cut from the developed photographic paper as a print for each frame image). ) And the printed prints for one order are conveyed to the collation station for collation, but the conveyor mechanism can be operated at normal timing due to trouble at the carry-in station or overflow of collation work at the collation station. Even if there is no photographic paper, it is not possible to stop transporting the photographic paper passing through the inside of the developing tank of the developing processing unit.
Since the prints are discharged from the print discharge unit, the prints overflowing at the print carry-in station are mixed with the prints of the preceding orders, and the collation does not match for a considerable number of orders.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic processing apparatus in which prints discharged from a print discharge section do not overflow even when a conveyor mechanism for collation cannot be operated at a normal timing. To provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an exposure unit for printing an image of a negative film sent from a negative film supply unit on photographic paper, and a negative film used in the exposure unit. A negative film discharge unit for discharging the photographic paper, a development processing unit for developing the exposed photographic paper, a print discharge unit for discharging the developed photographic paper as a print by cutting the photographic paper to a predetermined length, A negative film loading station for loading one unit of negative film discharged from the negative film discharging unit, and a print loading station for loading a print having an image obtained from the one unit of negative film discharged from the print discharging unit. A collating station for collating and transporting the loaded negative film and the loaded print; A photographic processing apparatus provided with a conveyor mechanism provided, wherein the conveyor mechanism is a tray conveyor mechanism capable of storing, and a delay estimating means for estimating a delay of arrival of a tray at the print carrying station is provided; If the means predicts a delay in the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station, the delivery of the photographic paper to the development processing unit is interrupted.

According to this configuration, if a delay in the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station is expected, the delivery of the photographic paper to the development processing section is interrupted in advance, so that the prints should be actually loaded at the print carry-in station. Even if a trouble occurs in the conveyor mechanism, such as when the tray has not arrived, the photographic paper has not already entered the development processing unit. The problem that the print overflowing at the loading station is mixed with the print of the preceding order is solved.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tray has a film storage section for loading one unit of the negative film discharged from the negative film discharge section, and an image obtained from the negative film loaded in the film storage section. The printer has a print storage unit for loading prints from the print output unit, and when the number of trays between the negative film loading station and the print loading station exceeds a predetermined number, the delay estimation means Some expect delays. At the negative film loading station, the negative film for which the frame images have been printed onto the photographic paper is loaded into the film storage section of the tray, and prints with the corresponding frame images are loaded into the print storage section of the tray at the print loading station. Therefore, the number of trays existing between the negative film carry-in station and the print carry-in station substantially matches the unit number of frame images formed on photographic paper from the development processing section to the print discharge section, that is, the number of orders. The above-mentioned predetermined number is the number of trays that can be arranged on the structure of the conveyor mechanism between the negative film carry-in station and the print carry-in station, and accordingly, the number of trays existing between the negative film carry-in station and the print carry-in station. When the number of sheets reaches the predetermined number, the next tray cannot be sent out, so that sending out the frame image of the photographic paper to be loaded on the tray that cannot be sent out to the development processing unit is interrupted. The predetermined number of trays permitted by the conveyor mechanism is set based on the collating ability of the photoprocessing device. After the frame image of the photographic paper entering the developing unit is developed, the print is cut and printed. By the time the device reaches the station, it can load prints on a tray loaded with negative film and send it to the verification station. For this reason, even if the structure of the conveyor mechanism can be changed so that more trays can be arranged, as long as the collation ability of the photographic processing device does not change, the collation capacity between the negative film loading station and the print loading station is not changed. Even if the above tray is sent, the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station will be delayed. In any case, if the number of trays existing between the negative film carry-in station and the print carry-in station is a predetermined number or more, it is expected that the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station will be delayed.

[0008] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, among the trays stored in the collation station, the tray located at the shortest position to the negative film loading station is not empty, so that the delay estimating means arrives. Some expect delays. The trays entering the collation station are collated sequentially, and the negative film and prints are removed from the tray for shipping. Therefore, normally, the tray in the head area of the collation station is empty and is ready for movement to the negative film loading station. If the shortest tray to the negative film loading station at the verification station is not empty, then there will be no tray to load the negative film at the negative film loading station, and consequently this will not be loaded. Since the tray for loading the print on which the frame image of the negative film is loaded does not arrive at the print carrying-in station in a timely manner, the feeding of the photographic paper on which the frame image has been printed to the development processing unit is interrupted. Also, if it is determined that the collation work has been interrupted due to some kind of trouble such that such an empty tray cannot be prepared, the number of storages at the collation station is limited. It is expected that the tray will not be able to be sent to the collation station, which will eventually affect the loading of prints on the tray,
It is required to stop sending the photographic paper to the development processing section.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interruption of the feeding of the photographic paper to the developing section can be performed by cutting the photographic paper in front of the developing section. In particular, if the cutting of the photographic paper at that time is performed by one unit, that is, at the break of the order, the negative film and the print can be collated immediately after the recovery from the tray arrival delay trouble. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A photographic processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as a whole, and a negative film 2 (here, a negative film is transported in the photographic processing apparatus 1 in accordance with various processes). Photographic film, a negative film having the length of one photographic film, a piece negative cut in several frames, and a negative film with a cartridge according to the Advanced Photo System). This is shown schematically in FIG. The photographic processing apparatus 1 includes a negative film supply unit 10, an exposure unit 20 that prints the image of the negative film 2 on a photographic paper 3 drawn from a paper magazine 4, and a developing unit that develops the photographic paper 3 exposed by the exposure unit 20. A developing unit 30 for processing, and a drying unit 40 for drying the photographic paper 3 developed by the developing unit 30
And dried photographic paper 3 is cut to a predetermined length and printed (print paper 3 is cut to a predetermined length and printed
A print discharge unit 50 that discharges the print
The negative film 2 used in the exposure unit 20 is cut and inserted into a negative sheet if necessary, and a negative film discharge unit 60 to be discharged, and one unit loaded from the negative film discharge unit 60 (for easy understanding, Here, this one unit is 1
And a conveyor mechanism 70 for collating and combining the negative film 2 (which may be read as an order) and one unit of print carried in from the print discharge unit 50 as a finished product, and transporting the finished product to a finished product removal position by an operator. I have.

The negative film supply unit 10 can be loaded with two negative reels 11 each of which is obtained by winding up to 100 negative films 2 connected by a splice tape. The negative film drawn from the negative reel 11 can be loaded. The bar code reader 12 is provided with a bar code reader 12 for reading a bar code, and a negative cutter 13 for cutting the drawn negative film 2 for each order.

As shown in FIG. 3 (the arrangement of the negative film 2 and the photographic paper 3 is arranged upside down as compared with FIG. 2), the exposure unit 20 is provided with a reading light source on the upstream side in the film transport direction. 21a, mirror tunnel 21b, and imaging device 21c
An exposure device 2 including an exposure light source 22a, a light control filter 22b, a mirror tunnel 22c, a negative mask 22d, a printing lens 22e, and a shutter 22f is provided downstream of the film reading device 21 in the film transport direction.
2 is provided, and the negative film supply unit 10 to the exposure unit 20
23a for transporting the negative film 2 to the negative discharge section 60 through the roller and the motor 2 for driving the rollers 23a
3b is provided.

The image of each frame of the negative film 2 conveyed by the rollers 23a is first read by the film reading device 21 and sent to the controller 5 whose block diagram is shown in detail in FIG. Can be The exposure control means 5a of the controller 5 determines exposure conditions for printing the image of the negative film 2 on the photographic paper 3 based on the image information received from the film reading device 21. When transported to the position of the negative mask 22d, the dimming filter 22b and the shutter 22f are controlled based on the exposure condition obtained previously,
The printing paper 3 is exposed. Further, the controller 5 processes the image information of the negative film 2 read by the film reading device 21 and displays a simulated image of an image obtained when the photographic paper 3 is printed under the determined exposure conditions on the monitor 6a.
The operator observes the simulated image on the monitor 6a, and if necessary, controls the console 6b.
The exposure condition can be corrected from the above.

The negative film 2 which has been subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure section 20 is subjected to six frames or four frames by a negative cutter 25 provided in a negative discharge section 60 disposed downstream of the exposure device 22 in the film transport direction. Each piece is cut and sent as a plurality of negative pieces 2 to the conveyor mechanism 70. Depending on the specifications, the negative pieces 2 are inserted into the negative sheets by a negative sheet insertion device (not shown).
The negative sheet is sent out to the conveyor mechanism 70 after being folded. Note that the negative film 2 conforming to the advanced photo system is pulled out of the cartridge before various processing operations, and is rewound into the cartridge again after the processing. Therefore, the negative film 2 after the exposure processing is also stored in the cartridge in a conveyor mechanism. It is sent to 70. In addition,
A series of transport of the negative film 2 from being pulled out from the negative reel 11 to finally being sent to the conveyor mechanism 70 is controlled by the negative film transport control means 5b of the controller 5.

Although not shown, the developing section 30 is provided with a plurality of developing tanks, and after the image on the negative film 2 is printed by the exposure section 20,
As shown in FIG.
The photographic paper 3 formed at the ends of the separation notch 3b used as a unit (usually one order) and the cut notch 3a used as a frame image unit drives the rollers 24a and the rollers 24a. Motor 2
4b, the developer passes through the collection printing section 26 and sequentially passes through the developing tank of the developing section 30 to be developed. It should be noted that, before the development processing unit 30, if a situation occurs in which the photographic paper 3 cannot be continuously fed between the exposure unit 20 and the development processing unit 30 despite the presence of the loop unit, emergency evacuation is performed. An emergency cutter 27 for selectively cutting the photographic paper 3 and a notch sensor 28a for detecting a separation notch formed at an end of the photographic paper 3 used as a unit (usually one order) of a frame image. The cutting of the photographic paper 3 by the emergency cutter 27 is performed at intervals of one unit.

The photographic paper 3 after the development processing is dried in a drying unit 40, sent to a print discharge unit 50, and cut by a paper cutter 51 to become a finished print 3, and a conveyer mechanism by a horizontal feed conveyor 53. It is sent to 70. Reference numeral 54 is for discharging the area to a different place as so-called waste paper when there is an area where no frame image is formed on the printing paper 3 due to some trouble. Since the area of the waste paper is indicated by the partition notch 3b formed at the end of the printing paper 3, the notch sensor 2 for detecting the partition notch and for detecting the cut notch 3a for the print cut.
8b is provided upstream of the paper cutter 51 in the transport direction. A series of conveyance of the photographic paper 3 or the print 3 and branching to the photographic paper bypass path 54 are controlled by the photographic paper conveyance control means 5 c of the controller 5.

The conveyor mechanism 70 is, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of trays 100 that are of a tray conveyor type and are driven by a driving unit 90 that transmits a conveying force while being guided by a circulation guide path 80 are provided. A negative film carry-in station 71, a standby station 72, a print carry-in station 73, and a collation station 74 are formed on the transport line determined by the circulation guide path 80. As shown in FIG. 7, the orbiting guide path 80 is composed of a pair of right and left rails 81 having a substantially circular cross section and a connecting body 82 connecting the rails 81 at a predetermined interval. And extends along the side walls of the development processing unit 30 and the drying unit 40 between the negative film discharge unit 60 disposed at the first position and the print discharge unit 50 disposed at a high position.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the tray 100 is composed of a traveling section 110 traveling on a rail 81, and a loading section 150 having a film storage section 150a and a print storage section 150b. It is configured. Traveling part 110
Is a channel-type traveling platform 111 and this traveling platform 111
Four running rollers 113 rotatably supported by shafts 112 on both sides of the ribs 111a and 111b on both sides of the vehicle, and an angle bracket 114 for mounting the mounting portion 150 at an angle to the running table 111.
(FIG. 10). Grooves 113a are formed on the running surface of the running rollers 113, which are attached to the trays eight by eight, so as to match the shape of the rail 81. The traveling section 110 sandwiches the right rail 81 at two places between the front upper and lower traveling rollers 113 and the rear upper and lower traveling rollers 113 disposed on the right rib section 111a, and is disposed on the left rib section 111b. Front upper and lower running rollers 113 and rear upper and lower running rollers 11
By sandwiching two rails 81 on the left side at 3, stable rail running is performed.

At the negative film loading station 71,
One unit of the negative film 2 discharged from the negative film discharge unit 60 is transferred to the film storage unit 150a of the tray 100. In the standby station 72, the tray 100 loaded with the negative film 2 can wait in order to match the timing of printing one unit of print 3 printing the image of the negative film 2 loaded on the tray 100 from the print discharge unit 50. It is. In the print carry-in station 73, one unit of print 3 printing the image of the negative film 2 stored in the film storage unit 150a is transferred from the print discharge unit 50 to the print storage unit 150b of the tray 100. Collation station 7
At 4, when the collation of the negative film 2 and the print 3 for one unit carried by the tray 100 is confirmed, the negative film 2 and the print 3 are taken out of the tray 100 and put into the DP bag 7. Since such collation / removal for each tray 100 and sending of the tray 100 to the collation station 74 are not synchronized, the tray 100 is stored on the rail 81 at the collation station 74 similarly to the standby station 72. It is possible. The empty tray 100 is sent to the negative film loading station 71 again.

The driving means 90 for transporting the tray 100 includes:
A chain drive system employing a chain 91 as an endless drive body is employed. As is clear from FIG.
The first driving device 90a is divided into a sixth driving device 90f. The first driving device 90 a
And the standby station 72.
The second driving device 90b is arranged to move the empty tray 100 to a tray stop position at the negative loading station 71. The third driving device 90c includes:
The tray 100 loaded with the negative film 2 is moved to a standby station 7 formed by a part of the first driving device 90a.
2 to be moved to the second storage line. The fourth drive device 90d is arranged to sequentially move the trays 100 stored in the standby station 72 to the tray stop position of the print carry-in station 73, and as is apparent from FIG. 90d raises the tray 100 steeply.
The fifth driving device 90e further lowers the tray 100 loaded with the prints 3 at a steep gradient, and the first driving device 90a
The tray 100 is moved along a curved line because the orbital guide path 80 is curved before the collation station 74. The sixth driving device 90f to be operated is arranged between the fifth driving device 90e and the first driving device 90a. Each of the driving devices described above includes a chain 91, a driving sprocket 92 meshing with the chain 91, a direction changing sprocket 93, and a driving sprocket 9
2 is constituted by a drive motor 94 that drives the drive motor 2. At this time, the first, second, third, and sixth driving devices 90a, 90b, 9
Although 0c and 90f receive power from the common drive motor 94, the fourth and fifth drive devices 90d and 90e receive power from the individual drive motors 94 because of the need for timed intermittent operation. I have. As a link plate of each chain 91, not only a normal link plate 91a but also a traction link plate 91b having a traction portion 95 extending in the axial direction of the chain roller at a predetermined pitch is mounted. The tray 100 is being moved via 95.

The traction unit 95 and the traveling unit 110 of the tray 100
And the transfer force can be transmitted by two methods. That is, in the first driving device 90a, as shown in FIG. 8, the magnet fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 115 extending vertically to the outside of the rib 111b of the traveling platform 110 by the resin 117 to form the storage line. The magnetic force acting between 116 and the pulling portion 95 of the chain 91 creates an engagement between the running portion 110 of the tray 100 and the pulling portion 95 of the chain 91, and as a result, the tray 100 is moved by the chain 91. I have. For this purpose, at least the traction link plate 91b is made of a magnetic material. Therefore, the tray 100 is in the chain 9 with the tray 100.
If the traveling is stopped by a force larger than the magnetic force acting between the pulley 1 and the magnet 1, the engagement between the magnet 116 and the traction unit 95 is released, and only the chain 91 advances, and the tray 100 remains stopped. As a result, the trays 100 are sequentially stored by the end faces of the traveling platform 111 abutting against each other, and when the previous tray advances, the magnets 116 are magnetically engaged with the pulling portions 95 of the chain 91 again. , Later tray 1
00 also starts to move by the chain 91. That is, the storage of the tray 100 and the supply of the negative film 2 and the print 3 to the take-out position of the tray 100 are automatically performed without delay.

In driving devices other than the first driving device 90a,
Since the tray 100 and the chain 91 only have to move integrally, as shown in FIG.
The claw 118 further protruding from the lower ends of the chains 111 and 111b comes into contact with the traction unit 95 of the chain 91, so that the traveling unit 1
A transferable engagement between the traction unit 95 and the traction unit 95 is created. Each drive motor 94 is controlled by the conveyor control means 5d of the controller 5 so as to cooperate with each other.

At the negative film loading station 71, the negative film 2 is loaded from the negative discharging section 60.
The tray 100 has a second driving device 90b and a third driving device 90b.
and c is stopped by the first stopper device 85. Further, the tray 100 is stopped by the second stopper device 86 between the fourth drive device 90d and the fifth drive device 90e in order to carry in the print 3 from the print discharge unit 50 in the print carry-in station 73. First stopper device 85 and second stopper device 86
Therefore, the structure of the first stopper shown in FIG. 10 will be described here.

The first stopper device 85 is provided at one end of the swing arm 85c which swings around the fulcrum 85b and at the one end of the swing arm 85c, and is provided on the traveling platform 111 of the tray 100 by the swing of the swing arm 85c. Claws 1
18 and an oscillating arm 85c
Of the swing arm 85c and the fulcrum 85
Spring 8 biasing clockwise in FIG. 10 around b
5d, connected to the swing arm 85c near the engagement pin 85a, and the swing arm 85c
And a linear drive solenoid 85e that swings counterclockwise in FIG. When the energization of the linear solenoid 85e is released, the engagement pin 85a enters the movement locus of the claw 118 of the tray 100, so that the engagement pin 85a slides down the rail 81 that is inclined downward after detaching from the traction unit 95 of the second drive device 90b. Tray 100
Hold stop. When the linear solenoid 85e is energized, the engaging pin 85a retreats from the movement trajectory of the claw 118 of the tray 100, thereby allowing the tray 100 to pass. Since the positional relationship between the second stopper device 86 and the fourth drive device 90d and the downward inclination posture of the rail 81 are the same as those of the first stopper device 85, the second stopper device 86
Similarly, the stopping and passing of the tray 100 can be controlled.

Further, at the collating station 74,
A third stopper device 87 for stopping the head of the tray 100 to be stored is provided. As shown in FIG. 11, the third stopper device 87 is provided with a swing arm 87b swinging in a seesaw manner around a rotation axis 87c, and provided at both ends of the swing arm 87b.
b, a pair of engaging pins 87a that can be selectively engaged with the claw portions 118 of the tray 100, and a rotary solenoid 87d that is connected to a rotating shaft 87c so as to swing the swing arm 87b. And a spring 87e engaged with one end of the swing arm 87b so as to bias the swing arm 87b in the clockwise direction in FIG. In the third stopper device 87 having such a configuration, when the rotary solenoid 87d is de-energized, the swinging arm 87b assumes the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 11 and stops the leading tray 100 by the urging force of the spring 87e. The tray 100 following the leading tray 100 can be moved on the rail 81 by magnetic force until it comes into contact with the preceding tray 100 as described above, but if it comes into contact with the preceding tray 100, it cannot be moved by magnetic force. Are stored one after another in a state where the trays 100 are packed. When the rotary solenoid 87d is energized, the swing arm 87b assumes a position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 against the urging force of the spring 87e, and stops the next tray 100. Tray 100 starts to move via magnetic force by the first driving device 90a. In this state, when the energization of the rotary solenoid 87d is further released, the swing arm 87b returns to the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 11 and becomes free once and becomes the new head which is slightly moved by the first driving device 90a. The tray 100 is stopped. The tray 10 that has come off the first driving device 90a
0 approaches the second driving device 90b with the help of the downward inclination posture of the rail 81, and the fourth stopper device 88 provided between the first driving device 90a and the second driving device 90b.
Stopped by

The fourth stopper device 88 is for setting the timing for sending the tray 100 to the negative film carry-in station 71. The fourth stopper device 88 sends out a new tray 100 at the same time as the tray 100 leaves the negative film carry-in station 71. Is controlled. That is, the third stopper device 87 and the fourth stopper device 88
As a result, the stored trays 100 can be sent out one by one to the negative film loading station 71, and at the same time, the storage lines of the collating station 74 are sequentially shifted forward. As shown in FIG. 12, the fourth stopper device 88 is substantially the first stopper device 85.
Since the structure is the same as that of the second stopper device 86, the description thereof is omitted here.

The tray 10 by the fourth stopper device 88
0, the tray 100 is at the stop position as shown in FIG.
Is provided with an optical sensor 76 for detecting whether or not the negative film 2 and the print 3 are stored in the film storage portion 150a and the print storage portion 150b, respectively. The optical sensor 76 detects whether or not the negative film 2 is present. LED 76a and light receiving element 76b for detecting the presence or absence of print 3
The mounting section 150 has an LED 76
a and holes (not shown) that allow the light emitted from the LED 76c to pass therethrough. The detection signal of the optical sensor 76 is input to the controller 5 so that the fourth
It is checked whether the tray 100 stopped by the stopper device 88 is empty. The above-described first stopper device 85, second stopper device 86,
The third stopper device 87 and the fourth stopper device 88 are also controlled by the conveyor control means 5d of the controller 5.

Here, the structure of the mounting portion 150 of the tray 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The mounting portion 150 mainly includes a top plate 151, a bottom plate 152, a first side plate 153, and a second side plate 15.
4 has a box-like form. The print storage section 150b is formed on the top plate 151,
The first side plate 153 and the second side plate 154 protrude from the top plate 151 so that the prints 3 stacked on the top plate 151 do not slip off, and the protruding portion surrounds the print 3 from two directions. The other two directions are open to facilitate loading / unloading of the print 3. Negative film 2, ie, film storage section 150a for storing a piece negative inserted in a negative piece negative or a negative sheet
Is formed in a pocket shape between the top plate 151 and the bottom plate 152. In addition, a box body 155 attached to the outside of the second side plate 154 opposite to the film storage section 150a has a cartridge storage section 150c for storing a cartridge 2a in which the negative film 2 according to the advanced photo system is wound. Is formed.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, the tray 100 is suspended upside down during the movement process from the negative film carry-in station 71 to the standby station 72, and there is a possibility that the contents fall from the film storage part 150a or the cartridge storage part 150c. For this reason, the tray 100 is provided with a holding mechanism 160 for holding the stored items. The holding mechanism 160 includes a rotating shaft 161 rotatably supported on the bottom plate 152 via a plurality of bearing brackets 162, and a claw sleeve 163 fixed to the rotating shaft 161.
And a first holding plate 165 that swings around a fixed shaft 164 attached to the top plate 151 in a seesaw manner to hold a negative film stored in the film storage portion 150a at one end thereof, and is attached to the top plate 151. Fixed shaft 1
A second holding plate 168 is provided for holding the cartridge housed in the cartridge housing portion 150c at one end by swinging around the 67 in a seesaw manner. The first holding plate 165 and the second holding plate 168 are
Claw sleeve 163 associated with contact with the third claw portion 163a
Swings in the opening direction due to the transmission of the rotational displacement from. And the swing in the direction to press each stored thing,
Here, this is performed by the spring force of a helical spring (not shown). In order to operate the rotation shaft 161, the rotation shaft 161
An operation piece member 170 having a rounded shape is fixed to an end portion on the side of the traveling platform 111. The operation piece member 170 is
Although the negative film 2 is arranged in an area for loading and unloading the tray 100, the attitude thereof changes due to contact movement with a frame guide rail (not shown), whereby the rotating shaft 161 rotates, Claw sleeve 163
Swings, and the claw portions 163a of the first and second holding plates 16
5, 168 are pushed up against the spring force of a helical spring (not shown) to be in an open position, allowing the negative film 2 to be stored in the film storage portion 150a or the cartridge 2a to be stored in the cartridge storage portion 150c. . When the contact between the top guide rail and the operation top member 170 is completed, the first and second pressing plates 165, 165,
Reference numeral 168 indicates a holding posture of the stored item.

The outer side of the rib 111a of the traveling platform 111
A D plate 120 is provided, and an ID code of each tray 100 is represented by a tray ID mark 121 formed in the ID plate 120 by a through hole or the like. In order to read the tray ID mark 121, the negative film loading station 71 is provided with an ID sensor 77a.
However, the ID sensor 77 is
b is arranged.

Next, the operation of conveying the tray 100 of the conveyor mechanism 70 will be described. Negative film loading station 7
1 to the first stopper device 85 from the negative discharge portion 60
Storage unit 1 of tray 100 stopped by
The storage of the negative film 2 into the negative film 50a is performed by a feeder device (not shown) in which the negative film 2 is inserted into a negative sheet and folded, or the negative film 2 remains naked, and in some cases, a cartridge of the advanced photo system is unit-by-unit. Automatically done by The ID code of the tray 100 loaded with the negative film 2 is the ID sensor 77.
a and is sent to the controller 5. Regarding the negative film 2, the negative film ID code is stored in the control 5 in correspondence with the film ID (hereinafter referred to as FID) read from the barcode sticker attached to one unit of the negative film 2 by the barcode reader 12. The ID code of the loaded negative film 2 is assigned to the loaded tray 100
ID code.

When the loading of the negative film 2 is completed,
The stop by the first stopper device 85 at the negative film loading station 71 is released, and the tray 100 lowered by its own weight is engaged with the pulling portion 95 of the third driving device 90c, travels on the ascending slope, and further moves to the standby station 72. Is taken over by the first drive device 90a forming
It is stored sequentially.

The leading tray 100 stored in the standby station 72 is driven by the intermittently driven chain 91 of the fourth drive device 90d to engage with the towing portion 95, thereby towing the steep climbing slope. It goes up every pitch of the part 95. The transport by the fourth driving device 90d is performed in conjunction with the release of the stop of the tray 100 by the second stopper device 86 of the print carry-in station 73, and the pulling portion 95 is moved.
Are driven one pitch at a time. Therefore, every time the tray 100 stopped at the print carry-in station 73 receives one unit of print 3 from the transverse conveyor 53 and descends the slope by the fifth driving device 90e, the next tray 10
0 is sent to the print carry-in position, and the second stopper device 8
6 to stop. The print 3 is stopped by the second stopper device 86 to load the print 3, and the ID code of the tray 100 is read by the ID sensor 77 b and sent to the controller 5. Since the print ID code is also assigned to the photographic paper 3 on which the frame image of one unit of the negative film 2 has been printed by the exposure unit 20, the photographic paper 3 is currently cut by the paper cutter 51 and loaded via the horizontal feed conveyor 53. The print ID code of the print 3 and the ID code of the negative film 2 can be checked.

As long as the photographic processing apparatus 1 is operating normally, the negative film 2 is stored in the tray 100 in the order of the exposure processing in the exposure section 20 and the prints 3 are loaded in the order of the exposure processing. The print storage section 150b has a print 3 printed with an image of the negative film 2 stored in the film storage section 150a.
Will be stored.

The tray 100 stopped at the negative film loading station 71 and the print loading station 73 is I
Since it is confirmed by the D sensors 77a and 77b, the number of trays existing between the tray stop at the negative film loading station 71 and the tray stop position at the print loading station 73 can be accurately calculated. This calculation is performed by the delay estimating means 5 of the controller 5 for estimating the delay of the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station.
e. In this embodiment, the number of trays 100 existing between the stop of the tray at the negative film loading station 71 and the stop position of the tray at the print loading station 73 is set to a predetermined number of 25 in advance. When the number of trays existing between the film carry-in station 71 and the print carry-in station 73 reaches 25, the next tray 100 cannot be sent out, so the photographic paper to be loaded on the tray 100 that cannot be sent out The transmission of the frame image of No. 3 to the development processing unit 30 is interrupted. The predetermined number of trays allowed by the conveyor mechanism 70 is set based on the collation ability of the photo processing device 1,
The conveyer mechanism 70 transfers the print 3 to the tray 100 on which the negative film 2 is loaded before the frame image of the photographic paper 3 entering the development processing unit 30 is subjected to the development processing and then cut before reaching the print carry-in station 73. This is the number that can be loaded and sent to the verification station 74. The situation where the number of trays existing between the stop of the tray at the negative film loading station 73 and the stop position of the tray at the print loading station 73 reaches 25 occurs when trouble occurs in the transport of the tray 100. In addition, if the number of prints per order is small even if the photo processing apparatus 1 is operating normally, a large number of trays 100 are required, and the predetermined number of 25 is immediately reached. . In any case, the number of trays existing between the gafilm loading station 71 and the print loading station 73 is two.
When the number reaches five, the print carry-in station 7 of the tray 100 for loading the print 3 on which the frame image of the negative film 2 to be loaded next on the tray 100 is printed.
3 is delayed, and as a result, the tray 100 for loading the prints 3 conveyed by the traverse conveyor 54 does not arrive, causing the prints 3 to be mixed with the prints 3 of other orders. Becomes

When the delay estimating means 5e calculates that the number of trays existing between the stop of the tray at the negative film loading station 73 and the stop position of the tray at the print loading station 73 is 25, the next negative film 2 is loaded. It is expected that the tray 100 will arrive at the print carrying station 73 of the tray 100, and the delay predicting means 5e
Gives an instruction to the emergency cutter control means 5f, and the emergency cutter control means 5f operates the emergency cutter 27 so as to cut the photographic paper 3 at the timing from the partition notch 3b. Thus, the feeding of the printing paper 3 to the developing unit 30 is interrupted.

Further, the delay predicting means 5e receives the signal from the optical sensor 76, and waits for the tray 100 to be loaded into the negative film loading station 73, that is, the tray 100 stopped by the fourth stopper device 88. Is empty, and if it is not empty, it means that there is no tray 100 for loading the negative film 2 at the negative film loading station 71,
As a result, the tray 100 for loading the prints 3 on which the frame images of the negative film 2 are not loaded does not reach the print carry-in station 73 in a timely manner. The sending to the processing unit 30 is interrupted. If it is determined that the collation work has been interrupted due to some kind of trouble such that the empty tray 100 cannot be prepared, the number of storages in the collation station 74 is limited. It is impossible to send the tray 100 from the station 73 to the collating station 74. As a result, it is expected that the loading of the prints 3 on the tray 100 will be hindered, and the sending of the photographic paper 3 to the developing unit 30 is interrupted. Is required. Therefore, the delay predicting means 5e gives a command to the emergency cutter control means 5f as described above,
The emergency cutter control means 5f operates the emergency cutter 27 so as to cut the photographic paper 3 at the timing from the partition notch 3b.
, The feeding of the printing paper 3 to the developing unit 30 is interrupted.

In the above embodiment, two factors are cited as criteria for determining whether or not the tray 100 arrives at the print carry-in station 73. However, the present invention is not limited to these two factors. It is intended to be a factor of the sending of the arrival which may occur in the process from the unit 50 to the shipment after the collation work. The important point in the present invention is that when such an arrival and the sending are expected, the photographic paper 3 is developed by the developing unit. To stop sending to 30.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of a negative film and photographic paper in the photographic processing apparatus according to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the photographic processing apparatus according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a controller.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a separation notch and a cut notch formed on photographic paper;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a conveyor mechanism constituting the photo collation system.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a driving device and a traveling portion of a tray.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a driving device and a traveling section of a tray.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing loading of a negative film into a film storage unit.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a first stopper device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a third stopper device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an optical sensor.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 negative film 3 photographic paper (print) 5e delay estimating means 20 exposure unit 30 development processing unit 50 print discharge unit 60 negative film discharge unit 71 negative film carry-in station 73 print carry-in station 74 verification station 70 conveyor mechanism

Claims (5)

[Claims] An exposure section for printing an image of the negative film sent from the negative film supply section on photographic paper; a negative film discharge section for discharging the negative film used in the exposure section; A development processing unit that develops paper, a print discharge unit that discharges the developed photographic paper as a print by cutting the photographic paper to a predetermined length,
A negative film carry-in station for carrying in one unit of the negative film discharged from the negative film discharge part, and a print carry-in station for carrying in a print having an image obtained from the one unit of negative film discharged from the print discharge part Wherein the conveyor mechanism is provided over a collating station for collating and transporting the loaded negative film with the loaded print, and wherein the conveyor mechanism is a tray conveyor mechanism capable of storing. A delay estimating means for estimating a delay in the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station, and when the delay estimating means predicts a delay in the arrival of the tray at the print carry-in station, Characterized in that the delivery of True processing apparatus. 2. The film storage section for loading the negative film of one unit discharged from the negative film discharge section, and a print having an image obtained from the negative film loaded on the film storage section. A print storage unit to be loaded from a print discharge unit, wherein the delay prediction unit predicts the arrival delay when the number of trays between the negative film loading station and the print loading station is equal to or more than a predetermined number. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The delay estimating means estimates the arrival delay when the tray located at the shortest position to the negative film loading station among the trays stored in the collation station is not empty. The photographic processing device according to claim 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interruption of the feeding of the photographic paper to the developing section is performed by cutting the photographic paper in front of the developing section. Photo processing equipment. 5. A photographic processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said photographic paper is cut at said one unit cut.