JPH11109594A - Photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform various kinds of sortings so as to be able to appropriately discharge photosensitive material even in the case of including photosensitive material of different size by recording sorting information and discharge information on the rear surface of the photosensitive material before development. SOLUTION: The photosensitive material A fed from a stacking part 108 one by one by a feeding roller 126 is successively carried to a back printing detection part 110 bY a pair of carrying rollers 128. The detection part 110 detects at least the sorting information for sorting the material A already developed and ejection port information for designating an ejection port from which the material A already developed is ejection out of the rear printing information recorded on the rear surface of the material A by the back printing part of a printer. The sorting information and the discharge port information are inputted in the controller of an input machine and an discharge part 112 is controlled in accordance with the sorting information and the discharge port information. The discharge part 112 sorts the material A already developed, which is carried through the detection part 110 from the stacking part 108 side, in a specified order and outputs it from a specified discharge port.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus which exposes and develops a sheet-like photosensitive material, sorts the photosensitive material in a predetermined order, and outputs it from a predetermined discharge port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as photographic film)
Printing of an image photographed on a photosensitive material or the like onto a photosensitive material has been performed by direct exposure in which the image of the film is projected onto the photosensitive material and the photosensitive material is surface-exposed. On the other hand, at present, an image reproducing apparatus such as a digital photo printer utilizing digital exposure for digitally exposing a photosensitive material after converting image data into digital data and performing various image processes has been put to practical use. .

In such an image reproducing apparatus, basically, image data recorded on an original such as a transparent original or a reflective original is read by a scanner, and various image processes are performed on the image data read by the controller. After that, the photosensitive material is digitally exposed according to the image data after the image processing by the printer, the exposed photosensitive material is divided into multiple rows as needed, and the photosensitive material distributed into multiple rows by the processor is developed, After stacking and sorting, it is discharged as a finished print.

In the above-described image reproducing apparatus, sorting is performed using, for example, a finished print of one film as one unit, and further, for each unit of the finished print, the frame numbers of images recorded on the film are arranged in the order of frame numbers. In order to discharge finished prints in a uniform manner, it is necessary to devise ways of sorting photosensitive materials and sorting finished prints. In particular, in an image reproducing apparatus that can sequentially process photosensitive materials having different sizes (widths), the above-described sorting and sorting methods are very difficult.

Accordingly, various proposals have conventionally been made for sorting photosensitive materials after exposure and for sorting finished prints after development.

For example, a sheet-like photographic paper processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-106536 discloses an exposure ordering unit for sheet-like photographic paper based on exposure ordering unit information indicating the number of frames of one negative film. The transport pattern is changed at the boundary, distributed in multiple rows, transported from the exposure unit to the development unit, and after development, the sorter is controlled by detecting that the transport pattern has been changed. It is said that the division of the exposure order unit can be reliably determined.

The photosensitive material aligning device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-5671 detects the size (width) of the photosensitive material, and discharges the photosensitive material according to the detected size of the photosensitive material. Is determined, and the number of passed photosensitive materials is counted and compared with the number of sheets of one film, thereby sorting the photosensitive material of one film as one unit. It is stated that the photosensitive materials can be stacked in the same order as the frame order of the film.

However, in the sheet-shaped photographic paper processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-106536, the processing capacity is reduced because the transport pattern is changed at the boundary between the exposure order units of the sheet-shaped photographic paper. In the photosensitive material aligning apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-5671, the number of passed photosensitive materials is counted and compared with the number of sheets of one film. There was a problem that sorting was not possible.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and to reduce the processing capacity of a photosensitive material even if the photosensitive material includes different sizes. An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of performing various sorts and discharging the same through an appropriate discharge port.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of outlets through which a sheet-like photosensitive material is discharged, and the exposed and developed photosensitive material is arranged in a predetermined order. A photosensitive material processing apparatus that sorts and discharges the photosensitive material from a predetermined discharge port, wherein before developing the photosensitive material, at least sort information for sorting the developed photosensitive material and the developed photosensitive material are discharged. A back printing unit that records discharge port information on the back surface of the photosensitive material, and the sort information and the discharge port information recorded on the back surface of each photosensitive material by the back printing unit after development of the photosensitive material. A back print detection unit to be detected, each of the developed photosensitive materials is sorted in a predetermined order according to the sort information detected by the back print detection unit, and is detected by the back print detection unit. It is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by having a discharge portion for discharging from a predetermined discharge port in response to the discharge port information.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The image reproducing apparatus 10 in the illustrated example, for example, photoelectrically reads an image recorded on a document image, converts the image into digital data, performs various image processings, and converts a photosensitive material in accordance with the image data after the image processing. This is an example of a digital photo printer that outputs a print (photograph) by digitally scanning and exposing and reproducing an image recorded on a document image.
And an output unit 14.

The above-mentioned original images include transparent originals such as various photographic films (hereinafter referred to as films), various color prints (color photographs), and the like.
It is also possible to use a reflection original such as various printed materials, or to receive image data previously digitized as an original image. In the following embodiments, description will be made by taking as an example a case where a film is used as a document image.

In the image reproducing apparatus 10, first, in the illustrated example, the input device 12 controls and manages the scanner 18 that photoelectrically reads an image recorded on a document image and the entire image reproducing apparatus 10. , Scanner 18
After converting the image data of the original image read by the digital data into digital data, or after receiving the digitalized image data in advance, the control device 20 performs various image processing on the image data.

FIG. 2 shows a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the input device. The illustrated scanner 18 photoelectrically reads an image captured on the film F. The light source 22, the variable aperture 24, and R (red), G
Color filter plate 2 that separates color into three primary colors (green) and B (blue)
6, a diffusion box 28, an imaging lens 30, an area-type CCD sensor 32 for reading an image photographed on the film F frame by frame, and an amplifier 34.

In the scanner 18, reading light is emitted from a light source 22, and the emitted reading light is adjusted in light quantity by a variable aperture 24, passes through a color filter plate 26, and is adjusted in color. The light is uniformly diffused in the plane direction of F and enters the film F. By transmitting through the film F, the projection light carrying the image photographed on the film F is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 32 by the imaging lens 30 and is photoelectrically read by the CCD sensor 32.

The image data read by the CCD sensor 32 is amplified by an amplifier 34 and
Is supplied to the control device 20 as analog image data corresponding to the image photographed at the time of shooting. In the scanner 18, the R, G, and B color filters of the color filter plate 26 are sequentially inserted, and the above image reading is performed three times in total.
The image photographed on the film F is read after being separated into three primary colors of R, G, and B.

Prior to image reading (main scan) for obtaining output image data, a pre-scan for roughly scanning an image at a low resolution is performed, and image processing conditions are set from the image data obtained by the pre-scan. Then, image data of the main scan is subjected to image processing according to the image processing conditions, and output image data for output of image recording by the output device 14. Note that the only difference between the pre-scan and the main scan is that the resolution of the read image is different.

Subsequently, in the input device 12, the control device 2
0 denotes an A / D (analog-digital) converter 36 and an LUT (look-up table) 3 in the illustrated example.
8. Data correction unit 40, pre-scan R, G, B frame memories (hereinafter referred to as pre-scan memory)
42, frame memory for R, G, B for main scan (hereinafter referred to as main scan memory) 44, image processing unit 4
6, a control unit 48, and an input / output unit 50.

The input / output unit 50 includes a keyboard 52, a mouse 54, and a scanner 18 for the operator to input (set) various conditions, select and instruct processing, and input instructions such as color / density correction. And a display 56 for displaying an image read by the, various operation instructions, a setting / registration screen of various conditions, and the like. The control unit 48 controls and manages the operation of the entire image reproducing apparatus 10 as described below via an input / output unit 50, such as a personal computer.

R, read by the scanner 18,
Each of the analog image data of G and B is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 36, log (logarithmically) converted by the LUT 38 and converted into density data, and DC offset correction and darkness correction are performed by the data correction unit 40. After predetermined processing such as hour correction and shading correction is performed,
For each pre-scan and main scan, R, G,
The pre-scan memory 42 for B and the main scan memory 44 for R, G, B are held.

After the image data is held in the pre-scan memory 42, the image processing unit 46 reads the image data from the pre-scan memory 42 and performs color / gradation correction, electronic magnification, dynamic range processing, sharpness, etc. Various image processing conditions are set. The pre-scanned image processed according to the image processing conditions is displayed on the display 56, and if necessary, a test is performed by an operator.
The color / density, gradation, and the like are adjusted, and final image processing conditions are determined.

When the final image processing conditions are determined, the image processing section 46 reads the main scan image data from the main scan memory 44, and first, in accordance with the final image processing conditions determined. The color / gradation of the image is corrected, and then the image is enlarged / reduced (electronic scaling) according to the electronic magnification, and the dynamic range of the image data is compressed /
After being expanded and subjected to various image processing such as sharpness processing (sharpening processing), the output device 1
4 is transferred.

The input device 12 has the above configuration. Next, the output unit 14 basically scans and exposes the photosensitive material A with a light beam modulated according to output image data output from the image processing unit 46 of the control device 20 of the input unit 12 to form a latent image. And a processor 60 for developing and drying the photosensitive material A on which the latent image has been recorded by the printer 58 to obtain a finished print, and further sorting and discharging.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of the printer. The printer 58 cuts a long photosensitive material (paper) A into a predetermined length corresponding to a finished print to be made into a cut sheet, records back print information and performs digital exposure, and performs exposure of the exposed photosensitive material. A is supplied to the processor 60, and includes a photosensitive material supply unit 62, a back printing unit 64, an image recording unit 66, a distribution unit 68, and the like in the illustrated example.

The printer 58 has a plurality of transport roller pairs as transport means for transporting the photosensitive material A from the photosensitive material supply unit 62 to the image recording unit 66 and transporting the exposed photosensitive material A to the processor 60. The conveyance guide for the photosensitive material A, various sensors, and the like are also arranged as needed. The conveying means of the photosensitive material A is not particularly limited. In addition to the conveying roller pair, any known conveying method of the sheet material such as lift conveying using a belt conveyor, a nip belt, suction or the like can be used.

In the printer 58, the photosensitive material supply section 62 has loading sections 70 and 72, a magazine 82, cutters 78 and 80, and the like. Loading sections 70 and 72
Is a portion where the magazine 82 containing the photosensitive material A is loaded. A magazine 82 containing photosensitive materials A of different types, such as size (width), surface type (silk or mat, etc.), specifications (thickness, type of base, etc.), is usually stored in both loading units 70 and 72. Will be loaded.

The magazine 82 is a light-shielding housing containing a long photosensitive material A wound with the recording surface (emulsion surface) outside. In the illustrated example, the pull-out roller pair 74
And 76 are provided inside the magazine 82. For example, the drive roller on the upper side in the figure is
By being loaded at the predetermined positions of 0 and 72, it is engaged with a drive source (not shown) of the pull-out roller pairs 74 and 76 arranged in each of the loading sections 70 and 72, respectively.

In the photosensitive material supply section 62, the photosensitive material A is pulled out of the magazine 82 by the pull-out roller pairs 74 and 76, and the photosensitive material A is conveyed by the conveying means.
Back printing section 6 on the downstream side (hereinafter referred to as downstream side) in the transport direction of
4 is carried. This conveyance is stopped when the photosensitive material A conveyed downstream reaches the length of the finished print, and the photosensitive material A is supplied to the cutters 78 and 80 disposed between the magazine 82 and the back printing unit 64. To make a cut sheet.

The back printing section 64 is disposed downstream of the photosensitive material supply section 62 in the illustrated example. Back printing section 6
Reference numeral 4 denotes various information such as a photographing date, a frame number, a print printing date, and a film ID number in a predetermined area on the back surface (non-emulsion surface) of the photosensitive material A cut into a cut sheet as back print information (back print). In addition to the general information described above, sort information for sorting the developed photosensitive material A, outlet information for specifying an outlet from which the developed photosensitive material A is discharged, and the like are recorded.

Here, the sort information is, for example, information on the order of print printing, information indicating the vertical direction of the image to be printed, information indicating that the photosensitive material is the same order unit such as one film. The outlet information is information indicating the size of the finished print. Various information other than the above may be recorded as the sort information and the discharge port information, and the recording method may be a bar code, a letter, a number, a symbol, various marks, or a combination thereof. And the like are all applicable.

The back printing unit 14 is not particularly limited. For example, a non-contact type recording method such as an ink jet printer such as a dot impact printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an ink jet printer can be suitably used. An ink jet printer using a water-soluble, solid-state, hot-melt ink at room temperature is preferably exemplified. The back print unit 14 is provided with a new standard new photo system (Advanced Pho
It is preferable that two or more lines can be printed in accordance with the system.

In the illustrated example, the back print information is recorded after the photosensitive material A is cut. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The back print information is recorded before the cutters 30 and 32 cut the photosensitive material A. It may be recorded after the cutting or before and after the cutting. Further, although the back print information is recorded before the exposure, the invention is not limited to this. The back print unit 14 may be arranged downstream of the exposure position to record the back print information after the exposure.

The image recording unit 6 is located downstream of the back printing unit 64.
6 are arranged. In the illustrated example, the image recording unit 66 scans the photosensitive material A in the main scanning direction (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in the drawing) according to the output image data supplied from the image processing unit 46 of the control device 20 of the input device 12. 1), and an exposure unit 84 for scanning and exposing the photosensitive material A at a constant speed in a sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow b in the drawing) substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

The exposure unit 84 is provided for the R, R,
Three light sources for emitting light beams L corresponding to the respective exposures of G and B, modulation means such as an AOM (acousto-optic modulator) for modulating the light beam L emitted from the light source according to image data,
An optical deflector such as a polygon mirror for deflecting the modulated light beam in the main scanning direction, and a light beam L deflected in the main scanning direction
Is a light beam scanning device including an fθ (scanning) lens or the like that forms an image at a predetermined position on an exposure position (scanning line) X with a predetermined beam diameter.

The scanning / conveying means 86 is provided with a pair of conveying rollers 88 and 90 disposed before and after the exposure position X, and the photosensitive material A with higher accuracy.
And an exposure guide 92 for holding the image. Note that the scanning and conveying means 86 is not limited to the above-described configuration,
In addition, a scanning conveyance unit using two nip rollers that contact the exposure drum with the exposure position X interposed therebetween is also preferably exemplified.

In the image recording section 66, the light beam L modulated by the exposure unit 84 in accordance with the digital image data
While the photosensitive material A is held at the exposure position X along the exposure guide 92 by the transport roller pairs 88 and 90 of the scanning transport means 86 while polarizing in the main scanning direction, the sub scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The photosensitive material A is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed to record a latent image, that is, an image is recorded on the photosensitive material A by so-called raster scanning exposure.

A distribution section 68 is disposed further downstream of the image recording section 66. In the process of exposing and developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material that is currently used as a general photograph, development requires more time than exposure. Therefore, when a plurality of photosensitive materials are continuously exposed and developed, development cannot be performed in time for the exposure, so that it is necessary to temporarily store the exposed photosensitive materials in a stocker or the like. That is, the exposure and development steps are generally rate-controlled by the development processing.

The sorting section 68 sorts the photosensitive material A, which is usually conveyed in a single row, into a plurality of rows in the conveying direction as needed, and supplies the photosensitive material A in a plurality of rows to the processor 60 in parallel. In order to absorb the difference in the processing time between the exposure and the development by improving the processing capability of the processor 60, the belt conveyor 9 is used in the illustrated example.
4, an auxiliary belt conveyor 96, two suction units 98 and 100 each having two suction cups connected to suction means (not shown), and the like.

The exposed photosensitive material A is not conveyed by the belt conveyor 94 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 96, but is conveyed downstream by being placed on the belt conveyor 94. Note that the transport speed of the photosensitive material A by the belt conveyor 94 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 96 is set slightly higher than the scanning transport speed. Thereby, the influence of the driving of the belt conveyor 94 and the auxiliary belt conveyor 96 on the scanning and conveying of the photosensitive material A can be more reliably eliminated.

The auxiliary belt conveyor 96 is arranged on the center line of the belt conveyor 94 in the width direction at a slight distance from the belt conveyor 94. The auxiliary belt conveyor 96 suppresses the curl (curvature) of the photosensitive material A, and assists the conveyance by the belt conveyor 94 and the suction holding of the photosensitive material A by the suction units 98 and 100, and the photosensitive material A having the minimum size in the width direction. However, a narrow endless belt that can be suction-held by the suction units 98 and 100 is used.

The suction units 98 and 100 are arranged on both sides of the auxiliary belt conveyor 96 in the width direction. In the drawing unit 98 on the near side in the figure, after the photosensitive material A is released from the scanning and transporting means 86 and transported to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 94, the photosensitive material A is sucked and held and slightly lifted, and the photosensitive material A is transported. The photosensitive material A is moved diagonally downstream to the right (to the front in the figure) with respect to the direction, and the photosensitive material A is distributed to the right by releasing the suction. Similarly, the suction unit 100 on the far side in the figure distributes the photosensitive material A to the left side.

For example, the photosensitive material A can be sorted into three rows by sequentially repeating sorting to the right by the suction unit 98, sorting to the left by the suction unit 100, and linear transport without sorting. Alternatively, the photosensitive material A can be placed in the left and right directions alternately by the suction units 98 and 100.
You can also sort them into rows. In addition, the photosensitive material A can be supplied to the processor 60 in a single row by performing only the linear conveyance without performing the sorting.

The means for moving the suction units 98 and 100 is not particularly limited. For example, moving means using a link, moving means using a cam, moving means using a guide rail or a guide hole, and moving these means Various known methods such as moving means appropriately combining means can be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the photosensitive material A is 1 to 3
Although the case where the light-sensitive material A is allocated to the rows is exemplified, the present invention is not limited to this, and the photosensitive material A may be allocated to four or more rows.

The sorting unit 68 is not particularly limited.
Various methods of distributing the sheet material into a plurality of rows are available. For example, a method of distributing the sheet material using a circular turret that rotates around an axis, or a method of transporting the photosensitive material A into a plurality of blocks in the transport direction, for example, three blocks For example, the central block is moved in the horizontal direction and distributed. Also, the photosensitive material A may be supplied to the processor 60 in a single row without the distributing section 68.

Further, in the image recording apparatus 10, the photosensitive material A of all sizes is not always arranged in a plurality of rows, and the photosensitive material A of a large size which cannot be processed in a plurality of rows is simply sorted without performing sorting. Processor 60 in a row
It may be carried in. Further, when the sorting is performed, the photosensitive materials A of all sizes are not sorted in the same number sequence, but, for example, the L size is 3 according to the size of the photosensitive material A.
A different number of columns may be assigned, such as sorting into columns and dividing into six rows into two columns.

The photosensitive material A which is distributed and transported in a plurality of rows in the distribution section 68 or the photosensitive material A which is transported in a single row without being distributed is supplied to the processor 60 by a transport roller pair 102. .

Here, FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) and FIG. 5 are conceptual diagrams of an embodiment of the processor. FIG.
5A and 5B are a schematic side view and a schematic front view of the processor 60, respectively, and FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the processor 60. The processor 60 sequentially develops and drys the photosensitive material A, accumulates, sorts, and discharges the photosensitive material A.
The illustrated example includes a developing unit 104, a drying unit 106, an accumulation unit 108, a back print detection unit 110, a discharge unit 112, and the like.

In the processor 60, first, the developing unit 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a developing process for the exposed photosensitive material A supplied from the printer 58. For example, when the photosensitive material A is a silver halide photographic photosensitive material, the developing unit 104 includes a color developing tank 114, a bleach-fixing tank 116, and washing tanks 118a and 11
8b. The photosensitive material A is conveyed in a processing liquid in each processing tank in a U-shape while being sorted by the sorting unit 68 of the printer 58, and is sequentially subjected to a predetermined developing process to form a latent image. Be transformed into

The photosensitive material A after the development processing is conveyed to a drying section 106 disposed downstream thereof. Drying unit 106
Is for drying the photosensitive material A after the development processing by hot air or the like. The photosensitive material A is subjected to a drying process to form a finished print in the same arrangement as that of the photosensitive material A in the same manner as in the case of the developing process. By the pair 120, the sheet is conveyed to the stacking unit 108 disposed further downstream of the drying unit 106.

The configurations of the developing unit 104 and the drying unit 106 described above are not limited at all, and any of those conventionally known can be used.

The stacking section 108 is provided corresponding to the sorting section 68 of the printer 58, and stacks the photosensitive materials A sorted and transported in a plurality of rows in a single row, or
Photosensitive material A conveyed in a single row without being sorted
Are integrated. The accumulating unit 108 is, in the illustrated example,
The belt conveyor 122 includes a belt conveyor 122 that travels at a constant speed in the direction of arrow c in the drawing, and an accumulation recess 124 that is arranged with a step in a lower front portion of the belt conveyor 122 in the traveling direction.

The photosensitive material A is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 120, falls on the belt conveyor 122, is conveyed by the belt conveyor 122 in the direction of the accumulation concave portion 124, is turned at 90 ° at the end thereof, and is dried. Part 106
The photosensitive material A is accumulated in the accumulation recess 124 with the width direction of the conveying path of the photosensitive material A up and down. The accumulation recess 124 has a feed roller 126, and the photosensitive material A is sequentially fed out by the feed roller 126 one by one in the order in which the photosensitive material A is accumulated in the accumulation recess 124.

The photosensitive material A sent out one by one from the stacking unit 108 by the feed roller 126 is transported by a pair of transport rollers 1.
By 28, the paper is sequentially conveyed to the back print detection unit 110 arranged downstream of the accumulation unit 108. Note that the configuration of the above-described integration unit 108 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and any conventionally known configuration can be applied. The accumulating unit 108 is provided corresponding to the sorting unit 68,
If the distribution unit 68 is not provided, there is no need to provide the accumulation unit 108.

The back print detection unit 110 includes, among the back print information recorded on the back surface of the photosensitive material A by the back print unit 64 of the printer 58, at least sort information for sorting the photosensitive material A after the development processing and development. Photosensitive material A after processing
Is to detect outlet information for specifying the outlet from which is discharged. The sort information and the outlet information are input to the control device 20 of the input device 12, and are output to the control device 20.
Thus, the discharge unit 112 is controlled according to the sort information and the discharge port information.

The configuration of the back print detecting unit 110 is appropriately determined according to the method of recording back print information recorded on the back surface of the photosensitive material A by the back print unit 64. Is also applicable. For example, when the back print information is recorded in a bar code, a bar code reader is used correspondingly, and when the characters, numerals, symbols, various marks, or a combination thereof are recorded, , Corresponding to this, OCR (optical character reader)
Is used.

Subsequently, the photosensitive material A is transferred to the transport roller pair 13.
By 0 and 132, the sheet P is conveyed to the discharge section 112 arranged downstream of the back print detection section 110. Discharge unit 112
In the illustrated example, the photosensitive material A after development, which is transported from the stacking unit 108 through the back print detection unit 110, is sorted in a predetermined order and output from a predetermined discharge port. Three buffer paths 134a, 134b,
134c, and two outlets 136a, 136b.

Buffer paths 134a, 134b, 134c
Is for temporarily holding the photosensitive material A in order to sort the photosensitive material A in a predetermined order according to the sort information. Buffer paths 134a, 134b, 134c
Is provided with a pair of transport rollers 138 capable of rotating the two transport rollers 138a and 138b at mutually different speeds. The photosensitive material A is transported by the transport roller pair 138 to any one of the buffer paths 134a, 134b and 134c.
Transported to

For example, according to the sort information, the input device 12
Under the control of the control device 20, the two transport rollers 138
a, 138b are rotated at the same speed.
Is transported to the buffer path 134b. In addition, photosensitive material A
Is transported to the buffer path 134a by increasing the rotation speed of the transport roller 138b more than the transport roller 138a, and the transport roller 138 is transported more than the transport roller 138b.
a by increasing the rotation speed of the
4c.

Buffer paths 134a, 134b, 134c
The photosensitive material A conveyed to any one of the buffer paths 134a, 134b, and 134c is stopped by stopping the pair of conveying rollers constituting each of the buffer paths 134a, 134b, and 134c.
a, 134b, and 134c. Thereafter, the transport roller pairs of the buffer paths 134a, 134b, 134c are sequentially driven according to the sort information, whereby the photosensitive materials A are sorted in a predetermined order according to the sort information.

The outlets 136a and 136b are portions where the photosensitive material A is discharged according to the outlet information.
In the illustrated example, a discharge port 136a having a fixed tray for discharging a photosensitive material of a large size such as 254 mm width, and a plurality of movable trays for discharging photosensitive material of other sizes are provided. Outlet 136b having
Are divided into The photosensitive material A after the sorting is controlled by the control device 20 so that the outlet 13 corresponding to the outlet information is output.
It is discharged to 6a or 136b.

Here, the photosensitive material A discharged from the discharge port 136a is supplied to, for example, the buffer paths 134a, 134b, 1
The discharge may be performed directly from the discharge port 136a without passing through the discharge port 34c. On the other hand, the photosensitive material A discharged from the discharge port 136b is supplied to the buffer paths 134a, 134b,
After the sheets are sorted in a predetermined order by 134c, for example, in the order of printing, the tray of the discharge port 136b is changed, and for example, the print of one film is sorted as one unit.

In the above embodiment, the two outlets 13
Although 6a and 136b are provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, three or more outlets may be provided. Also,
Although three buffer paths 134a, 134b, and 134c are provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and sorting can be performed by providing two or more buffer paths. For example, when printing a negative film of 37 sheets, 3
By providing six buffer paths, completely free sorting is possible.

The output unit 14 has the above configuration. Hereinafter, the operation of the image reproducing apparatus 10 to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied will be briefly described.

When an instruction to start printing is issued, the scanner 18 first starts prescanning, and the image on the film F is read at a low resolution, for example, in the order of R, G, and B. The analog image data read by the scanner 18 and supplied to the control device 20 is converted into digital image data by an A / D converter 36, and then converted to a LUT.
The log data is converted into density data by 38 and subjected to a predetermined correction by the data correction unit 40, and is sequentially stored in the prescan memory 42.

In the image processing section 46, when the pre-scan is completed in the scanner 18 and the pre-scan image data has been fetched into the pre-scan memory 42,
The prescan image data is read from the prescan memory 42, image processing conditions are set, and the display 5
A pre-scan image is displayed in 6. Here, verification is performed by the operator as necessary, and color / density, gradation, and the like are adjusted using the input / output unit 50, and final image processing conditions are determined.

Subsequently, the main scan is started by the scanner 18, and the film F is scanned in the same manner as in the pre-scan.
Are read at high resolution in the order of R, G, and B, and stored in the main scan memory 44. When the final image processing conditions are determined and an output instruction is issued by the operator,
The scan image data of the main scan memory 44 is read out by the image processing unit 46 and subjected to various image processing such as gradation correction, and then transferred to the output device 14 as output image data.

In the output unit 14, the photosensitive material A is pulled out of the magazine 82 loaded in the loading section 70 or 72 according to the finished print, and cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 78 or 80 according to the finished print. After the printing, the back printing unit 64 prints on the back surface of the photosensitive material A various sorts including at least sort information for sorting the developed photosensitive material A and outlet information for discharging the developed photosensitive material A. Print information is recorded.

Thereafter, according to the output image data transferred from the image processing section 46 of the control device 20 of the input device 12, each AOM of the exposure unit 84 of the image recording section 66 of the printer 58 is driven to convert the image data into image data. Scanning exposure is performed using a light beam that is modulated in accordance with the light beam and deflected in the main scanning direction, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive material A. The photosensitive material A after exposure is
In the distribution unit 68, the data is distributed to a plurality of rows of two or more rows as needed and supplied to the processor 60.

In the processor 60, in the developing section 104, the photosensitive material A is sequentially subjected to a developing process in an array while being sorted, and is dried in the drying section 106 to obtain a finished print. Thereafter, the photosensitive material A is accumulated in a single line by the accumulation unit 108, at least the sort information and the outlet information of the back print information are detected by the back print detection unit 110, and the discharge unit 112 According to the control, the sheets are sorted according to the sort information, and are discharged from a predetermined outlet according to the outlet information.

The image reproducing apparatus 10 to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied basically operates as described above. In the image reproducing apparatus to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied, the configuration of the input device 12 and the output device 14, the configuration of the scanner 18 and the control device 20 of the input device 12, the printer 58 and the processor 60 of the output device 14 Is not limited to the above embodiment at all.

Although the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course it is good.

[0073]

As described above in detail, the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises, before the development of the photosensitive material, at least the sort information for sorting the developed photosensitive material and the developed photosensitive material. Outlet information to be discharged is recorded on the back surface of the photosensitive material, and after development of the photosensitive material, sort information and outlet information recorded on the back surface of each photosensitive material are detected, and each developed photosensitive material is detected. Are sorted in a predetermined order according to the sort information, and are discharged from a predetermined discharge port according to the discharge port information. According to the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, since the photosensitive materials are sorted by using the back print information, even when the photosensitive materials include different sizes, without reducing the processing capacity, Irrespective of the sorting method, the photosensitive materials can be sorted without fail, and the photosensitive materials can be correctly sorted even when the apparatus is temporarily stopped due to jamming or the like. According to the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, for example, a plurality of outlets corresponding to the size of the photosensitive material are provided, and the photosensitive material is output from the optimal outlet using the back print information. For each outlet,
Depending on the size of the photosensitive material discharged from the outlet,
The system configuration such as a sorter can be optimized and the size can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an image reproducing apparatus to which a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of an input device.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of a printer.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a schematic side view and a schematic front view, respectively, of an embodiment of a processor.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual top view of an embodiment of a processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 image reproducing device 12 input device 14 output device 18 scanner 20 control device 22 light source 24 variable aperture 26 color filter plate 28 diffusion box 30 imaging lens 32 CCD sensor 34 amplifier 36 A / D (analog-digital) converter 38 LUT ( Lookup table) 40 Data correction unit 42 Prescan memory 44 Main scan memory 46 Image processing unit 48 Control unit 50 Input / output unit 52 Keyboard 54 Mouse 56 Display 58 Printer 60 Processor 62 Photosensitive material supply unit 64 Back printing unit 66 Image recording unit 68 Distributing section 70, 72 Loading section 82 Magazine 78, 80 Cutter 74, 76 Pull-out roller pair 84 Exposure unit 86 Scanning and conveying means 88, 90, 102, 120, 128, 130, 132
Conveying roller pair 92 Exposure guides 94, 122 Belt conveyor 96 Auxiliary belt conveyor 98, 100 Suction unit 104 Developing unit 106 Drying unit 108 Stacking unit 110 Back print detecting unit 112 Discharge unit 114 Color developing tank 116 Bleaching and fixing tank 118a, 118b Washing tank 124 Accumulation recess 126 Feed rollers 134a, 134b, 134c Buffer path 136a, 136b Discharge port A Photosensitive material F Film L Light beam X Exposure position Z Scanning position

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus having a plurality of outlets through which sheet-shaped photosensitive material is discharged, wherein the exposed and developed photosensitive material is sorted in a predetermined order and discharged from a predetermined outlet. Before the development of the photosensitive material, a back printing unit that records at least sort information for sorting the developed photosensitive material and outlet information from which the developed photosensitive material is discharged on the back surface of the photosensitive material. And a back print detection unit for detecting the sort information and the discharge port information recorded on the back surface of each photosensitive material by the back print unit after development of the photosensitive material, and each of the developed photosensitive material Are discharged in a predetermined order according to the sort information detected by the back print detection unit, and discharged from a predetermined discharge outlet according to the discharge port information detected by the back print detection unit. And a photosensitive material processing apparatus.