WO2004092828A1

WO2004092828A1 - Latent image printing apparatus and film being printed with latent image

Info

Publication number: WO2004092828A1
Application number: PCT/JP2003/004825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Makoto Ikeda
Original assignee: Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.
Priority date: 2003-04-16
Filing date: 2003-04-16
Publication date: 2004-10-28

Abstract

A latent image printing apparatus for facilitating the input work remarkably by printing latent image patterns of several features being printed together and determined uniquely by simply inputting a commodity code being specified for production work, enhancing the efficiency by decreasing the management operation man-hour of the production line, enhancing the reliability of production, and further enhancing the traceability by printing date information characterized in that an exposing means for printing a latent image indicative of the features of commodity is provided at the side edge part of a long not-yet exposed film avoiding the photographing image region, the exposing means is disposed in an internal machine for cutting the film at a constant length, winding the film and performing a light shielding treatment of the film, the treated and packaged product corresponds to a commodity code encoded as a final commodity unit, and the latent image of the commodity code is printed for the purpose of commodity management and production management by the exposing means.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a latent image printing apparatus and a photographic film on which a latent image is printed using the apparatus.

The present invention relates to a latent image printing apparatus for printing latent image information on a side edge of a photographic film, and a photographic film on which a latent image is printed using the apparatus. Background art

Films for photography, for example, 135-type roll films, are classified by type such as color, black and white, by sensitivity, by number of shots such as 24, 36, etc., and by destination such as exporting country (brand). Separately), packaging in carton boxes, simple packaging such as 3 or 4 or 5 simple packing, etc., by patrone bar code standard, by bar code printed on carton outer box—by code standard, film edge It is classified into a number of products according to the latent image pattern burned into the part.

Incidentally, two types of latent image barcodes, the DX-N type and the DX-F type, which are mainstream overseas, have been standardized. Even if the film has the same sensitivity and the same number of shots, the latent image barcode is different if the shipping location is different. Until now, the operator had to individually set the latent image information according to the export area.

In the process of multi-product low-volume reduction, integrated production is performed using product codes determined by film type (135, 120, APS), number of shots, sensitivity, exterior form, etc. The product code has a one-to-one relationship with the product. For example, the product code is different if the exterior form is different, but the latent image pattern may be the same. In addition, in the conventional example, a dedicated code system is required to manage the latent image pattern, and the association of the code system at the time of new product production becomes complicated, which increases the cost.

However, those multi-products can be produced while switching each data in one production line. In other words, a highly automated manufacturing line has been constructed for high-mix low-volume production.

Even though the characteristic data constituting these various types of commodities is rather complicated, they are produced in a proper procedure while being input to a keyboard by an operator. Some of those data are printed with latent images on both sides of the film.

The latent image printing device incorporated in the interior machine in the manufacturing line owned by the applicant is required to display the number of the interior machine, the emulsion number, and the expiration date in the process of the interior machine and the exterior machine for packaging after interior packaging. It is being implemented, but the product code and date of manufacture are not displayed.

It is common in the food industry etc. to include the date of manufacture in products. Recently, in the film industry, the date and time of manufacture together with the machine number are sometimes imprinted on the film using a latent image.

Then, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a part of each characteristic of the film corresponds to the latent image pattern in a one-to-one correspondence with a part of a unique latent image identification code as characteristic data. Although the image is burned on the edge, if the latent image causes an accident such as a mistake in printing the latent image on the production line, it is difficult to speed up product sorting.

However, as described above, the setting of the latent image pattern has been limited to the export area, sensitivity, The operator has set individually according to the number of shots, etc., and setting mistakes sometimes occurred.

In the event that a failure occurs in the shipped product, the lot was identified from the expiration date display of the carton, the emulsion number display of the film, the number of the interior unit, etc.How to identify the failure range There was a drawback that the lot was too large, and the amount of good products that had to be rejected was also large.

Furthermore, the latent image printing pattern forms different patterns depending on the sensitivity of the product, the number of shots, and the like. Also, in the latent image inspection process, the product symbol display, the brand display, the latent image bar code display, and the like of the latent image are individually inspected, so that there is a problem that the operation is complicated and requires a lot of man-hour.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention avoids using a dedicated code. The system can be simplified by making it possible to directly compare the product with the product by using the product code at the turn, making it difficult for the operator to set the input, and narrowing down the area to be specified in the event of a failure as a defective product. The objectives are to reduce the number of products to be disposed, eliminate the complexity of reading the code of each characteristic data, and significantly reduce the number of reading and inputting steps.

(Patent Document 1)

Patent No. 3 2 9 4 4 3 7

(Patent Document 2)

Patent No. 3 0 7 2 3 8 1 Disclosure of the Invention This object is achieved by any of the following technical means (1) to (10).

(1) At the side edge of the long unexposed film avoiding the photographed image area, an exposure means for burning a latent image showing the characteristics of the product is provided, and the exposure means is fixed-size on the unexposed film. A product that is installed in an interior machine that performs cutting, winding, and shading processing, and that has been manufactured by performing the above-mentioned processing and packaging by an exterior machine contains data of a plurality of unique characteristic values. A latent image of the commodity code corresponding to the commodity code encoded as the commodity unit, and the latent image of the commodity code is burned by the exposure means for product management and production management. apparatus.

(2) Exposure means for burning a latent image showing the characteristics of the product is provided at the side edge of the long unexposed film avoiding the photographed image area, and the exposure means cuts the unexposed film into fixed lengths. A product that is provided in an interior machine that performs processing of winding and shading processing, and that has been manufactured by performing the above-described processing and packaging by an exterior machine, includes data of a plurality of unique characteristic values. One product code encoded as a product unit corresponds to the product code, and a latent image of data of a part of characteristic values among the characteristic values included in the product code is displayed together with the product code. A latent image printing apparatus characterized by being burned by the exposure means for product management and production management.

(3) The data of each characteristic value that constitutes the above product code are the film type, export area, sensitivity, number of shots, latent image pattern, The latent image printing device according to (1) or (2), wherein the latent image printing device relates to a cord, a power cord, and an exterior form.

(4) The latent image printing according to (1) or (2), wherein an emulsion number and an interior machine number are printed as latent images on the side edges in addition to the latent image of the product code. Device.

(5) The latent image printing device according to (3), wherein an emulsion number and an interior machine number are printed as latent images on the side edges in addition to the latent image of the product code.

(6) The latent image printing device according to the above (1) or (2), wherein a manufacturing date is printed on the side edge portion.

(7) The latent image printing apparatus according to the above (3), wherein a date of manufacture is printed on the side edge portion.

(8) The latent image burning device according to the above (4), wherein a date of manufacture is printed on the side edge portion.

(9) The latent image burning device according to the above (5), wherein a date of manufacture is printed on the side edge portion.

(10) (1) Photographic film characterized in that the latent image is printed on the side edges using the latent image printing device according to any one of (9) to (9). . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an example of an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a part of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 is an array diagram showing the actual image and the number of printing lines.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure and image of an LED array as a projection light source for one row, and Fig. 5 shows the product code and some characteristic values contained in it in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a state in which

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the state of each memory having two channels of memory during production and standby. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the state of each memory having three channels of memory during production and during standby. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the description in this column does not limit the technical scope of the claims or the meaning of terms. The assertive description in the following embodiments of the present invention indicates the best mode, and does not limit the meaning of the terms of the present invention or the technical scope. The film varieties handled in the present invention include 135 types, 120 types, APS, and the like. The 135 types will be described below. The above-mentioned film types mainly differ in the width of the film and the form of the light-shielding process, but the latent image is burned almost in the same manner.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a latent image printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a part of FIG. The interior machine 10, which is a processing machine that cuts the film into fixed lengths, winds them up on a spool, and inserts them into the pat mouth for light shielding, assembles them.The side edges F1, F on both sides of the film F 2 is provided with an exposure means 100 for printing a latent image as characteristic data, and the exposure means 100 is composed of two optical systems 101, 102, each of which is a control device. Based on the output information from the 130 dedicated control boards (P1, P2, P3, P4) 131, 132, 133, 134, a light-emitting body comprising a light-emitting diode LED as a large number of projection light sources 151 , 152: The LED is selected to emit light, and each emitted light source is conveyed by a toothed wheel or sprocket 161 and guide rollers 166, 167 through the projection lenses 153, 154 for reduction, respectively. An image is formed on the 两 side edges F 1 and F 2 of the film F that is moved. Also the transport path A perforation detector 165 is provided in the middle of the film to detect the slip of the film, an encoder 162 is connected to the sprocket 161 through a force coupling, and the rotation amount is controlled by each of the dedicated control boards. (P 1, P 2, P 3, P 4) 13 1, 13 2, 13 3, and 13 4 are fed back.

In addition, the control device 130 includes an IZO board 126 for transmitting signals to the interior machine 10 and a bar code reader 12 for detecting a bar code of a patrone sent to the interior machine 10. 3. Built-in CPU 120, which is connected to keyboard 122, display device 122, and personal computer 124 for newly editing characteristic data.

The latent image printing apparatus 1 of the present invention is a printer that prints an image on both edges of a photographic film, and is a production apparatus that can be continuously operated for 24 hours.

As will be described in detail later, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the number of printing lines is four in total, two lines each in the side margins Fl and F2, and each line is half-dot in red and green respectively. Four rows of staggered 23-dot LEDs form a total of 16 rows of LEDs to form an image. That is, the actual image and the number of printing lines are as shown in the arrangement diagram of FIG. That is, the side edges F 1 and F 2 on both sides are four rows of side marks, frame numbers, upper perforations, and lower perforations, each of which has two rows. There is one line. However, it is designed to be printed on the part excluding the hole. The image is in reverse relation to the emulsion side.

Next, the configuration of the light source LED will be described with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. Rows 、 and B are shifted by half a dot row to fill the gap between the dots by overlapping the images. There are four rows, red A and B rows, and green A and B rows. Color images can be superimposed and mixed, and each LED row consists of 23 dots. The LED row is 4 rows, 16 rows, and the total number of LEDs is 368. Horizontal superposition of images is line by line First, the head emission start position of each LED array is electrically adjusted. (Adjustment is unnecessary because the vertical direction is determined mechanically.)

Although important information can be imprinted on both side edges of the film in this way, it is quite difficult to pack it into a limited space. Accurate and quick processing at the time of failure requires a variety of necessary and sufficient characteristic data, but inputting such a great deal of information naturally involves erroneous input at the time of input. It is hoped that this does not happen.

In other words, as a means to solve the above-mentioned current problems, instead of taking a number of characteristic value data and printing them as latent images one by one by latent image printing, It has been found that it is very preferable to burn all the data to be collected and burn a product code constituted as a representative.

As shown in the block diagram in Fig. 5, from the interior where the latent image is burned and the film is fixed length, cut, rolled up, and loaded with the pawl as a light-shielding process, to the exterior where packaging such as putting in one ton is performed. A system to control production.

In the process of advanced multi-product and small-volume reduction as in the present invention, film type (135, 120, APS), number of shots, sensitivity, brand for destination, type of barcode, external form, etc. One product code, which is the ultimate product unit defined correspondingly, is baked on both side edges of the film for integrated production.

Therefore, a database was previously established in which the product codes corresponded to the latent image patterns, 、, トロトロバーバーバーバーコココ、、カートカートカートカートカートカートカートカートカートカート. In other words, simply burning the selected product code on the side edge of the film puts the film in the same valuable state as it is engraved with a considerable amount of required information. In addition, the number of shots and frame number Some characteristic data included in the product code, such as the issue number, latent image barcode, brand name (including export area), and product code (including sensitivity), enter the product code as latent image data. It can be set so that it is burned at the same time when it is burned, and the input of several complex latent image data can be completed immediately by entering the corresponding predetermined product code. Will be exhibited. In addition, the emulsion number must be read from a label on the perforated pancake-like film or set manually.

If the latent image pattern is set by sending the product code and emulsion number from the process control computer or by keying in the product code and the designated emulsion number, the number of input items will be significantly reduced. Setting mistakes are less likely to occur. In the case of manual input, even if a setting error occurs, the setting error can be immediately detected by checking with the process management computer and checking with the bar code of the controller.

As an exception, if the product code has not been set, the latent image pattern can be selected and set individually, but in this case, the product code will not be burned as a latent image or will not be registered. It is sufficient to imprint a symbol indicating that. If the product code is created with, for example, a CRC check code added to the end, it is possible to prevent erroneous settings due to input errors or garbled data during transmission.

Also, since the product code is printed as latent image information, the production lot can be narrowed down by printing together with the production date information display, the emulsion number display, the unit number display of the interior unit 10, etc.

Furthermore, if the product code burned with the latent image during development is carefully checked against the product code being produced, it is easy to determine that the latent image pattern is correct. The product code has a one-to-one relationship with the product. For example, the product code is different if the exterior form is different. However, since the latent image patterns other than the product code may be the same, the relationship with the latent image pattern includes a large number of latent image data corresponding to one product code. This is clearly different from previous correspondences and is much more convenient.

However, by simply burning the product code, if the lot is large, the specified range of defective products, which is the current problem, is too large, and the yield is reduced and the improvement effect is sufficiently obtained. It may not be. Therefore, in this case, the display combined with the date information is effective.

Therefore, a method of printing the date of manufacture by printing a latent image will be described. In the latent image burning device 1, two systems of data pattern memories, ie, two channels, are prepared so that two types of the latent image pattern currently being produced and the switching latent image pattern to be produced next can be registered.

In this case, as shown in Fig. 6, which is a block diagram showing the state of each memory in production and in standby, assuming that the latent image pattern for the current production type A and date a is It is assumed that the latent image pattern of type B, date a, which is to be produced by switching the type next to type 2, is registered as ②. When the type switching signal is input, the latent image burning device 1 switches this memory instantaneously and executes the type switching to (1).

However, when a new date switching signal is received, a pattern in which the type is the same as that of the latent image pattern currently being produced and only the date information is updated is overwritten and expanded in the switching memory 2 as shown in (3). As shown in ④, the memory is switched to switch only the date information of the latent image under production. Subsequently, the registered data pattern of the switching type B is also updated with the date information b, and is overwritten in the memory 1 as shown in ⑤. This completes the update of the date information for both the memory 2 under production and the memory 1 for switching, and when the next switching signal arrives, it can immediately respond as shown in ①, and then the memory as shown in ② and ⑧ It becomes possible to update 2 and 1 and make it wait.

In this example, the signal was switched by an external date switching signal. This signal was transmitted by a button operated by the operator, automatically sent from the sequencer of the film packaging machine (exterior machine), or hidden. The image printing device 1 itself may determine the time and automatically switch the time.

In addition, switching the date from ① to ③ and then to ② involves overwriting after receiving the signal, which causes a delay of less than a few seconds in setting and switching time, but since date switching does not require such strictness. no problem.

However, as a solution to the problem of such delay, as shown in Fig. 7, which is a block diagram showing the state of each memory during production and standby with three channels, Although there is a possibility of increasing the number of systems to three, two, and three, there is a problem that the cost of the latent image device increases.

Should the type change and the date change occur at the same time, there is no problem if the type change is prioritized and processed in the above sequence.

If a type change occurs during the date change process, a signal indicating that a latent image is being set or an abnormal signal of the latent image burning device 1 is output to the sequencer of the film interior unit 10 and the film It is possible to temporarily stop feeding and wait for the setting to end, or to discharge the film as an abnormal film.

Also, the film interior machine 10 and the exterior machine 20 of the film production line When the production schedule after the date change is extremely small, there is a method of canceling the date change and preventing such cases.

In this way, by associating the product code with the latent image pattern in advance and selecting the latent image pattern according to the product code, mistakes in operation can be prevented. If the product code is added to the number display and the display of the unit number of the interior unit 10, the specified production outlet can be narrowed down considerably. Also, if the product code is confirmed with the latent image, it can be easily determined that the latent image pattern is correct. However, when the lot is large, the effect of specifying the lot is limited. Therefore, by imprinting the manufacturing date information by imprinting a latent image, for example, it becomes possible to narrow down the area where a defect has occurred more narrowly. In other words, as the memory for setting the latent image pattern of the latent image printing device 1, the memory in production and the memory in standby for switching are used well, and the manufacturing time can be changed without changing the configuration of the latent image printing device 1. By switching the date information, the latent image printing device 1 can be more effectively used for the same purpose. Industrial potential

In the conventional example, a dedicated code system is required to manage the latent image pattern, and the association of the code system at the time of new product production becomes complicated, which requires more man-hours and is a factor of cost increase.

On the other hand, in the present invention, only by inputting the product code designated for production operation, the latent image patterns of several characteristics included in the product code to be burned together are determined in a unified manner. The input operation is much easier, more accurate and easier, and there is no setting error. The reliability of production is also greatly enhanced, and the accuracy of the traceability is greatly improved by imprinting the date information.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. At the side edge of the long unexposed film avoiding the photographed image area, there is provided an exposure means for burning a latent image showing the characteristics of the product, and the exposure means cuts and rolls the unexposed film into a fixed length. It is installed in an interior machine that performs processing of light and light shielding processing, and a product manufactured by performing the above-mentioned processing and packaging by an exterior machine contains data of a plurality of unique characteristic values. A latent image of the commodity code corresponding to the commodity code coded as a unit of the commodity, and a latent image of the commodity code is burned by the exposure means for product management and production management. .

2. At the side edge of the long unexposed film avoiding the photographed image area, there is provided exposure means for burning a latent image showing the characteristics of the product, and the exposure means cuts and rolls the unexposed film into a fixed length. It is installed in an interior machine that performs processing of light and light shielding processing, and a product manufactured by performing the above-mentioned processing and packaging by an exterior machine contains data of a plurality of unique characteristic values. One product code corresponds to the product unit, and a latent image of a part of the characteristic value data among the characteristic values included in the product code is stored together with the product code. A latent image printing apparatus characterized in that the image is printed by the exposure means for manufacturing control.

3. The data of each characteristic value that composes the product code are film type, export area, sensitivity, number of shots, latent image pattern, and pate opening number code when the film type is 135 type. 3. The latent image printing device according to claim 1, wherein the latent image printing device is related to a power bar code and an exterior form.

4. The latent image according to claim 1, wherein an emulsion number and an interior machine number are printed as latent images on the side edges in addition to the latent image of the commodity code. Image printing device.

5. The latent image printing device according to claim 3, wherein an emulsion number and an interior machine number are printed as latent images on the side edges in addition to the latent image of the product code.

6. The latent image printing device according to claim 1, wherein a manufacturing date is printed on the side edge portion.

7. The latent image printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a date of manufacture is printed on the side edge.

8. The latent image printing device according to claim 4, wherein a manufacturing date is printed on the side edge.

9. The latent image burning device according to claim 5, wherein a date of manufacture is printed on the side edge portion.

10. A photographic film characterized in that a latent image is printed on a side edge portion by using the latent image printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. .