JP2625279B2 - Image frame size discrimination method and photo printing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printing method in which an image frame recorded on a photographic film is detected by an image frame detecting device, and a printing process is performed based on the detected type of the image frame.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic printing apparatus, a negative carrier is installed at a printing position in order to sequentially position a developed negative film at a printing position. The negative carrier includes a base and a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the base. The base has a negative film guide path provided with a printing opening corresponding to an image frame. Rollers that are driven to rotate by the driving force of a pulse motor are provided in the guide path in the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the negative film. Further, an idle roller that is paired with these rollers and that sandwiches the negative film is attached to the lid. For this reason, when the lid is closed and the negative film is inserted from the side of the negative carrier, the negative film can be pinched and transported along the guide path.

A detection device for detecting an image frame edge is provided on the guide path upstream of the printing opening. This image frame edge detecting device is disclosed in
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 11329, a cold cathode tube or a halogen lamp is arranged on the back side of the guide path, and a slit hole is formed in the guide path so that light emitted from the cold cathode tube or the halogen lamp is projected on the guide path. Irradiation to negative film.

In addition, a light receiving sensor is provided on the lid corresponding to the slit hole, so that light transmitted through the negative film is received. The transmission density of the negative film is calculated based on the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor. Generally, the transmission density is low in the base portion of the negative film, and high in the image frame range.
By comparing the transmission density difference with a predetermined transmission density, the boundary between the image frame and the base portion, that is, the image frame edge is detected and positioned at the printing position.

Thus, even if the image frame pitch recorded on the negative film fluctuates due to a feed error at the time of photographing by the camera, the positioning can be automatically and accurately performed at the printing position, and the error due to the quantitative feed is eliminated. Can be. Further, since it is not necessary to detect the notch provided for each image frame, the configuration of the negative carrier itself is simplified.

In recent years, it has been considered that a so-called standard size image frame such as a full size and a half size, and a so-called panorama size image frame whose photographic paper size after printing is long in the horizontal direction are photographed by the same camera in recent years. Have been. The panorama-size image frame is shorter in the width direction of the negative film than the standard-size image frame, and has an elongated shape. For this reason, standard size image frames and panorama size image frames may be mixed on one negative film.

[0007] The size of such an image frame cannot be selected with a conventional negative carrier, and is determined by visual observation by an operator.

In order to cope with a negative film in which image frames of different sizes coexist, a negative mask suitable for each image frame size is prepared and mounted on a printing opening. That is, the negative mask is switched in accordance with the image frame to be detected and positioned, and the printing process is performed in the order recorded on the negative film.

[0009]

However, in the above-described conventional printing method, the switching of the negative mask is frequently performed depending on the mixed state, and the processing efficiency is deteriorated. In addition, it takes time to sort the size, and the workability is poor.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, to obtain a determination method of an image frame size that can automatically determine the size of the image frame
That is the purpose. In addition to the above objects , the workability is improved by comparing the discrimination result with the image frame of the printing opening, selecting only image frames of the same type and performing continuous printing processing, thereby improving workability and processing efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a photographic printing method capable of improving the image quality.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a printing opening is provided in a guide path of a photographic film.
On the upstream side, multiple arrays are arranged along the width direction of the photographic film.
Received by the light receiving section composed of the sensor
Based on the transmitted light amount of the photographic film conveyed on the guide path
Image frame detection device that detects image frame edges
Image frame size to determine the size of the image frame
Another method, wherein at least one of the light receiving units is formed.
Sensor within the detection range of standard size image frames
Place each sensor outside the detection range
Standardizes image frame size based on the amount of light received by
Characterized by sorting into size and panorama size
I have. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switching means for switching an image frame disposed in a printing opening provided in a guide path of a photographic film between a standard size and a panoramic size, and receiving light upstream from the printing opening. An image frame detecting device for detecting an image frame edge based on the amount of transmitted light of the photographic film conveyed on the guide path received by the section. A light receiving section is constituted by a plurality of arranged sensors, and at least one sensor is arranged within the detection range of a standard size image frame and outside the detection range of a panorama size image frame, whereby the light received by each sensor is received. Select the size of the image frame according to the amount, skip the image frame of the size that does not match the size of the image frame frame of the printing opening, and perform the printing process It is characterized.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a printing opening is provided.
On the upstream side, the image
Edge is detected and this image frame edge is positioned at a predetermined position.
Then, the image frame is positioned at the printing position. Toko
And at least one of the sensors in the light receiving section
Is within the detection range of standard-size
Is located outside the detection range of
With the sensor, the photographic film for panoramic size
The amount of received light corresponding to the base density is detected. This
Therefore, it is determined that there is no image at this position,
Can be determined to have a panoramic size. this
Thus, the image frame is burned based on the amount of light received by the sensor.
Whether the panorama size or not before coming to the attached position (standard size
) Can be determined. The invention according to claim 2
According to this, one of the standard image frame frame and the panorama size image frame frame is arranged in the printing opening by the switching means. On the upstream side of the printing opening, the image frame edge to be positioned is detected by the light receiving section, the image frame edge is positioned at a predetermined position, and the image frame is positioned at the printing position. By the way, at least one of the sensors of the light receiving section is arranged within the detection range of the standard-size image frame and outside the detection range of the panorama-size image frame.
For example, this sensor detects the amount of light received according to the base density of the photographic film. For this reason, it is determined that no image exists at this position, and this image frame is determined to be a panoramic size. Here, when the image frame of the printing opening is switched to the standard size by the switching means,
Since the shooting area of the image frame and the image frame frame do not match,
By skipping this image frame, the printing process passes. In this way, image frames of the same image size can be continuously printed, so that work efficiency is improved. The skipped image frames may be sequentially positioned again after switching the image frames, and then subjected to a printing process.

As described above, when an image frame edge is detected, the image frame size is determined at the same time, the image frame is matched with the image frame of the printing opening, and image frames of the same size are processed continuously. In addition, the printing process of a photographic film in which image frames of the standard size and the panorama size are mixed can be efficiently performed.

[0014]

1 and 2 show a printer processor 10 as a photographic printer to which the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of the printer processor 10 will be described.

The outside of the printer processor 10 is covered with a casing 12. The printer processor 10 includes a work table 14 projecting from the casing 12 to the left in FIG. On the upper surface of the work table 14, a negative carrier 18 on which a negative film 16 is set is placed. The detailed configuration of the negative carrier 18 will be described later.

A light source section 36 is provided below the work table 14. The light source unit 36 includes a light source 38.
The light beam emitted from the light source 38 reaches the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 via the filter unit 40 and the diffusion tube 42. The filter unit 40 is composed of C, M, and Y
Each of the filters is configured to be able to protrude and retract on the optical axis of the light beam.

An optical system 46 is attached to an arm 44 projecting from the printer processor 10. Optical system 4
Reference numeral 6 includes a lens 48 and a shutter 50, and is arranged on the optical axis of the light beam. The light transmitted through the negative film 16 passes through the lens 48 and the shutter 50, and forms an image of the negative film 16 on the photographic paper 54 set in the exposure chamber 52.

The optical system 46 includes a density measuring device 56 such as a CCD for measuring the density of the negative film 16. The density measuring device 56 is connected to the controller 162, and an exposure correction value at the time of exposure is set based on data measured by the density measuring device 56 and data input by a key operator.

Here, the light source section 36, the optical system 46, and the exposure chamber 52 enable a printing process to form an exposure section 58.

A mounting section 60 is provided above the arm 44. The mounting unit 60 is configured to mount a paper magazine 64 that winds and stores the photographic paper 54 on a reel 62 in a layered manner.

A roller 66 is disposed in the vicinity of the mounting section 60, and conveys the photographic paper 54 to the exposure chamber 52 while holding the photographic paper 54 therebetween.
Further, a roller 68 is disposed near the exposure chamber 52, and sandwiches the photographic paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 has been printed in the exposure chamber 52, and conveys it to the reservoir 70 adjacent to the exposure chamber 52.

In the reservoir section 70, the printing paper 54 which has been subjected to the printing processing is stocked, and the exposure section 58 for performing the printing processing and the developing
The difference in processing time between the processor 72 and each of the fixing and rinsing processes is absorbed.

The printing paper 54 discharged from the reservoir 70
Is transported to the color developing section 74 of the processor section 72 adjacent to the reservoir section 70. The color developing section 74 includes the photographic paper 54.
Is immersed in a developing solution to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a bleach-fixing unit 76 adjacent to the color developing unit 74. The bleach-fixing section 76 immerses the printing paper 54 in a fixing solution to perform a fixing process. The photographic paper 54 subjected to the fixing process is conveyed to a rinsing unit 78 adjacent to the bleach-fixing unit 76. The rinsing section 78 immerses the printing paper 54 in washing water to perform a washing process.

The photographic paper 54 that has been subjected to the water washing process is rinsed 78
Is transported to the drying unit 80 adjacent to. The drying unit 80 winds the printing paper 54 around a roller and exposes the printing paper 54 to high-temperature air for drying.

The photographic paper 54 is sandwiched between a pair of rollers 82A, and the photographic paper 54 that has been dried is discharged from the drying unit 80 at a constant speed. A pair of rollers 82B is disposed above the rollers 82A, and is intermittently rotated corresponding to the processing of the cutter unit 84 disposed downstream of the drying unit 80. As a result, the cutter section 84 is
The print paper 54 is composed of a cut mark sensor 86 for detecting a cut mark given to the print paper 54 and a cutter 88 for cutting the photographic paper 54. The photographic paper 54 is cut for each image frame and discharged to the outside of the casing 12 of the printer processor 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, each control is controlled by the controller 162. The controller 162
It is configured to include a microcomputer 164.
The micro computer 164 includes a CPU 166 and a RAM 1
68, ROM 170, input / output port 172, and a bus 174 such as a data bus and a control bus connecting them.
It is constituted by.

The controller 162 is connected to a transport control unit 176 for controlling the transport system of the negative film 16 and the photographic paper 54 in the printer processor 10, turns on the light source 38 in the exposure unit 58, and moves onto the optical path of the filter unit 40. Appearing, moving forward by the negative carrier 18, shutter 50
An exposure control unit 178 for controlling an exposure system such as opening and closing of the camera is connected. In the controller 162, the drying unit 80
The detection of the cut mark by the cut mark sensor 86 in the drying control unit 182 for controlling the driving of the fan and the heater in the
Control unit 184 for controlling the cutting of the photographic paper 54 by the printer
Is connected.

FIG. 4 shows a negative carrier 18 according to this embodiment.
It is shown. The negative carrier 18 is mainly composed of a pedestal 200 as a base and an opening / closing cover 202 as a lid.

The pedestal 200 is provided with a negative film transport path 204 as a guide path. A printing opening 206 is provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the negative film transport path 204, and serves as an irradiation port of a light beam from the light source 38 provided in the printer processor 10.

The size of the printing opening 206 is the same as the size of the full size image frame 16A of the negative film 16. In the negative film transport path 204, transport rollers 208, 210, 212, and 213 are provided upstream (leftward in FIG. 4) and downstream (rightward in FIG. 4) of the printing opening 206 on the back surface (lower surface) of the negative film 16. It is arranged corresponding to. As shown in FIG. 5, each transport roller 208, 21
The sprocket 214 is attached to one end of the rotation shaft of the rotation shafts 0, 212, and 213 in the axial direction, and meshes with the teeth formed on the endless timing belt 216.

The timing belt 216 is wound around a sprocket 214 attached to the transport roller 208 on the most upstream side and a sprocket 214 attached to the rotation shaft of the pulse motor 218. The pulse motor 218 is connected to the control device 220 (see FIG. 10) via a driver 222, and is step-driven in accordance with a drive signal from the control device 220. Thus, when the pulse motor 218 rotates, the transport rollers 208, 210, 212, and 213 are driven in the same rotation direction at the same rotation speed.

The opening / closing cover 202 is supported by a bar 226 fixed to the pedestal 200 at the lower end of a housing-like cover body 224, and can be opened and closed with respect to the pedestal 200 around the bar 226. ing.

At the bottom of the cover body 224, a through hole 228 corresponding to the printing opening 206 is provided.
The cover body 224 is closed and the upper guide base 230 is positioned at a position corresponding to the negative film transport path 204.
The negative film guide wall 232 is integrally formed, and a gap is formed between the tip of the negative film guide wall 232 and the bottom surface of the negative film transport path 204. Further, this gap size is slightly larger than the thickness of the negative film 16 and secures a transport path at the end in the width direction of the negative film.

In addition, between the guide walls 232, the conveying rollers 208, 210, 212 and 21 are provided.
3, the idle rollers 234, 236, 238
And 239, and by closing the opening / closing cover 202, the idle rollers 234, 23
6, 238 and 239 and the conveying rollers 208, 210 and 2
The transporting force can be transmitted to the negative film 16 by sandwiching the negative film 16 with the negative films 12 and 213.

At the center of the upper guide base 230 in the direction of transporting the negative film, an upper mask 240 which is movable relative to the upper guide base 230 and has an opening at a position corresponding to the through hole 228 is arranged. . The upper mask 240 is detachably attached to the mask base 242. That is, the upper mask 240 includes a mask provided with an opening for a full size and a mask provided with an opening for a panorama size, and these have different sizes according to the image frame size recorded on the negative film 16 (see FIG. 6). Can be exchanged accordingly.

As shown in FIG. 7, the mask base 242
Both ends in the width direction are bent so that the tips are opposed to each other and have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a rail portion 244 is formed. This rail portion 244 has an upper mask 24
By inserting 0, the upper mask 240 is supported by the mask base 242. Also, the upper mask 24
A notch 246 of one type (for example, an upper mask 240 for a full size) is formed at the insertion end of the zero, and a limit switch 248 is attached to the far side of the rail 244 corresponding to this.

The signal line of the limit switch 248 is connected to the control device 220. Therefore, the contact of the limit switch 248 is switched only when the panorama size upper mask 240 is inserted, and the type of the upper mask to be inserted can be determined by the on / off state of the limit switch 248.

The mask base 242 includes a cover body 224.
Is supported via a shaft near the center of rotation of the base 200, and corresponds to a solenoid body 250 provided on the pedestal 200 when the cover body 224 is closed. When the solenoid main body 250 is energized, the mask base 242 is attracted by the magnetic force, and the upper mask 240 can be brought into close contact with the printing opening 206 of the negative film transport path 204, thereby holding the negative film 16 positioned on the optical axis P. You can do it.

As shown in FIG. 8, a rectangular groove 252 is formed on the bottom surface of the negative film transport path 204 on the upstream side of the printing opening 206, a transparent glass plate 254 is fitted therein, and the surrounding guide surface is formed. It is considered flush. This groove 252
A slit hole 256 penetrating to the back surface of the negative film transport path 204 is formed at the bottom of the film. Slit hole 25
6 is provided along the width direction of the negative film transport path 204. On the back side of the negative film transport path 204 corresponding to the slit hole 256, a plurality of LED chips 258 serving as light emitting units are arranged in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204, that is, along the width direction of the negative film 16. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 9, this LED chip 2
Numeral 58 indicates R (red) and Y (yellow).
The LED chips 258 of colors are arranged on the substrate 260, and the arrangement order is RYYRYYRYY.
R: Y = 1: 2. Thereby, the luminous efficiency of each color is made equal.

Each LED chip 258 has a common signal line 2
The light emitted by a signal from the control device 220 is transmitted through the negative film 16 conveyed along the negative film conveyance path 204.

The slit hole 256 corresponds to the screen detection sensor 264 provided on the upper guide base 230 of the cover main body 224 when the cover main body 224 is closed. Therefore, the transmitted light amount of the light beam transmitted through the negative film 16 is detected by the screen detection sensor 264. As shown in FIG. 6, four screen detection sensors 264 are arranged along the width direction of the negative film 16 and are connected to the control device 220 by independent signal lines. The control device 220 obtains the photographic film transmission density distribution based on the output signal from the screen detection sensor 264, and detects the boundary between the image frame 16A and the base portion, that is, the image frame edge.

By the way, this screen detection sensor 264 is
As shown in FIG. 6, the arrangement is within the range of the vertical dimension (width direction of the negative film 16) of the full-size image frame 16A, and a panorama-size image in which two intermediate images are taken as a panorama image The frame 16B is within the range of the vertical dimension of the frame 16B.
B is outside the range of the vertical dimension. For this reason, 2
The value detected by the screen detection sensors 264 is negative film 1
If it is detected as the base density of No. 6, it can be determined that the image frame 16B is a panoramic size image frame.

As shown in FIG. 16, some negative films 16 are provided with a frame mark 265 slightly projecting from the edge of each image frame. Since the frame mark 265 is exposed at the time of photographing with a camera, the density is high, and therefore, the transmission density is low, and the frame mark 265 is easily determined as a part of an image. When one scanning line of the screen detection sensor 264 passes over the frame mark 265, the output value of each sensor differs. Further, the distribution of the density differs even in the image capturing state. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the screen detection sensor 264 (first sensor) located at the position with the highest density and the screen detection sensor 264 located at the position with the lowest density are used.
The output value of the (second sensor) is selected, and the condition for judging whether or not the detected value is appropriate in accordance with these differences is set.

The bottom of the negative film transport path 204 further upstream of the slit hole 256 has a slightly deeper central portion so that the negative film 16 does not come into contact with the negative film 16 when the negative film 16 is transported. That is, since only the width direction both ends of the negative film 16 come into contact with each other, the image surface is not damaged. Two circular holes 266 and 268 are provided along the longitudinal direction at the center in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204 on the bottom surface having the bottom depth.
0 and 272 are respectively buried. These LEDs
The elements 270 and 272 are each connected to the control device 220 and emit light in response to a signal from the control device 220.

LED element 270 near slit hole 256
Is used to detect a splice tape applied for bonding when a plurality of negative films 16 are connected to form a roll and a management tape attached to each negative film 16, and to insert a negative film in the negative film transport path 204. The mouth-side LED element 272 is used for detecting the presence or absence of the negative film 16 and corresponds to the tape sensor 274 and the negative presence / absence sensor 276 attached to the upper guide base 230 side, respectively. The tape sensor 274 and the negative sensor 276 are connected to the control device 220, respectively.

The LED element 270 and the LED element 272
LED elements 280 are buried at both ends in the width direction of the negative film transport path 204. This LE
The D element 280 is connected to the control device 220, and corresponds to the bar code sensors 282 provided at both ends in the width direction of the upper guide base 230. Barcode sensor 282
Are connected to the control device 220. Negative film 1
The bar code assigned to 6 is transmitted by the LED element 280, detected by the bar code sensor 282, and decoded by the control device 220.

The bar code sensor 282 is attached to a top member 284 that can swing with respect to the upper guide base 230 so that the bar code sensor 282 can follow the meandering of the negative film 16 at the time of transport. Therefore, the bar code given to the narrow portion at the width direction end of the negative film 16 can be read regardless of the meandering of the negative film 16. As shown in FIG.
The distance is determined based on one side.

As shown in FIG.
Has a CPU 286, a RAM 288, a ROM 290, an input port 292, an output port 294, and a bus 296. The output port 294 is connected to a pulse motor 218 via a driver 222 and a solenoid body 250 via a driver 298, respectively.

The output ports 294 each have L
Through the ED driver 300, the LED elements 270, 2
72, 280 and the substrate 260 of the LED chip 258.

The input port 292 has a tape sensor 27
4 and a negative presence / absence sensor 276 are connected via a comparator 302 and an inversion circuit 304. The input port 292 has two barcode sensors 282 and 4
Screen detection sensors 264 are connected to the amplifiers 306 and A, respectively.
/ D converter 308. Further, the input port 292 has four key switches 310A, 310B, 3C provided on the pedestal 200 of the negative carrier 18.
10C and 310D are connected. With this key operation, the stop position of the negative film 16 can be moved forward, backward, and finely adjusted.

The control device 220 is connected to the controller 162 of the printer processor 10. Signals are exchanged with the controller 162 when the positioning of the image frame is completed, when the printing process is completed, and the positioning of the next image frame is instructed, or when an error occurs in the negative film transport system or screen detection in the negative carrier 18. May have. Here, if an abnormality occurs, the printer processor 1
The alarm is attached to an alarm (not shown) and the processing is stopped. However, the control of the negative carrier 18 limits the output of the abnormal signal manually, automatically or fully automatically.

Here, in the case of manual operation, since the operator is near the apparatus, there is no need to notify an abnormality. In the case of full automatic operation, all the abnormalities are notified and the processing is stopped. Not appropriate from the perspective. That is, for example, when there is a super-over-exposed image, the optimal printing process cannot be obtained by the automatic processing, but at the time when a series of operations is completed rather than switching to manual processing each time, Re-baking is more efficient. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the control state (manual, automatic,
The output form of the abnormal signal is changed in accordance with (fully automatic).

Table 1 shows the presence / absence of an abnormal signal output in each control state with respect to the contents of the abnormality. Note that a circle in the control state column indicates that an abnormal signal is output, and a cross indicates that no abnormal signal is output.

[0055]

[Table 1]

The ROM 290 stores a program for correcting the mounting position of each sensor and correcting a deviation of the detection value of each sensor, and is set as a correction coefficient when the negative carrier 18 is shipped. The mounting position correction measures the distance to each sensor based on one side of the printing opening 206 by the number of pulses of the pulse motor 218, and corrects an error with the number of pulses stored in advance in design. In addition, the deviation of the detection value of each sensor is determined by correcting the correction coefficient for each image detection sensor 264 so that the amount of light emitted from the LED chip 258 is detected as the same amount of light by the four screen detection sensors 264. Determine.

When the negative carrier 18 is shipped, the A / D converter 30 for converting the values detected by the screen detection sensor 264 and the bar code sensor 282 into digital values.
The light emission amounts of the corresponding LED elements and LED chips are determined so as to match the range of 8.

The RAM 288 has a screen detection sensor 264
A map for determining the transmission density of the negative film based on the data detected by the method is stored. This allows
One transfer by the pulse motor 218 (in this embodiment,
(The transport from the center of the image frame 16A or 16B to the center of the adjacent image frame is performed once). The edges of the image frames are determined based on this transmission density distribution, and the edges of each image frame are stored in correspondence with the number of feed pulses of the pulse motor 218.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. First,
The normal printing procedure will be described.

When the process is started, the light source 38 is turned on,
The negative carrier 18 is driven to position the negative film 16. The L of the negative film 16 is measured by the density
An ATD (average transmission density) is measured, an exposure correction value is set from the measured data and data manually input by a key, and an exposure amount (exposure time) is calculated to obtain an optimum printing condition.

Incidentally, there are cases where the negative film 16 includes both the image frame 16A for the full size and the image frame 16B for the panorama size. In these printing processes, the negative mask area, the printing magnification, the photographic paper mask area, and the photographic paper transport amount are different. Therefore, after passing one of them, the same size is printed first, and then the other size is continuously printed. Baking is more efficient. For this reason, in the present embodiment, respective printing conditions are set according to the upper mask 240 currently loaded on the mask base 242. The type of the upper mask 240 is the mask base 242
Can be determined by the on / off state of the limit switch 248. Therefore, control is performed so that only the image frames of the type detected by the limit switch 248 are positioned and other types of image frames are passed.

The routine for comparing the image frame with the upper mask will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined in step 650 whether or not the limit switch 248 is turned on. If the determination is affirmative, it is determined that the panorama-size upper mask 242 is mounted, and the flow advances to step 652 to set the flag F. The reset (0) is performed, and the process proceeds to step 654. Also,
If a negative determination is made in step 652, it is determined that the full-size upper mask 242 is mounted, and the flow shifts to step 656, where the flag F is set (1), and the flow shifts to step 654.

At step 654, the size of the image frame is determined. That is, two of the four screen detection sensors 264 of the negative carrier 18 are outside the range of the vertical dimension of the panorama-size image frame 16B and within the range of the vertical dimension of the full-size image frame 16A. Therefore, when the two screen detection sensors 264 detect the base density of the negative film 16, they can be identified as a panorama-size image frame 16 B, and when the image density is detected, the full-size image frame 16 B can be determined. 16A.

If it is determined in step 654 that the image frame is a panorama-size image frame 16B, the flow shifts to step 658, where
If it is determined that the image frame is the full size image frame 16A, the process proceeds to step 660.

At step 658, it is determined whether or not the flag F has been reset. If the determination is negative, it is determined that the image frame size does not match the upper mask size, and the routine proceeds to step 662, where A signal for passing the image frame is output to the controller 162 and the process returns. If an affirmative determination is made in step 658, it is determined that the image frame size matches the upper mask size, and printing processing can be performed.

On the other hand, in step 660, it is determined whether or not the flag F is set. In the case of a negative determination, it is determined that the image frame size does not match the upper mask size, and the flow shifts to step 662. Then, a signal passing this image frame is output to the controller 162 and the process returns. If an affirmative determination is made in step 660, it is determined that the image frame size matches the upper mask size, and printing processing can be performed.

Therefore, for example, when the full-size upper mask 240 is mounted and the panorama-size image frame 16B is detected by the screen detection sensor 264, this is passed and the next full-size image frame 16A is printed. Position to the position. Thereby, the baking treatment can be performed under the same conditions, and the baking treatment efficiency is improved.

Next, the printing paper 54 is transported to the exposure chamber 52 for positioning, and the shutter 50 is opened. This allows
The light beam emitted from the light source 38 passes through the filter section 40 and the negative film 16 and reaches the exposure chamber 52, and the printing paper 54 positioned in the exposure chamber 52 starts printing an image on the negative film 16 according to the exposure conditions. The C, M, and Y filters located on the optical axis of the light beam are moved. After a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the shutter 50 is closed. Thus, the printing process for one frame of the image on the negative film 16 is completed. By repeating this, the printed portions of the printing paper 54 are sequentially conveyed to the reservoir 18.

The photographic paper 54 conveyed to the reservoir 70 is conveyed to the color developing unit 74, where it is immersed in a developing solution to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper 54 is supplied to a bleach-fixing unit 76.
And is subjected to a fixing process. Photographic paper 54 that has been subjected to fixing processing
Is conveyed to a rinsing unit 78 and subjected to a water washing process. The photographic paper 54 that has been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed to the drying unit 80 and subjected to the drying process.

The dried photographic paper 54 is supplied to the cutter unit 8.
At 4, a cut mark is detected and cut for each image.

Incidentally, in the negative carrier 18, image frame positioning can be performed not only automatically but also manually. In addition, in the automatic operation, a so-called automatic control in which an operator is present and a burning start button is operated by the operator,
The timing of the start of printing is also determined by the control device 22 of the negative carrier 18.
There is a so-called fully automatic control that is performed by exchanging signals between the controller 0 and the controller 162 of the printer processor 10.
It can be switched between three stages (manual, automatic, fully automatic).

Here, in this embodiment, according to each control,
The output of the abnormal signal from the negative carrier 18 is restricted to prohibit the use of a useless alarm in spite of the presence of the operator.

That is, as shown in Table 1, in the case of manual control, a negative size error (code No. 8), an unexposed negative (code No. 10), a cab negative (code No. 11), and a negative end error (code No. 11) An abnormal signal is output only in the case of .12).

In the case of the fully automatic control, a frame interval defect (code No. 3), a frame length error (code No. 4) other than a case where printing control can be performed without any trouble due to only an abnormal finish,
Negative size error (code No.8), tip error (code No.9
), Unexposed negative (code No. 10), cab negative (code N
o.11), Outputs an abnormal signal when the negative end is abnormal (code No.12).

In the case of automatic control, an abnormal signal is output in all abnormal cases. As described above, by changing the output of the abnormal signal in accordance with the control mode, it is possible to make full use of the feature of the automatic operation without notifying by useless alarm even when the operator is present.

Further, the unnecessary processing of the abnormal signal can be stopped every time the processing of the printer processor itself is stopped, so that the work for error processing can be omitted and the work efficiency can be improved.

In this embodiment, the positioning of each image frame 16A (16B) of the negative film 16 at the printing position is automatically performed by the negative carrier 18 (fully automatic). Is detected, and the edge of the image frame is detected by the pulse motor 218.
The transport control is performed according to the number of feed pulses.

The procedure for positioning the image frame will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step 400
In step (1), the flag F is reset (0). Then, in step 401, it is determined whether or not the negative film 16 is inserted in the negative carrier 18 by the negative presence / absence sensor 276. If a negative determination is made, the process proceeds to step 402. Then, the LED chip 258 is turned off. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 404, where the LED chip 2
Turn on 58. Thus, the light source is the LED chip 25
Since 8 is used, lighting and extinguishing are easy, and the life is not shortened.

In the next step 406, the negative film 1
When it is determined that the transfer for positioning the printing medium 6 to the printing position has been started, the process proceeds to step 408 and the slit hole 2 is formed.
The amount of light transmitted through the negative film 16 after passing through 56 is detected, and then A / D converted at step 410,
Each data is stored in correspondence with the number of sending pulses (step 411).

At the next step 412, the above steps 408, 410 and 41 are performed until it is determined that the conveyance is stopped.
Step 1 is repeated, and if it is determined in step 412 that the conveyance has been stopped, the process proceeds to step 413, and the transmission density distribution of each of the four sensors in one conveyance is created based on the stored data.

In the next step 414, it is determined whether or not the transmission density distribution is abnormal. That is, image frame 1
If half fog occurs in 6A (16B), or the 6A (16B) is super-under or super-over, the transmission density distribution becomes abnormal. Here, in the case of an abnormality, it is determined that the frame edge cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step 415, the flag F is set (1), and then the process proceeds to step 426 described later.

If it is determined in step 414 that the distribution is normal, it is determined that a frame edge can be detected, and the flow advances to step 416.

At step 416, the highest of the four sensors
Also the maximum of the sensor (first sensor) at the position where the concentration is high
Point D_MAXPulse number P_MAX(H) and then
In step 417, the position of the lowest density among the four sensors is set.
The maximum point D of the sensor (second sensor)_MINPulse number P
_MAX(L) is selected. In the next step 418,
The number of feed pulses P of the density value that is 92% of the maximum point_A’
(H) and P_A′ (L) is defined as a temporary edge, and then
In step 419, the temporary edge P_A’From
A minimum point within a pulse (12 pulses in this embodiment) is selected.
Separately, the number of feed pulses P corresponding to this minimum point
_MIN(H), P_MIN(L) is set. Next Step 4
20, the maximum point feeding pulse P_MAX(H) and minimum point
Feed pulse P_MIN50% position with (H), ie
(P_MAX(H) + P_MIN(H)) / 2 and calculate the image
The pulse P corresponding to the edge of the square 16A (16B)
_A(H) is defined. Then, at step 421,
The maximum point feed pulse P_MAX(L) and minimum point feed pulse
P_MIN50% of the position (L), that is, (P
_MAX(L) + P_MIN(L)) / 2 to calculate image frame 1
Pulse P corresponding to the edge of 6A (16B) _A(L)
Determine.

In the next step 422, the pulse P
_A(H) and P_ADifference (P) from (L)_AAsk for. this is,
N frames (image frames to obtain edges) with the maximum point at the center
It can be obtained at two places, the right end and the left end of the N-1 frame.
You. Here, in step 423, the N-th detected last time
ΔP at the right end of the eye frame_AAnd the left of the Nth frame detected this time
ΔP at the edge_AAnd the difference ΔP_ASelect the one with less
424, 425), P of this _MAXEdge detection in (H)
The starting point is used as the reference point.
Selection).

The image frame edge pulse P _A determined in this manner is at a substantially constant position with respect to the negative film 16 of underexposure or overexposure as well as the negative film 16 of normal exposure, and determines the detection error. Can be suppressed within a range that does not cause any trouble.

Further, even in the case of the negative film 16 having a frame mark, it is possible to reliably detect an image frame edge.

In the next step 426, it is determined whether or not there has been a positioning instruction from the controller 262 of the printer processor 10. If it is determined that there has been an instruction, the flow proceeds to step 426.
Proceeds to step 428 reads the current feed pulse number P _X, then in step 429, the flag F is whether it is reset is determined. Here, if an affirmative decision is for positioning on the basis of the detected edge, the routine proceeds to step 430, and a current feed pulse P _X and the image frame edge pulse number P _A, the feed amount P
Calculate _DRIVE (P _DRIVE = P _A -P _X ), and
Move to 32.

If a negative determination is made in step 429, the flow advances to step 431 to position the image frame by the _fixed- rate feed, and the present pulse is fed from the P _CONST to the _fixed- rate feed from the previous positioning position. _The amount obtained by subtracting _X is substituted for P _DRIVE , and the process proceeds to step 432. In the next step 432, the calculated feed amount P _DRIVE is calculated.
Convey the negative film. This transfer is performed in step 4 above.
It is determined that the transfer is performed at 06. That is, during the transport for positioning, the image frame 16A two frames earlier on the upstream side
The edge of (16B) will be detected.

When the predetermined image frame 16A (16B) is positioned at the printing position, a positioning completion signal is output to the controller 162 of the printer processor 10 in step 434, and the printer processor 10 responds to this by responding to this. A baking process is performed.

At the next step 436, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the burning process has been given. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 400, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 438. LED chip 258
Is turned off and the process ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, two types of edges (the front side of the Nth image frame) at the boundary between the two image frames (Nth and N-1st) and the base portion between these frames. , N-1 th image frame) and the most appropriate one is selected and used as a positioning reference. Therefore, even if the negative film 16 having the frame mark 265 or the like as shown in FIG. Image frame edges can be detected, and positioning can be performed accurately.

The above is the image frame positioning control. To perform such positioning control, the screen detection sensor 2
It is required that the detection accuracy of H.64 and the mounting position accuracy from the printing position be accurate. For this reason, in this embodiment,
The accuracy is corrected at the time of shipping the negative carrier 18 and every time the power is turned on.

First, the procedure for adjusting the light emission amount of the LED chip 258 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. LED
The amount of light emitted by the chip 258 is determined by the screen detection sensor 26.
4 is detected and A / D converted.
The converter 308 defines a range that can be converted.
Therefore, in step 450, the negative film 16
In the state where it is determined that there is no light, the LED chip 258 is caused to emit light in step 452, and the respective screen detection sensors 26 are turned on.
4 (step 454), and then step 456.
In, the largest value of the maximum values of the detected light amounts is selected.

The maximum value L of the selected light amount_MAXAnd A /
Maximum range A / D of D converter 308 _MAXAnd compare
At step 458), at step 460, L_MAX= A
/ D _MAXDrive by the LED driver 300 so that
Control the dynamic voltage. Thereby, the screen detection sensor 264
Is the dynamic value of the A / D converter 308.
Ensure that data is read without departing from the range.
Can be. Also, an LED chip 258 is suitable as a light source.
Light amount adjustment is easy, and light amount control is simple.
You can simply do it.

Next, even if each of the four screen detection sensors 264 detects the same amount of light, a slight error (deviation) occurs due to the accuracy or the influence of a temperature change. If the same amount of light is detected, it is preferable that the output is the same, so that it is necessary to correct this deviation. The sensor output deviation setting control procedure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 500, when it is determined that the negative film 16 is not present, the LED chip 258 is caused to emit light in step 502 and detected by the respective screen detection sensors 264 (step 504). Each detected screen detection sensor 264
Find the maximum value of each. Note that the control so far is the same as the LED chip light amount control, and thus may be stored at the stage of selecting the maximum value.

In the next step 508, the deviation of the other three output maximum values is determined with reference to one sensor output maximum value. In step 510, each screen detection sensor 264 is determined.
Is stored as the correction coefficient α.

For example, when the screen detection sensors 264 are S _A , S _B , S _C , and S _D , respectively, and when the light amount is expressed with reference to the sensor S _A (S _A = 1.0), the other sensors are used. Are S _B = 0.9, S _C = 0.8, S _D =
Assuming 0.9, the correction coefficient for each sensor is α _SA =
1.00, α _SB = 1.11, α _SC = 1.25, α _SD = 1.11. That is, the correction coefficient α stored in step 510 is multiplied when data is input from each screen detection sensor 264. According to this, an appropriate value can be applied at the time of A / D conversion, and an accurate transmission density distribution can be created.

Next, each sensor (screen detection sensor 264,
The mounting positions of the barcode sensor 282, the tape sensor 274, and the negative presence / absence sensor 276) are determined based on one side of the printing opening 206 at the printing position of the image frame as the number of feed pulses of the pulse motor 218. If it is shifted at the stage of assembly, it will be different from the predetermined number of feed pulses. For this reason, it is necessary to correct the number of feed pulses predetermined in design according to the mounting accuracy. Hereinafter, the sensor mounting accuracy correction will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Since the same processing is performed separately for the position correction of each sensor, the negative presence / absence sensor 276 is used here.
Will be described as an example. At step 550, it is determined whether the reference lith film 312 has been detected. The reference lith film 312 is a type of a photolithography film in which a high density (opaque) portion is present in the middle of a low density (substantially transparent) portion in place of the negative film 16 and the edge thereof is sharp.

If the transparent portion is determined to be undetected, and if a boundary with a high density is detected, an affirmative determination is made in step 550, and
In step 552, the reference lith film 312 is transported by a predetermined amount. This predetermined amount is determined by setting a predetermined detection point to the printing opening 2.
This is the amount of conveyance for positioning to the right end of 06.

At the point when the sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount, the operator determines whether the edge of high density or low density coincides with the right end of the printing opening, and if it is determined in step 554 that it coincides, the reference lith film is discharged. Operate the feed key. By the operation of the feed key, the process moves from step 554 to step 556, and the reference lith film 312
Is performed, and the process ends.

If the feed key has not been operated in step 554, the flow advances to step 558 to determine whether the fine adjustment key has been operated for fine adjustment. If the determination is negative, steps 554 and 558 are executed. repeat. here,
When the fine adjustment keys 310B and 310C are operated in step 558, the reference lith film 31 is
2 moves slightly to position the edge of high or low density at the right end of the printing opening 206.

In the next step 558, after the fine adjustment (after one operation), the process proceeds to step 560, and the predetermined two values after the adjustment are newly updated and stored, and the process proceeds to step 554.

By repeating the above steps until the edge of high or low density is reliably positioned at the right end of the printing opening 206 by carrying the predetermined amount in the step 552, the correction of the mounting position accuracy is completed.

The other sensors can perform the same processing procedure as described above by selecting which sensor performs the detection in step 550. Accordingly, the accurate position can be stored as the feed amount irrespective of the error at the time of assembling the sensor, so that the assembling work can be made rough and the workability is improved.

In particular, in the case of the screen detection sensor 264, if the four screen detection sensors 264 are not parallel to the image frame edge, the image frame edge may be largely shifted. However, by performing the above-described correction, since the four screen detection sensors 264 are arranged in parallel along the apparent image frame edge, the image frame edge can be reliably detected.

[0109]

As described above, the image frame according to the present invention is
The size can be automatically determined by the size of the image frame.
It has an excellent effect that In addition to the above effects,
The photo printing method improves the workability and improves the processing efficiency by comparing the discrimination result with the image frame of the printing opening, selecting only image frames of the same type and performing continuous printing processing. It has an excellent effect that it can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a printer processor.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer processor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller of the printer processor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a negative carrier.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a transport system of a negative carrier.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the size of an image frame recorded on a negative film.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mask base.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a guide path of a negative carrier.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an LED chip.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control device for a negative carrier.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a printing opening and a sensor position.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of image frame positioning control.

FIG. 13 is an LED chip light emission both adjustment control flowchart.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a sensor output deviation correction control.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a sensor mounting accuracy correction control.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing an image frame having a frame mark and a transmission density distribution of the image frame.

FIG. 17 is a control flowchart showing a routine for collating an image frame with an upper mask.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 Negative film 18 Negative carrier 206 Printing opening 218 Pulse motor 220 Control device 240 Upper mask 242 Mask base 246 Notch 248 Limit switch 254 Transparent glass plate 256 Slit hole 258 LED chip 264 Screen detection sensor 270 LED element (for tape sensor) 272 LED Element (for negative sensor) 274 Tape sensor 276 Negative sensor 280 LED element (for barcode sensor) 282 Barcode sensor

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing device provided in a guide path of a photographic film.
At the upstream side of the opening, copy along the width direction of the photographic film.
By the light receiving unit composed of several arranged sensors
Transmission of photographic film conveyed on the guideway where light is received
Image frame detection that detects image frame edges based on light intensity
Device for determining the size of the image frame
A size determination method, wherein at least one sensor constituting the light receiving unit is provided as a standard sensor.
Panorama size image within the detection range of image frames
It is placed outside the frame detection range and the size of the image frame is determined based on the amount of light received by each sensor.
Special size and panorama size.
A method of determining the image frame size to be used. 2. A switching means for switching an image frame disposed in a printing opening provided in a guide path of a photographic film between a standard size and a panoramic size, and a light receiving unit upstream of the printing opening to receive light. An image frame detecting device for detecting an image frame edge based on the amount of transmitted light of the photographic film conveyed on the guide path, wherein a plurality of image frames are arranged along the width direction of the photographic film. The light receiving section is constituted by the sensors that are provided, and at least one sensor is disposed within the detection range of the standard-size image frame and outside the detection range of the panorama-size image frame. The size of the image frame, and skips image frames of a size that does not match the size of the image frame frame at the printing opening. Photo printing method.