JPH1198295A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain stable image data by either re-reading a film image or issuing an alarm on the occurrence of uneven carrying of a photo film, so as to prevent the occurrence of uneven read of the film image. SOLUTION: A carrying control section 172 uses a rotary encoder 287 for receiving a carrying speed of a photo film 22 and obtains a difference between a carrying speed which has been received the previous time and a carrying speed received this time and stores the difference in a RAM. Then the control section 172 receives a vibration detection output from an acceleration sensor 50 via an A/D converter 84 and discriminates whether or not uneven reading of a film image has taken place by a line CCD scanner resulting from the uneven carrying. If this discrimination is an affirmative result, the carrying control section 172 outputs a command for having a fine scanning to an automatic setup engine stopped to stop the carrying of the photo film 22 and a buzzer 289 issues a warning. Then the control section 172 carries the photo film 22 so that the head of the frame of the photo film 22 is returned to a read position of the line CCD scanner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly, to a method for preliminarily reading a film image.
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that determines reading conditions for performing the main reading of the image based on a result of the preliminary reading, performs the main reading of the image under the reading conditions, and processes and outputs the read image data. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a film image recorded on a photographic film is read by an image reading apparatus having a reading sensor such as a CCD, and image data obtained by the reading is subjected to various corrections and the like. 2. Description of the Related Art An image information processing apparatus that records an image on a recording material, displays an image on a display, and the like after performing the processing is known.

Further, film images (especially negative images recorded on a negative film) have images of various densities from images having a wide latitude and low density to images having a high density. In order to obtain an image, the image reading device preliminarily reads a film image (so-called pre-scan), and sets reading conditions according to the density of the film image (for example, the amount of light applied to the film image and the charge accumulation in the CCD). Time, etc.), and the film image was read under the determined reading conditions (so-called fine scan).

[0004]

In the above-mentioned image processing system, an area CCD scanner using an area CCD as reading means for reading a film image,
Alternatively, a line CCD scanner using a line CCD is used. When reading a film image using an area CCD scanner, the transport of the photographic film is temporarily stopped at the film image reading position for each frame while the frame is being read, and the film image is read. That is, the fluctuation of the transport speed does not matter.

However, when a film image is read using a line CCD scanner, the film image is read while the photographic film is being conveyed to the line CCD at a constant conveying speed suitable for reading. Therefore, if transport unevenness occurs when reading a film image using the line CCD scanner, uneven reading of the film image occurs, and when the line CCD vibrates due to an impact or the like while reading the film image with the line CCD scanner, There is a problem that reading unevenness occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus capable of coping with uneven reading of a film image.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a conveying means for conveying a long photographic film in a predetermined direction at a predetermined conveying speed, and a conveying means for conveying the photographic film. Reading means arranged along an intersecting direction intersecting the direction and reading a film image recorded on a photographic film along the intersecting direction; detecting means for detecting occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the reading means; And control means for executing at least one of re-reading and a warning for the film image corresponding to the occurrence of the reading unevenness by the detecting means.

In the image information processing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the control means executes at least one of re-reading and warning of the film image corresponding to the occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the reading means when the detection means detects the occurrence of uneven reading of the film image. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying a long photographic film at a predetermined conveying speed, and recording on the photographic film which is arranged along an intersecting direction intersecting the conveying direction of the photographic film. Reading means for reading the film image along the cross direction, detecting means for detecting occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the reading means,
Storage means for storing the film image read by the reading means and the data indicating the occurrence of the reading unevenness in chronological order; reading the film image data and the data indicating the occurrence of the reading unevenness from the storage means; Processing means for performing image processing for correcting unevenness in reading of the film image data in accordance with the direction and the direction of occurrence.

In the image information processing apparatus having the above structure, the processing means reads the film image data and the data indicating the occurrence of uneven reading from the storage means, and reads the film image data in accordance with the size and the direction of occurrence of the uneven reading. Image processing for correcting unevenness is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the detecting means includes at least one of a change in a conveying speed of the conveying means and a vibration of the reading means. Is detected as occurrence of uneven reading.

In the image reading apparatus having the above-described configuration, the detecting means detects at least one of a change in the conveying speed of the conveying means and a vibration of the reading means as uneven reading.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus of the first or second aspect, the detecting means is an acceleration sensor for detecting a vibration generated in the reading means. Features.

In the image reading apparatus having the above structure, an acceleration sensor for detecting a vibration generated in the reading means is used as the detecting means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, the detecting means includes a pulse signal according to the transport of the photographic film transported by the transport means. And a fluctuation detecting means for detecting a fluctuation in the transport speed from a fluctuation in a time interval of the output timing of the pulse signal.

In the image reading apparatus having the above structure, a rotary encoder that outputs a pulse signal in accordance with the transport of the photographic film transported by the transport unit as the detecting unit, and a time of the output timing of the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder Fluctuation detecting means for detecting a fluctuation in the transport speed from a fluctuation in the interval is used.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means controls the photographing by the transport means when the occurrence of the reading unevenness is detected by the detection means. After the film is conveyed in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction up to one frame or the top frame, the film is conveyed in the predetermined direction and read again by the reading means.

In the image reading apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the control means conveys the photographic film to one frame or the first frame by the conveying means in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when the detection means detects the occurrence of uneven reading. Then, the sheet is transported in the predetermined direction and read again by the reading means.

According to the first or third aspect of the present invention,
When the unevenness in the transport of the photographic film occurs, the reading of the film image is performed again or a warning is issued, so that the occurrence of the unevenness in the reading of the film image can be prevented and stable image data can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the film images are sequentially read out from the storage means which stores the film images read by the reading means, and the occurrence of uneven reading by the reading means is detected by the detecting means. When detected, the image processing is performed to correct the uneven reading of the film image in accordance with the size and the changing direction of the reading unevenness for each scanning line. Data can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image reading apparatus capable of coping with uneven reading of a film image.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a digital lab system as an image information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described first.

(Schematic Configuration of Entire System) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital lab system 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows an appearance of the digital lab system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the lab system 10 includes a line CCD scanner 14, an image processing unit 1
6, a laser printer section 18 and a processor section 20. The line CCD scanner 14 and the image processing section 16 are provided in an input section 26 shown in FIG. The unit 20 is provided in the output unit 28 shown in FIG.

The line CCD scanner 14 is for reading a film image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film. For example, a 135 size photographic film, a 110 size photographic film, and a transparent magnetic film are used. Photographic film (2
40 size photographic film: so-called APS film), 1
Film images of photographic films of sizes 20 and 220 (Broni size) can be read. The line CCD scanner 14 reads the film image to be read by the line CCD and outputs image data.

An acceleration sensor 50 for detecting vibration is fixed to the housing of the line CCD scanner 14 (FIG. 2).

The image processing section 16 stores image data (scanned image data) output from the line CCD scanner 14.
Is input, and image data obtained by photographing with a digital camera, image data obtained by reading a document other than a film image (for example, a reflection document, etc.) with a scanner, image data generated by a computer, etc. Hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as file image data.) It is also possible to externally input (for example, input via a storage medium such as a memory card, or input from another information processing device via a communication line). It is configured as follows.

The image processing section 16 performs image processing such as various corrections on the input image data and outputs the image data to the laser printer section 18 as recording image data. Also,
The image processing unit 16 outputs image data on which image processing has been performed to an external device as an image file (for example, outputs the image data to a storage medium such as a memory card, or transmits the image data to another information processing device via a communication line). It is also possible.

The laser printer section 18 is provided with R, G, and B laser light sources, and irradiates a photographic paper with laser light modulated in accordance with recording image data input from the image processing section 16 to perform scanning exposure. To record an image on photographic paper. Further, the processor unit 20 performs each process of color development, bleach-fix, washing, and drying on the photographic paper on which the image is recorded by the scanning exposure by the laser printer unit 18. Thus, an image is formed on the printing paper.

(Configuration of Line CCD Scanner) Next, the configuration of the line CCD scanner 14 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an optical system of the line CCD scanner 14. The optical system includes a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like, and includes a light source 30 that irradiates light to the photographic film 22. Diffusion boxes 36 are arranged in order.

The photographic film 22 includes a light diffusion box 36.
The film surface is transported in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis by a film carrier 38 (see FIG. 5 and not shown in FIG. 3) disposed on the light exit side of the optical disc. Note that FIG. 3 shows the long photographic film 22, but a dedicated film carrier is prepared for each slide film (reversal film) or APS film held in a slide holder for each frame. (The film carrier for the APS film has a magnetic head for reading information magnetically recorded on the magnetic layer), and it is also possible to carry the film images of these photographic films.

Between the light source 30 and the light diffusion box 36, C (cyan), M (magenta) and Y (yellow) dimming filters 114C, 114M and 114Y are arranged along the optical axis of the emitted light. A lens unit 4 that is provided in order and forms an image of light transmitted through the film image along an optical axis on a side opposite to the light source 30 across the photographic film 22.
0 and a line CCD 116 are sequentially arranged. Although FIG. 3 shows only a single lens as the lens unit 40, the lens unit 40 is actually a zoom lens composed of a plurality of lenses.

The line CCD 116 has a large number of CCD cells arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the film transport direction, and three sensing units provided with an electronic shutter mechanism are provided in parallel with each other at intervals. One of R, G, and B color separation filters is attached to the light incident side of the sensing unit (a so-called three-line color CCD). The line CCD 116 is arranged so that the light receiving surface of each sensing unit matches the image forming point position of the lens unit 40. In addition, in the vicinity of each sensing unit, a transfer unit is provided corresponding to each sensing unit, and charges accumulated in each CCD cell of each sensing unit are sequentially transferred through the corresponding transfer unit. You. Although not shown, the line CCD 116 and the lens unit 4
A shutter is provided between 0 and 0. The main scanning is performed in the arrangement direction of the CCD cells, and the sub-scanning is performed in the transport direction of the film.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of an electric system of the line CCD scanner 14. Line CCD scanner 1
4 includes a microprocessor 46 for controlling the entire line CCD scanner 14. The microprocessor 46 has a RAM 64 (for example, SRA
M), ROM 66 (for example, RO whose storage contents can be rewritten)
M), a motor driver 48 is connected, and a filter drive motor 54 is connected to the motor driver 48. The filter drive motor 54 can slide the dimming filters 114C, 114M, and 114Y independently of each other.

The microprocessor 46 turns on and off the light source 30 in conjunction with turning on and off a power switch (not shown). The microprocessor 46 includes a line CCD 1
When the film image is read (photometric) by the filter drive motor 54, the dimming filter 11 is
4C, 114M, and 114Y are independently slid, and the amount of light incident on the line CCD 116 is adjusted for each component color light.

The motor driver 48 includes a zoom drive motor 70 for changing the zoom magnification of the lens unit 40 by relatively moving the positions of a plurality of lenses of the lens unit 40, and moving the entire lens unit 40. Is connected to a lens drive motor 106 for moving the image forming point position of the lens unit 40 along the optical axis. The microprocessor 46 changes the zoom magnification of the lens unit 40 to a desired magnification by the zoom drive motor 70 according to the size of the film image, whether to perform trimming, and the like.

On the other hand, a timing generator 74 is connected to the line CCD 116. The timing generator 74 generates various timing signals (clock signals) for operating the line CCD 116 and A / D converters 82 and 84 described later. Line CCD 116
Of the A / D converter 82 via an amplifier 76.
The signal output from the line CCD 116 is amplified by the amplifier 76 and converted into digital data by the A / D converter 82.

The output terminal of the A / D converter 82 is connected to an interface (I / F) circuit 90 via a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 88. The CDS 88 samples the feedthrough data indicating the level of the feedthrough signal and the pixel data indicating the level of the pixel signal, and subtracts the feedthrough data from the pixel data for each pixel. Then, the calculation result (pixel data accurately corresponding to the amount of charge stored in each CCD cell) is expressed by I /
The data is sequentially output to the image processing unit 16 as scan image data via the F circuit 90.

Note that R, G,
Since the photometric signals of B are output in parallel, the amplifier 76, A
Three signal processing systems including a / D converter 82 and a CDS 88 are also provided, and the I / F circuit 90 outputs R, G, and B image data as scan image data in parallel. The line CCD scanner 14 corresponds to the reading unit of the present invention.

Further, a shutter drive motor 92 for opening and closing the shutter is connected to the motor driver 48.
The dark output of the line CCD 116 is corrected by the image processing unit 16 at the subsequent stage. The dark output level can be obtained by closing the shutter by the microprocessor 46 when the film image is not being read. .

(Configuration of Image Processing Unit) Next, the image processing unit 16
Will be described with reference to FIG. Image processing unit 1
Reference numeral 6 is provided with a line scanner correction unit 122 corresponding to the line CCD scanner 14. The line scanner correction unit 122 includes a dark correction circuit 124, a defective pixel correction unit 128, and a light correction circuit 13 corresponding to R, G, and B image data output in parallel from the line CCD scanner 14.
There are provided three signal processing systems composed of 0s.

The dark correction circuit 124 includes a line CCD 116
In the state where the light incident side is shielded from light by the shutter, data input from the line CCD scanner 14 (data representing the dark output level of each cell of the sensing unit of the line CCD 116) is stored for each cell, and CCD
From the scanned image data input from the scanner 14,
The correction is performed by reducing the dark output level of the cell corresponding to each pixel.

Further, the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the line CCD 116 vary from cell to cell. Defective pixel correction unit 12
In the bright correction circuit 130 at the subsequent stage of 8, the line CCD 116 reads the adjustment film image with the line CCD 116 while the film image for adjustment having a constant density is set on the entire screen of the line CCD scanner 14.
A gain is determined for each cell based on the image data of the adjustment film image input from the scanner 14 (the density variation of each pixel represented by this image data is caused by the variation of the photoelectric conversion characteristics of each cell). Previously, line CCD
The image data of the film image to be read input from the scanner 14 is corrected for each pixel according to the gain determined for each cell.

On the other hand, if the density of a specific pixel is significantly different from the density of other pixels in the image data of the film image for adjustment, the cell of the line CCD 116 corresponding to the specific pixel has some abnormality. The specific pixel can be determined as a defective pixel. Defective pixel correction unit 12
8 stores the address of the defective pixel based on the image data of the film image for adjustment,
Among the image data of the film image to be read inputted from 4, the data of the defective pixel is interpolated from the data of the surrounding pixels to newly generate data.

Since three lines (CCD cell rows) are arranged in the line CCD 116 at predetermined intervals along the transport direction of the photographic film 22, the line CCD scanner 14 outputs R, G, B. There is a time difference in the timing at which the output of the image data of each component color is started.
The line scanner correction unit 122 delays the output timing of the image data with a different delay time for each component color so that the R, G, and B image data of the same pixel is simultaneously output on the film image.

The output terminal of the line scanner correction unit 122 is connected to the input terminal of the selector 132,
Are output to the selector 132.

The input terminal of the selector 132 is also connected to the data output terminal of the input / output controller 134.
From the input / output controller 134, file image data input from the outside is input to the selector 132. The output terminal of the selector 132 is connected to the input / output controller 134 and the data input terminals of the image processors 136A and 136B. The selector 132 can selectively output the input image data to each of the input / output controller 134 and the image processors 136A and 136B.

The image processor 136A includes a memory controller 138, an image processor 140, an image memory 141, and three frame memories 142A and 142.
B, 142C. The image memory 141 has a capacity capable of storing image data of at least one film image, for example, a film image of one photographic film, and the frame memories 142A, 142B, and 142C each store the image of the film image of one frame. It has a capacity to store data. The image memory 141 corresponds to the storage unit of the present invention. One image data of the film image obtained by the fine scan performed by the line CCD scanner 14 is stored in the image memory 141 under the control of the memory controller 138.
One frame of image data is sequentially read out from one frame memory 142, and a frame memory 142 (hereinafter, frame memories 142A,
42B or 142C. ).
At this time, the memory controller 138 determines the address at which the image data is stored in the frame memory 142 such that the data of each pixel of the input image data is stored in the storage area of the frame memory 142 in a fixed order. Control.

The image processor 140 takes in the image data stored in the frame memory 142, performs gradation conversion, color conversion, hypertone processing for compressing the gradation of an ultra-low frequency luminance component of the image, and sharpness while suppressing graininess. And various kinds of image processing such as hyper-sharpness processing for enhancing image unevenness, and correction processing for unevenness in reading of image data of a film image caused by unevenness of conveyance and vibration of the photographic film or both of the unevenness of conveyance and vibration. Note that the processing conditions of the image processing are automatically calculated by the auto setup engine 144, and the image processing is performed according to the calculated processing conditions. The image processor 140 is connected to the input / output controller 134, and the image data subjected to the image processing is temporarily stored in the frame memory 142, and then stored at a predetermined timing.
Output to The image processor 140 corresponds to the processing unit of the present invention. The image processor 1
The configuration of the image processor 36B is the same as that of the image processor 136A described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, each line image is read twice by the line CCD scanner 14 at different resolutions. In the first reading at a relatively low resolution (hereinafter referred to as pre-scan), even when the density of the film image is extremely low (for example, a negative image overexposed on a negative film), a line CCD is used.
The reading of the film image is performed under the reading conditions (light amounts of the light irradiating the photographic film in each of the R, G, and B wavelength ranges, and the charge storage time of the CCD) determined so as not to cause the saturation of the stored charge in 116. . The image data (pre-scan image data) obtained by the pre-scan is input from the selector 132 to the input / output controller 134, and further output to the auto setup engine 144 connected to the input / output controller 134.

The auto setup engine 144 uses C
PU 146, RAM 148 (for example, DRAM), ROM
150 (for example, a rewritable ROM) and an input / output port 152, which are connected to each other via a bus 154.

The auto setup engine 144 reads a second relatively high-resolution image by the line CCD scanner 14 based on the pre-scanned image data of the film image for a plurality of frames input from the input / output controller 134 (hereinafter, referred to as “high-resolution”). The image processor 1 calculates image processing conditions for image data (fine-scan image data) obtained by fine scan, and applies the calculated processing conditions to the image processor 1 of the image processor unit 136.
Output to 40. In the calculation of the processing conditions of this image processing,
It is determined whether there are a plurality of film images capturing similar scenes from the exposure amount at the time of shooting, the type of light source for shooting, and other feature amounts, and when there is a plurality of film images capturing similar scenes, The processing conditions of the image processing for the fine scan image data of these film images are determined to be the same or similar.

The optimum processing conditions for image processing also vary depending on whether the image data after image processing is used for recording an image on photographic paper in the laser printer unit 18 or output to the outside. Since the image processing unit 16 is provided with two image processor units 136A and 136B, for example, when the image data is used for recording an image on photographic paper and is output to the outside, the auto setup engine 144 is used. Calculates the optimal processing conditions for each application, and calculates the image processor units 136A and 136A.
Output to B. Thereby, the image processor unit 13
6A and 136B, the same fine scan image data is subjected to image processing under different processing conditions.

Further, the auto setup engine 144
Calculates an image recording parameter that defines a gray balance or the like when an image is recorded on photographic paper by the laser printer unit 18 based on the pre-scan image data of the film image input from the input / output controller 134, The image data is output simultaneously when the image data for recording (described later) is output to the printer unit 18. Further, the auto setup engine 144 calculates the processing conditions of the image processing for the file image data input from the outside in the same manner as described above.

The input / output controller 134 is an I / F circuit 1
It is connected to the laser printer section 18 via 56.
When the image data after image processing is used for recording an image on photographic paper, the image data processed by the image processor 136 is transferred from the input / output controller 134 via the I / F circuit 156 to the recording image. The data is output to the laser printer unit 18 as data. The auto setup engine 144 is connected to a personal computer 158. When the image data after the image processing is output to the outside as an image file, the image data processed by the image processor unit 136 is sent from the input / output controller 134 to the auto setup engine 144.
Is output to the personal computer 158 via the.

The personal computer 158 has a CPU
160, memory 162, display 164 and keyboard 166 (see also FIG. 2), hard disk 168, C
It includes a D-ROM driver 170, a transport control unit 172, an expansion slot 174, and an image compression / decompression unit 176.
These are connected to each other via a bus 178. The memory 162 includes a ROM and a RAM.

The transport control unit 172 includes a CPU, a RAM, and an RO.
M, an input / output interface, and the like. The transport control unit 172 is connected to the film carrier 38 and controls the photographic film 2 by the film carrier 38.
2 and the line CCD scanner 14
A detection process is performed to detect the occurrence of uneven reading due to the scanning. When an APS film is set on the film carrier 38, information (for example, image recording size) read from the magnetic layer of the APS film by the film carrier 38 is input. The transport controller 172 and the film carrier 38 correspond to the transport unit of the present invention. The configuration of the transport control unit 172 will be described later.

A driver (not shown) for reading / writing data from / to a storage medium such as a memory card.
A communication control device for communicating with another information processing device is connected to the personal computer 158 via the expansion slot 174. When image data for output to the outside is input from the input / output controller 134, the image data is output to the outside (the driver, the communication control device, or the like) as an image file via the expansion slot 174. When file image data is input from outside via the expansion slot 174, the input file image data
4 to the input / output controller 134. In this case, the input / output controller 134 outputs the input file image data to the selector 132.

The image processing section 16 outputs prescanned image data and the like to the personal computer 158,
The film image read by the line CCD scanner 14 is displayed on the display 164, or the image obtained by recording on the photographic paper is estimated and displayed on the display 164, and the operator can correct the image via the keyboard 166. When instructed, this can be reflected in the processing conditions of image processing.

(Configuration of Laser Printer Unit and Processor Unit) Next, the configuration of the laser printer unit 18 and the processor unit 20 will be described. FIG. 6 shows a laser printer unit 1.
The configuration of the optical system No. 8 is shown. Laser printer unit 1
Numeral 8 includes three laser light sources 210R, 210G, and 210B. The laser light source 210R is configured by a semiconductor laser (LD) that emits a laser beam having an R wavelength. The laser light source 210G includes an LD and a wavelength conversion element (SHG) that converts the laser light emitted from the LD into a laser light having a wavelength of １ ／, and a laser light having a wavelength of SHG to G. The emission wavelength of the LD is determined so that is emitted. Similarly, the laser light source 210B also includes an LD and an SHG, and the oscillation wavelength of the LD is determined so that a laser beam having a wavelength of B is emitted from the SHG.

Laser light sources 210R, 210G, 210B
The collimator lens 212,
An acousto-optic light modulator (AOM) 214 is arranged in order. The AOM 214 is arranged so that the incident laser light passes through the acousto-optic medium, and is connected to the AOM driver 216 (see FIG. 7). When the high frequency signal is input from the AOM driver 216, the AOM 214 Ultrasonic waves according to the high-frequency signal propagate in the optical medium, and an acousto-optic effect acts on the laser light transmitted through the acousto-optic medium to cause diffraction, and a laser beam having an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of the high-frequency signal is generated by the AOM 214. Is emitted as diffracted light.

A polygon mirror 218 is disposed on the diffracted light emission side of the AOM 214. Three laser beams of R, G, and B wavelengths emitted as diffracted light from the respective AOMs 214 are reflected by the polygon mirror 218. The light is applied to substantially the same position on the surface and is reflected by the polygon mirror 218.
The fθ lens 220 and the plane mirror 222 are disposed on the laser light emission side of the polygon mirror 218. The three laser beams reflected by the polygon mirror 218 are transmitted through the fθ lens 220 and reflected by the plane mirror 222. Irradiated on photographic paper 224.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of an electric system of the laser printer section 18 and the processor section 20. The laser printer section 18 has a frame memory 230 for storing image data. The frame memory 230 is connected to the image processing unit 16 via the I / F circuit 232, and the recording image data (R, R, and R for each pixel of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224) input from the image processing unit 16 The image data representing the G and B densities are temporarily stored in the frame memory 230 via the I / F circuit 232. Frame memory 23
0 is connected to the exposure unit 236 via the D / A converter 234 and to the printer control circuit 238.

The exposure section 236 has three laser light sources 210 composed of LDs (and SHGs) as described above, and also has three systems of AOM 214 and AOM driver 216. The polygon mirror 218 and polygon mirror 2
Main scanning unit 240 equipped with a motor for rotating 18
Is provided. The exposure unit 236 is connected to a printer unit control circuit 238, and the operation of each unit is controlled by the printer unit control circuit 238.

When recording an image on the photographic paper 224,
In order to record the image represented by the recording image data on the photographic paper 224 by scanning exposure, the printer control circuit 238 performs various operations on the recording image data based on the image recording parameters input from the image processing unit 16. To generate image data for scanning exposure, and
30. Then, the polygon mirror 218 of the exposure unit 236 is rotated, and the laser light sources 210R and 210R are rotated.
G and 210B, and emits the scanning exposure image data from the frame memory 230 to the D
Output to the exposure unit 236 via the / A converter 234.
Thus, the scanning exposure image data is converted into an analog signal and input to the exposure unit 236.

The AOM driver 216 changes the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal supplied to the AOM 214 according to the level of the input analog signal, and changes the intensity of the laser light emitted from the AOM 214 as the diffracted light to the level of the analog signal (ie, the level of the analog signal). The modulation is performed according to the R density, the G density, or the B density of each pixel of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224. Accordingly, the three AOMs 214 emit R, G, and B laser beams whose intensity is modulated in accordance with the R, G, and B densities of the image to be recorded on the photographic paper 224, and these laser beams are emitted from the polygon mirror 218. , Fθ lens 220, mirror 2
The photographic paper 224 is radiated through the photographic paper 22.

The main scanning is performed by scanning the irradiation position of each laser beam along the direction of arrow B in FIG. 6 with the rotation of the polygon mirror 218, and the printing paper 224 is moved along the direction of arrow C in FIG. The laser beam is sub-scanned by being conveyed at a constant speed, and the photographic paper 2 is scanned and exposed.
An image is recorded in 24. The photographic paper 224 on which the image is recorded by the scanning exposure is sent to the processor unit 20.

A printer driver 242 is connected to the printer control circuit 238. The printer driver 242 has a fan 24 for blowing air to the exposure unit 236.
4. A magazine motor 246 for pulling out the photographic paper stored in the magazine loaded in the laser printer unit from the magazine is connected. The printer control circuit 238 is connected to a back print unit 248 that prints characters and the like on the back surface of the printing paper 224. The operations of the fan 244, the magazine motor 246, and the back print unit 248 are controlled by the printer control circuit 238.

The printer control circuit 238 has a magazine sensor 250 for detecting the attachment / detachment of a magazine in which the unexposed photographic paper 224 is stored and the size of the photographic paper stored in the magazine. Operation panel 252 (see also FIG. 2) for inputting, processor unit 20
The densitometer 254 for measuring the density of the image visualized by processing such as development is connected to the processor unit control circuit 256 of the processor unit 20.

The processor control circuit 256 detects the passage of the photographic paper 224 conveyed along the photographic paper conveyance path inside the processor of the processor unit 20 and detects the level of various processing liquids stored in the processing tank. Various sensors 258 for detecting the position and the like
Is connected.

The processor control circuit 256 includes:
A sorter 260 (see FIG. 2) for sorting the photographic paper discharged to the outside of the machine after completion of the processing such as development into a predetermined group, and a replenishing system 26 for replenishing a processing tank with a replenisher.
2. An automatic cleaning system 264 for cleaning rollers and the like is connected, and various pumps / solenoids 268 are connected via a processor driver 266. These sorters 260, replenishment systems 262, automatic cleaning systems 264, and various pumps / solenoids 26
The operation of 8 is controlled by the processor unit control circuit 256.

(Structure of Film Carrier) Next, the structure of the film carrier 38 and the transport control unit will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the film carrier 38 is set on the line CCD scanner 14 (however, in FIG. 8, the dimming filters 114C, 114M,
Illustration of 114Y, the light diffusion box 36, etc. is omitted. ).

The film carrier 38 has transport roller pairs 280 and 282 arranged on both sides of the optical axis L of the light emitted from the light source 30. Transport roller pair 2
The driving force of the motors 284 and 286 is transmitted to the rollers 80 and 282, respectively.
The photographic film 22 sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 280 and 282 is transported across the optical axis L with the rotation of. The motors 284 and 286 are connected to the transport control unit 172 via drivers 288 and 290. A light source 30 is located at a position where the transport path of the photographic film 22 and the optical axis L intersect.
A mask 292 is provided which shields light emitted from the photographic film 22 and transmitted through the outside of the image recording area of the photographic film 22, and which can change the light shielding area.

A rotary encoder 287 for detecting the rotation speed, that is, the conveyance speed of the photographic film 22, is attached to one rotation shaft of the conveyance roller pair 282. The output end of the rotary encoder 287 is connected to the transport control unit 172,
The detection output 87 is input to the transport control unit 172. The rotary encoder 287 may be provided on the transport roller pair 280 instead of the transport roller pair 282. An acceleration sensor 50 fixed to the housing of the line CCD scanner 14 is connected via an A / D converter 84 to an input side of the transport control unit 172, and a detection output (amplitude of vibration) of the acceleration sensor 50 is provided. Information) is converted into digital data by an A / D converter 84,
It is input to the transport control unit 172. Further, the transport control unit 172
Is connected to a buzzer 289 for issuing a warning when unevenness in reading by the line CCD scanner 14 is detected during the conveyance control of the photographic film 22.
When reading unevenness occurs, the buzzer 289 is driven by the transport control unit 172. Transport control unit 1
72 corresponds to the control means of the present invention, and the acceleration sensor 50 corresponds to the detecting means of the present invention for detecting occurrence of uneven reading by the line CCD scanner 14. The rotary encoder 287 constitutes a part of the detecting means of the present invention for detecting occurrence of uneven reading by the line CCD scanner 14.

The operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows.
The content of the uneven reading detection process executed by the CPU in the CPU 72 will be described with reference to FIG. Step 3 in FIG.
At 00, it is determined whether or not the auto setup engine 144 has issued a fine scan instruction. If this determination is denied, it waits until it is affirmed. If this determination is affirmative, in the next step 302, the transport control unit 172
Captures the transport speed Vi of the photographic film 22 detected by the rotary encoder 287. Next Step 30
In step 4, the difference between the transport speed Vi-1 captured last time and the transport speed Vi captured this time, that is, the amount of change in the transport speed is determined.
M is stored in a predetermined area. Next, at step 306, the vibration detection output Q is fetched from the acceleration sensor 50 via the A / D converter 84, and at the next step 308, the variation amount V of the transport speed obtained at step 304 is V> V ₀ (V ₀
Is the upper limit reference value of the amount of change in the transport speed that can ignore the influence on the image quality of the read image. ), In other words, whether or not uneven reading of the film image by the line CCD scanner 14 has occurred due to uneven conveyance. If the determination in step 308 is negative, that is, if it is determined that V ≦ V ₀ , the detection output Q of the acceleration sensor 50 captured in step 306 in step 310 is Q> Q ₀ (Q ₀ is read. This is the upper limit reference value of the amplitude of the vibration generated in the line CCD scanner 14 which can be ignored in the image quality of the image.) Whether or not there is, in other words, the vibration causes the uneven reading of the film image by the line CCD scanner 14 to occur. It is determined whether or not. When this determination is denied, that is, when it is determined that Q ≦ Q ₀ , the execution of the reading detection process ends.

On the other hand, step 308 or step 31
If the determination of 0 is affirmative, that is, if it is determined that the variation amount V of the transport speed is V> V ₀ or the detection output Q of the acceleration sensor 50 is Q> Q ₀ , the process proceeds to step 312, In step 312, a signal for stopping the conveyance of the photographic film is output to the motors 284 and 286 via the drivers 288 and 290, and the conveyance control unit 17
2, a command to stop the fine scan is output to the auto setup engine 144. As a result,
The transport of the photographic film 22 is stopped, and the fine scan is stopped. Next, in step 314, the buzzer 289 is driven by the transport control unit 172, and a warning is issued. In step 316, the photographic film 22 is moved to the top of the frame of the photographic film 22 in which it is determined that the reading unevenness has occurred.
Is transported in a direction to return to the reading position of the line CCD scanner 14, and it is determined whether or not the top of the frame of the photographic film 22, which has been determined in step 318 to have read unevenness, has returned to the reading position of the line CCD scanner 14. judge. If the determination in step 318 is negative, the process waits until this determination is positive. If the determination in step 318 is affirmative, that is, the top of the frame of the photographic film 22 for which it is determined that the reading unevenness has occurred is the line CCD scanner 1
If it is determined that the scanning has returned to the reading position of No. 4, the fact that fine scanning can be started is reported to the auto setup engine 144 in the next step 320, and the execution of the reading unevenness detection processing is ended.

In the first embodiment, when the occurrence of uneven reading is detected, the film is transported to the head of one frame in the direction opposite to the transport direction when reading the film image, and then in the transport direction when reading the film image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The photographic film 22 is conveyed in the opposite direction by one frame, or when the occurrence of uneven reading is detected, the photographic film 22 is moved to the first frame of one film. The film may be transported in a direction opposite to the transport direction at the time of reading, and then transported in the transport direction at the time of reading the film image.

According to the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when photographic film conveyance unevenness occurs, the film image is read again or a warning is issued. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven reading of a film image and obtain stable image data.

Next, an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, but differs from the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. The output of the encoder 287 is input to the transport controller 172. However, as shown in FIG. 10, a transport speed calculation circuit 400 for calculating the transport speed of the photographic film 22 is provided, and the detection output of the rotary encoder 287 is output. This is to input the data to the transport speed calculation circuit 400. In FIG. 10, the line CCD scanner 14 includes a CCD control unit 14A and a scan image data output unit 14B.
Is the microprocessor 46, ROM 66,
RAM 64, timing generator 74, motor driver 48, zoom motor 70, shutter drive motor 9
2. Filter drive motor 54 and lens drive motor 10
Consists of six. The scan image data output unit 14B includes a line CCD 116, an amplifier 76, an A / D converter 82, a correlated double sampling circuit 88, and an interface (I /
F) A circuit 90 is provided. The transport speed calculation circuit 400 has C
A timing signal defining the read timing is output from the timing generator 74 in the CD control unit 14A,
Based on this timing signal, the transport speed calculation circuit 400
Captures a pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 287 in accordance with the transport of the photographic film 22, and calculates the transport speed of each frame of the photographic film 22 for each scanning line. The transport speed data for each scanning line of the photographic film 22 calculated by the transport speed calculation circuit 400 is stored in the image processor 140 via the bus 178 of the personal computer 158, the auto setup engine 144, the input / output controller 134, and the selector 132 in FIG. In time series.

Next, image data correction processing executed by the image processor 140 in the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 11, in step 500, fine scan image data of a film image of one photographic film 22 (for example, one photographic film) is stored in the image memory 14.
1 is determined. If this determination is denied, it waits until it is affirmed. If the determination in step 500 is affirmative, in step 502, the transport speed data for each scan line for one frame, that is, the transport speed data for the photographic film 22 associated with each scan line for one frame is stored in the image processor 140. From the internal RAM, and in step 504, one frame of fine scan image data is read from the image memory 141.
Transfer to 2.

Next, at step 506, step 502
Is calculated from the transport speed data for each scanning line for one frame read out in step (1). In the next step 508, according to the magnitude and direction of the variation ΔVi of the transport speed between the adjacent scanning lines calculated in step 506, ie, the line CCD scanner 1
In step 504, image processing is performed on the fine scan image data for one frame transferred to the frame memory 142 so as to correct the reading unevenness in accordance with the size and the change direction of the reading unevenness of the film image. Specifically, this correction processing is performed, for example, when the fluctuation amount ΔVi changes in a positive increasing direction, since the next scanning line adjacent in the transport direction at the time of reading the film image is skipped, the skipped scanning is performed. With respect to the image data of a line, image data obtained by performing an interpolation operation using the image data of the preceding and succeeding scanning lines is defined as image data of the scanning line. If the variation ΔVi changes in the negative direction, it is considered that the image data of the same scanning line is continuously read at the timing of reading the film image. One of the image data is discarded, and the image data obtained by performing an interpolation operation using the image data of the scanning lines before and after the scanning line in the transport direction is used as the image data of the scanning line. .

Further, in step 510, the image data subjected to the unevenness correction processing in step 508 is stored in the image memory 14.
1 is stored. Next, at step 512, it is determined whether or not the correction processing of the uneven reading has been completed for all the frames. If this determination is denied, the process returns to step 502, and the processes of steps 502 to 512 are repeated. If it is determined in step 512 that the correction process for the uneven reading has been completed for all the frames, the execution of the image data correction process ends.

According to the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the film images are sequentially read from the storage means storing the film images read by the reading means, and the detecting means detects the film images. When the occurrence of uneven reading is detected, the image processing for correcting the uneven reading of the film image is performed for each scanning line according to the size and the changing direction of the uneven reading. Thus, stable image data can be obtained.

[0083]

According to the present invention, when photographic film conveyance unevenness occurs, the film image is read again or a warning is issued. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of image reading unevenness and obtain stable image data.

According to the invention as set forth in claims 2 to 5, the film images are sequentially read from the storage means storing the film images read by the reading means, and the occurrence of uneven reading by the reading means is detected by the detecting means. When detected, the image processing is performed to correct the uneven reading of the film image in accordance with the size and the changing direction of the reading unevenness for each scanning line. Data can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image reading apparatus capable of coping with uneven reading of a film image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a digital laboratory system as the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of the line CCD scanner in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric system of the line CCD scanner in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical system of an exposure unit of the laser printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric system of a laser printer unit and a processor unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a film carrier in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the details of an uneven reading detection process performed by the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of image data correction processing by the image reading device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Digital laboratory system 14 Line CCD scanner 16 Image processing unit 18 Laser printer unit 20 Processor unit 22 Photo film 38 Film carrier 50 Acceleration sensor 140 Image processor 141 Image memory 142 Frame memory 144 Auto setup engine 172 Transport control unit 287 Rotary encoder 289 Buzzer 400 Transport speed calculation circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A transport means for transporting a long photographic film in a predetermined direction at a predetermined transport speed, and a film image recorded on the photographic film, which is disposed along an intersecting direction intersecting the transport direction of the photographic film. Reading means for reading along the intersecting direction; detecting means for detecting occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the reading means; and detecting means for detecting occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the detecting means. Control means for performing at least one of re-reading and warning. 2. A conveying means for conveying a long photographic film at a predetermined conveying speed, and a film image recorded on the photographic film arranged along an intersecting direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the photographic film. Reading means for reading along the line, detecting means for detecting the occurrence of uneven reading of the film image by the reading means, and storing in chronological order the film image read by the reading means and data indicating the occurrence of the uneven reading. A storage unit, a processing unit that reads film image data and data indicating the occurrence of uneven reading from the storage unit, and performs image processing for correcting the uneven reading of the film image data in accordance with the size and the direction of occurrence of the uneven reading. An image reading device comprising: 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit detects at least one of a change in a conveying speed of the conveying unit and a vibration of the reading unit as occurrence of uneven reading. Image reading device. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is an acceleration sensor that detects a vibration generated in the reading unit. 5. A rotary encoder for outputting a pulse signal in accordance with the transport of a photographic film transported by said transport means, and a change in transport speed based on a variation in a time interval of the output timing of said pulse signal. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fluctuation detecting unit that detects the fluctuation. 6. The control means, when the occurrence of the scanning unevenness is detected by the detection means, after the photographic film is conveyed by the conveyance means to one frame or a top frame in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is transported in the predetermined direction and re-read by the reading unit.