JP2000171910A - Photographic printing device and film for photographic printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic printing device by which an operator need not perform a printing condition changing operation every time a printing condition is changed and by which the occurrence of defective printing and delay time liable to accompany with the printing condition changing operation can be prevented. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a printing condition reading means 13 reading the encoded and recorded printing condition from a printing condition pattern 6 stuck to or printing on the specified position 5b of a film 10 to be processed, and a printing condition setting changing means 14 automatically setting or changing the printing condition based on the printing condition read by the means 13. Besides, this device is desirably provided with an externally input means 2 by which the printing condition can be inputted by externally inputting operation, and a printing condition pattern forming means 3 which forms a printing condition pattern 6 based on the printing condition inputted from the means 2 and which sticks or prints the pattern 6 to the position 5b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printing apparatus for printing a frame image on a film to be processed, such as a developed negative film, on photographic paper. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of photographic printing apparatus, every time there is a change in printing conditions such as photographic paper size, an operator performs such a printing condition changing operation by an external input operation such as a key operation.

[0003]

Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to change the printing conditions every time the printing conditions are changed.
Further, since the printing conditions cannot be changed until the ongoing printing process is completed, the printing conditions must be changed by an external input operation after the ongoing printing process has been completed. There is a problem that the processing time is delayed each time. Further, since it is necessary to wait for the ongoing printing process to be completed, there is a possibility that a large number of defective prints may be inadvertently forgotten to change the printing conditions for the next printing process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for an operator to change a print condition every time there is a change in the print condition. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic printing apparatus capable of avoiding the occurrence of photographic printing.

[0005]

A first feature of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is as described in claim 1 of the claims. Reading means for reading print conditions encoded and recorded from a print condition pattern attached or printed at a predetermined position, and automatically sets or changes print conditions based on the print conditions read by the read means. And print condition setting change means for performing the operation. Here, the printing conditions include the photographic paper size, and, if necessary, for example, specification regarding color correction, specification regarding print size (normal full size, panorama size, mixture of both sizes, etc.), or a plurality of frame images. Are specified in an array in a matrix and printed.

According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, an external input means capable of inputting the print conditions by an external input operation, as described in claim 2 of the claims. And generating the print condition pattern based on the print conditions input from the external input means, or in a form that can be attached to the predetermined position, or
It is characterized in that a printing condition pattern generating means for printing at the predetermined position is provided. Here, the external input operation means an artificial external data input operation such as a key input operation by an operator. Also, the form that can be attached is
For example, it means an adhesive sticker having the printing condition pattern printed on one side.

According to a third feature of the present invention, in addition to the first or second feature, there is no print condition pattern at the predetermined position, as described in claim 3 of the claims. Alternatively, when the print condition is not recorded in the print condition pattern, the print condition setting change unit does not change the print condition that is already set.

[0008] The fourth characteristic configuration is, as described in claim 4 in the claims section, in addition to the first, second or third characteristic configuration, the film to be processed is a plurality of films. A long film in which processing request-specific films are joined together by a connecting member, wherein the predetermined position is a leading end of each of the processing request-specific films, and the long film is cut at a connecting portion and the processing is performed again. The point is that the reading means reads the print condition pattern when dividing into the request-specific films.

In order to achieve the above object, a characteristic feature of the photographic printing film according to the present invention is a printing condition pattern obtained by encoding printing conditions and recording as described in claim 5 of the claims. Is attached or printed at a predetermined position.

In the following, the operation and effect of the above characteristic configuration will be described. According to the first characteristic configuration of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention, when changing the printing condition of the photographic printing apparatus, the printing condition setting is performed based on the printing condition read from the printing condition pattern by the reading unit. Since the changing means can make such a change automatically, it is not necessary to change the print conditions by an external input operation by an operator or the like as in the prior art, and the various problems associated with the above-mentioned artificial operation can be solved. . The means for generating the print condition pattern and affixing or printing the print condition pattern at a predetermined position on the film to be processed does not necessarily have to be included in the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention.
In other words, although the act of attaching or printing the print condition pattern at a predetermined position on the film to be processed is necessary, there is no problem even if another operator performs batch processing separately and independently. The means can be shared by a plurality of photoprinting apparatuses.

According to the second characteristic configuration, the print condition pattern can be generated by an external input operation and attached or printed at a predetermined position on the film to be processed. The printing process can be started even when a film to be processed that has not been pasted or printed is received. Here, although the external input operation in this feature configuration is an artificial operation, it can be performed asynchronously and independently of the ongoing burning process, so that various problems associated with the conventional artificial operation can be solved.

According to the third characteristic configuration, a film to be processed having no printing condition pattern at the predetermined position,
The film to be processed in which the printing conditions are not recorded in the printing condition pattern is printed under the same printing conditions as the printing conditions of the film to be processed immediately before the film to be processed. When a plurality of films to be subjected to the printing process are continuous, the print condition pattern may be attached or printed at the predetermined position of the leading film to be processed, and the print condition pattern may be generated by an external input operation. The work of sticking or printing at the predetermined position of the processing film does not need to be performed for each film to be processed,
The labor and cost for the work can be reduced.

According to the fourth characteristic configuration, a plurality of processing request-specific films can be continuously printed. Since the photographic printing apparatus of this characteristic configuration is capable of printing each processing request-dependent film having different printing conditions under appropriate printing conditions, the long film is cut at a connection portion and the processing request-specific film is again processed. Is divided into
Naturally, this is before the film for each processing request is printed. That is, when the long film is cut at the connection portion, the reading unit reads the printing condition pattern. Therefore, when the printing condition corresponding to the printing condition pattern is the same as the printing condition in progress, that is, the printing condition If there is no need to change, the cut back processing request-specific film can be continuously printed on the front processing request-specific film, and the processing can be continued without interruption. is there. Further, when the read print conditions are different from the print conditions in progress, it is necessary to change the print conditions of the rear-side processing request-specific film, and the rear-side processing request-specific film is the front side processing request. It is necessary to wait until the printing condition of the film according to the processing request is completed and the printing conditions are changed, but it is possible to wait in a process after the cutting and before the actual printing process is started. It is. After all, according to this characteristic configuration, it is possible to appropriately select whether to continuously process the rear-side processing request-specific film or to wait for a change in printing conditions according to the read printing conditions. The baking process can be continuously performed on a plurality of processing request-specific films without a long waiting time. still,
The division does not mean that the division is strictly the same as the division. In other words, it is sufficient that the reading means can read the printing condition pattern and wait for a change in the printing condition before the film for each processing request on the rear side continuously enters the printing process. As described above, it is only necessary to be within a certain time range immediately before or immediately after the division, and the portion where the long film is cut at the connecting portion and divided again into the processing request-specific films is, of course, each processing Before the request-specific film is subjected to the printing process, the adjustment of the timing is a problem belonging to the design items.

According to the characteristic configuration of the photographic printing film according to the present invention, when changing the printing condition of the photographic printing device, the printing condition is determined from the printing condition pattern attached or printed on the photographic printing film. Reading by the reading means, and based on the read printing conditions,
Since the print conditions of the photoprinting apparatus can be automatically changed, it is not necessary to change the print conditions by an external input operation by an operator or the like as in the related art, and the various problems associated with the above-described artificial operation can be solved. .

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a printing apparatus) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus comprises a printing apparatus main body 1, an external input means 2, a print condition seal issuing means 3, and a film splicer 4. The external input means 2 is a developed strip negative 5 which is a processing request-specific film to be printed under common printing conditions (for example, one negative film after film development in the case of simultaneous printing). This is a means for the operator to input the print conditions by an external input operation such as a key input operation. The print condition sticker issuing means 3 is an embodiment of a print condition pattern generating means, and converts a print condition of the strip negative 5 input from the external input means 2 into a one-dimensional barcode in a predetermined format. Print condition pattern 6
Is generated, and a print condition seal 7 having the print condition pattern 6 printed on the front surface is issued. The print condition seal 7 issued by the print condition seal issuing means 2
Is affixed to the leading end 5b of the strip negative 5 where no frame image 5a exists, as shown in FIG. In addition, the attachment is manually or mechanically processed.

An example of the print condition pattern 6 is shown in FIG.
Shown in As shown in FIG. 3, the print condition pattern 6 is composed of nine code blocks (C1 to C9) using a one-dimensional barcode. Each code block has a start code (C1) and a DP bag number (C
2), group channel designating code (C3), print channel designating code (C4), print count designating code (C5), index count designating code (C6),
An index format designation code (C7), a check digit (C8), and an end code (C9).
Here, the print channel means a combination of print conditions such as a preset photographic paper size and a specification relating to color correction.
Print conditions are specified. The group channel designation code selects whether the print channel is used alone or a plurality of print channels are used in combination. When a plurality of print channels are used in combination, for example, normal print size and panoramic print can be mixed and printed. The index number designation code is used for designating whether or not to perform index printing, and for designating the number of sheets for performing index printing. The check digit uses a modulus 16. By the way, when strip negatives having the same print condition are continuous, the operator can omit the input of the print condition from the external input means 2. In this case, the external input unit 2 stores the last input printing condition and outputs it to the printing condition sticker issuing unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the film splicer 4 connects the plurality of strip negatives 5 with the printing condition seals 7 stuck to the front end portions 5b with a splicing tape 8 as a connecting member. Then, the film is wound around a reel (or a negative magazine) 9 to form a roll-shaped and long film 10 to be processed.

The printing apparatus main body 1 cuts the film to be processed 10 wound on the reel 9 into a film feeder 11 for supplying the film to a film transport means 40, and cuts the film to be processed 10 at a connection portion 12 thereof. Film cutting means 60 for dividing the film into strip negatives 5 again,
A print condition reading unit 13 for reading print conditions encoded and recorded from the print condition pattern 6 provided near the upper side of the film cutting unit 60 in the transport path of the film transport unit 40; A print condition setting / change unit for automatically setting or changing the print condition based on the print condition read by the condition read unit; and a processing unit for performing the original printing process. The photographic paper exposed by the above is subjected to processing such as development, and the finally finished print is discharged to a print storage unit (not shown).

The operation of the printing apparatus main body 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 showing a more detailed configuration of the printing apparatus main body 1.

The reel 9 of the film feeder 11
A dancer 15 for removing the slack of the film to be processed 10 is provided near the mounting axis of the film 1 to be processed.
The reference numeral 0 passes through the dancer 15 and is supplied to the film transport unit 40, and is transported and supplied to the processing unit 100 including the image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure device 30.

The film transport means 40 comprises a first transport section and a second transport section. The first transport section includes a first drive roller 42 driven to rotate by a pulse motor 41, and a first drive roller 42. Two drive idle rollers 43 in contact with the rollers 42, a second drive roller 45 rotationally driven by the DC motor 44, a drive idle roller 46 in contact with the second drive rollers 45, Roller 4
7 and a pair of idler rollers 48 and the like that come into contact with each other, and transports the film 10 to the image information reading device 20. In the transport path of the first transport section, a film cutting means 60 is provided. Here, the film to be processed 10 is cut and divided into the strip negatives 5 corresponding to one order unit. The second transport section of the film transport means 40 transports the strip negative 5 to the image information reading device 20, and includes a third drive roller 49, a driving idler roller 50, and a pair of idler rollers 51. And so on.

A group of sensors is provided in the transport path of the film transport means 40. For example, the presence of the film 10 to be processed is detected on the upstream side of the first drive roller 42 in the transport direction. Film detection sensor 81
However, on the lower side in the transport direction, the connection portion 1 of the strip negative 5 connected by the splice tape 8 is provided.
An end detection sensor 82 for detecting the second sensor 2 is provided, and both the detection sensors 81 and 82 are composed of a light emitting device and a light receiving device.

Whether the strip negatives 5 are suitable for processing by the printing exposure apparatus 30 on the lower side in the transport direction than the edge detection sensor 82 and on the upper side in the transport direction than the film cutting means 60. An image frame discriminating means 83 for discriminating whether or not the image frame is provided is provided. The image frame discriminating means 83 includes two image frame detection sensors 83a and 83b each including a light emitter and a light receiver, and forms a frame on which a photographed image is formed based on the amount of light transmitted through the strip negative 5. Is detected to determine the frame length of each image. Specifically, based on the detection signal of the frame edge, the image frame pitch of each order is measured, and the length in the width direction of the image frame is measured, so that each image frame is full size or panorama size. Or half size.

Immediately before the film cutting means 60 in the transport direction, a print for reading the one-dimensional bar code as the print condition pattern 6 printed on the print condition sticker 7 attached to the leading end of each strip negative 5 is provided. Condition reading means 13 is provided. The printing condition reading means 13 optically reads the barcode,
It comprises a one-dimensional barcode scanner for decoding the DP bag number (C2) and the print condition codes (C3 to C7).

Next, a configuration in which the film cutting means 60 and the print condition reading means 13 are integrated and incorporated in a film transport path will be described with reference to FIG. The film cutting means 60 includes a cutter blade 61 and a drive mechanism 62 for driving the cutter blade 61.
The drive mechanism 62 is connected through a driver 63 to a controller 500 that controls the entire photographic printing apparatus.
The controller 500 also controls the reading of the print condition reading means 13 at the same time.

When the end detecting sensor 82 detects the connecting portion 12 of the strip negative 5 connected by the splice tape 8, the controller 500 determines that a predetermined cutting position of the film 10 to be processed is a cutter blade 61. Is calculated, the film transport is stopped at that timing, and the cutting operation of the film cutting means 60 is commanded. The cutter blade 61 and the print condition reading means 13 in the film conveyance stopped state
The positional relationship of the read head 16 is shown in FIG. That is, the distance L1 between the position P1 of the cutter blade 61 and the position P2 of the reading head 16 is such that when the cutter blade 61 is located at a predetermined cutting position of the film to be processed 10, the reading head 16 It is set so as to be located directly above the print condition seal 7. For this reason, the print condition seal 7 is attached to the strip negative 5
Is attached at a position separated by a predetermined distance L0 from the tip of the splice tape 8.
The dimensions and location of the paste are also accurately determined. Therefore, by performing the reading operation of the printing condition reading unit 13 at the time of the cutting operation of the film cutting unit 60, the DP bag number (C2) is obtained from the printing condition pattern 6.
And the respective print condition codes (C3 to C7) can be read. The reading operation of the printing condition reading unit 13 may be performed simultaneously with or before or after the cutting operation of the film cutting unit 60.

The DP bag number (C2) and the print condition code (C3 to C7) read by the print condition reading means 13 are output to the controller 500, and the DP bag number (C2) will be Used for specifying the target strip negative 5 in the photographic processing. The print condition codes (C3 to C7) are output to the print condition setting change means 14 provided in the controller 500, and are used for the following print condition setting changes.

If the print conditions (C3 to C7) are the same as the print conditions currently being processed, the print condition setting change means 14 changes the rear strip negative 5 (divided by the film cutting means 60). At this stage,
Since the rear end side of the strip negative 5 has not been cut yet, it is not strictly a strip negative state. It is determined that there is no need to change the printing conditions for processing (1), and the printing conditions of the printing apparatus main body 1 are not changed. Therefore, the rear strip negative 5 can be continuously processed without waiting for the end of the printing process of the strip negative 5 currently being processed. If the print conditions (C3 to C7) are different from the print conditions currently being processed, it is necessary to change the print conditions for processing the strip negative 5 on the rear side. 500 is
The strip negative 5 on the rear side is placed at the position of the film cutting means 60 or at an appropriate position in the transport path of the film transport means 40 from the film cutting means 60 to the processing section 100. The process waits until the printing process of the strip negative 5 being processed is completed. That is, only the first drive roller 42 of the first transport unit shown in FIG. 4 stops, and the second drive roller 45 transports the currently processed strip negative 5 toward the processing unit 100. To continue. After the printing process of the strip negative 5 currently being processed has been completed, the print condition setting change means 14 changes the print conditions, and
0 is controlled in accordance with the printing condition, the transport operation of the first drive roller 42 is restarted, and the processing unit 100 starts printing processing based on the new printing condition.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a discharge mechanism 18 is provided below the film cutting means 60 in the transport direction to remove unnecessary portions of the film from the transport path. The discharge mechanism 18 includes a waste box 18a disposed below the conveying path, a swingable guide member 18b that is located at an opening of the waste box 18a, and has a slit through which a film passes. In the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the film passes through the slit, and in the state shown by the imaginary line, unnecessary portions of the film are guided. Then, it is configured to fall into the waste box 18a.

A loop tank 19 is provided on the lower side in the transport direction than the discharge mechanism 18.
9 is formed in a loop holding space 19a for accommodating and holding the strip negative 5 in a loop shape, and an openable / closable loop guide 19b is provided in an opening of the loop tank 19, and a DC motor (not shown) is provided. Is configured to be driven to open and close. In FIG. 4, the state where the strip negative 5 is not stored in a loop is shown by a solid line, and the state where the strip negative 5 is stored in a loop is shown by a virtual line.

A light emitting device and a light receiving device for detecting the leading end of the strip negative 5 are provided on the downstream side in the transport direction from the loop tank 19 and on the downstream side in the transport direction from the second drive roller 45. The strip negative 5 determined as inappropriate by the image frame discriminating means 83 is provided on the image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure side further downstream of the tip detection sensor 84 in the transport direction. A transport path branching means 90 is provided as processing avoidance means for avoiding processing by the apparatus 30.

The image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure device 30 are disposed in this order at a position further distant from the conveying path branching means 90 in the conveying direction, and the processing section 100 is formed. ing. The image information reading device 20 and the printing exposure device 30 have a conventionally known structure, and the image information reading device 20 includes a lamp 21, a mirror tunnel 22, and an imaging device 2.
The printing exposure apparatus 30 includes an exposure lamp 31, a dimming filter 32, a mirror tunnel 33, an optical system 34, a shutter 35, and the like. It is configured to be printed on. Further, a negative cut inserter 190 for inserting a piece negative prepared by cutting the strip negative 5 into a negative sheet is provided in a terminal area of the second transport section.

The printing device 160 for printing the ID number given to the negative film 1 having the photographed image corresponding to the printed image on the back surface of the printing paper 17 after the printing process.
Is provided on the photographic paper transport line. The printing device 160 is connected to the controller 500 and is controlled by the controller 500 to print the DP bag number (C2) read by the printing condition reading means 13 as an ID number. A dot printer is generally used as the photographic paper printing device 160. However, if satisfactory resistance to developing solution can be obtained, other types of printers such as a thermal printer can be used.

Another embodiment will be described below. <1> The printing apparatus is configured by separating the external input means 2, the printing condition seal issuing means 3, and the film splicer 4 into separate systems, and is configured by the printing apparatus main body 1 alone. It does not matter. That is, at least
The printing condition reading means 13 reads at least each of the printing condition codes (C3 to C3) from the printing condition pattern 6 provided at a predetermined position of the film 10 to be processed.
7) is read, and the print condition setting changing means 14 is read.
However, it is sufficient that the print condition setting can be changed based on the read print condition.

<2> In the above embodiment, the printing condition seal 7 is attached to the tip 5b of each of the strip negatives 5. However, when a plurality of the strip negatives 5 are in the same order under the same printing conditions. Alternatively, the print condition seal 7 may be attached only to the first negative of the plurality of strip negatives 5. In this case, the print condition reading means 13 may not be able to read the print condition pattern 6. In such a case, the print condition setting change means 14 determines that the read condition is not bad, and returns to the rear side. Strip Negative 5
It is determined that there is no need to change the printing conditions for processing the print job, and the printing conditions of the printing apparatus main body 1 are not changed.

<3> In the above embodiment, although the order is different for each of the strip negatives 5 having the same print condition, the print condition pattern 6 includes the same print condition. Code (C3
.. C7), but a predetermined default value may be recorded in each of the printing condition codes (C3 to C7) for the strip negative 5 in which the same printing conditions continue. In this case, when the print condition reading means 13 reads the default value from the print condition pattern 6, it is determined that there is no need to change the print condition for processing the rear strip negative 5, and The printing conditions of the printing apparatus main body 1 are not changed. In the above-described embodiment, when strip negatives having the same printing conditions are consecutive, the operator inputs printing conditions sequentially from the external input means 2 or omits such input, and
Is configured to store the last input printing condition and output the printing condition to the printing condition sticker issuing means 3. However, the input of the printing condition is omitted from the external input means 2. A signal is output to the printing condition sticker issuing means 3, and when the printing condition sticker issuing means 3 generates the print condition pattern 6, a predetermined default value is assigned to each of the print condition codes (C3 to C7). It may be recorded. In this case, the external input means 2 does not need to record the printing conditions.

<4> In the above embodiment, the printing condition pattern 6 was once printed on the printing condition sticker 7 and affixed to the tip portion 5b of the strip negative 5, but was directly applied to the tip portion 5b. Alternatively, printing may be performed by a thermal printer or the like.

<5> In the above embodiment, the print condition pattern 6 uses a one-dimensional barcode. However, the print condition pattern 6 does not necessarily have to be a one-dimensional barcode. For example, when information other than the printing conditions is also stored at the same time, a two-dimensional barcode having a large storage capacity may be used.

<6> In the above embodiment, as the strip negative 5, a single negative film after film development in the case of simultaneous printing has been described.
The strip negative 5 may be a reordered film after the simultaneous printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a printing condition pattern provided at a predetermined position of a strip negative and a connection portion of a film to be processed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a print condition pattern.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus main body of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a film cutting unit and a printing condition reading unit of the printing apparatus main body shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing device main body 2 External input means 3 Printing condition seal issuing means 4 Film splicer 5 Strip negative 5a Frame image 5b Tip 6 Printing condition pattern 7 Printing condition seal 8 Splice tape 9 Reel 10 Film to be processed 11 Film feeder 12 Connection Part 13 printing condition reading means 14 printing condition setting changing means 15 dancer 16 reading head 17 photographic paper 20 image information reading device 30 printing exposure device 40 film transporting device 41 pulse motor 42 first drive roller 44 DC motor 45 second drive roller 49 Third drive roller 60 Film cutting means 100 Processing unit 500 Controller

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading printing conditions encoded and recorded from a printing condition pattern attached or printed on a predetermined position of a film to be processed, based on the printing conditions read by the reading means. A photoprinting apparatus comprising: a print condition setting change unit that automatically sets or changes print conditions. 2. An external input means capable of inputting the print conditions by an external input operation, and the print condition pattern is generated based on the print conditions input from the external input means, and can be attached to the predetermined position. 2. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing condition pattern generating unit for printing at the predetermined position. 3. If the print condition pattern does not exist at the predetermined position, or if the print condition is not recorded in the print condition pattern, the print condition setting change unit changes the print condition that has already been set. 3. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic printing apparatus is not changed. 4. The film to be processed is a long film in which a plurality of films for each processing request are joined together by a connecting member, wherein the predetermined position is a front end of each of the films for each processing request. 4. The photographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the printing condition pattern when the long film is cut at a connection portion and divided into the processing request-specific films again. 5. A photographic printing film obtained by sticking or printing a print condition pattern recorded by encoding print conditions at a predetermined position.