JP2554745B2 - Film carrier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a film carrier, and more particularly to a film carrier suitable for use in a printer that prints by performing a negative test or the like.

[Prior Art] An automatic film carrier is used in a printer processor, a negative detector, or the like in order to automatically set each film screen to an exposure position or a negative verification position. This automatic film carrier detects the notch formed on the edge of the film corresponding to the screen position of the film and automatically positions the screen at the exposure position, etc., and detects each screen of the film by the screen detection sensor. Then, there are those that perform automatic positioning.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the method of detecting and positioning the notch has a problem that it is necessary to previously provide the film with the notch.

In addition, in the case where the screen detection sensor detects the edge position of the screen and positions it, if the edge position of the screen is unclear, the screen stop position will shift from that in the normal case, and the positioning will be accurate at the exposure position. There is a problem that you cannot do it.

Further, in the conventional film carrier, there is only one window for printing exposure and negative proof, and therefore, when performing negative proof before printing on the printer processor,
The screen located in the exposure window was first subjected to a negative test and then to a printing exposure. Therefore, there is a problem that the printing process cannot be performed continuously and the efficiency is reduced.

The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problems, and performs print processing efficiently, and automatically and accurately positions a screen at an exposure position and the like even when the edge of the screen is unclear. The purpose is to provide a film carrier that can be used.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided on the upstream side of the exposure window in the film feeding direction, and an observation window for observing each of the screens, and the film is looped between the observation window and the exposure window. Loop forming means, a first screen detection sensor provided on the upstream side of the observation window in the film feeding direction for detecting the position of each screen, and each screen is observed based on the screen position signal of the first screen detection sensor. First film feeding means for positioning in the window, position fine adjustment amount input means for inputting a fine adjustment amount of the position with respect to the screen positioned by the first film feeding means, and the inputted fine adjustment First fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the screen position with respect to the observation window by moving the film by the amount, means for storing the fine adjustment amount after fine adjustment of the screen position for each screen, and film for the exposure window Feeding direction upstream side A second screen detection sensor is provided for detecting the position of each screen, and a second film feeding means for positioning each screen in the exposure window based on the screen position signal of the second screen detection sensor. The film feeding means is adapted to position the screen in the exposure window by finely adjusting the screen position based on the fine adjustment amount for the screen in which the fine adjustment amount is stored.

[Action]

When the film is fed, the screen position of the film is detected by the first screen detection sensor. The screen is set on the observation window based on the screen position signal from the screen detection sensor, and the frame advance is completed. A negative test is performed on this screen (frame). In this negative test, if the screen position is set to be displaced from the observation window, the screen position is finely adjusted by operating the fine adjustment key, for example, based on the observation of the screen position with respect to the observation window. As a result, the screen position is finely adjusted and the screen is accurately set on the observation window.
This fine adjustment amount is stored in the memory for each screen and used as a positioning correction amount when setting each screen in the exposure window. Therefore, it is not necessary to finely adjust the screen position again in the exposure window, and efficient print processing is performed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing the printer processor, reference numeral 10 indicates a film carrier. The film carrier 10 is set on the workbench 13 of the printer processor. The film carrier 10 is provided with a film observation window 11 and an exposure window 12, as shown in FIGS. Exposure window 12
The film carrier 10 on the workbench 13 of the printer processor
It is provided so as to match the exposure position with the set. The film observation window 11 is provided on the film entry side with respect to the exposure window 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, below the film observation window 11, a light source 15 for illuminating the negative film 14 in a state of being built in the film carrier 10 and a diffusion for diffusing the light from the light source 15 are provided. The board 16 is arranged. Also, the exposure window
The light source unit 17 of the printer processor is located below 12,
Above the exposure window 12, the printing exposure unit 18 of the printer processor is located. The color paper 19 that has been subjected to the baking exposure in the baking exposure unit 18 is developed in the processor unit 20, cut into each frame, and then discharged to the tray 21.

The film observation window 11 and the exposure window 12 are provided with a pair of conveying rollers 30 and 31 for setting the respective screens of the negative film 14 in these windows. Each transport roller pair 30, 31 is
The pulse motors 33 and 34 rotate asynchronously.
The pulse motors 33 and 34 are controlled by a controller 50 described later via the drivers 33A and 34A. Also, each window 11,12
In between, a loop forming stage 35 for storing the negative film 14 in a loop for a few screens is provided in order to perform film observation and printing exposure asynchronously. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the loop forming stage 35 is provided with a fixed guide plate 36A and a movable guide plate 36B for guiding the leading end of the film to the exposure window side conveying roller pair 31.
As shown in FIG. 2, the movable guide plate 36B is rotated upward by a motor (not shown) after the film tip is guided and retracted so as not to hinder the loop formation.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the film entrance side of each window 11, 12, in order to detect the screen detection sensors 37, 38 for detecting the edge position of each screen of the negative film 14 and the tip of the negative film 14. The film leading edge detection sensors 39 and 40 are arranged. In addition, a pair of entrance side transport rollers on the side of the film observation window
A film detection sensor 41 for detecting that the leading end of the film has been inserted at the entrance side of the film carrier 10 is arranged at the upstream side position of. Further, the loop forming stage 35 is provided with a loop detection sensor 42 for detecting that a predetermined loop amount has been reached.

The output signals of these sensors are sent to the controller 50, where the screen position is determined. Based on the determination result, the controller 50 controls the pulse motors 33 and 34 to automatically position the screens of the film 14 on the windows 11 and 12, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 50 is composed of a well-known microcomputer, and based on the control program stored in the ROM 52, various data stored in the RAM 53, and output signals from each sensor, the CPU 54 controls automatic frame advance. I do. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 1, it also controls various mechanisms such as the light quality adjusting unit 55 and the shutter driving unit 56 of the printer processor. For this reason, a keyboard 57 for controlling frame advance and various mechanisms is provided. On the keyboard 57, as shown in FIG. 1, alphanumeric keys 58 for setting various modes and inputting set values, correction keys 59 for inputting negative test results, and for each frame A frame advance key 60 for frame advance, a fine adjustment key 61 for finely adjusting the frame position, a start key 62 and the like are provided. Reference numerals 63 and 64 in FIG. 3 are I / O ports, and sensors and pulse motors are connected to the ports 63 and 64, respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the screen detection sensor 37 is disassembled and viewed from the lower side. The screen detection sensor 38 arranged on the exposure window side has the same structure as the screen detection sensor 37 on the film observation window side. Below the transfer path of the negative film 14, a light projecting unit including a fluorescent lamp 72 is arranged. The light from the fluorescent lamp 72 passes through the slit 75 of the slit plate 74 and illuminates the negative film 14 from below. The slit plate 74 is
It is attached to the opening 76A of the attachment plate 76 from above. The light transmitted through the negative film 14 is measured by the light receiving sensor 77. In the light receiving sensor 77, a glass plate 83 having five light receiving portions 82A to 82E arranged in a row in the width direction of the negative film 14 at an interval of 2 mm is joined to the back surface of the IC substrate 81. In addition, one light receiving portion 82F is arranged in parallel with respect to the central light receiving portion 82C with a space of 1 mm in the film feeding direction. The output signal of the light receiving unit 82F is for detecting the arrival of the negative film 14, but it can also be used for assisting screen detection as described later. The light receiving portions 82A to 82F are composed of a well-known amorphous silicon photo sensor. Since amorphous can form a uniform and large-area film on a glass plate or the like, the light receiving portions 82A to 82F can be arranged in a strip shape and at a predetermined pitch as in the present embodiment.

Each of the light receiving portions 82A to 82F is formed in an elongated rectangular shape in the width direction of the negative film 14. The size of each of the light receiving portions 82A to 82F is about 2.4 mm and the width is about 0.2 mm when detecting each screen 14A of the 135 type negative film 14. Band-shaped scanning lines La to Le on the negative film 14 by the light receiving portions 82A to 82E are shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 described later. The widths of the light receiving portions 82A to 82F are not limited to the above numerical values, and it is preferable to select within the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mm, for example. Further, in the present embodiment, the number of light receiving portions 82A to 82E is five, but this can be increased or decreased as appropriate. The range of increase and decrease is preferably, but not limited to, the range of 4 to 10.

Also, on the IC board 81, the preamplifier I shown in FIG.
A −V conversion circuit 84 is incorporated. This preamp
The IV conversion circuit 84 amplifies the weak current signal photoelectrically converted by each of the light receiving units 82A to 82F and then converts it into a voltage signal. substrate
The 81 is attached to the opening 86 of the attachment plate 85 from above, whereby the glass plate 83 is fitted into the opening 86.

As shown in FIG. 3, the preamplifier / IV conversion circuit 84
After the gain is adjusted by the gain adjusting amplifier 87, the voltage signal from is sent to the first and second characteristic value extracting units 88 and 90, where the characteristic values VMin and (VM
ax-VMin) is extracted. That is, the first extracting unit 88 extracts the minimum value from the voltage signals Va to Ve from the light receiving units 82A to 82E, and sends it to the A / D converter 92 as the characteristic value VMin. In addition, the second extracting unit 90 extracts the maximum value from the voltage signals Va to Ve from the light receiving units 82A to 82E, sets it as VMax, and sets the difference from VMin from the first extracting unit 88 as a characteristic value. (VMax-
VMin) to the A / D converter 94. Each A / D converter 92,94
The signal digitized by is sent to the I / O port 63 of the controller 40.

FIG. 5 shows voltage signals Va to Ve obtained when the negative film 14 and each screen 14A of the negative film 14 are scanned by the respective light receiving portions 82A to 82E.
And the characteristic values VMin and VMa extracted from these signals.
x, (VMax-VMin) as an example. As can be seen from the figure, the characteristic value VMin becomes small in the screen 14A and becomes large in the blank negative portion which is the blank space 14B between the screens 14A. Therefore, the controller 40 can determine the edge that is the boundary between the screen 14A and the margin 14B by detecting the sudden change in the characteristic value VMin. In addition, the characteristic value (V
Max-VMin) is large in the screen 14A and is close to "0" in the margin 14B. Therefore, the controller 40
Can detect the edge position of the screen 14A in the same manner by detecting the position where the characteristic value (VMax-VMin) changes to almost "0" by the controller 40. Then, the final edge position of the screen 14A is judged by ANDing the judgment signals of these two characteristic values VMin and (VMax-VMin), whereby each screen of the negative film 14 is judged.
14A can be positioned in the film observation window 11 of the film carrier 10.

Positioning of each screen 14A on the film observation window 11 is performed as follows. First, the leading edge of the negative film 14 is detected by the film leading edge detection sensor 39, and the film feed amount is detected by counting the number of drive pulses of the pulse motor 33 from this detection. Then, with this and the screen detection signal, the edge position of each screen 14A of the negative film 14 is stored as the feed amount data from the tip, the negative film 14 is transferred based on this feed amount data, and each screen 14A is displayed. Positioned on the film observation window 11. Basically, each screen 14A of the negative film 14 is also positioned in the exposure window 12 in the same manner.

In this way, based on the output signals from the screen detection sensors 37 and 38 and the film tip detection sensors 39 and 40 having the same specifications, the pair of conveying rollers 30, 31 and the pulse motor 33, which have the same specifications, are also provided.
Since each screen 14A is positioned in each window 11, 12 by controlling 34, each screen 14A is always positioned in each window 11, 12 at the same stop position.

However, when the edges of each screen 14A are unclear, the screen stop position may deviate from the regular stop position. Since the frame feed devices of the windows 11 and 12 have the same specifications, the amount of this deviation is almost the same in both the windows 11 and 12. Therefore, when the film observation window 11 stops at a position slightly displaced from the normal stop position, the fine adjustment key 61 is operated to finely adjust the screen stop position. This is screen 14
By operating the fine adjustment key 61 in the direction to move A, the pulse motor 33 is rotated in the corresponding direction. The position correction amount input by the fine adjustment key 61 can be detected by counting the rotation direction of the pulse motor 33 and the number of drive pulses. Therefore, this rotation direction and the number of drive pulses
Each screen 14A is stored in the corresponding area of the RAM 53.

Then, when setting each screen 14A in the exposure window 12,
By referring to the signal from the screen detection sensor 38 and the above position correction amount, it is possible to automatically perform positioning without operating the fine adjustment key 61. The above positioning control procedure is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the control means in the film observation window 11, and FIG. 7 shows the control procedure in the exposure window 12.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7.

When the negative film 14 is inserted from the entrance side of the film carrier 10 and the tip is brought into contact with the nip portion of the entrance side transport roller pair 30, the film detection sensor 41 detects the insertion of the film. This detection signal is regarded as a frame advance signal, and the controller
Sent to 50. Based on this detection signal, the controller 50 rotates the pair of transport rollers 30 to transfer the film 14.
By this transfer, each screen 14A of the film 14 is scanned by the light receiving sensor 77 of the screen detection sensor 37, and the gain of this signal is adjusted by the gain adjusting unit 87, and then each of the characteristic extracting units 88, 90.
The characteristic value is extracted in step (1), digitized by the A / D converters 92, 94, and then sent to the controller (50). controller
As described above, 50 is the characteristic value VMin, (VMax-VMi).
n), the edge position of each screen 14A is detected, and thereby each screen 14A is positioned in the film observation window 11. After the positioning is completed, the operator confirms the screen position, and when the screen 14A deviates from the normal stop position of the film observation window 11 and stops, the fine adjustment key 61 is operated to finely adjust the screen position. The position correction amount by this fine adjustment is
The number of drive pulses 33 is stored for each screen in a predetermined area of the RAM 53. When the screen has stopped at the normal position of the film observation window 11, the operator observes the screen to perform a negative test, and inputs the correction amount of density and color balance with the correction key 59. The negative verification result is stored in the RAM 53 for each screen, and is read out when the screen is positioned in the exposure window 12 later, and the negative verification result and a scanner (not shown) arranged to look into the exposure window 12 are shown. The exposure amount is determined on the basis of the photometric result of (1).

The film 14 tested negative as described above is the 7th
As shown in the figure, after being stored in a predetermined loop amount in the loop forming stage 35, it is sent to the exposure window 12, the edge position detection signal by the screen detection sensor 38, and the position correction amount input in the film observation window 11. Each screen is positioned in the exposure window 12 based on That is, the controller 50 grasps the number of screens from the leading edge of the film based on the number of edges detected by the exposure window side screen detection sensor 38. Then, the position correction data of a predetermined area of the RAM 53 is read out based on the number of screens, and the screen currently positioned in the exposure window 12 is the film observation window.
At 11, it is determined whether the position correction amount has been input. If there is a position correction amount as a result of this determination, the film transfer is performed in consideration of the position correction amount. Further, when there is no position correction amount, the fixed amount feeding is performed based on the normal edge position detection. As a result, each screen is accurately positioned in the exposure window 12 without shifting. The positioned screen is subjected to photometry with a scanner, and printing exposure is performed based on the photometry result and the negative verification result.
After printing exposure, new unexposed color paper 19
Is set to the exposure position, the controller 50 outputs a frame advance signal. And the loop amount, frame advance signal,
Then, each screen is sequentially set in the exposure window 12 based on the screen detection signal. The color paper 19 that has been baked and exposed is sent to the processor unit 20 where it is developed.

In the above embodiment, the characteristic values VMin and (VMax-VMin) are extracted based on the output signals from the screen detection sensors 37 and 38, and the screen position is detected by the characteristic values VMin and (VMax-VMin). The detection method is not limited to the above, and it may be detected by another method. In addition, after the gains of the signals from the screen detection sensors 37 and 38 are adjusted, the characteristic value is obtained, but in addition to this, the signal from the screen detection sensor is logarithmically compressed and converted into a density value. It is also possible to obtain the characteristic value based on the value.

Further, in the above embodiment, the characteristic values VMin, (VMax-VMi
n) is ANDed, and the screen position of the negative film is detected by this AND signal.
It is also possible to detect the screen position with higher accuracy by referring to this signal. That is, the two characteristic values VMin,
When the edge on the side where the screen 14A is switched to the margin 14B is detected by (VMax-VMin), the detection signal Vf from the light receiving unit 82F detects the margin 14B, and thus shows the maximum value. This is because the light receiving portion 82F is arranged 1 mm apart from the light receiving portion 82C, and the width of the margin 14B is about 2 mm, so that the light receiving portion 82F is always positioned above the margin 14B when the above edge is detected. Because there is. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether the margin 14B or not depending on whether the signal Vf has the maximum value.
For example, depending on the scene of the screen, a blank portion similar to the blank 14B is formed in the entire width of the film, and if the width of this blank portion is smaller than the width of the blank 14B, the screen It is possible to improve the detection accuracy by eliminating the false detection of the blank portion inside the blank space 14B.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the observation window and the means for forming a loop between the observation window and the exposure window are provided on the upstream side of the exposure window. On the other hand, it is not necessary to perform the negative test, and the negative test and the printing process can be simultaneously performed in parallel. Therefore, the printing process can be efficiently performed.

In addition, each screen is positioned on the observation window based on the screen detection signal of the first screen detection sensor, and when the screen is set to be displaced in the observation window, the position is finely adjusted. Is stored for each screen, and when positioning each screen in the exposure window based on the screen detection signal of the second screen detection sensor, the screen for which the position is finely adjusted is based on the fine adjustment amount. Since the screen is positioned in the exposure window by finely adjusting the position, it is not necessary to finely adjust the position in the exposure window, and the automatic printing process can be performed reliably and more efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a printer processor using the film carrier of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of the film carrier. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a function of detecting a screen based on a signal from the light receiving sensor. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the screen detection sensor. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the negative film, the signals from the respective light receiving portions when the screen of the negative film is scanned, and the characteristic values extracted from the signals. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the automatic frame advance procedure in the film observation window. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an automatic frame advance procedure in the exposure window. 10 …… Film carrier 11 …… Film observation window (1st position) 12 …… Exposure window (2nd position) 14 …… Negative film 14A …… Screen 30,31 …… Conveying roller pair 35 …… Loop forming stage 37 , 38 …… Screen detection sensor 39,40 …… Film edge detection sensor 41 …… Film detection sensor 50 …… Controller.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A film carrier for sending each picture recorded on a photographic film to an exposure window for printing, and an observation window provided upstream of the exposure window in the film feeding direction for observing each picture. And a loop forming means for looping the film between the observation window and the exposure window,
A first screen detection sensor provided on the upstream side of the observation window in the film feeding direction for detecting the position of each screen, and the first screen detection sensor.
First film feeding means for positioning each screen on the observation window based on the screen position signal of the screen detection sensor, and for inputting a fine adjustment amount of the position with respect to the screen positioned by the first film feeding means. Position fine adjustment amount input means, fine adjustment means for finely adjusting the screen position with respect to the observation window by moving the film by the input fine adjustment amount, and the fine adjustment amount after finely adjusting the screen position for each screen. And a second screen detection sensor provided on the upstream side of the exposure window in the film feeding direction for detecting the position of each screen, and each screen is exposed based on the screen position signal of the second screen detection sensor. A second film feeding means for positioning on the window, the second film feeding means finely adjusts the screen position based on the fine adjustment amount for the screen in which the fine adjustment amount is stored and positions it on the exposure window. like Film carrier characterized in that the.