JPH0820679B2 - How to determine the frame number of a photo film - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of use] The present invention relates to a method for determining a frame number of a photographic film, and more specifically, it is used for a photographic printing apparatus, a negative inspection apparatus, and a frame number printing apparatus, and is located on a negative mask. The present invention relates to a method for automatically determining the number of a frame that is being played.

[Conventional technology]

Disc-shaped disc films are already on the market, but in this disc film, frame numbers using arithmetic numbers and binary bar codes are recorded next to each frame arranged at a fixed pitch. There is. In this disc film printing system, a sensor reads a binary bar code, and the frame number is printed on the back side of a printed photograph. In addition, at the time of reprint printing, if you input a reprint frame to be printed with the keyboard, the binary bar code is read and the reprint frame is automatically set at the print position, and the number of sheets input with the keyboard is printed. .

In this disc film, since the recording position of the image is specified, the photographed frame and the frame number correspond exactly. However, with a roll film, for example, a 135 size negative film, the recording position of the frame changes depending on how it is loaded into the camera.Therefore, there is a positional relationship between the frame number of the mathematical number recorded during film production and the frame taken. It will not correspond and various inconveniences will occur. For example, when reordering a photo print, it is necessary to compare the simultaneously printed photo and the negative film to specify the additional print frame, and observe both sides of the specified print frame to check the frame number.

Therefore, in order to make it easy to confirm the frame number, there is known a device that records the frame number in a print photograph at the time of simultaneous printing. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-128933, a mark is recorded on a start frame of a negative film, the transfer amount of the negative film is measured after the mark is detected, and the number of the frame on the negative mask is obtained from this transfer amount. , Burn this frame number in the white frame around the screen,
Alternatively, a device for printing on the back side is described. Also,
An apparatus has also been proposed for reading the frame number by the image identifying means, printing out a designated reprinting frame, setting it on a negative mask, and printing the required number of reprinting frames during the reprinting printing. -111
718 publication).

In the method using the mark described above, there is a problem that a start mark must be added before printing, and a device that reads the frame number complicates the reading device. Similar to the disc film, this kind of problem is caused by a sensor placed on the passage of the negative film, keeping a fixed positional relationship with the frame number, side-printing the bar code for the frame number at the time of manufacturing the negative film. It can be solved by reading the frame number bar code.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when the frame number bar code is side-printed, the reading becomes easy, but since the photographed frame and the frame number bar code do not correspond to each other as described above, the correspondence is required. .

[Object of the Invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame number determination method for a photographic film, which is capable of associating a frame number read from a frame number bar code with a frame taken.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention starts measuring the transfer amount of a photographic film in synchronization with the reading of a frame number bar code, and uses the bar code sensor position as the origin for the frame number bar code or frame. After measuring the moving position of the number and positioning the frame to be printed in the negative mask, the frame number whose moving position is within a certain range is extracted, and this is determined to be the frame number in the negative mask. .

[Action]

In the present invention, when the frame number bar code is read, by counting the drive pulse of the pulse motor or the output pulse of the encoder attached to the roller that rotates together with the photographic film, the read frame number bar code or the corresponding frame number bar code is read. Measure the position of the frame number you selected.

On the other hand, the frames to be printed are set in the negative mask by feeding the photographic film in a fixed amount. If the position of the frame is shifted, the fine adjustment key is operated to correct the position of the frame. After this frame is positioned, the frame number moved to within the range taken before and after the distance is extracted based on the distance between the barcode sensor and the center of the negative mask.

The photo printing device prints the extracted frame number on the back side of the photographic paper, and the negative verification device records the frame number on a storage medium such as paper tape together with the exposure correction data, and reads the frame number from the storage medium during photo printing. Print on photographic paper. Further, in the case of a printing device, the frame number extracted at the time of negative certification or photo printing is stored in a storage medium, this is set in the printing device, and the frame number read from this is printed on the back side of the developed photographic paper. To do.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the photographic film and the sensor. A photographic film, such as a negative film 2, has a frame number bar code 3 on one side and a well-known DX on the other side.
Code 4 is printed on each, and also negative film 2
Frame number 5 is also printed on both sides of.

The bar code sensor 6 is arranged at a position separated from the center of the negative mask 7 by a certain distance L, and when the negative film 2 is transferred in the arrow direction by a motor-driven roller (not shown). The number bar code 3 is read. As the barcode sensor 6, an appropriate one is used according to the type of the frame number barcode 3 to be used. For example, a line sensor arranged in the transfer direction of the negative film 2 or one in which two light receiving elements are arranged with a shift of the minimum width of the bar is used. When these two light receiving elements are used, the type and width of the bar are discriminated from the levels of these output signals and their differences. Further, when the number of light receiving elements is one, the width of the negative film 2 can be determined by referring to the feed amount of the negative film 2.

Further, as will be described later, since the start mark of the frame number bar code 3 is side-printed so as to match the start mark of the DX code 4 representing the type of film, the clock track of the DX code 4 is used. It is also possible to take in data. Further, the frame number bar code may be read by moving the negative film or by reading the negative film by stopping it. If the DX sensor for reading the DX code 4 is placed on the film passage, two sensors with light receiving elements arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns are required to enable common use with the DX sensor. However, it may be arranged on one side of the negative mask 7 on the passages on both sides of the negative film 2, or four sensors may be arranged on both sides of the negative mask 7.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a frame number bar code. Various barcodes have been proposed so far, and any of them can be used in the present invention.
For example, for a binary level, Interleaved 2 of
There are 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Code 3 of 9, and multi-level ones include UPC.

In this embodiment, the data bit 3a is “Code 3 of
9 ”is used. The data bit 3a is composed of five bar codes, and a start mark 3b and an end mark 3c are attached to both sides of the bar code so that the most significant bit and the least significant bit can be identified. This "Code 3 o
In “f 9”, white background and bars are alternately arranged, and the wide one represents the binary numeral “1” and the narrow one represents “0”. In addition, since this "Code 3 of 9" is not represented in binary system, it is not possible to discriminate even and odd decimal systems from the least significant bit. In the example of the frame number bar code shown in the figure, when the data bit 3a is represented by a binary numeral, "0010"
01101 ”, and this binary code corresponds to the decimal number“ 24 ”. The frame number bar code (expressed in decimal notation for convenience) and the frame number correspond, for example, as follows.

Table 1 Bar code for frame number (decimal system) Frame number 0 S 1 SA 2 1 3 1A 4 2 5 2A ・ ・ ・ ・ 24 12 25 12A ・ ・ ・ ・ 73 36A In addition, length A of the bar code 3 for frame number Then, the length B from the center of the frame number 5 to the start mark 3b is constant. Therefore, the distance C from the frame number 5 to the end mark 3c is also constant. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the pitch of the frame number bar code 3 and the pitch of the frame number 5 are also constant values D.

In FIG. 1 described above, when the bar code sensor 6 reads the frame number bar code 3, the bar code 3 is written into the memory, and at the same time, the transfer amount of the negative film 2 is started in synchronization with the reading. By measuring the transfer amount of the negative film 2, it is possible to know how much the frame number barcode 3 has moved from the position of the barcode sensor 6. Here, the transfer amount of the negative film 2 is
The start mark 3b or the end mark 3c is used as a reference, but in the case of the start mark 3b, the length B is added,
In the case of the end mark 3c, the moving position of the frame number 5 can be known by adding the length C. In this embodiment, since the distance L between the bar code sensor 6 and the center of the negative mask is set to about two and a half frames, the moving positions of five frame numbers are measured at the same time.

Since the frames 2a are recorded at substantially constant intervals, the negative film 2 is intermittently fed by the pitch of the frames 2a. When this intermittent feed is performed, the fine adjustment key is operated to manually correct the position of a frame that does not correctly match the negative mask 7. After positioning this frame, 5
Among the individual frame numbers, if the ones existing in the section 1 with a constant distance 1 before and after the center of the negative mask are examined,
The frame number of the frame thus positioned can be known. This can be done by checking the frame number whose moving distance is within the range of L1 to L2.

The section l is slightly longer than the pitch of the frame number 5,
And it is necessary to set it to the screen length or less. When two frame numbers are extracted, the one without "A" is selected. Alternatively, the one in which the movement amount is closer to the distance L to the center of the negative mask may be selected. When the section l is set to the screen length, it is necessary to change the length of the section l between full size and half size. When the moving position of the frame number bar code 3 is measured, those on the right side of the negative mask center have the frame numbers close to the center of the negative mask, and those on the left side are far from the negative mask center. So, for example, the end mark
When measuring the position of 3c, it is necessary to widen the range on the right side of the center of the negative mask by the length C.

FIG. 3 shows a photographic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. The white light emitted from the light source 10 is a cyan filter.
After passing through 11, magenta filter 12 and yellow filter 13, enter diffusion box 14. These color filters 11 to 13 are adjusted in the amount of insertion into the optical path 16 by the filter adjusting unit 15, whereby the quality and quantity of the printing light are adjusted. The diffusing box 14 is a rectangular tube having an inner surface serving as a mirror surface with diffusing plates attached to both ends thereof, and sufficiently diffuses the printing light partially transmitted through the color filters 11 to 13.

The negative carrier 17 is arranged at the print position, and the negative film 2 is set on the negative carrier 17 and illuminated by the light transmitted through the diffusion box 14. The negative film 2 is frame-fed in the arrow direction by a pair of feed rollers 19 and 20 arranged on both sides of the print position. The pair of feed rollers 19 and 20 are interlocked by a chain or the like, and are normally or reversely rotated by the pulse motor 23. In order to ensure the flatness of the negative film 2, a negative mask 7 is provided above the print position. As is well known, the negative mask 7 has an opening corresponding to the size of the top 2a, and is lifted by a solenoid (not shown) during transfer of the negative film 2.
Hold down the negative film 2 when printing.

A bar code sensor 6 is provided next to the pair of feed rollers 20.
Is arranged. A photometric sensor 34 is disposed diagonally above the print position, measures the three-color density of the top 2a set at the print position, and sends the obtained three-color density to the controller 35. Further, a printing lens 36 is arranged above the print position, and a negative image of the frame 2a set at the print position is enlarged and formed on the photographic paper 37. Between the printing lens 36 and the photographic paper 37,
A shutter 39 whose opening and closing is controlled by a shutter drive unit 38 and a photographic printing paper mask 40 are arranged. The photographic printing paper 37 is pulled out frame by frame from the photographic printing paper roll 41, passes through a guide roller 42, and then reaches a pair of pulling-out roller pairs 44 driven by a pulse motor 43. A cutter 45 is arranged beside the photographic printing paper mask 40, and when a certain number of frames of photographic printing are performed, the exposed portion is cut and sent to the developing processing unit 46. The exposed photographic paper photoprocessed here is a cutter
At 47, the pieces are cut one by one and discharged to the tray 48.

Next to the exposure position, a printer 50 is arranged,
Driven by the signal from the controller 35, the negative film 2
The same number as frame number 5 on the back of the exposed photographic paper 37
For example, a dot pattern is printed. Instead of the printing device 50, a character printing device composed of a liquid crystal panel, a light emitting diode array, or the like may be attached to the photographic paper mask 40, and at the same time as the printing of the negative image, for example, the frame number of the dot pattern may be printed in the white frame. Good. Furthermore, a printing device separate from the photo printing device is provided, and the read frame number is stored in a magnetic floppy, etc., and this magnetic floppy and rolled developed photographic paper are set in the printing device to set the frame number. Printing may be performed, and after this printing, one frame may be separated.

The rotation direction and the rotation amount of the pulse motors 23 and 43 are controlled by the controller 35 via the drivers 51 and 52. The controller 35 is composed of a microcomputer, and has a filter adjusting unit 15 and a shutter driving unit 38.
In addition to controlling the above, the exposure amount is determined from the average transmission density. On the keyboard 53, a fine adjustment key 54 for finely adjusting the position of the negative film 2, a pass key 55 for skipping unnecessary frames, a print start key 56 for starting printing, a color for inputting color correction data. Key 57, correction key 58 for inputting density correction data, alphanumeric key 5
9 are provided.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the controller for reading and printing the frame number. The frame number barcode 3 read by the barcode sensor 6 is
The data is converted into binary numerical data by the decoder 62 and then sent to the memory 63. The memory 63 includes a plurality of, for example, five frame number storage units 64a to 64e and corresponding drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e. Frame number storage section 64a
Up to 64e sequentially shift the already written numerical data line by line upward before writing new numerical data into the storage unit 64e. Further, the drive pulse number memory units 65a to 65e are
The number of drive pulses corresponding to the movement distance of the frame number 5 is stored, and is updated by adding "1" every time one drive pulse is sent to the driver 51. Therefore,
The drive pulse number memory units 65a to 65e substantially form a frame number counter. In this embodiment, when the bar code sensor 6 detects the end mark 3c, the storage of the count value of the drive pulses is started, and therefore the number of drive pulses corresponding to the length "C" shown in FIG. Is set as a preset value, and “1” is sequentially added to this. In addition, the drive pulse number memory units 65a to 65e are provided in the frame number storage unit 64
At the same time as the shift of a, it moves up one line at a time.

Since the frame number bar code 3 is recorded at a constant pitch and the positional relationship with the frame number 5 is also constant, the memory 63 is stored for one line, for example, the frame number storage section 64a and the drive pulse number storage. Only the portion 65a may be provided. In this case, the latest numerical data and the number of drive pulses representing the position thereof are stored, and the number of drive pulses corresponding to the pitch of the frame number bar code 3 is added to this,
On the other hand, it is sufficient to add "1" to the numerical data and check the position of each frame number on the negative mask 7 side.

The determination unit 66 determines that the drive pulse stored in the memory 63 is within a certain range when the frame 2a of the negative film 2 is set at the print position, reads out numerical data corresponding to the drive pulse, and reads out the memory. Write to 67. This memory
The numerical data written in 67 is decoded by the decoder 68, converted into frame number 5, and then sent to the printer 50. The printer 50 is driven when the exposed portion is set on the printer 50 after the photographic paper feeding is completed, and the frame number 5 is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper 37.

The motor control circuit 70 outputs a fixed number of drive pulses at the start or after printing, and sends the drive pulses to the drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e and the driver 51. This driver 51
The negative film 2 is fed in a fixed amount by rotating the pulse motor 23 by a fixed amount. Also, when the fine adjustment key 54 is operated to adjust the position of the frame, the divided drive pulse is output from the motor control circuit 70, and the pulse motor 23 is slowly rotated. Even during this position adjustment, the drive pulse number storage unit 65
a to 65e add or subtract drive pulses according to the rotation direction of the pulse motor 23.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the power supply key (not shown) is turned on after the negative film 2 is set in the negative carrier 17, the motor control circuit 70 operates to generate a drive pulse. With this drive pulse, the pulse motor 23 rotates to transfer the negative film 2 in the arrow direction. During this transfer, the bar code sensor 6 reads the frame number bar code 3 side-printed on the negative film 2. The read frame number barcode 3 is converted into numerical data by the decoder 62 and then written in the frame number storage section 64a. The driving pulse counting is started in synchronization with this reading, and this count value is stored in the driving pulse number storage unit 65a. This count value is "1" every time a drive pulse is sent to the driver 51.
Only increase.

Bar code sensor 6 is bar code 3 for the next frame number
When is read, the numerical data stored in the frame number storage unit 64a is shifted to the frame number storage unit 64b above it, and at the same time, the drive pulse number stored in the drive pulse number storage unit 65a is also the drive pulse number storage unit. 65b, and continue counting drive pulses at this position. After this shift, new numerical value data is written in the frame number storage unit 64a, and the number of drive pulses corresponding thereto is stored in the drive pulse number storage unit 65a. Similarly, every time the frame number bar code 3 is read, data shift, new data write and drive pulse count are performed.

When a certain number of drive pulses are output from the motor control circuit 70, the rotation of the pulse motor 23 is stopped and the transfer of the negative film 2 is stopped. After this fixed amount feeding, the negative mask 7
The top 2a is observed through to determine whether the negative mask 7 is correctly positioned.

If the frame 2a to be printed is not correctly set on the negative mask 7, the fine adjustment key 54 is operated. When the fine adjustment key 54 is operated, the motor control circuit 70 outputs a rotation direction signal and a drive pulse. Therefore,
The pulse motor 23 slowly rotates in the direction corresponding to the mark of the fine adjustment key 54 to transfer the negative film 2. Also during this position correction, the drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e add or subtract drive pulses.

Next, the frame 2a correctly positioned on the negative mask 7 is observed to determine whether or not the frame is a print-unnecessary frame and whether subject feria occurs. If it is determined that the frame does not need to be printed due to out-of-focus or the like, the pass key 55 is operated to feed the negative film 2 in a fixed amount. If the subject area is generated and the density and color of the main subject are not expected to be finished well, the color key 57 and the density key 58 are operated to manually input the correction data. .

When you operate the print start key 56, the photometric sensor 34
At, the average transmission density of the negative image is measured for each color, and the obtained measured value is sent to the controller 35. This controller 35
Calculates the exposure amount of each color using the measured value and the manually input correction data. The insertion amount of the color filters 11 to 13 into the optical path 16 is adjusted according to this exposure amount. After this filter adjustment, the light source 10 emits full light for a certain period of time, during which the shutter 39 is opened to expose the photographic paper 37.

When printing is completed, the judgment unit 66 judges the numerical data for which the drive pulse is within a certain range and stores this in the memory.
Write to 67. In this case, if there are two numerical data in 35 mm full size, select the one without "A",
In the case of milli-half size, both are written in the memory 67. At the same time, the controller 35 rotates the pulse motor 43 to transfer the photographic printing paper 37 by one frame and set the unexposed portion to the exposure position. After sending the printing paper, the numerical data is read from the memory 67 and sent to the decoder 68. The decoder 68 converts the binary numerical data into frame number data with reference to Table 1 and sends it to the printer 50. The printer 50 drives the print head in accordance with the inputted frame number data and prints the frame number behind the frame on which the first photograph is printed.

After printing the frame number, the pulse motor 23 rotates again to feed the negative film 2 in a fixed amount, and the next frame is set at the print position. Further, the controller 35 retracts the color filters 11 to 13 to the standard position via the filter adjusting unit 15. After that, the image printing of each frame and the printing of the frame number are performed in the same procedure.

When multiple frames are printed on the photographic paper 37, the cutter 45
Is activated to send the separated exposed photographic paper to the photographic processing section 46. The short exposed photographic paper is subjected to photographic processing by the photographic processing section 46, cut into each frame by the cutter 47, and then discharged to the tray 48.

The present invention can be used not only for printing a frame number but also for automatically setting a frame at a print position during reprint printing or reprint printing. In this case, if you specify the frame number and the number of prints with the keyboard, the frame number is determined while performing fixed amount feeding, the transfer of the negative film is stopped when it is the specified frame number, and the specified number of times Photo print only. Further, the present invention can be applied to a negative proofing device in addition to the photographic printing device. In this negative verification device, the negative verification is performed after positioning the frames, and the empirically determined correction data and the automatically extracted frame number data are stored in a paper tape or magnetic floppy, and the storage medium and the negative film are stored at the time of printing. Is set in the photo printing device to perform photo printing and frame number printing.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described in detail above, in the method of the present invention, the bar code for bar number is read by the bar code sensor, the transfer amount of the film is measured in synchronization with this reading, and the film transfer is performed after the frame is positioned. Since the frame numbers whose amount is within a certain range are extracted, the frame numbers of the frames set in the negative mask can be accurately determined. Also, since the transfer amount of the photographic film is not measured with reference to a certain frame, for example, the rearmost frame, the position of the bar code sensor is used as a reference, and unlike the case where a certain frame is used as a reference, the film is conveyed. It is possible to reduce the influence of accumulated errors due to time slippage, machine differences in feed roller diameter, fluctuations, and the like. Therefore, the frame number of each frame can be accurately detected regardless of the position of the frame in the photographic film. Moreover, since the position of the bar code sensor is used as a reference, the origin on the film moves for each frame. Therefore, when the frame number of each frame is determined, the error in the film transfer amount can be made substantially constant, and the frame number determination accuracy can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the present invention showing the relationship with a negative mask, a sensor and a negative film. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a frame number bar code. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a photographic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the controller. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the photo printing apparatus. 2 ... Negative film 3 ... Bar code for frame number 5 ... Frame number 6 ... Bar code sensor 7 ... Negative mask 23 ... Pulse motor 63 ... Memory for storing numerical data and number of drive pulses.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bar code sensor is arranged at a fixed distance from a negative mask, and a bar code for a frame number recorded on a photographic film is read by the bar code sensor to determine a frame number in the negative mask. In the method, the transfer amount of the photographic film is started in synchronization with the reading of the frame number bar code, and the moving position of the frame number bar code or frame number with the position of the bar code sensor as the origin is measured. After positioning the frame to be printed in the negative mask, extract the frame number whose movement position is within a certain range,
A method for determining a frame number of a photographic film, which comprises determining this as a frame number in a negative mask. 2. The frame number determining method for a photographic film according to claim 1, wherein the frame number bar code has a start mark and an end mark on both sides thereof. 3. The method for determining the frame number of a photographic film according to claim 2, wherein the transfer amount of the photographic film is started when a start mark or an end mark is detected. . 4. A photographic film transfer amount is measured by performing transfer of the photographic film with a pulse motor and counting drive pulses of the pulse motor. The method for determining the frame number of a photographic film according to any one of 3 above.