JPH02214849A - Original picture film processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read both bar codes correctly even when the original picture film is inserted in any direction and to process the original picture based on that information by providing a bar code type switching means and a code interpreting means which interprets the output of a first and a second reading means. CONSTITUTION:Two bar code detecting devices 8 and 9 are placed to read the periphery information characteristic value of both the edge parts of the film. Further, a code interpreting means and a bar code type switching means etc. are constituted from a bar code arithmetic processing part 16 along with CPU, a programming memory, and an operation memory. Then when the DX code 1 is matched with the second characteristic value reading device 9, and the frame code 2 is matched with the first characteristic value reading device 8, selection is made by the bar code type switching means 16 so that the DX code 1 is read by the second characteristic value reading device 9 and the frame code 2 is read by the first characteristic value reading device 8. Thus even when the original picture film inserting direction is changed, the original film processing can be carried out appropriately.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a film processing device having a function of reading barcode information recorded on an original film, that is, a developed film. The present invention relates to an original film processing device having a function of reading barcode information of an original film on which two types of barcodes are recorded. Here, the original film processing device includes, for example, a notch that punches a notch in the original film, a prereader that inputs exposure correction information for each image frame of the original film,
A scanner that reads the image information of the original film and automatically obtains exposure information or exposure correction information; a photo printer that prints photos; a reorder information input device that inputs order information for reprints and enlargements, etc. However, the term is not limited to this, and refers to all film processing apparatuses that read two types of barcodes recorded on original film, that is, DX codes and frame codes.

[Conventional technology]

It is well known to those skilled in the art that when printing image frames on photographic paper using original film, it is necessary to change basic exposure conditions depending on the type of original film. After that, the optimum exposure conditions (burning time, color balance, etc.) are determined by taking into account the differences in conditions specific to the image frame (for example, the type of shooting light source, backlight photography, strobe photography, BGR color balance, overexposure and underexposure, etc.). It has been decided. Therefore, in a printing device, a series of basic exposure conditions, which those skilled in the art refer to as channels, are set in advance for all types of film to be printed, and channels are set in advance according to the type of original film to be printed. Appropriate selection is being done. This task of selecting channels according to the type of original film is very complicated and prone to errors.

In addition, in large professional color laboratories where multiple negatives are spliced into a roll and processed continuously, it is difficult to manually switch channels in the middle of the roll, so The original film is sorted and only the same type of original film is joined to form a roll. Therefore, a process of sorting the original film is necessary.

Therefore, in order to automate the channel switching operation and simplify the printing operation, a bar code called a DX code was added to the original film. Since the DX code includes information such as the filmmaker, sensitivity, film type, etc., by reading this code, it becomes possible to automatically select an appropriate channel. The DX code is a latent image on the film before development, and becomes visible when the film is developed.

On the other hand, when a customer orders a photographic film to be developed, in many cases they also order a print of that film at the same time, and the customer is also given the original film and one print for each screen of the film. If the customer wants to print an enlarged image, he or she selects the desired screen from the above-mentioned print, compares the printed screen with the screen of the original film, and selects the desired screen using the frame number attached to the side of the screen of the original film. , specify the number and size of prints, provide the original film, and place an order for reprints. Upon receiving this reprint order, Color Lab searches for the specified frame number among the frame numbers of the original film provided, and prints the screen at that frame number position so that it matches the specified number and size. The resulting print and original film are handed over to the customer, but before handing over, the customer is required to check the print screen and the original film screen to confirm that the print obtained is from the specified frame number. Sometimes it happens. Verification of the print screen with the original film screen, confirmation of the frame number of the original film, etc. on the customer side or color laboratory side is quite time-consuming and troublesome work.

Therefore, as a way to eliminate this troublesome work, we added a barcode that displays the frame number to the film, and based on the information that is read mechanically from this barcode, the frame number is printed on the back of the print and reprinted. There is a method in which a predetermined frame number screen of the original film is brought to the printing position. The bar code that displays this frame number is called a frame code, and corresponds to the frame number and adverb number alternately recorded on the original film. The frame code is recorded on the edge of the film opposite to the side where the DX code is recorded. Furthermore, the shape is also different from the DX code. FIG. 1 shows an original film having both codes, in which 1 is the DX code, 2 is the frame code, 3 is the Ikoma number, and 4 is the adverb number.

As mentioned above, when printing original film, both the DX code and the frame code are read mechanically with a barcode reader and the information is used. Alternatively, work that used to be done visually can be automated, greatly improving productivity, and customers can easily and accurately order reprints.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

DX code information and frame code information are recorded on both edges of the original film, and a barcode reader is required to read them.

For this reason, in the conventional technology, for example,
As shown in Publication No. 5337, barcode readers are attached to both edges of the original film at the respective positions on the conveyance path of the original film, and the DX code is read on the conveyance path of the original film.
On the other hand, I am trying to read the frame code. In this method, one of the two barcode readers is predetermined for reading the DX code and the other for reading the frame code.

In general, there are four possible ways to load an original film into a processing device, depending on the combination of the front and back sides of the emulsion surface and the vertical direction of the frame number. However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology,
Since the film must be loaded so that the frame code is on the side of a predetermined frame code reader, the possible loading directions are limited to two. In these two types, the orientation of the emulsion surfaces is reversed, one facing forward and the other facing backward. Therefore, if the original film processing device is a printing device equipped with an original exposure section, exposing the original film with the emulsion side facing backwards will create a so-called back-burning print, so such a situation should be avoided. Therefore, the loading direction is limited to one type.

Conventionally, when loading original film, it was the responsibility of the user of the film processing equipment to confirm the front and back sides of the emulsion, and limiting the loading direction to one type as in the case of the above-mentioned printing equipment was due to the fact that the original film was This is a very big restriction when considering handling, and there is always the risk of creating a back-printed print.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is a film processing device for processing an original film in which two types of barcodes are recorded in the longitudinal direction of both edges. Our first objective is to provide a processing device that can correctly read both barcodes even when film is loaded, and process the original film based on that information.
The second purpose of this processing is to issue a warning and stop loading when the original film is loaded face down in a processing device where it is undesirable for the emulsion side to be face down. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a first barcode in the longitudinal direction of one edge;
A film processing device for processing an original film in which a second bar code having a different shape from the first bar code is recorded in the longitudinal direction of the other edge, the film processing device being provided at one edge of an original film path. a second characteristic value reading means for reading peripheral information characteristic values of the original film provided on the other edge of the original film path; and a barcode type switching means. and code interpretation means for interpreting the outputs of the first and second reading means, and the barcode type switching means allows the following (a), (b) and (a) of the first characteristic value reading means to be read. interpreting the output as a first barcode by the code interpretation means, and interpreting the output of the second characteristic value reading means as a second barcode by the code interpretation means; (b) the first characteristic; The output of the value reading means is interpreted as a second barcode by the code interpretation means, and the output of the second characteristic value reading means is interpreted as the first barcode by the code interpretation means. An original film processing apparatus is characterized in that selective execution is performed.

In the present invention, peripheral information refers to information recorded in areas other than image frames of the original film,
Specifically, alphanumeric displays such as base density, barcode, frame number (written in Arabic numerals and Arabic numerals and letters), film type, manufacturer's sensitivity, etc. are included. The peripheral information characteristic value means the reflection and/or transmission density, transmittance, reflectance, etc. of peripheral information that can be read by the reading means.

[Effect]

In the original film processing apparatus of the present invention, the barcode type switching means causes the first barcode to hit the first characteristic value reading device, and therefore the second barcode to hit the second characteristic value characteristic device. When the first characteristic value reading device reads the first barcode and the second characteristic value reading device reads the second barcode, and the first barcode reads the second characteristic value reading device. Therefore, when the second barcode hits the first characteristic value reader, the second characteristic value reader reads the first barcode, and the first characteristic value reader reads the second barcode. Since the code is selectively read, even if the loading direction of the original film processing device changes, the original film can be processed appropriately based on the reading information of the first and second barcodes.
There are fewer restrictions on the loading direction of the original film.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained by way of examples with reference also to FIG.

As shown in Figure 1, the DX code I is divided into two tracks parallel to the film longitudinal direction, namely a clock track and a data track, and the data recorded on the tarok track is used as timing data. is designed to read the contents of data tracks. The clock track has a start bit at the beginning and a stop bit at the end, and the shape of the clock track bit pattern is the same across all DXX TODOs, regardless of film manufacturer type or sensitivity. . On the other hand, the shape of the data track bit pattern represents the sensitivity of the film's manufacturer type, so it differs depending on the type of film. Also, of course,
Its shape will be different from the clock track.

On the other hand, frame code 2 consists of a single track and is only a data code. This shape itself is a common shape for parcodes that are already widely used, and even if this format is used, it is possible to read the recorded information as a barcode.

However, frame code 2 on the DXX code is
Since the shapes are completely different and the information recording formats are also different, it is impossible to read both with exactly the same reading means and interpret them with the same interpretation means to obtain the recorded information. To read information from both barcodes recorded on the edge of the film, it is first necessary to determine which barcode is recorded on one edge, and then obtain the desired information. be.

Another method is to try to interpret both the DX code and the 7-frame code each time for any barcode on either side of the film, without first determining the type of barcode. Another possible method is to adopt the value of the one that is successful. However, since the DX code is a barcode that has the same shape for each film, it is not necessary to read it every time, and there is no need to read it after the value of the DX code is determined.
This method requires double or more time to interpret, and also, when reading a frame code fails, if it is clear that it is a frame code, the values of the previous and subsequent frame codes etc. Since there are remedies to be used, it is desirable to know in advance which edge of the film the frame code is recorded on, and from that point of view as well, this method is technically inferior. It can be said.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the notch of an example of a film processing apparatus having an X code and a frame code as described above. In FIG. 2, a film F having a DX code 1 and a frame code 2 is transported in the direction of the arrow by a stepping motor 5, and a splice detector 6,
A screen detector 7, barcode detectors 8 and 9, and a notch blade 10 are provided. Then, the film F is subjected to screen detection and barcode detection on both edges of the film, and a notch is formed when the center position of the detected screen reaches the notch blade position 10.

In addition, in the artificial pre-read mode, the notch blade 1
The entire surface of the notch processing section where No. 0 is located, one frame downstream from it, and six frames upstream thereof (not shown) are clearly visible and constitute a frame determination stage for inputting color printer correction data. Since the barcode detection process and the screen detection process are independent and are performed automatically, the operator only has to focus on inputting color printer correction data from the keyboard 11 while watching the frame determination stage.

Two barcode detectors 8.9 are arranged at the lower side of the transport path and 9 at the upper side in order to read peripheral information characteristic values at both edges of the film.

The barcode detector 8 consists of a light source section 8a (for example, an LED) and a light receiving sensor section 8b.
is composed of a light source section 9a (for example, an LED) and a light receiving sensor section 9b. These are configured as a pair of coaxially opposed glass fibers, with a light source section and a sensor section sandwiching the film F. In addition, commercially available film F DX
Since the barcode format consists of two tracks, a data track and a clock track, as shown in FIG. 1, the light receiving sections of the light receiving sensor sections 8b and 9b are each divided into two.

The sensor output from the clock pit side (inner edge side of the film) of the sensor 8b is input to the amplifier 12a, and the sensor output from the data bit side (outer edge side of the film) is input to the amplifier 12b. It is configured to read transmitted light output data. Similarly, the sensor output on the clock bit side of the sensor 9b is the amplifier 13a.
The sensor outputs on the data bit side are input to the amplifiers 13b, respectively, and are configured to read the transmitted light output data of the film barcode section on the edge of the film on the opposite side from the sensor 8b.

When film transport is started, a signal synchronized with the stepping motor 5 is sent from the control unit 14 to the A/D for barcode detection.
The outputs of the amplifiers 12a1, 12b, and 13a1 are sent to the converter 15, and the outputs of the amplifiers 12a1, 12b, and 13a1 are A/D converted by the A/D converter 15, and taken into the barcode processing section 16. is stored internally. By binarizing the output of the A/D converter 15 using, for example, a predetermined threshold value, the information recorded on the barcode can be obtained on the storage means as the values of ■ and 0.

It is a well-known fact that by making the sampling pitch sufficiently fine, it is possible to obtain an output that resembles the shape of a barcode with good accuracy.

Next, from the two types of barcode data of the film re-edge section extracted as I and 0 values in this way, it is determined which barcode is the DX code and which barcode is the frame code. This utilizes the fact that DX code 1 is a barcode consisting of two tracks, and frame code 2 is a barcode consisting of one track. That is, in DX code 1, it is guaranteed that the written contents of the clock track and the data track have different bit patterns at least in the start bit part and the stop bit part. Therefore, in this part, the sensor outputs of the clock track section and the data track section will be different, and therefore the values of 1 and 0 on the storage means will also be different. On the other hand, in the case of frame code 2, since it has a one-track configuration,
The output from the sensor for the data track and the output from the sensor for the clock track are approximately concave, although they are slightly influenced by noise, sensor mounting accuracy, and other problems. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between the DX code and the frame code using this clue.

That is, regarding the barcode reading values obtained from both edges of the original film and stored in the storage means, the reading information of the clock track and the reading information of the data track at the corresponding position on the frame are compared, and the reading information is compared. When counting the number of times that the values are different, it is determined that the barcode stored on the edge of the original film with the greater number of differences is the barcode of DX code 1, and the one with the fewer number of times is the barcode of frame code 2. can do. This method also has the advantage that even when an original film with only a DX code and no frame code is processed, the side on which the DX code is present can be accurately determined. This determination work is performed by the barcode calculation processing unit 16.
An appropriate value is set in the barcode type switching storage means provided inside the barcode type switching storage means.

After the edge where the DX code exists is determined, the leading direction of the DX code is determined. The DX code has a start bit and a stop bit at the beginning and end of the clock track, the former consisting of 5 black (1) bits, and the latter consisting of 3 black (1) bits. has been done. Therefore, since the two have different lengths, they can be easily distinguished by examining the read data of the clock track of the DX code in detail, and the leading direction of the DX code can be determined. That is, the output of the barcode detector on the side determined to be the DX code stored on the storage means is checked according to the information stored in the barcode type switching storage means, and the beginning and end portions of the clock track are checked. If there are more 1 bits at the beginning and fewer 1 bits at the end in the transport direction of the original film, the DX code is in the forward direction, and vice versa. If the number of bits is small and the number of 1 bits is greater at the end, the DX code is in the opposite direction. This check is also performed by the barcode arithmetic processing section 16, and an appropriate value is set in the barcode direction storage means provided inside the barcode arithmetic processing section 16.

Note that the direction of a barcode can also be determined by using a frame code and checking its start bit and stop bit, as in the case of a DX code. Furthermore, by checking both the DX code and the frame code, a more reliable determination can be made.

The emulsion side of the cost film can be determined based on the information on which side of both edges of the original film the DX code is located on, and the information on whether the DX code is running in the forward or reverse direction. can be determined. (a) If the DX code exists on the upper side in FIG. 2, that is, on the barcode detector 9 side, and the DX code is in the forward direction, the emulsion surface is on the back side, that is, on the sensor 9b side; (b) DX code is on the upper side, that is, barcode detector 9
(c) If the DX code is on the opposite side, the emulsion surface is on the front side, that is, on the sensor light source 9a side; (c) The DX code is on the bottom side, that is, on the barcode detector 8.
(d) If the DX code is on the back side, that is, on the sensor 8b side, and the DX code is in the opposite direction, the emulsion surface is on the back side, that is, on the sensor 8b side. If it is in the forward direction, it can be determined that the emulsion surface is on the front side, that is, on the sensor light source 8a side. This determination is also performed by the barcode arithmetic processing section 16, and an appropriate value is set in the original film loading side storage means provided inside the barcode arithmetic processing section 16.

The barcode arithmetic processing unit 16 uses the CPU, program memory, and working memory to perform the above-mentioned code interpretation means, barcode type switching means, storage means, type determination means 1, barcode switching means, and direction determination means. , constitutes an original film loading storage means, etc. The contents of the barcode type switching storage means, the barcode direction storage means, and the original film loading side storage means are configured so that the control section 14 can freely read them. Further, the above barcode type determination work, barcode direction determination work, and original film loading determination work are always performed after the splice detector 16 detects a splice. As a result, the above-mentioned determination operation is performed on each of the plurality of original films joined into a roll.

In the case of the illustrated example, by manually inputting settings from the keyboard 11 in advance, the control section 14 reads out the output of the cost film loading storage means as appropriate.
If the original film loading side is not on the predetermined side, a warning can be displayed on the display 17. This is because if some of the original film wound on the reel has the emulsion side reversed,
This is because if the print is sent to the next process, a so-called reverse printing print will be created in which the left and right sides of the image are reversed during the printing process.

Furthermore, if a notch is provided, the barcode on that side will be damaged by the notch, making it very difficult to read it. In such cases, it becomes necessary to drill a notch on the side of a specific barcode. In that case, if the loading direction of the original film is opposite to the direction in which the notch is to be punched on the side of a particular bar code (usually the DX code), the notch should not be punched. This process can be easily performed by the control unit 14 checking the contents of the barcode type switching storage means. That is, it is only necessary to check whether the barcode on the side where the notch is to be drilled is on the side of the notch blade IO. By manually inputting this setting from the keyboard 11 in advance, if the loading direction of the negative is reversed and the undesirable side is loaded in the direction of the notch blade 10, a warning will be displayed on the display 17. It is designed to be displayed.

In the above embodiment, sensors are provided to read the barcodes on both sides of the original film, and two sensors (each divided into two, one for the clock track and one for the data track) are used. Although this method is currently used, it is also possible to use a -dimensional line sensor or a two-dimensional image sensor to read the image information on the original film all at once. For example, this technology
There is a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-31840. In this case as well, since there are two types of barcodes, it is necessary to interpret the barcode value after determining the barcode type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the original film processing apparatus of the present invention, even if the loading direction of the original film changes and the combination of the barcodes on both edges of the film and the reading devices on both edges of the film path changes, the original film is processed based on the information on both barcodes. An excellent effect can be obtained in that processing can be carried out appropriately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view showing an example of an original film used in the processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram showing an example of the processing apparatus of the present invention. ■...DX:+-do 2...Frame code 3
...Main piece number 4...Side barrel number F...Film 5...Stepping motor 7...Screen detector 8.9...Barcode detector 10...Notch blade 11...・Keyboard 14
...Control unit 15...A/D converter 16.
・Barcode calculation processing unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) Processing an original film in which a first barcode is recorded in the longitudinal direction of one edge, and a second barcode having a different shape from the first barcode is recorded in the longitudinal direction of the other edge. The film processing device includes a first characteristic value reading means for reading peripheral information characteristic values of the original film provided at one edge of the original film path, and a first characteristic value reading means for reading peripheral information characteristic values of the original film provided at the other edge of the original film path. A second characteristic value reading means for reading information characteristic values, a barcode type switching means, and a code interpretation means for interpreting the outputs of the first and second reading means, and the barcode type switching means reads the following: (a), (b) (a) The output of the first characteristic value reading means is interpreted as a first barcode by the code interpretation means, and the output of the second characteristic value reading means is interpreted as the code. (b) interpreting the output of the first characteristic value reading means as a second barcode by the code interpretation means, and the output of the second characteristic value reading means; is interpreted as a first barcode by the code interpretation means. (2) A patent claim comprising a single one-dimensional or two-dimensional image sensor, wherein the first characteristic value reading means and the second characteristic value reading means share the single image sensor. The original film processing apparatus according to item 1. (3) Storage means for storing the output of the first and/or second reading means, and the recorded output of the first characteristic value reading means and/or the stored second characteristic value reading means. type determining means for inspecting the output of the stored first or second storage means to determine whether the stored output is the first or second barcode, and according to the output of the type determining means. 2. The original film processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising barcode switching control means for controlling said barcode type switching means. (4) Storage means for storing the output of the first and/or second reading means, and the stored output of the first characteristic value reading means and/or the stored second characteristic value reading means. said first and/or
or direction determining means for determining the recording direction of the second barcode, and changing the direction of interpretation of the first and/or second barcode according to the output of the direction determining means. An original film processing apparatus according to claim 1. (5) Storage means for storing the output of the first and/or second reading means, and the stored output of the first characteristic value reading means and/or the stored second characteristic value reading means. direction determining means for determining the recording direction of the first and/or second barcode by inspecting the output of the original film; and an original film for determining the loading side of the original film by inspecting the output of the direction determining means. Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a loading surface determining means, and a warning means for warning if the loading surface of the original film differs from a predetermined direction according to the output of the original film loading surface determining means. The original film processing device according to item 1.