JPH04367840A - Photosensitive paper guide mechanism controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable sheets of photosensitive paper of different size to be processed at an exposure part and a process part and to improve the operation efficiency. CONSTITUTION:The number and positions of projection parts 92 of an identification plate 90 are detected by a limit switch 94 to decide the kind (specially, width) of photosensitive paper 54 loaded in a paper magazine 64 and after a 1st photosensitive paper detection sensor 104 detects the tail end of the photosensitive paper 54, only the photosensitive paper width-directional guide mechanism 102 of the exposure part 58 is put in operation. Consequently, an exposure process for the size of new photosensitive paper 54 can performed even during the processing of the photosensitive paper 54 of different size by the processor part 72. After a 2nd photosensitive paper detection sensor 106 detects the tail end of the photosensitive paper 54, the photosensitive paper width-directional guide mechanism 102 of the processor part 72 is put in operation. Consequently, widths set in all the photosensitive paper width-directional guide mechanisms 102 can be equalized to the width of the photosensitive paper 54 stored in a paper magazine 64.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a system in which an exposure section for exposing an image recorded on a photographic film onto photographic paper and a processor section for developing the exposed photographic paper are integrated and housed in a magazine. A photographic paper guide mechanism, which guides the photographic paper in the width direction, is installed on the conveyance path of a photographic processing device that sequentially conveys a long photographic paper from an exposure section to a processor section for processing. The present invention relates to a correspondingly modified photographic paper guide mechanism control device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Printer processors are called minilabs and are installed in DPE stores. The printer processor has an exposure unit that exposes the image recorded on negative film and a processor unit that develops the exposed photographic paper, so all you have to do is set a long sheet of photographic paper. The exposure section and processor section can be automatically transported and processed. Guide members for guiding the photographic paper in the width direction are provided at various locations in the photographic paper conveyance system. This guide member is mainly located at a portion where the photographic paper conveyance path is bent, and prevents the photographic paper from meandering.

[0003] Long photographic papers are classified according to their width, surface type, and type, and are wound up in layers and stored in separate magazines. In the printer processor, the entire magazine can be replaced to match the specified enlargement size.

By the way, if you change the loaded photographic paper,
It is also necessary to change the guide width of the guide member. Since the guide width was manually changed by the operator, the work after loading photographic paper of different sizes was complicated.

In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to automatically change the guide width of the guide member using a driving means such as a motor. According to this, the complexity of the operator's work is eliminated.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, it is possible to replace the magazine once the exposure processing in the exposure unit is completed, but the photographic paper that has been exposed to light, that is, the magazine before replacement, cannot be replaced. During this time, the photographic paper stored in the storage area is undergoing development processing in the processor section. For this reason, the guide width of the guide member cannot be changed and photographic paper cannot be pulled out from a newly loaded magazine until the processing of the photographic paper conveyed through the processor section is completed.

That is, even though the exposure section is capable of exposure, it is necessary to wait for conveyance of the photographic paper until the processing at the processor section is completed, resulting in poor working efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned facts, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic paper guide mechanism control device that can process photographic paper of different sizes in the exposure section and the processor section, and that can improve work efficiency. It is.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention as set forth in claim 1 is characterized in that an exposure unit that exposes an image recorded on a photographic film onto photographic paper and a processor unit that develops the exposed photographic paper are integrated. , a photographic paper guide mechanism that guides a plurality of photographic papers in the width direction, which are arranged on the transport path of a photographic processing device that sequentially transports long photographic papers stored in a magazine from an exposure unit to a processor unit for processing. A photographic paper guide mechanism control device capable of changing the width of the photographic paper separately in an exposure section and a processor section according to the photographic paper being conveyed, the device detecting the width dimension of the photographic paper stored in the magazine. a photographic paper width detecting means; a first sensor disposed at a passage position from the exposure section to the processor section to detect the trailing edge of the photographic paper; and when the magazine is replaced, the first sensor detects the width of the photographic paper. and a first control means that operates to match the guide width of the photographic paper guide mechanism of the exposure section to the width dimension of the photographic paper stored in the replaced magazine after detecting the rear end.

The invention according to claim 2 is the photographic paper guide mechanism control device according to claim 1, wherein the photographic paper guide mechanism control device is arranged at the photographic paper discharge port from the processor section and detects the trailing edge of the photographic paper. After the trailing edge of the photographic paper is detected by the second sensor and the second sensor, the guide width of the photographic paper guide mechanism of the processor section is activated to match the width dimension of the photographic paper stored in the replaced magazine. and second control means.

[0011]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the exposure process in the exposure unit is completed and the magazine is replaced with a magazine containing photographic paper of a different size, the photographic paper width detecting means detects the inside of the replaced magazine. Detects the width of photographic paper.

When the first sensor detects the trailing edge of the photographic paper, it is determined that there is no photographic paper of the previous size in the exposure section, and the first control means controls the photographic paper guide mechanism. , set the guide width of the exposure section to the width of the photographic paper in the newly loaded magazine. At this time, the previous photographic paper has been processed in the processor section, but the guide width of the photographic paper guide mechanism in the processor section does not change, so photographic paper of different sizes can be processed in the exposure section and the processor section. Can be done.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the second sensor detects the trailing edge of the photographic paper, the second control means operates the photographic paper guide mechanism of the processor section, and the second control means operates the photographic paper guide mechanism of the processor section. Set the width to the width of the photographic paper being processed in the exposure section.

In this way, the guide widths of the photographic paper guide mechanisms in the exposure section and the processor section can be changed separately by the control means depending on the processing state of the photographic paper, so that the guide widths of the photographic paper guide mechanisms in the exposure section and the processor section are different. It is possible to process photographic paper of various sizes, improving work efficiency.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a printer processor 10 to which the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of this printer processor 10 will be explained.

The printer processor 10 is covered with a casing 12 on the outside. The printer processor 10 includes a work table 14 protruding from the casing 12 on the left side in FIG. A negative carrier 18 on which a negative film 16 is set is placed on the upper surface of the work table 14.

A light source section 36 is installed below the work table 14. The light source section 36 includes a light source 38. The light rays emitted from the light source 38 reach the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18 via the filter section 40 and the diffusion tube 42. The filter section 40 has three parts: C, M, and Y.
It is composed of two filters, each of which is movable on the optical axis of the light beam.

An optical system 46 is attached to an arm 44 located above the work table 14. Optical system 46
includes a lens 48, a shutter 50, and a reflecting mirror 51, and the lens 48 and shutter 50 are arranged on the optical axis of the light beam. The light beam transmitted through the negative film 16 passes through a lens 48 and a shutter 50, and is deflected by a reflecting mirror 51 (optical axis approximately 90 degrees), and an image of the negative film 16 is recorded on a photographic paper 54 set in an exposure chamber 52. form an image.

The optical system 46 also includes a density measuring device 56, such as a CCD, for measuring the density of the negative film 16. This density measuring device 56 is connected to a controller 162, and an exposure correction value at the time of exposure is set based on data measured by the density measuring device 56 and data keyed in by the operator.

The light source section 36, the optical system 46, and the exposure chamber 52
This makes it possible to perform a printing process, and the exposed portion 58 is formed.

A mounting portion 60 is provided at the corner between the upper right side surface of the arm 44 and the upper surface of the casing 12. A paper magazine 64 that stores photographic paper 54 wound in layers on a reel 62 is attached to the mounting section 60 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper magazine 64
The photographic paper 54 stored in this paper magazine 64 is
An identification plate 90 for identifying the type is removably attached. That is, the identification plate 90 can be replaced depending on the type of photographic paper accommodated.

[0023] Photographic paper has two types depending on its width, surface type, and type.
It is classified into four types. Of these, 15 types are standard size and 9 types are optional size N01.
Identification plates 90 from No. 24 are prepared. In other words, the standard size is 89mm width of photographic paper.
102mm 117mm 127mm 15
There are 5 types of 2 mm, and 3 types of surface types: G (glossy), S (silk), and L (raster), and the combination of these makes 15 types. Further, as for the arbitrarily set sizes, the width dimensions of the photographic paper are 95 mm, 120 mm, and 130 mm, and the surface types are 3 types as described above, so there are 9 types of combinations.

[0024] The identification plate 90 is displayed in the order of number, width dimension, surface type, and type, and can be visually identified (for example, No. 1-89-G-1). In addition,
In the case of an arbitrary setting size, only N0 is displayed.

Further, the identification plate 90 is formed with protrusions 92 at different positions and numbers. The protrusions 92 correspond to a plurality of limit switches 94 arranged on the mounting part 60, and are turned on or off depending on the presence or absence of the protrusions 92. Therefore, depending on the on/off position of the limit switch 94, the type of photographic paper 54 contained in the loaded paper magazine 64 can be identified.

The limit switches 94 are each connected to a controller 162. Note that, assuming that the on/off signals of the limit switch 94 are 0 and 1, at least 5 limit switches 94 are required to classify into 24 types (25 > 24).

A roller 66 is disposed near the mounting section 60, which grips the photographic paper 54 and transports it horizontally to the exposure chamber 52. The photographic paper 54 is placed on a roller 67 in front of the arm 44.
It is wrapped around, turned 90 degrees and hung down. In addition,
A first stock section 69 is provided between the rollers 66 and 67 to guide and stock photographic paper in a substantially U-shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, a photographic paper width direction guiding mechanism 10 is located at a position suspended by the roller 67.
A guide plate 96 is provided to prevent the photographic paper 54 constituting the photographic paper 2 from shifting in the width direction.

The guide plates 96 are respectively provided at both ends in the width direction of the photographic paper 54 and supported via brackets 98 by shafts 100 whose axes are perpendicular to the direction in which the photographic paper 54 is conveyed. A ball screw mechanism (not shown) is provided between the shaft 100 and the bracket 98.
is interposed so that the distance between the pair of guide plates can be changed according to the rotation of the shaft 100 (for example, see the imaginary line in FIG. 3). In other words, it is possible to handle photographic paper 54 having different width dimensions.

Such a photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102
are provided mainly at bent portions of the photographic paper conveyance path, which will be described later (areas surrounded by a dotted line frame in FIG. The width of the photographic paper 54 is automatically changed by a signal from the controller 162 using the attached identification plate 90 according to the width dimension of the photographic paper 54.

A roller 68A is located below the exposure chamber 52.
, 68B, and 68C, and approximately 90 pieces of photographic paper 54 on which the image of the negative film 16 is printed in the exposure chamber 52.
The direction is changed every time and conveyed to the color developing section 74 of the processor section 72 adjacent to the exposure chamber 52.

[0032] A cutter 7 is provided downstream of this roller 68A.
1 is provided. This cutter 71 has the role of cutting the rear end of the photographic paper 54 after the exposure process has been completed.
Therefore, the photographic paper 54 remaining in the exposure section 58 can be rewound into the paper magazine 64 again.

A second stock section 73 is provided between the rollers 68A and 68B to guide and stock the printed photographic paper 54 in a substantially U-shape. The second stock section 73 stores photographic paper 54 and absorbs the difference in processing time between the exposure section 58 that performs printing processing and the processor section 72 that performs development, fixing, and washing processing.

Further, a first photographic paper detection sensor 104 is provided at a passage point from the exposure section 58 to the processor section 72.

The color developing section 74 immerses the photographic paper 54 in a developer to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a bleach-fixing section 76 adjacent to a color developing section 74 . The bleach-fixing section 76 performs a fixing process by immersing the photographic paper 54 in a fixing solution. The fixed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a rinsing section 78 adjacent to a bleach-fixing section 76 . The rinsing section 78 performs a washing process by immersing the photographic paper 54 in washing water.

The photographic paper 54 that has been washed with water is sent to the rinsing section 78.
and is transported to the adjacent drying section 80. The drying section 80 wraps the photographic paper 54 around a roller and exposes it to high temperature air to dry it.

The photographic paper 54 is held between a pair of rollers (not shown), and the photographic paper 54 that has been dried is discharged from the drying section 80 at a constant speed. A cutter section 84 is disposed downstream of the drying section 80. The cutter unit 84 includes a cut mark sensor 86 that detects cut marks added to the photographic paper 54 and a cutter 88 that cuts the photographic paper 54. It is discharged to the outside of the casing 12.

A second photographic paper detection sensor 106 is provided in the passage from the drying section 80 to the cutter section 84.

The cut photographic paper 54 is transferred to the sorter section 10.
8 and returned to the customer along with the negative film.

As shown in FIG. 4, each control is controlled by a controller 162. The controller 162 is
It is configured to include a microcomputer 164. The microcomputer 164 has a CPU 166 and a RAM 1.
68, ROM 170, input/output port 172, and buses 174 such as data buses and control buses that connect these
It is made up of.

The controller 162 is connected to a conveyance control section 176 that controls the conveyance system of the negative film 16 and photographic paper 54 in the printer processor 10, and also controls the lighting of the light source 38 in the exposure section 58 and the light path of the filter section 40. appearance, frame advance with negative carrier 18, shutter 50
An exposure control section 178 is connected to the exposure control section 178, which controls the exposure system such as opening/closing. In addition, the controller 162 also includes a drying section 80.
Detection of cut marks by the cut mark sensor 86 in the drying control section 182 that controls the drive of the fan and heater in the drying control section 182 and the cut mark sensor 86 in the cutter section 84 downstream thereof;
A cutter control unit 184 that controls cutting of the photographic paper 54 by
is connected.

The input/output port 172 also includes a first photographic paper detection sensor 104 and a second photographic paper detection sensor 106.
and five limit switches 94 are connected. Further, to the input/output port 172, a photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102 provided at various parts of the apparatus is connected via a driver 110, and a display section 112 that displays the size of the photographic paper 54 and whether exposure processing is possible or not is connected. has been done.

This controller 162 recognizes the width dimension of the photographic paper 54 based on the output signal from the limit switch 94 and operates the photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102. The width dimension of the photographic paper 54 processed by the processor section 72 may be different. That is, during the work process, the paper magazine 64 may be replaced while the photographic paper 54 that has been exposed in the exposure section 58 is being processed in the processor section 72.

Therefore, the controller 162 operates the first and second guide mechanisms 102 in the photographic paper width direction in accordance with the width dimension of the photographic paper 54 being processed in the exposure section 58 and the processor section 72, respectively. The control is based on output signals from photographic paper detection sensors 104 and 106.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below. first,
The normal printing process procedure will be explained.

[0046] When the process is started, the light source 38 is turned on,
The negative carrier 18 is driven to position the negative film 16. The L of the negative film 16 is determined by the density measuring device 56.
The ATD (average transmission density) is measured, an exposure correction value is set from this measurement data and data manually input by key, and the exposure amount (exposure time) is calculated to obtain optimal printing conditions.

Next, the photographic paper 54 is transported to the exposure chamber 52 and positioned, and the shutter 50 is opened. This results in
The light beam emitted by the light source 38 passes through the filter unit 40 and the negative film 16 and reaches the exposure chamber 52, and the photographic paper 54 positioned in the exposure chamber 52 starts printing an image on the negative film 16 according to the exposure conditions. The C, M, and Y filters located on the optical axis of the light beam are moved. After the predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the shutter 50 is closed. With this, the printing process for one frame of the negative film 16 is completed. By repeating this, the printed portions of the photographic paper 54 are sequentially conveyed to the processor section 72.

The photographic paper 54 conveyed to the reservoir section 70 is conveyed to the color developing section 74, where it is immersed in a developer and subjected to development processing. The developed photographic paper 54 is transferred to a bleach-fixing section 76.
The image is transported to and subjected to fixing processing. Photographic paper 54 that has been fixed
is transported to the rinsing section 78 and washed with water. The photographic paper 54 that has been washed with water is conveyed to a drying section 80 and is dried.

The photographic paper 54 that has been dried is transferred to the cutter section 8.
4, the cut mark is detected, each image is cut, and the images are sorted by the sorter unit 108.

Next, a routine for changing the photographic paper width guide mechanism will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 200, after the flag F is reset (to 0), the process moves to step 201, and when it is determined that the paper magazine 64 has been reloaded, the process moves to step 202, where the type of photographic paper 54 (especially Width dimension). This is easily accomplished by detecting the number and position of the protrusions 92 on the identification plate 90 attached to the paper magazine 64 using the limit switch 94.

In the next step 203, it is determined whether the determined photographic paper width is the same as before, and if it is determined that it is the same, the process moves to step 205 and it is determined whether flag F is set. If the determination is negative, there is no need to change the guide width of the photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102, and the process returns. If flag F is set in step 205, it is determined that the paper magazine 64 of the same width has been reloaded again after a negative determination was made in the previous step 203, and the process moves to step 207 to reset flag F. After (0), the process moves to step 206.

Further, in step 203, if the photographic paper width does not match the previous width, the process moves to step 204.

In the next step 204, the type of photographic paper 54 is displayed on the display section 112. This allows the operator to read the paper magazine 64 currently loaded in the mounting section 60.
The type of photographic paper 54 inside can be recognized.

In the next step 206, it is determined whether the first photographic paper detection sensor 104 has detected the trailing edge of the photographic paper 54. Here, in the case of a negative determination, it is determined that the exposed photographic paper 54 remains in the exposure section 58, and the process proceeds to step 208, where the exchanged photographic paper 54 is
At the same time, in step 210, an exposure processing disabled signal is output to the exposure control section 178, and then in step 211, flag F is set (1), and then the process moves to step 200.

Further, if an affirmative determination is made in step 206, that is, it is determined that the trailing edge of the photographic paper 54 has been detected, it is determined that all of the photographic paper 54 in the exposure section 58 has passed, and the process proceeds to step 212, where the exposure is performed. Only the photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102 of the section 58 is operated to adjust the guide width of the photographic paper 54 stored in the paper magazine 64 loaded in the mounting section 60.
Can be adjusted to the width dimension of Therefore, even while the processor section 72 is processing photographic paper 54 of a different size, exposure processing can be performed using a new photographic paper 54 size. At 216, an exposure processing OK signal is output to the exposure control section 178.

In the next step 218, it is determined whether the second photographic paper detection sensor 106 has detected the trailing edge of the photographic paper 54. That is, until the processing in the processor unit 72 is completed, the photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102 cannot be operated in accordance with the width of the replaced photographic paper 54. Therefore, in step 218, the rear end of the photographic paper 54 is It waits until it detects that it has passed through the processor section 72. This allows the paper magazine 64 to be replaced even while the processor section 72 is processing photographic paper 54 of different sizes, improving work efficiency.

When the trailing edge of the photographic paper 54 is detected in step 218, the process moves to step 220, where the processor section 7
The photographic paper width direction guide mechanism 102 of No. 2 is activated, and the process is completed. This allows the width dimensions set by all the photographic paper width direction guide mechanisms 102 to match the width dimensions of the photographic paper 54 stored in the paper magazine 64.

As described above, in this embodiment, the photographic paper width direction guide mechanisms 102 of the exposure section 58 and the processor section 72 are operated separately while the photographic paper 54 is being conveyed, and the photographic paper 54 being processed in each section is operated separately. The guide width can be matched to the width dimension of the guide. Therefore, even if the width of the photographic paper 54 exposed by the exposure section 58 and the width of the photographic paper 54 processed by the processor section 72 are different, they can be processed at the same time, improving work efficiency.

[0060]

As explained above, the photographic paper guide mechanism control device according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to process photographic papers of different sizes in the exposure section and the processor section, improving work efficiency. It has a great effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a printer processor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a paper magazine and a mounting section.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a photographic paper width direction guide mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram centered on a controller.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart showing a routine for controlling the operation of the photographic paper width direction guide mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Printer processor 16 Negative film 54 Photographic paper 58 Exposure section 64 Paper magazine 72 Processor section 90 Identification plate (photographic paper width detection means) 92
Projection (photographic paper width determining means) 94 Limit switch (photographic paper width detecting means) 102 Photographic paper width direction guide mechanism (photographic paper guide mechanism)

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: An exposure unit that exposes images recorded on photographic film to photographic paper and a processor unit that develops the exposed photographic paper are integrated, and a long photographic paper stored in a magazine is A photographic paper guide mechanism that guides the width direction of photographic paper, which is arranged in plurality on the conveyance path of a photo processing apparatus which is sequentially conveyed from an exposure section to a processor section for processing, is installed at the exposure section corresponding to the photographic paper being conveyed. and a processor section, the photographic paper guide mechanism control device can be changed separately between the photographic paper guide mechanism and the processor section, the photographic paper width detection means detecting the width dimension of the photographic paper accommodated in the magazine, and the photographic paper guide mechanism control device that detects the width dimension of the photographic paper stored in the magazine, a first sensor disposed at a passing position of the magazine to detect the trailing edge of the photographic paper; and a photographic paper guide in the exposure section after the first sensor detects the trailing edge of the photographic paper when the magazine is replaced. A photographic paper guide mechanism control device comprising: first control means for operating the mechanism to match the guide width of the photographic paper stored in the replaced magazine. 2. A photographic paper guide mechanism control device for a photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second guide mechanism is provided at a photographic paper discharge port from the processor section and detects a trailing edge of the photographic paper.
and a second sensor that operates to match the guide width of the photographic paper guide mechanism of the processor section to the width dimension of the photographic paper stored in the replaced magazine after the rear end of the photographic paper is detected by the second sensor. 2, and a photographic paper guide mechanism control device.