JPH0820678B2 - 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 barcode is side-printed, it is easier to read, but since the frame photographed and the frame number barcode do not correspond as described above, it is necessary to associate them. Become.

[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. The notch sensor formed by measuring the moving position of the number and keeping a certain distance from the negative mask detects the notch formed on each frame of the photo film, and automatically stops the photo film when this notch comes to the center of the negative mask. Then, the frame is positioned, and at the time of this positioning, the frame number whose movement position is within a certain range is extracted, and this is determined to be the frame number within 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 notch is detected by the notch sensor and the frame feed of the photographic film is controlled so that this notch is located at the center of the negative mask, and the frame is positioned at the center of the negative mask.
Then, after this positioning, the frame number moved to within the range set before and after the distance is extracted with reference to the distance between the bar code sensor and the center of the negative mask.

In the photo printing device, the extracted frame number is printed on the back side of the photographic paper, and in the negative verification device, along with the verification data,
The frame number is recorded on a storage medium such as a paper tape, and the frame number is read from the storage medium at the time of photo printing and printed 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.

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 barcode 3 on one side and a well-known DX on the other side.
Codes 4 and 4 are printed respectively, and a frame number 5 is also printed on both sides of the negative film 2. Further, a semi-circular notch 6 is formed on the same side as the DX code 4 for the frame to be printed. This notch 6 is coma by a notcher / puncher at the time of negative certification.
It is formed on the center line of 2a.

The bar code sensor 7 is arranged at a position apart from the center of the negative mask 8 by a certain distance, and when the negative film 2 is transferred in the arrow direction by a roller (not shown) driven by a motor, a frame number is displayed. The barcode 3 for the scanner is read. As the barcode sensor 7, 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, the start mark of the frame number bar code 3 is a DX code 4 indicating the type of the negative film.
Since it is side-printed so as to coincide with the start mark of, it is possible to take in the data by using the clock track of DX code 4. 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. It may be used on one side of the negative mask 8 on the passages on both sides of the negative film 2, or four sensors may be arranged on both sides of the negative mask 8.

Further, a notch sensor 9 for detecting the notch 6 is arranged at a position apart from the center of the negative mask 8 by a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, the barcode sensor 7
Although the notch sensor 9 and the notch sensor 9 are arranged at the same distance from the center of the negative mask, they may be different distances.

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) Frame number 0 S 1 SA 2 1 3 1A 4 2 ···· 24 12 25 12A ··· · 73 36A Also, the length A of the barcode 3 for frame number is 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 7 reads the frame number bar code 3, the bar code 3 is written in the memory and at the same time, the transfer amount of the negative film 2 is measured 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 7. 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 7 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.

On the other hand, the notch sensor 9 starts measuring the transfer amount of the negative film 2 when the notch 6 is detected. Then, when the negative film 2 is transferred by the distance L from the center of the negative mask 8 to the notch sensor 9, the negative film 2 is stopped and the frame 2a having the notches 6 is transferred to the negative mask 8
Position inside. In this embodiment, since the moving positions of the three notches 6 are measured at the same time, the negative film 2 is intermittently transferred by the distance between the adjacent notches 6 as a result.

When the frame 2a to be printed is positioned by using the notch 6 as a reference, if one of the five frame numbers existing within a section 1 having a constant distance 1 before and after the center of the negative mask is checked, this positioning is performed. It is possible to know the frame number of the recorded frame. 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. Then, when two frame numbers are extracted, the one 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 measuring the moving position of the frame number bar code 3, the one without "A" is selected. Alternatively, when the movement amount is on the right side of the negative mask center, the frame number is close to the negative mask center, and on the left side, it is 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 8 is provided above the print position. As is well known, the negative mask 8 has an opening corresponding to the size of the top 2a, and when the negative film 2 is transferred, it is lifted by a solenoid (not shown),
Hold down the negative film 2 when printing.

A bar code sensor 7 is provided next to the pair of feed rollers 20.
And a notch sensor 9 (not shown). Further, a photometric sensor 34 is disposed diagonally above the print position, the average transmission density of the top 2a set at the print position is measured for each color, and the obtained average transmission density of the three colors is controlled by the controller. Send to 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. A shutter 39 whose opening and closing is controlled by a shutter drive section 38 is provided between the printing lens 36 and the printing paper 37.
And a photographic printing paper mask 40 are arranged. The photographic paper 37
Each frame is pulled out from the photographic paper roll 41, passed through the guide roller 42, and then set at the exposure position. Then, the exposed portion is wound around the winding roller 45 by the pull-out roller pair 44 driven by the pulse motor 43.

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 is provided separately from the photo printing device, 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. The keyboard 53 includes a moving key 54 for manually transferring the negative film 2, an auto key 55 for continuously printing a large number of frames, an auto key 55 for starting printing, and a start key for starting printing. A print start key 56, a color key 57 for inputting color correction data during one-frame printing, a density key 58 for inputting density correction data during one-frame printing, and an alphanumeric key 59 are provided. At the time of automatic printing, a storage medium such as a punch tape 61 is set in the reader 60, and the color and density correction data (exposure correction data) stored therein is read. The punch tape 61 is set in a negative verification device, a negative verification is performed before printing, and exposure correction data set by the operator's experience is written in a frame in which subject ferria may occur.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the controller for reading and printing the frame number. The frame number bar code 3 read by the bar code sensor 7
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 row by row before writing new numerical data in the storage unit 64a. Further, the drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e store the number of drive pulses corresponding to the moving distance of the frame number 5, and "1" is added every time one drive pulse is sent to the driver 51. Updated with numerical values. Therefore, the drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e substantially form a frame number counter. In this embodiment, when the bar code sensor 7 detects the end mark 3c, the number of drive pulses corresponding to the length "C" shown in FIG. 2 is preset in order to start storing the count value of drive pulses. Value and
"1" is added to this one by one. Further, the drive pulse number storage units 65a to 65e are moved up one line at a time when the frame number storage unit 64a is shifted.

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 of the latest numerical data are stored, and the number of drive pulses corresponding to the pitch of the frame number bar code 3 is added to this, and the other numerical data is " Negative mask 8 by adding 1 "
You can check the position of each frame number on the 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 notch sensor 9 generates a signal when detecting the notch 6 and sends it to the notch counter 71 via the selector 70. The notch counter 71 has three counting units 71a.
.About.71c, the one designated by the selector 70 at the time of notch detection starts the counting operation to count the driving pulses. The contents of each of the counting units 71a to 71c is the comparator 72.
To the data in the memory 73, and if any one of them matches, a comparison signal is sent to the flip-flop 74 to reset it. The memory 73 has a first
The number of drive pulses corresponding to the distance L shown in the figure is written.

When the flip-flop 74 is reset, the Q terminal becomes "L", so that the output terminals of the OR gate 75 and the AND gate 76 become "L". When the output terminal of the AND gate 76 becomes "L", the passage of the drive pulse is blocked,
The rotation of the pulse motor 23 is stopped and the transfer of the negative film 2 is stopped. In this state, the notch 6 of the top 2a to be printed is positioned at the center of the negative mask.

When the move key 54 is operated, a signal indicating the rotation direction is sent to the driver 51 via the OR circuit 77, and the AND gate 76 is opened together therewith, so that the pulse motor 23 is rotated and the negative film 2 is manually transferred. You can

The output terminal of the OR circuit 77 of the pulse motor 23 is "H".
The forward rotation occurs when, and the reverse rotation occurs when “L”. This OR circuit
Since the Q terminal of the flip-flop 74 is connected to 77, the pulse motor 23 rotates normally at the end of printing.
When the return side move key 54 is operated, the OR circuit
Since the output terminal of 77 is "L", the pulse motor 23 rotates in the reverse direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The negative film 2 having undergone the negative test is set in the negative carrier 17 and the punch tape 61 is set in the leader 60. When the print start key 56 is operated after the auto key 55 is turned on, the flip-flop 74 is set, so that the pulse motor 23 rotates in the normal direction to transfer the negative film 2 in the arrow direction. During this transfer, the bar code sensor 7 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 increases by "1" every time a drive pulse is sent to the driver 51.

The bar code sensor 7 is the 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.

Further, the notch sensor 9 detects the notch 6 when the negative film 2 is transferred. When the notch 6 is detected, the notch counter 71 starts counting drive pulses. Further, when the notch sensor 9 detects the next notch 6, the drive pulse counting is also started for this notch.

When the contents of the notch counter 71 and the contents of the memory 73 match due to the transfer of the negative film 2, the output of the comparator 72 becomes "H", so the flip-flop 74
Is reset. When this flip-flop 74 is reset, the AND gate 76 is closed and the pulse motor 2
The rotation of 3 stops. In this case, the negative film 2 is positioned at a position where the notch 6 coincides with the center of the negative mask.

After positioning the frame, the exposure correction data for this frame is read from the punch tape 61 and input to the controller 35. After capturing the exposure correction data, the photometric sensor 34 photometrically measures the average transmission density for each color and sends the obtained measured value to the controller 35. This controller 35
Calculates the exposure amount of each color using the measured value and the exposure correction data, and according to each exposure amount, the optical paths 16 of the color filters 11 to 13 are calculated.
Adjust the insertion amount into. After adjusting this film, light source 10
Fully emits 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, when there are two numerical data in the 35 mm full size, the one without “A” is selected, and in the 35 mm half size, both are written in the memory 67. At the same time, the controller 35 rotates the pulse motor 43 to transfer the printing paper 37 by one frame, set the unexposed portion to the exposure position, and wind the exposed portion onto the take-up reel 45. . 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 controller 35 retracts the filters 11 to 13 of the respective colors to the standard position via the filter adjusting unit 15. Further, since the negative feed signal is input to the flip-flop 74, the AND gate 76 is opened to rotate the pulse motor 23 again, and the negative film 2 is moved in the arrow direction until the notch of the next frame matches the negative mask center. send. Thereafter, the image printing of each frame and the printing of the frame number are performed by the procedure described above.

During manual printing, the exposure correction data can be input by operating the color key 57 and the density key 58 after positioning the frame. If the print start key 56 is operated after inputting the exposure correction data, the photometry as described above,
Color filter control, printing, photographic paper feed, frame number printing, and negative film feed are performed, and the next notched frame is positioned at the print position.

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, you can determine the frame number while feeding the frame based on the notch, and if it is the specified frame number, stop the transfer of the negative film, Then, the photo printing is performed a specified number of times. 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 the frame is positioned, and the empirically determined exposure correction data and the automatically extracted frame number data are stored in a paper tape or a magnetic floppy. Then, at the time of printing, the storage medium and the negative film are set in the photo printing device to perform photo printing and frame number printing.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above in detail, in the method of the present invention, the barcode sensor reads the frame number barcode, the film transfer amount is measured in synchronization with this reading, and the notch detected by the notch sensor is When the frame is positioned at the center of the negative mask, the frame numbers whose film transfer amount is within a certain range are extracted, so that the frame numbers of the frames set in the negative mask can be accurately determined. In addition, unlike the case where a certain frame is used as a reference, the position of the barcode sensor is used as a reference without using a frame, for example, the frame at the rear end as a reference.
It is possible to reduce the influence of accumulated error caused by slippage during film feeding, machine difference of feed roller diameter, fluctuation and the like.
Therefore, regardless of the position of the frame in the photo film,
It is possible to accurately detect the frame number of each frame. 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 ... Notch 7 ... Bar code sensor 8 ... Negative mask 9 ... Notch sensor 23 ... Pulse motor 63 ... Numerical data and drive pulse Memory for storing numbers 71 …… Notch counter.

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. The notch sensor arranged at a certain distance from the negative mask detects the notch formed in each frame of the photo film, and when the notch reaches the center of the negative mask, the photo film is automatically stopped to position the frame. When this positioning is performed, the frame number whose movement position is within a certain range is extracted and Frame number determining method of photographic film and judging that the frame number is within. 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.