JP2005271378A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which can correctly identify the type of an exposure unit and achieves a suitable printing. <P>SOLUTION: In the printing device, the exposure unit F is comprised of an identification information output section 41 for outputting identification information. On the other hand, a control device G is comprised of a parameter setting section 63 for storing a control parameter in a parameter table 65 out of a plurality of control parameters stored in a control parameter storage section 64 beforehand, based on the identification information, and converts image data stored in an original image data storage section 62, based on the control parameter stored in the parameter table 65, thereby storing the converted image data in a print data storage section 66. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an exposure system that exposes a photosensitive material with light rays emitted from an exposure unit, controls the exposure unit, and transmits image data converted into a digital signal to the exposure unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for identifying an exposure unit.

  Although the identification target is not an exposure unit, there are multiple types of negative carriers that can be attached to the photographic processing unit as a technology related to identification, and each negative carrier supports a dip switch operating body for that negative carrier. In the case where the negative carrier is provided with a plurality of dip switches operated by a dip switch operating body in the connected portion of the transport apparatus body, and the negative carrier is attached to the connected portion of the transport apparatus body, There is one that can identify the type of negative carrier from the state of the dip switch (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-296621 A (paragraph numbers [0020] to [0028], FIG. 3)

  As an example of an exposure unit that exposes photographic paper (an example of a photosensitive material) with a laser beam, there are multiple types of conventional exposure units that have the same shape and structure but differ in performance. Thus, when using a product with different performance, an artificial setting corresponding to the performance is required.

  More specifically, this type of exposure unit is provided with laser light sources of three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), and acousto-optic conversion for controlling the amount of laser beams from these laser light sources. An element (AOM) is provided, and when exposure is performed, image data of a linear region is obtained from image data of a bitmap structure separated into three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Density data) is read out, and the corresponding acousto-optic conversion element is controlled based on the density data to adjust the light quantity of the laser beam, so that the image data of the line-shaped region can be exposed in the main scanning direction. ing.

  In addition, the light quantity values of the three types of laser light sources and the performance of the acousto-optic conversion element (AOM) vary depending on the manufacturer that manufactures them. Control parameters were set by operating. When the correction coefficient is considered as the control parameter, it is conceivable to multiply the correction coefficient at the time of transferring the image data, or to correct the entire image data of the bitmap structure based on the correction coefficient.

  However, if the control parameter is set artificially, an erroneous setting cannot be avoided and an apparatus that realizes a setting without an error has been desired. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a plurality of switches as described in Patent Document 1, but in the case of using a switch, it is erroneous due to a mechanical malfunction or an electrical contact failure inside the switch. The setting is also expected and there is room for improvement.

  An object of the present invention is to configure a printing apparatus that correctly recognizes the type of exposure unit and realizes proper printing.

A feature of the present invention is that it comprises an exposure system that exposes a photosensitive material with light rays emitted from an exposure unit, controls the exposure unit, and transmits image data converted into a digital signal to the exposure unit. A printing apparatus including a control unit for
The exposure unit includes an identification signal output unit that outputs a preset identification signal, and the control unit determines the type of the exposure unit based on the identification signal output from the identification signal output unit, and the determined exposure unit There is a parameter setting unit for setting control parameters corresponding to the above.

  With this configuration, the identification signal from the identification signal output unit of the exposure unit is transmitted to the control unit, whereby the control unit determines the type of the exposure unit, and based on the determination result, the parameter setting unit Set the control parameters corresponding to the exposure unit. That is, since no mechanically operated switches are provided, control parameters corresponding to the exposure unit can be set while avoiding erroneous setting due to operation failure or contact failure. As a result, a printing apparatus that correctly recognizes the exposure unit and realizes proper printing is configured.

  The present invention includes a signal cable that connects the control unit and the exposure unit, and the parameter setting unit obtains an identification signal from the identification information output unit via the signal cable by executing a setup process. And you may comprise so that the corresponding thing may be extracted as a control parameter among several control parameters based on an identification signal.

  With this configuration, when assembling the printing apparatus, the control unit and the exposure unit are connected by a signal cable, and the setup signal is executed to execute an identification signal from a plurality of control parameters based on the identification signal from the identification information output unit. By extracting the one corresponding to, optimal parameters can be used.

  In the present invention, the exposure unit is R (red), G (green), B (blue) in the main scanning direction which is a direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction with respect to the photosensitive material conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. The control parameter may be set as a numerical value representing the emission characteristics of the three primary color laser beams or a numerical value for setting the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material. good.

  With this configuration, based on numerical values representing the emission characteristics of the three primary color laser beams as control parameters, the color balance and brightness at the time of exposure are set appropriately, and the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material as the control parameters is set. It is also possible to appropriately set the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material at the time of exposure based on the numerical value.

  In the present invention, the control unit includes a control unit and a print control unit, and the control unit performs processing for transmitting image data to the exposure unit, and performs exposure processing by controlling the exposure unit, The print control unit may be configured to set the control parameter and output image data converted based on the control parameter and print execution data for executing printing to the control unit.

  With this configuration, the exposure unit is directly controlled by the control unit, and the control unit is controlled by the print control unit. In other words, it is conceivable that the exposure unit is provided with a mechanism for controlling an apparatus for performing exposure in the exposure unit. However, when the apparatus for performing exposure is a control unit, the control unit includes a plurality of exposure units. Since it can be used in common, it is possible to replace only the control unit or the exposure unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Overall Configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, the image information of a developed photographic film f (hereinafter referred to as film f) is converted into a digital signal, the digital signal is processed, and the entire system is processed. In addition to the operation part A that performs basic control, exposure processing and development processing were performed on a silver salt photographic paper P (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper P) as a photosensitive material, and drying processing was performed. A photographic printing apparatus referred to as a digital minilab is configured by including a printing unit B to be sent out later.

  [Operating Section] The operating section A includes a film scanner 2 that captures the information of the frame image of the film f into the desk-shaped console section 1 by converting it into a digital signal by photoelectric conversion, a display 3 that displays various information, and an image. A processing device 4 composed of a general-purpose computer that implements processing and various types of processing is arranged, and a keyboard 5 and a mouse 6 for inputting information are provided on the upper surface of the console unit 1. The processing device 4 is provided with a media drive 7 corresponding to the structure of the storage means so as to acquire information from a disk-type storage means such as a CD, MO or FD, or to acquire information from a semiconductor-type storage means. A semiconductor memory or a hard disk (not shown) for storing information is provided.

  The film scanner 2 has a light source section having a light emitting diode, a halogen lamp, etc. in the lower part, a zoom lens in the middle part, and image information from the zoom lens in the upper part as R (red) and G (green). , B (blue) line CCD type photoelectric conversion units that are separated into the three primary colors and fetched are arranged. In the film scanner 2, when scanning the film f, the film carrier 8 suitable for the size of the film f is mounted on the upper surface of the light source unit and scanning is started, so that the film f is scanned in the sub-scanning direction ( In synchronism with the operation of conveying in the longitudinal direction), the photoelectric conversion unit performs processing for capturing the image information of the film f as a digital signal along the main scanning direction, and the captured image information is stored in the processing device. 4 and stored in the semiconductor memory or hard disk.

  The processing device 4 includes an interface that implements various processes by operating the keyboard 5 and the mouse 6 according to information displayed on the display 3, and further, image information captured by the scanner 2 as described above, or Software that performs processing to store image information from a storage medium captured via the media drive 7 in the semiconductor memory or hard disk, and performs correction processing while displaying the image information on the display 3 when necessary. And software that realizes print processing in the print unit B by transmitting image information and processing information such as print size and number of prints to the print unit B is installed.

  [Printing Section] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing section B includes an exposure block Ex, a development block De, and a drying block Dr housed in a housing 10, and is external to the housing 10. Includes a conveying belt 11 that horizontally feeds the photographic paper P delivered from the upper part of the housing 10 after processing, and a plurality of trays that sort and accumulate the photographic paper P sent from the conveying belt 11 in order units. A sorter 13 having 12 is provided, and a rack 14 for receiving a large size photographic paper P is provided below the belt transport mechanism 11.

  In the exposure block Ex, two photographic paper magazines M, M are arranged in the lower part, an exposure unit F is arranged in the upper part, and a control device G as a control unit is arranged in the central part. In this exposure block Ex, the roll-shaped photographic paper P stored in one of the photographic paper magazines M, M is pulled out by the pressure-advanced advance roller 16 and cut into the print size by the cutter unit 17 and cut in this way. Necessary information is printed by the print head 18 on the back side of the photographic paper P, and then sent to the exposure path by a chuck unit 19 that sandwiches and conveys the photographic paper P.

  In the exposure path, the photographic paper P from the chuck unit 19 is received by the receiving roller 20, and the photographic paper P is moved upward (in the sub-scanning direction) by a pair of driving rollers 21 and a pair of driven rollers 22 corresponding thereto. ) In the main scanning direction with the laser beam from the exposure unit F at the exposure position while being conveyed. After the exposure, the photographic paper P is converted into the horizontal direction in the front conveyance path provided with the plurality of pressure rollers 23, and then arranged in two rows in the distribution path including the two chuckers 24. Further, it is configured such that it is transferred from a rear conveyance path having a plurality of pressure rollers 25 to a pressure-introducing type introduction roller 26 of the developing block De.

  The developing block De includes a developing tank 27 in which a plurality of processing tanks including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank are integrally formed, and a transport mechanism 28 that supplies the photographic paper P to each developing tank. It has. The drying block Dr is provided with a blower 29 that supplies air heated by a heater to the photographic printing paper P delivered from the developing block De.

  The photographic printing apparatus described above is not fundamentally different from the conventional one. In the present invention, the type of the exposure unit F is recognized by the control apparatus G without error, and an appropriate printing process is realized. It is a feature.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the control device G as a control unit includes a control unit G1 and a print control unit G2, and the exposure unit F and the control unit G1 have a signal cable 46 having a connector 45. The control unit G1 and the print control unit G2 are connected via a signal cable 46 having a connector 45.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the exposure unit F includes a housing 32 of a light metal alloy such as an aluminum alloy having a sealed structure having a dust-proof glass 31 at an opening for sending out a laser beam, and a laser housed in the housing 32. And a light source unit.

  The laser light source unit adjusts R (red), G (green), and B (blue) laser light sources 33r, 33g, and 33b, and the intensity (light amount) of the laser beam from the laser light sources 33r, 33g, and 33b. Acousto-optic conversion elements 34r, 34g, 34b, beam mirrors 35r, 35g, 35b for reflecting the laser beam, a polygon mirror 36 for guiding the laser beam from the beam mirrors 35r, 35g, 35b, and the polygon mirror 36. The mirror motor 37 that rotates in synchronization with the drive signal, the fθ lens group 38 that guides the laser beam reflected by the mirror surface 36m of the polygon mirror 36 to the photographic paper P at the exposure position X, and the laser beam from the polygon mirror 36 are scanned. Synchronous sensor that detects the timing of reaching the end from the laser beam reflected by the timing mirror 39 And a support 40. The laser light source 33 is a generic name for the three laser light sources 33r, 33g, and 33b, and the acousto-optic conversion element 34 is a generic name for the three acousto-optic conversion elements 34r, 34g, and 34b.

  The polygon mirror 36 is supported by the driving force from the mirror motor 37 so as to be rotatable around the axial center Y in the vertical orientation. The mirror motor 37 has a structure that rotates at a rotational speed corresponding to the frequency of the drive signal by supplying a drive signal from the outside, and the polygon mirror 36 is viewed in a direction along the axis Y. A plurality of the mirror surfaces 36m are formed by finishing the outer peripheral surface to be a regular polygon into a flat mirror surface. The fθ lens group 38 is composed of a plurality of cylindrical lenses, and a laser beam that is equiangularly scanned (scanned at a constant angular velocity) in the main scanning direction by the rotation of the polygon mirror 36 is scanned at a constant velocity on the photosensitive surface of the photographic paper P. It functions to convert to a laser beam (scanning at a constant linear velocity).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the exposure unit F includes an identification information output unit 41. This identification information output unit 41 has a plurality of bits (for example, 2 bits) and has a function of storing and outputting an identification signal specific to the type based on the type of the exposure unit F. Specifically, the exposure unit F does not include a processing system such as a microprocessor, and the laser light source 33, the acousto-optic conversion element 34, and the mirror motor 37 are configured to be controlled from the control unit G1, A signal system for sending identification information from the identification information output unit 41 is constituted by a dedicated path in the signal cable 46. In addition, the identification information output unit 41 is configured to output a 2-bit identification signal, and a state in which a voltage is applied to two dedicated paths (a path for applying a voltage is separately required) It becomes a simple structure that is maintained in any state of not being in a state (being in a state of being grounded), and naturally, with the 2-bit identification information, the four types of exposure units F can be identified.

  The control unit G1 includes the motor control unit 51 that controls the mirror motor 37, the light source control unit 52 that controls the laser light source 33 of the exposure unit F, and the acousto-optics using the synchronization signal from the synchronization sensor 40 as an operation reference. An exposure control unit 53 that controls the conversion element 34 and a relay unit 54 that relays an identification signal from the identification information output unit 41 are provided.

  The print control unit G2 has an input system for order data, image data, and a setup command, and stores a control data storage unit 61 for storing control data generated based on the order data, and the image data. In addition to an original image data storage unit 62 and a parameter setting unit 63 for inputting the setup command, a control parameter storage unit 64, a parameter table 65, and a print data storage unit 66 are provided.

  The control data storage unit 61 functions to realize control for executing printing based on the order data, and the original image data storage unit 62 uses three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The parameter table 65 functions to store image data having a corresponding bit mac structure, and the parameter table 65 is a control for converting the image data stored in the original image data storage unit 62 into image data having an optimal structure when the exposure unit is exposed The control parameter storage unit 64 functions to set parameters and store the converted image data in the print data storage unit 66. The control parameter storage unit 64 has a number of control parameters corresponding to a plurality of preset exposure units F. Is saved.

  The print control unit G2 executes a setup routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 to perform processing for storing the control parameters corresponding to the exposure unit F in the parameter table 65. That is, when the setup routine is executed, the parameter setting unit 63 acquires the identification information from the identification information output unit 41 via the relay unit 54 by outputting a command for acquiring the identification signal (# 01, step # 02). After acquiring the identification information in this way, the parameter setting unit 63 extracts the control parameter corresponding to the identification information from the control parameter storage unit 64 and sets the parameter in the parameter table 65 (# 03, # 04). Step).

  In this setup routine, a setting terminal is connected to the print control unit G2, and a process for configuring the print control unit G2 so that it can be executed by inputting a setup command from the terminal. Any processing form of processing executed by transmitting the setup command may be used.

  The control parameters set in the parameter table 65 perform optimum printing corresponding to the performance and characteristics of the laser light source 33 and the performance and emission characteristics of the acousto-optic conversion element 34 when the exposure unit F performs image data exposure. Therefore, the image data stored in the original image data storage unit 62 is converted and stored in the print data storage unit 66 as image data having an optimal structure. Is. Incidentally, as the control parameter, the original image data may not be converted and may be a parameter for correcting the drive data when the acousto-optic conversion element 34 is driven by the exposure control unit 53, The control parameter may include data for setting the conveyance speed of the photographic paper P.

  When print processing is executed with the control parameters set in the parameter table 65 in this way, the converted image data is stored in the print data storage unit 66, and the stored image data (R · The three primary colors G and B) are sent to the control unit G1 in units of one line along the main scanning direction, so that the control unit G1 exposes image data in units of one line for each output timing based on the signal from the synchronous sensor 40. Exposure is performed for each line sent to the unit F along the main scanning direction.

  That is, in this type of photographic printing apparatus, it is necessary to use a plurality of types having different laser beam emission characteristics, exposure performance, and characteristics in the exposure unit F, as in the case of using parts having different performance and characteristics. Therefore, by providing identification information to a plurality of types of exposure units F in advance and providing the identification information of the exposure units F to the control device G via the signal cable 46, the control device G On the side, the type of the exposure unit F is discriminated without error, and based on the discrimination result, appropriate parameters are set to generate image data that realizes printing. Based on this image data, the acousto-optic conversion element 34 is simply set. By simply performing the driving process, the color balance and brightness can be printed optimally. In particular, according to the present invention, since switches are not provided, erroneous determination due to mechanical operation failure or electrical contact failure is not caused.

  In the present invention, since the control unit G1 controls the laser light source 33, the acousto-optic conversion element 34, and the mirror motor 37 that constitute the exposure unit F, the exposure unit F has a mechanism for performing advanced processing such as a microprocessor. The exposure unit F can be simplified and miniaturized.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(A) The control unit (control device G) is configured by a combination of a control system such as the control unit G1 and the print control unit G2 provided in the printing unit B and the processing device 4 of the operating unit A. That is, by connecting a communication line between the control system provided in the print unit B and the processing device 4 of the operating unit A, the control unit including the processing device 4 functions so that the exposure unit F can be controlled. Thereby, the control parameter can be confirmed using the input terminal or the display 3 provided in the operating unit A.

(B) The identification information from the identification information output unit 41 of the exposure unit F is configured to be transmitted via a signal path for accessing information between the exposure unit F and the control unit (control device G). When the signal path is used in this way, the exposure unit F is provided with a processing system that realizes relatively high-level communication, but it is not necessary to form a communication path for sending identification information.

(C) The control parameter set in the control unit (control device G) and the identification information identified by the parameter identification unit 63 can be displayed on the display 3 of the operating unit A. By configuring in this way, when performing maintenance of the printing unit B and the exposure unit F, and when performing tuning, the type of the exposure unit F can be accurately grasped, and the appropriateness of setting of the control parameters can be easily performed. It becomes.

Perspective view of photo printing device Longitudinal front view of photo printing device Plan view showing the structure of the exposure unit Block diagram of control system Setup routine flowchart

Explanation of symbols

41 Identification information output unit 46 Signal cable 63 Parameter setting unit F Exposure unit G Control unit G1 Control unit G2 Print control unit

Claims (4)

An exposure system that exposes the photosensitive material with light rays emitted from the exposure unit, and a control unit that controls the exposure unit and transmits image data converted into a digital signal to the exposure unit. A printing device,
The exposure unit includes an identification signal output unit that outputs a preset identification signal, and the control unit determines the type of the exposure unit based on the identification signal output from the identification signal output unit, and the determined exposure unit Printing apparatus comprising a parameter setting unit for setting control parameters corresponding to the above.   A signal cable for connecting the control unit and the exposure unit; and the parameter setting unit obtains an identification signal from the identification information output unit via the signal cable by executing a setup process; The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a corresponding one of the plurality of control parameters is extracted as a control parameter based on the control parameter.   A laser of three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) in the main scanning direction that is perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction with respect to the photosensitive material conveyed by the exposure unit in the sub-scanning direction. The exposure apparatus is configured to perform exposure in a form of scanning a beam, and the control parameter is set as a numerical value indicating an emission characteristic of a laser beam of three primary colors or a numerical value for setting a conveyance speed of the photosensitive material. The printing apparatus according to 2.   The control unit includes a control unit and a print control unit. The control unit performs processing for transmitting image data to the exposure unit, and performs exposure processing by controlling the exposure unit. The exposure control unit 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control parameter is set, and image data converted based on the control parameter and print execution data for executing printing are output to the control unit. The printing apparatus according to item 1.

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