JPH04367856A - Photographic print receiving and delivering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely receive and deliver a photographic print after being developed, from a first sorter to a second sorter. CONSTITUTION:When the photographic print carried in the direction of the arrow F by the first sorter 34, reaches a taking out part 61, the photographic print is received and delivered to a guiding stick 66. A pusher 68 moves the photographic print up to the insertion port of the second sorter 36 along the guiding stick 66 by the driving of a motor 72. A housing plate 86 receives the photographic print on the guiding stick 66 and moves the photographic print in the direction of an arrow H by the rotation of the second sorter 36. The sprocket wheel 82 of the second sorter 36 is disposed in a location lower than that of the sprocket wheel 55 of the first sorter 34, so that the receipt and delivery of the photographic print can be surely performed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic print delivery device for sequentially storing photographic prints that have been developed into a plurality of sorters.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Photographic prints produced by printing a negative film image onto photographic paper and subjecting the photographic paper to a series of development processes are preferably stored separately for each order. For this purpose, it is convenient to provide a sorter and have the photographic prints of each order stored in each storage section of the sorter to distinguish them.

However, when the distance from the exit of the developing section to the operator's hand is long, or when it is desired to change the conveyance direction by the sorter midway, it is necessary to connect multiple sorters in series. Photo prints will be passed between the sorters. This transfer operation needs to be done quickly and accurately.

0004

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention provides a photo print delivery device that can perform reliable delivery operations even when a large number of photo prints are sequentially delivered to a plurality of sorters for each order. The purpose is to obtain.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The invention according to the present application is such that * number of storage sections each containing a photographic print are circulated from an insertion section to an ejection section, so that the photographic prints that have been developed are transferred to the insertion section. The first sorter is sequentially moved from the insertion part to the take-out part, and the first sorter is moved in a circular manner from the insertion part to the take-out part, and a large number of storage parts each accommodating photographic prints are moved in a circular manner from the insertion part to the take-out part.
A second sorter sequentially moves photographic prints received from the sorter to a take-out part and has an insertion part located at a lower position than the take-out part of the first sorter; The present invention is characterized by having a guide path disposed over the insertion section, and extrusion means for pushing out the photographic prints in the storage section in the take-out section of the first sorter along the guide path to the insertion section of the second sorter. .

[0006]

[Operation] In the invention according to the present application, photographic prints that have undergone a series of development processes are stored in the storage section from the insertion section of the first sorter. When the storage section in which the photographic prints of the first sorter are stored reaches the take-out section, the pushing means sends the photographic prints in the storage section along the guide path to the insertion section of the second sorter. In this case, since the insertion section of the second sorter is arranged at a lower position than the ejection section of the first sorter, the photographic prints can be transferred smoothly.

Specifically, a step is provided so that the axis of the folding sprocket foil in the storage section in the take-out section of the first sorter is located at a higher position than the axis of the folding sprocket wheel in the insertion section of the second sorter. can be placed. Further, as a guide path, a guide rod can be extended from the take-out part of the first sorter to the insertion part of the second sorter.

[0008]

【Example】

(Overall Configuration) FIGS. 1 to 4 show an automatic developing machine 10 to which the present invention is applied.

The automatic developing machine 10 is integrally provided with a printing section 13 in front of a developing section 12 and a print delivery section 14 at the rear thereof. In the printing section 13, a negative film F which has been developed in advance is wound onto a reel 16, and is sent out from the leading end in the direction of arrow A through a negative mask 18. An optical means 19 and a photographic paper accommodating section 21 are provided above the negative mask 18, and a light source section 22 is provided below the negative mask 18. The image on the negative film F placed on the negative mask 18 is printed by the printing port of the light source section 22 onto the photographic paper pulled out from the photographic paper storage section 21, and then the photographic paper is transferred to the developing section 1.
It is designed to be sent within 2.

A series of development processing sections such as a developing tank, a fixing tank, a washing tank, and a drying section are arranged within the developing section 12.
The photographic paper after being developed and dried becomes a photographic print P and is sent out from the print delivery section 14 (in the direction of arrow D).

On the other hand, the negative film F sent out from the negative mask 18 in the direction of arrow A is wound around a plurality of guide rollers 24 and then sent in the direction of arrow B, which is perpendicular to the direction of arrow A, to a negative cut inserter 26. It has come to this point. However, this negative cut inserter 26 is provided with a cutter that cuts the negative film F every order and every several frames (for example, every 6 frames) while keeping in mind the frame positions of the negative film F. Further, a negative sheet S for storing the cut negative film F is placed on a sheet reel 2.
The negative film F is sequentially stored in the negative sheet S pulled out from the sheet reel 28, and then sent out to the sheet storage section 29.

After the development process is completed, the photographic print P is sent out from the print delivery section 14 and transferred to a horizontal sorter 32.
One or more sheets for one order are collected. A first sorter 34 and a second sorter 36 are connected in series to this horizontal sorter 32, and the photo prints P are transferred to the first sorter 3.
4 and then to the second sorter 36, so that the worker facing the direction of the arrow C can pick up the photographic prints P taken out from the second sorter 36 and the negative film F having the corresponding image therein. The negative sheets can be sent together to the next process.

(Structure of Horizontal Sorter) As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal sorter 32 is provided with a generally U-shaped storage plate 42 that is open upward, and the prints are sent out one by one from the print delivery section 14. The falling photographic prints P are stored one on top of the other (in the direction of arrow D). The first sorter 34 is arranged on one side of this accommodation plate 42, and the pusher 44 is arranged on the opposite side. This pusher 44
is fixed to one end of a slide bar 45, and the slide bar 45 is movable by rollers 46 in the sending direction of the photographic print P (in the direction of arrow E). The slide bar 45 is connected near the tip of a lever 48, and the lever 48 has an intermediate portion connected to a crank 49.
When the crank 49 is rotated by the motor 51, the lever 48 swings back and forth, and the pusher 44 moves the photographic prints P in the storage plate 42 to the first sorter 34 by arrow E.
It is designed to send out in the direction.

(Configuration of the first sorter) This first sorter 34
The upper sprocket wheel 54 is located at the same height as the horizontal sorter 32, and the lower sprocket wheel 55 is located below the upper sprocket wheel 54 and at the rear of the automatic processor 10 (toward the right in FIG. 2). An endless chain 56 is wound around the endless chain 56 at a constant pitch P.
A large number of storage plates 58 are attached at T. These accommodation plates 58 have attachment parts 58A whose bases are bent at right angles, and these accommodation plates 58 have attachment parts 58A whose bases are bent at right angles, and these attachment parts 58A serve as fixing parts to the endless chain 56. ing. Further, this mounting portion 58A serves as a portion that supports the edges of the photographic prints P to be accommodated. The space between the pair of opposing storage plates 58 is used as a storage part, and the driving force of a motor (not shown) moves from the insertion part 60 corresponding to the horizontal sorter 32 to the extraction part 61 corresponding to the second sorter 36 in the direction of arrow F. It is designed to be moved by During this movement, the photographic print P placed in the storage section is supported by leaning against the storage plate 58 on the lower side of the storage section.

As shown in FIG. 6, these storage plates 58 protrude at right angles from the endless chain 56, and are reversed near the part where they wrap around the lower sprocket wheel 55, thereby guiding the photographic prints P stored therein. 62. This guide means 62 is arranged between the take-out part 61 of the first sorter 34 and the insertion part 88 of the second sorter 36, and as shown in FIG. A longitudinally intermediate portion of the guide rod 66 is fixed. One end 66A of these guide rods 66 enters into the take-out portion 61 of the first sorter 34, and the other end 66A
B has entered the insertion portion 60 of the second sorter 36. Therefore, a notch 58B is formed in the housing plate 58 so that the one end 66A and the housing plate 58 do not come into contact with each other. Of the three guide rods 66, the two guide rods 66 that are placed near the tip of the support plate 64 are placed at a position away from the endless chain 56 so that they do not interfere with the locus of movement of the storage plate 58, and are not accommodated. Even when the size of the photo print P is large, the photo print P can be reliably loaded.

Since the guide means 62 is arranged in this manner, the accommodation plate 5 of the first sorter 34 that has reached the take-out portion 61
The photo prints 8 are rotated downward from the guide rods 66 and moved while leaving the photographic prints P stored thereon on the guide rods 66. Note that the tips of one ends 66A and 66B of the guide rod 66 are connected to the first sorter 34 and the second sorter 3.
6, that is, the length passes through the widthwise center of the photographic print P, so that the photographic print P can be supported reliably.

[0017] The second sorter 34 receives the second
A pusher 68 is arranged on the opposite side of the sorter 36. This pusher 68 is connected to the insertion portion 60 of the first sorter 34.
Similar to the pusher 44 located in the slide bar 69
The driving force of the motor 72 is transmitted by turning the lever 70 and the crank 71, and moves in the direction of arrow G to move the photographic print P placed on the one end 66A of the guide means 62 to one end. 66B, i.e. the second sorter 3
It is adapted to be moved along a guide rod 66 in six directions. In order to reliably move the pusher 68 toward the second sorter 36, the support plate 64 is provided with a recess 64A.

A limit switch 74 is provided slightly upstream of the take-out portion 61 of the first sorter 34. This limit switch 74 is configured such that the detection arm 74A enters into a notch 58C provided on the opposite side of the notch 58B of the storage plate 58, and the edge of the photographic print P supported by the storage plate 58 The presence or absence of the photographic print P can be detected by making contact with it. This limit switch 74 corresponds to the upstream side of the receiving part 61 of the first sorter 34 by one pitch of the storage part, and the control means 76 (FIG.
) is compared with the presence or absence of the photographic print P in the storage unit, and even if this comparison does not match, the pusher 68
It is designed to operate.

This control means 76 controls the first
The number of prints from which negative film F are stored in each storage section of the sorter 34 is stored. Based on this memory content, the first sorter take-out section 61 is the storage section that is determined to contain the photo print P.
The limit switch 74 may detect the presence of a photographic print even though the print has just arrived. In this state, when the operator temporarily takes out the photo prints from the storage section of the first sorter 34, checks the print finish, etc., and then returns them to the first sorter 34, the operator may put the photo prints back in the wrong place (storage section). Occurs due to things such as.

In this case, the pusher 68 is activated when the storage section reaches the take-out section 61, and the photographic prints P are transferred to the insertion section 88 of the second sorter 36, thereby preventing the photographic prints P from being damaged. Ru. (Structure of the second sorter 36) In the second sorter 36, an endless chain 84 is stretched between a first sprocket wheel 82 and a second sprocket wheel 83 that are arranged at the same height. Attachment part 8 of housing plate 86
6A is fixed, and similarly to the housing plate 58, it receives a motor driving force and is driven and rotated in the direction of arrow H every pitch.

These housing plates 86 are also formed with a notch 86B corresponding to one end 66B of the guide means 62. In this second sorter 36, a portion corresponding to the take-out portion 61 of the first sorter 34 extends from the insertion portion 88, and a portion corresponding to the second sprocket wheel 83 on the opposite side in the horizontal direction extends from the take-out portion 89.
It becomes. If the photographic print P cannot be taken out between the insertion section 88 and the extraction section 89, the storage plate 86 turns around the second sprocket wheel 83 and moves downward, so that the stored photographic print P is not placed. 92.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first sorter 34
In the take-out part 61 and the insertion part 88 of the second sorter 36, the accommodation plate 86 is arranged slightly below the guide rod 66, and the accommodation plate 58 is arranged further below this accommodation plate 86 so that they each stop. It has become. Therefore, the guide rod 66
When the pusher 68 is driven in the direction of the arrow G by the motor 72, the photographic print P placed on the top slides from one end 66A to the other end 66B and reaches the storage plate 86 of the second sorter 36.
will be moved slightly upwards. In this state, when the second sorter 36 moves in the direction of arrow H, the photographic print P placed on one end 66B is scooped up by the storage plate 86 and delivered to the second sorter 36.

In order to smoothly carry out this transfer operation, the sprocket wheel 82 of the second sorter 36 is placed below the sprocket wheel 55 of the first sorter 34 by a length L (FIG. 6).

A sensor 94 (FIG. 12) for detecting the presence or absence of photographic prints P in each storage section is provided at a necessary position, such as immediately before the takeout section 89 of the second sorter 36. It corresponds to the notch 86B. .

(Configuration of negative cut inserter 26) FIG. 1
As shown in FIG. 2, in this negative cut inserter 26, a negative sheet S previously formed into a bag shape is wound up and stored on a sheet reel 28, and this negative sheet S is pulled out from the sheet reel 28 and sent to the negative insertion section 102. When the negative film F is cut into short lengths from the lateral direction, the negative film F is fed in the direction of the arrow B and housed in the negative sheet S. The negative sheets S, in which the negative films F are sequentially accommodated in this way, are sent to the cutting section 104, and are cut for each order.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cutter used for the cutting section 104 has a cutter stand 10 whose longitudinal cross section is approximately L-shaped.
A plurality of short cutters 107 are placed on the holding plate 108.
It is now fixed in place.

A plurality of fixing pins 111 protrude from the cutter stand 106 at regular intervals and are inserted into the elongated hole 107A of the short cutter 107. Also, the fixing pin 111 is connected to the elongated hole 10.
A screw hole 112 is formed in the cutter base 106 in a state corresponding to one end of the long hole 7A and the other end of the elongated hole 107A. Therefore, if the elongated hole 108A formed in the holding plate 108 is aligned with the elongated hole 107A, the elongated hole 108A will also be connected to the fixing pin 11.
1 and is positioned by the tip of the elongated hole 1.
When the fixing screw 114 is screwed into the screw hole 112 through 08A, the cutter 107 is clamped and fixed between the cutter stand 106 and the holding plate 108. In this fixed state, the cutting edge 107B of the cutter 107 protrudes from the holding plate 108 and the cutter stand 106 so that it can come into contact with the negative sheet S.

The cutter table 106 is attached to a carriage 116, and by reciprocating the carriage 116 toward a rubber plate 118 disposed on the opposite side of the moving trajectory of the negative sheet S, the cutting edge 107B cuts the negative sheet S. It is now possible to do so.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of nipping and conveying rollers 122 disposed upstream of the cutting section 104 sandwich the negative sheet S and send it to the cutting section 104.
A nipping conveyance roller 124 disposed downstream of 04 pushes out the cut negative sheet S to the sheet storage section 29 (in the direction of arrow J). This nipping conveyance roller 12
4 is set to be slightly faster than the nipping and conveying roller 122, and even if there is an uncut portion of the negative sheet S cut by the plurality of cutters 107 in the cutting section 104, a tensile force is applied to the negative sheet S. The negative sheet S is cut reliably.

(Configuration of sheet storage section 29) FIGS. 7 to 10
As shown in FIG.
The negative sheet S sent out in the direction is placed on a pair of guide plates 128 and 129 of the sheet storage section 29 at both end portions thereof. As shown in FIG. 10, these guide plates 128 and 129 have a substantially U-shape that opens downward, and one end of the U-shape of the guide plate 128 is fixed to the outer box 132 of the sheet storage section 29. has been done. Also, information board 12
A bearing 133 attached to one end of the housing 9 is pivotally supported to the outer box 132 by a support shaft 134 . As a result, the guide plate 129 moves downward 1/2 around the support shaft 134.
Although it is designed to be able to rotate four times (in the direction of arrow K), it is urged to rotate upward by a tension coil spring 135 interposed between it and the outer box 132, as shown in FIG. The top surfaces of the guide plates 128 and 129 are horizontal planes, so that both ends of the negative sheet S can be guided horizontally in the direction of arrow J. These guide plates 128 and 129 have approximately L-shaped upper guide plates 138 and 139.
is fixed. These upper guide plates 138 and 139 have one end disposed parallel to the top surfaces of the guide plates 128 and 129, and a U-shaped guide opening 141 that guides the negative sheet S between the top surfaces of the guide plates 128 and 129. , 142 are formed. The upper guide plate 139 is formed higher than the upper guide plate 138, so that the height of the guide opening 142 is higher than that of the guide opening 14.
It is set higher than 1.

A spring locking piece 139A extends vertically upward from the tip of the upper guide plate 139 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
A plurality of pins 144 are fixed in the horizontal direction to this spring locking piece 139A. These pins 144 protrude toward the upper guide plate 138,
The proximal ends of the pull-down springs 145 are respectively attached. These pull-down springs 145 have their bases connected to pins 144.
This is a tension coil spring that is press-fitted into and supported by the spring and has a free end. Therefore, this withdrawal spring 145
Although the axis thereof is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction in the states shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, it is elastically bendable to prevent damage to the negative sheet S when it is pulled down. Note that attaching a rubber plate or the like to the tip will ensure reliable withdrawal.

A pair of winding pulleys 147 are each pivotally supported on opposing surfaces of the guide plates 128 and 129, and an endless round belt 148 is wound around them. These endless round belts 1
The straight parts arranged above 48 are guide plates 128 and 129.
It is disposed slightly above the top surface of , and has the role of sending out the negative sheet S in the direction of arrow J. In addition, in order to ensure that the negative sheet S comes into contact with the endless belt 148 when sending out the negative sheet S, a guide plate 146 is provided which corresponds to the widthwise center of the negative sheet S and whose tip protrudes to a position lower than the height of the endless belt 148. It is provided and protrudes from the outer case 132 via the bracket 146A.

A drive shaft 151 for driving these endless round belts 148 is horizontally supported by the outer box 132. The end of the drive shaft 151 is connected to a drive source such as a motor, and a pair of transmission rollers 152 fixed to the middle of the drive shaft 151 are brought into contact with the winding pulley 147 from above and transmit its rotational force. The power is transmitted to an endless round belt 148 via these winding pulleys 147. Therefore, the motor driving force is always transmitted to the winding pulley 147 that is pivotally supported on the guide plate 128, but when the winding pulley 147 that is pivotally supported on the guide plate 129 rotates in the direction of arrow K, the transmission roller 1
52, and the drive rotation is stopped.

A crank 157 is connected and supported on the guide plate 129 via links 153, 154, 155, and 156 as shown in FIG. 11, and by being connected to the output shaft of a motor 158, Motor 1
When 58 is rotated, it is rotated by 1/4 in the direction of arrow K. This motor 158 is operated when the negative sheet S is inserted a predetermined amount into the guide openings 141 and 142. Therefore, when the motor 158 rotates, the guide plate 129 rotates around the support shaft 134 to direct one end of the negative sheet S in the width direction downward, and the pull-down spring 145 applies a force to bend the intermediate portion of the negative sheet S downward. One widthwise end of the negative sheet S guided by the guide plate 128 is placed on the guide plate 12 first.
After dropping the negative sheet S from the guide plate 129, the other end of the negative sheet S in the width direction is also dropped from the guide plate 129, and the negative sheet S is dropped onto the inclined mounting table 159.

Note that a lid 161 corresponding to the lowest position of this inclined mounting table 159 and forming a side surface of the outer box 132 (toward the left in FIG. 8) is pivoted to the outer box 132 by a support shaft 162. Although the side of the outer box 132 is closed by its own weight, the operator can rotate this lid 161 in the direction of arrow M to take out the negative sheet S inside from the tilted mounting table 159. ing.

For this reason, a semicircular notch 1 is provided in the lid 161 and the inclined mounting table 159 so that the operator can easily open the lid 161.
61A and 159A are provided respectively.

(Operation of the Embodiment) When an image is printed from the negative film F onto photographic paper in the printing section 13, the photographic paper is sent to the developing section 12, where it is dried and cut after a series of development processes. The photo print P is then taken out from the print delivery section 14. Print feed section 1
The photographic prints P sent out in the direction of the arrow D from 4 are placed into the storage plate 42 of the horizontal sorter 32 in the form of one or more photographic prints 1
Orders are accumulated. Then, the pusher 44 is moved in the direction of arrow E by the driving force of the motor 51, and the photographic prints P in the storage plate 42 are sent out in the direction of arrow E and inserted into the storage section in the insertion section 60 of the first sorter 34. .

The first sorter 34 is then driven in the direction of arrow F to move the storage section from the insertion section 60 to the removal section 61. In the take-out section 61, the photo print P is delivered onto the guide rod 66 of the guide means 62 by the rotation of the storage plate 58, so that the pusher 68 moves the photo print P along the guide rod 66 by the driving force of the motor 72. and move it from one end 66A to one end 66B. Here, as the second sorter 36 rotates, the storage plate 86 receives the photographic print P from the guide rod 66 and moves it from the insertion section 88 toward the removal section 89. As a result, the photographic prints P taken out from the high position of the automatic developing machine 10 are transferred to the horizontal sorter 32 and the second sorter 36.
The operator can easily take out the photographic prints P from inside the second sorter 36 located at this low position.

On the other hand, the negative film F sent out from the printing unit 13 in the direction of arrow A is changed in direction by a plurality of guide rollers 24 in the direction of arrow B, and is cut into predetermined frames in the negative insertion unit 102 before being transferred to a sheet reel. The negative sheets S are sequentially inserted into the negative sheets S pulled out from 28. When the negative sheet S accommodates one order of negative film F, the negative sheet S is cut in the cutting section 104.

As shown in FIG. 9, a commercially available thin-blade cutter can be used as the cutter 107 of the cutting section 104, resulting in low cost and easy repair and replacement. Since the plurality of cutters 107 are arranged linearly, when the negative sheet S is cut along the width direction, the cut negative sheet S
after being moved in the direction of arrow H in FIG. 11, the guide plate 128,
129 on both sides thereof. In this case, the nipping conveyance roller 124 pulls the negative sheet S at a higher circumferential speed than the nipping conveyance roller 122, so even if the cutting by the cutter 107 is incomplete, the negative sheet S will surely receive the tensile force and the remaining cut portion will be broken. Ru.

Both ends of the negative sheet S guided in the direction of arrow J are connected to guide openings 141 by an endless round belt 148.
142, all of the negative sheets S are sent through the guide plate 128.
, 129, the motor 158 is operated,
Guide plate 129 is rotated in the direction of arrow K. As a result, the pull-down spring 145 bends the widthwise middle part of the negative sheet S downward, so that one widthwise end of the entire length of the negative sheet S first comes off the guide plate 128 and moves downward, and then the other widthwise end One end comes off the guide plate 129 and falls. In this way, the pivoting movement of the guide plate 129 and the pulling spring 145
Since the withdrawal operation is also carried out, after one end of the negative sheet S in the width direction comes off the guide plate 128, it is quickly dropped onto the inclined mounting table 159. Then, the operator takes out the photographic prints P on the second sorter 80 and the negative sheets S containing the corresponding negative films F from the second sorter 36 and the inclined mounting table 159, respectively, and bags them, thereby proceeding to the next process. and send it off.

Next, the photographic prints P sent out from the print delivery section 14 and delivered to the horizontal sorter 32 are transferred to the first sorter 3.
4. The state of being moved to the second sorter 36 will be explained.

(Second Sorter Priority Mode) FIG. 12 shows a mode for fast forwarding photographic prints P to the second sorter 36. That is, as shown in FIG. 12(A), when the photo prints P (indicated by diagonal lines) are received from the horizontal sorter 32 into the insertion section 60 of the first sorter 34, the first sorter 34
As shown in FIGS. 12(B) and 12(C), the photographic prints P are immediately moved continuously to the take-out part 61, and the photographic prints P in the take-out part 61 are moved by the pusher 68 to the second sorter in the direction of arrow G. 36 to the insertion section 88. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 12(E) to 12(H), each time the next order of photo prints P is inserted from the horizontal sorter 32 into the insertion section 60 of the first sorter 34, the first sorter 34 The photographic prints P are continuously fast-forwarded and the photographic prints P are successively stored in a storage section next to the first order of photographic prints P already stored in a second sorter 36. Note that the second sorter 36 is used to store photo prints P.
Each time an item is received from the first sorter 34, the arrow H is moved by one pitch.
sent in the direction.

When the photographic prints P are taken out from the developing section 12, they are immediately stored in the storage sections of the second sorter 36 side by side. Therefore, the operator can easily take out the photographic prints P on this second sorter 36.

Next, FIG. 13 shows the subsequent operation when the second sorter priority mode is continued in this manner. That is, FIG. 13B shows a case where all the photographic prints P are stored in each storage section of the second sorter 36 by the fast-forwarding operation of the first sorter 34. In this figure 13 (
In A), the storage sections downstream of the insertion section 88 of the second sorter 36 and the storage section to which the sensor 94 corresponds do not accommodate photographic prints, but these are left open for reserve purposes. When all the photo prints P are stored in each storage section of the second sorter 36, the first sorter 34 moves one pitch at a time without performing a fast forward operation, as shown in FIGS. 13(C) to (G). The storage section of the first sorter 34 is used as a storage section for photographic prints. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13(H), all the photos are taken for each storage section of the second sorter 36 except for the insertion section 88 and the extraction section 89, and for each storage section of the first sorter 34 except for the insertion section 60 and the extraction section 61. This operation will continue until the print P is accommodated. In this case, if the operator takes out the photographic prints P one after another from the tip of the second sorter 36, that is, from the take-out section 89 side, the first sorter 34 immediately takes out the photo prints P from the tip of the second sorter 36 through the take-out section 61 and then the second sorter. It is delivered to the insertion section 88 of the sorter 36.

(First and second sorter combination mode) Next, FIG.
4 indicates a mode in which the first sorter 34 and the second sorter 36 are used together. In other words, (A) to (E) in FIG. 14 show the operation of moving the photographic prints P sent from the horizontal sorter 32 to the first sorter 34 one pitch at a time in order to accommodate them in each storage section of the first sorter 34. Figure 1
4(F), after all the photo prints P are accommodated in each accommodation section of the first sorter 34, the first sorter 34
The photographic prints P are sequentially transferred from the take-out section 61 of the printer to the insertion section 88 of the second sorter 36, and the second sorter 36 is also moved one pitch at a time.

(Transition from second sorter priority mode to combination mode) FIG. 15A shows that in the second sorter priority mode, photo prints P are placed in each of the five storage sections following the insertion section 88 of the second sorter 36. The first sorter 34 shows a state in which the photographic print P is in the middle of the photo print P being fast-forwarded in the first sorter 34, and a case will be described in which a transition to the first and second sorter combination mode is made in this state. When the photo prints P are sent from the horizontal sorter 32 to the insertion section 60 of the first sorter 34 as shown in FIG. 15(B), the first sorter 34 cancels continuous fast forwarding, and thereafter performs forwarding every pitch. . From FIG. 15(C) to FIG. 15(G), while the first sorter 34 continues to feed one pitch at a time, the second sorter 36 is stopped;
After the photos are stored, the second sorter 36 sequentially receives the photo prints P from the first sorter 34 and
It starts feeding every pitch in synchronization with .

(Transition from combination mode to second sorter priority mode) FIG. 16(A) shows that in the first and second sorter combination mode, photos are printed in the first sorter 34 in ten storage areas following the insertion part. A case is shown in which the transition to the second sorter priority mode is made in a state where P is accommodated. In FIG. 16(B), the first sorter 34 is fast-forwarded, and the first photographic print P is transferred from the take-out section 61 to the insertion section 88. In FIG. 16(C), the insertion portion 60 of the first sorter 34
Photographic prints P are stored from the horizontal sorter 32. Here, all the photo prints P that were in the first sorter 34 before the transfer are transferred to the second sorter 36 (FIGS. 16(D) to 16(F)).
), the first sorter 34 is fast-forwarded and the photographic prints P are delivered to the second sorter 36. After that, the second sorter priority mode operation similar to that shown in FIG. 12 is performed.

[0049]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect in that photographic prints can be appropriately delivered to a plurality of sorters.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automatic processor to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing each sorter.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a transfer section between a first sorter and a second sorter.

7 is a right side view of FIG. 6. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the sheet storage section.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a negative sheet cutter.

10 is a left side view of FIG. 8 showing the sheet storage section.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the sheet storage section.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a second sorter priority mode in the sorter.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the operation when the second sorter is full.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a combined mode of first and second sorters.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the transition from the second paper priority mode to the combination mode.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a transition from the combination mode to the second paper priority mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

34 First sorter 36 Second sorter 55 Lower sprocket wheel 62
Guide means 66 Guide rods 66A, 66B One end 68 Pusher (pushing means) 74
Limit switch 76 control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first sorter that sequentially moves photographic prints that have undergone development processing from the insertion section to the take-out section by circulating a number of storage sections each accommodating the photographic prints from the insertion section to the take-out section; A large number of accommodating sections each accommodating photographic prints are circulated from the insertion section to the take-out section, so that the photographic prints received from the first sorter are sequentially moved to the take-out section, and the insertion section takes out the photo prints from the first sorter. A second sorter is arranged at a lower position than the second sorter, a guide path is arranged from the take-out part of the first sorter to the insertion part of the second sorter, and the photo prints in the storage part in the take-out part of the first sorter are A photo print delivery device characterized by comprising: extrusion means for extruding photos along a guide path to an insertion section of a second sorter.