Condition setup/upkeep print

Disclosed herein is a condition setup/upkeep print for either setup or upkeep of normal exposure conditions of a photographic printer. A plurality of images are formed by copying images of standard negative films on the setup/upkeep print under given copy conditions, and an identification mark is applied on the print. The identification mark is set in such a manner that copy conditions such as the kinds of the standard negative films and exposed states are represented as a set of identification marks in association with each of the plurality of images. The copy conditions of the images are identified by the identification mark applied on the print. Either setup or upkeep of the normal exposure conditions of the photographic printer can accurately be performed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a print for either setup or upkeep of 
normal exposure conditions of a photographic printer. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In order to develop a color print in which density and hue of an image are 
at an optimum, it is necessary for a photographic printer to control a 
developer, correctly carrying out a developing process and set proper 
normal exposure conditions of the printer to devices. Therefore, the 
normal exposure conditions are set when the printer is installed. However, 
when color papers whose emulsion numbers are different from each other are 
used, an exposure lamp of the exposure unit is replaced, developer is 
replaced, or the contents of a picture change from a colorful content to a 
non-colorful content or vice versa upon a change of season, printing 
conditions vary accordingly. It is therefore necessary to modify and reset 
the normal exposure conditions. In addition, the printing conditions may 
change due to deterioration of a light-source system including a dimming 
filter, halogen lamp and a reflector or the like. It is therefore 
necessary to modify the exposure conditions and reset them in the same 
manner as described above. 
When the normal exposure conditions are modified, a standard negative film 
on which a circular and gray-colored object has centrally been 
photographed is used. In addition, the density of a test print 
(hereinafter called a "sample print") printed and developed from the 
standard negative film is compared with that of a previously printed and 
developed reference print and the difference in the density therebetween 
is modified. This comparison process is referred to as a "condition 
production or yielding process". Incidentally, the standard negative film 
is generally called a bull's eye negative film in view of the shape of an 
image formed thereon. The standard negative film will hereinafter be 
referred to as the "bull's eye negative film". 
Generally negative films are not always exposed in a proper exposure state. 
Therefore, there has recently been proposed a photographic printer having 
a function for detecting the exposed states of the negative film. The 
negative films are then exposed according to the detected exposed state. 
With this type of photographic printer, the normal exposure conditions 
corresponding to the exposed states of the negative films have been set in 
advance. It is necessary to modify the normal exposure conditions 
corresponding to the exposed states of these negative films in a manner 
similar to the above-mentioned normal exposure conditions. Therefore, 
there have previously been prepared bull's eye negative films subjected to 
exposure under four kinds of exposure conditions such as a normal 
exposure, an underexposure, an overexposure and a superexposure. The 
photographic printer finely modifies the normal exposure conditions and 
sets them by using the respective bull's eye negative films. 
In order to produce or yield conditions for the photographic printer, a 
master balance control, a paper balance control, a lens balance control, a 
negative balance control, etc. are known. Master balance control is 
performed when processes such as the changing of processing liquids such 
as a developer, the replacement of the lamp for a light source, the 
replacement of color paper with the same emulsion number, etc. are carried 
out. Paper balance control is carried out when the surface of the color 
paper is changed and when the emulsion number is changed. Lens balance 
control is effected when the lens is changed. In addition, the negative 
film balance is made to change an exposure condition corresponding to an 
exposed state of a negative film. In general, the conditions are suitably 
produced or yielded in the form of corresponding contents before each work 
day or at regular intervals, or each time a lamp of an exposure unit is 
replaced, when respective processing liquids in a processor are replaced 
and color paper is replaced. 
However, an operation for producing the conditions of the photographic 
printer is carried out so that the exposure time of bull's eye negative 
films on which images are recorded, the densities of respective images of 
the negative films are gradually changed so as to create sample prints, 
and the image densities of the sample prints are compared with those of 
reference prints. Thus, since prints formed from similar images are used 
in large numbers upon yielding or producing the conditions, they are 
liable to be mixed up and the process is cumbersome. When the 
firstly-created sample print is used as a reference print in particular, 
an operator tends to use a sample print produced under different exposure 
conditions. Accordingly, when the exposure conditions of the photographic 
printer are established, the quality of the created prints is impaired. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the foregoing problems in view, it is an object of the present 
invention to provide a condition setup/upkeep print capable of simply and 
reliably carrying out a process for producing normal exposure conditions 
of a photographic printer. 
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
condition setup/upkeep print for either setup or upkeep of normal exposure 
conditions of a photographic printer, which comprises a plurality of 
images each formed by copying an image on the print under at least two 
kinds of different given copy conditions, and copy condition indicating 
means for indicating copy conditions for each of the plurality of images, 
the copy conditions being indicated as a set of identification characters 
on the same print with the plurality of images. 
According to the condition setup/upkeep print described above, the copy 
condition indicating means represents the copy conditions of the copied 
images. In addition, the copy condition indicating means represents that 
the print referred to above is a condition setup/upkeep print which is 
different from a normal print, for modifying exposure conditions of a 
photographic printer. The copy conditions include the presence and absence 
and kinds of standard negative films, exposed states of the negative 
films, the exposure time or light exposure of the standard negative films, 
etc. When a plurality of images are continuously copied on a print, the 
copy condition indicating means may be one which has represented copy 
conditions associated with the respective images. Alternatively, the above 
means may be one which has represented any of previously-set combinations 
of these copy conditions. Further, this means may be one added with a mark 
for indicating the print referred to above as a condition setup/upkeep 
print. When the condition setup print is a sample print for modifying the 
normal exposure conditions of the photographic printer, for example, the 
copy condition indicating means may be provided upon copying operation. 
Thus, when the density of an image on the sample print is measured, the 
copy condition indicating means can determine that the print is of a 
condition producing print, and identify a copy condition of a copied 
image. When the condition setup/upkeep print is used as a reference print, 
the copy condition indicating means can accurately determine the copy 
condition of the copied image. Incidentally, the copy condition indicating 
means may be one which detects the copy condition before the density of 
the image is measured. Alternatively, it may be one which detects it after 
the density of the image has been measured. Any copy condition indicating 
means may be used as long as it is disposed on the same print as an image. 
A condition setup/upkeep print according to a second aspect of the present 
invention corresponds to the condition setup/upkeep print according to the 
first aspect. The condition setup/upkeep print has image position 
indicating means disposed at a position corresponding to each image so as 
to indicate the positions of the plurality of images. 
The image position indicating means of the condition setup/upkeep print 
indicates each of the positions of the images. The density measuring unit 
disposed in the photographic printer also detects the image position 
indicating means thereby enabling the position of each image to be 
accurately identified. The image position indicating means may be disposed 
in confronting relationship with each image. Alternatively, the image 
position indicating means may be constructed in a manner as to indicate 
the position of an image on the most downstream side, of a series of 
images, i.e., an image firstly conveyed to the density measuring unit when 
copy condition indicating means is detected before the measurement of the 
image density and a data of given number of images are set to the copy 
condition indicating means. 
A condition setup/upkeep print according to a third aspect of the present 
invention is identical to the condition setup/upkeep print according to 
the second aspect. The condition setup/upkeep print has image copying 
regions on which the images are successively copied in a plurality of 
numbers, and mark forming regions offset or shifted along the line of the 
plurality of images and including the copy condition indicating means and 
the image position indicating means both disposed in series. 
The condition setup/upkeep print according to the third aspect of the 
present invention is constructed in such a manner that the image copying 
regions and the mark forming regions are offset. By forming a plurality of 
images only on a main part of the image copying regions, the overall size 
of the condition setup/upkeep print can be reduced even if the images are 
copied in large numbers. Therefore, a condition producing process can 
reliably be carried out in a short period of time. Since the image 
position indicating means is disposed in series with the copy condition 
indicating means, the image position indicating means can also be detected 
by using means for detecting the copy condition indicating means upon 
measurement of the image density. It is therefore unnecessary to provide 
special positioning means in order to position each image in the density 
measuring unit. That is, condition producing images, image copying 
conditions and image positions are recorded on the same print as the 
condition setup/upkeep print according to the present invention. 
Therefore, when the photographic printer measures the density of an image, 
the density measuring unit detects the copy condition indicating means and 
determines that the condition producing process is carried out based on 
the result of its detection. In addition, the density measuring unit 
detects the image position indicating means thereby enabling the position 
of the image to be suitably determined. Thus, the photographic printer can 
automatically produce or yield desired conditions on the basis of images 
recorded on the condition setup/upkeep print so as to modify and establish 
the normal exposure conditions. The condition yielding of the photographic 
printer makes it unnecessary yo perform various operations by an operator. 
It is also possible to avoid any failure in the set-up of exposure 
conditions, which takes place due to operational mistakes by the operator. 
In addition, a density measuring device for measuring the density of each 
image on the condition setup/upkeep print can be simplified in structure. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become apparent from the following description and the 
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in 
which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of 
illustrative example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be 
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 shows a printer processor 10 as one part of a photographic printer. 
When normal exposure conditions or the like are modified or corrected, the 
printer processor 10 produces a condition producing print 54 as a 
condition setup/upkeep print to which the present invention is to be 
applied. Then, the printer processor 10 measures the density of each image 
copied or printed on the print 54 thereby automatically producing or 
yielding desired conditions. 
The printer processor 10 is externally covered by a casing 36. A working 
table 17 projects from the casing 36. A negative-film carrier 19 loaded 
with a negative film 21 is placed on the upper surface of the working 
table 17. A control panel 59 having a keyboard is disposed on the working 
table 17. By entering commands through the keyboard of the control panel 
59, the printer processor 10 is operated. 
On the other hand, a light source unit 11, which forms one part of a 
copying unit 16, is disposed below the working table 17. The light source 
unit 11 includes an unillustrated light source and a plurality of 
unillustrated filters. Light emitted from the light source is transmitted 
through the filters to the negative film 21 loaded in the carrier 19. 
A optical system 29, which forms a part of the copying unit 16, is mounted 
on an arm 27 which projects from the printer processor 10. The optical 
system 29 has an unillustrated lens, a shutter and an optical-path 
switching mirror 57, and is disposed in the optical axis of the light. The 
light, which has passed through the negative film 21, passes through the 
lens and the shutter. The optical path of the transmitted light is 
switched by the optical-path switching mirror 57. Thereafter, an image of 
the negative film 21 is focused on color paper 15 set in an exposure 
chamber 14, thereby enabling the image of the negative film 21 to be 
copied on the color paper 15. 
The printer processor 10 has a paper magazine 12 provided adjacent to the 
exposure chamber 14, for winding an elongated color paper 15 serving as a 
copying light-sensitive material onto a reel 13 in layer form. The 
exposure chamber 14 has a plurality of rollers 23 disposed therein and a 
feed unit 58 for conveying the color paper 15 in a desired direction 
within the exposure chamber 14 with the color paper 15 interposed between 
the respective rollers 23. The color paper 15 onto which the image of the 
negative film 21 has been copied in the exposure chamber 14, is conveyed 
to a reservoir 18 disposed adjacent to the exposure chamber 14. 
A hole punching device 56 for punching holes in both transversely-extending 
ends of the color paper 15 is mounted between the exposure chamber 14 and 
the reservoir 18 so that an interval defined between the position where 
each hole is punched in the color paper 15 and the central position at 
which an image is exposed in the exposure chamber 14 is set to a distance 
E. A conveying roller 74 and a roller 74A are disposed on the downstream 
side of the hole punching device 56 as seen in the color paper conveying 
direction. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the hole punching device 56 is connected to and 
operated by a control device 40. The conveying roller 74 is mounted to a 
rotating shaft 72A of a pulse motor 72. A driving force produced by the 
pulse motor 72 is transmitted to the conveying roller 74 thereby rotating 
the conveying roller 74. Thus, the color paper 15 is conveyed in a desired 
direction while being sandwiched between the conveying rollers 74, 74A. 
The pulse motor 72 is connected via a pulse motor drive circuit 76 to the 
control device 40 in such a manner as to be driven by the control device 
40. 
The control panel 59, the optical system 29 and the light source unit 11 
are also respectively connected to the control device 40. The keys on the 
keyboard of the control panel 59 are operated so as to cause the control 
device 40 to control the optical system 29 and the light source unit 11, 
thereby enabling an exposure process for the color paper 15. 
When the condition producing print 54 is created as a sample print in order 
to yield conditions for the printer processor 10, a command is entered 
through the keyboard of the control panel 59 to cause the control device 
40 to activate the hole punching device 56 thereby punching holes in a 
color paper 15. Thus, after the leading end of the color paper 15 has been 
conveyed in a desired direction by a distance I, the hole punching device 
56 successively punches holes a, b and c, d as a print ID55 in the color 
paper as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Further, the hole punching device 56 
punches holes e, f in predetermined positions. 
In the present embodiment, a plurality of information are identified 
according to a determination made as to whether the holes e through l have 
been punched (FIG. 3A). That is, the punched holes e through h are 
combined into a large classification ID64, as illustrated in FIG. 3B 
whereas the punched holes i through l are combined into a small 
classification ID66. The large classification ID64 exhibits a working 
section at the time that exposure conditions are established. The small 
classification ID66 represents the exposure time of a series of images to 
be exposed and variations in the exposure or an increase or decrease in 
the exposure by each filter. The large classification ID64 and the small 
classification ID66 are preset according to the number of the punched 
holes e through l. The punched holes a through l are placed at equal 
intervals of distances G. Thereafter, the color paper 15 is conveyed 
through distance H in the same direction referred to above so as to copy 
the images 60 thereon. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3B those areas 
indicated by solid lines are holes a e, h, i, j, i whereas the remaining 
areas indicated by broken lines f, g, k are where no holes have been 
punched. 
Next, the control device 40 shown in FIG. 4 activates the optical system 29 
and the light source unit 11 to copy an image of the negative film 21 onto 
the color paper 15 as an image 60A and to activate the hole punching 
device 56 to punch a hole 62A as an image positioning mark in one of the 
transversely-extending ends of the color paper 15. As a result, as shown 
in FIG. 3A, the punched hole 62A corresponding to the image 60A is formed 
in a position on the downstream side of the image 60A, which is spaced a 
distance E along the color paper conveying direction (i.e., in the 
direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 3A) from a density measuring 
position (indicated by "x" in FIG. 3A) of the image 60A. Similarly, 
punched holes 62B through 62I corresponding to other images 60B through 
60I are successively defined in respectively corresponding positions in a 
series at intervals of distances F along the color paper conveying 
direction. In the present embodiment, nine images can be copied on a 
single condition producing print 54. In addition, the print 54 is formed 
with mark forming regions between the punched holes a and l and between 
62A and 62I and image regions between the images 60A and 60I. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, the reservoir 18 stocks exposed color paper 15 
therein and compensates for the difference between a time interval 
required for the copying unit 16 to apply exposure processing to a color 
paper 15 and a time interval required for a processor 25 to apply 
development, fixing and water cleaning to the color paper 15. The color 
paper 15 discharged from the reservoir 18 is conveyed to a color-producing 
developer 20 of the processor 25 disposed adjacent to the reservoir 18. 
The color-producing developer 20 serves to wet the color paper 15 with a 
developer so as to subject it to development. Afterwards, the developed 
color paper 15 is conveyed to a bleaching fixing unit 22 disposed adjacent 
the color-producing developer 20. The bleaching fixing unit 22 serves to 
wet the color paper 15 with a liquid fixer so as to subject it to a fixing 
process. The color paper 15, which has been subjected to the fixing 
process, is conveyed to washing units 24 disposed adjacent to the 
bleaching fixing unit 22. Each of the washing units 24 wets the color 
paper 15 with washing water so as to subject it to a washing process. The 
color paper 15, which has been subjected to the washing process, is 
conveyed to a drying unit 26 disposed adjacent to the washing units 24. In 
the drying unit 26, the color paper 15 is wound round a roller and dried 
with hot air. 
The color paper 15, which has passed through the drying unit 26, is guided 
between a plurality of pairs of rollers 41 and then conveyed to a density 
measuring unit 28 disposed above the drying unit 26. As shown in FIG. 2, 
the density measuring unit 28 includes a densitometer 30 and a reference 
print 32 having a standard density. The densitometer 30 and the reference 
print 32 are disposed in confronting relationship to each other with a 
conveying path for the color paper 15 located therebetween. As illustrated 
in FIG. 4, the densitometer 30 is connected to the control device 40. The 
densitometer 30, whose measuring position is above the film conveying path 
(indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2), measures the density of the color 
paper 15 and the density of the reference print 32 and then outputs the 
results of measurements to the control device 40. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a conveying roller 31 and a roller 31A are disposed on 
the downstream side of the density measuring unit 28 as seen from the 
color paper conveying direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the conveying 
roller 31 is mounted to a rotating shaft 42A of a pulse motor 42. A 
driving force produced from the pulse motor 42 is transmitted to the 
conveying roller 31 thereby rotating the conveying roller 31. Thusly, the 
color paper 15 is conveyed in a desired direction while being sandwiched 
between the conveying roller 31 and the roller 31A. The pulse motor 42 is 
connected via a pulse motor drive circuit 44 to and driven by the control 
device 40. 
As depicted in FIG. 2, a punched-hole detecting unit 33 is disposed on the 
downstream side of the densitometer 30 as seen from the color paper 
conveying direction. The punched-hole detecting unit 33 has a pair of 
light-emitting components 50 and a pair of light-receiving components 52 
each pair of which is disposed in opposing relationship with the conveying 
path of the color paper 15 interposed therebetween. The light-emitting 
components 50 and the light-receiving components 52 are disposed above the 
corresponding transversely-extending ends of the color paper 15 (FIG. 2 
shows only one side). A distance E is maintained along the conveying path 
of the color paper 15 between a position at which the light-emitting 
component 50 and the light-receiving component 52 are disposed, i.e., a 
punched-hole detecting position (indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2) and a 
density measuring position of the density measuring unit 28. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the light-emitting components 50 and the 
light-receiving components 52 are connected to the control device 40. The 
light-emitting components 50 are energized to illuminate the 
light-receiving components 52, which the light-emitting components 50 
face, with a beam of light. Then, the light-receiving components 52 
receive the light which has passed through the color paper 15 and converts 
the light into an electric signal. The converted electric signal is 
outputted to the control device 40. When the level of the electric signal 
output from the light-receiving components 52 is greater than or equal to 
a predetermined value, the control device 40 determines that desired 
punched holes have been detected. 
When the punched holes a through d shown in FIG. 3 are detected, the 
control device 40 determines that a print with the punched holes a through 
d defined therein is a condition producing print 54. Thereafter, the 
control device 40 is activated to successively detect the punched holes e 
through l at intervals of the distances G while the condition producing 
print 54 is being conveyed. Accordingly, the control device 40 determines 
the contents of set exposure conditions and the contents of printed 
images, for example, and then stores therein information about the 
measured densities of the images 60. Next, the control device 40 is 
activated to cause the punched-hole detecting unit 33 to detect the 
punched holes a through l. Thereafter, punched holes 62 are detected by 
the punched-hole detecting unit 33. When the punched holes 62 are 
detected, the control device 40 is activated to cause the pulse motor 42 
to temporarily stop rotating so as to measure the densities of the images 
60 corresponding to each of the punched holes 62. Incidentally, the 
control device 40 in the printer processor 10 measures and compares two 
densities of images of the sample print and the reference print. 
Correspondingly, the control device 40 corrects exposure conditions in 
such a manner that the density of the sample print reaches that of the 
reference print. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a cutter unit 34 is disposed on the downstream side of 
the punched-hole detecting unit 33 as seen from the color paper conveying 
direction. The cutter unit 34 has a pair of cutters 35 for cutting the 
color paper 15 and a pair of rollers 37. The cutters 35 are disposed in a 
confronting relationship with the conveying path for the color paper 15 
running therebetween. The cutters 35 cut the color paper 15 at a cutting 
position indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 2 in the color paper conveying 
path. The cut color paper 15 is sandwiched between the rollers 37, 
conveyed and then discharged into a sorter 39 (shown in FIG. 1) disposed 
outside the casing 36 via an aperture or opening 38 so as to be 
accommodated therein. 
In the present embodiment, the density measuring unit 28 measures only the 
density of the central portion of a recorded image. When the image is 
formed on the color paper 15 by exposure correspondingly, the outer 
peripheral region of the color paper 15 is subjected to a masking process, 
and only the central portion of the color paper 15 is subjected to 
exposure in association with an interval of a distance F as seen in the 
longitudinal direction of the color paper 15 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B). When 
the condition producing print 54 is produced, created data such as a date, 
etc. are printed on the reverse side of the color paper 15 by an 
unillustrated printer. 
A description will now be made of a condition producing process of the 
printer processor 10 employed in the present embodiment. In the present 
embodiment, a large classification of the condition producing print 54 
created by the printer processor 10 is divided into six groups or six 
prints, i.e., a round print, a condition setup print using a bull's eye 
negative film, a condition setup print using an ND filter, a time-sloping 
table print, a print for correction of a built-in densitometer, and a 
condition upkeep print, as shown in Table 1. The large classification ID64 
is set according to the respective classifications. The small 
classification ID66 is established in accordance with the contents of work 
set by the respective large classifications. 
TABLE 1 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Large classifi- 
Small classifi- 
Large classifi- 
Small classifi- 
Print ID 
cation ID 
cation ID 
cation of print 
cation of print 
a b c d e f g h i j k l 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
1 Round print 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
2 Condition 
U,N,O 9 frames 
1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 
setup 
print 
(Bull's eye) 
U,N,O,Oo 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 l 1 0 1 
8 frames 
3 Condition 
N 9 frames 
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
setup 
print 
4 Time-sloping 
Exposure time = 
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 
table 260 msec 
Exposure time = 
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 
1 sec 
Exposure time = 
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 
1.8 sec 
5 Built-in 
Bull's eye 
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 
densitometer 
ND 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 
(3 .times. 3 settings) 
6 Condition 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 
upkeep 
print (ND) 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
The bull's eye negative films as standard negative films are classified 
into four, i.e., an underexposure negative (U negative) film, a normal 
exposure negative (N negative) film, an overexposure negative (O negative) 
film, and a superexposure negative (Oo negative) film, which are 
represented by U, N, O and Oo respectively in Table 1. The print ID55, the 
large classification ID64 and the small classification ID66 are 
respectively represented by a combination of 0 and 1 defining the presence 
and absence of the holes a through d, a combination of 0 and 1 defining 
the presence and absence of the holes e through h and a combination of 0 
and 1 defining the presence and absence of the holes i through 1. That is, 
as represented by Table 1, "1" shows the presence of a punched hole, 
whereas "0" shows the absence of the punched hole. The presence and 
absence of the punched holes a through 1 are successively represented in 
the form of 0 and 1. 
The round print is used for the following purpose. That is, the color tone 
is varied in order of the hue circle (i.e., in order of red, yellow, 
green, cyan, blue, magenta and red) thereby to produce or form nine prints 
comprising a deep-colored print, a light-colored print and a reference 
print. The most suitable print is visually selected from the nine prints. 
Then, an exposure condition corresponding to the selected print is set as 
a normal exposure condition. The condition setup print using the bull's 
eye negative film is used for the following purpose. That is, four bull's 
eye negative films are subjected to exposure under the normal exposure 
conditions corresponding to the respective negative films to produce 
sample prints. Then, the density of each sample print is compared with 
that of the reference print. As a result, the normal exposure conditions 
of the respective sample prints are yielded in such a manner that the 
density of each sample print coincides with that of the reference print. 
The condition setup print using the ND negative film is used to yield or 
produce desired conditions in such a manner that when images of an N 
negative film are copied using an ND filter, the differences, i.e., 
balances in color between the respective images are identical to each 
other by swinging a CC filter nine times. The time-sloping table is used 
to produce conditions in such a manner that the densities of images at 
exposure time divided into 260 msec, 1 sec and 1.8 sec are identical to 
one another. The built-in densitometer correcting print is used to correct 
variations in density values measured by the densitometer for measuring 
the density of each color. The condition upkeep print is used to produce 
conditions for upkeep respective normal exposure conditions of the printer 
processor 10 by an ND filter. 
The operation of the present embodiment will now be described below. 
An operator who controls the printer processor 10, sets the paper magazine 
12 loaded with the color paper 15 into the printer processor 10. Then, the 
operator sets the negative film 21 in the negative-film carrier 19 and 
then instructs the printer processor 10 to start a desired process. 
When the printer processor 10 is instructed to start the process, the 
unillustrated light of the light source unit 11 in the copying unit 16 
emits light to allow for positioning of the negative film 21. Then, light 
exposure is calculated, and the unillustrated filters of the light source 
unit 11 are moved based on the calculated exposure so as to release the 
shutter of the optical system 29. As a result, the light emitted from the 
light source passes through the filters and the negative film 21 so as to 
expose the color paper 15 positioned in an exposure position within the 
exposure chamber 14. 
The color paper 15 on which an image has been printed by the copying unit 
16, is subjected to respective processes in the processor 25. The color 
paper 15 conveyed from the reservoir 18 is wetted with the developer in 
the color-producing developer 20, for development. The color paper 15 
developed by the color-producing developer 20 is wetted with the liquid 
fixer in the bleaching fixing unit 22, for fixing. The color paper 15, 
which has been subjected to fixing, is conveyed to the washing units or 
tanks 24 for washing. The washed color paper 15 is then cut by the cutter 
unit 34 to separate each image and then discharged into the sorter 39 so 
that the cut papers 15 are accumulated therein. 
A description will now be made of a process for creating a sample print as 
the condition producing print 54 by the printer processor 10 and producing 
conditions using the sample print. 
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart describing the procedure for creating the 
condition producing print 54. In Step 100, the keys of the keyboard of the 
control panel 59 are operated to input the contents of work corresponding 
to the large classification and small classification setup to yield the 
conditions. Consequently, the control device 40 determines the contents of 
the work, i.e., the negative film to be used, exposure of each color, 
exposure time, the number of images, the sequence of work, etc. In Step 
102, the color paper 15 is pulled out and conveyed in a desired direction. 
Next, the pulse motor 72 is energized to cause the leading end of the 
color paper 15 to pass through the hole punching device 56. Thereafter, 
the hole punching device 56 defines the print ID55 in the color paper 15 
(Step 104). The large classification ID64 and the small classification 
ID66 corresponding to the contents of the work, which have been input via 
the keys on the keyboard of the control panel 59, are successively 
defined, i.e., punched in the color paper 15 (Steps 106, 108). The print 
ID55, the large classification ID64 and the small classification ID66 are 
defined or punched in the color paper 15 while the color paper 15 is 
conveyed at intervals of distances G. 
Next, the routine procedure proceeds to Step 110. In Step 110, a printing 
process is performed according to the large classification and the small 
classification. Respective images corresponding to the large and small 
classifications are printed on the color paper 15. In addition, the hole 
punching device 56 is activated to punch the hole 62A in one of the 
transversely-extending both ends of the color paper 15. It is confirmed in 
Step 112 whether or not the printing of the images corresponding to the 
large and small classifications on the color paper 15 has been completed 
over all of the frames. It the answer is determined to be NO in Step 112, 
the routine procedure proceeds to Step 114, where the color paper 15 is 
conveyed at intervals of distance F. In addition, the printing of the 
images 60 on the color paper 15 and the punching of the corresponding 
holes 62 in the color paper 15 are successively performed. When the sample 
print is created, the print ID55, the large classification ID64, and the 
small classification ID66 are defined in the color paper 15 by the punched 
holes a through 1. In addition, the punched holes 62 for indicating the 
positions of images are formed in a series with these IDs. Therefore, 
these punched holes can be defined in the color paper 15 by the same hole 
punching device 56. It is also unnecessary to provide a means for applying 
a plurality of marks on the color paper 15 in the printer processor 10. 
Moreover, the printer processor 10 is relatively simple in structure. 
When the printing of the images corresponding to the large and small 
classifications on the color paper 15 has been completed, the color paper 
15 is conveyed to the processor 25 via the reservoir 18 in Step 116. 
The condition producing print 54 as the condition setup print is created by 
using bull's eye negative films such as a U negative film, an N negative 
film, an O negative film and an Oo.MDSD/.MDNM/ negative film as follows. 
That is, the print ID55 is first represented by the holes a through d 
punched in the color paper 15 as shown in Table 1. Thereafter, the large 
classification ID64 is represented by "1001" successively defined based on 
the result of a determination made as to whether the holes e through h 
have been punched in the color paper 15. Next, the small classification 
ID66 is represented by "1101" successively defined based on the presence 
and absence of holes i through 1. As a result, the large classification 
ID64 and the small classification ID66 are represented as illustrated in 
FIG. 3B. Incidentally, let's assume that the condition producing process 
is performed in such a manner that the respective bull's eye negative 
films are exposed two by two to create eight prints with eight images 
formed thereon. 
Next, the respective bull's eye negative films are successively set in the 
negative carrier 19. The four kinds of bull's eye negative films 
comprising the U negative film, the N negative film, the O negative film 
and the Oo negative film are exposed twice in that order. At this time, 
the number of times in which they are exposed are counted by a counter in 
the control device 40. First, the U negative film is set in the negative 
carrier 19, and then exposed under the normal exposure condition for the 
underexposure negative film, which has been setup in the printer processor 
10 so as to print the image 60A on the color paper 15. At the same time, 
the hole 62A corresponding to the image 60A is punched in the color paper 
15 by the hole punching device 56. After the color paper 15 has been 
conveyed in a desired direction by a distance F, it is subjected to a 
second exposure so as to form the image 60B on the color print 15 and 
punch the hole 62B therein. Next, the next N negative film is set in the 
negative carrier 19 and the color paper 15 is subjected to two exposures. 
Further, the O negative film and the Oo negative film are repeatedly 
exposed in that order under the normal exposure condition of the printer 
processor 10 corresponding to the exposure condition of each of the O and 
Oo negative films. Thus, the holes a through 1 and the holes 62A through 
62H corresponding to the condition producing print 54 shown in FIGS. 3A 
and 3B are punched in the color paper 15 and the images 60A through 60H 
are printed on the color paper 15. 
Thereafter, the color paper 15 is subjected to development in the processor 
25 to create the condition producing print 54 as the sample print. 
The created condition producing print 54 is conveyed to the density 
measuring unit 28, the punched-hole detecting unit 33 and the cutter unit 
34 in that order. The operation of each of the units 28, 33 will now be 
described below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6. 
In Step 130, the pulse motor 42 is energized to rotate the conveying roller 
31 so as to convey the condition producing print 54 in a desired direction 
within the density measuring unit 28. It is then determined in Step 132 
whether the punched-hole detecting unit 33 has detected the punched holes 
a through d indicative of the print ID55 in response to a signal output to 
the light-receiving components 52 from the light-emitting components 50. 
When the print ID55 is detected, the control device 40 confirms it as the 
condition producing print 54. 
Next, the control device 40 is activated to energize the pulse motor 42 so 
as to convey the condition producing print 54 in a desired direction at 
intervals of the distances G, thereby reading the large classification 
ID64 and the small classification ID66 (Steps 134, 136). It is determined 
in Step 138 whether or not the densities of images have been measured 
based on the large classification ID64 and the small classification ID66 
in order to produce conditions. That is, if the operator visually 
determines whether the large classification ID64 represents the round 
print for setup the normal exposure condition, it is then unnecessary to 
measure the density of each image with the density measuring unit 28. 
Thus, the color paper 15 is discharged without measuring the densities of 
the images. 
If it is determined in Step 138 that the control device 40 has measured the 
density of the image, then the pulse motor 42 is energized to convey the 
condition producing print 54 in a desired direction to thereby cause the 
control device 40 to detect the punched holes 62 (Step 140). When the 
punched holes 62 are detected, the pulse motor 42 is de-energized in Step 
142 to measure the densities of the images 60 on the condition producing 
print 54 facing the densitometer 30 of the density measuring unit 28 (Step 
144). 
In the present embodiment, the interval between each density measuring 
portion of the images 60 and each of the punched holes 62 corresponding to 
the images 60 is set to a given distance E, whereas the interval between a 
measuring position of the density measuring unit 28 and a punched-hole 
detecting position of the punched-hole detecting unit 33 is set to the 
given distance E. Therefore, when the punched holes 62 are detected, each 
density measuring portion (each position indicated by "x" in FIG. 3A) of 
the images 60 on the condition producing print 54 is held in the density 
measuring position of the density measuring unit 28. Accordingly, when the 
conveying of the condition producing print 54 in a desired direction is 
stopped upon detection of the punched holes 62, the density measuring unit 
28 can measure the densities of the images 60 positioned in the measuring 
position. That is, the positioning of the images 60 in the measuring 
location of the density measuring unit 28 can be easily and accurately 
performed. Since the punched holes 62 are arranged in series with the 
ID55, ID64 and ID66, the punched holes 62 can be detected by the same 
punched-hole detecting unit 33. It is also unnecessary to specially 
provide an image position reading means for positioning each of the images 
60. 
This density measuring operation of each of the images 60 is repeated while 
the condition producing print 54 is being conveyed (Step 146). The 
detection of the punched holes 62 is performed while confirmation is being 
made as to whether or not the densities of images of a given frame have 
been measured based on information obtained from the large classification 
ID64 and the small classification ID66 (Step 148). If it is determined 
that the densities of images of all of the frames have been measured, then 
the control device 40 is activated to energize the pulse motor 42 to 
convey the condition producing print 54 to the cutter unit 34. Thereafter, 
the condition producing print 54 is cut at a position corresponding to an 
upstream end of a ninth image so as to be discharged into the sorter 39. 
On the other hand, the density measuring unit 28 measures the density of 
the condition producing print 54 as the sample print, and also measures 
the density of the reference print. Incidentally, the density of the 
reference print may be measured before the density of the sample print is 
measured. 
When the created condition producing print 54 is used as the reference 
print, it is inserted in a conveying path of the density measuring unit 28 
from an unillustrated insertion hole. Thereafter, the control device 40 is 
activated in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 to measure the 
density of each image. That is, the control device 40 can reliably read 
copy conditions of respective images copied on the reference print because 
the large classification ID64 and the small classification ID66 of the 
condition producing print 54 are read. Since the created data such as the 
date, etc. are printed on the reverse side of the print 54, the operator 
can confirm the data and use it. Since a series of images are continuously 
printed on the print 54, the order for printing the images is free from 
mistakes. Thus, even if the created condition producing print 54 is used, 
the exposure conditions can reliably be set without operational mistakes 
by the operator. 
The control device 40 measures the densities of the images on the sample 
print and the reference print both of which are used as the condition 
producing print 54. Then, the control device 40 modifies and sets the 
normal exposure conditions of both prints based on data about the measured 
densities in such a manner that the measured density of the image on the 
sample print coincides with that of the image on the reference print. 
Thus, when an image on the negative film 21 is exposed onto the color 
paper 15, the control device 40 can suitably control the light source unit 
11 and the optical system 29. 
In the present embodiment, the condition producing print 54 is created and 
the density of the image on the condition producing print 54 is measured 
in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, a 
condition-producing control method is not necessarily limited to the 
method employed in the present embodiment. The following 
condition-producing control method may alternatively be used as an 
example. That is, the leading end of the condition producing print 54 is 
first detected by the light-emitting component 50 and the light-receiving 
component 52 of the punched-hole detecting unit 33. After the condition 
producing print 54 has been conveyed a given distance from the leading end 
thereof, the print ID55 is detected and the densities of images on the 
condition producing print 54 are measured based on the result of the 
detection. As an alternative to the above method, the following method may 
also be adopted. That is, when the print ID55 is not detected, it is 
determined in Step 102 that the condition producing print 54 is of a 
normal print. The normal print is then cut by the cutter unit 34. 
When the density measuring unit 28 measures the density of each image, the 
densitometer 30 measures only the density of an image at the center of the 
whole image, which is extremely narrow in area. Therefore, the length of 
each of the images 60 is made short along the condition producing print 
conveying direction in the present embodiment. Thus, the image copying 
regions of the condition producing print 54 is reduced and the mark 
forming regions in which the print ID55, the large classification ID64 and 
the small classification ID66 or the like are set, are formed on the 
condition producing print 54. If the mark forming regions are not 
superposed on density measuring portions of the images 60A through 60I, 
then the mark forming regions may be superposed on the image copying 
regions. 
In the present embodiment, the holes a through l and the holes 62A through 
62I are punched in the color paper 15 as marks by the hole punching device 
56 so as to form the condition producing print 54. However, these marks 
are not limited to the punched holes. For example, cut-away portions 
having desired configurations such as a semicircle, a wedge, etc. may be 
formed in side edges of the color paper 15. Alternatively, marks may be 
printed on the reverse side of the color paper 15. In this case too, if 
identification marks and image position marks are arranged in series, then 
they can be detected by a single mark detecting means. 
In the present embodiment, the distance between the exposure position in 
the exposure chamber 14 and the hole punching position of the hole 
punching device 56 is equal to the distance between the density measuring 
position of the density measuring unit 28 and the punched-hole detecting 
position of the punched-hole detecting unit 33. However, they may of a 
different distance. When the distance between the exposure position in the 
exposure chamber 14 and the hole punching position of the hole punching 
device 56 is longer than that between the density measuring position of 
the density measuring unit 28 and the punched-hole detecting position of 
the punched-hole detecting unit 33, information about the difference 
between the two distances is stored in the control device 40 in advance. 
After the punched holes have been detected, the condition producing print 
54 may be conveyed a distance corresponding to the difference so as to 
measure the densities of images. At least the image density measurement 
should be carried out after a desired identification mark has been 
detected. Alternatively, the number of images subjected to density 
measurement can be identified on an identification mark and the densities 
of the images may be measured a predetermined number of times after an 
image position mark has been detected. 
As described above, a condition setup/upkeep print is used to produce 
conditions by identification marks comprised of combined IDs set in mark 
forming regions, and to exhibit copy conditions of copied images. When the 
identification marks are read, a photographic printer accurately detects 
or determines the copy conditions of the copied images to enable 
conditions for setup of the exposure conditions to be produced. The mark 
forming regions have image position marks which are used to indicate the 
positions of respective images copied onto image regions and which are 
arranged in series with the identification marks. The positions of the 
images can be accurately identified by successively detecting the image 
position marks with a use of one of ID sensors. 
Thus, the condition setup/upkeep print can allow the condition creation or 
development for setup and upkeep of normal exposure conditions of a 
photographic printer can be simply performed without any operational 
mistake. 
Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to those 
skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made without 
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the 
appended claims.