Photographic printer

Abstract: A photographic printer has a zoom lens for printing an image on a photographic film whose frame size is equal to or smaller than 135-size, and a beam splitter fitted to the zoom lens. The beam splitter reflects a part of light passing through the image and directs it toward image sensors for measuring light so as to determine the color correction value and/or to inspect the image. The printer also has an interchangable fixed focus lens for a special print to which the zoom lens is not applicable. When using the fixed focus lens, a movable mirror is used in stead of the beam splitter for reflecting light toward the image sensors before printing.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic printer, and more particularly to a photographic printer having a photometerical device for measuring the density of an image to be printed and/or an imaging device for displaying the image on a monitor. Background of the Invention In order to control the print exposure and the color balance and/or to inspect an image to be printed, the total or a part of light passing though the image recorded on a photographic film such as a color negative film is usually detected by at least a sensor, before being used for exposing a photosensitive material such as a color photographic paper. For directing light toward the sensor, it is known to use a movable mirror having total reflection surface and to place it in and out of the light path, see US-A-4 797 713 for instance. However, such mirror must be inserted in and removed from the printing light path before printing each frame. Therefore, it is hard to print at a high speed, and it is difficult to position the mirror at high accuracy. In addition, in an inverted type of photographic printer in which the photographic film is placed in the lower portion and the photographic paper is placed in the upper portion, the mirror may disturb the handling of the photographic film because the mirror is placed near over a film carrier for the photographic film. It is also known from US-A-4 786 944 to dispose a beam splitter stationary in a printing light path which reflects a part of light passing through the photographic film and directs it toward the sensor. Although such beam splitter makes it possible to make prints at a high speed, the beam splitter can make it inconvenient to interchange the lenses. But it is necessary to use a specific lens according to the frame size or print type. For example, when printing a Brownie (Trademark) film, a specific lens therefor is desirable; or to make a package print, that is a print bearing more than one image of the same subject, a cluster of lenses (so called lens cluster) is indispensable. Furthermore, in order to make a sufficiently high quality print, it is necessary to accommodate not only the lens but also the beam splitter. For this purpose, however, conventional lenses are not applicable, and it is necessary to design new lenses especially therefor. Although it may be possible to use a single common beam splitter for all kinds of lenses, such common beam splitter will be very large in size and therefore costly, and will remarkably lower the efficiency in printing 135 films. Because a 135 film is the most popular film, this construction is not preferable. Objects of the Invention The present invention is made to solve the above described problems, and has an object to provide a photographic printer in which it is possible to surely detect light for light measurement or for imaging while maintaining the security of photographic films and achieving sufficiently high speed printing of popular size film such as 135 film. The printer should be convenient in interchanging the lenses, easy in operation and capable of making high quality prints. Summary of the Invention The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are accomplished by a photographic printer according to claim 1, wherein a zoom lens fitted with a beam splitter is used for making prints of 135-size and smaller frames such as frames of a disc film, 110 film, 126 film, while at least a fixed focus lens and a mirror are used for making such prints to which the zoom lens is not applicable, the mirror being movable into and out of a printing light path between the fixed focus lens and the film surface. The present invention takes advantage of the fact that the above mentioned special print such as the print of a Brownie® film and a package print is not necessarily performed at a high speed. As the frequency of printing 135 films is usually the highest, it is preferable for printing the 135-size and smaller frames to use a zoom lens as needless to interchange, and to use a beam splitter disposed together with the zoom lens by which a part of light passing through a photographic film is reflected and measured for color correction or for monitoring. In this way, it becomes possible to make prints of images of 135-size or smaller frames (hereinafter referred to as small frames) securely at a high speed, because it is unnecessary to change the lens in accordance with the frame size or to drive the mirror to move into and out of the printing light path. On the other hand, when making a special print, an appropriate kind of fixed focus lens is set in the printing light path in stead of the zoom lens and, at that time, the movable mirror is used for obtaining the measurement light. Since such special print is not so frequently required, and no beam splitter is disposed before the fixed focus lens, the interchange of the fixed focus lens is not troublesome, and also conventional fixed focus lenses are applicable. Furthermore, the printing light passing through the fixed focus lens can not be interfered by any beam splitter. Since the movable mirror needs not to move rapidly, the mirror can move in a stable manner. As is known in the art, a mirror-box used for printing small frames has a relatively small exit diameter, whereas a mirror-box used for printing large frames of Brownie film has a large exit diameter. Therefore, the intensity of light from the mirror-box for the Brownie film is lower than that from the mirror-box for the small frames. According to the invention, however, when printing small frames, the beam splitter reflects only a part of, for example, 25 % of light passing through the film and directs it toward the sensors, while approximately 100 % of light passing through the film is reflected from the mirror toward the sensors for printing a Brownie film. Therefore, the difference in the light intensity due to the above difference of the mirror-box, does not have considerable influence on the exposure time nor on the light measurement. Brief Description of the Drawings Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall construction of a photographic printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing essential parts of the printer of Fig. 1. Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Fig. 1, light projected from a halogen lamp 10 is sufficiently diffused in a mirror-box 12 and then illuminates a photographic film, for example a color negative film 14 set on a film carrier 13. Between the mirror-box 12 and the lamp 10, there are cyan, magenta and yellow filters 16, 17 and 18 respectively for compensating red, green and blue color components of light. These color compensating filters 16-18 are each independently controlled by a filter driver 21 to be inserted in and out of the light path L in accordance with a control signal supplied from a CPU 24. Above the color negative film 14 is disposed a lens panel 25 to which a zoom lens unit 22 is fitted. As shown in Fig. 2, the lens panel 25 is further formed with an opening 28 into which a fixed focus lens for specific printing, for example, a lens system 26 for Brownie film (hereinafter referred to as a Brownie lens) can be removably inserted. Any one of other specific lenses such as a lens cluster can be inserted into the opening 28. The Brownie lens 26 for Brownie film has a lens barrel formed with a brim 26a which secure the Brownie lens 26 from falling from the opening 28. At one edge of the lens panel 25, there is formed a rack 25a engaging with a pinion gear 30, through which a motor 31 drives the lens panel 25 to slide in a longitudinal direction so that either one of the zoom lens unit 22 or a fixed focus lens will be placed in the light path L. The zoom lens unit 22 comprises a zoom lens 32, a beam splitter 34 and a lens barrel 36. The lens barrel 36 has a first housing-section 36a for supporting the zoom lens 32 and a second housing-section 36b for supporting the beam splitter 34. The zoom lens 32 is used for printing small frames including those of 135 film, disc film, 110 film and 120 film. The beam splitter 34 reflects a part of light projected from the lamp 10 and entering the beam splitter 34 through the color negative film 14 and directs it perpendicular to the optical axis of the light. The other part of light is transmitted through the beam splitter 34 and travels along a printing light path L1 toward the zoom lens 32. Designated by L2 is, therefore, a measurement light path. The second housing-section 36b is formed in the bottom and side walls with openings 38 for passing light therethrough. On the outer surface of the first housing-section 36a, there is formed a gear ring 40 engaging with a gear 44 which is coupled to a motor 42. In this way, zooming of the zoom lens 32 can be performed by rotating the motor 42. This motor 42 and the above mentioned motor 31 ore controlled by the CPU 24. Designated by 46 is a total reflection mirror which is disposed near the light path L and is driven by a mirror driver 48 to be inserted in and removed from the light path L. When being inserted in the light path L, the mirror 46 reflects light passing through the color negative film 14 and directs it to travel along the measurement light path L2. Light reflected from the mirror 46 or the beam splitter 34 reaches another beam splitter 51 through a zoom lens 50, and the beam splitter 51 divides the light into two beams and directs them toward an image sensor 52 for picking up the image and an image sensor 53 for light measurement, resepctively. The image sensor 52 outputs video signals according to the light received therein, and sends them to an image processor 54. The video signals processed in the image processor 54 are then sent to a monitor 56 for displaying a color video image simulating an image on the color negative film 14 (hereinafter referred to as a negative image) to be printed. The image sensor 53 measures the three color separation values of the negative image and sends them the CPU 24, which then calculates the color correction value of the negative image based on the three color separation values and other parameters. In order to manually input various instructions and data such as a print start signal, color correction values, density correction values, print size data, film data and so forth, there is provided an input unit 58 through which these instructions and data are inputted in the CPU 24. A shutter 60 is disposed in the printing light path L1 above the lens panel 25 and driven by a shutter driver 62 to open for a predetermined time so as to expose the color photographic paper 64. The shutter driver 62 is also controlled by the CPU 24. Designated by 70 is a photographic processing section, into which the exposed color paper 64 is fed by a pair of feed rollers 68 and is processed in a conventional manner. Now will be described the operation of the above embodiment. At first, an appropriate fixed focus lens, for example, the Brownie lens 26 is set in the opening 28 of the lens panel 25 in which the zoom lens unit 22 is securely mounted. Then, necessary data for printing such as film data, paper data and print size, are inputted through the input unit 58. When the operator inputs that the frame size of the color negative film 14 is not larger than 135-size (disc film, 110-size, 126-size, 135-size), the CPU 24 drives the motor 31 to slide the lens panel 25 as to place the zoom lens unit 22 in the light path L, and the magnification of the zoom lens 32 is automatically adjusted according to the frame size. At that time, the Brownie lens 26 is placed out of the light path L, and the mirror 46 is retained in an initial position diagonally upward the beam splitter 34. In this condition, light projected from the lamp 10 passes through the color filter 16-18 that is placed in the light path L, and through the mirror-box 12 and the color negative film 14 to enter the beam splitter 34 of the zoom lens unit 22. A part of light reflected from the beam splitter 34 travels along the light path L2 and enters the image sensors 52 and 53 through the zoom lens 50 and the beam splitter 51. The image sensor 52 picks up the negative image so as to display a color video image simulating a photographic print of the image on the monitor 56, whereas the output signals of the image sensor 53 are sent to the CPU 24 so as to calculate the print exposure for the three primary colors. Based on the calculated values, the color compensating filters 16-18 are controlled for the color correction. The operator observes the video image to judge whether the image is proper in density and color, and if not, inputs correction data through the input unit 58. The CPU 24 controls the color filters 16-18 according to the manual correction data. If the video image is judged as proper, and when the print start signal is inputted through the input unit 58, the shutter 60 is actuated to expose the color photographic paper 64, thereby printing thereon the image of the color negative film 14. After printing each frame, the feed rollers 68 advances the color photographic paper 64 so as to place an unexposed part thereof in a print station behind a paper mask 66 and, at the same time, feeds the exposed part into the photographic processing section 70. In this way, when using the zoom lens 32 as the printing lens, the beam splitter 34 simultaneously directs a part of light passing through the negative image toward the sensors, so that monitoring and printing can be continuously and rapidly carried out. Meanwhile, in order to print a negative film of Brownie-size, the operator selects a Brownie-print mode through the input unit 58. The motor 31 is then driven to slide the lens panel 25 so as to place the Brownie lens 26 in the light path L. Thereafter the mirror-box 12 is replaced by another mirror-box having a larger exit diameter. Upon inputting a monitor start signal through the input unit 58, the mirror driver 48 is actuated to position the movable mirror 46 in the light path L, and then the mirror 46 reflects light passing through an image of the film 14. The reflected light is received by the image sensors 52 and 53 through the zoom lens 50 and the beam splitter 51. Thereafter the same color correction and monitoring process as above are carried out. When the print start signal is inputted through the input unit 58, the mirror 46 is retracted from the light path L into the initial position, and immediately thereafter the shutter 60 is actuated to open the printing light path L1, thereby printing the first frame of the film 14 on the color photographic paper 64 through the Brownie lens 26. After printing the first frame, the mirror driver 48 again inserts the mirror 46 in the light path L, thereby to enable the measurement and monitoring of the next frame. When all the frames of the Brownie film have been printed, and if the next film to be printed is of 135-size or smaller, the lens panel 25 is slid to position the zoom lens unit 22 in the light path L. Simultaneously, the mirror 46 is retracted from the light path L. The mirror 46 is retained in the initial position until a new instruction is inputted to make a special print with using a specific lens. Any specific lens other than the Brownie lens 26, for example a lens cluster can be easily set in the opening 28 as same as the Brownie lens 26, because, at that time, no element such as a beam splitter is disposed under the opening 28. As described so far, in the printer of the invention, a zoom lens and a beam splitter are used for printing 135-size and smaller frames which are frequently printed, while an interchangeable fixed focus lens and a movable mirror are used for making special prints. Accordingly, it becomes possible to print 135-size or other popular-size frames at a high speed, while maintaining a high quality of print for any frame size or print size by adopting a suitable lens and a suitable light measurement method. Although the present invention has been fully described by way of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention as claimed, they should be construed as included therein.

Claims: A photographic printer comprising: a light source (10) for projecting printing light toward a photographic film (14) for printing an image recorded on said photographic film on a photosensitive material (64); at least one fixed focus lens (26) for making prints; reflection means (46) being removably insertable in the printing light path (L) between said fixed focus lens (26) and said photographic film (14), said reflection means reflecting light perpendicularly (L2) to the printing light path (L) toward sensor means (52,53); and means (48) for driving said reflection means (46) to move in and then out of said printing light path (L) before printing each frame of said photographic film, characterised by further comprising, a beam splitter (34) reflecting a part of printing light passing through said photographic film (14) perpendicularly (L2) to the printing light path (L) toward said sensor means (52,53); a zoom lens (22) fitted to said beam splitter (34) as a unit, said zoom lens being used for printing an image of a frame size equal to or smaller than the frame size of a 135 film and being disposed between said beam splitter (34) and said photosensitive material (64); and setting means (58) for setting either one of said zoom lens (22) or said fixed focus lens (26) in the printing light path (L) between said photographic film and said photographic material, wherein said fixed focus lens (26) and said reflection means (46) are used for making such prints to which said zoom (22) lens with the beam splitter (34) is not applicable. A photographic printer as defined in claim 1, wherein said photosensitive material (64) is disposed above said photographic film. A photographic printer as defined in claim 2, further comprising a lens panel (25) for fixedly supporting said zoom lens (22) and said beam splitter (34) and for removably supporting any one of said fixed focus lens (26), said lens panel being slid by a motor (31) to position either one of said zoom lens or said fixed focus lens in said printing light path. A photographic printer as defined in claim 2, wherein said reflection means (46) is retracted diagonally upward said beam splitter (34) and is moved diagonally into the printing light path (L) in place of said beam splitter. A photographic printer as defined in claim 4, wherein said reflection means (46) is a total reflection mirror. A photographic printer as defined in claim 5, wherein said fixed focus lens (26) is a lens for printing a film with frames larger than those of the 135 film format. A photographic printer as defined in claim 5, wherein said fixed focus lens (26) is a lens cluster. A photographic printer as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensor means (52,53) comprise at least an image sensor for detecting video signals representative of a photograhpic image to be printed. A photographic printer as defined in any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a monitor (56) for displaying a video image simulating a print of said photographic image based on said video signals.

Inventors: SUZUKI KENJI C O FUJI PHOTO FI, SUZUKI, KENJI, C/O FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Applicants: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO LTD, FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G03B27
IPC codes: G03B27