Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6278484?oq=5359317
Timestamp: 2018-06-20 19:38:20
Document Index: 252868443

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'art 115', 'art 115', 'art 148', 'art 148', 'art 148', 'art 132', 'art 132', 'art 130', 'art 146', 'art 210', 'art 210', 'arts 210', 'art 210', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 318', 'art 322', 'art 326', 'art 327', 'art 329']

US6278484B1 - Film image input system - Google Patents
Film image input system Download PDF
US6278484B1
US6278484B1 US09417364 US41736499A US6278484B1 US 6278484 B1 US6278484 B1 US 6278484B1 US 09417364 US09417364 US 09417364 US 41736499 A US41736499 A US 41736499A US 6278484 B1 US6278484 B1 US 6278484B1
US09417364
Shigenori Oosaka
Kazuo Ikari
Nakao Oi
Kuniharu Kitagawa
Tadayoshi Shibata
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/271,299 filed Mar. 17, 1999; which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/379,281 file Jan. 27, 1995, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/093,140 filed Jul. 19, 1993 and later abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/755,475, filed Sep. 5, 1991 and later abandoned.
Conventionally, a film image input system which is adapted to reproduce the image of a roll of developed film for a still camera on a video monitor is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,924, U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,406, U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,300, WO90/04301 and the like.
Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Tokkai) No. 1-289948, there is disclosed a film image input system using a film cartridge. However, this publication teaches no description of a film cartridge having a single spool and of an interface to the film image input system. For example, as shown in FIG. 62, when using a film cartridge 46 in which one end of a photo film 43 is fixed to a supply spool 44, the other end is fixed to a take-up spool 45, and these two spools 44 and 45 are spaced at a given distance from each other and are supported rotatably, the following problems arise:
In order to achieve the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a film image input system adapted to reproduce on a video monitor the image of a long and narrow roll of developed film for a still camera, the film image input system using: a film cartridge including a cartridge main body for storing the above film and having an outlet opening for feeding out the film in the longitudinal direction thereof, a single spool for fixing one end of the film in the longitudinal direction thereof to wind the whole length of the film round the fixed end, and support means for supporting the spool in such a manner that the spool can be rotated in both directions; and, the film image input system comprising: film supply means engageable with the spool of the film cartridge to rotationally drive the spool in a direction to feed out the film from the cartridge main body as well as in a direction to rewind the film into the cartridge main body. The film image input system further comprises a cartridge holder for storing the film cartridge, the cartridge holder including holding means for holding the film cartridge in such a manner that the film cartridge floats a given amount in the axial direction of the spool, the cartridge holder, when opened, allowing the film cartridge to be inserted or taken out from the axial direction of the spool and, when closed, allowing the spool of the film cartridge to be positioned on a supply reel; holing means including a freely rotatable spool holding member and capable of holding the spool holding member in such a manner that the spool holding member can be advanced and retreated with respect to the supply reel; and, drive means for driving the holding means to advance and retreat the spool holding member with respect to the supply reel, and for causing the spool holding member to push the film cartridge within the cartridge holder into the supply reel to thereby load the lower end portion of the spool into the head portion of the supply reel as well as to load the spool holing member into the upper end portion of the spool.
According to the invention, by using a compact cartridge having a single spool round which a film is wound, the whole cartridge can be disposed near to one side of a film image input system and, therefore, the freedom of design relating to the number, size and arrangement of various mechanisms in the central part and the other side of the system can be expanded. Also, the film cartridge can be mounted through a cartridge holder to a predetermined cartridge mounting part. The cartridge holder includes holding means for holding the film cartridge in such a manner that the film cartridge is floated a given amount in the axial direction of the spool, and also the cartridge holder is constructed such that it can be opened and closed, that is, when it is opened, the film cartridge can be inserted from the axial direction of the spool or can be taken out, and when it is closed, the spool of the film cartridge can be placed on a reel. The film cartridge with the spool placed on the reel is then loaded into a predetermined position by holding means which includes a rotatable spool holding member and holds the spool holding member in such a manner that the spool holding member can be advanced and retreated with respect to the reel. That is, the holding means is driven to move the spool holding member toward the reel and the spool holding member is used to push in the film cartridge within the cartridge holder, so that the lower end side of the spool can be loaded into the head portion of the spool and the spool holding member can be loaded into the upper end side of the spool. Due to this, the cartridge can be mounted to the cartridge mounting part in a very simple and positive manner.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, a film can be guided in a curved manner, that is, in an S-like or Z-like shape by film guide members respectively disposed on the entrance and outlet sides of an image pickup area. This allows the film to be stretched or flattened without giving a great tension to the film and thus allows a taking lens to be focused over the whole of one frame. Also, two guide rollers are used as the film guide members, respectively. The guide rollers can contact with at least the film image surface of the film and can rotate as the film moves. This prevents the film against stripe d damage which could otherwise occur in the film feeding. Further, in feeding the film from the film cartridge, the leading end of the film can be positively guided to the winding side of a take-up shaft by use of a guide member which is provided in a manner to extend from a film insertion and removal opening in a film storage part toward the take-up shaft. While the winding diameter of the film wound round the take-up shaft in creases gradually, the guide member contacts with the outer-most winding or roll of the film wound round the take-up shaft and then retreats. Moreover, while the film is being loaded between a supply reel and a take-up reel, the supply and take-up reels are always to be braked simultaneously. This can give the film a proper tension to thereby prevent the film surface from being flexed or the winding of the reel from being loosened. By applying soft braking to the reel that is driven by reel drive means as well, there is eliminated the possibility that the film may be flexed or the film winding may be loosened even when the reel to be driven is switched by an oscillating gear mechanism or the like. In addition, when the feeding of the film is stopped while the film is being loaded between the supply and take-up reels, full braking is applied to the supply and take-up reels to thereby prevent the film surface from flexing or the winding of the reel from loosening during the film feeding stop.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the scan position after a frame is fed is detected by scan position detect means with a frame detect position as a reference position. And, after the scan position detected by the scan position detect means in the frame feeding exceeds at least a predetermined scan range, the next frame can be detected by frame detect means. That is, after the frame feeding is started, until the scan position detected by the scan position detect means exceeds the above-mentioned scan range, the frame detection by the frame detect means is nullified to thereby eliminate the possibility that the frame detect means may detect again a notch or the like formed in the same frame. Also, a rotary drive force is transmitted from a single motor through first and second oscillating gear mechanisms to a supply reel or to a take-up reel. A gear train to transmit the drive force through the first oscillating gear mechanism is different in the reduction ratio from a gear train to transmit the drive force through the second oscillating gear mechanism. Thus, by selecting either of the first and second oscillating gear mechanisms to transmit the drive force therethrough, the rotational speed of the supply reel or take-up reel can be changed. That is, by selectively using either of the first and second oscillating gear mechanisms according to cases, the rotational speed of the supply or take-up reel can be changed beyond a range of speed changeable by a voltage applied to the reel motor. This allows the film feeding speed to be changed, for example, on the order of 22 to 23 times and, therefore, a wide variety of film feedings ranging from a high speed film feeding necessary in feeding the film quickly to a low speed feeding necessary in scan feeding the film image can be executed by the single reel motor. There is provided control means for controlling the range of rotation of the first and second oscillating gear mechanisms and only one of the two gear mechanisms can be used to transmit the rotary drive force by the control means. Further, the oscillating gear mechanisms can be rotated respectively according to the direction of rotation of the reel motor to transmit the rotary drive force to the supply reel or take-up -reel and, therefore, normally the supply reel or take-up reel can be rotated only in a given direction. However, according to the invention, the oscillating gear mechanisms are fixed unrotatable, so that the supply reel can be rotated in the reverse direction as well and thus the film can be sent out from the film cartridge.
The exact nature of this invention, as well as other objects, features and advantages thereof, will be readily apparent from consideration of the following specification relating to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference character s designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the film cart ridge;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a film image input system according to the invention ;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the outlines of a third embodiment of a film image input, system according to the invention;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the interior structure of the film image input system show n in FIG. 8;
FIG. 25 is a section view taken along the line 25—25 in FIG. 24;
FIG. 28 is a section view taken along the line 28—28 in FIG. 27;
FIG. 36 is a section view taken along the line 36—36 in FIG. 33, mainly illustrating a holder lock mechanism employed in the film image input system shown in FIG. 23;
FIG. 39 is a diagrammatic view of a groove cam, illustrating the operation of the mode select mechanism shown in Fig.. 8;
FIG. 41 is a block diagram of a, frame feed control device in the film image input system shown in FIG. 23;
FIG. 48 is a view of details of light projecting means and light receiving means respectively shown in FIG. 47;
FIG. 49 is a section view taken along the line 49—49 in FIG. 48;
FIG. 52((B) is a perspective view of main portions of a film cartridge having two notches formed therein;
FIG. 63(A) is a view of a heavily curled, developed photographic film; and, FIG. 63(B) is a view of a developed photo film which is curved in the axial direction because it is enlarged.
According to another feature of the film cartridge 6, the film cartridge 6, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a label 10 which is used display the fact that the film 2 stored within the film cartridge 6 is already developed and to display the kinds of the film (including the number of frames taken, a negative film or a reversal film, and the like), and a mark 11 printed on the label, the mark 11 corresponding to the display of the label and being detectable optically. The film image input system 1 according to the invention, as shown- in FIG. 2, includes a cartridge storage opening 12 for storing the film cartridge 6. And, the opening 12 has a shape substantially identical with the shape of the film cartridge 6, which eliminates the possibility that a different kind of cartridge can be loaded in by mistake.
Further, the film image input system 1 further includes loading completion detect means 14 (FIG. 2) which can detect that the loading of the film cartridge 6 has been completed when the film cartridge 6 has been inserted into the storage opening 12 and the storage opening 12 has been closed. Also, the cartridge storage part 15 includes optical mark readout means 16 (FIG. 1) which confirms the fact that the film 2 has already been developed and the kind of the film 2, allows lock means 17 to lock the storage opening so that the opening cannot be opened by mistake, and after then switches an image signal process circuit 19 for a video monitor 18 in accordance with the kind of the film, with the result that the supply means 13 starts to rotate in the direction to feed out the film 2.
However, if the film cartridge 6 does not include the label 10 with the printed optical mark 11 for displaying the developed film or if the contents of the printed mark 11 are different, then the film image input system 1 displays an alarm to that effect and enters the wait state. Also, according to another function of the present system 1, the system 1 displays the above-mentioned alarm and allows the closed storage opening 12 to open automatically so that the film cartridge 6 can be taken out.
The time when the value of the counter 24 becomes (−1) corresponds to the time when the whole film has passed through the film presence/absence detect means 20. After then, at a given interval, the fact that the film cartridge 6 can be discharged is displayed and at the same time the lock 17 (FIG. 2) of the cartridge storage opening 12 is removed, or the cartridge storage opening 12 is automatically opened to thereby enable the film cartridge 6 to be taken out.
However, the above-mentioned first embodiment has still some problems to be solved. That is, when using a film taken by a camera of a type that, just after loading the film cartridge 6 into the camera, sends out once the whole film from the cartridge and then takes a picture sequentially from the last end frame of the film while rewinding the film, according to the reproducing method described in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the picture-taking order and the reproducing order are reversed and, therefore, the image reproduced in this manner may give an appreciator a slightly strange feeling. And, when there exists an unphotographed frame between the photographed frames, the unphotographed frame must be wasted.
In the above operation, the magnetic head 32 reads the magnetic recording information corresponding to the respective frames and, if there exists any unphotographed frame, then stores the number thereof. Other operations are similar to those described before. Also, after the film is stopped at the photograph start frame position, reproduction of the respective frames ranging from the photograph start frame to the photograph end frame is performed sequentially while rewinding the film into the film cartridge 6. In this reproduction, if there is found an unphotographed frame which is stored during the quick feeding, then the reproduction of the frame is omitted and the operation is advanced to the next frame. The stored final photograph frame number is compared with the counter value of the perforation number to thereby judge the photograph end frame. If the reproduction of the photograph end frame is completed, then the film is rewound into the film cartridge 6 similarly as in the first embodiment.
The lighting unit 112, which also serves as the cover of the cartridge mounting part 115, is rotated in a direction of an arrow A-B to open and close the cartridge mounting part 115. The lighting unit 112, as shown in FIG. 9, includes a light source 118, a reflection plate 120 and a diffusion plate 122 and the light from the light source 118 and the light that is reflected by the reflection plate 120 are projected on to the diffusion plate 122, where the light is diffused to turn out into a film illuminating light. The illuminating light illuminates the image of the film 124 and is then guided into the taking lens 114.
The film image taken by the taking lens 114 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 116 and is then converted by the respective sensors of the CCD 116 into a signal charge in an amount corresponding the intensity of the light. These signal charges are read out sequentially and output to an image signal process circuit 117. The image signal process circuit 117, which includes a sample hold circuit, a white balance circuit, a λ correction circuit, a matrix circuit, an encoder circuit and the like, executes a given signal process by means of these circuits and after then outputs to the video monitor 119 an image signal representing the film image. In this manner, the image of the film 124 can be displayed on the video monitor 119. When the film 124 is a negative film, then a signal process for carrying out a negative and positive inversion is also executed in the image signal process circuit 117.
In FIG. 11, there is shown an example of the above mentioned frame detect means. This frame detect means is composed of a photo interrupter 147 which optically detects a hole 124E formed in each frame for representing the position of the frame and outputs a frame detect signal to a frame No. operation part (counter) 148. The frame No. operation part 148 calculates the frame number of a film image being currently reproduced in accordance with the frame detect signal applied thereto from the photo interrupter 147. That is, the frame No. operation part 148 resets its count value to 0 when the beginning of the film 124 is detected and, after then, when a frame detect signal is input while the film 124 is being fed in a forward direction (+X direction), then it counts up its count value and, when a frame detect signal is input while the film 124 is being fed in the reverse direction (−X direction), counts down its count value.
Also, as shown in FIG. 12(A), as the frame detect means, an electric contact 149 of a contact type may be used. This electric contact 149, as shown in FIG. 12(B), is energized at the position of the hole 124 E and is cut off at other positions, so that the electric contact 149 is able to detect the frame position.
Moreover, when voice information is recorded in the magnetic layer of the film 124, as shown in FIG. 13, the voice information is detected by a magnetic head 150 and the detected voice information is then output to a voice circuit 151. The voice circuit 151, which includes a memory part for storing the voice information temporarily, stores the voice information in the memory part and at the same time outputs to a control circuit 152 a signal indicating the presence or absence of the voice information. Since the frame number information is being applied to the other input of the control circuit 152 from the frame No. operation part 148, the control circuit 152 outputs to the image signal process circuit 117 a signal indicating the frame number information-and the presence or absence of the voice information.
The control part 132 is able to control the image signal process circuit 117 enabled or disabled and at the same time is abled to control the writing of the image signal into the frame memory 153. That is, the control part 132, after completion of the frame feeding, enables the image signal process circuit 117 to thereby output the image signals for the currently photographed frames to the frame memory 153 sequentially, and at the same time enables the writing of the image signals into the frame memory 153. And, the image signals sequentially read out from the frame memory 153 are output to the video monitor 119 and are then reproduced on the video monitor 119.
Now, in FIG. 15, there is shown a block diagram of main portions of another modification of the film image input system shown in FIG. 9. This modification is different from the modification shown in FIG. 14 in the method of connecting the frame memory. That is, in FIG. 14, the frame memory 153 is connected in series to the output of the image signal process circuit 117, while in FIG. 15 a frame memory 155 is connected in parallel to the image signal process circuit 117. With such parallel connection, the image signals in: other cases than the film feeding operation can be applied from the image signal process circuit 117 directly to the video monitor 119 not through the frame memory 155, thereby improving the image quality. Also, in the film feeding operation, similarly as in FIG. 14, the image signals are read out from the frame memory 155 and the film image that is photographed just before the film feeding is reproduced on the video monitor 119 as a still image. It should be noted here that the image signals for a plurality of frames can be compressed and stored in the frame memory 155 and they can be reproduced as a multi-image (for example, an index image, a combined image or the like).
As shown in FIG. 16, at first in photographing, zoom information from the zoom position detect part 130, F number information calculated based on an AE sensor (not shown) or the like, shutter speed information from a shutter speed setting dial 133A, information indicating UP/DOWN of a strobe-light 133B of a pop-up type (presence or absence of strobe flash light), exposure correction information from -an exposure correction dial 133C, and photographing date and time information from a timer 133D are input to an IC memory 135 provided in a main body of a camera, and such information is recorded, in the frame feeding operation, through an interface 157 and a head amplifier 158 by a magnetic head 159 into the magnetic layer 125 in the upper end of the frame in which an object 160 is photographed.
In the film image input system, a magnetic head 162A for reproduction is disposed on the, film supply side (upstream side of the film feeding direction) of the film cartridge 127 and a magnetic head 162B for recording is disposed on the film winding side (downstream side of the film feeding direction) of the film cartridge 127. The two magnetic heads 162A and 162B are spaced by one frame from each other. The magnetic heads 162A and 162B are respectively connected through a head amplifier 163 to a control circuit 165A.
In the operation part 146, there are provided zoom switches 146A, 146B which are respectively used to zoom in and zoom out the image, a scan lever 146C used to scan the film image, switches 146D, 146E, 146F, 146G respectively used to rotate the CCD 116 and erect the monitor image, switches 146H, 146I, respectively used to feed frames forwardly and reversely, a display switch 146K for monitoring all information recorded in the film including the frame number, date and the like of the film 124, and other switches.
Also, in the lower end portion of the remote-control operation part, there is provided a cover which can be opened and closed. Below the cover, there are arranged, as hidden switches, a number setting switch 146L which inputs the number of prints, an input switch 146M which inputs a reprint or inputs automatic reproducing information, an erasing switch 146N which erases the input of the reprint or the input of the automatic reproducing information, switches 146P, 146R respectively for setting a display time, a start switch 146S, a stop switch 146T and the like. In FIG. 20, 146W designates an INV switch which is depressed before a new bit of information is input.
In FIG. 23, there is shown a perspective view of an outline of a fourth embodiment of a film image input system according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 23, a long and narrow, developed still photo film is stored in a film cartridge 202 having a spool (a shaft) 202A, the film cartridge 202 is in turn stored in a cartridge holder 203, and thus the film is set into a cartridge mounting part of the present film image input system 200 by use of the cartridge holder 203.
The film in the film cartridge 202 set in the cartridge mounting part is sent out from the film cartridge 202, is wound round a take-up reel 204, and is then taken up frame by frame by the take-up reel 204. The respective frames of the film fed in this manner are then illuminated by a lighting unit 205, and the film images of the respective frames illuminated are picked up by a taking lens 206 and are then formed on photocells on the light receiving surface of a CCD 207, where they are converted into image signals respectively. The image signals are then output to a video monitor (not shown) so that the film images can be reproduced by the video monitor.
[Film Guide Mechanism]
In FIG. 24, there is shown a front view of the film image input system, mainly the film guide mechanism thereof, when viewed from the side of the lighting unit 205 of FIG. 23. Also, in FIG. 25, there is shown a section view taken along the line 25—25 in FIG. 24.
Now, the film guide member 210 includes a film storage part 210B for storing the film cartridge 202 which is stored in the cartridge holder 203, and a film storage part 210C in which a take-up shaft 204A of the take-up reel 204A is stored. Between the two film storage parts 210B and 210C, there is formed a window part 210D to which the film image of one frame of the film 201 faces and at the same time there are formed guide grooves 210E and 210F which are respectively used to guide the upper and lower ends of the film 201.
Especially when the film 201 is sent out from the film cartridge 202 and the leading end of the film 201 is automatically wound round the take-up shaft 204A, the guide tongue piece 222 guides the leading end of the film 201 to the take-up side of the take-up shaft 204A (that is, the left side of the take-up shaft 204A in FIG. 25). That is, although the developed film is strongly curled, the guide tongue piece 222 prevents the leading end of the film from entering the right side of the take-up shaft 204A. Also, as the film 201 is wound round the take-up shaft 204A and the winding diameter is gradually increased, the guide tongue piece 222 retreats while it is contacting with the outer-most winding of the film 201.
[Reel Drive Mechanism]
In FIG. 27, there is shown a plan view of the film image input system of the invention, illustrating mainly a reel drive mechanism thereof. The reel drive mechanism is structured in such a manner that the fast feeding, rewinding, frame feeding, scan feeding and sending out of a film can be achieved by use of a single reel motor 227. In other words, a take-up reel 204 is rotated counter clockwise (CCW) at high speeds when the film is fast fed and the frames of the film are fed forwardly, a supply reel 209 is rotated clockwise (CW) at high speeds when the film is rewound and the frames of the film are fed reversely, the take-up reel 204 is rotated in the CCW direction at low speeds when the film is scan fed forwardly (+X scan), the supply reel 209 is rotated in the CW direction at low speeds when the film is scan fed reversely (−X scan), and the supply reel 209 is rotated in the CCW direction at high speeds when the film is sent out.
In FIG. 28, there is shown a section view taken along the line 28—28 in FIG. 27. As shown in FIG. 28, the oscillatory gear mechanisms 228, 229 are arranged in 2 stages, that is, in upper and lower stages. The oscillatory gear mechanism 228 in the upper stage consists mainly of an arm plate 233A and a gear 231A respectively disposed rotatable about a support shaft 232 erected on the base plate 208, and an oscillating gear 235A disposed rotatable about a threaded support shaft 234A erected on an arm plate 233A and engageable with the gear 231A. A friction member 236A is interposed between the arm plate 233A and gear 235A and the oscillating gear 235A is pressurized through a coil spring 237A in such a manner that a given rotational load by the friction member 236A can be applied thereto.
When the cam plate 238 is situated at a position shown in FIG. 27, the pin 245A on the arm plate 233A is inserted into a narrow groove portion of the cam groove 239A, with the result that the arm plate 233A is forcibly rotated to a position at which-the oscillating gear 235A meshes with the gear 246A. Also, at that time, the holder member 240 is rotated in the CW direction by the stepped portion 238D of the plate cam 238, and the stopper surface 240B (FIG. 30) is abutted against the leading end of the arm plate 233A to prevent the arm plate 233A from rotating in the CW direction.
Here, when compared with the oscillating gear mechanism 228 in the upper stage, the oscillating gear mechanism 229 in the lower stage can reduce the rotary speed down to ¼. And, when the film is scan fed, the supply reel 209 or take-up reel 204 is driven through the oscillating gear mechanism 229 in the lower stage to feed the film at low speeds. On the other hand, in the winding, rewinding and frame feeding of the film, the supply reel 209 or take-up reel 204 is driven through the oscillating gear mechanism 228 in the upper stage to feed the film at high speeds. That is, as described before, since the reel motor 227 is able to change the rotational speed on the order of 6 times and also is able to change the gear ratio (1:4) by means of the upper-stage oscillating gear mechanism 228 and lower-stage oscillating gear mechanism 229, the feeding speed of the film can be changed up to on the order of 22-23 times.
According to the above-mentioned holding mechanism 248, the oscillating gear 235A can be fixed unoscillatable as occasion demands and the supply reel 209 can be rotated in the CCW direction, that is, in such a direction as can send out the film.
[Cartridge Mounting Mechanism]
The cartridge holder 203, as shown in FIG. 34, includes a storage portion 252 which is used to store the film cartridge 202. In the bottom portion of the storage portion 252, there is formed an opening 252A into which a head portion 209B (FIG .32) of the supply reel 209 can be inserted and also there is provided a push-up pin 254 which can be pushed up by a coil spring 253. The push-up pin 254, prior to mounting of a spool 202A of the film cartridge 202 into a head portion 209B of the supply reel 209, floats the film cartridge 202 a given amount within the storage portion 252 in order for the film cartridge 202 not to interfere with the supply reel 209.
The end face cam 258 is used to rotate the hold arm 257 by means of a pin 260, and includes a cam surface which, as shown in FIG. 32, has heights H1, H2, and H3 in three stages. On the periphery of the end face cam 258, in part, there is provided a gear 258A which is adapted to be able to mesh with a gear 283B of a groove cam 283 (FIG. 38) to be discussed later. Therefore, the end face cam 258 can be rotated acc ording to the rotational positions of the groove cam 283 to rotate the hold arm 257 according to the heights of the end face contacted by the pin 260.
Then, the cartridge holder 203 is turned from its open state shown by a two-dot chained line in FIG. 32 into its closed state shown by a solid line in FIG. 32. It should be noted here that, when the cartridge is mounted, the end face cam 258 is previously rotated so that the lower end of the pin 260 is situated at the end face height H2.
After then, the end face cam 258 is rotated i n the CCW direction in FIG. 33 so that the lower end of the pin 260 is moved to the end face H1 from the end face H2. As a result of this, the hold arm 257 is rotated to a position shown by a two-dot chained line in FIG. 32 by the energizing force of the coil spring 257B, during which rotation the spool hold member 259 pushes down the film cartridge 202 to thereby load the low e r end side of the spool 202A into the head portion 209B of the supply reel 209. It should be noted here that the head portion 209B, as shown in FIG. 24, is energized in a projecting direction by the spring 209C, thereby allowing the lower end side of the spool 202A to be positively loaded into the head portion 209B of the supply reel 209.
In FIG. 35, the re is shown another embodiment of a cartridge mounting mechanism according to the invention. In FIG. 35, the same parts as in FIG. 32 are given the same designations.
While the cartridge mounting mechanism illustrated in FIG. 32 and other figures is structured in such a manner that the cartridge holder 203 can be opened and closed by means of the support shaft 203A9 the cartridge mounting mechanism shown in FIG. 35 is different from the above-mentioned cartridge mounting mechanism in that a cartridge holder 261 can be moved parallel as shown by a two-dot chained line.
When the film cartridge 202 is mounted into the cartridge mounting portion by use of the present cartridge mounting mechanism, after the film cartridge 202 is stored in the cartridge holder 261, the cartridge holder 261 is manually or electrically moved parallel from a position shown by a two-dot chained line to a position shown by a solid line, and after then the film cartridge 202 is pushed into the supply reel 209 in the axial direction thereof by use of a hold arm 257.
[Holder Lock Mechanism]
In FIG. 36, there is shown a section view taken along the line 36—36 in FIG. 33. FIG. 36 illustrates mainly a holder lock mechanism.
Also, when the lock lever 262 is rotated in the CW direction, then the, lever 263 becomes rotatable and is then rotated in such a manner that the leading end 263B thereof is moved to a position above the curved portion 262C of the lock lever 262.
[Various Detectors Used in the Fourth Embodiment]
Various detectors used in the fourth embodiment include not only the cartridge detectors (cartridge detect lever 256, microswitch 257) shown in FIG. 34 and the holder lock detectors (lever portion 262E, microswitch 267) shown in FIG. 36, but also a frame detector, a film leading end detect or, a film trailing end detector and a scan position detector.
[Mode Select Mechanism and Reel Brake]
A state shown in FIG. 38 provides the eject mode. If the groove cam 283 is rotated 30°, 90°, 150°, 170°, 190°, 210°, and 230° sequentially in the CW direction from the state (0°) shown in FIG. 38, then the pin 238B of the cam plate 238 is moved from the position P1 of the cam groove 284 to positions P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, and P8 sequentially. Here, P2 designates a wait position, P3 a film send-out mode position, P4 a film fast feed mode position (+frame feed mode position), P5 a scan feed mode (+X scan) position, P6 a stop position, P7 a scan feed mode (−X scan) position, and P8 a film rewind mode position (−frame feed mode position).
In the scan feed made (−X scan) (P7), the cam plate 238 is moved to the same position as in the scan mode (+X scan) (P5) and the supply reel 209 and take-up reel 204 are both given the soft brake. In the film rewind mode (P8), the cam plate 238 is moved to the same position as in the film fast feed mode (P4) and the supply reel 209 and take-up reel 204 are both given the soft brake.
[Frame Feed Control and Film Send-out Speed Control]
On the other hand, after the frame feeding, the X-direction scan is performed by feeding the film, and the X-direction scan range is the greatest film moving range in which the smallest zoom area 300 does not exceed the left end or right end of the frame. In FIG. 40, there is shown a case in which the film is moved in the reverse direction (that is, −X scanned) and the smallest zoom area 300 is situated at the left end of the frame. Assuming that the then distance between the scan position and the center of the frame is expressed as n and a width one-half the smallest zoom area 300 is expressed as α, then the maximum value of n+α represents a width one-half 1 frame.
After |X|>n+α is satisfied, it is checked whether the frame detector has detected a frame or not (whether a frame detect signal has been input from the microswitch 271 or not) (Step 306). In other words, until |X|>n+α is satisfied, the presence/absence of input of the frame detect signal from the frame detector is ignored, and after |X|>n+α is satisfied, the presence/absence of input of the frame detect signal from the frame detector is checked. In this manner, after |X|>n+α is satisfied, the frame detect signal that is first input can be obtained at the time when the detect lever 270 falls down into the notch of the next frame.
On the other hand, if it is found in Step 312 that X>0 is not obtained, then it is checked whether the frame feeding is in the forward direction dr not (Step 314). If in the forward direction, then the notch is detected twice in Step 316 and after then the reel motor 227 is stopped to terminate the frame feeding (Step 317). If the frame feeding is in the reverse direction, then the notch is detected once in Step 315 and after then the reel motor 227 to terminate the frame feeding (Step 317).
The frame number operation part 318A is arranged such that a frame detect signal is applied thereto from the microswitch 271 of the frame detector. The frame number operation part 318A calculates the frame number of the currently reproduced film image in accordance with the frame detect signal applied from the microswitch 271. That is, the frame number operation part 318A is a counter to count the frame detect signal. In particular, the counter resets the count value to 0 if the beginning of the film is detected, after then if the frame detect signal is input while the film is being fed in the forward direction (+X direction), then counts up the count value, and if the frame detect signal is input while the film is being fed in the reverse direction (−X direction), then counts down the count value.
A count value (a value representing the number of the frames of the film) is being applied from the frame number operation part 318A to the control part 318B. In order to control the film feeding speed to a constant level, as shown in FIG. 45, the control part 318B outputs to the reel motor 227 a drive voltage corresponding to the film frame number being currently wound to thereby rotate the take-up shaft 204A. That is, since the thickness of the film is constant, the film winding diameter round the take-up shaft 204A has a given relationship with respect to the frame number and thus the currently winding diameter can be imagined from the frame number. For this reason, the control part 318B finds the drive voltage of the reel motor 227 from the current frame number in accordance with a table or an equation as to the frame number and the drive voltage having such a relationship therebetween as shown in FIG. 45 and then outputs the thus found drive voltage to the reel motor 227, so as to be able to control the film feeding speed to a constant level.
Now, when the search mode is selected once, then the frame feeding direction is checked as shown in FIG. 46 (Step 319A). In other words, when the fast feeding switch SW-FF is pressed down, then the frame feeding direction is decided as the forward direction and when the rewinding switch SW-REW is pressed down, then the frame feeding direction is decided as the reverse direction (Steps 319B, 319C). And, it is checked whether the frame is to be fed in the decide direction or not (Step 319D). For example, when the frame being currently detected is the final frame and the frame feeding direction is the forward direction, or when the frame being currently detected is the first frame and the frame feeding direction is the reverse direction, the film cannot be moved forth or back to the next frame. For this reason, in such a case, a limit display is displayed and after then the program goes back to the start (Steps 319E, 319F).
And, if the next frame is detected, then a reverse brake is applied to the reel motor (Step 319M) and the frame number is updated and displayed (Step 319N).
Next, the key scan is performed (Step 319P). If it is found in Step, 319Q that any one of the stop switch SW-STOP, +X scan switch SW-FWD, −X scan switch SW-REV is turned on, or that none of these switches is turned on, then the program advances to Step 319V, where the groove cam 283 is moved to a stop position P6, and after then the program moves back to the first state (Step 319W).
Now, if it is found in Step 319S that the given time has not passed, then the processings in Step 319P to Step 319S are executed repeatedly until the given time has passed, and if the given time has passed, then the program advances to Step 319T. In Step 319T, similarly to Step 319D discussed before, it is checked whether the film can moved to the next frame or not. If it is found that the film can be moved to the next frame, then the program moves back to Step 319J, in which the reel motor is rotated again to thereby feed the frame, as discussed before. On the other hand, if it is found that the film cannot be moved, then the limit display is displayed (Step 319U) and after then the program advances to Step 319V, in which the groove cam 283 is moved to the stop Position P6. After then, the program moves back to the start state (Step 319W).
[Negative/Positive Switching Control]
The light projecting means 320, as shown in FIG. 48, is composed of a light source 320A and a condensing lens 320B, while the light receiving means 321 is composed of a pin hole 321A and a photo multiplier 321B. The pin hole 321A, as shown in FIG. 49 which is a section view taken along the line 49—49 in FIG. 48, has an opening 321C to allow the light from the light projecting means 320 to pass through the film edge outside the film perforation, and guides the light passing through the opening 321C to the photo multiplier 321B.
The photo multiplier 321B has .a sensitivity in a visible area and outputs to the negative/positive decision part 322 a voltage signal corresponding to the amount of light passing through the film edge and entering the photo multiplier 321B.
In FIG. 50, there is shown another embodiments of the light projecting means 320 and light receiving means 321. That is, in FIG. 50, as the light projecting means, a GaP light emitting diode (GaP-LED) 324 is used, while a silicone photo diode (SPD) 325 is used as the light receiving means. Here, GaP-LED 324 has a light emitting wavelength of 560 nm, while SPD 325 has a spectral characteristic of 320 nm-730 nm (peak 560 ±20 nm).
Now, Table 1 shows densities, ratios of the amounts of the light passed and the output voltages of SPD 325 when the through portion, the negative film and the positive film are positioned on the optical path of GaP-LED 324 and SPD 325.
Through Portion Nega. Film Posi. Film
Density 0 About 0.6 About 2
Transmission 100 25 1
SPD 325 10 V 2.5 V 0.1 V
For example, there is formed one notch in the film cartridge in which a negative film is stored, as shown in FIG. 52 (A), and there are formed two notches in the film cartridge in which a positive film is stored, as shown in FIG. 52 (B), while there are provided in the cartridge mounting portion two switches which are used to detect the presence or absence of the notch. And, when the film cartridge is mounted into the cartridge mounting portion, if the two switches detect the presence of the notch respectively, then the film stored is decided as a positive film, and if only of the two switches detects the presence of the notch, then the film storedis decided as a negative film.
[Control of Image Output to Video Monitor]
In FIG. 53, the image output control device to the video monitor is used to output a preset image to the video monitor 119 when the film 124 is not set in the photographing area of the taking lens 114. The image output control device consists mainly of a film detect part 326, a control part 327, a set image memory 328, and a switching part 329.
[Film Fading Correction]
The γ correction circuits 334, 335, 336, according to the RGB correction table from the above-mentioned LUT 333, execute γ correction as well as fading correction on the R-signal, G signal, and B signal the white balances of which have been adjusted, respectively. That is, a γ correction circuit normally enhances the sensitivity of intermediate gradation signals as shown by a solid line in a graphical representation in FIG. 59, while the γ correction circuits 334, 335, 336, according to the RGB correction table from the LUT 333, enhance the sensitivity of signals having a large density, for example, as shown by a two-dot chained line or a one-dot chained line in FIG. 59, thereby executing the fading correction as well at the same time (see FIG. 55).
Although in the present embodiment the fading correction is also made by use of the γ correction circuits, the fading correction may be executed by a different correction circuit from the γ correction circuits. However, in this case, the γ correction components are not included in the RGB correction table. Also, the standard pattern 330 for fading correction may be printed in the excess space of the film when the film is supplied for developing, that is, not limited to the time when the film is manufactured in this case, there is obtained a merit that the latent image of the standard pattern previously exposed are prevented from fading. Further, the area of the film in which the standard pattern is branded is not limited to the edge of the film, but it may be the end portion of the film that is not drawn out from the cartridge as shown in FIG. 60.
Also, according to the invention, when a magnetically recordable and reproduceable film is used, there is eliminated the need to execute the repetitive film feeding in the forward and reverse direction, so that the magnetic recording and reproduction of the film can be executed when the frames of the film are fed, and the film feeding speed can be kept at a constant level by a simple structure for excellent magnetic recording and reproduction.
In addition, according to the invention, due to the fact that an image signal previously stored in a set image memory is output to a video monitor in place of an image signal from image pickup means when a film is not set, it is possible to visually confirm from the display image on the video monitor whether a film is set or not in the image pickup area, and when the film is not set, it is possible to prevent output of an image which is of no sense. Also, because it can be automatically checked whether a developed still photo film is a negative film or a positive film and the image can be processed according to the results checked, a normal image can be automatically reproduced on the video monitor whether the film used is a negative film or a positive film. Further, since the degrees of fading of the respective colors R, G, B of the film can be automatically decided and the respective R, G, B image signals can be corrected according to the degrees of fading before they are output to the video monitor, the film image of the developed still photo film can always be reproduced in a non-faded condition even if the film image is actually faded.
1. A film cartridge to be returned by a photofinishing laboratory, said film cartridge comprising:
developed continuous photo film;
a cartridge main body for housing said photo film therein, said cartridge body having a cylindrical inner periphery and an outlet opening to send out said photo film, said outlet opening extending out in a direction tangent to the inner periphery of said film cartridge main body;
a single spool rotatably provided in said cartridge main body, and having one end of said photo film affixed thereto in the longitudinal direction thereof, said photo film being wound around said single spool;
an IC memory installed in said cartridge main body; and
wherein said film cartridge is capable of containing said photo film by winding the entire photo film around said spool, and said spool, around which said photo film is wound, is rotated in a direction reverse to a winding direction to thereby feed said photo film from said film cartridge, wherein said photo film is provided with one of holes and notches respectively formed in each frame of said photo film for respectively indicating a position of each frame, and wherein said film cartridge main body is provided with a display part for indicating whether said photo film has been developed.
2. A film cartridge to be returned by a photofinishing laboratory, said film cartridge comprising:
wherein said film cartridge is capable of containing said photo film by winding the entire photo film around said spool, and said spool, around which said photo film is wound, is rotated in a direction reverse to a winding direction to thereby feed said photo film from said film cartridge, and
wherein said photo film is coated with a magnetic recording layer which is capable of recording information on said photo film.
3. A film cartridge to be returned by a photofinishing laboratory, said film cartridge comprising:
wherein said photo film is provided with one of holes and notches respectively formed in each frame of said photo film for respectively indicating a position of each frame.
4. A film cartridge to be returned by a photofinishing laboratory, said film cartridge comprising:
wherein said film cartridge main body is provided with a display part for indicating whether said photo film has been developed.
US09417364 1990-09-13 1999-10-13 Film image input system Expired - Fee Related US6278484B1 (en)
JP24297190 1990-09-13
JP24511290 1990-09-14
JP24511890 1990-09-14
JP9908191 1991-04-30
JP9898391 1991-04-30
JP9866091 1991-04-30
JP9888391 1991-04-30
JP9904291 1991-04-30
JP9936191 1991-05-01
JP9936091 1991-05-01
JP9936291 1991-05-01
JP9936491 1991-05-01
JP9936391 1991-05-01
JP2-242971 1991-07-18
JP3-98660 1991-07-18
JP3-99362 1991-07-18
JP3-99364 1991-07-18
JP17844791 1991-07-18
JP3-99361 1991-07-18
JP2-245118 1991-07-18
JP3-98883 1991-07-18
JP3-99042 1991-07-18
JP2-245112 1991-07-18
JP3-99363 1991-07-18
JP3-99360 1991-07-18
JP3-99081 1991-07-18
JP3-178447 1991-07-18
JP19012791A JP3023520B2 (en) 1990-09-13 1991-07-30 Film image input device
JP3-190127 1991-07-30
US75547591 true 1991-09-05 1991-09-05
US9314093 true 1993-07-19 1993-07-19
US08379281 US6191810B1 (en) 1990-09-13 1995-01-27 Film image input system for outputting an image signal to a video monitor
US09271299 US6166762A (en) 1990-09-13 1999-03-17 Film image input system
US09417364 US6278484B1 (en) 1990-09-13 1999-10-13 Film image input system
US09842984 US20010046031A1 (en) 1990-09-13 2001-06-13 Film image input system
US6278484B1 true US6278484B1 (en) 2001-08-21
ID=27585719
US09271299 Expired - Fee Related US6166762A (en) 1990-09-13 1999-03-17 Film image input system
US09417364 Expired - Fee Related US6278484B1 (en) 1990-09-13 1999-10-13 Film image input system
US09842984 Abandoned US20010046031A1 (en) 1990-09-13 2001-06-13 Film image input system
US (3) US6166762A (en)
WO2001083392A1 (en) * 2000-04-28 2001-11-08 Asahi Glass Company, Limited Glass coated with heat reflecting colored film and method for manufacturing the same
US4506300A (en) 1982-09-29 1985-03-19 Eastman Kodak Company Film video player with zoom, scan, and automatic border control
US4678300A (en) 1985-09-12 1987-07-07 Eastman Kodak Company Apparatus and method for identifying a film cartridge used in a particular type camera
JPS6428994A (en) 1987-07-24 1989-01-31 Meiko Electronics Co Ltd Manufacture of printed wiring board
WO1990004301A1 (en) 1988-10-07 1990-04-19 Eastman Kodak Company Film-to-video player using dedicated magnetic tracks on film
US4991004A (en) 1988-02-05 1991-02-05 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Film previewer which simultaneously displays a 110 and a 135 frame
US5093680A (en) 1988-09-22 1992-03-03 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image magnification control device for a camera
US5124742A (en) 1990-09-14 1992-06-23 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Photofinishing method and reception apparatus for photofinishing order
US5309242A (en) 1990-09-14 1994-05-03 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Film image input system for maintaining a desired image moving speed and scanning direction
US5329362A (en) 1989-05-12 1994-07-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Color video camera using common white balance control circuitry in negative and postive image photoimaging modes
US5430478A (en) 1986-09-04 1995-07-04 Mscl, Inc. Film weave correction system
US5541691A (en) 1988-03-15 1996-07-30 Nikon Corporation Film unit loading device and method
US20010046031A1 (en) 2001-11-29 application
US6166762A (en) 2000-12-26 grant