JP2005221860A - Photo processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer unit that performs exposure processing on photographic paper and a processor unit that develops exposed photographic paper, and a cover that closes the upper end of the printer unit is fixed to the main body of the printer unit In the photographic processing apparatus, which is provided so as to be openable and closable based on a swinging operation around the horizontally oriented shaft core, the shaft core is provided above the lower end on the free end side of the cover. Provided is a photo processing apparatus that can be opened in any order when both covers are opened.
A hinge coupling mechanism H supporting a cover 30 on a main body 27 has an initial locus L1 in which a locus drawn by a free end portion Q of the cover 30 when the cover 30 is opened extends substantially linearly upward. [Selection figure] configured to include

Description

  In the present invention, a printer unit that performs an exposure process on photographic paper and a processor unit that develops the photographic paper that has been subjected to the exposure process are integrally provided, and a cover that closes an upper end of the printer unit is the printer unit. The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus that is provided so as to be openable and closable based on a swinging operation around a horizontal axis fixed to the main body of the main body, and that the axis is provided above the lower end on the free end side of the cover.

  In the above-described photographic processing apparatus, conventionally, the cover for closing the upper end of the printer unit is a horizontal shaft extending in front of and behind the printer unit on the side opposite to the processor unit as viewed from the operator standing in front of the photographic processing apparatus. It was provided to be swung around the core. For this reason, not only can the contents of the printer unit be inspected from the front and back, but the opened cover of the printer unit does not enter the space above the cover of the processor unit and obstruct the opening of the processor unit cover. The cover of the printer was also opened at the same time as the cover of the printer, and both parts could be maintained at once. In addition, since the cover shaft core is provided above the lower end on the free end side of the cover, the cover that is fully opened in a posture close to the upright position does not protrude greatly from the main body of the printer unit to the opposite side of the processor unit. As a result, the substantial installation area can be kept small.

However, in the conventional photographic processing apparatus described above, the cover of the printer unit is a single unit that is fixed to the end of the main body of the printer unit and the like around a horizontal axis that extends back and forth on the side opposite to the processor unit. Since the cover is configured to swing around the shaft core, and the shaft core of the cover is provided above the lower end on the free end side of the cover, when the printer unit cover starts to be opened, the printer unit There was a phenomenon in which the lower end of the free end of the cover of the cover rose while bulging to the processor side. For this reason, there has been a problem that if the cover of the printer unit is opened while the cover of the processor unit is opened, it interferes with the cover of the processor unit in the initial stage of opening. Therefore, in order to open the covers of both the printer unit and the processor unit at the same time, first, the cover of the processor unit must be opened after the cover of the printer unit is opened.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a photo processing apparatus that can be opened in any order when the covers of both the printer unit and the processor unit are opened.

In order to achieve the above object, the first characteristic configuration of the present invention is:
A printer unit for performing exposure processing on the photographic paper and a processor unit for developing the exposed photographic paper are integrally provided, and a cover for closing the upper end of the printer unit is fixed to the main body of the printer unit. A photographic processing apparatus provided so as to be freely opened and closed based on a swinging operation around a laterally directed axis, wherein the axis is provided above a lower end of the free end side of the cover,
The hinge coupling mechanism that supports the cover on the main body is configured such that the locus drawn by the free end portion of the cover by the opening operation of the cover includes an initial locus that extends substantially linearly upward. There is in point.
Therefore, in the photo processing apparatus according to the first characteristic configuration of the present invention, when the cover is opened, the free end portion of the cover first moves linearly upward, and then substantially moves toward the processor portion. Since it is opened to the opposite side of the processor while drawing a circular arc that does not swell, even if the cover of the processor is already opened before the printer cover is opened, the printer The cover of the part is opened without interfering with the cover of the processor part. Similarly, when the cover of the printer unit is closed from the fully opened state, the cover can be closed without interfering with the cover of the processor unit opened in the standing state. That is, when the covers of both the printer unit and the processor unit are opened, they can be opened or closed in an arbitrary order.

More specifically, the hinge connecting mechanism may have a four-point link structure having two link levers having one end pivotally supported by the main body and the other end pivotally supported by the cover.
If comprised in this way, the hinge connection mechanism in which the locus | trajectory which the free end part of the said cover draws by the opening operation | movement of a cover contains the initial locus | trajectory extended substantially linearly upwards is implement | achieved. More specifically, two link points are provided on the main body side of the printer unit so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the two link points are also provided on the cover side of the printer unit when the cover is closed. The upper link point on the main body side and the upper link point on the cover side are connected by the first link lever, and the lower link point on the main body side and the lower link point on the cover side are provided. A four-point link structure may be formed by connecting the link point with the second link lever. With such a four-point link structure, the free end of the cover is first directed upward when the cover is opened. A hinge coupling mechanism is realized that moves linearly and then opens to the opposite side of the processor section while drawing an arc that does not substantially protrude toward the processor section.

An urging means having an urging force for lifting the cover may be provided between at least one of the two link levers and the main body.
If comprised in this way, even if the weight of a cover is large, it can rock | fluctuate and operate a cover toward an open | release side comparatively easily because of the upward assist force by a biasing means. As a specific example of the urging means, a gas damper or the like can be used.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

A photo processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a photographic processing system including a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention. This photographic processing system is also referred to as a digital minilab, and is for a print station 1B (an example of a photographic processing apparatus) that performs exposure processing and development processing on photographic paper P, and for developed photographic film 2a and digital cameras. An operation station 1A that processes a captured image taken from an image input medium such as a memory card 2b and generates / transfers print data used in the print station 1B.

The print station 1B includes a printer unit 4 that performs exposure processing on photographic paper and a processor unit 5 that develops exposed photographic paper. The printer unit 4 and the processor unit 5 are configured to be separable from each other as needed. However, when processing photographic paper, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer unit 4 and the processor unit 5 Are used in an integrally connected state.
In the printer unit 4, the photographic paper P is pulled out from the rolls of the photographic paper P stored in the two photographic paper magazines 11, cut into a print size by the sheet cutter 12, and a back print is performed on the photographic paper P thus cut. The print processing information such as the color correction information and the frame number is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper P by the unit 13, and the photographed image is exposed on the front surface of the photographic paper P by the print exposure unit 14 composed of a laser exposure engine. Transport toward
In the processor unit 5, the exposed photographic paper P is sent to a processing tank unit 15 having a plurality of development processing tanks, developed, and dried. The completed photographic prints P are collected in a state of being sorted in units of orders on a plurality of trays of the sorter 17 by the transverse feed conveyor 16 at the top of the processor unit 5 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 4 is provided with a photographic paper transport mechanism 18 for transporting the photographic paper P at a transport speed adapted to the above-described various processes for the photographic paper P. The photographic paper transport mechanism 18 includes a number of nipping and transporting roller pairs and chucker-type photographic paper transport units 18a and 18b disposed before and after the print exposure unit 14 in the photographic paper transport direction.
The print exposure unit 14 of the printer unit 4 receives R (red) and G (green) based on print data from the operation station 1A along the main scanning direction for the photographic paper P conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. A line exposure head for irradiating laser beams of the three primary colors B (blue) is provided.
The processing tank unit 15 of the processor unit 5 includes a color developing tank 15a for storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing tank 15b for storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a stabilizing tank 15c for storing a stable processing liquid.

  On the other hand, referring back to FIG. 1, a film scanner 20 for obtaining photographed image data (hereinafter simply referred to as image data) from a photographed image frame of the photographic film 2a is disposed at the upper position of the desk-like console of the operation station 1A. A media reader 21 that acquires image data from various semiconductor memories, CD-Rs, and the like used as a photographic image recording medium 2b mounted on a digital camera or the like functions as a controller 3 of the photographic printing apparatus. Built into the PC. The general-purpose personal computer is also connected with a monitor 23 for displaying various information, and a keyboard 24 and a mouse 25 as operation input devices used as an operation input unit used when performing various settings and adjustments.

  The upper end of the printer unit 4 is a portion where the unexposed photographic printing paper P that has been exposed by the print exposure unit 14 is conveyed by the chucker type photographic paper conveyance unit 18b, and is thus closed in a dark box shape by the sheet metal cover 30. ing. Since the cover 30 is supported by a hinge coupling mechanism H provided near the left end of the main body cabinet 27 of the printer unit 4 so that the cover 30 can be opened and closed, the chuck 30 type photographic paper transport unit 18b and the chucker are opened by opening the cover 30. Maintenance of the print exposure unit 14 and the like disposed at the lower part of the photographic paper transport unit 18b can be facilitated. A plate-like cover 40 that closes the upper end of the processor unit 5 is also provided so as to be open for maintenance of the processing tank unit 15 and replacement of the processing liquid. As shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the cover 40 of the processor unit 5 is supported swingably around a single axis extending left and right at the upper end on the back side of the processor unit 5, and is almost open upright. It is configured so that it can be fixed in a posture. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover 40 of the processor unit 5 is performed after the transverse feed conveyor 16 at the top of the processor unit 5 is folded in a vertical orientation.

  The hinge connection mechanism H that supports the cover 30 of the printer unit 4 is provided at both front and rear ends (front side and back side as viewed from the operator) along the swing axis of the cover 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of these hinge coupling mechanisms H includes a first bracket 32 fixed to the vertical wall surface of the main body cabinet 27, a second bracket 34 fixed to the top plate portion 30 a of the cover 30, And, it has a four-point link structure composed of two link levers 36a and 36b whose one end is pivotally supported by the first bracket 32 of the main body cabinet 27 and the other end is pivotally supported by the second bracket 34 of the cover 30. . Two link points 32 a and 32 b are provided on the first bracket 32 of the main body cabinet 27 so as to be separated from each other vertically, and the two bracket points 34 a and 34 b are also provided on the second bracket 34 of the cover 30. These two link points 34a, 34b are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other when they are closed. More specifically, in the case of the link points 32a and 32b of the first bracket 32, the straight line connecting the two link points extends substantially vertically, but in the case of the link points 34a and 34b of the second bracket 34, the upper link Since the point 34a is slightly displaced to the opposite side of the processor unit 5 from the lower 34b link point, the straight line connecting the two link points 34a and 34b is inclined by about 30 ° with respect to the vertical. The upper link point 32a on the first bracket 32 side and the upper link point 34a on the second bracket 34 side are connected by the first link lever 36a, and the lower link point 32b on the first bracket 32 side and the second link point 34a are connected. A four-point link structure is formed by connecting the lower link point 34b on the bracket 34 side with a second link lever 36b.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, such a four-point link structure allows the maximum locus forming point Q at the lower end of the free end portion of the cover 30 when the cover 30 is opened (most from the swing axis of the cover 30). First, the distant portion moves along a linear initial locus L1 extending almost directly upward (see FIG. 6), and then a circle that hardly protrudes from the initial locus L1 to the processor unit 5 side. While drawing the arc-shaped late locus L2, it is opened to the fully open position opposite to the processor unit 5 (see FIG. 7). At this time, a part of the late locus L2 only protrudes from the vertical line passing through Q when the cover 30 is in the closed posture to the processor unit 5 side by a slight dimension of about 1.75 mm, and the four-point link structure is formed. The trajectory of the maximum trajectory forming point of a conventional cover supported around a single axis that does not have (the axis is located near the link point 32a above the first bracket 32 in the present embodiment) is about 30 mm. In consideration of the fact that it protrudes to the processor unit 5 side by a large amount, it can be said that the maximum locus forming point Q of the cover 30 of the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention does not substantially protrude to the processor unit 5 side. Therefore, the cover 30 of the photo processing apparatus according to the present invention opens the cover 30 of the printer unit 4 when the cover 40 of the processor unit 5 is held in the opened state as shown in FIG. However, the cover 30 does not interfere with the cover 40 of the processor unit 5 during the opening operation.
In addition, the substantial swing axis of the cover 30 (located near the center of the four link points 32a, 32b, 34a, 34b) is provided at least 10 cm above the lower end on the free end side of the cover 30. As shown in FIG. 3, even when the cover 30 is fully opened in a posture close to an upright position, the cover 30 does not protrude greatly from the main body of the printer unit 4 to the left side (the opposite side of the processor unit 5). Substantial installation area can be kept small.

Between the second link lever 36b of the hinge coupling mechanism H on the back side and the main body cabinet 27 of the printer unit 4, a gas damper 38 (an example of a biasing means) having a biasing force to swing the cover 30 to the open side. ) Is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, more specifically, an operated piece 37 is integrally extended downward from a part of the second link lever 36 b, and is near the tip of the operated piece 37. The upper end of the piston rod 38a of the gas damper 38 is pivotally connected. The expansion force of the compressible gas G such as nitrogen gas that is compressed and accumulated between the piston portion 38b and the cylinder portion 38c of the gas damper 38 assists the operator's operating force to open the cover 30. The
Since the gas damper 38 is provided only in the hinge coupling mechanism H on the back side, in order to prevent the twisting force that deforms the cover 30 from being applied by the auxiliary operation force by the gas damper 38, the front and rear two are provided. The first link levers 36a are integrally connected by a plate-like stay 39 having high rigidity.
As shown in FIG. 5, the first link lever 36 a is generally formed of a plate-like member, but the second link lever 36 b is configured such that the first link lever 36 a is connected to the processor unit 5 according to an operation of opening the cover 30. It has a bag-like cross-sectional shape surrounding the side (see also FIG. 7).

1 is an external perspective view of a photographic processing system including a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic front view showing the configuration of the print station Explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of the cover of a printer part, and the cover of a processor part Broken front view showing the vicinity of the cover of the printer unit in the closed state The exploded perspective view which shows the hinge connection mechanism of the cover of a printer part Broken front view showing the cover of the printer unit when the maximum locus forming point moves along the linear initial locus Broken front view showing the cover of the printer unit when the maximum trajectory forming point moves along the arc-shaped late trajectory

Explanation of symbols

1A Operation station 1B Print station 4 Printer unit 5 Processor unit 27 Main unit cabinet (main unit)
30 Printer unit cover 36a, 36b Link lever 38 Gas damper (biasing means)
40 Processor Part Cover P Photographic Paper H Hinge Coupling Mechanism Q Maximum Trajectory Formation Point L1 Initial Trajectory L2 Late Trajectory

Claims (3)

A printer unit for performing exposure processing on the photographic paper and a processor unit for developing the exposed photographic paper are integrally provided, and a cover for closing the upper end of the printer unit is fixed to the main body of the printer unit. A photographic processing apparatus provided so as to be freely opened and closed based on a swinging operation around a laterally directed axis, wherein the axis is provided above a lower end of the free end side of the cover,
The hinge coupling mechanism that supports the cover on the main body is configured such that the locus drawn by the free end portion of the cover by the opening operation of the cover includes an initial locus that extends substantially linearly upward. Photo processing equipment.   The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge connecting mechanism has a four-point link structure having two link levers having one end pivotally supported by the main body and the other end pivotally supported by the cover.   The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an urging unit having an urging force for lifting the cover is provided between at least one of the two link levers and the main body.

Images