Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-10
2004-09-07
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S487000, C358S506000, C358S509000, C358S406000, C358S474000, C358S496000, C358S483000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06788436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material and an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to a device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material due to application of light thereto and an image reading apparatus having the device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, so-called digital photo printers have been proposed in which a photographic film image is fetched by a CCD, and the fetched image is digitally processed and is scanned and exposed onto photographic printing paper.
In this technique, image information recorded on the photographic film is photoelectrically read, and after the image which has been read is converted into a digital signal, the image information is subjected to various image processings so as to be made into image information for recording. An image (latent image) is then recorded on a photosensitive material by scanning and exposing the photosensitive material by means of recording light modulated in correspondence with the image information for recording, is subjected to development processing, and is printed out.
The digital photo printer is capable of freely performing various image processings, including editing such as the synthesis of a plurality of images and the splitting of an image, editing layout of print images such as the synthesis of characters and images, enlargement/reduction, adjustment of color, density, and gradation, conversion between negative photographic film and positive photographic film, and enhancement of the contour. In addition, in prints based on the conventional direct exposure, it is impossible to reproduce all the image density information recorded on the photographic film in view of the density resolution, spatial resolution, color/density reproducibility, and the like. In accordance with digital photo printers, however, it is possible to obtain prints on which the image density information recorded on the photographic film is reproduced virtually by 100%.
Further, in accordance with digital photo printers, since it is possible to record (store) image information recorded on the photographic film and image processing conditions therefor in a memory of the apparatus or in an external memory or external media such as a hard disk, the photographic film serving as an original image is not required at the time of carrying out extra printing or the like. In addition, since it is unnecessary to set the processing conditions again, it is possible to perform operations such as extra printing promptly and efficiently. Other conceivable forms of service include such application services as the editing of digital image data recorded by a digital camera or the like and the outputting of the edited data to a printer, the recording of the photographic film image onto an external medium, and the transmission of the digital image data to a distant site by making use of an internet function.
Such an apparatus is a kind of production facility, so that an apparatus is required which is high in the so-called processing capacity for performing image reading in a short time. Further, the apparatus must finish images recorded on various photographic film types and at various exposure levels to high image quality. Accordingly, with respect to an overexposed negative photographic film, for instance, a greater amount of illumination light is required for the apparatus to be able to read the inputted images as high-quality image data with a fixed processing capacity.
In addition, it is known that visible light components necessary for reading color images in the above-described image reading apparatus include thermal energy. Accordingly, as for a light source for reading the color image, its wavelength regions which can be cut off are naturally limited, and even if the light is radiated by cutting off wavelength components that are unnecessary for reading, it is impossible to obtain a complete heat-insulating effect. Consequently, if a large quantity of light is applied, thermal energy is accumulated in the photographic film original in proportion to the quantity of light, and the rise in the temperature of the photographic film becomes greater than an allowable temperature of the photographic film component materials, causing the degeneration of the photographic film. Incidentally, the degeneration of the photographic film includes temporary degeneration (reversible fading) and permanent degeneration (irreversible fading, deformation of the photographic film base, etc.).
Once irreversible thermal damage is caused in the photographic film, the damaged photographic film is unrepairable, and the function of protecting the photographic film is a function which should be counted as one of the most important tasks in the configuration of the apparatus. In this case, if the illuminating light is merely radiated effectively, there is the possibility of causing thermal damage to the photographic film as described above. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to adopt a means to keep the temperature of the photographic film from becoming high by some method.
However, even if a means for suppressing the temperature rise of the photographic film is provided, in the event that that means has suffered a breakdown, or the photographic film has stayed in the illuminated region for a predetermined time duration or longer as described above due to a breakdown of the transporting device for transporting the photographic film, it is impossible to prevent the degeneration of the photographic film by preventing the overheating of the photographic film.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material and an image reading apparatus having the device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material which are capable of preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material illuminated with light.
To this end, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for preventing the degeneration of a photographic photosensitive material, comprising: an illuminating device for illuminating a photographic film; and a detector for detecting an abnormal state leading to the degeneration of the photographic photosensitive material which has been illuminated by the illuminating device. The device further comprises: a reducing device for reducing a quantity of light applied to the photographic photosensitive material if the abnormal state is detected by the detector.
Namely, the illuminating device applies light to the photographic photosensitive material.
The detector detects an abnormal state leading to the degeneration of the photographic photosensitive material to which light has been applied by the illuminating device.
Here, the abnormal state includes a state of flow of cooling air blown onto the photographic photosensitive material, a state of the temperature of cooling air blown onto the photographic photosensitive material, a state of transport of the photographic photosensitive material, a state of the temperature of the photographic photosensitive material, a state of illumination by the illuminating device, and an operational state of the reducing device, and the detector detects at least one of these abnormal states.
It should be noted that the state of the flow rate of cooling air is included in the state of flow of cooling air blown onto the photographic photosensitive material, and in a case where the cooling air is generated by a compressor, the length of the cumulative operating time of the compressor is included. Namely, the compressor has a service life (e.g., 10,000 hours), and as the cumulative operating time approaches this life, a member for example piston and
Inoue Toshiyuki
Katakura Kazuhiko
Konagaya Tatsuya
Nishio Tomonori
Sakaguchi Yasunobu
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Lee Cheukfan
LandOfFree
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