Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Multicolor picture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-07-24
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Multicolor picture
C355S068000, C355S077000, C396S567000, C396S639000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266127
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading method and an image reading device, and in particular, to an image reading method and an image reading device which read an image recorded on a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among conventional laboratory systems which process images recorded on a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “film”), there are laboratory systems structured as follows. First, preliminary reading (hereinafter, prescanning) is conducted in which the images are read at a relatively high speed and relatively roughly. On the basis of the image data obtained by prescanning, photometric conditions, for the time that main reading (hereinafter, fine scanning) is carried out to read the images at a relatively low speed and in relatively great detail, and processing conditions, for image processing to be carried out on the image data obtained by the fine scanning, are determined. Fine scanning is carried out on the basis of the determined photometric conditions, and image processing is carried out under the determined processing conditions on the image data obtained by fine scanning.
In this type of laboratory system, an image reading device used to read images recorded on a film may include two photometric systems equipped with CCD sensors for reading the images, in order to accelerate the image reading processing. Prescanning and fine scanning are carried out at the respectively different photometric systems, so as to be carried out in parallel.
Recently, there has been demand for so-called large-scale reading in which a large number of films are continuously read in order to improve the processing capability.
Generally, in order to efficiently read a large number of developed films, there is proposed a system in which end portions of respective films are connected together by splicing tape or the like to form an elongated film, and this elongated film is continuously read while being conveyed by a conveying device such as conveying rollers or the like. Further, there has been proposed, as another method, a method in which long ends (ends in which perforations are formed) of plural piece films which have been cut per plural frames are adhered to an elongated tab, so as to form an elongated form.
However, when an elongated film in which films are connected together by splicing tape or the like is conveyed, there is a drawback in that a connected portion thereof may catch on conveying rollers and the connected portion and the conveying rollers may interfere with each other so as to change the speed of the conveying rollers, which changes the conveying speed of the film. If the conveying speed of the film changes while an image frame is being read, a problem arises in that satisfactory reading cannot be carried out.
Further, when a film which includes deformed perforations is conveyed, the deformed perforations may catch on the conveying rollers and the deformed perforations and the conveying rollers may interfere with each other so as to change the conveying speed of the conveying rollers, which slows down the conveying speed of the film. Thus, when a film including deformed perforations is conveyed, a problem arises in that satisfactory reading cannot be carried out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading method and an image reading device in which satisfactory reading can be carried out without being affected by connected portions or deformed perforations which cause changes in the conveying speed.
In order to achieve the above-described object, a first aspect of the present invention is an image reading method in which an elongated photographic photosensitive material on which a plurality of image frames are recorded is conveyed along a longitudinal direction of the elongated photographic photosensitive material and the image frames are read at an image reading position which is formed along a direction which is orthogonal to a conveying direction, comprising the steps of: detecting a portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material which may change a conveying speed of the elongated photographic photosensitive material by interfering with a conveying means, which conveys the elongated photographic photosensitive material, while the conveying means is conveying the elongated photographic photosensitive material; predicting an image frame which will be read by an image reading means, which reads image frames, at the time that the detected portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material may interfere with the conveying means; and reading the predicted image frame by the image reading means such that the portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material does not interfere with the conveying means.
By detecting a portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material which may change a conveying speed of the elongated photographic photosensitive material by interfering with a conveying means, which conveys the elongated photographic photosensitive material, while the conveying means is conveying the elongated photographic photosensitive material; predicting an image frame which will be read by an image reading means, which reads image frames, at the time that the detected portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material may interfere with the conveying means; and reading the predicted image frame by the image reading means such that the portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material does not interfere with the conveying means, deterioration of the accuracy of reading the predicted image frame due to the conveying speed changing while the predicted image frame is being read can be prevented. Accordingly, good reading of image frames can always be carried out.
As one method of reading the predicted image frame by the image reading means such that the portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material does not interfere with the conveying means, for example, as in the second aspect, when at least the predicted image frame is read by the image reading means, instead of being conveyed by the conveying means, the elongated photographic photosensitive material is conveyed by an auxiliary conveying means which is provided at a position which is separated from the conveying means by a predetermined distance in the conveying direction of the elongated photographic photosensitive material.
Or, as another method of reading the predicted image frame by the image reading means such that the portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material does not interfere with the conveying means, for example, the predicted image frame may be read by moving the image reading position (i.e., the image reading position of the image reading means with respect to the conveying path along which the elongated photographic photosensitive material is conveyed) by moving a mirror whose reflection angle varies or a mirror which can move parallel with the reflection angle thereof fixed. Alternatively, the predicted image frame may be read by moving the image reading position by moving the reading means itself.
The third aspect of the present invention is a device which can realize the image reading method of the first aspect, and is an image reading device which includes: a plurality of conveying means for conveying an elongated photographic photosensitive material on which a plurality of image frames are recorded; image reading means for reading an image frame of the elongated photographic photosensitive material conveyed by the conveying means; sensing means for sensing a portion of the elongated photographic photosensitive material which portion may change a conveying speed of the elongated photographic photosensitive material, due to the portion interfering with one of the plurality of conveying means while the elon
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Rutledge D.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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