Abstract: In the operation of work machines of the type required to carry heavy loads over uneven ground conditions, it is oftentimes desirable to provide the work machine with a way to automatically maintain the chassis in a substantially horizontal condition. The present invention provides a work machine having a chassis and at least one elongate member having a first end rotatably coupled with the chassis. Also provided is a controller and a position sensor coupled to at least one of the elongate members which generates a position signal indicative of an orientation of the elongate member relative to the chassis and relays the position signal to the controller. The controller, in response to the position signal, determines an actual height of the chassis from the position signal and adjusts the actual chassis height to conform to a controller-inputted desired chassis height.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically opening and removing a web from a clamshell film cassette. During opening of the cassette a first actuatable means releases a cassette latch. A second means is provided to open one clamshell half upon release of the latch, and a third means is provided to open the other clamshell half. The second and third means each include a pivotal arm having a plurality of suction cups for gripping a wall of a calm shell half. The pivotal arms are positioned by automatic actuators. Vacuum means are provided for picking up the leading end of a web roll within the cassette and transporting it to a web path.

Abstract: A two part clamshell web cassette is provided with a central recess for receiving a web roll core. The core and cassette half shells have mating surfaces which form a labyrinth light seal when the cassette is closed and which prevent rotation of the core during handling of the cassette to provide a core brake. Surfaces on the cassette parts clamp the web rail of a partially dispensed web roll when the cassette is closed. The core brake and web clamping surfaces facilitate transport of the cassette without loss of intra-roll web tension. The cassette is provided with a latch for retaining the cassette half shells in a closed light sealed condition. A frangible covering over a latch release means indicates when broken that the cassette may have been opened prematurely. The cassette further includes a web end retaining means which retains the web end portion to the underlying convolution.

Abstract: In a photographic film or paper web handling system, a vacuum drum carried by a moveable carriage automatically picks up the end of a web roll and feeds it to a web path. The location of the roll surface is sensed and the carriage is positioned in close proximity to the roll surface. The pickup of the web end by the vacuum drum is sensed and the carriage is moved from the web roll to a position adjacent the web path. An air chute is provided for transporting the web along the film path to a web perforator. A drive for the web roll is placed in a constant torque mode for maintaining web tension during initial threading and a loop position servo controlled mode for maintaining a loop height in a slack box after threading.

Abstract: A processor for a web of light sensitive material comprises a plurality of hydrostatic bearings positioned within a processing tank to be submerged within a processing solution. Each of the bearings comprise a pair of juxtaposed housings on opposite sides of the web. Each of the housings include an aperture for emitting liquid under pressure to establish liquid cushions on opposite sides of the web which support the web without physical contact with the bearings.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying webs of light sensitive material comprises means defining a channel for receiving a web, a plurality of elongated spaced injection slits for applying drying fluid to opposite sides of the web, and a plurality of elongated spaced evacuation slits for evacuating drying fluid from opposite sides of the web. The injection and evacuation slits are substantially parallel and angularly oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the web.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a web with a fluid comprises means defining an elongated channel for receiving the web. The fluid is injected into the channel on opposite sides of the web at one or more injection sites. Fluid is evacuated from the channel on opposite sides of the web at one or more evacuation sites. Each injection site is located between two evacuation sites and spaced therefrom such that fluid will flow in opposite directions from the injection site to the adjacent evacuation sites with laminar flow and be evacuated from the channel when the boundary layer of the fluid reaches a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as (for example) the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried vai plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that being and end within each individual frame. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame. The photofinisher-dedicated tracks fill the image-bearing area of each frame. The film has only a single film perforation along one edge for each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations. Each track begins and ends within a single frame, and is divided into a plurality of fields.

Abstract: At least one frame of a strip of photographic film is exposed to an image, and, prior to being developed, six (or so) calibration strips in a specially reserved frame on the same film are individually exposed to six predetermined calibration light sources producing six progressively increasing exposure levels spanning the exposure latitude of the film. A film layer develops a positive image in one color and a negative image in another color using positive and negative dyes, respectively. The film is scanned to determine the positive and negative dye amounts, D.sub.p and D.sub.n at each scanner pixel. The likeliest exposure value E as a function of D.sub.n and D.sub.p is determined probabilistically from six histograms obtained by scanning the six calibration patches on the film, all of the E's thus obtained being stored in a look-up table addressed by the corresponding values of D.sub.p and D.sub.n. The images recorded on the film are then scanned pixel-by-pixel, the D.sub.p and D.sub.

Abstract: A multi-field latent image bar code is photographically recorded in every half frame of a strip of photographic film, at least one of the fields of the code representing information pertaining to film type and another one of the fields representing the half-frame number.

Abstract: A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as (for example) the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The photofinisher-dedicated track locations fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the perforations being widely spaced for this purpose. All data is recorded as individual pieces of information individually identified by virtual data identifiers so as to minimize the recording overhead of non-information-bearing data.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus for a photographic still camera comprises a magnetic head mounted on a flexure attached to a film platen. The head is adapted to contact a magnetic coating on the film adjacent the lip opening of a film cartridge where the film has residual stiffness. The flexure permits the head to move about three axis to permit vertical, pitch and roll displacements of the head which compensate for transient disturbances on the film.

Abstract: A photographic printer is provided with a film strip receiving means including an elongated film strip receiving slot. A transport means is activated by a film strip detection means when the leading end of a film strip is inserted into the slot to move the film strip into the slot. The detection means also detects the presence of the trailing end of the film strip if the film strip is not totally contained by the slot. If a trailing end is not detected, a door is closed to light seal the entrance to the slot. If a trailing end is detected, the door is not closed to prevent damage to the film strip.

Abstract: Apparatus and accompanying methods for use in a film to video transfer system for achieving automatic color balancing of color images for subsequent display on a color monitor. Specifically, this apparatus first transforms each pixel in an image to be transferred from logarithmic exposure ("log exposure") RGB color values into corresponding printing density values through local averaging, then utilizes a printing density based color correction method to generate a color correction offset value for each of the RGB primary colors, and finally converts the three resulting RGB color correction offset values from the printing density domain back to the log exposure domain wherein each offset value is subsequently used to correct the corresponding red, green and blue color values associated with each of the pixels that collectively forms a subsequent scan of the same image prior to the conversion of each of the color balanced RGB pixel values into analog video form.

Abstract: A rotatable disc is provided, for use in a photographic printer, supporting both scanning and large area transmissive filters. The disc is used to selective position a scanning or large area filter between a photographic negative and a single light sensor. The disc thus permits the single light sensor to be used to measure both the scanned and large area transmissive characteristics of the photographic negative.

Abstract: Magnetic recording apparatus for a photographic still camera comprises a magnetic head mounted on a flexure attached to the rear door of the camera. The head is positioned so that when the rear door of the camera is closed, it will enter an opening in the cartridge lip and engage the film. The portion of the lip and the plush material underlying the film provides a complient support for the film.

Abstract: A camera view finder comprises three separate lenses for producing images corresponding to desired pseudo effects. The lenses are mounted in parallel frames which are supported for rectilinear movement. A cam means is provided to selectively position the frames into a viewing position.

Abstract: A slide changing apparatus is disclosed for use in a projection apparatus wherein photographic slides can be projected onto a screen or viewed on a video monitor. The slide changing mechanism includes a lever having a displaceable part which engages a slide and transfers the photographic slide from a projection position to a slide tray wherein slides are accommodated. A microprocessor controls the operation of a driving apparatus which is connected to the lever and actuates the lever. If a slide becomes jammed during movement between the projection position and the slide tray the displaceable part of the lever becomes displaced from its original position. The displacement of the displaceable part is detected by an optical switch and the optical switch outputs a signal to the microprocessor to stop the motor before damage to the jammed slide can occur.

Abstract: A view finder comprises three lenses which are mounted for pivotal movement about three separate axis. Cam means are provided for moving the lenses between a viewing position and folded positions. The cam means includes a single plate movable along a rectilinear path to effect position of the lenses.

Abstract: Inclusion complexes, comprising a host and a guest, that exhibit greater second harmonic generation efficiency than either the host or the guest exhibits by itself. Preferred hosts can be selected from cyclodextrins, cyclodextrin derivatives, and cyclodextrin polymers. Preferred guests can be selected from aromatic compounds in which the molecule contains both an electron-donating functional group and an electron-withdrawing functional group.