Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to easily manufacture a molded plate of a desired size by laminating an unnecessary, inexpensive resin not used as a product in the width direction of a molded plate and simply separating the unnecessary resin after forming the molded plate. Consequently, it is possible to skip a step of cutting the molded plate in the machine direction thereof. Further, it is also possible to skip a polishing step since the cut surfaces of the molded plate in the machine direction thereof can be smoothed. Still further, by arranging a plurality of resins for disposal, it is possible to effectively use the resins when yielding multiple molded plates from one resin sheet.

Abstract: A backlight unit, comprising plural linear light sources, and an optical functional sheet, wherein a prism structure having plural prisms is formed on at least one surface of the optical functional sheet, and the values of (Hn?1+Hn)/(An?An?1) are approximately equivalent, wherein, in a brightness distribution graph that expresses a brightness distribution in the optical functional sheet, A1 is a peak site and H1 is a peak height of a first virtual image, A2 is a peak site and H2 is a peak height of a second virtual image adjacent to the first virtual image, . . . , An is a peak site and Hn is a peak height of (n)th virtual image adjacent to (n?1)th virtual image, and these virtual images are derived from the plural linear light sources.

Abstract: The power supplied to a new printing lamp which replaces an old lamp is set automatically. The light output of the new printing lamp is measured with an exposure control sensor while the power supplied to the new printing lamp is changed in predetermined step units under control of CPU. The power supplied to the new printing lamp is fixed when the measured light amount coincides with a predetermined reference light amount. The automatically fixed lamp power is stored in a memory, and is read out therefrom to drive the new printing lamp when making a photographic print, to ensure the same light output as that of the old printing lamp.

Abstract: A shutter driving apparatus for use in a photographic printer to drive a shutter for opening and closing the path of light which is incident on a photographic paper comprises a pulse motor for causing the shutter to pivot so as to open and close the light path, first and second stoppers which are arranged to come into contact with the pivoting shutter to thereby dispose it in a position for opening the light path and a position for closing the light path, respectively, a controller for suspending the operation of the pulse motor when the shutter which is being pivoted in the direction for closing the light path by means of the pulse motor reaches a position which is immediately in front of the light path closing position, and a spring for biasing the shutter toward the light path closing position with torque which is smaller than the starting torque and holding torque of the pulse motor and greater than the detent torque thereof.