Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing prints of different formats from negatives in the form of strips. The negative images are printed in one reproduction scale on one section of a strip of stock during a first pass of the strip through the printing mechanism, the printing mechanism is readjusted, and the negative images are then printed in another, different scale on a subsequent section of the strip of stock during another pass of the strip through the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for measuring the optical density of an original, especially a three-color negative, from which photographic prints are made, to control how much printing light of each color penetrates the original when the image is projected onto a color print medium that is sensitive to these colors. The spectral sensitivity of the measuring apparatus is adjusted to that of the print medium. Measuring light is projected through the original and is resolved into at least one spectrum. The intensities of the light at the various ranges of wavelength are weighted and totaled in accordance with the spectral sensitivity of the particular print medium. Light valves with translucencies that can be adjusted to the sensitivity of the print medium to that range of wavelengths are distributed along the spectrum. The accordingly weighted intensities of the light of each color are separately sensed and measured.

Abstract: Apparatus for making prints of exposed and developed film frames on discrete sheets of photographic paper and for developing the sheets has a copying station for successive exposed and developed film frames and a printing station where a discrete sheet of photographic paper receives an image of the frame at the copying station. A platform at the printing station carries a turntable which can change (when necessary) the orientation of a sheet, e.g., through 90.degree., to thus properly position a larger or smaller sheet for reception of the image. The turntable can receive sheets which are severed from different webs of unexposed photographic material, and each such web has a different width. The turntable can attract a sheet by suction during turning and/or during exposure. Such turntable can cooperate with one or more conveyors to maintain a sheet at the printing station in a predetermined plane during imaging of a film frame.

Abstract: Strips of coherent, exposed and developed film frames are advanced past, and discrete frames are placed onto, a window at a monitoring station where successive increments of the film frames are monitored by a device having photocells forming at least one row which extends transversely of the path of advancement of strips. The monitoring device is at a standstill during advancement of strips but is transported past a discrete frame at the monitoring station. Such monitoring device can ascertain the density of film frames, and its photocells generate signals which are used to image the frames onto photographic paper.

Abstract: A strip of exposed and developed film has a series of exposures and corresponding exposure identification numbers. The strip is conveyed through a scanning station on its way to a printing station. The exposures and identification numbers are scanned in the scanning station to produce output signals indicative of density changes. The signals are processed to generate groups of data which are combined into a data set. Each group includes the position of a respective exposure on the strip, the identification number for the exposure and the position of the identification number on the strip. Film transport is carried out in such a manner that scanning of the strip and processing of the resulting signals are completed before arrival of the strip at the printing station. A control unit uses the data set to position the exposures in the printing station and to print the exposures. The control unit also uses the data set to mark a copy of an exposure with the identification number of the exposure.

Abstract: An exposed and developed filmstrip and band of similar length are connected edge-to-edge. An address for each negative of the filmstrip is imprinted on the band in the form of a bar code adjacent to the respective negative. The negatives are scanned and exposure values are calculated for the negatives from the resulting data. The exposure values are used to make proofs, and the exposure values for each negative are then stored in a memory under the corresponding address. When an order for final copies of a particular negative is subsequently received, the address of the negative is read from the band and used to retrieve the respective exposure values from the memory. The final copies are thereupon made based upon the retrieved exposure values.

Abstract: An exposed and developed photographic filmstrip having a series of image areas is conveyed along a path and is photoelectrically scanned at a first location of the path to detect regions characterized by marked density jumps. A signal is generated in response to detection of each such characteristic region and a first distance measuring device disposed near the first location assigns a first distance reading to each characteristic region upon detection thereof. The first distance readings are representative of the positions of the characteristic regions longitudinally of the filmstrip. Each signal is stored together with the respective first distance reading. The stored signals and first distance readings are used to calculate the positions of the image areas longitudinally of the filmstrip, and the calculated positions are likewise stored. From the first location, the filmstrip travels to a second location of the path where a notch is punched in the filmstrip adjacent to each image area.

Abstract: A web of spliced-together exposed photographic films is introduced into a developing machine at a variable speed. In order to ensure that each increment of the web is treated in the developing tank of the developing machine for an optimum interval of time, the speed of web advancing rolls at the inlet of the developing tank is monitored and the thus obtained signals are used to regulate the speed of advancing rolls at the outlet of the developing tank in such a way that the two speeds match but the speed of advancing rolls at the outlet is changed to conform to changed speed of advancing rolls at the inlet with a delay corresponding to the optimum interval of time. The length of that portion of the web which extends between the two sets of advancing rolls is varied simultaneously with changes of the speed of advancing rolls at the outlet.

Abstract: A filmstrip containing a series of images is conveyed along a path which passes by a copying station and a scanning station. The filmstrip is advanced in steps using transporting rolls and a narrow segment of the filmstrip is scanned at the scanning station after every step. A first set of measurements obtained upon scanning of the filmstrip is used to calculate the amounts of light and the exposure times required to properly reproduce the images. A second set of measurements is used to detect characteristic regions of the filmstrip having abrupt changes in density. The positions of the characteristic regions along the filmstrip are established by a counter which counts the steps undergone by the filmstrip and the measurement or measurements corresponding to each characteristic region are stored together with the respective position. The positions of the characteristic regions and the second set of measurements are used to calculate the positions of the images along the filmstrip.

Abstract: Light containing blue, green and red radiation is passed through a colored original which is to be printed on color copy material. The transmitted light is spread out into a color spectrum which extends across a first wavelength range generally corresponding to the blue portion of the spectrum, a second wavelength range generally corresponding to the green portion of the spectrum and a third wavelength range generally corresponding to the red portion of the spectrum. The intensity of the transmitted light is measured throughout the spectrum and average of the resulting raw intensities are taken oer each of a series of wavelength intervals which are much shorter than the first, second and third ranges. The copy material has a gamma value for each wavelength interval and such gamma value represents the spectral sensitivity of the copy material in the corresponding interval. The average intensity for each wavelength interval is multiplied by the respective gamma value to yield a corrected intensity.

Abstract: An original to be reproduced is scanned line-by-line, and a scanning signal is generated for each linear, scanned region. The scanning signals represent the densities of the respective regions. A portion of each scanning signal is filtered to remove the higher frequencies. The filtered signal is differentiated to yield first density gradients, and the extreme positive and negative values of the first density gradients are determined for each region. Another portion of each scanning signal is differentiated without first removing the higher frequencies thereby yielding second density gradients. The extreme positive and negative values of the second density gradients are likewise determined for each region. A ratio of the extreme positive second density gradient to the extreme positive first density gradient is formed for each region, as is a ratio of the magnitude of the extreme negative second density gradient to the magnitude of the extreme negative first density gradient.

Abstract: A copier is designed to copy negatives of different sizes onto copying material of different widths. The negatives and copying material are supplied from rolls. The copier includes the following manually controlled components: (i) a set of interchangeable film guides which are used at a scanning station and are slotted to permit photoelectric scanning of the negatives; (ii) a set of interchangeable masks for masking the negatives during copying; (iii) a set of light shafts for illuminating the negatives during copying; and (iv) a movable guide unit for the copying material.

Abstract: Successive frames of an exposed and developed customer film are monitored during transport of the film in a first direction, and the information which is gathered during monitoring of discrete frames as well as of the entire film is stored in the memory of a microprocessor. The direction of travel of the film is then reversed and successive or selected frames of the film are copied during intervals between successive stepwise advances of the film in the second direction. Copying light which is used for the making of reproductions of images of the film frames is also used for illumination of film frames during monitoring. A mirror is provided to reflect light to the monitoring unit during travel of the film in the first direction, and such mirror is retracted preparatory to copying which starts with the last monitored frame and proceeds toward the first monitored frame of the film. The film is converted into a growing roll during monitoring of its frames.

Abstract: In a photographic copying apparatus, in which the plane of the original and the plane of the copying material are positioned at the stable distance from each other, an objective has two optical elements which are adjustable relative to a reference position by means of the associated step motors in the axial direction so as to thereby adjust an image scale and a focus distance. A computer for controlling the step motors and two memory devices, connected to the computer, are provided in the apparatus. The data of the objective characteristics are stored in the first memory and specific apparatus data, as well as individual user's data, are programmed by a user and stored in the second memory. The computer controls the step motors in accordance with the capacities of the two memory devices.

Abstract: In a photographic copying apparatus, a device for threading a starting end of a new copying paper roll includes drive rollers, a guide support for the advanced paper and a pivotable flap which periodically closes on the paper when the advancement is interrupted for a threading process. An opening is formed in the flap to produce a test copy for controlling the operation of the apparatus. An exposure control device loads the test copy with empirically determined amounts of light when no negative is present on a negative platform of a printing station.

Abstract: A cassette for winding and unwinding rolls of photographic paper has a rotatable shaft which traverses the cassette. A spool for supporting a roll of photographic paper is mounted on and circumscribes the shaft. The shaft is supported by a pair of opposite sidewalls of the cassette. Bearing rings are mounted in each of the sidewalls and the shaft carries a pair of bearing disks which respectively mate with the bearing rings. The bearing rings and disks are designed such that they form a braking system for the shaft. An overrunning clutch is arranged between the shaft and each of the bearing disks. The overrunning clutches are oriented so that the shaft rotates freely when photographic paper is being wound onto the spool. During unwinding of photographic paper from the spool, the clutches engage and the braking system for the shaft becomes operative.

Abstract: A photographic copying machine wherein copying light which issues from a light source and is directed toward an original is caused to pass through a light intensity weakening shutter of the venetian blind type. The shutter is adjusted to change the rate of passage of light therethrough in dependency on the intensity of signals which are generated by the exposure control system of the copying machine and denote the anticipated exposure times in the red, green and blue colors. If the anticipated exposure times are too short, the intensity of copying light which impinges upon the copying material is reduced by a stepwise adjustment of the venetian blind type shutter. Inversely, the shutter is caused to permit the passage of more light if the signals which are generated by the exposure control system denote a relatively long exposure times in the three colors.