Abstract: Apparatus in a photographic camera for moving an exposed section of a filmstrip loaded into a camera from the exposure gate to a curl-developing area located along the film transport path after a predetermined period of camera inactivity as measured by an included timing circuit so as to prevent the onset of a reverse curl. According to the invention, the apparatus includes a control mechanism for automatically advancing a succeeding unexposed film portion to the exposure gate upon reactivation of the camera.

Abstract: A variable angle flash for a photographic camera has a flash tube and a reflector that are relatively movable along an optical axis. A linear motor in the camera drives a follower connected with one of the flash tube and reflector members for moving the flash tube (or reflector) along the axis to vary the illumination angle of the flash. Optionally, the motor is a linear form of ultrasonic wave motor of which the follower forms a movable portion. An elastic body engaging the follower and fixed to the camera case carries piezoelectric elements that undulate the body when subjected to ultrasonic alternating currents, causing the body to move the follower and drive the flash tube (or reflector) along the optical axis and thereby vary the illumination angle.

Abstract: A slide projector having a chute (37) for feeding slides (21, 24) to be projected to a projection gate and also having a stack loader (9) with a first and a second storage chamber (17 and 19), each to take a stack of slides which are in contact with one another. The stack loader (9) has a movable receiving member (31) with two slide compartments (35 and 36), wherein the receiving member serves as a movable intermediate tray whose slide compartments can be selectively aligned with the opening of the chute (37) and can be selectively loaded and unloaded again with an end slide (21, 24) of the stack of slides in one of the storage chambers (17 or 19) by a series of friction wheels (47, 49, 61, 63).

Abstract: A film processing system that removes film strips from their cartridges, splices the strips together for processing and printing, and then separates the strips for return and reattachment to the same cartridge from which they were removed. The empty cartridges are maintained during processing in a magazine in the same sequential order and corresponding batch as the spliced film strips, to facilitate matching of the film strips and cartridges at the end of the process. According to other features, the spliced roll of film strips is unwound and rewound after development, once for electronically scanning the film strips to capture electronic representations of the developed images, and again for optically printing the developed images onto photographic paper. The film strips include magnetically recorded information, representing conditions of camera exposure, that are captured during scanning before printing.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism for a camera is powered by a clock-like spiral spring to advance the film. The spring is rewound during manual rewinding of the film into its canister. A separate belt and pulley drive carries the force of spring rewinding. The separate drive also actuates laterally movable (swinging) idler gears on pivot arms to disengage the canister film spool from the drive when the take-up spool is being driven in the forward, film winding, direction and to disengage the take-up spool from the drive when the film spool is being driven in the reverse, film rewind, direction. The film is thus not subjected to the forces required for rewinding the spring. An escapement mechanism is provided to control the speed of film transport to a relatively constant value in spite of the torque variations inherent in the spiral wound spring.

Abstract: A processing rack for use in a processing apparatus. The rack for a given processing path length has an overall height reduction. The rack includes an inlet and an outlet, and switch for directing the material to be processed either directly to the outlet or around a processing path defined by a roller arrangement. The processing path so defined is folded to provide an acceptable path length but reducing the overall height of the processing rack.

Abstract: A cartridge magazine is provided including a plurality of sleeves, each defining a pocket for containing a film cartridge, and a hub supporting the sleeves parallel to one another in a ring. Each sleeve defines a non-circular cross-section accommodating longitudinal movement of the cartridges through the sleeve, but blocking rotational movement of the cartridges in the sleeve. The sleeve, is open along one side, defining a slot for accessing cartridges from the exterior of the magazine. In certain applications, film in selected cartridges is advanced from the cartridge and through the slot without removing the cartridge from the magazine. According to other features, duplicate sections of the magazine are combined with the sleeves arranged in columns for increased capacity.

Abstract: In known photographic apparatus, processing is achieved by passing the material to be processed from one processing stage to the next in a predetermined sequence. This necessitates that the processing stages are sequentially arranged in the apparatus. However, if the material being processed requires more than one identical processing step, for example, two or more wash processes, the processing stages need to be duplicated. Described herein is apparatus in which the processing stages need not be duplicated and in which the stages may be arranged accordingly. The apparatus comprises a rotating drum 10,(110) on which the material (16) to be processed is mounted, and a multi-tank container 12,(112) housing a plurality of compartments (120, 122, 124, 126, 128), each compartment containing one of the desired processing solutions (130, 132, 134, 136, 138).

Abstract: An actuator of the type used in interacting with optical storage media includes a lens housing coupled to a stationary member by four X cross-section flexure arms. The lens housing has coupled thereto a coil assembly which, when current flows through at least one of the component coils of the coil assembly, interacts with a magnetic structure resulting in motion of the lens housing relative to the stationary member. The lens housing, the stationary member, and the flexure arms are fabricated from two identical members. The members have structure fabricated therein which permits the accurate positioning of the identical members during assembly. The flexure members have generally orthogonal thin regions which determines the motion of the lens housing relative to the stationary member. The coil assembly includes rectangular coils which are easily fabricated and conveniently assembled.

Abstract: Photographic apparatus is provided for combining film and prints with packaging material including an image of customer inscribed graphics, such as a return address, provided with the order. The graphics are captured and stored electronically as an image that is linked to the film and prints and reproduced on packaging or other material for returning the order. The packaging is provided at the finishing station in a plurality of different formats corresponding to the size of the prints or the thickness of the completed order. The finishing station selects the appropriate format for the order and reproduces the image of the customer inscribe graphics on the selected format.

Abstract: A rotary drum processor (10) having a closed interior which is partly filled with liquid. An electrical immersion heating element (19) is mounted within the drum (10) so that it is always immersed in the liquid. Electrical power is supplied to the heating element (19) through a rotary transformer (24) outside the drum.

Abstract: A camera is provided that is capable of exposing films of various speeds comprising a flash unit capable of alternatively assuming a direct flash mode and an indirect flash mode and a film speed detector to determine if the speed of film in the camera is above or below a predetermined speed. According to the invention, a control apparatus connected to the film speed detector and the flash unit prevents the flash unit from assuming one of the flash modes if the film in the camera is below the predetermined speed, but allows the flash unit to assume the other flash mode if the film is below the predetermined speed.

Abstract: A drum-type slide magazine having a compartment body (11) which surrounds a magazine hub (1) and includes a series of radially extending compartment walls (15) to form slide compartments (17). The compartment body (11) is designed as a body separate from the hub (1) which is fixedly connected with said hub (1) by a connecting element (37).

Abstract: A remote-controlled slide projector is proposed in which for interrupting a slide presentation the projection lamp and the blower can be de-energized by a standby command of the remote control device. To continue the slide presentation, blower and projection lamp can be re-energized by another command via the remote control device. In the standby mode, the electronic control circuit of the projector is continued to be supplied with power.

Abstract: The viewfinder of a camera include one or more lens elements that zoom in coordination with the camera's taking lens, and normal/panoramic masking plates that pivot about horizontal axis in coordination, with moving masking plates for the camera's back frame opening or with signaling elements. Since the panoramic masking plates are not in the image plane, the aperture in a provided aperture plate is a horizontal slit opening, which provides a great depth of focus, to maintain image sharpness, when the masking plates are in the panoramic position.

Abstract: A takeup spool drive for motorized camera film winding mechanisms and the like has a clutch mechanism with simplified components including a driver, a driven member such as a pinion gear and a takeup spool. The driver has lugs that drive the pinion gear in both directions with lash. Fingers on flexing arms of the driver engage internal teeth of the takeup spool to drive it in a forward film takeup direction. The fingers are disengaged by lash takeup in the reverse direction that causes inward flexing of the arms and allows free running of the spool. In addition to selective engaging and declutching drive of the takeup spool, the mechanism fingers re-engage the internal teeth upon momentary forward rotation for lash takeup and thereby lock the free running takeup spool when the motor is stationary after a winding movement, such as when the film registers in a film gate.

Abstract: A projector having illumination and optical devices for projecting one or more images having a rotating magazine having a plurality of pockets disposed about its periphery for holding multiple slide film cartridges. The pockets loosely retain and orient the cartridges within the magazine in a manner such that a film strip contained therein can be advanced across a film gate between the illumination and optical devices once the magazine has rotated the pocket containing the cartridge to a projecting station.

Abstract: A film drive control system includes a light source that directs a beam at a photographic filmstrip and a sensor located such that it detects this light source depending on whether or not the light source is blocked by the passage of the photographic filmstrip. The filmstrip includes perforations that indicate frame exposure areas. The filmstrip is advanced one frame at a time by first moving the film forward at a relatively high velocity until the leading edge of the perforation passes the sensor, then reducing the velocity in the forward direction until the trailing edge of the perforation passes the sensor. The filmstrip is then moved in the film reverse direction at a reduced velocity until the trailing edge again passes by the sensor, at which time the filmstrip is halted.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a film cartridge, having a spool end and a film ingress/egress slot, containing an exposed photographic film through a photofinishing process comprises a pallet adapted to hold the film cartridge. The pallet includes an interior opening for holding a film cartridge in fixed relation to the pallet with the spool end and the film ingress/egress slot of the film cartridge exposed to permit the spool end to be rotated to thrust the photographic film out of the film cartridge and to return the photographic film to the film cartridge.

Abstract: A precision positioning stage assembly, comprising a movable stage, a drive screw having it axis parallel to the direction of movement of the stage, a follower threadably engaged with the drive screw, and a linear guide rail for supporting one side of the stage. The linear guide rail has its axis parallel to the direction of movement of the stage. A drive member is secured to the stage which has a pair of oppositely disposed contact surfaces spaced apart a predetermined distance. A torque member is secured to the follower, the torque member having a drive section for placement between the contact surfaces and moving the stage along the guide rail. The drive section and the contact surfaces have a configuration so as to provide substantially point contact therebetween.