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 film has a series of exposed and developed negatives. Each negative is scanned at a multiplicity of regions, and the densities of each region in the three primary colors are measured. A blue/red density differential is derived for each region by subtracting the red density of a respective region from its blue density. The neutral density of each region is calculated, and every region is assigned a coordinate on a plot of blue/red density differential versus neutral density. According to one embodiment, the blue/red density differential for each region having a neutral density equal to or greater than a limiting value is then subtracted from the blue/red density differential given by a characteristic curve for the film. The differences obtained in this manner are analyzed, at least for selected negatives, and the minimum difference for each selected negative is determined. The region corresponding to the minimum difference is that region of a negative having the maximum blue density.

Abstract: A device for automatic producing copies in accordance with a diffusion process from a two-sheet material includes a copy-receiving arrangement receiving exposed copies from a diffusion-developing device and having a plurality of flat copy-receiving surfaces positioned in a diffusion space for a full development of the copies being processed. Each copy is located on the respective copy-receiving surface so that no mutual displacement between the positive sheet and negative sheet of each copy takes place. Each copy is transported from the position at the entrance of the diffusion space to the position at the exit of the diffusion space in a step-like fashion. The ends of the copy-receiving surfaces are connected to a rotational transport device one after another in the endless belt-manner.

Abstract: A series of exposed and developed film strips having various lengths are spliced end-to-end for copying. The resulting band passes through a density measuring station in which the densities of the negatives are measured in the three primary colors and next through a magazine of variable capacity in which a portion of the band accumulates before entering a negative copying station including an exposure control device which regulates the exposures of the negatives on the measured basis of the density values. To insure that values derived from a selected strip are transferred to the exposure control unit when the strip enters the copying station, the splice immediately downstream of the selected strip is arrested in the density measuring station. The band continues to be drawn through the copying station so that the portion which has accumulated in the magazine is fully withdrawn. The portion of the band between the arrested splice and a splice sensor in the copying station has a known length.

Abstract: A liquid electrophoretic developer composition suitable for rendering visible electrostatically charged areas, which composition contains in an electrically insulating non-polar carrier liquid having a volume resistivity of at least 10.sup.9 ohm.cm and a dielectric constant less than 3, dispersed coloring matter acting as toner particles and at least one polymer comprising cationic groups neutralized with counter anions, the said cationic groups being positively charged groups of metal ion containing coordination compounds.

Abstract: Magnetic tape cassette for magnetic recording and play-back devices with pivotal front lid whereby the front lid is biassed by a two-armed safety bar which may be moved forwards and backwards, the swivel range of which is restricted by a pin on the inside of the front lid, characterized in that the two-armed safety bar 19 extends beyond its bearing journal 22, and the extension in the closed position of the front lid serves as a stop 25 on the wall 27, positioned behind, on the upper part of the cassette, and an U-shaped leaf spring 28 is provided to bias the safety bolt between the back wall of the safety bar bearing 18 and the adjacent safety bar arm 21.

Abstract: Disc films are transported to, rotated at and transported away from the copying station of a copying machine by an apparatus having a first turntable which receives successive films from one or more supply magazines and delivers the films seriatim to a transferring unit which transfers successive films onto a second turntable that partly overlaps the first turntable. The second turntable delivers successive films to the copying station and, if necessary, to one or more additional treating stations where the films are rotated by discrete prime movers prior to returning into the range of the transferring unit. The latter transfers a film from the second onto the first turntable subsequent to each transfer of a film from the first onto the second turntable, and the first turntable delivers the thus returned films to one or more collecting magazines.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing microfilms is provided in addition to visible light with a projection lamp for radiating infrared rays which pass through a cold-light mirror to a platform on which a microfilm is disposed. The apparatus is further provided with a projection lens positioned above the microfilm platform. The path of rays is directed from the microfilm platform through the projection lens and then is projected onto an image screen or other sensing surface, for example CCD-device. For adjusting the apparatus for various light spectrum combinations the apparatus is provided with at least one infrared component-reflecting mirror which is displaceable or pivotable to and from the path of illumination rays radiated from the projection lamp.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a planographic printing plate wherein a sheet material, which comprises an exterior hydrophilic colloid layer having concentrated on its surface a silver image formed by the silver complex diffusion transfer process with NiS or mixed crystal NiS.Ag.sub.2 S development nuclei in which the molar ratio of NiS to Ag.sub.2 S is not smaller than 1:1, is treated with a liquid for hydrophobizing the silver image for planographic printing, such liquid containing in dissolved state a heterocyclic compound corresponding to one of the following tautomeric structures (A) and (B) or (C) and (D): ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 represents hydrogen, amino or acylamino,R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group, andR.sup.3 represents an alkyl group, or an alkanamido-arylene group.

Abstract: An exposed and developed strip of film has a series of frames which are to be copied. The strip is scanned at a multiplicity of regions to measure the transparencies in the three primary colors, and the most transparent region of the film strip is established. The neutral density of each region of a frame is calculated as are the density differences between the respective region and the most transparent region in the three primary colors. The color density differences for each region are plotted on a color density diagram having six equally spaced axes which radiate from a common origin. The origin is defined by the color densities of the most transparent region while the respective axes represent the three primary colors and the three complementary colors. The color density diagram is divided into four color segments. The density differences for each region are vectorially added in the color density diagram to generate a resultant vector.

Abstract: New dyes corresponding to the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification, are suitable for use in photographic recording materials.

Abstract: The dynamic random access memory for use in a video circuit scanning video images according to the interlaced scanning method and reproducing the images on monitors of different resolutions is described. The RAM memory is composed of as many RAM segments as there are graduations of picture elements available, each segment including a plurality of RAM chips determined by the minimum read/write cycle time and by the scanning cycle time. To speed up the addressing during the switchover from the low-resolution to a high-resolution reception, the memory is organized into two halves, for storing respectively signals pertaining to odd-numbered and even-numbered picture lines. In each half, the vertical columns are subdivided into groups of lines pertaining to a single video data word. The adjoining pairs of columns store the signals pertaining to corresponding pairs of consecutive video lines which, in each pair, are arranged one below the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing photosensitive material has a processing bath, and transporting devices for advancing several strips and/or sheets of photosensitive material through the bath side-by-side. The strips and sheets have various widths. A sensing system is provided to sense the surface area of the material advanced through the bath. The sensing system includes a plurality of spaced sensors arranged in a row which traverses the path of the material. The sensors are designed to sense the widths of the strips and/or sheets, and adjacent ones of the sensors are spaced from one another by a distance smaller than the magnitude of the smallest difference between the widths of the strips and/or sheets. The lengths of the strips and/or sheets are taken into account by a length measuring unit which determines the frequency with which the sensors scan the strips and/or sheets.

Abstract: The length of film frames on successive roll films which form an elongated strip of randomly alternating roll films with shorter and longer film frames is ascertained by advancing the strip stepwise past a photoelectronic monitoring device which generates signals denoting the light transmissivity of successive increments of the strip. Signals denoting the leaders of successive film frames are stored in a sample-and-hold circuit which replaces the stored signals with signals of greater intensity when the signals of greater intensity are generated during transport of a length of strip corresponding to the length of a longer film frame. This denotes that the corresponding roll film contains shorter film frames.

Abstract: Colored dye diffusion images are produced using a recording material containing, on a layer support (layer element 1), a first dye absorbent layer (layer element 2), a light-sensitive element containing silver halide emulsion layers and color-providing compounds (layer element 3) and optionally a second dye absorbent layer (layer element 4), in that order. An imagewise distribution of diffusible dyes is produced in the light-sensitive element in the course of development and transferred to the first dye absorbent layer.The light-sensitive element is then decomposed by a treatment which decomposes its layers, e.g. by means of a proteolytic enzyme, but leaves the first dye absorbent layer intact. The second dye absorbent layer optionally present, which has a lower mordanting capacity than the first dye absorbent layer and serves to prevent contamination of the developer bath with diffusible dyes, is also decomposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and squaring a stack of sheets has a support plate having a generally horizontal and flat support surface adapted to support the stack of sheets, a guide projecting upward from the support surface and having an abutment face directed in a predetermined direction generally parallel thereto, and a generally horizontal rod vertically spaced from the surface and stack and extending in the direction. A pusher element carried on the rod is slidable thereon in the direction, friction alone linking the element and rod together in the direction. This pusher element is engageable with a sheet on the surface. A stop facing opposite to the direction is also engageable with the element. A drive reciprocates the rod in the direction through a predetermined stroke toward and away from the guide. Thus on displacement toward the guide the element engages and pushes a sheet opposite the direction until the sheet engages thereagainst, at which time the element slides on the rod.

Abstract: An object-holding device is described wherein a cup component comprising an elastically deformable sucker cup and an associated air vent passage communicating with the cup interior is urged by spring means into a position in which the end of such passage remote from the sucker cup is closed off by a selaing element on a supporting body in which the cup component is mounted for limited axial movement. For releasing an object held by the cup after the latter is pressed against the object, the body and cup component have merely to be relatively displaced against the spring bias to unseal the vent passage.

Abstract: Precursor compounds from which photographically-active compounds are released with a time delay correspond to the following general formula ##STR1## wherein A represents the residue of a compound which undergoes oxidative coupling;X represents --O--, --S-- or --NR.sup.1 --;Y represents a releasable group which may consist of or contain the residue of a photographically-active compound; andR represents a group for controlling the kinetics of release.Advantageous pictorial properties (inter-image effect, edge effect, modulation transfer function) are obtained with compounds according to the present invention if the photographically-active residue is the residue of a development inhibitor.

Abstract: Apparatus for convoluting a web of photographic paper issuing from a copying machine onto a core of a cassette which is movable to a predetermined position with reference to the machine has an operating device which can deactivate the web catcher mechanism in the cassette in response to detection of adequate attachment of the leader of the web to the core. The catcher mechanism serves to guide the leader of the web into engagement with the core and is activated on movement of the cassette to its predetermined position. The circuit which monitors the engagement between the leader of the web and the core compares the peripheral speed of the core with that of a rotor which is installed in the machine and whose peripheral speed is lower than that of the core prior to completion of attachment of the web to the core.

Abstract: For electronic image recording in one or more colors a photographic recording material comprising in at least one layer photo-sensitive silver halide and a compound capable of luminescence is image-wise exposed and developed to produce a latent luminescence image. The image information contained in the latent luminescence image is scanned photoselectively by a luminescence spectroscopic process and is recoded electronically in the form of monochromatic luminescence signals. The process provides images in one or more colors and is highly sensitive. Recording materials of extremely low silver application can be used.