Abstract: A print cutter suitable for use in an order finishing station or as a stand-alone unit includes a reel mount for accepting a reel of photographic prints formed in a continuous web. An automatic threader threads the leading end of the web through a loop guide into the first set of drive rollers. A leading end sensor senses the leading end of the web as it is automatically threaded through the loop guide to stop the threading process when the leading end of the web reaches the feed rollers. The same sensor is utilized to monitor the size of the loop of the print web present in the loop guide and to feed additional prints from the reel into the loop guide as required to maintain predetermined loop size. An accurate measure of print length is maintained by feeding the prints to the cutter using a roller pair including a nondeformable roller engaged with the undersurface of the prints and a deformable roller engaging the upper surface of the prints. The nondeformable roller is driven by a stepper motor.

Abstract: A film strip stacking device is provided for use in an order finishing station in conjunction with the negative cutter to accept film strips from the negative cutter which cuts the film into strips. The strips are collected into a stack which can then be loaded into a film sleeve prior to return to the customer. The film strip stacker of the present invention includes a channel divided into an upper and lower portion. The upper portion being adapted to receive initially the film from the negative cutter and including parallel rails movable to contact the film strip after it is cut and while it is in the upper portion of the channel and force the film to deform sufficiently to snap past the shelf members supporting the film into the lower portion of the channel. A pusher blade is movably mounted on the base of the film stacker and operable to contact an end of the film stack to push the stack out of the channel and into a film sleeve held in communication with the lower portion of the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining correlation between the parts of a film processing order from its receipt in a lab to its assembly for return to the customer includes placing a machine-readable identifier on the film, envelope and prints. The identifiers are read at the point of final order assembly and if any identifiers are not readable an error counter is incremented. If the error counter reaches a predetermined maximum number, an alarm is given and the operation is halted for operator intervention. If the maximum error number is not reached, the identifiers read at the finishing station are compared for equality. If there is a mismatch between identifiers, an alarm is given and the operation halted for operator intervention. Each time an order is successfully processed with no misreads, the error counter is decremented by some predetermined number. In a predetermined embodiment, the error counter is reset after each operation intervention.

Abstract: A daylight film processing apparatus for removing an end cap of a cassette containing an exposed film and capturing the spool and film pushed outwardly therefrom so that the film can be suitably trimmed and identified and spliced to the tail of a next-preceding film and wound therewith onto a reel in a light-tight container for transfer to subsequent film processing equipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading a length of film from a cartridge, trimming the ends from the film, splicing the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of the previously unloaded film, placing an identifying mark on the film and on an envelope and winding the film on a magazine. The unloading device allows the film to be removed from the cartridge by manually pulling the sheet of backing paper from the film in the daylight while shielding the film from light. The cartridge is locked to the loading device until all of the film in the cartridge has been loaded through a film guide into a storage box. The leading edge of the film is then trimmed by upward movement of a cutting blade allowing the film to advance through an aperture in the cutting blade until the trailing edge is trimmed by downward movement of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A photographic processing apparatus for severing an advancing strip into successive segments and for mechanically segregating the segments in conjunction therewith includes a strip feed for advancing the strip in a lengthwise direction and a guide for guiding the strip past a cutting station in a predetermined path of advance. A cutting blade is mounted at the cutting station and is operable to sever from the strip the segments thereof that have passed the cutting station. The blade has a home position wherein it permits passage of the strip along the path of advance before severance and is movable through a cutting stroke from the home position and back into the home position. The blade has a deflecting position wherein it permits passage of the strip beyond the cutting station while deflecting the strip from the path of advance. A blade actuator is provided to move the blade into and from the home position and deflecting position and through the cutting stroke in timed relation to strip advancement.

Abstract: A device for unloading exposed film from a cassette, discarding a backing strip which is wound with the film, discharging the cassette body and conveying the film to a light-free storage box. The cassette is initially loaded into the device through a shutter-closable aperture and received by a downwardly inclined cradle. Upon initiation of the loading cycle, the loading aperture shutter closes and a pneumatic ram lifts the cradle to place the cassette against the inlet of a film guide. A motor raises a violator probe after the cassette is in place to guide the backing paper between a pair of powered rollers which draw the backing strip from the cartridge thereby carrying the film into the film guide. The backing strip is discharged through a series of ducts to be discharged outside the machine.

Abstract: Intended primarily for use in the commercial photofinishing industry, a convertible loading and delivery pouch together with associated mounting means in an automatic sorter device is disclosed. A number of such pouches demountably installed at successive loading stations along the sorter conveyor path are maintained suspended from parallel support arms in normally open, article receiving position with the front walls of the individual pouches bowed outwardly to accommodate the articles being discharged from the conveyor at such stations. With the pouches removed from the support arms, the front walls can be bowed inwardly against the sidewalls and rear wall in order to permit interengaging the cooperating elements of a closure device such as a slide fastener to secure the contents within the pouch for delivery purposes.

Abstract: Stepwise feed apparatus for longitudinal advancement of photographic print or film strips to an operating device, such as a cutter. Control of step feed distance is provided by a digital command derived by selective positioning of a movable cursor relative to the operating device, the cursor being set visually so as to coincide with a selected operating point along the strip. The command distance may be corrected at will either with the strip at rest or when in motion to accommodate changes in the interval between operating points along the strip.

Abstract: Apparatus for gauging location of a movable element in relation to an end of an elongated impulse wave energy propagative member employing a sensing transducer adjacent one end of the member to sense first the direct impulse and thereafter the indirect impulse that is reflected from the opposite end. Processing of the sensing transducer responses and sequentially programmed digital measurement of time intervals associated with the duration and time relationship of such responses according to logic equations affords the desired location indication with automatic compensation for ambiently caused variations in shock wave propagation velocity in the member on repeating cycles of operation and with measurement accuracy independent of undue precision requirements in location of the sensing transducer in relation to the adjacent end of the member.

Abstract: Processing apparatus for automatically cutting (or otherwise operating on) a filmstrip during advancement thereof into positions precisely related to the cutter by referencing to the transversely oriented center lines, rather than leading or trailing edges, of marks or cuts longitudinally spaced along an edge of the filmstrip. Sensor means having a mark detector and responsive to duration of a first time interval initiated by the mark's leading edge passing the sensing detector and terminated by the mark's trailing edge passing the detector, computes the correct filmstrip feed distance from the true center line of each mark to the associated next stopping point wherein the filmstrip is presented to the cutter. It does so by counting the pulses controlling filmstrip feed rate established by a stepping motor drive, after first dividing the pulse frequency in half during only said first time interval, such count continuing to a preset number selected to be reached after said first time interval.

Abstract: Successive carrier-length sections in which paper articles have been inserted, such as photoprints and negatives, are torn from the multi-leaf carrier stock along transverse score lines at successive interval locations along the stock. Initially bound together along only one longitudinal edge while incorporated in the body of the stock, two leaves of each carrier-length section become bonded together also at one end thereof when a carrier-length section is severed from the main stock by tearing it off along the transverse score lines, and in the act of tearing, withdrawing a portion of an intervening third lead from between the two other leaves so as to permit interengagement of contact adhesive patches pre-applied thereto.

Abstract: A camera film locating feed system for processing of film strips utilizing locating holes in the film that have or tend to undergo trailing edge damage due to mishandling of the camera when the film is being advanced from one frame setting to the next. In feeding such film in the processing device a selectable control means detects film positioning by reference to the leading edge of each locating hole with the film in one orientation in the processor, and by the lagging edge with the film inverted or oppositely oriented in the processor, and rejects false detection control signals from certain kinds of locating hole damage by the delaying action of a control means gate.