Abstract: A machine for tracing an outline of an original picture and recording the same outline image as the picture for making a cutting mask for photo-printing, which includes an optical head for receiving light from a light spot projected to the picture by a projector, detecting elements in the optical head which detect the outline of the picture and produce signals for controlling drive means, and a processing head for recording a locus of the outline onto the recording material, wherein the processing head has the same movement relative to the recording material as the optical head has relative to the original picture.

Abstract: A method for composing and recording a picture and a character by using picture signals and character signals, for use in a picture reproducing machine such as a layout color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein an original picture having a continuous gradation is scanned to obtain a picture signal representing one picture element area, wherein a recording signal representing one recording picture element area corresponding to the one picture element area is prepared from the picture signal, and wherein a halftone picture is reproduced directly depending on the recording signal, is disclosed.

Abstract: Color separation condition selecting means for setting up color separation conditions to a picture scanning and recording machine such as a color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein input means inputs factors for determining color separation conditions, processing means selectively outputs the most proper color separation conditions or a symbol representing those depending on the input factors, and output means outputs the selected result of the processing means, and wherein the processing means possesses a construction corresponding to a decision tree which is composed of the input factors and the color separation conditions resulting from the input factors.

Abstract: A method and machine for automatic focusing in a projection system with continuously variable magnification, wherein an original picture is projected onto a photosensitive material by a focusing lens, wherein one of these three members is fixed and the other two members are moved in a direction of a light axis by moving means, wherein the positions of the two moving members are detected by detectors, and wherein control means controls that, when the magnification of a picture image is changed, one moving member having a larger moving rate than that of the other moving member is moved ahead of the other moving member and the other moving member is moved dependent on the one moving member so that the picture image projected may constantly be focused onto the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A multiplicity of special points are identified and recorded as a photoelectrical scanning process. Each special point is marked as an annular pattern on a pattern sheet. The ground of the pattern sheet, the annular pattern and the interior of the annular pattern may have various optical densities and color properties and through detection of such optical properties with at least one light receiving head the exact center of the interior of the annular pattern is detected. This method will be highly useful in automatically drilling holes for mounting component parts in a printed circuit board as a process in the manufacture of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A method for producing a halftone plate from an original picture having a continuous tone directly, for use in a picture reproducing machine such as a color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein a reproduction picture is recorded on a photosensitive material by means of a plurality of exposure light beams which are independently modulated by picture signals obtained by scanning the original picture, wherein a halftone dot area is quantized into picture elements depending on a screen angle approximate to the desired screen angle, whose tangent value is a rational number, and the picture elements are indentified by address numbers in a predetermined order, wherein data for halftone dot area rates and forms of halftone dot patterns are stored in addresses of memories to be addressed by a common address, and then one of the memories is selected depending on the picture signals, and wherein the data is read out of the selected memory, and the exposure light beams are controlled by the read-out data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet handling device comprising an unprocessed sheet material storage box, a processed sheet material storage box located therebelow, and a suction device which may be telescopically moved between the sheet material storage boxes and a work table onto and from which the sheet material is to be fed and taken out by means of suction cups provided on the lower surface of the suction device. To keep the state of the sheet material in transit under control, a plurality of nozzles are provided along the suction cups for blowing air along the sheet material. Since the two sheet material storage boxes are arranged one over the other and there is no rail extending over the work table, very little floor space is taken up and the work performed on the work table is not hindered by the sheet handling device.

Abstract: A method for measuring a halftone dot area rate, i.e. a halftone picture density, in a densitometer or halftone dot area rate measuring means. A light beam is emitted by a light source and impinges upon an object to be measured. The light beam passes through or is reflected from the object to be measured and is received by a photoelectric element. An aperture diameter is selected such that, when the halftone dot area rate in a reference surface which has a screen pitch equal to that of the measured surface is approximately 50%, the ratio of the area of the dark portions to the area of the light portions of the halftone dots included within the aperture diameter, i.e. the measured surface, is substantially 1:1.

Abstract: In a picture scanning and recording system such as a color scanner wherein a reproduction picture is recorded by modulating a plurality of light beams each independently according to a picture signal by means of light modulator elements, a method and apparatus for recording a reproduction picture having a substantially continuous tone characterized by weighting each light beam in order of digit position of a digitized picture signal, and effecting exposure with a light beam resulting from optical addition of the light beams modulated according to such a digital picture signal.

Abstract: A method for varying colors of a picture image, displayed in a color display, for reproducing a color printed matter, in which density signals of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, picked up from an original picture are fed to a color display to display a color picture image corresponding to the color printed matter to be obtained is disclosed. Color ink signals of cyan, magenta and yellow for recording a color printed matter are converted into color separation density signals of red, green and blue by using the first table memories, and then the converted color separation density signals are added one by one. Then, correction values for printing the color inks one above another, read out of the second table memories depending on the color ink signals, are added to the added color separation density signals. A correction value for printing the black ink upon the other color inks, read out of the third table memory depending on the black and the color ink signals, may be added to thus the obtained signal.

Abstract: A process camera for printing pictures of different sizes in the desired display positions on a photosensitive material to obtain a press plate, wherein a manuscript holder for mounting a manuscript to be printed, a lens holder including a focusing lens, and a photosensitive material holder for mounting a photosensitive material are aligned in series on and along the light axis, the manuscript holder being movable towards and away from the lens holder, and the photosensitive material holder being movable in the perpendicular directions to the light axis, and wherein a plurality of register pins and respective drive means for positioning the manuscripts of different sizes are provided in the manuscript holder, and each of the register pins is independently projected beyond the manuscript holder by the respective drive means.

Abstract: A method for measuring a halftone dot area rate or a halftone picture density in a densitometer or half-tone dot area rate measuring means. A light beam is emitted by a light source and impinges upon an object to be measured. The light beam passes through or is reflected from the object to be measured and is received by a photoelectric element. A weighting of the light beam is performed by a weighting means so that the assigned weigth is substantially large at its central part and is reduced radially to its periphery, the reduction depending upon a transmittance or a reflectance of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the activity of a developing solution against blackening by using a test piece for use in an automatic developer are disclosed. A difference between a standard density measured at the predetermined point of the first test piece developed in a standard developing solution, and a density measured at the same point of the second test piece of the same type as the first test piece as said predetermined point of the first test piece, developed in a developing solution to be controlled, is obtained. Then, a predetermined factor is multiplied by the thus obtained density difference to obtain a control value, and then the activity of the developing solution is controlled according to the control value, such as adding a supplementary solution against the blackening to the developing solution to be controlled or putting an exposed film into the same. A permissible density difference range may be determined, in which no activity control is performed.

Abstract: A method for recording color separation picture images and an outline image simultaneously for use in a picture reproducing machine such as a color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein a plurality of color separation picture signals and an outline signal are obtained by scanning an original picture photoelectrically, wherein the outline signal is stored in a memory together with the color separation picture signals, in parallel, and then the stored signals are read out of the memory, in series, and wherein an exposure scanning means is controlled by the readout signals, thereby recording color separation picture images and an outline image on a photosensitive material in the same time.

Abstract: A method for reproducing a color picture for use in a picture reproducing machine in which picture and recording cylinders are rotated at a certain rotation speed ratio, and pickup and exposure heads are moved in the direction of the cylinders' axis at a certain moving speed ratio, and in which picture signals picked up by scanning an original picture mounted to the picture cylinder are first stored in a memory and then are consecutively read out of the memory in synchronization with the rotation of the recording cylinder. Recording signals are composed from one scanning period of picture signals and the following scanning period of picture signals when the one scanning period of picture signals stored in the memory are skipped, and then thus obtained recording signals are fed to the exposure head.

Abstract: A photosensitive material holder for an upright printing machine, in which an upright photosensitive material holder plate is adapted to be moved in a direction of its one side, and which includes guide means by which the top of the upright photosensitive material holder plate is inclined rearwards when the upright photosensitive material holder plate is moved to its side direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a halftone plate from an original picture having a continuous tone. A record film is exposed at least one exposure light beam of a smaller size than a halftone dot area by independently controlling it to turn on or off according to a picture signal. The luminous energy of the exposure light beam is controlled depending on a reference value corresponding to the picture signal and a position signal value varied depending on an exposing position in the halftone dot area to be exposed by the exposure light beam. The control of the luminous energy is performed by the sum, the difference, the product or the quotient of the two signal values. A plurality of reference values or position signal values may be used.

Abstract: A setup condition recorder for a color scanner for reproducing a reproduction picture, wherein an original picture to be reproduced, secured to a picture mount means, is scanned by a pickup head to obtain a picture signal, and wherein an operational unit determines setup conditions for the color scanner from the picture signal, and the setup conditions are recorded on a recording medium by a recording unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the reciprocity law failure of a photosensitive material to be exposed, for use in a picture reproducing machine such as a process camera are disclosed. Luminous energies of an original picture and a standard picture are detected by a light detector, and then the exposure luminous energy is compared with the standard luminous energy by an arithmetic unit. Then, an exposure time is calculated in a calculator by using the comparison result and fundamental data such as the standard luminous energy, a standard exposure time predetermined, and a correction factor predetermined, which are recorded in data setup means.

Abstract: Control means for a drier for films or sheets using a minimum of electric power. A heater is connected to a semiconductor switch and an alternating-current power supply in series. An oscillator outputs a pulse to a turn-on terminal of the semiconductor switch via an OR gate in synchronization with a certain phase angle of the wave form of the alternating voltage turning on the semiconductor switch for approximately 10% of the rated value of the heater thereby preheating the heater. When an entrance sensor detects the presence of films or sheets entering the drier, a starting signal is sent to a flip-flop circuit which outputs a high level signal to the turn-on terminal of the semiconductor switch via the OR gate activating the heater to full rated value. The high level signal is also sent to the turn-on terminal of a second semiconductor switch activating a second heater and a blower.