Patents Assigned to Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
  • Film analyzer
    Patent number: 5933566
    Abstract: A film analyzer for displaying print images simulated from picture frames of a photographic film on a video display. The analyzer includes a film reader for picking up image data of the picture frames, a first memory for storing the picked-up image data, an exposure condition calculating unit for calculating an exposure condition for each of the picture frames based on the image data, a simulating unit for simulating the image data read from the first memory means into a print image which is expected to be obtained as a print by exposing each picture frame under the exposure condition, a second memory for storing the simulated print image and a display control unit for causing the print image stored at the second memory to be displayed on the video display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Kishi, Junji Yamada
  • Conveyer belt and sheet-material conveying mechanism using the belt
    Patent number: 5931457
    Abstract: A conveyer belt includes a conveying face which is divided into at least two areas one of which has a larger coefficient of friction than the other. Alternatively, the conveying face includes an area in which a coefficient of friction thereof varies from a large value to a small value from one side to the other side along a direction transverse to the belt. A transfer device is provided for discharging sheet material on to the conveying face of the conveyer belt in the direction transverse to the belt. The conveyer belt is disposed in such a manner that the area of the conveying face on the side of the transfer device has a larger coefficient of friction than the area on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Todoki
  • Photographic printing apparatus
    Patent number: 5933221
    Abstract: A photographic printing apparatus includes a pause transfer device disposed on a transfer passage between a printing station and a development station for holding temporarily an excess of printed sheets of a photosensitive material over that which can be handled by the development station and for transferring printed sheets of the photosensitive material to the development station one after another depending on the developing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunobu Shima, Yuji Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Nishikawa
  • Method and apparatus for feeding film-loaded cartridges
    Patent number: 5927929
    Abstract: A film feed apparatus in which cartridge panels capable of carrying a plurality of films in cartridges are used to store films and feed them continuously into a photoprinter. The film feed apparatus includes a cartridge storage unit, a panel mover, a cartridge separator, a cartridge conveyor, a panel storage unit. Cartridge panels are sent to a specific cartridge separating station, where separating arms are inserted in openings formed in each panel to separate cartridges from the panel and drop them through an opening. The cartridges separated from the panel are sent on a conveyor belt onto another conveyor belt and fed in a single file. The empty panels are stacked in the panel storage unit by a panel stacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhito Tauchi
  • Photographic printer
    Patent number: 5926254
    Abstract: A photographic printer has an exposure station for exposing and printing images of photographic film on printing paper, a cutter for cutting the photographic film, after a printing process, to film pieces of a length having a predetermined number of frames, and cartridges for collecting the film pieces as sorted into separate orders. Each cartridge stores a group of film pieces stacked one upon the other, and transports the group of film pieces to a film outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki, Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Nobuaki Nakaoka
  • Method for determining whether film is developed or undeveloped
    Patent number: 5923914
    Abstract: Determination is made whether a film stored in a new type of film cartridge is developed or not before the film is processed. A detection sensor detects whether or not there is a nail on an outer wall of the new type of film cartridge to judge whether the film stored in the cartridge is developed or not. Infrared sensors and visible light sensors detect whether or not the film fed from the cartridge under the instruction of a control circuit is developed or not. If both the nail detection sensor and the infrared and visible light sensors give the same result, the result is judged to be correct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Yamaguchi, Noboru Michiue, Shigetaka Nakamura
  • Method and system for specifying position of frame to be printed in film piece
    Patent number: 5923405
    Abstract: A film holder holds a plurality of film pieces which are obtained by cutting a film having a plurality of frames between the forward and rear longitudinal ends. The film pieces are cut from the film in such a manner that the first and the last two pieces will contain fewer frames than a predetermined total number of frames while the others will contain the predetermined total number of frames. The invention provides a method and a system capable of specifying a position of a designated frame in these film pieces as held in the holder based on a serial frame number of a first reference frame selected from the frames contained in the second to last film piece and a serial frame number of a second frame selected so as to allow determination of the total number of the frames contained in the second to last film piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Kayama
  • Film guide device for film attachment
    Patent number: 5920741
    Abstract: A film guide device for guiding a front end portion of a film to a position before a film cartridge so as to be positioned at a film attachment position includes a film bending portion for allowing the front end portion of the film to be positioned at the film attachment position in a state in which the front end portion is bent in a widthwise direction of the film. The front end portion of the film being bent or curved in a widthwise direction of the film enables it to be made stiff. As a result, the front end of the film can be precisely positioned at the film attachment position and thus failure of hooking a film with the attaching tool can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoji Nishimoto
  • Paper feed device including driver operating in different directions to operate respective paper feeders
    Patent number: 5918084
    Abstract: A paper feed device includes first and second paper feeders operable to feed paper from respective first and second paper supplies, and a driver that is selectively operable in first and second directions. A transmission is connected between the driver and the first and second paper feeders. The transmission operates to transmit operation of the driver in the first direction to operate the first paper feeder, and is operable to transmit operation of the driver in the opposite second direction to operate the second paper feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norikazu Kitamura
  • Cleaning apparatus for photosensitive material
    Patent number: 5911254
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning photosensitive material (1) transported by a transport mechanism (26, 32) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support portion (15) for supporting the photosensitive material from a back side thereof, a press roller (11) rotatable relative to the support portion for pressing the photosensitive material against the support portion, a drive mechanism (13) for rotatably driving the press roller and a control unit (30) for controlling rotational drive of the drive mechanism. The control unit (30) selectively provides a first mode where the photosensitive material is transported in association with rotation of the press roller and a second mode where a peripheral speed of the press roller is rendered different from a transport speed of the photosensitive material by the transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youji Nishimoto
  • Photographic processing apparatus
    Patent number: 5910835
    Abstract: A photographic processing apparatus having an exposing section (20) for printing images of negative films (2) received from a negative film feeder (10) on printing paper (3), a negative film outlet (60) for discharging the negative films used in the exposing section, and a developing section (30) for developing the printing paper printed. This apparatus includes a negative film ID allocating device (5f) for generating a negative film ID code and allocating the negative film ID code to the negative films to be subjected to a printing process, and a link manager (5k) for managing a linked relationship between the negative film ID code and information relating to the negative films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hironori Masutani
  • Film-rewinding apparatus
    Patent number: 5909853
    Abstract: A film-rewinding apparatus to rewind a film from a cartridge into a container which can accommodate the film therein by inserting the film from an opening of the container. The apparatus comprises: a cartridge-supporting portion which supports the cartridge; a shielding door driving mechanism for opening and closing the shielding door; a spool-driving mechanism for feeding the film out by driving the spool; a container-supporting portion for supporting the container; and a film-dismounting mechanism for dismounting the film from the spool. The film-rewinding apparatus can easily perform rewinding only by operating a handle or a lever, or by switching operation, after the cartridge and the intermediate magazine are set and the cover is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Yamaguchi, Masasuke Funase
  • Cover locking device with independently operable unlocking mechanisms
    Patent number: 5908131
    Abstract: A locking device for use in a processing device for processing photosensitive material such as photographic film has a light-shield cover that can be unlocked without moving a knob plate. The knob plate has an engaging member for locking the light-shield cover. An unlocking mechanism is provided to unlock the light-shield cover without moving the knob plate. The unlocking mechanism has a pushing head, and an unlocking lever having a tip engageable with the engaging member and adapted to be pushed by the pushing head. By moving the unlocking lever with the pushing head until its tip disengages from the engaging member, the engaging member can pass through a cutout, so that the light-shield cover can be unlocked and opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Takuji Yamaguchi
  • Photographic exposure apparatus with improved exposure control
    Patent number: 5905565
    Abstract: A photographic exposure apparatus includes an exposure lens, a lens carriage having a light shield region and a lens mount region, and a device to move the lens carriage selectively to a position with the lens extending across an axis of exposure light. A first shutter controls the exposure light. A second shutter prevents the exposure to scattered light. A mechanical linking device is responsive to the movement of the lens carriage to close and open the second shutter. When the lens on the lens carriage is dislocated from the axis of exposure light in a standby mode, the mechanical linking device closes the second shutter to interrupt scattered light. When the lens extends across the axis of exposure light in an exposure mode, the mechanical linking device opens the second shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Itojima, Keiji Morimoto
  • Conveyor system for collating photographic prints and negatives
    Patent number: 5901949
    Abstract: A photograph collating system for combining and collating negative films and prints. The system includes a conveyer mechanism (70) extending through a negative film intake station (71) for receiving the negative films from a negative film outlet (60), a print intake station (73) for receiving the prints from a print outlet (50), and a collating station (74) for collating the negative films and prints.The conveyer mechanism (70) includes trays (100) for transporting the negative films (2) and the prints (3), a guide circuit (80) defining a transport passage of the trays, and a drive device (90) for moving the trays along the guide circuit (80). Each of the trays having moved to the collating station (74) is disengaged from the drive device by contact with a preceding one of the trays in a direction of transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takayoshi Muranaka, Hiroshi Miyawaki, Masanori Nakano, Toshio Doi, Kozo Mano
  • Photograph processing device
    Patent number: 5898481
    Abstract: A photograph processing device includes an automatic negative mask section having a film slot and a cartridge setting unit at the film slot. A guide guides a film separated from a cartridge into the film slot. The guide is removably attached to the cartridge setting unit. The guide is attached to a periphery of the cartridge setting unit by a hinge to be integral therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Oku
  • Automatic film unloading apparatus and intermediate film takeup cartridge of automatic film developing apparatus
    Patent number: 5897070
    Abstract: An automatic film unloading apparatus permits an undeveloped film to be automatically unloaded from its cartridge, rewound correctly in a case within a short period of time, and moved to a location where it is joined to a film leader. An intermediate film takeup cartridge for use in the automatic film developer apparatus includes an intermediate cartridge body including a film takeup roller and a base which can easily be separated from each other. When the entire length of an undeveloped film is rewound on the film takeup roller or the undeveloped film is jammed, the intermediate cartridge body is readily separated from the base, hence allowing the taken up or jammed undeveloped film to be removed from the film takeup roller with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kojima
  • Conveyor belt and photosensitive-material transport apparatus using the belt
    Patent number: 5895138
    Abstract: A conveyor belt includes a PET film as a core and an urethane layer formed on a surface of the PET film by screen-printing urethane beads containing ink. This conveyor belt is for use in a belt type photosensitive-material storage section of a photosensitive-material transport apparatus in order to absorb difference in processing capacities of a printing section and a developing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oku, Keiji Morimoto, Mikio Inoue
  • Automatic photographic developing apparatus for photosensitive materials
    Patent number: 5895137
    Abstract: An automatic photographic developing apparatus for photosensitive materials includes a number of processing baths which are filled with processing solutions of different types for processing silver halide coated photosensitive materials. A same number of solution tanks communicated with the respective processing baths are provided for supplying the processing solutions, produced by dissolving solid agents, to the respective processing baths. Each of the solution tanks is protected with an openable cover and is provided with a guide along which the respective solid agents can be loaded into the respective solution tanks for dissolution as the solid agents run down by their own weight. The guide is pivotably mounted for movement between a guiding position and a non-guiding position and is urged by a return spring so that the guide can automatically return to the guiding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidemitsu Eko, Haruo Hakamada, Hideo Ishii
  • Sorting apparatus for photographic printer
    Patent number: 5890872
    Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting a plurality of prints produced by a photographic printer. The apparatus includes a movable table for mounting the prints thereon, and a stopper member disposed on an upper surface of the movable table for coming into contact with the prints mounted on the movable table. The movable table is projectable and retractable relative to the stopper member. With a retracting movement of the movable table relative to the stopper member, the prints mounted on the movable table are caused to come into contact with the stopper member and to be dropped off the table to be sorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Todoki, Takuji Yamaguchi