Patents Examined by Herbert V. Kerner
  • Patent number: 5594525
    Abstract: A method of and printer for printing photographs on light-sensitive paper of a particular format from transparent masters on a roll of film by means of a projector. Both the film and a strip of the paper are advanced through a printing point. The paper is displaced across the direction the film travels in with the center of the prescribed paper format at a distance from the optical axis of the projector. The projector can be adjusted to project the image of the master larger or smaller than the paper format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: AGFA Geavert
    Inventors: Gerhard Benker, Helmut Treiber, Ulrich Kluter, Bernhard Lorenz, Reimund Munch
  • Patent number: 5592260
    Abstract: A device for producing-cropped photographs is made up of separate pieces adapted to be assembled entirely by feel in a darkroom relative to a conventional enlarger for the making of prints from a photographic image projected by the enlarger. The device includes a base sheet and template sheet or sheets having the same shape and outside dimensions as the base sheet. Both the base sheet and the template sheet or sheets are sufficiently thick and stiff to enable proper alignment thereof entirely by feel in a darkroom of the outer peripheries thereof, relative to a sheet of photographic paper interposed therebetween. Multiple template sheets are preferably provided by packaging the device in kit form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Brett R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5587767
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of developing a heat developing film includes a film support surface for supporting a film and heaters for developing the film supported on the film support surface. The film support surface may either be stationary or form part of a film transport. The film transport may either be a continuous film transport or a reciprocating film transport. The continuous film transport may be inclined or include an input pinch roller. In addition, the heaters may either be stationary, reciprocatable, or pivotable. The heaters are radiant heaters which may include a profiled heater output to control distortion of the film. The apparatus may be provided as a stand-alone unit or may be coupled, either externally to or within, a film exposure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Abu S. Islam, Robert J. Kleckner, Leo Chin, Hardy Sonnenberg, Anthony A. Klein
  • Patent number: 5583609
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes an illumination system for illuminating a mask, on which a pattern to be transferred is formed, with exposure light, a projection optical system for imaging and projecting the pattern on the mask onto a photosensitive substrate, beam radiation means for radiating an alignment beam with a wavelength different from the wavelength of the exposure light toward a first grating mark formed on the mask and a transparent portion near the first grating mark, and radiating the alignment beam onto a second grating mark formed on the photosensitive substrate via the transparent portion and the projection optical system, the beam radiation means having a four-beam generation member for generating two first alignment beams which cross each other on the first grating mark, and two second alignment beams which cross each other in a space separated by a predetermined distance from the surface of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Mizutani, Tohru Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 5583608
    Abstract: A condensation preventing structure for a crossover rack provided in a printer processor. The structure has a plurality of conveying rollers provided at a crossover rack provided within a printer processor, and a moisture adhesion prevention/moisture removing device which effects one of prevention of adhesion of moisture to the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation and removal of moisture on the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation. Due to the moisture adhesion prevention/moisture removing device, uneven development of a photographic printing paper caused by moisture adhering to the plurality of conveying rollers due to condensation does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouki Nomura, Hiroyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 5583610
    Abstract: A print processing method used in a photographic printer which can print images on a negative film which have different aspect ratios. The print processing method includes the steps of judging the aspect ratio of each of the images printed on photographic paper, and printing cumulative numbers of prints of each aspect ratio onto the photographic paper of a final printing. The number of prints per aspect ratio can be easily known, and the cost of the prints can be calculated more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sumio Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5576801
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes illuminating optical means for illuminating a projection negative, and projection optical means for projection-exposing the projection negative illuminated by the illuminating optical means onto a substrate, the illuminating optical means including light source means for supplying exposure light, annular light source forming means for forming an annular secondary light source by the light from the light source means, and condenser means for condensing the light beam from the annular light source forming means on the projection negative, and is designed to satisfy the following condition:1/3.ltoreq.d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 .ltoreq.2/3,where d.sub.1 is the inner diameter of the annular secondary light source, and d.sub.2 is the outer diameter of the annular secondary light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Ushida, Masaomi Kameyama
  • Patent number: 5565958
    Abstract: A linear light source includes: a lamp for producing a beam of light; a cylindrical integrating cavity having an entry port for introducing the beam of light into the cylindrical integrating cavity and a linear slot parallel to the cylindrical axis of the integrating cavity for emitting a line of diffuse light that is uniform over an angular range; and an optical element aligned with the slot for reducing the angular divergence of the light exiting from the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Martin C. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5563684
    Abstract: An adaptive wafer modulator in a photolithography device is described. A focal pattern of a lithographic system is calibrated. Prior to exposing a wafer surface to a selected image pattern, the wafer surface is elastically bent or modulated by actuating a set of adjustable pins supporting the wafer so that the wafer surface being exposed conforms more closely to the calibrated focal pattern of the lithographic system than to the presumed flat focal plane of the lithographic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Stagaman
  • Patent number: 5563681
    Abstract: A cooling article adapted for use with a thermal-processing apparatus for cooling a thermally-processable element after the element is heated by a heating member within the thermal-processing apparatus. The cooling article can include a cooling plate having a textured and/or perforated top surface positionable relative to the heated member so that the sheet slides on the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John O. Kirkwold, Roger H. Muntifering, Steven W. Sorensen, Thomas F. Gotich, Robert M. Biegler
  • Patent number: 5555072
    Abstract: A cleaning structure for an out-of-liquid conveying portion whose object is to facilitate detachment and attachment of a cleaning nozzle unit from and to a crossover rack, and to hold cleaning nozzles in predetermined positions suitable for the out-of-liquid conveying portion in a state in which the cleaning nozzle unit has been mounted to the crossover rack. In order to mount the cleaning nozzle unit to tile crossover rack, the cleaning nozzles are made to penetrate through through-holes defined in one of side walls of the crossover rack. In this state, an interlocking member is elastically flexed so as to be inserted into an interlocking hole. After completion of its insertion of the interlocking member, a hook is brought into engagement with an upper edge of the interlocking hole by elastic recovery of the interlocking member. As a result, a case can be mounted to the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouki Nomura, Hiroyuki Satoh
  • Patent number: 5546160
    Abstract: An automatic film feeder has an arrangement with which films can be reversed manually to reposition the frames of each film. A film magazine is mounted outside of an outer case of the printing machine. Films fed from the film magazine are guided into a film feed passage provided inside the outer case by means of a film guide. The film guide has a loop guide which is openably mounted. When a film is fed backward, it slackens and opens the loop guide forcibly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Kishi, Kimiharu Ohtani