Abstract: A belt driven rack and tank processor includes a belt for driving photosensitive material through a relatively thin processing channel formed by the rack and tank of the processor. The belt travels around a core that displaces fluid within the apparatus so as to provide for a low volume processor. The processor further includes spring loaded engaging rollers which facilitate the conveyance of cut sheets through the processor.

Abstract: A slide mount has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an interior region, an edge, and a slot extending from the interior region to the edge. A cavity is formed between the first portion and the second portion, and extends to the first edge. A film segment is disposed in the cavity. The slide mount disengageably locks in the film segment. The film segment can be released from the slide mount using an extractor arm. The slide mount can have a locking aperture for receiving a locking piston to disengage a protruding element from the film segment so as to permit extraction of the film segment from the cavity of the slide mount.

Abstract: A latched film unit has a support, a filmstrip held by the support, and a latch mounted to the support. The latch is reversibly switchable between a first state and a second state and can enable or disable an access right of a memory element in the film unit. A latching device operates the film unit.

Abstract: A photographic device includes a film cassette that has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. The filmstrip coiled within said film space. A memory module is loosely retained in the module slot. The photographic device has a terminal block that orients and holds the memory module when the film cassette is loaded.

Abstract: A film cassette has a shell having a film space and a module slot external to the film space. A filmstrip is coiled within the film space. A memory module is loosely-retained in the module slot. The memory module is reversibly separable from the shell. A photographic apparatus includes the film cassette and a photographic device. The photographic device has a body having a cassette station defining a site for a locator of the film cassette; a film transport disposed in operative relation to the cassette station; and a terminal block disposed in the cassette station. The terminal block is biased toward the contact site. The terminal block includes a plurality of leads and a cam unit having at least one cam surface. The cam unit is aligned with the site for the locator.

Abstract: A memory module reader has a body having a module socket. The module socket defines a cylindrical contact site and a site axis. A terminal block is joined to the body. The terminal block includes a plurality of leads and a cam unit having at least one cam surface. The cam unit is aligned with and biased toward the contact site. An assembly includes the memory module reader and a memory module removably retained in the module socket. The memory module has a flexible support and a memory element fixed to the support.

Abstract: A film cartridge comprising a housing having an outer array of electrically sensible areas which can be sensed by a similar array of electrical probes in a camera, is characterized in that a masking slide is supported on the housing for movement between a non-masking position not covering the outer array of electrically sensible areas on the housing, to permit the electrical probes to sense the respective areas, and a masking position covering at least a portion of the outer array of electrically sensible areas, to prevent the electrical probes from sensing the covered areas. Optionally, the housing has an outer exposed film indicator, and the masking slide covers the exposed film indicator when the masking slide is in its non-masking position and uncovers the exposed film indicator when the masking slide is in its masking position.

Abstract: A film projector for use with processed photographic film having magnetically recorded image information. The film projector has a body and a light source disposed in the body. The light source emits a collimated beam. A film holder is mounted in the body. The film holder is disposed to hold an individual frame of film in the beam. A projection lens system receives the beam propagated through the film. An optically transmissive digital display element is disposed in said body. A read-write unit is disposed to read annotation information from and write annotation information to the film in the film holder. A controller is operatively connected to the read-write unit and the display element. The controller modulates the display element responsive to the signal.

Abstract: A slide mount has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an interior region, an edge, and a slot extending from the interior region to the edge. A cavity is formed between the first portion and the second portion, and extends to the first edge, with a film segment in the cavity extracted therefrom by a film extraction system. The film extraction system includes a piston for disengaging a latch mechanism from the film segment. An extractor arm enters the slot to engage a second perforation in the film segment, and slidably moves within the slot to move the film segment through and out of the cavity toward a roller.

Abstract: A system operates to handle and print images from a film slide having a first slide mount and a film segment mounted therein. The system includes a film segment extractor, a scanner, a printer, and a film segment mounter. The extractor extracts the film segment from the first slide mount of the film slide. The scanner scans image data from the film segment. Digital scanning may be performed by a digitizer. The printer prints an image from the scanned image data either optically or digitally. The film segment mounter mounts the film segment into a second slide mount as a second film slide. The second slide mount may be a new slide mount, or may be the original slide mount which is being reused. Magnetically encoded information stored on magnetic material disposed on the first slide mount and/or the film slide is read by respective magnetic readers. The information is then written on magnetic material disposed on the film segment and/or the second slide mount after printing from the film segment.

Abstract: A film slide projector has a rail which engages a carousel in a complementary manner, such that a surface of the rail contacts a surface of each film slide in the carousel. Misoriented film slides are moved by the surface of the rail to expose a portion of such misoriented film slides outside of respective slots of the carousel to indicate such misorientation. Film slides having a predetermined proper orientation are completely contained within respective slots. The predetermined proper orientation of each film slide is determined by a cut-out portion capable of engaging the rail. Alternatively, a carousel may have walls forming slots with a rectangular cross-sectional cylindrical element protruding from a wall to cause misoriented film slides positioned thereupon to have a respective portion thereof extending through a respective open aperture to indicate misorientation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequencing film image presentations. In the method, a film unit is first provided. The film unit has a digital memory store and a plurality of image frames. An index print is provided. The index print has an array of imagettes corresponding to the image frames of the film unit. The index print is then aligned with an array of switches, such that at least one switch is in registry with each imagette. The switches are then allocated to an array of triggers. The triggers each have a uniquely associated imagette. The triggers each include at least one switch in registry with the imagette. The array of triggers has at least one trigger associated with each of imagette. A plurality of the switches are then actuated in a non-predetermined sequence to define a sequence of imagettes associated with respective triggers. A sequence of image frames corresponding to the sequence of imagettes is recorded in the digital memory store.

Abstract: Sound with still image film system, camera and cassette classifier apparatus wherein indicium such as a deformable tab on the film cassette is modified to indicate sound is or will be recorded in association with pictures taken on the film in the cassette. The camera includes a mechanism responsive to a control input such as actual recording of sound to cause the tab to be modified (bent inwards or broken off) to provide a visible indication that the cassette is to receive sound associated processing. Classifier apparatus at the retail order station includes a physical sensor to detect the modified tab condition and initiate a signal indicating a sound capable film cassette as well as possible order entry functions and recording of sound order associated on a film magnetic layer on the leader of the film.

Abstract: A still picture camera for capturing images when film is alternately advanced from any one of three film cassettes into a common film gate for a controlled exposure by light passing through an objective lens and shutter, the camera comprising a camera body, an objective lens for forming an image, a shutter for controlled admission of light, a film gate for defining the area of exposure of one frame of photographic film, three film cassette chambers mounted in a rotating turret each accepting a film cassette, a turret rotation mechanism, a film advancement mechanism, and one film spooling chamber for alternately receiving film from any film cassette.

Abstract: A film cassette having perforated film for permitting automated extension of the film, the film cassette comprises a core having the film convolutedly wound on the core. A rotatable drum receives the core, and includes a recessed slot and a projection which engages a perforation of the film for permitting motion of the film as the drum is rotated. A shell receives the drum, and includes an opening and a finger that matingly engages the recessed slot of the drum for forcing the film through the opening of the shell and, consequently, out of the film cassette.

Abstract: A still picture camera for capturing images when film is alternately advanced from either of two film cassettes into a common film gate for a controlled exposure by light passing through an objective lens and shutter, the camera comprising a camera body, an objective lens for forming an image, a shutter for controlled admission of light, a film gate for defining the area of exposure of one frame of photographic film, two film cassette chambers each accepting a film cassette, a film drive mechanism, and one film spooling chamber for alternately receiving film from either film cassette.

Abstract: An image-audio print has either a single image or a set of images on a first side and an accessible audio data storage means preferably on its backside. The accessible audio data storage means contains an audio data segment associated with the image on single image prints and a set of audio data segments, one for each image on multi-image prints, for example, index prints. A player receives and locates the image-audio print with the accessible audio data storage means accurately positioned in electrical contact with the player apparatus. The player apparatus can play an audio data segment associated with the print from a single image print or by appropriate interaction with the user who selects a audio data segment associated with the selected image on multi-image prints. Preferably, a touchscreen is used to select the image for which the audio is to be played. The player also can record audio into the accessible audio data storage means and copy audio from one print to another.

Abstract: An automated film slide orienting and mounting system includes at least one detector for detecting the orientation of film, a knife assembly for successively cutting the film to generate film segments, a rotatable table for orienting the film segments into a proper orientation, a set of driver assemblies for progressively moving each film segment for insertion into a slide mount, and a magnetic writing device for writing the orientation of the film segment magnetically onto the slide mount in a region of magnetic material disposed upon each slide mount.

Abstract: A film projector for use with frames of processed photographic film having frame-associated image orientation data. The film projector has a light source that emits a collimated beam and a film holder that is disposed to hold individual frames of film in the beam. The film holder is pivotable between a first and second orthogonal orientations. An optical projection system receives the beam from the film holder. The optical system propagates and focuses at least a portion of the beam on a viewing plane external to the projector. A sensor is disposed to read the frame-associated image orientation data. The sensor produces a signal responsive to the image configuration information. A controller receives the signal from the sensor. A repositioner is connected to the film holder. The repositioner is operatively connected to the controller to move the film holder between the orientations responsive to the controller.

Abstract: A film slide including a transparency having an image section bearing a visual image and a data section bearing encoded data relating to the visual image; and a mount having front and back panels. The panels each define an image window overlapping the image section. At least one of the panels defines a data window overlapping the data section.