Abstract: An exposed and developed photographic film is moved through a copying machine between a fixedly mounted lower guide member and an upper guide member which is movable up and down away from and toward the lower guide member. The confronting surfaces of the guide members have raised portions which surround registering windows of the guide members and engage a film all the way around a film frame which is aligned with the windows when the film is brought to a halt. Once the imaging of the frame which is aligned with the windows is completed, several springs lift the upper guide member, and ports in the raised portions of the confronting surfaces discharge jets of compressed air which cause the film to levitate between the two guide members during advancement of the next film frame to a position of alignment with the windows. This reduces the likelihood of scratching of and/or other damage to the film during transport.

Abstract: A cassette for storage of a roll of convoluted web of photosensitive material which is to be fed to the copying station of a copying machine has a device for unwinding the web from the roll, rollers which advance selected lengths of the web into the copying station, and a mechanism which loosens or relaxes the web between the roll and the rollers so that the rollers need not overcome the inertia of the roll in order to advance selected lengths of the web from the housing of the cassette into the copying station. This can be achieved by driving the unwinding device and the rollers at different speeds so that the web forms a loop in the housing of the cassette between the outermost convolution of the roll and an outlet of the housing or by otherwise loosening the web between the roll and the outlet.

Abstract: A one-piece clip of flexible metallic plastic material has a first section which can be separably affixed to a belt conveyor, and an elongated slotted second section. A web of photosensitive material is caused to extend through the slot of the second section so that its leader is located at one side and the next-following portion of the web is located at the other side of the slot. The leader is then folded against the respective major surface of the second section, and the web is form-lockingly connected to the second section. The form-locking connection can be established by one or more pairs of complementary tooth-shaped protuberances which extend into the slot and penetrate into and through the folded portion of the web behind the leader, by securing the leader to the next-following portion of the web by a clamp in an enlarged window-like portion of the slot, or by bonding a small part of the leader to the next-following portion of the web in such window-like portion of the slot.

Abstract: Apparatus for making prints of exposed and developed film frames on discrete sheets of photographic paper and for developing the sheets has a copying station for successive exposed and developed film frames and a printing station where a discrete sheet of photographic paper receives an image of the frame at the copying station. A platform at the printing station carries a turntable which can change (when necessary) the orientation of a sheet, e.g., through 90.degree., to thus properly position a larger or smaller sheet for reception of the image. The turntable can receive sheets which are severed from different webs of unexposed photographic material, and each such web has a different width. The turntable can attract a sheet by suction during turning and/or during exposure. Such turntable can cooperate with one or more conveyors to maintain a sheet at the printing station in a predetermined plane during imaging of a film frame.

Abstract: Strips of coherent, exposed and developed film frames are advanced past, and discrete frames are placed onto, a window at a monitoring station where successive increments of the film frames are monitored by a device having photocells forming at least one row which extends transversely of the path of advancement of strips. The monitoring device is at a standstill during advancement of strips but is transported past a discrete frame at the monitoring station. Such monitoring device can ascertain the density of film frames, and its photocells generate signals which are used to image the frames onto photographic paper.

Abstract: Photographic prints which issue from the outlet of the dryer in a developing machine are gathered into stacks, and successive stacks are admitted into successive empty compartments between the outwardly extending partitions of a belt or chain conveyor. The conveyor is advanced in stepwise fashion, to move successive empty compartments to a station for reception of stacks, by a panel which receives motion from a crank drive in such a way that it constitutes an extension of a partition at the station and during a certain stage of movement of such partition behind the stack in the freshly filled compartment. This renders it possible to maintain in proper orientation stacks which are assembled of relatively small, medium-sized or large prints.

Abstract: Successive exposed photographic films are connected, either individually or in groups of two or more, to discrete sheet-like leaders which are transported along an elongated first path extending through the baths and the dryer of a developing unit. The leaders are separated from the respective webs downstream of the developing unit but upstream of a copying unit for developed films, and the separated leaders are directed into a second path to be gathered in a receptacle. The separation involves severing the leading end of each web close behind the respective leader, and the thus separated webs are caused to continue to advance along the first path through a magazine and thence into the copying unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for copying the images of selected frames on sections of exposed and developed roll films or of diapositives has a set of advancing rolls or a reciprocable pusher to move a film section or a diapositive from a discrete first portion of a first path into a second portion which terminates at the copying station, and thereupon from a first portion of a second path (such first portion is common to the second portion of the first path) into a discrete portion of the second path. A switching device is located at the junction of the first and second portions of the first path to prevent copied film sections or diapositives from reentering the first portion of the first path on their way away from the copying station. This renders it possible to introduce a fresh film section or a fresh diapositive into the first portion of the first path while a film section or a diapositive is located at the copying station or is on the way toward the discharge end of the second path.

Abstract: Apparatus for convoluting exposed and copied photographic films on the cores of takeup reels has an advancing mechanism which transports successive films along a given path so that the leaders of successive films can be engaged by the gripper of a pivotable arm serving to transfer the leader of the film in the path toward the peripheral surface of the core of an empty takeup reel. The reel has no flanges or is provided with a single flange carrying or adjacent a fixedly mounted or movable protuberance which defines with the peripheral surface of the core a gap for the leader of the film. Once the leader has entered the gap and the takeup reel is set in rotary motion, the film is wound onto the protuberance and is thus affixed to the core. The length of the protuberance is less than the axial length of the core but exceeds one-fourth of such axial length.

Abstract: A photographic copying machine wherein the images of successive frames on a long roll of spliced-together exposed and developed customer films are copied while successive films are advanced stepwise from a supply reel on a first driven mandrel toward and is convoluted on a takeup reel on a second driven mandrel. The copying machine employs a third mandrel which can support a fresh roll in the plane of the roll on the first mandrel, and a fourth mandrel which can support an empty takeup reel in the plane of the rotating takeup reel. The leader of the fresh roll is located adjacent the film path ahead of the copying station and is automatically advanced into the range of an automatic attaching mechanism when the trailing end of the expiring roll has advanced beyond the copying station. The attaching mechanism secures the leader of the fresh roll to the core of the empty takeup reel, and the machine is then ready to make copies of frames forming part of the fresh roll.

Abstract: A photographic roller copying apparatus for processing films of different sizes includes a scanning device for determining a size of the film to be processed, an illuminating device, a film-supporting platform having at least one aperture adjustable to the size of the film to be processed by a pivotable plate provided on the illuminating device, and two projection systems interchangeably movable into a path of light from the illuminating device. One of the projection systems includes a pair of porroprisms for rotating the image of an original positioned in the image aperture by 90.degree..

Abstract: A photographic roller copier apparatus for photographing original copies having different side lengths onto a ribbon form copier material, the ribbon width corresponding to a desired copy size. The original copies have various formats and are provided in ribbon form, one format lying lengthwise in the ribbon direction and the other format perpendicular thereto. The apparatus consisting of a lens having an adjustable focal length so that from both formats of originals it is possible to make copies that are equal in size and that fill the width of the copier material ribbon, and that in the area of a picture gate the ribbon of originals is provided in a plane parallel to the lens axis. Between the picture gate end of the lens is provided a deflecting part which deflects the beams of light from the picture gate through 90.degree. into a lens. The picture gate with the ribbon of originals, the illuminating apparatus and corresponding film rollers is rotatable around the lens axis through 90.degree.

Abstract: Disc films are transported to, rotated at and transported away from the copying station of a copying machine by an apparatus having a first turntable which receives successive films from one or more supply magazines and delivers the films seriatim to a transferring unit which transfers successive films onto a second turntable that partly overlaps the first turntable. The second turntable delivers successive films to the copying station and, if necessary, to one or more additional treating stations where the films are rotated by discrete prime movers prior to returning into the range of the transferring unit. The latter transfers a film from the second onto the first turntable subsequent to each transfer of a film from the first onto the second turntable, and the first turntable delivers the thus returned films to one or more collecting magazines.

Abstract: Apparatus for convoluting a web of photographic paper issuing from a copying machine onto a core of a cassette which is movable to a predetermined position with reference to the machine has an operating device which can deactivate the web catcher mechanism in the cassette in response to detection of adequate attachment of the leader of the web to the core. The catcher mechanism serves to guide the leader of the web into engagement with the core and is activated on movement of the cassette to its predetermined position. The circuit which monitors the engagement between the leader of the web and the core compares the peripheral speed of the core with that of a rotor which is installed in the machine and whose peripheral speed is lower than that of the core prior to completion of attachment of the web to the core.

Abstract: A copying machine admits a web of freshly exposed photographic paper directly into a cassette whose core engages and convolutes the web therearound. The progress of engagement between the leader of the web and the core is monitored by comparing the peripheral speed of the core with the peripheral speed of a rotor forming part of an advancing roll for the web and receiving torque from a variable-speed motor which also drives the core. The peripheral speed of the rotor increases when the leader of the web is adequately attached to the core, and this is detected by a circuit having first and second photoelectronic monitoring devices which respectively monitor the peripheral speeds of the rotor and the core.

Abstract: A cassette for winding and unwinding rolls of photographic paper has a rotatable shaft which traverses the cassette. A spool for supporting a roll of photographic paper is mounted on and circumscribes the shaft. The shaft is supported by a pair of opposite sidewalls of the cassette. Bearing rings are mounted in each of the sidewalls and the shaft carries a pair of bearing disks which respectively mate with the bearing rings. The bearing rings and disks are designed such that they form a braking system for the shaft. An overrunning clutch is arranged between the shaft and each of the bearing disks. The overrunning clutches are oriented so that the shaft rotates freely when photographic paper is being wound onto the spool. During unwinding of photographic paper from the spool, the clutches engage and the braking system for the shaft becomes operative.

Abstract: A photographic copying machine wherein each of the three color filters comprises several triangular sectors which are pivotable about parallel axes into and from the path of copying light between first positions outside of the path, second positions of full overlap with the path and a finite or infinite number of intermediate positions. The pulleys for the sectors of each filter are rotatable by a discrete endless cord or cable which is further trained over a wheel receiving torque from a crank drive designed to move the sectors into the path of the light beam through progressively greater angles during movement from the second toward the first positions and through progressively smaller angles during movement from the first to the second positions under the action of a reversible stepping motor so that the crank drive can compensate for the lack of linearity between the filtering action of the sectors and the extent to which they project into the path of copying light.

Abstract: The device comprises a container defining an inlet opening, an input area in alignment with the inlet opening and a stacking area adjoining the input area. A feeding mechanism, such as two pairs of worm conveyors, a pair of frictional rollers, a conveyor belt, a vane shaft and the like, is arranged in the input area near the inlet opening to transfer a print at an accelerated speed from the inlet area into the stacking area.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning sheet-like or strip-shaped originals in a photographic copying machine has a horizontal table with a large window for transmission of copying light and a removable or exchangeable holder on the table. The holder has a lower section which rests on the table and has a first opening in register with the window, an upper section one marginal portion of which is pivoted to the corresponding marginal portion of the lower section, which is movable to and from an operative position of overlap with the lower section and which has a second opening in register with the first opening when the upper section assumes its operative position, and an elastic hold-down device which is affixed to the upper side of the lower section and has an open-sided cutout in register with the first opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding webs of photographic film like onto the hub of a reel in a cassette has a flexible band one end of which is secured to the hub and the other end of which is connected to a coupling unit having a normally closed clamping mechanism for the leader of a web. The leader can be threaded through an inlet opening of the cassette and into the coupling unit when the clamping mechanism is held in open position by a permanent magnet which is installed in the cassette adjacent to the opening. When the hub is rotated in a direction to convolute the band and thereupon the web therearound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the field to the permanent magnet and is confined in a peripheral recess of the reel. If the web is thereupon unwound, the coupling unit is withdrawn from the recess and is advanced toward the opening so that the magnet opens the clamping mechanism and the latter permits withdrawal of the leader of the web therefrom.