Abstract: A lens barrel includes a barrel body for passing incident light along an optical axis. An aperture wall is disposed on an inner surface of the barrel body to project toward the optical axis, for defining a light path of the incident light for shielding outside the optical path. A front surface is formed on the aperture wall on an entrance side, and inclined with a decreasing diameter toward the entrance side with respect to the optical axis. Preferably, the front surface is finished with non-glossy matte finish. Furthermore, a lens holder is contained in the barrel body, has the light path extending through, for holding a lens therein. Furthermore, at least two lenses/lens groups are contained in the barrel body, arranged in the light path, for constituting a lens optical system. The aperture wall is disposed between the two lenses/lens groups.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a light source section, which is constituted of a plurality of arrayed light source units, each of the light source units comprising multiple kinds of light emitting devices, which produce light beams having wavelengths falling within different wavelength ranges, and an optical system for combining the light beams, which have been radiated out from the multiple kinds of the light emitting devices, with one another to form a combined light beam, and converging the combined light beam onto one end of an optical fiber. An exposure head is located so as to stand facing a photosensitive surface of a photosensitive material capable of being conveyed. The other end of the optical fiber is connected to the exposure head. A driving mechanism moves the exposure head in a straight line along a direction, which is normal to the direction of conveyance of the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A liquid crystal pixel interpolating mechanism is provided in a liquid crystal photo printer, wherein an image displayed on a liquid crystal panel, which is constituted of a plurality of pixels arrayed in two-dimensional directions and at predetermined pitch dimensions, is projected through a projecting lens onto a photosensitive material and printed on the photosensitive material. The mechanism comprises a liquid crystal panel support member, which is supported with resilient members, and pushing device for pushing the liquid crystal panel support member. With the mechanism, a pixel shifting operation is capable of being performed with a simple constitution and accurately.

Abstract: A paper conveying mechanism comprises at least one pair of right and left conveying rollers, which are rotated at an identical speed and convey paper, and a driving device. The driving device simultaneously inclines the at least one pair of the right and left conveying rollers toward an identical direction along the surface of the paper, such that the axes of the at least one pair of the right and left conveying rollers are kept parallel with each other. The direction, along which the paper is conveyed with the conveying rollers, is altered easily with the simple constitution.

Abstract: The present invention allows formation of an image having an excellent finish quality by using an extremely simple and low-cost structure. Linearly polarized light transmitted through each of liquid crystal cells of a liquid crystal panel is made into circularly polarized light by a quarter-wave phase plate, and thereafter, the circularly polarized light is used to expose a photographic printing paper via lithium-niobate prisms serving as a birefringent filter. As a result, light transmitted through a light transmitted area of each of the liquid crystal cells is irradiated on a region on the photographic printing paper corresponding to a light non-transmitted area so as to prevent formation of a pattern caused by the light non-transmitted area.

Abstract: A photographic printer and a method for setting conditions therefor with a reduced burden are disclosed. A test pattern image data is stored in memory in advance. At the time of setting conditions, the test pattern image data is read from the image memory and displayed on a liquid crystal panel, and a print is produced on the basis of the test pattern data displayed. The density of an image in this print corresponding to an image of the Bull's eye negative film is measured. The resulting density value is compared with a reference density value to set proper exposure conditions. Also, the displacement of the crossing point from a reference position is measured thereby to set the conditions for correcting the transport performance. In this way, the condition-setting work is realized without using any negative film having a test pattern recorded thereon.

Abstract: A photosensitive material feed mechanism for the exposure station of an auto-printer in which a forward end of a lith plate is formed with a guide structure without a need for an increased number of parts in a manner that a photosensitive material may be smoothly fed into the exposure station with a forward end of photosensitive material being guided by the above-mentioned guide structure when the mechanism is initially loaded with photosensitive material. A greeting card kit serving as the exposure station of the auto-printer includes a basic frame, upper and lower guide plates fixed to the basic frame, and a douser exposed externally of the greeting card kit. The lith plate is formed with a character zone exposure window and a picture zone exposure window in addition to the previously mentioned guide structure and is capable of being withdrawably inserted into the greeting card kit through the externally exposed douser.

Abstract: A photosensitive material processing apparatus which performs, with high accuracy, the positioning of a negative table, an optical system supporting member, a guide member for photographic paper, a conveying member, a development portion, a drying portion and a cutting portion relative to each other on a base member by means of positioning members. As a result, a high quality image can be reliably obtained and the photographic paper can be accurately conveyed.

Abstract: An exposure device effects a slit exposure to a photosensitive sheet material moving over an exposure station, and includes two pairs of conveyor rollers disposed on opposite sides of the exposure station. The two pairs of conveyor rollers first convey a photosensitive sheet material forward, passing over the exposure station until one of the two pairs of conveyor rollers holds the trailing end of the photosensitive sheet flat therebetween. Prior to making an exposure, the two pairs of conveyor rollers are rotated in a reverse direction to move the photosensitive sheet back. After the trailing end of the photosensitive sheet is grabbed by the other of the two pairs of conveyor rollers, a shutter is actuated to effect an exposure to the photosensitive sheet with a slit line exposure light while the photosensitive sheet is being moved back, trailing end first.