Abstract: A mounting assembly for a film drive unit used with photographic film printers. A mount base having a central aperture is adapted to be secured proximate the optical stage of a photographic printer. A pair of substantially parallel rails are attached to the mount base and oriented so as to lie substantially in the plane of the mount base. A pair of carrier blocks having upwardly projecting cradle portions are mounted for sliding movement on respective rails. An outwardly projecting keeper shaft is secured to the mount base and has a pair of keeper pins adapted to extend away from the shaft. A brace member supports a film drive assembly proximate the central aperture and has a pair of pins positioned on opposite sides so as to engage the cradle portions of corresponding carrier blocks. At least one spring-biased retaining element is disposed in the cradle portion of each carrier block.

Abstract: A mask mechanism which allows the dimensional adjustment of at least one of the exposure apertures associated with a photographic printer. The mask mechanism includes a substantially planar plate member that has a rectangular opening therethrough. A pair of movable gates are disposed on opposite sides of the rectangular opening and at least one pneumatic cylinder operates to move these gates between a first open position and a second restricted position. The gates include a substantially linear outer edges oriented parallel to one another to maintain the rectangular nature of the exposure aperture. Typically, the mask mechanism would take the form of a negative cropping riser block or a photographic paper mask assembly. In this manner, either, or both, the exposure aperture associated with the negative or the exposure aperture associated with the photographic paper as it relates to the overall photographic printer can be controlled, respectively.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement to punches for placing one or more openings on the edge of a sheet of material. A collection of individual punch pins are carried within bores in a punch block. Movement of the pins is constrained by a corresponding collection of pneumatic actuators. The constrained pins are driven against a die block to affect the punching operation. To insure that the punch pins do not interfere with the operation of the pneumatic actuators between machine cycles, a fixed retraction guide cooperates with a relieved section on each punch pin to position each pin at one extremity of the bore within which the actuator travels.

Abstract: A mechanism for selectively positioning a plurality of different lens units along the optical center-line of a photographic printer. The lens units are mounted on a common carrier and are successively moved into alignment along the optical center-line in response to overall movement of the common carrier, such as along a path that is oblique to the optical center-line. The plurality of different lens units are typically arranged substantially horizontally with respect to one another on the common carrier, and typically include a plurality of lenses having different powers of magnification of focal lengths. The common carrier engages a threaded drive bar disposed substantially parallel to the path that is oblique to the optical center-line to produce movement of the common carrier in relation to the optical center-line. The drive system cooperates with a guide means to retain the original orientation of the common carrier as the common carrier moves along the oblique path.

Abstract: The invention is an improved removable film transport for photographic equipment. A roll of film is transported through the drive by a drive reel, a take-up reel, and a supply reel. The drive allows the presentation of a selected frame from the roll of film in precise relationship to photographic equipment on which it may be mounted, such as a printer or color analyzer. Incremental adjustment of the X-axis and Y-axis of the film in relation to the photographic equipment is easily located through the use of a stepper motor and a pair of nested, sliding and interconnected frames. The drive also includes a reading device for sensing and decoding machine readable marks placed on the roll of film, and includes the necessary interface between the drive and a computer or computer network. A special drive roller mechanism minimizes risk of damage to the surface of the film during operation of the drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for marking data on photographic prints being made in a photographic printing machine comprises an LED/fiber optic dot-matrix printing device mounted within the printing machine. Data corresponding to the prints being made is entered via a keyboard and converted into a series of dot-matrix light patterns on said LED array, which patterns are then transmitted to a marking head mounted adjacent the path of the printing paper through the machine by way of a plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: A mask mechanism which allows the dimensional adjustment of at least one of the exposure apertures associated with a photographic printer. The mask mechanism includes a substantially planar plate member that has a rectangular opening therethrough. A pair of movable gates are disposed on opposite sides of the rectangular opening and at least one pneumatic cylinder operates to move these gates between a first open position and a second restricted position. The gates include a substantially linear outer edges oriented parallel to one another to maintain the rectangular nature of the exposure aperture. Typically, the mask mechanism would take the form of a negative cropping riser block or a photographic paper mask assembly. In this manner, either, or both, the exposure aperture associated with the negative or the exposure aperture associated with the photographic paper as it relates to the overall photographic printer can be controlled, respectively.

Abstract: A spool assembly for use in a printer assembly which allows substantially the entire web of photographic paper to be exposed in the printing process. The printer assembly includes a web, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web, and a drive means operative to systematically convey the web of photographic paper through the printer. Extender strips of non-photographic material are attached to the ends of the web of photographic paper to allow the end of the web proximate the respective extender strip to be positioned within the printer for exposure purposes. The spool assembly includes a spool formed of a plastic material and a retaining clip mounted thereon to engage the related extender strip. The spool is adapted to maintain the paper in a rolled configuration and are preferably constructed with a central portion of reduced diameter which contains a retaining clip.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for cutting a long roll of photographic prints into individual sheets, and for collating and packaging of those sheets. An automatic print cutter separates a long roll of photographic paper into sheets based on the location of a series of registration marks on the roll. Those photographs which are to be packaged together are collected and are transported by conveyor to a collating station where additional printed materials and packaging may be added to the batch. The batch of photographs and other materials is then conveyed to a packaging station, where the batch is inserted into a flexible bag for further handling. A printer associated with the packaging station prints information regarding the batch on the exterior of the package.

Abstract: The invention consists of improved apparatus for printing information on a substantially continuous roll of photographic paper in package and proof printers. A bracket suspends the marking device over a guide roller to be utilized as the platen for the marking process. Further, by attaching the bracket to the exposure platen, the leading, preparing, maintaining and servicing of the devices are able to be suspended in this manner.

Abstract: The invention is a method and associated device for recording, reading and transferring information regarding photographic prints. A photographic print is produced, and printed thereon are a series of human and machine readable codes. These code define various identification parameters which are used to locate a desired corresponding photograph negative from a collection of photograph negatives, such as a developed roll of film. The codes also define various exposure parameters which are used to regulate the exposure of photographic paper utilizing the negative so located. The codes may be electronically stored and modified. Photographic prints produced utilizing the process are, during the exposure process, imprinted with updated data codes, to be utilized in a similar fashion during subsequent re-printing cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correlating development instructions with individual photographic exposures as disclosed. Also disclosed is an integrated method of viewing, editing, printing and cutting individual photographic exposures based on previously stored data. The apparatus and method includes a device for the manual entry of information regarding the ultimate development and exposure of a photographic image, a memory device for storing the information, a shutter operating circuit for operating a camera shutter during the information storage phase. Thereafter, the information stored during the photographic phase may be transferred to the commercial photographic studio where the data can be used for a variety of processes, including commercial printing, editing, sorting, accounting, reporting, correlating and physical storage. The stored information produced at the time the photographic exposure is made is used to control all of the foregoing steps in a variety of combinations.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting and locating touching, overlapping and broken segment characters in a binary information stream generated by scanning printed characters on a document surface with a linear sensor array. Fixed, variable and proportional pitch characters are accommodated. As the information stream is circulated through a shift register memory, selected cells of the memory provide a center cell memory window to plural trackers. The trackers are activated on a priority basis as center cells of the memory window satisfy a start condition, and trace between center cells satisfying an adjacency condition. Tracker information is qualified to identify valid information, and the valid tracker information merged to detect and center a valid character in a memory mosaic for output to succeeding systems.