Abstract: A photographic print sorter has a series of print slides along which the photographic prints are driven by drive rollers. Deflectors which are movable into the flow path are positioned between the print slides selectively deflect the prints into good, reject and remake print trays. Each print slide has a recess below each drive roller. The radius of each drive roller is betwen about 0.005 inches and about 0.045 inches greater than the distance from the axis of the drive shaft to the transport plane defined by the top surface of the print slide. This creates an interference fit between the drive rollers and the photographic print as the print is driven over the print slide.

Abstract: A holding device for securing a photographic paper roll core concentrically about a rotatable shaft has a resilient clamping ring positioned concentrically about the shaft. An annular shoulder is fixed on the shaft on one side of the resilient clamping ring and a cylindrical compression sleeve is positioned concentrically about the shaft on the other side of the resilient clamping ring with the cylindrical compression sleeve being movable in axial direction along the shaft. A spring bias apparatus normally urges the cylindrical compression sleeve away from the shoulder so that the resilient clamping ring is in a first radially retracted position. The holding device has a lever-actuated cam assembly for urging the cylindrical compression sleeve toward the shoulder upon actuation of the cam assembly.

Abstract: A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film web and inserts the transparencies into slide frames. The slide mounter includes a slide advance device which advances a slide frame to a position where the slide frame is flexed to provide an insertion opening. The film web is advanced into the insertion opening until a leading end of the film is partially inserted into the slide frame. A knife severs a transparency at a position outside of the slide frame. The slide frame with the partially inserted transparency is then advanced along a track away from the film severing and insertion station. The film transparency is engaged and fully inserted into the slide frame as the slide frame and the transparency are fed along the track. A film curl accommodator bends the slide frame by an amount sufficient to match the curl or bow of the transparency as the transparency is being fully inserted into the slide frame.

Abstract: A photographic print stacking device is positioned proximate the discharge end of the conveyor system which conveys photographic prints from a photographic print cutter. The print stacking device includes upper and lower print receiving elements, which are yieldably urged toward one another. The lower print receiving element is movable generally downward and away from the upper print receiving element as the prints are deposited on the lower print receiving element. The conveyor system delivers the prints to the stacking device with sufficient force to carry the prints between the upper and lower print receiving elements until their front edges engage a stop element. As a result, the rear edges of the prints are all substantially in alignment at a location proximate the discharge end of the conveyor system. The stop element preferably is releasably latched in an operative upstanding position and may be moved out of the way by the operator when removing an accumulated stack of prints.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a strip of photographic paper which bears cut indicia indicating the locations of desired paper cuts. An indicia sensor is positioned in fixed relationship with respect to the paer cutter knife assembly at a distance less than the shortest length of print to be cut. The paper cutter derives and stores a feed-after-sense signal, which represents the length the paper strip must be fed after a cut indicium is sensed in order for the strip to be cut at the desired cut location represented by that cut indicum. During automatic operation of the paper cutter, the photographic paper strip is advanced until a cut indicium is sensed, is advanced by an additional distance determined by the feed-after-sense signal, is stopped, and is cut at the desired cut location.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a strip of photographic paper which bears cut indicia indicating the locations of desired paper cuts. An indicia sensor is positioned in fixed relationship with respect to the paper cutter knife assembly at a distance less than the shortest length of print to be cut. The paper cutter derives and stores a feed-after-sense signal, which represents the length the paper strip must be fed after a cut indicium is sensed in order for the strip to be cut at the desired cut location represented by that cut indicium. During automatic operation of the paper cutter, the photographic paper strip is advanced until a cut indicium is sensed, is advanced by an additional distance determined by the feed-after-sense signal, is stopped, and is cut at the desired cut location.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter cuts photographic prints from a roll of photographic paper which bears indicia indicating the location of desired cuts. The automatic photographic paper cutter has an improved indicia sensing system which includes a plurality of indicia sensors, each positioned to sense indicia on a different portion of the photographic paper. Prior to automatic operation of the paper cutter, an indicia bearing portion of the photographic paper is oscillated back and forth past the plurality of the indicia sensors. One of the sensors which provides an acceptable output signal is selected, and subsequent operation of the photographic paper cutter is controlled in response to signals from the selected sensor.

Abstract: A photographic packaging system includes a monitoring system which permits the operator to compare frames of the film negative with prints which are being cut so as to assure that the proper prints will be packaged with the corresponding film negatives. The monitoring system includes a television camera and display and a view splitter which is positioned between the television camera and the film negatives. The view splitter splits the field of view of the television camera so that the camera views two separate frames.

Abstract: An automatic film conveying and packaging mechanism for conveying cut film lengths forwardly from a film cutter to a packaging envelope while maintaining continuous contact with the film lengths between a pair of opposed upper and lower conveyor assemblies and driving the lengths directly into the packaging envelope in stacked relation to each other with the trailing ends thereof positively disposed in substantial alignment with each other and in rearwardly spaced relation to the discharge end of the upper conveyor assembly.

Abstract: A photographic print sorting, conveying and packing mechanism includes a main conveyor line and a plurality of branch conveyor lines with an initial feeding device which receives individual cut prints from a print cutter and feeds the prints into the main conveyor line which defines a main flow path. All of the conveyor lines include a plurality of driver rollers spaced apart less than the length of each cut photograph so that one roller will always be in contact with the prints to maintain positive driving contact with the prints at all times during their successive travel along the conveyor lines. The conveyor lines also include deflecting elements ahead of each roller to flatten momentarily the curl in each print and insure proper driving engagement between the rollers and the print.

Abstract: A knife assembly capable of cutting photographic strip material with high accuracy at extremely high speeds includes a base, a stationary blade, a source of rotary power, a crank shaft, a spring-wrap clutch mechanism, first and second linear drive shafts, first and second adjustable linear bearings, and a movable blade. The spring-wrap clutch is mounted on the crank shaft for selectively imparting rotary power to the crank shaft, and the first and second linear drive shafts are connected to the drive shaft. The movable blade is connected between the ends of the first and second linear drive shafts.

Abstract: An automatic photographic paper cutter includes a drive system which drives a strip of photographic paper to a knife assembly. The drive mechanism applies a driving force along only one edge of the photographic paper strip, so that the operator of the paper cutter has an essentially unobstructed view of the prints on the photographic paper strip. A paper supply, which includes a spring loaded bale arm assembly, a pinch roller drive assembly, a brake, a motor and clutch, two loop sensors, and a U-shaped wire form guide supplies the photographic paper strip from a roll of photographic paper to the drive mechanism under essentially zero drag conditions.

Abstract: A photographic packaging system includes a monitoring system which permits the operator to compare frames of the film negative with prints which are being cut so as to assure that the proper prints will be packaged with the corresponding film negatives. The monitoring system includes a television camera and display and a view splitter which is positioned between the television camera and the film negatives. The view splitter splits the field of view of the television camera so that the camera views two separate frames.