Abstract: A photographic printer 20 is disclosed for projecting an image carried by a negative to a light sensitive medium 40. The apparatus 20 includes a novel mixing chamber 24, lens carrier 35, and light sensitive web material reel 39, 47. The mixing chamber 24 includes four walls 103a-103d defining a volume and oriented relative to one another wherein the edge of one wall 103 is proximate the face of an adjacent wall 103. This orientation daisy chains around the volume whereby the walls 103 may be moved relative to one another to continuously change the volume so as to correspond to various size negatives and/or masks. The lens stack 35 includes a plurality of concentric shafts 126-131 arranged about a solid shaft 125 with each concentric shaft 126-131 being rotatable separately from the other concentric shafts 126-131. A deck 14-145 is cooperatively attached to each concentric shaft 126-131 with each deck 140-145 having a plurality of lens carriers 55 connected thereto.

Abstract: A photographic printer 20 is disclosed for projecting an image carried by a negative to a light sensitive medium 40. The apparatus 20 includes a novel mixing chamber 24, lens carrier 35, and light sensitive web material reel 39, 47. The mixing chamber 24 includes four walls 103a-103d defining a volume and oriented relative to one another wherein the edge of one wall 103 is proximate the face of an adjacent wall 103. This orientation daisy chains around the volume whereby the walls 103 may be moved relative to one another to continuously change the volume so as to correspond to various size negatives and/or masks. The lens stack 35 includes a plurality of concentric shafts 126-131 arranged about a solid shaft 125 with each concentric shaft 126-131 being rotatable separately from the other concentric shafts 126-131. A deck 14-145 is cooperatively attached to each concentric shaft 126-131 with each deck 140-145 having a plurality of lens carriers 55 connected thereto.

Abstract: A photographic exposure and development system including a printer for exposing photographic media, a processor for developing the image exposed on the media and an accumulator intermediate the printer and processor for compensating for the differences in operational speed of the printer and processor. The printer is of the type which discharges exposed photographic media in sheet form, whether the initial supply be in sheet form or in roll form. The accumulator accepts exposed sheets discharged by the printer and stacks the same in ascending chronological order from the bottom of the stack while providing access to the exposed sheets for removal for processing by the processor in ascending chronological order at the top of the stack. In a preferred embodiment, the accumulator includes a plurality of bins which are rotatable with each other between a first position in which the exposed sheets are accepted for stacking and a second position where the stacked sheets are accessible for removal.

Abstract: An improved paper advance apparatus for advancing photographic paper in a photographic printer advances print paper held against a bottom side of a vacuum platen with the leading edge of the print paper being otherwise unsupported. The apparatus includes a paper supply, a drive roller assembly for moving the paper along a paper path to an exposure station located after the drive roller assembly. A vacuum platen is positioned after the drive roller assembly and includes a pair of spaced apart guides along the bottom side thereof defining a print paper engaging surface along the paper path. A vacuum force is supplied to the paper-engaging surface through a plurality of vacuum ports for holding the print paper against the print-engaging surface. The holding force provided by the vacuum is such that the print paper is held flatly against the print-engaging surface during advancement of the paper and during exposure at the exposure station without the leading edge of the print paper needing any further support.