Abstract: A digital microform imaging apparatus includes a bracket movably coupled to a chassis. A microform media support is coupled to the bracket and includes a frame and a window supported by the frame. An illumination source is provided to direct light through the window of the microform media support along an optical axis. An optical sensor is positioned along the optical axis. A motor is operatively engaged with the microform media support to move the bracket and frame relative to the chassis along an axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A retractable cable assembly in use with an electrical charger, power adapter, or other power supply. A cable wound on a spool within the cable assembly housing may be extracted by manually pulling on the cable or pressing of a release switch until the desired length of the cord is drawn. As the cord is drawn a torsional spring rotatably coupled to the spool and located within the core of the spool is compressed. An engaged pawl-ratchet mechanism is used to keep the spool, torsional spring and cord in place during and after extraction of the cord until which time retraction of the cord is desired. Rotation or twisting of the housing lid or of the main housing of the retractable cable assembly housing disengages the pawl-ratchet mechanism, thereby freeing the spool and torsional spring. The compressed torsional spring within the core of the spool rotates immediately as it decompresses causing the coupled spool to rotate and retract the cable, thereby winding it back around the spool within the housing.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus disclosed that has a radiation source configured to provide a measurement beam of radiation such that an individually controllable element of an array of individually controllable elements capable of modulating a beam of radiation, is illuminated by the measurement beam and redirects the measurement beam, and a detector arranged to receive the redirected measurement beam and determine the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector, the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector being indicative of a characteristic of the individually controllable element.

Abstract: An image medium is attached in an image input unit of a printing system, and an image to be printed and its number of prints are set through an operation panel. As contents of an order is determined, a credit card is inserted in an ID reading unit, and the printing system identifies a customer, and registers the order, then settles a payment. If the payment is done in cash, the printing system issues a magnetic card and the like on which a number is recorded for the customer to verify. The printing system has a plurality of container boxes for storing the printed material related to the customer's order by separating and keeping the printed material for each customer. A host unit verifies the properness of the person who comes to receive the prints by his/her credit card or the magnetic card and the like, and opens a corresponding outlet among the container boxes, so that the customer can receive his/her prints.

Abstract: A motor includes a cylindrical magnet, first outer magnetic pole portions which are formed by gapping part of a cylinder from the distal end in the axial direction of the motor, and which oppose the outer circumferential surface of the magnet, second outer magnetic pole portions which are formed by gapping part of a cylinder from the distal end in the axial direction, and which oppose the outer circumferential surface of the magnet, first inner magnetic pole portions opposing the inner circumferential surface of the magnet, second inner magnetic pole portions opposing the inner circumferential surface of the magnet, a first coil which is located at a position between the first outer magnetic pole portions and the first inner magnetic pole portions in the axial direction of the magnet, and which excites the first outer magnetic pole portions, a second coil which is located between the second outer magnetic pole portions and the second inner magnetic pole portions on the side opposite the first coil in the axia

Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure device in which availability of the emitted light is high, optical crosstalk is reduced, and an image can be formed at high resolution. Concave microlenses are formed on one surface of the exposure device facing a photosensitive material, and organic EL elements are formed on the other surface. The organic EL elements are disposed at some of portions at which anode lines and cathode lines intersect each other. A diameter D of an aperture of the microlens is n times an array pitch p of each organic EL element, n lines of the cathode lines are formed, and the organic EL elements arranged on one cathode line are shifted from those on another cathode line in a main-scanning direction by the array pitch p. Accordingly, exposure spots, which are exposed by the organic EL elements incorporated in the n lines of the cathode lines, are offset without overlapping one another, and the entire photosensitive material can be exposed.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a size detector for detecting a first size of a first image recorded on an original; an input device for inputting a second size of a second image to be recorded on a recording medium by an image recording apparatus; a determining device for determining a reading condition to read the first image according to the first and second sizes; and a reading device for reading the first image according to the reading condition to obtain information of the first image.

Abstract: In an arrangement in which an image captured by photography is recorded on new-type photographic film having an information recording zone for magnetically recording information relating to the film or frames on the film, information concerning the aspect ratio of the image is exploited in an effective manner and the aspect ratio is capable of being altered at will. The image recorded on the new-type photographic film and the aspect ratio information in the information recording zone are read by a film scanner. Original digital image data obtained by the reading operation, length X and width Y of the image and effective image size data (length A and width B) generated from the aspect ratio information are recorded on a floppy disk or optical disk by a disk device. When an original image represented by the original digital image data obtained from the floppy or optical disk is displayed, the size thereof is made that stipulated by the effective image size.

Abstract: In an arrangement in which an image captured by photography is recorded on new-type photographic film having an information recording zone for magnetically recording information relating to the film or frames on the film, information concerning the aspect ratio of the image is exploited in an effective manner and the aspect ratio is capable of being altered at will. The image recorded on the new-type photographic film and the aspect ratio information in the information recording zone are read by a film scanner. Original digital image data obtained by the reading operation, length X and width Y of the image and effective image size data (length A and width B) generated from the aspect ratio information are recorded on a floppy disk or optical disk by a disk device. When an original image represented by the original digital image data obtained from the floppy or optical disk is displayed, the size thereof is made that stipulated by the effective image size.

Abstract: An information card on which calculation information on photo-processing prices in accordance with orders and/or photo-printing information is recorded, wherein the information card is an index print. A photo-finishing method, a photo-finishing apparatus, a reprinting method, a reprinting apparatus, an information card preparation apparatus and a photo-printing apparatus are provided which employ the index print.

Abstract: A photographic film and printing method and apparatus for the film are disclosed. The apparatus comprises reading means which reads an ID number at the time of print with film processing of the photographic film having the ID number printed thereon; print data entering means which enters print data about the exposure amount; storage means which associates and stores the ID number and the print data so that the print data obtained at the time of the print with film processing is saved; exposure controlling means which reads the ID number of said photographic film, retrieves the print data which corresponds to the ID number from said storage means, and automatically controls the exposure amount based on said print data when said photographic film is reprinted. As a result, the quality of the photographic film can be maintained constant without operator's help in either case of the print with film processing and the reprint.

Abstract: In a photographic film having a substantially transparent magnetic layer, and a sequence of longitudinally spaced image frames, the improvement comprising:at least one longitudinal magnetic track in said magnetic layer located on a side of each image frame, said track having a fixed length L; anda pair of data blocks recorded on said track, each said data block having a length which is less than L/2 and being recorded respectively at the beginning and end of said track with an unrecorded space between said data blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for image presentation and reformatting comprising an image projector for transmitting an image from an image source, a sizing element for transmitting a selected portion of the image, an image display device, and an image recapture device. A source transducer and target transducer are provided for reading source information and target information, respectively. Such information is provided to a control device which automatically adjusts an exposure adjustment device to enhance the quality of the reformatted image.

Abstract: When negative images on a negative film are stored in a negative image storing unit, an index print image is constructed by an index constructing section in an image processing unit on the basis of the inputted images, which is displayed as a positive image on a monitor through a display instructing section. Images having different top-to-bottom directions in each of lateral and vertical image groups are indicated by key operation on a keyboard connected to the image processing unit with respect to the index print image displayed on the monitor. The direction of the indicated image is changed by a direction changing section in the image processing unit, and then the image is displayed on the monitor again. An index print image after changing the direction is displayed in an index printing section (on a liquid crystal panel). Thus an index print is prepared.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing prints of different formats from negatives in the form of strips. The negative images are printed in one reproduction scale on one section of a strip of stock during a first pass of the strip through the printing mechanism, the printing mechanism is readjusted, and the negative images are then printed in another, different scale on a subsequent section of the strip of stock during another pass of the strip through the printing mechanism.

Abstract: During the processing of an order in a photographic printer, a developed copy film strip can be scanned negative by negative and point-by-point in a scanning station of the printer. From the scan signals, density values for exposure time determination in three partial colors and details on the image field number of the scanned negative can be obtained, and these data are stored in a memory, coordinating the determined three partial exposure times with the corresponding image number. All negatives of the copy film strip are exposed successively on photographic paper on an enlarged scale, using the determined exposure times. In a further step, a number of successive negatives of the film strip are exposed on full-scale or reduced scale in matrix form onto a single sheet of said photographic paper.

Abstract: An image printer has an image exposure unit for exposing a photosensitive material with an image of a film, a recording data input unit for inputting recording data to be exposed on the photosensitive material in accordance with the image, and a recording data exposure unit for exposing the photosensitive material with the recording data inputted from the recording data input unit.

Abstract: An index print preparation and feeding apparatus comprising: a means for preparing index prints for a film; an order identifying means for identifying order information of the film; a means for storing a multiplicity of the index prints; a collating means which has a first identifying mechanism for recognizing the order information of the index print and a second identifying mechanism for recognizing the order information on a DP bag or film placed, and which collates the order information recognized by the first and the second mechanisms; and a means for feeding the index print to the feeding position.

Abstract: When images are photographed by using a photographic film at which a magnetic recording layer is provided, photographic information regarding the entire film and photographic information regarding respective image frames can be magnetically recorded. A method and an apparatus are provided for the recording or for printing the photographic information which is magnetically recorded. In a case in which a printing area is limited, magnetically-recording of or printing of non-prior information is limited so that prior information is printed on the printing area prior to the non-prior information. For example, the information regarding an image frame is printed on the printing area of the back surface of the photographic printing paper prior to the information regarding the entire film.

Abstract: A magnetic track on a photographic film is provided with a record region in which a renewal code or a flag indicating that a processing for an order to be completed is recorded. When print order information is renewed, the renewal code or the flag is renewed or cleared. As a result, it can be automatically judged whether the print order information recorded in the magnetic track is the same as one at the time of a previous order, and a processing at a laboratory can be automatically carried out. The print order information is classified into plural types of information including information to be rewritten for every order and information not to be rewritten for every order. At a laboratory, the print order information to be rewritten for every order is automatically deleted or reset before returning the photographic film to the user.

Abstract: A photograph printing method for printing on a photographic printing paper a plural number of images which are photographed on a film, the method comprising steps of detecting photographing information of the film, determining frames of the film including the images having equal or similar photographing conditions each other by use of the photographing information, and determining equal or similar amount of print conditions corresponding to the same or similar photographing conditions of the frames thus determined, and printing the images by use of the equal or similar amount of print conditions thus determined.

Abstract: Disk shaped print masters are guided by means of a carrousel in step wise rotation through a series of processing stations. Support elements for the print masters are arranged on the periphery of the carrousel. A displaceable radially locking pin is associated with each support element in the carrousel in its outer normal position, the pin engages a peripheral notch of the master disk (D) located on the support element (TR), thereby defining its rotational position. The locking pins may be displaced radially inward in selected processing stations by common mechanical means thereby disengaging them from the master disks. The device makes it possible in a mechanically simple and inexpensive manner to immobilize the print masters during their transportation and to release them in certain processing stations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impulse drive device that includes at least one stator having magnetic means to define an array of parallel spaced apart regions of magnetic field with a major component perpendicular to the plane of the stator; a slidor incorporating series-connected conductive strips in an array of similar spacing and orientation to the array of magnetic regions on the stator; and means for generating sequences of current pulses and for delivering those pulses to the conductive strips on the slidor. With appropriate timing and polarity, current pulses in the conductive strips on the slidor can be employed to both accelerate and decelerate the slidor with respect to the stator, thereby permitting rapid controlled movement of the slidor between predetermined positions in its plane.

Abstract: A high speed microfilm searching system is disclosed. The system optically displays frames of the microfilm. A frame or column of microfilm is made up of a sensor mark, pages of information and an index code. The index code is a meaningful alphanumeric or numeric key that accompanies each page or column. If it is alphabetic it varies in strict alphabetic sequence. If the components of the key are numeric they vary in an increasing or decreasing order. Microfilm projecting means mounted in the filmpath between feed and take-up reels clearly display on a viewing screen a page of information when the microfilm is stationary in accordance with existing technology. The high speed search system is new technology. A strobe lamp displays indexes of the moving microfilm on a screen. Each of the frames having an index of digital form and also has an optically detectable marker.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and method for unerasably marking computer and other information records and the like in a precise, machine readable manner so as to identify the particular record, and to control access to the record by providing means for authenticating a control member presented for access to the record. The illustrated system involves preparing a master card of opaque material through which micro patterns have been burned by a laser. This master is used to produce a facsimile pattern in a control member and/or the record to be identified and retrieved. The facsimile card is used as control member and the micro pattern compared with a bank of unique micro patterns to authenticate the pattern bearing control member and to identify the record bearing a similar micro pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a paper strip wherein the paper strip is composed of a series of closely spaced photographic prints and wherein the paper strip has been marked with various indicia indicating the location of the prints and whether the prints are satisfactory. The apparatus includes means for advancing the strip along a path of travel, means for printing a customer identification number on each of the prints, means responsive to the indicia for cutting the strip between adjacent prints, and means responsive to the indicia for sorting the unsatisfactory prints into a separate receptacle.