Abstract:
An apparatus and method for handling photographic film within the print-exposure section of a photographic printer. A mask matches the film frame (negative) and has a window for the passage of the exposure light. The mask also has holes through which air can be directed onto the film. A guide for the edges of the film parallels, and demarcates a gap with the mask. A source of air under either overpressure or underpressure supplies such air to the mask (4) and the film (1) through the air-direction openings (15). The air is supplied with overpressure while the film is being advanced. The air is supplied with underpressure while the print is being exposed to clamp the film.
Abstract:
An original to be reproduced is scanned line-by-line, and a scanning signal is generated for each linear, scanned region. The scanning signals represent the densities of the respective regions. A portion of each scanning signal is filtered to remove the higher frequencies. The filtered signal is differentiated to yield first density gradients, and the extreme positive and negative values of the first density gradients are determined for each region. Another portion of each scanning signal is differentiated without first removing the higher frequencies thereby yielding second density gradients. The extreme positive and negative values of the second density gradients are likewise determined for each region. A ratio of the extreme positive second density gradient to the extreme positive first density gradient is formed for each region, as is a ratio of the magnitude of the extreme negative second density gradient to the magnitude of the extreme negative first density gradient. A pair of sharpness values is then established for each region by subtracting 1 from the respective ratios. All of the sharpness values are now grouped according to the second density gradients or, alternatively, according to the second density gradients, as well as the density ranges of the respective scanned regions. The magnitudes of the sharpness values in each group are summed, and the sums compared with respective reference values. The original is classified as to its sharpness depending upon the results of the comparison so that a judgment may be made as to whether the original is worthwhile reproducing.
Abstract:
In a photographic copying apparatus, in which the plane of the original and the plane of the copying material are positioned at the stable distance from each other, an objective has two optical elements which are adjustable relative to a reference position by means of the associated step motors in the axial direction so as to thereby adjust an image scale and a focus distance. A computer for controlling the step motors and two memory devices, connected to the computer, are provided in the apparatus. The data of the objective characteristics are stored in the first memory and specific apparatus data, as well as individual user's data, are programmed by a user and stored in the second memory. The computer controls the step motors in accordance with the capacities of the two memory devices.
Abstract:
An exposed and developed filmstrip and band of similar length are connected edge-to-edge. An address for each negative of the filmstrip is imprinted on the band in the form of a bar code adjacent to the respective negative. The negatives are scanned and exposure values are calculated for the negatives from the resulting data. The exposure values are used to make proofs, and the exposure values for each negative are then stored in a memory under the corresponding address. When an order for final copies of a particular negative is subsequently received, the address of the negative is read from the band and used to retrieve the respective exposure values from the memory. The final copies are thereupon made based upon the retrieved exposure values.
Abstract:
Apparatus for convoluting exposed and copied photographic films on the cores of takeup reels has an advancing mechanism which transports successive films along a given path so that the leaders of successive films can be engaged by the gripper of a pivotable arm serving to transfer the leader of the film in the path toward the peripheral surface of the core of an empty takeup reel. The reel has no flanges or is provided with a single flange carrying or adjacent a fixedly mounted or movable protuberance which defines with the peripheral surface of the core a gap for the leader of the film. Once the leader has entered the gap and the takeup reel is set in rotary motion, the film is wound onto the protuberance and is thus affixed to the core. The length of the protuberance is less than the axial length of the core but exceeds one-fourth of such axial length.
Abstract:
A photographic copying machine wherein the images of successive frames on a long roll of spliced-together exposed and developed customer films are copied while successive films are advanced stepwise from a supply reel on a first driven mandrel toward and is convoluted on a takeup reel on a second driven mandrel. The copying machine employs a third mandrel which can support a fresh roll in the plane of the roll on the first mandrel, and a fourth mandrel which can support an empty takeup reel in the plane of the rotating takeup reel. The leader of the fresh roll is located adjacent the film path ahead of the copying station and is automatically advanced into the range of an automatic attaching mechanism when the trailing end of the expiring roll has advanced beyond the copying station. The attaching mechanism secures the leader of the fresh roll to the core of the empty takeup reel, and the machine is then ready to make copies of frames forming part of the fresh roll. The filled takeup reel on the second mandrel is replaced with an empty takeup reel and a fresh roll is placed onto the first mandrel while the machine copies the frames of the roll which is supported by the third mandrel and is convoluted on the takeup reel on the fourth mandrel.
Abstract:
An exposed and developed strip of film has a series of frames which are to be copied. The strip is scanned at a multiplicity of regions to measure the transparencies in the three primary colors, and the most transparent region of the film strip is established. The neutral density of each region of a frame is calculated as are the density differences between the respective region and the most transparent region in the three primary colors. The color density differences for each region are plotted on a color density diagram having six equally spaced axes which radiate from a common origin. The origin is defined by the color densities of the most transparent region while the respective axes represent the three primary colors and the three complementary colors. The color density diagram is divided into four color segments. The density differences for each region are vectorially added in the color density diagram to generate a resultant vector. The length of the resultant vector is compared with a reference value which is a function of the color segment into which the vector projects and is also a function of the difference in neutral density between the region under investigation and the most transparent region. If the length of the resultant vector is greater than the reference value, a color dominant is assumed to be present.
Abstract:
Light from a light source is transmitted through an original at a scanning station to a light detector. A rotating scanning disk located in the path of this light is provided with equiangularly spaced radial scanning slots. A light-blocking plate located between the light source and the scanning disk defines a scanning slot extending transverse to the transport direction of the original. Light passing through both the original and the transverse scanning slot is projected as a slot image onto the surface of the scanning disk. The radial slots and the transverse slot cooperate to define a scanning spot which sweeps across the original, and thereby performs one line-scan operation, as one radial slot sweeps across the slot image on the scanning disk. The angular span between adjoining radial slot is greater than that of the slot image so that, during intermediate intervals between successive line-scan operations, light transmitted through the original does not reach the light detector. During the intermediate time intervals, reference light from the light source is directed onto the light detector along a reference light path not passing through the original. An evaluating circuit receives both the signal produced by the light detector during a line-scan operation and the signal produced during the preceding or subsequent intermediate time interval, and in dependence upon the values of both signals produces a signal whose value indicates the density of the extreme-density scanned spot on the scanned original.
Abstract:
Apparatus for the determination of light transmissivity of film frames preparatory to the making of prints in a copying machine has a plate-like locating device for successive film frames, a light source at one side of the locating device, a group of photosensitive signal-generating elements at the other side of the locating device, and a diaphragm which is interposed between the locating device and photosensitive elements and has a hollow truncated pyramid, plate-like partitions and tubular components which confine light passing through the film frame on the locating device in such a way that a centrally located photosensitive element receives light from the entire film frame and all of the light which has passed through the central field of the frame, whereas each of the other photosensitive elements receives only that light which has passed through a single one of four L-shaped peripheral fields surrounding the central field of the frame. Light which reaches the centrally located element passes through the pyramid as well as around the pyramid. On the other hand, light which reaches the other photosensitive elements passes from the corresponding peripheral fields and thereupon through the tubular components of the diaphragm. Consequently, the signal which is transmitted by the centrally located element is indicative of transmissivity of the entire frame, and the signals transmitted by the other elements are indicative solely of transmissivity of the respective peripheral frames.