Agfa-gevaert Ag

Bayer Aktiengesellschaft

August Hell

Klaus Weber

Eberhard Escales

Istvan Cocron

Joachim Wank

Kurt Borowski

Siegfried Bartel

Theodor Huber

Andreas Schubert

Fritz Braun

Wolfram Kobusch

A layer (2) of a substance of high refractive index having an optical thickness of ##EQU1## and a layer (3) of a substance of low refractive index having an optical thickness of ##EQU2## as well as a layer (4) of a substance of high refractive index having an optical thickness of ##EQU3## and a layer (5) of a substance of low refractive index having an optical thickness of ##EQU4## are arranged as an antireflection coating on a transparent covering (1) of display devices, the wavelengths .lambda.1 and .lambda.2 being in a ratio of 1:1,5 to 1:3.

Transparent covering having an antireflection coating for signs, in

A focussing system of the type which emits radiation from the camera towards the subject, with the radiation reflected from the subject being incident upon a receiving transducer generating an electrical signal from which focus-control information is derived. The emitted radiant-power level is automatically controlled in dependence upon camera-to-subject distance, preferably in dependence upon the power level of the reflected-back radiation incident upon the receiving transducer, even when the focus-control information required for primary system operation is independent of such power level. This makes possible various important improvements, including: automatic lowering of the emitted-power level in close-up contexts, especially where a danger of eye damage might exist; more generally, automatic matching of emitted-power level to the needs of the signal-processing circuitry, permitting signal-processing stages of narrower operative range to be employed on account of the narrower variations in power level of the signal produced by the receiving transducer; and lowered power consumption. Preferably, when a focussing operation is initiated, the emitted power level is initially low or zero and is progressively increased to an automatically selected value without overshoot.

Focussing system with automatic control of emitted radiant power

At the start of each focussing operation, the camera objective is at a first extreme subject-distance setting and is moved in a first direction therefrom towards the second extreme subject-distance setting. A focus-evaluating circuit comprises first and second photodetectors located to receive light from the subject and a comparing circuit which compares the light incident on the photodetectors and in dependence upon the present subject-distance setting generates first and second signals respectively indicating that the subject-distance setting should be changed in the first direction or in the opposite second direction, such circuit having bidirectional character and furthermore establishing a tolerance range of acceptable distance-setting error within which both the first and second signals are generated. During the unidirectional change of subject-distance setting, the appearance of the first signal leads to generation of a stop signal commanding that the progressive change of distance setting be stopped. Accordingly, the unidirectional change of setting is commanded to stop at the point where the changing distance setting just enters into the tolerance range of the bidirectional evaluating circuitry.

Unidirectional focussing system

Assemblies of collated film sections and related prints, each belonging to a customer, are fed seriatim into a tray at the right-hand side of a horizontal table in front of a seated attendant so that the attendant can remove an assembly with the right hand while the left-hand opens the corresponding customer pocket which is held in a position of readiness at the left-hand side of the table. The attendant can observe the collating operation by inspecting successive film frames while the frames move above an illuminated window below and in front of the web of photographic paper with exposed and developed prints thereon. The pockets are removed seriatim from a magazine and are transported to the left-hand side of the table where the rear panel of an oncoming pocket is held by suction to facilitate the task of opening the pocket by pulling the front panel away from the rear panel.

Apparatus for processing developed photographic films and prints

Apparatus for collating prints and related sections of developed photographic customer films in a processing laboratory has a first conveyor whose receptacles advance stepwise into register with discharge ends of feeding devices for film sections and prints, and a packing unit with a second conveyor which advances empty containers past an assembly station where the containers receive assemblies of film sections and related prints in response to forward strokes of a reciprocable pusher. The second conveyor advances successive loaded containers past a closing device and a labelling device and thereupon into a receiving device. A computer receives signals from the severing mechanisms of the two feeding devices and from a reader which decodes information on envelopes used by customers or dealers to deliver or send exposed customer films to the laboratory. The computer transmits signals to a label printer and to an evaluating circuit whose board displays signals denoting errors detected by the computer and/or malfunctioning of one or more parts of the apparatus.

Apparatus for assembling and packing photographic prints with associated

A strip is composed of a plurality of successive groups of successive strip sections. The strip is provided with end-of-group indications coordinated with the ends of the respective groups of strip sections. The strip is transported backwards along a predetermined path so that each end-of-group marking precedes the first section of the respective group of sections. A detector located at a predetermined position along the transport path detects the end-of-group markings and generates corresponding end-of-order signals. The end-of-order signals are applied to a storage device. In response to each end-of-order signal, the storage device activates a separating device for separating one order from the next. However, the activation occurs only after the elapse of a time delay compensating for the backward transport of the strip. Thus, if prior to such backward transport the strip is transported forward for processing and during such forward transport fed to a take-up roller, the possibility of performing the detecting and separating operations during backward transport of the strip makes unnecessary unrolling and rerolling of the strip for a renewed forward transport.

Method of and apparatus for severing strips of material

A web of photographic paper having at its rear side at least one longitudinally extending reference line and at least one row of equally spaced marks which is parallel to the reference line. The reference line and the marks are applied below a coat of liquid-repellent synthetic plastic material. The reference line is scanned by a first photoelectric detector and the row of marks is scanned by a second photoelectric detector which remains in register with the row of marks because the first detector is maintained in register with the reference line by a follow-up control system. The second detector furnishes signals which are used to arrest the advancing rolls for the web in a photoelectric copying machine or subsequent to development of images so that the web is severed during each interval of stoppage. The reference line and the marks are applied simultaneously but prior to the application of photosensitive emulsion to the front side of the web.

Apparatus for scanning a marked web

Each customer order has the form of an image band segment comprised of one or more image sections bearing respective images. The customer order image band segments together form an elongated image band. The image band is provided with order marks of different types, each image section of one customer order being provided with an order mark of one type, and each image section of the next customer order being provided with an order mark of another type, so that the order mark type changes from one customer order to the next on the image band. The changes of order mark type are detected using a detecting arrangement which is operative for generating control signals in dependence upon such detection. The operation of an order-sorting arrangement is controlled by applying the control signals thereto.

Method and arrangement for cutting and sorting photographic prints, and

A panel consisting of elastic cardboard, synthetic plastic material or a combination of both has one or more openings for reception of selected portions of cartridges for exposed but undeveloped photographic film and elastic lugs or tongues which hold the cartridge in its opening or openings or bias one or more projections of the cartridge against the panel. The cartridge is attached to the panel by a dealer who receives it from a customer and forwards the panel with the cartridge to a developing laboratory. A first section of the panel with a serial number and date of receipt is broken off the major portion of the panel and handed to the customer as a receipt. Another section of the panel which is provided with the same serial number as the first section and with the name of the customer is broken off and held by the dealer. The main portion of the panel is provided with encoded and/or unencoded information including the serial number, the dealer identification number and/or other data. The panel is used as a simpler and less expensive substitute for presently employed envelopes wherein the dealers mail or ship cartridges to the developing laboratory.

Growing community of inventors

Feldkirchen, Germany

August Hell