Agfa-Gevaert Ag

Agfa-Gevert, A.g.

Berthold Fergg

Wolfgang Zahn

Gunter Findeis

Viktor Osegowitsch

Helmut Treiber

Wolfgang Viehrig

Otto Stemme

Friedrich Hujer

Manfred Fursich

Werner Von Stein

Walter Knapp

Bernd Payrhammer

Heinz Meckl

Wilhelm Nitsch

Siegfried Thurm

Horst Bickl

Bernhard Knor

Mathias Pflugbeil

Gerhard Kuhn

Hans P Huber

A photographic roller copying device for projecting of originals of different side lengths onto a band-shaped copying material with a band width corresponding to the desired copy size and originals arranged in a band form and having different formats located along and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the band, has a projecting objective with adjustable projecting scale allowing a copy size of both original formats, and a turning prism turnable between a first angular position which turns the image of the original by 90.degree. and a second angular position which turns the image of the original by 0.degree. or 180.degree..

Photographic roller copying device

A strip of exposed and developed color film is transported through a transparency measuring system. The transparency of each frame of the film strip in the three primary colors is measured at a multiplicity of regions. The transparency values are converted to density values which are processed to generate a set of data characteristic of the film strip and indicative of the color compositions of the scanned regions. The characteristic set of data and the density values for the individual regions are used to determine whether or not a respective region contains a color dominant. For each frame, the amounts of copying light in the primary colors are established from the density values of those regions which are free of color dominants and have a neutral gray color composition. The amount of copying light in each of the three primary colors is calculated so that the regions of the original having a neutral gray color composition are copied neutral gray. In order to ensure that the copying material registers the copying light in the same manner as the measuring system registers the transparency measuring light, the measuring light is filtered so as to match the spectral sensitivity of the measuring system in each primary color to the spectral sensitivity of the copying material in the same color.

Copying method and arrangement for colored originals

A film has a series of exposed and developed negatives. Each negative is scanned at a multiplicity of regions, and the densities of each region in the three primary colors are measured. A blue/red density differential is derived for each region by subtracting the red density of a respective region from its blue density. The neutral density of each region is calculated, and every region is assigned a coordinate on a plot of blue/red density differential versus neutral density. According to one embodiment, the blue/red density differential for each region having a neutral density equal to or greater than a limiting value is then subtracted from the blue/red density differential given by a characteristic curve for the film. The differences obtained in this manner are analyzed, at least for selected negatives, and the minimum difference for each selected negative is determined. The region corresponding to the minimum difference is that region of a negative having the maximum blue density. The blue/red density differential for the region of maximum blue density is compared with a pair of reference values derived from respective reference curves representing blue/red density differential as a function of neutral density. Based on the results of this comparison, each selected negative is classified as to whether it was exposed by artificial light or natural light, and is assigned an appropriate color correction factor for copying. Another embodiment is employed if the characteristic curve is found to lie near one of the reference curves. Here, the steps of subtracting blue/red density differentials and analyzing the resulting differences are omitted, and all negatives of the film are immediately classified as having been exposed by artificial light.

Method of copying color exposures

A color copying apparatus having a photoelectric color exposure control device is calibrated by making a copy of a calibrating original, which includes a gray stepped wedge, on a photographic copying material using an exposure determined by the photoelectric color exposure control device and assumed to be proper for achieving the desired density values in the developed image of the calibrating original. The density of the developed image of the gray stepped wedge is then measured in order to obtain actual density values, which are compared with corresponding desired density values. Finally, the photoelectric color exposure control device is adjusted for achieving the required exposure correction as determined during the comparison of the actual and desired values. The calibration is performed for each of the individual values so that correction of the control device is also achieved for each of the corresponding colors.

Method of and an arrangement for calibrating a color copying apparatus

A color print machine, which makes prints from developed color film, is provided with an automatic exposure control system. A memory stores control signals for adjusting the automatic exposure control system for predetermined differing color film types and is addressable for selecting the control signals to be furnished for the color film type involved. The color film is provided with machine-readable film-type identifying code markings prior to printing. A code-marking scanner performs machine-reading of the film-type identifying code markings and generates corresponding film-type signals. The memory is addressed, thereby selecting the control signals to be furnished to the automatic exposure control system for the particular color film type involved, in automatic response to the film-type signals.

Method and apparatus for making color prints in automatic dependence

A cassette containing a stack of film units having overlapping positive and negative sheets has a housing with first and second side walls having first and second openings, and a light-admitting aperture between the two side walls. The film units are stored in a first compartment of the housing adjacent to the aperture in such a way that the foremost unit is in register with the opening in one of the side walls. A discrete withdrawing strip for each film unit has an inner portion adhering to the rear side of the respective unit and an outer portion extending outwardly through the opening in the other side wall. The withdrawing strips form a bundle which extends through a channel connecting the first compartment with a second compartment behind the stacked film units. When a withdrawing strip is extracted from the housing, its inner portion is peeled off the rear side of the corresponding freshly exposed film unit while the latter leaves the housing via the opening in the one side wall and enters a developing unit. A cover sheet is located in front of the foremost film unit or in front of each film unit to allow for the making of a test exposure in a photographic copying machine prior to extraction of the cover sheet with the help of an additional withdrawing strip which extends outwardly through the opening in the other side wall of the housing.

Cassette for film units

The condition of a photographic copying and associated developing machine for prints of color photographic negatives is evaluated by exposing a calibrating sample onto a first portion and by making a test exposure with preselected exposure data onto a second portion of photographic paper in the copying machine. The two portions of photographic paper are then developed in the developing machine, and the thus obtained developed prints are monitored in the copying machine by comparing their densities in various colors with preselected reference densities. The results of comparison are indicative whether the machines operate satisfactorily, whether the copying machine requires one or more adjustments, or whether the developing machine is in need of at least one adjustment. The adjustment or adjustments can be effected automatically or upon examination of the results of comparison by an attendant.

Method and apparatus for adjusting associated photographic copying and

A photographic copying machine wherein copying light which issues from a light source and is directed toward an original is caused to pass through a light intensity weakening shutter of the venetian blind type. The shutter is adjusted to change the rate of passage of light therethrough in dependency on the intensity of signals which are generated by the exposure control system of the copying machine and denote the anticipated exposure times in the red, green and blue colors. If the anticipated exposure times are too short, the intensity of copying light which impinges upon the copying material is reduced by a stepwise adjustment of the venetian blind type shutter. Inversely, the shutter is caused to permit the passage of more light if the signals which are generated by the exposure control system denote a relatively long exposure times in the three colors. The switch-over from the higher intensity to the lower intensity takes place at lower density of the original than that corresponding to the switch-over in the opposite direction. An additional shutter is opened only with a delay corresponding to at least one-half the time period needed for adjustment of the venetian-blind shutter, in the event that such adjustment takes place.

Exposure controls for photographic copy machines

A combined exposing and developing apparatus for film units wherein a negative sheet overlaps and extends beyond a positive sheet has an exposing unit in which the uppermost film unit of a stack of such units in a cassette is exposed to light. The developing unit has a casing which is adjacent to a compartment for cassettes and has two advancing rolls which pinch the leader of the negative sheet of a freshly exposed film unit in response to manual pivoting of a carriage for the advancing rolls by way of a rotary knob. The leader of the negative sheet is automatically separated from the positive sheet by a separating device in response to rotation of the knob before the two sheets advance through separate channels which are filled with a developing liquid. The sheets are thereupon reunited and moved into the nip of two squeezing rolls which are driven by the knob and wipe off the surplus of developing liquid before the reassembled film unit enters a diffusion chamber below the compartment for cassettes. Such film unit is removed from the diffusion chamber after a certain period of dwell therein, and the operator thereupon separates the positive and negative sheets of the fully developed film unit from each other.

Apparatus for exposing and developing photosensitive material

An apparatus for exposing and developing film units which have pairs of overlapping positive and negative sheets and must be subjected to a diffusion treatment subsequent to treatment with a liquid developing agent has an exposing unit above a light duct which is disposed above a compartment for cassettes containing stacks of superimposed film units. The compartment is located above a diffusion chamber and is adjacent to a relatively small casing for a developing unit containing a liquid developing agent and provided with pairs of advancing rolls for the transport of freshly exposed film units from the cassette in the compartment, through the casing and the developing agent therein, and thereupon into the diffusion chamber. The developing unit has a device which temporarily separates the sheets of a film unit during transport through the developing agent. The dimensions of the apparatus are sufficiently small to warrant its use in private homes by amateur photographers in order to make enlarged prints of color photographic negatives.

Apparatus for exposing and developing film units or the like

Color prints from transparencies which constitute frames or sections of universal film are made on printing paper by ascertaining the quotient or difference of integrated transmittance of the transparencies in green and red light, comparing the signal which denotes such ratio with a variable reference signal whereby the resulting comparison signal denotes the color temperature of light by which the respective transparency was exposed, and carrying out color corrections to depart from correction to neutral gray in dependency upon whether the ascertained color temperature denotes exposure in daylight or artificial light. The value of the reference signal is changed in such a way that the intensity of the ratio-designating signal which is necessary for generation of a comparison signal denoting the switchover point between the classification of transparencies into those respectively exposed by daylight and artificial light is lowered when the overall density of the transparency is lower and vice versa.

Method and apparatus for making color prints

A first and second electrode web, of which at least one is transparent, are transported along respective paths both passing through an exposure station. A toner applicator upstream of the exposure station applies to the first web a uniform layer of toner suspension. Upstream of the exposure station, the coated first web and the second web are sandwiched to form a sandwiched film pack in which the toner suspension layer is located intermediate the two webs. The transport of at least that section of the webs constituting the sandwiched film pack at the exposure station is intermittent, but nevertheless the relative movement between the toner applicator and the first web is maintained uninterruptedly unidirectional and of uninterruptedly constant speed. At the exposure station, a color toner image is formed, on a whole-image basis, by projecting the whole image to be copied onto the toner suspension layer of the film pack section through the transparent web thereof while such section is at a standstill at the exposure station, and a corresponding color toner image is produced photoelectrophoretically. Downstream of the exposure station, the color toner image is transferred onto copy material.

Method and apparatus for photoelectrophoretic-color-process copying

The strip of originals to be copied is transported, prior to copying, through an evaluation station. There, the originals are evaluated with respect to density, color, copiability, or the like. A discrete strip-shaped information carrier is connected to the strip of originals and runs along the length of the strip of originals. The connection is effected either upstream of the evaluation station or at the evaluation station. Information derived from the evaluations performed at the evaluation station is entered upon the information carrier alongside the associated ones of the originals.

Evaluation and copying of originals arranged in a strip

The strip of originals is transported through an evaluating station where the originals are evaluated with respect to density, color, copiability, or the like. Information indicative of the results of these evaluations is manually entered upon a strip-shaped first information carrier in spatial coordination with the originals of the strip. Thereafter, at another location, the information on the first information carrier is transferred to a second information carrier. The strip of evaluated originals is then transported to a copying apparatus and there copied in accordance with the information on the second information carrier. The strip of originals itself can be utilized as the second information carrier.

Growing community of inventors

Taufkirchen, Germany

Berthold Fergg