Pako Corporation

Lifetouch Portrait Studios, Inc.

Management Graphics, Inc.

Other

Lifetouch Inc.

Pako Corporaton

Gerald A Jensen

Michael Breckenridge

E John Adolphi

John Lawson

Patrick J Galloway

Todd Kuester

Michael J Surma

Richard A Keeney

Robert E Diesch

Earl John Adolphi

Ronald B Harvey

John Adolphi

Ted G Merry

Charles L Euteneuer

Gerald R Strunc

John Pone, Jr

Armer J Willenbring

Patrick J Gilligan

Conrad E Lee

Louis A Larson

Patrick J Caulfield

Dwayne H Putzke

Clare K Miller

Jeffrey J Kipp

Kenneth B Schrupp

Ray J Seiler

Jerry Lindenfelser

Bruce Rubin

An automated studio and control system for taking photographs is disclosed that alleviates many exposure problems and simplifies variables with which the photographer must deal in order to achieve consistent high quality photographs. The studio includes a multi-light portrait lighting system, a subject location verification system and a system for varying backgrounds, all of which are tied to an integrated control system and synchronized to a camera.

Automated portrait studio

In a high speed package printer that produces photographs of varying size from film negatives, different cropping apertures are used with different lenses for different prints. In order to provide a large combination of different cropping apertures with different lenses the lenses and cropping apertures are separately selected for each print. The high speed package printer includes a light source, a diffusion plate, a plurality of cropping apertures on an aperture member which can be moved to select which aperture will block light from the diffusion plate. The light from the cropping aperture then passes through a negative for projection by a lens onto photographic paper for printing pictures. Separate means for moving the aperture member and for selecting which lens will receive light from a negative after it is provide a selection of all combinations of lenses and cropping apertures such that the photographs produced can have different sizes and shapes.

High speed package printer

An apparatus and method relating to the print quality of a high speed package printer that produces photographs of varying size from film negatives. The high speed package printer includes a diffusion plate and a diffusion plate cleaner, and a film cleaner to remove dust and unwanted particles from the diffusion plate and film, thereby increasing the quality of prints from the printer. The apparatus increases print quality by having a plate that diffuses light from a light source shining on the photographic paper, and by automatically cleaning the diffusion plate with a brush during the time between exposures and while the photographic paper and photographic film are advancing. The apparatus also increases print quality with a film cleaning arrangement that includes applying an electrostatic charge to the film, brushing the surface of the film, vacuuming the surface of the film and using sticky rollers to remove any dust or other particles during the advancement of the film to the light source and during the time between exposures.

Apparatus and method for improving print quality of high speed package printer

An improved high speed package printer for producing a plurality of high quality photographs of varying size, shape, and style based on one or a plurality of different film negatives. The improved package printer of the present invention accomplishes the goal of increased throughput and speed through the use of an automatic paper-loading feature, ultrasonic proximity sensors for dynamically measuring paper-slack loops, off-center printing for eliminating the need to advance the paper for punching after each exposure, a rotational prism for creating 10'.times.13' photographs without physically rotating the film, a 13-UP lens deck including 12 wallet lenses and a single 5'.times.7' retro-focus lens for creating 12 wallet-sized photographs and one 5'.times.7' photograph from a single exposure, an automatic diffusion plate cleaner for eliminating the system down time associated with manual diffusion plate cleaning, an improved filtering arrangement for equalizing the amount of energy emitted from each lamp within a photographic lamphouse, and bi-directional film movement for producing a single composite containing a plurality of different images or poses. The high speed package printer of the present invention also boasts an improved film cleaning arrangement for increasing the quality of the prints, as well as penumbra masking for producing photographs having sharply delineated borders.

A special effects carrier for use in a photographic camera for taking portraits of individuals or groups. The wheel-shaped special effects carrier contains masks which produce various special effects. One of the masks included on the carrier produces no special effects so that the carrier can be used whether or not a special effect is desired. The carrier is located a fixed distance behind the objective element of the zoom lens so that the photographer is able to focus the camera without having to compensate for the changing focal length of the zoom lens. The carrier is connected to a CPU which drives a motor to rotate the carrier. An optical sensor reads bar codes on the carrier and relays information to the CPU thereby allowing the CPU to position the masks for use and freeing the photographer of that task.

Special effects carrier

Apparatus for displaying one of several backdrops for use in a photographic studio. The backdrop scenes are attached end to end to form a long web, one end of which is wound upon one shaft and the other end of which is attached to a second shaft. A roller weight is placed on the web between the two shafts. The shafts are motor driven, allowing automated scrolling of the different backdrop scenes and the lowering of the roller weight when the appropriate scene is found. A steering mechanism is attached to the web to ensure it is properly wound up upon the shaft each time. Optical and/or mechanical sensors detect the position of the web and a central processing unit is provided for automated movement of the web from one backdrop to another, as desired.

Automated photographic backdrop apparatus

Apparatus is disclosed for selectively notching an edge of a material such as photographic film or cutting through the material using the same blade. The material is guided by a path, and the blade is mounted for variable penetration into the path. One or more solenoids are responsive to a first control command for driving the blade a first distance into the path to notch an edge of the material therein, and responsive to a second control command for driving the blade a second distance into the path to cut entirely through the material. The apparatus has particular application as a cutter/notcher for a film recorder.

Apparatus for selectively notching or cutting photographic film or the

A takeup magazine is provided for automatically loading a strip of material such as photographic film onto a removable core. A housing contains a rotatable platter. A friction ring is mounted coaxially above the platter for rotation therewith. A removable core having a diameter smaller than that of the friction ring is mounted coaxially above the platter for rotation with the platter and the friction ring. An opening in the housing receives an end of a strip of material to be wound onto the core. The end of the material is guided to engage the core and the friction ring when the strip is pushed into the opening. The guiding of the strip can be accomplished using a first pivoting arm for guiding the end in the direction of the core and at least one second arm for urging the strip against the core.

Autothread mechanism for strip material

Image recorder

A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film web and inserts the transparencies into slide mounts. A slide mount is advanced along a slide track to a position adjacent a knife where the slide mount is flexed to provide an insertion opening. The film web is advanced along a film track until a leading end of the web is partially inserted into the insertion opening. A first plurality of rollers are positioned over the film track and a second plurality of rollers are positioned under the film track to prevent transverse curl of the film web as it is advanced toward the insertion opening. A pair of curved shoes is mounted over the film track proximate the knife to prevent longitudinal curl of the film web as it is advanced through the knife and into the insertion opening. The knife is provided with tapered portions to align the web as it passes the knife. After the transparency has been severed from the film web by the knife, the partially inserted transparency is engaged and inserted fully into the slide mount as the slide mount and transparency are advanced away from the film track. The slide mount insertion opening is maintained in a flexed open position as the transparency is engaged and fully inserted by a slide mount spreading means having a flared portion. Once the film transparency has been fully inserted into the slide mount, the slide mount insertion opening is allowed to close.

Photographic slide mounter

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Gerald A Jensen