Agfa-Gevaert Ag

Afga-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft

Agfa Geavert

Helmut Treiber

Gunter Findeis

Bernd Payrhammer

Wilhelm Nitsch

Wolfgang Zahn

Gerhard Benker

Horst Bickl

Manfred Fursich

Erich Nagel

Berthold Fergg

Peter Lermann

Friedrich Jacob

Hans-Georg Schindler

Volker Weinert

Herbert Wilsch

Leonhard Huber

Hans-Jurgen Rauh

Hans-Juergen Rauh

Bernhard Knor

Ulrich Kluter

Bernhard Lorenz

Siegfried Thurm

Wolfram Betzold

Christian Gotze

Manfred Fuersich

Ulrich Klueter

Reimund Munch

Gunter Lammel

Wilfried Rauskolb

Wilfried Reichel

Walter Kieslich

Siegfried Bocklisch

Wolfgang Fielder

Michael Wilde

Rainer Leuschner

Apparatus for imaging photographic negatives onto light-sensitive photoprint material includes a platform ( ) for the print material; a digital image projection system ( ) with an electronic image generation unit; and an integrated analog image projection system ( ) with an light source and a negative holder. The image generator of the digital image projection system is disposed outside the light ray path of the analog image projection system. The projection systems are so constructed and arranged that the photoprint material on the platform ( ) can receive images from both projection systems simultaneously or consecutively. When a change is made for the projection of images by one projection system to the other, the two light ray paths remain unchanged.

Method and apparatus for printing photographs from developed film onto light-sensitive photoprint material

There is disclosed a method for determining the amounts of individual copying light when copying color originals, particularly color negatives which are combined into films. The color originals are scanned photoelectrically and separately in the primary colors by region or by point, and the results of the measurement are used to control the amounts of copying light. For each scanned region a first difference is formed between the density values of two basic colors, a second difference is formed between the density values of one of these basic colors and the third basic color, and the average density is formed from the density measurements of the three basic colors. In each case, a functional relationship with the average density is produced, known as a color density difference curve, which describes the color behavior of the recording material on which the copy is to be made. This functional relationship supplies film-specific values for producing copies of the film, the film-specific values being used for the determination of the amounts of copying light for the original to be copied. For films of one type, the functional relationship between color density difference values and average densities describing the color behavior common to this are determined and stored as standard color density difference curves. When a film of this type appears, these stored standard color density difference curves are used to determine copying light quantities.

Method for determining the amount of light in each primary color when copying a colored original

Film frames are scanned preparatory to copying and a set of density values is generated for each frame. When a frame exhibits excessive contrast, a mask is calculated using the respective set of density values. The calculated mask is formed on an LCD or LED matrix which is in register with the frame. An image of the masked frame is then projected onto copy paper by a zoom objective. The mask has a size which is a function of the magnification factor and/or the mask-to-frame distance.

Method of copying transparent originals and photographic copier

A method of printing regular photographic prints on a strip of paper along with index prints--that is, prints with images that are smaller than those in the regular prints--from series of negatives on rolls of film. The smaller images are projected next to and one after another along the strip to produce an index print as wide as the strip. The regular prints and the index prints are printed at different points along the strip. The results of area-by-area measurements of the negatives obtained while the regular prints are being printed are exploited to control light quantities while the index prints are being printed. The distance the strip of paper advances from one printing point to the other is regulated to ensure that paper is advanced to the index print printing point once the last negative in a series has been projected onto the strip until the trailing edge of the last print arrives at the margin of the exposure area in the index print printing point. Further printing procedures are discontinued at the regular print printing point until the trailing end of a length of paper that is reserved for the index print associated with that series of negatives, and that must accordingly not be exposed to light, has crossed the edge of the exposure opening near the index print printing point.

Method and apparatus for producing photographic index prints

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.

Apparatus for and method for handling film in a photographic printer

A method of and printer for printing photographs on light-sensitive paper of a particular format from transparent masters on a roll of film by means of a projector. Both the film and a strip of the paper are advanced through a printing point. The paper is displaced across the direction the film travels in with the center of the prescribed paper format at a distance from the optical axis of the projector. The projector can be adjusted to project the image of the master larger or smaller than the paper format.

Method of printing photographs and apparatus for carrying out the method

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.

Method and arrangement for copying filmstrips

An exposed and developed photographic filmstrip having a series of image areas is conveyed along a path and is photoelectrically scanned at a first location of the path to detect regions characterized by marked density jumps. A signal is generated in response to detection of each such characteristic region and a first distance measuring device disposed near the first location assigns a first distance reading to each characteristic region upon detection thereof. The first distance readings are representative of the positions of the characteristic regions longitudinally of the filmstrip. Each signal is stored together with the respective first distance reading. The stored signals and first distance readings are used to calculate the positions of the image areas longitudinally of the filmstrip, and the calculated positions are likewise stored. From the first location, the filmstrip travels to a second location of the path where a notch is punched in the filmstrip adjacent to each image area. Immediately upstream of the second location, the filmstrip is photoelectrically scanned for a second time to again detect the characteristic regions.

Method of and apparatus for positioning image areas of film

A filmstrip containing a series of images is conveyed along a path which passes by a copying station and a scanning station. The filmstrip is advanced in steps using transporting rolls and a narrow segment of the filmstrip is scanned at the scanning station after every step. A first set of measurements obtained upon scanning of the filmstrip is used to calculate the amounts of light and the exposure times required to properly reproduce the images. A second set of measurements is used to detect characteristic regions of the filmstrip having abrupt changes in density. The positions of the characteristic regions along the filmstrip are established by a counter which counts the steps undergone by the filmstrip and the measurement or measurements corresponding to each characteristic region are stored together with the respective position. The positions of the characteristic regions and the second set of measurements are used to calculate the positions of the images along the filmstrip. After the filmstrip has been completely scanned, the filmstrip is conveyed along the path once more. During the second trip along the path, the filmstrip is scanned again while the distance traveled by the filmstrip is measured by the counter. Upon detection of a characteristic region, the position of such region along the filmstrip as measured by the counter during the second trip is compared with the stored position obtained during the first trip. If the positions are different, the counter is changed to match the stored position. This compensates for slip between the filmstrip and the transporting rolls thereby allowing the images to be accurately positioned in the copying station for reproduction as the filmstrip travels along the path for the second time.

Method of and apparatus for positioning photographic originals in a

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.

Apparatus for storing flexible webs on the cores of takeup reels

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.

Apparatus for replacing rolls of customer films in copying machines

An exposed and developed filmstrip has a longitudinally extending row of image areas and a row of perforations along each longitudinal margin. The image areas and perforations have no fixed positional relationship. The filmstrip is conveyed lengthwise from a scanning station to an operating station. A procedure involving the filmstrip is performed at the operating station when an image area is present at such station. To establish the arrival of an image area at the operating station, the filmstrip is photoelectrically scanned at the scanning station to locate the leading edge of the image area. The leading edge is conveyed from a preselected location, which may or may not be the scanning station, to the oeprating station along a path of fixed length. The length of the path is expressed in terms of the spacing between neighboring perforations of a row and the arrival of the leading edge at the operating station is established by counting perforations as the filmstrip travels. Fractions of the perforation spacing, which may arise if the leading edge is located between two perforations or if the path length is not an integral multiple of the perforation spacing, are measured by counting the steps performed by a stepping motor which drives the filmstrip or by counting the revolutions of rollers which engage the filmstrip.

Processing method and apparatus for exposed and developed film with

Light containing blue, green and red radiation is passed through a colored original which is to be printed on color copy material. The transmitted light is spread out into a color spectrum which extends across a first wavelength range generally corresponding to the blue portion of the spectrum, a second wavelength range generally corresponding to the green portion of the spectrum and a third wavelength range generally corresponding to the red portion of the spectrum. The intensity of the transmitted light is measured throughout the spectrum and average of the resulting raw intensities are taken oer each of a series of wavelength intervals which are much shorter than the first, second and third ranges. The copy material has a gamma value for each wavelength interval and such gamma value represents the spectral sensitivity of the copy material in the corresponding interval. The average intensity for each wavelength interval is multiplied by the respective gamma value to yield a corrected intensity. The corrected intensities for each wavelength range are summed to generate first, second and third sums corresponding to the first, second and third ranges and respectively representing the blue, green and red densities of the original. The first, second and third sums are used to calculate the respective amounts of blue, green and red light required to print the original with a neutral gray density.

Color printing method and apparatus

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.

Method of and arrangement for determining the sharpness of originals for

Successive frames of an exposed and developed customer film are monitored during transport of the film in a first direction, and the information which is gathered during monitoring of discrete frames as well as of the entire film is stored in the memory of a microprocessor. The direction of travel of the film is then reversed and successive or selected frames of the film are copied during intervals between successive stepwise advances of the film in the second direction. Copying light which is used for the making of reproductions of images of the film frames is also used for illumination of film frames during monitoring. A mirror is provided to reflect light to the monitoring unit during travel of the film in the first direction, and such mirror is retracted preparatory to copying which starts with the last monitored frame and proceeds toward the first monitored frame of the film. The film is converted into a growing roll during monitoring of its frames.

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Munich, Germany

Helmut Treiber