Pako Corporation

The Toro Company

James F Stewart

Gerald R Bowe

Melvin H Jendersee

John F Brackin

Robert D Lampher

A subtractive photographic printer is capable of providing extremely short exposure time by coordinating the operation of a shutter and color filters. The shutter is normally positioned in the light path, and is driven out of the light path at the beginning of an exposure cycle. The exposure in each color channel is terminated by driving the color filter associated with that color channel into the light path in a direction which is essentially the same as the direction in which the shutter was driven out of the light path. In addition, the filter is driven into the light path at essentially the same rate at which the shutter was driven out of the path. The exposure time for the color channel is determined by the time delay between actuation of the shutter drive and actuation of the filter drive, since the shutter and the filter move in the same direction and at essentially the same rate. It is possible, therefore, to achieve exposure times which are shorter than the time required to drive the shutter out of the light path or the filter into the light path, since the exposure time is determined by the time delay between actuation of the shutter drive and the filter drive, rather than the response times of the shutter and filter drive.

Exposure control for subtractive photographic printer

A neghold assembly for use in a photographic printer includes a bottom clamping surface, a pivot arm, a top clamping plate fixedly attached to the pivot arm, a solenoid upwardly engaging the pivot arm and a bias spring for upwardly engaging the pivot arm. The bottom and top clamping plates have apertures that allow light to be transmitted through the photographic film being held between the top clamping plate and the bottom clamping surface for exposing photosensitive print film. The solenoid engages the pivot arm on the side opposite of the pivot point from the top clamping plate. The solenoid pivots the top clamping plate about the pivot point to a clamping position whereby the top and bottom clamping plates are clamped together to hold the film negative. The bias spring pivots the top clamping plate upwardly from the clamping position to an open position when the solenoid is deenergized.

Neghold assembly for photographic printer

A photographic printer has a punch marking system for placing cut and end-of-order marks on the photographic paper. The punch marking mechanism is adjustable to accommodate different widths of print paper. The punch marking mechanism includes guide rods which are positioned transverse to the path of the print paper. First and second carriage assemblies are movable along the guide path defined by the guide rods on opposite sides of the center line of the paper path. A lead screw moves both the first and second carriage assemblies along the guide path in an essentially symmetrical manner about the center line of the paper path. The punches or other marking devices are carried on the first and second carriage assemblies.

Adjustable width punch marking apparatus for photographic printer

A film cleaning apparatus for cleaning the photographic film prior to printing includes special guides which permit the film cleaning apparatus to be used with both first-run production and tabbed reprint production. The film cleaning apparatus is of the type having a pair of support members in opposed relationship which define a nip which is disposed transverse to the path of the photographic film. Two lengths of soft, lint-free wiping cloth extend through the nip with the opposed surfaces of the cloth at the nip defining a part of the path. The guide includes first and second generally parallel guide plates having opposing surfaces defining an opening which is part of the path. The opening defined by the guide plates has an inlet end and an outlet end, and the plates are in fixed position with respect to the film cleaning apparatus with the outlet end of the opening proximate the nip. A first member is positioned forward and above the inlet end of the opening for guiding film downward toward the inlet end, and a second member is positioned forward and below the inlet end for guiding film upward toward the inlet end. The film guide, therefore, permits reliable feeding and guiding of short film segments attached to a paper tab like those used in photographic reprint systems.

Film guide for use with film cleaning apparatus

A variable working distance photographic printer receives paper from a supply magazine through a first fixed opening and supplies the exposed print paper through a second fixed opening to a take-up magazine. The variable working distance is achieved with a movable paper deck within the photographic printer. Variable guides are provided between the first and second fixed openings and the movable paper deck in order to accommodate variations in the position of the movable paper deck. Variable working distances are provided, therefore, without requiring that the supply and take-up magazines be movable.

Growing community of inventors

Shoreview, MN, United States of America

James F Stewart