Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Kenichi Inatsuki

Nobuo Katsuma

Akihiko Machida

A thermal printer in which color thermosensitive recording material is used is provided. A thermal head records an image to the recording material by applying heat thereto. One or two photo fixing xenon flash lamps apply electromagnetic rays to the recording material, to fix the image. The electromagnetic rays are emitted in the first and second wavelength ranges, and are ultraviolet or visible. A controller changes over electromagnetic rays received by the recording material from the xenon flash lamps. The controller, when in a first step, sets the electromagnetic rays in the first wavelength range by means of a UV absorbing filter, to fix a first coloring layer for yellow. In a second step next to the first, the electromagnetic rays are set in the second wavelength range, to fix a second coloring layer for magenta.

Thermal printer and electromagnetic wave source device

A method of sensing image data from a film fed by a pulse motor and associated components, whereby sensing is carried out at fixed intervals along the film, independently of whether the pulse motor is in an acceleration or deceleration period and without the use of a separate rotation sensor. Values are stored in advance representing constant feeding lengths of the film during periods of acceleration and deceleration. While the film is being transported during such periods, the stored values are read out in sequence and the sensor operated at time intervals defined by the stored values.

Method of reading image data

An automatic notcher which automatically forms a notch on a developed film is provided with a faulty frame judging device and a notcher controlling circuit. The device includes out-of-focus image judging device for making judgement as to whether or not an image on the film is out of focus. The notcher controlling circuit actuates a notcher only for frames which need to be printed on the basis of the judgement made by the out-of-focus image judging device. Accordingly, any out-of-focus image on the film is automatically judged to be one which need not be printed and a notch is not therefore formed for it.

Automatic notcher with judging device for film frames to be printed

Disclosed is a film frame position judging method in which film densities are detected by a plurality of sensors disposed such as to be orthogonal to the direction in which a developed film is conveyed, and a frame edge is declared when the distance between the positions at which the OR (logical sum) of light/dark binary signals and the AND (logical product) of the binary signals respectively change as the film is conveyed is within a predetermined value, the light/dark binary signals respectively representing the densities at the detecting points on the film. Accordingly, it is possible to judge a frame position by detecting only one of the film frame edges and to increase the degree of accuracy in judging a frame position.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Kenichi Inatsuki