Ciba-geigy Corporation

Gretag Systems, Inc.

Cx Corporation

Gregtag Systems, Inc.

Maxwell G Maginness

William G Reed

Patrick Michael Volk

Kenneth G Hammerquist

Donald F Knull

Gordon L Overbye

Janice I Budworth

A method and apparatus for checking the correlation between all parts of a photofinishing order includes reading the identification numbers on at least some of the parts of the order using an optical character reader. The method includes processing the information received from the optical character reader to compensate for the inherent characteristics of optical character readers to misread portions of the numbers and includes a method of filtering misread and nonread information to prevent false alarm conditions in which an apparent mismatch is actually a misread, while minimizing the number of actual mismatches that are allowed through the system without causing an alarm. In one embodiment, a portion of the information is obtained in bar code form and a memory device is loaded with a table of bar code and optical character reader information for each order to maintain correlation between the order parts. The method includes the steps of assigning different error weights to various digits of the identification number and summing the error weights to determine when the sum exceeds a predetermined sum that will trigger an operator intervention alarm.

Method of checking correlation between parts of a photofinishing order

A web-handling system for use in the processing of photographic print paper during the developing process includes a plurality of rollers mounted in a developing tank, at least some of the rollers being movable to vary the length of the paper path through the tank. The paper path length is continuously monitored and the input and output speed of drive rollers that move the paper into and out of the tank is controlled so that the path length is of the proper value to maintain the paper within the tank for a predetermiend time regardless of the rate of input of paper to the tank. The movable rollers are mounted on a carriage that is supported by the paper web when the handling system is in dynamic operation. A monitoring sensor is positioned near the input to the tank to monitor the transverse position of the paper web with respect to the paper path defined by the rollers and a roller adjustment device is controlled by the sensor to adjust the web position to maintain alignment of the web with the paper path.

Paper-processing control apparatus

A system for adjusting the density or contrast of a photographic print includes a projection lens system (18) for projecting an image from a negative (10) onto photosensitive paper (20). A matrix array (24) of liquid crystal display elements is interposed in the optical path in front of the print paper (20) and transmissivity of the individual LCD elements is controlled to provide an LCD mask to control the intensity and/or color of the light falling upon the print paper (20). Preferably, a television camera (16) is used with a beam splitter (14) to provide a real-time image of either the LCD mask (24) or the combined image of the mask (24) and negative (10) to allow adjustments in the mask (24) to be viewed as they are made. In printing black and white photos on multicontrast paper, the color transmissivity of the LCD elements is adjusted on an element-by-element basis to provide a localized adjustment of the contrast range of the print paper. Density and contrast can be simultaneously adjusted by controlling both the color balance and overall transmissivity of the LCD elements.

Method and apparatus for producing modified photographic prints

A method and apparatus (30) for packaging processed film in a photographic print-processing system. The method includes the steps of reading a dealer identifier from the customer envelope (10) and, after processing, determining the number of photographic prints in the order, determining the number of wallets (43) needed to hold the prints, retrieving the correct number of wallets having a predetermined imprint thereon as determined by the dealer code, and packaging the prints in the wallets. The wallets may be retrieved from a wallet storage (44) that contains wallets having different imprints thereon or can be selected as blank wallets on which the desired imprint is printed after retrieval and before the photographic prints are packaged therein.

Method and apparatus for packaging processed film

A method and apparatus for maintaining correlation between the parts of a film processing order from its receipt in a lab to its assembly for return to the customer includes placing a machine-readable identifier on the film, envelope and prints. The identifiers are read at the point of final order assembly and if any identifiers are not readable an error counter is incremented. If the error counter reaches a predetermined maximum number, an alarm is given and the operation is halted for operator intervention. If the maximum error number is not reached, the identifiers read at the finishing station are compared for equality. If there is a mismatch between identifiers, an alarm is given and the operation halted for operator intervention. Each time an order is successfully processed with no misreads, the error counter is decremented by some predetermined number. In a predetermined embodiment, the error counter is reset after each operation intervention.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Maxwell G Maginness