Eastman-Kodak Company

Richard L Druzynski

Martin E Oehlbeck

James E Roddy

Robert J Zolla

Rockwell N Yarid

Jeffery Richard Hawver

A printing apparatus () for printing digital images onto a photosensitive medium () employing, for exposure energy, a light source () that uses various arrays of LEDs (). The printing apparatus () may form the print image using sequential modulation, one color at a time, or by applying all colors simultaneously. Arrangements of discrete LEDs () may include high-intensity devices configured with collector cones () arranged as a multicone structure (), with parabolic reflectors (), or collimating lenses (). Large area LEDs () may alternately be used, arranged on an angled mounting surface (), for example.

Light source using large area LEDs

A two level image writer () forms an image from digital data onto a photosensitive medium. A first level illumination system has a first source () for emitting a first polarized light beam having a first color; a second source () for emitting a second polarized light beam having a second color; and a third source () for emitting a third polarized light beam having a third color. A fold mirrors directs each beam to a second level. Three polarizing beamsplitters () on the second level receive the polarized beams from the fold mirrors and isolate polarization states of each of the first, second, and third polarized light beam. Three spatial light modulators () on the second level modulate the first, second, and third polarized light beam from the polarizing beamsplitter prisms to form an array of image pixels according to said digital data. A diechroic combiner () combines the three modulated light beams.

Two level image writer

A method of printing image frames from a digital image file of a motion picture includes providing a two-dimensional LCD modulator having predetermined pixels which selectively can be activated so as to respond to incident light to provide monochromatic visual images; responding to the digital image file to activate the pixels in the LCD modulator to provide visual image planes corresponding to each frame of the motion picture; and moving a photosensitive medium past the LCD modulator to illuminate different portions of such medium from the illuminated LCD modulator to record the image planes on such medium.

Printing image frames corresponding to motion pictures

A method for receiving digital images from a digital image file and recording corresponding visual images onto a motion picture photosensitive medium includes receiving information related to the image aperture format and image type positive or negative of the digital images to be recorded on the motion picture photosensitive medium.

Recording a digital image of a desired aperture format and resolution onto motion picture photosensitive medium

A pin-registered film transport assembly provides an interlacing motion for moving and guiding a photographic film through a film gate. The assembly includes a first carriage mounted for movement parallel to a direction of film travel and a first pin assembly including a first pair of registration pins which are engageable in oppositely disposed perforations of the film, where the first pin assembly is mounted on the first carriage for movement perpendicular to the direction of film travel for engaging and disengaging the film perforations. The assembly also includes a second carriage mounted for movement parallel to the direction of film travel and a second pin assembly including a second pair of registration pins which are engageable in oppositely disposed perforations of the film, where the second pin assembly is mounted on the second carriage for movement perpendicular to the direction of film travel. The carriages and pin assemblies are moved and controlled such that the first pair of registration pins engages the film perforations at a starting position and moves the film in the direction of film travel while the second pair of registration pins is repositioning to the starting position for engagement with another pair of perforations. This action is then repeated to provide improved movement of the film through the film gate, particularly by reducing the time latency during pin retrace motion.

Rectilinear film transport system

A perforated filmstrip transportation and registration system ( ) and method provide a substrate in the form of a rotating drum ( ) with vacuum holes ( ) to allow an internally produced vacuum to act upon an engaged film-strip ( ). The rotating drum ( ) has a number of registration-tension pin pair assemblies ( ) that register and subsequently advance a filmstrip ( ) at the 3 o'clock position in a registration mode (FIGS. and ), and are ready to be inserted in filmstrip perforations ( ) when they approach the 3 o'clock position in a load mode (FIG. ). The registration-tension pin pair assemblies ( ) each contain a registration pin ( ) and a tension pin ( ) which are sized small enough to fit into filmstrip perforations ( ) without interference, and which move away and towards each other in the nature of scissors blades in the preferred embodiment. In the registration mode, a side of the registration pin ( ) rests against a side of one perforation, while the tension pin ( ) engaged in an adjacent perforation, places the filmstrip ( ) in tension by moving away from the registration pin ( ). In the load mode, the tension pin ( ) moves toward the registration pin ( ) so that distance therebetween allows both pins to be easily inserted into prospective adjacent filmstrip perforations ( ). In the preferred embodiment, the registration and tension pins ( ) are part of pin bodies ( ) which are spring loaded and activated via interaction with cam surfaces ( ).

Growing community of inventors

East Rochester, NY, United States of America

Richard L Druzynski