Fuji Photo Film Company, Limited

Yoichi Ujiie

Syuji Tahara

Yoshihiko Saeki

Kanji Tokuda

Junichi Tsuji

Hiroyuki Isozaki

Kanji Takuda

Two bar code sensors are disposed at opposite sides of a passage of a photographic film, each bar code sensor having first and second photosensor arrays. The first and second photosensor arrays are located at the passages of the clock track and the data track, respectively, along a line perpendicular to the transportation direction of the photographic film. The DX bar code data and frame number bar code data are discriminated automatically based on the bar code data configuration read out with the bar code sensor units. The setting condition of the photographic film is detected, also based on the bar code data configuration. In case of an abnormal state of the setting conditions, an alarm display is output. The bar code data is written in a memory when the data change, or synchronously with reading the clock track of the DX bar code. The number of a frame set at the film mask is calculated by measuring the feed amount of the read-out frame number bar code.

Apparatus for reading bar codes recorded on photographic film

Two bar code sensors are disposed at opposite sides of a passage of a photographic film, each bar code sensor having two photosensors disposed along a line perpendicular to the transportation direction of the photographic film. Each time a photographic film is fed by a predetermined distance, signals outputted from the two bar code sensor units are sampled and are compared with the signals obtained at the second preceding sampling timing to convert them into binary signals. Based on the data configuration of binary signals, i.e., based on the discrimination between the start code and end code, or the presence or absence of a clock track, automatic discrimination is performed between DX bar code data and frame number bar code data which then are decoded into a film type and frame number, respectively. The setting conditions of a photographic film also can be determined based on the bar code data configuration. An alarm is output if the setting conditions are not normal. The feed amount of a read-out frame number code is measured to calculate the number of a frame set at the print stage. Reading a frame number bar code may be performed synchronously with reading the DX bar code clock track.

Method and apparatus for reading bar codes on photographic film and

A photographic printer has a light source for illuminating negative film. A filter turret is disposed rotatably across an optical path from the light source, and is rotated by a stepping motor. A scanner is provided for measuring light. The turret is stopped in a predetermined position other than a position which keeps the photometric opening in the turret fully open, in order to reduce a light amount passed through from the light source. Data for the predetermined stop position is stored in a memory. A controller controls rotation of the stepping motor by reading out the stop position in order to detect a position taken by a picture frame on negative film. The memory also stores three other predetermined stop positions to stop respective color filters in offset positions in order to reduce a light amount at the time of three color separation photometry. With the invention, a conventionally used ND filter can be omitted while detecting the picture frame and three color separation photometry. Another stop position allows reduction of a light amount when photometry is effected for conditioning the light source. A normal control negative film can be omitted while conditioning the light source so as to prevent operational error.

Photographic printer

In a printer-processor, if an error occurs during execution of a print process, a corresponding error message is displayed in a display unit, and the error message and the time at which the error occurs are stored sequentially in a memory. In response to an instruction, the errors that have occurred are displayed one after another in the order stored, or in the reverse order to review the record of past errors.

Method of storing and displaying error information in photographic

A photographic printing method and apparatus therefor having a pulse motor for transporting a photograhic film to place a picture frame in a printing position. In order to avoid an occurrence of cumulative position error, position data of each picture frame is provided in the form of a combination of the number of perforation holes and the number of driving pulses applied to the pulse motor while edges of each two adjacent perforation holes are detected. In a film inspection process, the position data is stored in a memory after having placing each picture frame in the printing position. The position data of each picture frame is read out in a printing process and compared with present position signals of the picture frame of the film being transported. Upon an occurrence of coincidence between the position data read out from the memory and the position data presently detected, the pulse motor is controlled to stop, thereby placing the picture frame in the same printing position as where the picture frame is placed in the inspection process.

Photographic printing method and apparatus therefor

A photographic film is printed with numerical frame numbers and corresponding coded frame number bar codes. When a sensor completely reads a frame number bar code, a transportation quantity measuring unit starts measuring the transportation of the film to obtain a distance between the center of the film mask and the read frame number bar code or the associated frame number. The number of frames between the distance is obtained through division of the obtained distance by the pitch between frame number bar codes or frame numbers. A frame number of a frame positioned at the film mask is discriminated based on the obtained number of frames and the read frame number.

Picture frame number discriminating method and apparatus therefor

A printer-processor has a printing section for exposing images onto a part of a strip of photographic paper, a cutter for separating the exposed part from the strip to form a sheet, and a processing section for developing the sheet. After one printing, the strip is transported by feeding rollers to set an unexposed part of the strip in an exposure state while simultaneously releasing the exposed part from the exposure stage. This transportation is carried out, not immediately after the printing, but at least after a predetermined period from the time the previously-exposed part was cut so that the strip does not overtake the sheet which is being released into the processing section by another feeding rollers. Further, when or just before the strip is transported, releasing means releases nipping of the latter feeding rollers as not to disturb the transportation of the strip.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Yoichi Ujiie