EP0259263A2 - Schneidegerät für photographische Bilder - Google Patents

Schneidegerät für photographische Bilder Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0259263A2
EP0259263A2 EP87810488A EP87810488A EP0259263A2 EP 0259263 A2 EP0259263 A2 EP 0259263A2 EP 87810488 A EP87810488 A EP 87810488A EP 87810488 A EP87810488 A EP 87810488A EP 0259263 A2 EP0259263 A2 EP 0259263A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
prints
print
web
roller
cutter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87810488A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0259263A3 (en
EP0259263B1 (de
Inventor
Allen Eugene Fleckenstein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gretag Imaging Inc
Original Assignee
Gretag AG
Gretag Imaging Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gretag AG, Gretag Imaging Inc filed Critical Gretag AG
Publication of EP0259263A2 publication Critical patent/EP0259263A2/de
Publication of EP0259263A3 publication Critical patent/EP0259263A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0259263B1 publication Critical patent/EP0259263B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
    • G03D15/04—Cutting; Splicing
    • G03D15/043—Cutting or splicing of filmstrips
    • G03D15/046—Automatic cutting

Definitions

  • This invention relates to photographic processing and handling equipment and, more particularly, relates to a print cutter for separating individual prints from a continuous reel, straightening the prints and sorting them.
  • the photographic prints printed from developed film are batch processed and the prints are produced on a continuous reel. It is necessary to cut the prints into individual photographs from the reel prior to delivery of the prints to the customer.
  • steps of the print cutting process are typically carried out in an automated machine. It is desirable to produce a print cutter that is easily threaded so that the prints from the reel can be presented to the knife of the cutter.
  • the prints tend to curl even after they are cut from the continuous reel since they have been conformed to the circular shape of the reel for some period of time.
  • the curl of the prints makes it more difficult to stack them into a compact stack, easily insertable into an envelope for return to the customer.
  • the customer also prefers the print to be flat, rather than curled, so that they are easier to put into a photo album or simply to look at.
  • Present day print cutters have not really addressed the problem of straightening or decurling the photographic prints after they are separated from the continuous reel and before they are delivered to the customer.
  • all of the prints produced of any one type will be of uniform length.
  • the feed rollers that advance the prints through the cutter can be accurately monitored to determine the print length at the time of cutting.
  • a photographic print cutter which is operable to separate individual photographic prints from a continuous reel of prints.
  • the print cutter includes a reel mounting means for rotatably mounting the continuous reel of prints on the print cutter.
  • the print cutter further includes threading means for receiving an end of the continuous reel of prints and threading the end to a position from which it can be fed to the cutting knife.
  • a print sensor is provided to monitor the position of the continuous reel of prints as it approaches the knife of the cutter to feed prints as necessary to maintain a steady flow of prints through the cutter.
  • the print cutter includes a print drive means including a nondeformable roller that underlies the prints on the nonimage side and a soft deformable roller that overlies the prints on the image side and cooperates with the nondeformable roller to produce a roller nip that engages the continuous prints and feeds them through to the knife.
  • a monitoring means is associated with the nondeformable roller to monitor the rotation of the nondeformable roller in order to keep track of the length of the prints as they pass through the roller nip.
  • the print cutter includes a knife operable to cut the prints to desired lengths, the knife being positioned downstream of the roller nip and ahead of a decurling means which produces a reverse bend in the print in order to remove the curl that is present due to the storage of the prints in circular reel form.
  • the decurling means is adjustable to produce a greater or lesser bend, depending on the initial bend of the photograph due to its position at the outer or inner circumference of the reel.
  • the print cutter Downstream of the decurling means the print cutter includes a print tray that receives the prints after they have been cut and decurled.
  • the print cutter of the present invention includes a makeover sorting means operable to separate the makeover prints from the good prints and deposit the prints into the print tray so that the makeover prints are always at the top of the stack of prints.
  • FIGURE 1 shows an order finishing station which is the accumu­lating center for the parts of a photographic order prior to its return to the customer.
  • a continuous reel of photographic prints 10 is mounted on a print cutter 12 which is included in the order finishing station.
  • the station also includes a negative cutter 14 which receives a reel of developed film 16, separates the film into individual strips which are then stacked in a film stacker 20 and combined with the prints after they have been cut by the print cutter in wallets that are dispensed by a wallet dispenser 22, which is also a part of the order finishing station.
  • the prints and negatives are placed into a customer envelope which is provided to the operator from a stack of envelopes 23 by an envelope feeder 24 located in the order finishing station. Using the information from the envelope along with the number of prints, the order is priced and prepared for return to the customer.
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates a print cutter made in accordance with the principles of the present invention that can be used with the order finishing station of FIGURE 1.
  • a reel 30 is rotatably mounted on a hub 32 which is held above the print cutter by an arm 34.
  • the reel 30 contains a continuous web 36 of photographic prints that have been received from the developing process.
  • One end of the print web 36 is directed over a roller 40 held on a spring arm 42 which is swingably held on the hub 32.
  • After the print web 36 passes over the roller 40 it passes under a feed roller 44 which is driven by a motor and has a gripping surface formed on it to drive the print web into a loop forming chamber defined by a curved plate 46 mounted on the print cutter base 48.
  • the end of the print web is engaged by a first pair of web guide rollers 52 which are vertically oriented and are slotted to provide a channel for the print web.
  • a second pair of web guide rollers 54 identical to the first engages the print web and directs it towards a cutting knife 56.
  • the knife 56 is a guillotine-type knife which moves up and down on a reciprocating arm 58 driven by a pin 60 extending from the knife control pulley 62 which is belt driven by a motor 63.
  • the knife control pulley 62 is rotated to drive the knife up and down, cutting predetermined lengths of the web corresponding to individual photographic prints.
  • the print 36a is engaged in the nip of a pair of print drive rollers 64 and 66 respectively which carry it towards a print receiving tray 68, where the prints are stacked until the end of an order when they are removed from the tray 68 by the operator for placement into an envelope for return to the customer.
  • the print cutter has an automatic feed of the print web 36 through the loop chamber to form the loop and bring the end of the web 36 to the first pair web guide rollers 52. Once the operator places the web into engagement with the feed roller 44, the feed roller automatically continues to feed the web 36 around the loop plate 46.
  • a print sensor is provided which includes a photocell 70 and light source 72 operable to stop the drive motor. The position of the photocell 70 and the light source 72 are best seen in FIGURE 3. The photocell 70 is positioned below the path of the web 36 through the loop chamber and is directed in an upward angle less than vertical.
  • a hole in the bottom of the plate 46 permits the photocell 70 to detect light from the light source 72 located above the path of the print web 36 and to the side of the plate 46. Once the end of the web 36 passes between the light source 72 and the photocell 70, the photocell 70 sends a signal to a motor controller to stop the drive. A time delay is provided in line with the photosensor 70 and the motor controller so that once the leading end of the print web is detected, the motor will continue to drive for a predetermined period of time in order to carry the leading end to the first set of vertical web guide rollers 52.
  • a typical time delay found to provide sufficient range was found to be between 10 and 200 milliseconds and the exact time delay must be adjusted prior to using the print cutter to provide sufficient delay, depending upon the type of paper and size of prints being fed through the print cutter. At times, it is necessary for the operator to assist in placing the leading end of the print web 36 into contact with the vertical web guide drive rollers 52.
  • the first and second vertical web guide rollers 52 and 54 guide the web 36 to a pair of web drive rollers 74 and 76 that are driven separately from the feed roller 44 so that they continue to feed the print web through the cutter, even after the feed roller 44 has stopped.
  • the loop in the loop guide becomes smaller, as shown in the phantom lines in FIGURE 2, until it again uncovers the photocell 70.
  • a signal is sent to the motor controller and the feed roller is started up to drive more of the print web 36 from the reel 30 into the loop chamber to again assume the approximate shape of the solid line of FIGURE 2. Again, the time delay allows sufficient looping to occur and the exact time must be set by the operator prior to using the print cutter.
  • a bar code reader 78 is provided below the path of the print web 36 and scans the print web as it crosses the bar code reader to read a bar coded identification code affixed to the backside of the prints. This identification code is used to check on the match between the prints and the photographic negatives and envelopes that are passing through the order finishing station at the same time.
  • the roller 74 is a soft roller positioned above the path of the prints and is kept biased against the nondeformable roller 76 located below the print web to form a nip which grabs the print web and carries it through the cutter.
  • the nondeformable roller 76 is driven by a stepper motor 80 which is stepped a precise number of steps in order to maintain length control over the individual prints as they pass through the knife of the cutter.
  • the print cutter of the present invention includes a decurling means.
  • the decurling means consists of a decurling roller 80 that is located above the prints and is brought into contact with the prints to produce a reverse bend in conjunction with roller 82 positioned below the prints.
  • the position of the print in the reel 30, i.e., whether it is at the outer circumference or near the core of the reel, will determine the amount of curl inherently in the print. The more curl present in the print, the more reverse bend that must be applied in order to remove that curl.
  • the decurling roller 80 is linearly adjustable in a direction oblique to the print surface to produce a greater or lesser bend in the print.
  • Two possible positions of the decurling roller 80 are shown in solid line and dotted line in FIGURE 5. The adjustment of the roller 80 is accomplished manually by the operator moving it toward the dotted position if the print has not been decurled sufficiently and toward the solid line position if the print is being curled in the opposite direction.
  • FIGURE 4 shows the path of the print at the exit end of the print cutter.
  • a diverter bar 88 is swingably mounted on an arm 90 attached to a rotary solenoid 92 which is operable in conjunction with the detection of a makeover mark on the print to rotate the solenoid 92 and the arm 90, bringing the bar 88 into its lowered position, as viewed in FIGURE 5, so that prints passing through the feed rollers 84, 86 pass over the top of the bar 88.
  • the print rests at one end in the print tray 68 and the other end of the print rests on the top of the diverter bar 88.
  • the diverter bar 88 is raised back up into its upper position, as shown in FIGURE 4, the print is raised with it so that the next succeeding print will pass beneath the previous print.
  • the diverter bar 88 is lowered and the makeover print is carried on top of the diverter bar 88 so that at the end of the order, all of the makeover prints for that order are located above the good prints and can be easily separated by the operator.
  • the makeover mark can be sensed by any conventional means and the type of sensing used forms no part of the present invention.
  • a print cutter which separates individual prints from a continuous web of prints formed into a reel.
  • An automaic threader and feeder system is provided which includes a monitor to sense the leading end of the print web in order to control the automatic threading.
  • the same sensor that senses the leading end of the print web also senses loop size and maintains loop control over the print web as the prints are fed through the print cutter.
  • the print cutter provides accurate length control by utilizing a nondeformable feed roller driven by a stepper motor.
  • the nondeformable feed roller is used on the underside of the print while a deformable pressure roller is utilized on the image face of the print to form a roller nip with the nondeformable roller that feeds the prints to the print cutter knife.
  • the print cutter includes a decurling means which reverse bends the individual prints after they are cut to remove the curl inherent in the print due to its storage on a circular reel.
  • Makeover prints are separated from good prints by a diverter bar which lifts the makeover prints above the good prints as they are sensed by the cutter so that at the end of an order, all of the makeover prints are at the top of the print stack and all the good prints below them.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
  • Details Of Cutting Devices (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)
EP19870810488 1986-09-02 1987-08-27 Schneidegerät für photographische Bilder Expired EP0259263B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US90354486A 1986-09-02 1986-09-02
US903544 1986-09-02

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0259263A2 true EP0259263A2 (de) 1988-03-09
EP0259263A3 EP0259263A3 (en) 1988-08-24
EP0259263B1 EP0259263B1 (de) 1992-11-04

Family

ID=25417676

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19870810488 Expired EP0259263B1 (de) 1986-09-02 1987-08-27 Schneidegerät für photographische Bilder

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0259263B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS63125939A (de)
DE (1) DE3782475T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0703497A1 (de) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-27 Eastman Kodak Company Gerät zum Trennen eines Grundmehrfachbildblattes in diskrete, fertigbearbeitete Blätter mit einem einzigen Bild

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1452438A (en) * 1922-04-11 1923-04-17 Carl H Rise Device for straightening photographic prints
US2848107A (en) * 1954-04-08 1958-08-19 Eastman Kodak Co Film chopping and sorting apparatus
US3599521A (en) * 1969-06-25 1971-08-17 Alves Photo Service Inc Automatic film cutter
US4106716A (en) * 1977-09-29 1978-08-15 Pako Corporation Paper drive mechanism for automatic photographic paper cutter

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5551226B2 (de) * 1973-06-29 1980-12-23
DE2757848A1 (de) * 1977-12-23 1979-06-28 Agfa Gevaert Ag Vorrichtung zum sortieren von fotografischen bildern
JPS57109951A (en) * 1980-12-26 1982-07-08 Copal Co Ltd Loop detector of photographic printer
JPS5868735A (ja) * 1981-10-20 1983-04-23 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 写真焼付処理装置
JPS61295950A (ja) * 1985-06-21 1986-12-26 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd 自動現像機

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1452438A (en) * 1922-04-11 1923-04-17 Carl H Rise Device for straightening photographic prints
US2848107A (en) * 1954-04-08 1958-08-19 Eastman Kodak Co Film chopping and sorting apparatus
US3599521A (en) * 1969-06-25 1971-08-17 Alves Photo Service Inc Automatic film cutter
US4106716A (en) * 1977-09-29 1978-08-15 Pako Corporation Paper drive mechanism for automatic photographic paper cutter

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0703497A1 (de) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-27 Eastman Kodak Company Gerät zum Trennen eines Grundmehrfachbildblattes in diskrete, fertigbearbeitete Blätter mit einem einzigen Bild

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0259263A3 (en) 1988-08-24
JPS63125939A (ja) 1988-05-30
EP0259263B1 (de) 1992-11-04
DE3782475T2 (de) 1993-04-29
DE3782475D1 (de) 1992-12-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4943270A (en) Photographic print cutter
US5159385A (en) Total photofinishing laboratory system
EP0024342B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Überprüfung photographischer Abzüge
US5407081A (en) Stacker having a classifying bullet to shift delivered sheet
US4541317A (en) Machine for cutting documents
US4623081A (en) Burster apparatus for continuous forms
US5070677A (en) Automated photographic print bagger
EP0165514B1 (de) Maschine zum Handhaben von Einzahlungsbriefumschlägen
US5088405A (en) Printer with sheet feeding apparatus
EP0367879A1 (de) Photographischer Printer
EP0259263B1 (de) Schneidegerät für photographische Bilder
US3469482A (en) Machine for cutting strip material
EP0517661A1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Entfernung von Papierabfällen von einem kontinuierlichen Band photographicher Abzüge
US5722653A (en) Single-sheet feeder
US4974394A (en) Cutting and sorting apparatus
US5126785A (en) Method of and apparatus for cutting developed film
US20030097916A1 (en) Cutter system for multi size photographic prints
EP0107936A1 (de) Klebegerät für fotografisches Material
JP3189578B2 (ja) フィルム巻取ユニット
US4886352A (en) Device for conveying photographic paper for use in photograph printing apparatus
US3823317A (en) Thermocopying apparatus
US4754308A (en) Photograph printing apparatus
EP0814371B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Zuführung von Filmpatronen in einem photographischen Kopiergerät
JPH0643622A (ja) 写真照合袋詰め装置
JP2604889B2 (ja) 写真作成装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19870827

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910207

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3782475

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19921210

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: GRETAG IMAGING INC.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PUE

Owner name: GRETAG IMAGING INC.

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19990713

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19990719

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990722

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19990722

Year of fee payment: 13

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000827

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000831

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20000827

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010430

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050827