FR2732125A1 - Equipment for developing negatives and printing proofs continuously. - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment comprises a subassembly for developing negatives and printing proofs, an orifice for entering negatives to be developed (5), display screen and keyboard (3), credit card reader (6), coin receiver (7) and ticket distributor(8). The tabs of negatives for development are pulled out automatically after entry (5). A small drum (10) is interposed between the tab extraction unit (5) and the subassembly for development and printing. The drum (10) has concentric compartments for new negatives for sale (23), proofs after development and printing (22), negatives which have been developed (21), and cartridges awaiting processing (20). The drum is driven by a motor under the control of a microcomputer (12).

Description

INTEGRATED AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION TO PERFORM IN
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT OF NEGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHED FILMS Fr LE DRAWING Fr DEVELOPMENT
The invention relates to an automatic installation for developing negative photographic films and for printing and developing photographic prints from these negative films. More particularly, the invention relates to a storage store, set up at the level of such a designation.

French patent application 94.11344 describes
Applicant, an integrated installation of the type in question, capable of continuously and completely automatically developing photographic negative films, and printing and developing photographic prints obtained from the positioning of these negative films after development This installation is automatic insofar as the consumer directly introduces the reel or cartridge containing the negative film after exposure of all of the views within a camera at an introduction zone provided for this purpose and profiled according to the specific section of the coils, guided by the messages displayed on the screen of an interactive device, also indicating the price to be paid. Once the price paid, the entire operating process is started, consisting firstly, developing the negative film, secondly, exposing said negative film thus developed é on photosensitive paper, and finally thirdly, to develop the photosensitive paper thus exposed, until the prints thus produced and the corresponding developed negative film are obtained at a receptacle.

By the operation and structure of such an installation, and due to its extensive automation, it is possible for the consumer to obtain the print run of his photographic prints and oye, 24 hours a day, without requiring the use of a merchant or to a professional
However, the installation as described in this document does not propose a system for waiting for the coils to be developed of the random type. In other words, the coils introduced at the level of the installation introduction zone are processed in the order of their introduction, and are therefore not likely to be randomly selected. installation described comprises an on-line waiting system, in which the coils are developed one after the other in the order of introduction at the level of the insertion zone of said coils in the installation. In this way, it is not possible to ensure modularity in terms of the speed of processing of the coils which are entrusted to the installation. However, numerous market studies have shown that if so, some users wanted to obtain the development of their coils as quickly as possible, and were therefore ready to wait near the installation, others on the other hand, were quite in favor of entrusting their coils 24 hours at said installation, in order to obtain the corresponding drawings. Furthermore, this second solution allows the operation during off-peak hours.

 In this way, in addition to the larger storage possibilities, a waiting system of the random type was necessary.

 The object of the invention is to provide such a storage store, in particular of reels, in order to give the waiting system of this installation randomness.

This integrated automatic installation for continuous development of negative photographic films and the printing and development of photographic prints includes:
- an integrated soufrnsmble for developing negative films and for printing and developing photographic prints;
- a zone for introducing cartridges or reels of negative films to be developed;
a module for extracting the primer from the negative film from said cartridges which contain it;
a module for introducing the film thus extracted at the level of the negative film development unit of the integrated sub-assembly
It is characterized in that it further comprises a device for temporary and random storage of the cartridges provided with the negative film primer to be developed, mounted between the extraction module and the introduction module.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, this random storage device consists of a rotary barrel, provided on its peripheral with a plurality of housings, the profile of which is adapted to the profile of the cartridges, said housings being capable of being colineazes to the extraction module on the one hand, and to the introduction module on the other hand and this, not necessarily in a conomitant manner.

 In other words, the housings of the household storage device on a peripheral ring thereof and advantageously distributed at regular intervals are likely to be located in the extension of said extraction module so as to allow, under the action of a pusher member suitably positioned for this purpose, the translation of the cartridge provided with its primer at the level of said housings, then, in another place, under the action of another pusher member, the injection of said cartridge and its introduction at the level of the introduction module.

In fact, this storage device is rotated by means of a motor, in particular an electric motor, managed by the central unit of the integrated automatic installation. This motor can be a stepping motor or a DC motor
According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the barrel comprises a first intermediate ring, provided with a plurality of cylindrical housings, with an axis of revolution parallel to the axis of rotation of said barrel, and capable of receiving storage boxes negative films developed and wound on themselves, said housings being capable of being collinear with a device for removing negative films after development of those films, and therefore at the outlet of the development and exposure section of said films.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel also comprises a second intermediate ring, provided with a plurality of housings of substantially parallelepiped shape, oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the barrel, and intended to receive the photographs obtained after exposure of the negative film and after printing and development of the photosensitive paper exposed following the exposure of said films, the number of housings being equal to the number of housings of the boots for storing developed negative films.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel comprises an internal crown provided with cylindrical housings with an axis of revolution parallel to the axis of rotation of the barrel, and intended to receive reels of blank films, that is to say expose, likely to be ejected at the receptacle for receiving the negatives and the corresponding developed negative film, either at the consumer's request through the interactive device, or automatically when the desd is retrieved
According to the invention, each of the housing rings is associated with at least one pusher member, intended either to introduce into said housing the element that they are intended to receive, or to eject from them their content.

 The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages which ensue therefrom will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of indication and without limitation in support of the appended figures.

 Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the installation installation in accordance with the invention.

 Figure 2 is a schematic representation of Figure 1 viewed from the side.

 FIG. 1 represents an integrated automatic installation according to the invention. This generally takes the form of an interactive station (i), comprising a console (2) provided with a screen (3) and interactive keys (not shown). This screen (3) is intended to promote interactive dialogue between the user and the installation.

 The various messages which appear there are managed by the central unit, typically constituted by a microcomputer (12) or by an electronic card integrated within the installation, and are capable of being transmitted in several languages.

This installation is provided with a payment device for example
consisting of a credit card or bank card reader (6), a
coin changer or billebeur (7), which, connected to said central unit (12), allows
to trigger the operating process. In the event that the installation includes a bank card reader (6), it is also provided with a modem putting the link with the bank establishments
The installation also includes a magnetic coded ticket dispenser, the slot of which is shown (8). A tichet is thus delivered to each of the consumers at the start of the operating process, that is to say after introduction by said consumer of a cartridge or reel to be developed at the insertion orifice and payment of the corresponding price This ticket, when reintroduced into the slot (8), makes it possible to recover the negative film developed and the corresponding photographic prints at a receptacle (4), located on the main lateral face of the installation.

 Finally, this installation also includes a distributor of pockets or cases (5), capable of also delivering to the coordinator when he retrieves his pictures, a pocket in which he can insert them.

The integrated automatic installation has been extensively described in French patent application No. 94.11344 of the Applicant already mentioned above, so that there is no need to go back in more detail on the different elements and organs which make up
However, it should be recalled briefly that this installation has on its main lateral face (5) an orifice for introducing cartridges or reels of films to be developed, in the extension of which is located a module for extracting said film from the caroudia.
This module is intended to extract from the film a film primer, typically 18 mm in length. This primer is necessary to pull the film completely out of the cartridge at a module for introducing said film during the development phase of it
In the document mentioned above, said cartridge provided with their primer are then linearly translated until said module for introducing the negative film at a negative film development unit integrated in a negative film development subnssnble and In fact, we represented by (14) the negative film introduction module, by (15) said integrated souseble, by (16) and (17) all the trays of chemical treatment of development of the negative film and of the photosensitive insulated paper, and by (9) the cartridges of photo sensitive paper before their exposure.

 According to a fundamental characteristic of the invention, there is interposed between the extraction module and the introduction module (14) of the negative film a member for temporary and random storage of the cartridges provided with their primer. This member consists of a barrel (10) capable of being rotated about an axis (24) and this, by means of a motor, in particular electric, whose operation is managed by the central unit ( 12).

 According to the invention, this barrel (10) comprises a peripheral crown (20) provided with substantially cylindrical housings, regularly distributed and intended each to receive a cartridge provided with the primer of the negative film to be developed. The axis of revolution of said housings is parallel to the axis of rotation (24) of the barrel (10). The profile of said housings (20) corresponds sensililely to the profile of said cartridges, and in particular has a section corresponding to that of cartridges of traditional photographic negative films according to the conventional 24 x 36 format, namely of substantially circular cross section provided with a corresponding projection to the slit for extracting the film from said cartridge. In fact, the barrel (10) is thus mounted in such a way that in one place of the peripheral crown (20) comprise said housings, one of these housings is located in the exact extension of the film extraction module out of the cartridge (not shown) to allow, under the action of a conventional type push member (not shown), the translation of the cartridge module extraction in the housing located exactly opposite and in the extension of the extraction module. In addition, the installation includes another push member (also not shown), intended ensuring the ion of the cartridge provided with the film primer from one of the housings of the peripheral crown (20) at the level of the module for introducing (14) the negative film into the negative film development unit.

 As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the barrel (10> also includes a first intermediate ring (21), also comprising a plurality of cylindrical housings regularly distributed, whose axis of revolution is parallel to the axis of rotation (24) of said barrel. These housings are intended to receive empty boots, within which the negative films are stored after development and after winding of them on themselves, by means of an arrangement retractor (11), as described in the Applicant's prior document To this end, said housings are capable of being positioned in the exact extension of said retractor device so as to allow introduction by a pusher member (not shown) negative film wound on itself in said drinks.

 Furthermore, the installation includes another push member intended to put the ion of the boot filled with the negative film at a drop (25) of reception, when the user wishes to recover the negative film and the corresponding prints. , said chute opening at the reoeptade (4) from to mentioned.

according to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel (10) comprises a second intermediate ring (22), comprising a plurality of housings of substantially paralldipiped shape and 'extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation (24) of the barrel ( 10), as can be seen in Figures 1 and
In the present case, the number of radial housings of the second intermediate ring (22) and the number of cylindrical housings of the first intermediate ring (21) is identical, since this second intermediate ring (22) is intended to receive the photographs deleted from the exposure of the negative films stored subsequently in the empty boots of the housings of said first intermediate ring (21). In fact, when the photographs are taken, they are introduced at the level of the radial housing corresponding to the housing of the first intermediate crown having received the negative film developed
To do this, said barrel undergoes a rotation so as to come to be positioned opposite the output area of the pictures of the innate unit (15) and this, automatically by the management carried out by the central unit (12) . By cutters, the radial housing intended to receive the stereotypes and the cylindrical housing intended to receive the corresponding developed negative film, are located substantially in the extension of one another, so as to allow, during the recovery phase of the set of negatives + negative film developed, their simultaneous positioning at the level of the reception chute (25).

 In the same way as previously, another push member allows when the user wishes to recover these dichés and therefore after introduction of the encoded ticket at the device (8), to slide said clichés at the level of the chute (25) simultaneously with the negative contained in the corresponding housing of the first intermediate ring (21).

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the barrel (10) comprises an internal ring (23) comprising a certain number of cylindrical housings of axes of revolution parallel to the axis of rotation (24) of the barrel, and intended to receive blank film cartridges, ie intended to be exposed. The installation comprises a pusher member permitting the ejection of a blank cartridge at the level of the chute (25) when the user collects his photographs and the corresponding developed negative film, and this is automatically, the price of said blank cartridge being then integrated into the development pnx, or at its request, the pnx to be paid then being differentiated.

 The barrel (10) in its optimal version, therefore consists of four concentric rings of housings. Each of the housings is sized as a function of the element which it is capable of receiving, and is optionally provided with a retaining member, in particular for the intermediate pillar (21), intended to receive the boxes for receiving the negative films developed.

It is therefore conceivable the simplification of the operation of the installation thus making it possible to rationalize the storage members at the level of a single barrel containing a plurality of concentric rings. The management of the positioning of the barrel with regard either to the introduction modules or to the extraction module, or to the various pushing members for the introduction or the section of the elements that the housings of said crowns are intended to receive is provided directly by the central unit (12). However, it is also conceivable that this management is also carried out by means of detoendepresencL
Due to the large number of housings that are likely to contain each of the rings of said barrel, in particular 60 housings per crown, the operating capacity of the installation is increased in the absence of any maintenance, thereby reducing the periodicity of intervention of maintenance staff During the maintenance phases, in addition to the traditional control, the staff in charge of this maintenance fills the first intermediate ring with empty boxes and the internal ring (23) with blank film cartridges
In addition, by using a random storage device, the user is able to choose between instant development or delayed development of his negative film, through interactive dialogue with the screen. (3) and the keys associated with it. It is therefore possible to offer consumers various operating modes, and therefore differentiated pricing depending in particular on the speed of the service provided.

Claims (7)

 1 / Integrated automatic installation for continuous development of photographic negative films and the printing and development of photographic prints including:  - an integrated sousensssnMe (15, 16, 17) for developing negative films and for printing and developing photographic prints,  - a zone for introducing cartridges or reels of negative films to be developed;  a module for extracting the primer from the negative film from said cartridges which contain it;  - an introduction module (14) of the film thus extracted at the level of the negative film development unit of the integrated subwnble; characterized in that it further comprises a temporary and random storage device (10) of the cartridges provided with the primer of nif film to be developed, mounted between the extraction module and the introduction module (14).  2 / Integrated automatic installation according to claim 1, in that the temporary and random storage device (10) consists of a rotary barrel, provided at its periphery with an opening (20) comprising a plurality of housings, including the profile is adapted to the profile of the cartridges, said housings being capable of being collinear with the extraction module on the one hand, and with the introduction module (14) on the other hand, so as to allow the transfer of the cartridges provided with their primer at said housings, and said housings at the introduction module (14).  3 / integrated automatic installation according to claim 2, caradized in that the barrel (10) is rotated by means of a motor managed by the central unit (12) of rinstallatioz  4 / ine automatic installation according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the barrel (10) comprises a first intermediate ring (21), concentric with the peripherical ring (20), and provided with a plurality of housings cylindrical with an axis of revolution parallel to the axis of rotation Q4) of said barrel, and susctib'oe to receive boxes for storing negative films developed and wound on themselves, said housings being susceptible on the one hand to be collinear with a device for winding negative films after development thereof, and located at the outlet of the development and exposure section of said films from the integrated sub-assembly (15, 16, 17) for developing negative films and printing and development of photographic prints, and on the other hand, following the rotation of the barrel (10), to position itself directly above a reception chute (25) intended to convey said boxes at the level of u n acceptance receipt (4).  5 / integrated automatic installation according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the barrel (10) also comprises a second intermediate ring (22), concentric with the peripheral ring (20), and provided with a plurality of housings of substantially parallelepipedal shape, oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation (24) of the barrel (10), and intended to receive the photographs obtained after exposure of the negative film and after printing and development of the photosensitive paper exposed following the exposure of said films, the number of housings being equal to the number of housings of the negative film storage boots developed from said first intermediate ring (21), said housings, following the rotation of the barrel (10), being capable of being positioned at plumb with a reception chute (25) intended to convey said boxes at a recovery receptacle (4).  6 / Integrated automatic installation according to one of claims 2 to 5, caractensec in that the barrel (10) comprises an internal ring (23), concentric with the peripheral ring (20), and provided with cylindrical housings with axis of revolution parallel to the axis of rotation (24) of the barrel (10), and intended to receive reels or cartridges of blank negative film, that is to say to expose, capable of being ejected at the level of the reception chute (4) photographs and the corresponding developed negative film, either at the request of the consumer, or automatically during the recovery of said photographs.  7 / Integrated automatic installation according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that each of the crowns (20, 21, 22, 23) of the barrel (10) is associated with at least one pusher member, intended either to introduce in said housings the element that they are intended to receive, or to eject from them their content.