GB2103812A

GB2103812A - Conveying photosensitive material

Info

Publication number: GB2103812A
Application number: GB08123614A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roberto Marson; Luciano Valentinuzzi; Edoardo Facchini
Original assignee: FOTOMEC SAN MARCO SpA
Current assignee: FOTOMEC SAN MARCO SpA
Priority date: 1981-08-01
Filing date: 1981-08-01
Publication date: 1983-02-23
Also published as: GB2103812B

Abstract

Exposed photosensitive material is withdrawn from an exposure zone in a direction at right angles to that at which the material is fed to the zone. As shown, a web of photosensitive material is fed from a roll 13, past a cutter 15, to an exposure station comprising a plate having suction apertures 24; and the exposed material is conveyed, after cutting, by means of an arm 17 driven by an endless chain 20 to take-up rollers (21, Fig. 2) leading to a development station. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Photographic paper feed and cutting unit for printing-developing machines This invention relates to an advantageous photographic paper feed and cutting unit particularly suitable for printing-developing machines.

Such feed and cutting units are essentially constituted, in the known art, by means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form over an exposure surface for the paper, means for cutting the exposed strip portion to the required format, and means for removing the copy obtained by cutting and conveying it into the developing unit. After cutting, the copy normally continues its journey towards the developing unit in the direction in which the paper strip to be exposed is fed towards the exposure surface. If the format is rectangular, as is normally the case, the copy travels in the direction of its major side.

It would however be advantageous for the copy to travel in the direction of its minor side because in this manner it would be possible to convey a greater number of copies in the same time period over a path of equal length, thus increasing its production rate.

The object of the present invention is to propose a photographic paper feed and cutting unit which enables the paper strip to be exposed to be fed in a certain direction, and the exposed and cut copy to be removed and conveyed towards the developing unit in a direction orthogonal to said feed direction.

The object is attained by a photographic paper feed and cutting unit for printing-developing machines, characterised by being constituted by means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form over a paper exposure surface, means for cutting the exposed strip portion, and means for removing said portion and conveying it into the developing unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the strip is conveyed over said exposure surface.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description given hereinafter of one embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a feed and cutting unit according to the invention operating in a printing-developing machine; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the unit of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the unit of Figure 1.

As stated heretofore, the feed and cutting unit according to the invention is shown operating in a printing-developing machine constituted by a printing unit 10 and a unit 11 for developing the copy exposed in the printing unit 10, and which is operationally coupled to said printing unit 10.The feed and cutting unit is substantially constituted by: means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form (not shown as they are of normal type) which convey the strip 12 of sensitive paper to be exposed from a container 13 for said strip 12 wound on a spool to-an exposure surface 14 for said strip; means for cutting the exposed strip portion to the required format constituted by a blade 1 5 operated by mechanisms, not shown as they are of known type; and means for removing the exposed and cut copy 1 6 and conveying it into the developing unit, and constituted by an arm 1 7 which translates along a guide 18 in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the strip 1 2 is conveyed over the surface 14 and is operated by an element 1 9 which joins said arm 1 7 to an endless chain 20 driven in known manner in order to move the element 19 with reciprocating motion, said removal and conveying means also comprising rollers 211driven in known manner to convey the exposed copy 16 expelled by the arm 17 in the developing unit 11.

During operation, the strip 12 is conveyed by the conveying means over the exposure surface 14 until that portion of the strip to be exposed has reached the position required by the operator.

Said strip portion adheres firmly to the exposure surface 14 by the suction action of a sucker 23 through bores 24. At this point, the strip portion is exposed to the image of the negative original 22 which is projected on to the exposure surface 14 by a iight source 25 and two light deflection mirrors 26. When exposed, the strip portion is cut by the blade 15, and the copy 16 thus obtained is urged by the arm 17 towards the rollers 21 which grip it and move it into the developing unit 11 where it undergoes development (the end-ofstroke position of the arm 1 7 and copy 1 6 is indicated in Figure 2 by a dashed and dotted line).

When the rollers 21 grip the copy 16, the arm 17 returns to its original position ready for removing a further copy. Containers of photographic paper in strip form of different format can obviously be loaded into the printing unit 10, and likewise the cutting of the strip 12 can be adjusted according to the format required by the operator.

Modifications and additions can be made to the embodiment described by way of example.

The form and type of components of the feed and cutting unit can be different from those heretofore described. In particular, the drive system for the arm can be constructed using devices in which the drive chain does not move with reciprocating motion but with continuous motion.

Claims

1. A photographic paper feed and cutting unit for printing-developing machines, characterised by being constituted by means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form over a paper exposure surface, means for cutting the exposed strip portion, and means for removing said portion and conveying it into the developing unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the strip is conveyed over said exposure surface.

2. A feed and cutting unit as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said removal means are

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Photographic paper feed and cutting unit for printing-developing machines This invention relates to an advantageous photographic paper feed and cutting unit particularly suitable for printing-developing machines. Such feed and cutting units are essentially constituted, in the known art, by means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form over an exposure surface for the paper, means for cutting the exposed strip portion to the required format, and means for removing the copy obtained by cutting and conveying it into the developing unit. After cutting, the copy normally continues its journey towards the developing unit in the direction in which the paper strip to be exposed is fed towards the exposure surface. If the format is rectangular, as is normally the case, the copy travels in the direction of its major side. It would however be advantageous for the copy to travel in the direction of its minor side because in this manner it would be possible to convey a greater number of copies in the same time period over a path of equal length, thus increasing its production rate. The object of the present invention is to propose a photographic paper feed and cutting unit which enables the paper strip to be exposed to be fed in a certain direction, and the exposed and cut copy to be removed and conveyed towards the developing unit in a direction orthogonal to said feed direction. The object is attained by a photographic paper feed and cutting unit for printing-developing machines, characterised by being constituted by means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form over a paper exposure surface, means for cutting the exposed strip portion, and means for removing said portion and conveying it into the developing unit in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the strip is conveyed over said exposure surface. The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description given hereinafter of one embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a feed and cutting unit according to the invention operating in a printing-developing machine; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the unit of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the unit of Figure 1. As stated heretofore, the feed and cutting unit according to the invention is shown operating in a printing-developing machine constituted by a printing unit 10 and a unit 11 for developing the copy exposed in the printing unit 10, and which is operationally coupled to said printing unit 10.The feed and cutting unit is substantially constituted by: means for conveying the photographic paper in strip form (not shown as they are of normal type) which convey the strip 12 of sensitive paper to be exposed from a container 13 for said strip 12 wound on a spool to-an exposure surface 14 for said strip; means for cutting the exposed strip portion to the required format constituted by a blade 1 5 operated by mechanisms, not shown as they are of known type; and means for removing the exposed and cut copy 1 6 and conveying it into the developing unit, and constituted by an arm 1 7 which translates along a guide 18 in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the strip 1 2 is conveyed over the surface 14 and is operated by an element 1 9 which joins said arm 1 7 to an endless chain 20 driven in known manner in order to move the element 19 with reciprocating motion, said removal and conveying means also comprising rollers 211driven in known manner to convey the exposed copy 16 expelled by the arm 17 in the developing unit 11. During operation, the strip 12 is conveyed by the conveying means over the exposure surface 14 until that portion of the strip to be exposed has reached the position required by the operator. Said strip portion adheres firmly to the exposure surface 14 by the suction action of a sucker 23 through bores 24. At this point, the strip portion is exposed to the image of the negative original 22 which is projected on to the exposure surface 14 by a iight source 25 and two light deflection mirrors 26. When exposed, the strip portion is cut by the blade 15, and the copy 16 thus obtained is urged by the arm 17 towards the rollers 21 which grip it and move it into the developing unit 11 where it undergoes development (the end-ofstroke position of the arm 1 7 and copy 1 6 is indicated in Figure 2 by a dashed and dotted line). When the rollers 21 grip the copy 16, the arm 17 returns to its original position ready for removing a further copy. Containers of photographic paper in strip form of different format can obviously be loaded into the printing unit 10, and likewise the cutting of the strip 12 can be adjusted according to the format required by the operator. Modifications and additions can be made to the embodiment described by way of example. The form and type of components of the feed and cutting unit can be different from those heretofore described. In particular, the drive system for the arm can be constructed using devices in which the drive chain does not move with reciprocating motion but with continuous motion. Claims

2. A feed and cutting unit as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said removal means are constituted essentially by an arm mobile with reciprocating motion along a guide operated by an endless driven chain.

3. A photographic paper feed and cutting unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.