Color enlarger system

Claim 3

In combination: a. A color compensator for correcting color imbalance in the printing light passed, in turn, through a color negative and along a path to a projection lens for projection therefrom including a plurality of color-compensating filters of different colors, and electrically actuatable filter-supporting means supporting each filter for movement from inoperative positions to and from a common aligned operative position, b. a set of light-sampling filters respectively corresponding in color to those of said color-compensating light filters and photocell means adjacent to said light-sampling filters for receiving light passed through said light-sampling filters, c. an electronic control unit electrically connected with said color compensator and photocell means for moving said color compensating filters to said common position to automatically adjust the color balance of such printing light when said printing light is passed through said compensating filters at said common position, d. a flexible elongated wire-like light carrier for conducting the printing light when directed against one terminal end therethrough to the opposite terminal end for discharge from said opposite end in a direction longitudinally of said carrier and outwardly thereof, and means for supporting said one terminal end in a position facing such negative to receive printing light direct from said negative, and e. means for supporting said opposite terminal end in a position facing said sampling filters for discharge of light conducted through said carrier on said sampling filters for passage therethrough onto said photocell means.

Claim 4

In combination: a. A color compensator for correcting color imbalance in the printing light passed, in turn, through a color negative and along a path to a projection lens for projection therefrom including a plurality of color-compensating filters of different colors, and electrically actuatable filter-supporting means supporting each filter for movement from inoperative positions to and from a common aligned operative position, b. a set of light-sampling filters respectively corresponding in color to those of said color-compensating light filters and photocell means adjacent to said light-sampling filters for receiving light passed through said light-sampling filters, c. an electronic control unit electrically connected with said color compensator and photocell means for moving said color compensating filters to said common position to automatically adjust the color balance of such printing light when said printing light is passed through said compensating filters at said common position, d. a flexible elongated wire-like light carrier for conducting the printing light when directed against one terminal end therethrough to the opposite terminal end for discharge from said opposite end in a direction longitudinally of said carrier and outwardly thereof, and means for supporting said one terminal end in a position facing such negative to receive printing light direct from said negative, and e. means for supporting said opposite terminal end in a position facing said sampling filters for discharge of light conducted through said carrier on said sampling filters for passage therethrough onto said photocell means.

Claim 5

In a combination as defined in claim 2; f. said means for supporting said one terminal end comprising a lens panel having an aperture for supporting such projection lens therein on a photoenlarger that includes a negative holder for supporting a color negative in spaced opposed relation to one side of said panel, g. said one terminal end of said carrier being supported on said panel at said one side of said panel directly facing said negative holder and adjacent to said aperture for receiving light transmitted through a color negative on such negative holder directly therefrom, and h. means supporting said color compensator on the opposite side of said panel independently of and spaced from said sampling filters.

Claim 6

In combination with an enlarger for making enlarged photo prints from a negative, which enlarger includes a source of printing light, light-projecting lens spaced from said source for projecting said printing light along a path to printing paper, walls defining the sides of an enclosed passageway for light between said source and said lens, an end wall supporting said lens at one end of said passageway, and a negative holder intermediate said source and said lens for supporting a color film in a position extending across said passageway with a space between said negative and said lens: a. a color compensator for correcting color imbalance in the printing light projected from said lens including a plurality of color compensating filters of different colors and electrically actuatable filter supporting means supported on said enlarger outwardly of said end wall relative to said space for movement to and from inoperative positions at one side of said path to operative positions extending across said path, b. a set of light-sampling filters corresponding in color to said compensating filters and photocell means adjacent to said light-sampling filters for receiving light passed through said light-sampling filters onto said photocell means, c. an electronic control unit including said sampling filters and said photocell means spaced from and supported independently of said enlarger electrically cOnnected with said color compensator and photocell means for moving said compensating filters from said inoperative positions to said operative positions to automatically rectify said color imbalance of said printing light according to the requirements of the negative on said negative holder upon light from said negative being directed through said sampling filters onto said photocell means, d. an elongated flexible wire-like light carrier extending from said enlarger to said sampling filters having one terminal light receiving end positioned within said space in said passageway spaced from and directed toward said negative holder for receiving light directly from said source after passage thereof through said negative, and the opposite end of said carrier extending to said light-sampling filters and directed toward said sampling filters for discharging the light carried from within said space through said sampling filters and onto said photocell means, whereby the position of said control unit and said enlarger relative to each other may be varied within the limits of the flexibility of said light carrier and the electrical connection between said color compensator and photocell means, without effecting the operation of said color compensator and said control means, e. means on said end wall for supporting said light receiving end facing into said space in a position closely adjacent to said lens, and f. means for supporting said color compensator on said end wall in fixed relation relative to said lens, whereby said color compensating filters will remain in the same position relative to said lens during movement of said lens to different positions.

Claim 7

In combination with an enlarger for making enlarged photo prints from a negative, which enlarger includes a source of printing light, light-projecting lens spaced from said source for projecting said printing light along a path to printing paper, walls defining the sides of an enclosed passageway for light between said source and said lens, an end wall supporting said lens at one end of said passageway, and a negative holder intermediate said source and said lens for supporting a color film in a position extending across said passageway with a space between said negative and said lens: a. a color compensator for correcting color imbalance in the printing light projected from said lens including a plurality of color compensating filters of different colors and electrically actuatable filter supporting means supported on said enlarger outwardly of said end wall relative to said space for movement to and from inoperative positions at one side of said path to operative positions extending across said path, b. a set of light-sampling filters corresponding in color to said compensating filters and photocell means adjacent to said light-sampling filters for receiving light passed through said light-sampling filters onto said photocell means, c. an electronic control unit including said sampling filters and said photocell means spaced from and supported independently of said enlarger electrically cOnnected with said color compensator and photocell means for moving said compensating filters from said inoperative positions to said operative positions to automatically rectify said color imbalance of said printing light according to the requirements of the negative on said negative holder upon light from said negative being directed through said sampling filters onto said photocell means, d. an elongated flexible wire-like light carrier extending from said enlarger to said sampling filters having one terminal light receiving end positioned within said space in said passageway spaced from and directed toward said negative holder for receiving light directly from said source after passage thereof through said negative, and the opposite end of said carrier extending to said light-sampling filters and directed toward said sampling filters for discharging the light carried from within said space through said sampling filters and onto said photocell means, whereby the position of said control unit and said enlarger relative to each other may be varied within the limits of the flexibility of said light carrier and the electrical connection between said color compensator and photocell means, without effecting the operation of said color compensator and said control means, e. means on said end wall for supporting said light receiving end facing into said space in a position closely adjacent to said lens, and f. means for supporting said color compensator on said end wall in fixed relation relative to said lens, whereby said color compensating filters will remain in the same position relative to said lens during movement of said lens to different positions.