Photographic printing apparatus having variable length print paper

Claim 2

Photographic printing apparatus for printing a series of patterns of prints, said apparatus comprising: a cabinet; a film carrier on said cabinet for positioning film; printing paper support means for positioning a supply of printing paper; light means for projecting a beam of light along an optical axis through said film and onto said printing paper; first means for selective positioning in said optical axis to project a first pattern of exposure light onto a first area of said printing paper to print a first pattern of prints occupying a first length of said printing paper; second means for selective positioning in said optical axis to project a second pattern of light onto a second area of printing paper to print a second pattern of prints occupying a second length of said printing paper; printing paper advance means connected with said light means, printing paper support and said first and second means, said advance means being operative to advance said printing paper said first and second lengths of printing paper; and control means connected with said advance means and responsive to said first means moving into said optical axis and actuation of said light means to actuate said advance means to automatically advance said printing paper said first length and to said second means being moved into said axis and actuation of said light means to actuate said advance means to advance said printing paper said second length.

Claim 3

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second paper length is a predetermined distance shorter than said first paper length and wherein: said second means includes a first mask mounted from said cabinet on one side of said optical axis for movement a first distance into said optical axis for blocking light projection onto said predetermined distance of said print paper and said apparatus includes: mask control means responsive to movement of said second means into said optical axis to move said mask said first distance into said optical axis.

Claim 4

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes: first and second counter units connected with said light means and said respective first and second means and including respective first and second selector means for selecting different numbers of said first and second patterns of prints; and said control means is connected with said counter units and is said printing paper advance and responsive to a selection of a sequence of a pair of said first patterns of prints and to printing of the first of said pair of first patterns to advance said printing paper said first length for printing of the second of said pairs of first patterns and responsive to a selection of a sequence of said first pattern and a second pattern of prints and to printing of said first pattern of said sequence to advance said paper a third length for printing thereon of said second pattern of said sequence.

Claim 5

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first and second means includes respective first and second lens sets and a movable lens mount mounting said lens sets for selected movement into said optical axis.

Claim 6

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first means includes lens means for projecting a plurality of images onto said print paper; and said second means includes a mask for movement into said optical axis to block projection of certain ones of said images onto said print paper.

Claim 7

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 that includes: third means for selective positioning in said optical axis to project a third pattern of light onto said print paper for printing a third pattern of pictures on a third length of print paper which is a selected distance shorter than said first length; and said control means is responsive to selection of said third means being moved into said optical axis to move said first mask a second distance into said optical axis for blocking light projection onto said selected distance.

Claim 8

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 that includes: third means for selective positioning in said optical axis to project a third pattern of light onto said print paper for printing a third pattern of pictures on a third length of print paper which is a selected distance shorter than said first length; a second mask mounted on the side of said optical axis opposite said one side for movement a second distance into said optical axis for blocking light projection to a length of said printing paper which is sufficient when added to said predetermined distance to equal said selected distance; and said mask control means is responsive to movement of said third means into said optical axis to move said first mask said first distance and said second mask said second distance.

Claim 9

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 that includes: third means for movement into said optical axis to project a third pattern of images onto a fourth length of said printing paper to print a third pattern of prints on said printing paper; a third counter unit connected with said light means and said control means and including selector means for selecting different numbers of third patterns of prints; and said control means is connected with said third counter unit and said printing paper advance and is responsive to selection of a sequence of first and third patterns of prints to move a selected length of print paper into said optical axis for printing of said third pattern and to selection of a sequence of second and third patterns of prints to move a different length of print paper into said optical axis.

Claim 10

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: said control means is responsive to selection of a sequence of two of said second patterns of prints to move said second length of printing paper into said optical axis for printing of the second of said second patterns.

Claim 11

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein: said control means is responsive to selection of a sequence of a second pattern and then a first pattern of prints to move a fourth length of print paper into said optical axis.

Claim 12

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes: third means for selective positioning in said optical axis to project a pattern of images onto a third area of said printing paper to print a third pattern of prints occupying a third length of said print paper; package selection means for selecting a selected combination of said first, second and third means for consecutive dispositioN in said optical axis and wherein; said film carrier includes means for positioning a strip of film including a first and second negative and said apparatus includes; film advance means for retaining said first film negative in said optical axis while the selected combination of said first, second and third patterns of prints are printed and for then advancing said film strip to dispose said second negative in said optical axis; and logic means responsive to selection of said first and second pattern of prints and printing of said second pattern of prints for said first negative to advance a selected length of paper to provide a length of unexposed printing paper of said first length in said optical axis for printing of a first pattern of prints from said second negative and responsive to selection of said first and third pattern of prints and printing of said first pattern of prints for said first negative to advance a selected length of paper to provide a length of unexposed print paper of said first length for printing a first pattern of prints from said second negative.

Claim 13

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said logic means includes electrical circuitry including switch means responsive to selection of a combination of said first and second patterns of prints and printing of said second pattern of prints to set up a first circuit path to said paper advance means and responsive to selection of a combination of said first and third patterns of prints and printing of said third pattern of prints to set up a second circuit path to said paper advance means.

Claim 14

Photographic printing apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein: said logic means includes means responsive to selection of a combination of said first and third patterns of prints and to printing of said third patterns of prints to advance a desired length of paper to provide a length of said printing paper of said first length for printing of said first pattern of prints from said second negative.