Web transport system particularly for high resolution photographic printing

Claim 2

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing a photographic transparency on copy film, said system comprising: a. first servo means engagingly connected to said photographic transparency for selective advancement thereof; b. second servo means engagingly connected to said copy film for selective advancement thereof; c. exposure means in registration with said photographic transparency and copy film for making an exposure; d. cushion means engagingly and disengagingly communicating with said photographic transparency and copy film, said copy film bearing against said photographic transparency when said cushion means is engaged; e. programming means electrically connected to said first servo means, second servo means, exposure means and cushion for selective control thereof, said first servo means advancing said photographic transparency in response to signals as at the output of said programming means, said second servo means advancing said copy film in response to signals as at the output of said programming means, said cushion pressing said photographic transparency and copy film against each other when said photographic transparency and copy film are advanced to a selected position, said exposure means making an exposure when said cushion means has been engaged; and f. chip identification means operatively connected to said programmer means for generating images representing an identification code, said images conveyed to said copy film for identification thereof.

Claim 3

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first servo means comprises a drive capstan, said drive capstan including: a. a stator having an axially extending cylindrical portion formed with a core, the other surface of said eXtending portion formed with an arcuate recess; b. a rotor having an extending cylindrical portion, said rotor portion extending coaxially and concentrically through said core; and c. a sleeve, formed with at least one port, affixed to said rotor portion, a longitudinal extending arcuate chamber being formed between said arcuate recess and sleeve, said port communicating with said chamber.

Claim 4

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first servo means comprises an idler capstan, said idler capstan including: a. a longitudinally extending cylindrical member formed with a core and an aperture, the outer surface of said member formed also with an arcuate recess; b. a plug affixed to said member, one end of said core being sealed by said plug and c. a sleeve, formed with at least one port, affixed to said member, a longitudinally extending arcuate chamber being formed between said arcuate recess and said sleeve; said core, aperture, chamber and port defining a continuous passageway.

Claim 5

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cushion means includes: a. a slidable platform; b. an air bag affixed to one facet of said platform; c. a shaft, one end of which is operatively connected to an opposite facet of said platform; d. a cam follower affixed to the other end of said shaft; e. a cam engagingly connected to said cam follower; and f. means for driving said cam, said air bag being urged into contiguity with said copy film when said driving means is engaged, said air bag being withdrawn out of contiguity with said copy film when said driving means is disengaged.

Claim 6

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system includes third servo means operatively connected to said second servo means for moving said second servo means with respect to said first servo means for positioning said copy film in registration with said photographic transparency.

Claim 7

The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exposure means includes: a. a support; b. an exposure platen affixed to said support; c. a lamp; d. means electrically connected to said lamp for energizing said lamp; e. a diffusing chamber formed with an aperture in register with said exposure platen, said chamber mounted to said support, said lamp being mounted within said chamber; and f. optical means formed with a plurality of openings and mounted to said support in register with said lamp and platen.

Claim 8

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing original negatives on copy film, said system comprising: a. a base; b. a lamp affixed to said base; c. an exposure platen affixed to said base in register with said lamp; responsive to signals as at the output of said sequence.

Claim 9

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing original negatives on copy film, said system comprising: a. a base; b. a lamp affixed to said base; c. an exposure platen affixed to said base in register with said lamp; responsive to signals as at the output of said sequence.

Claim 10

The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said system includes third servo means affixed to said base and operatively connected to said second servo means for for moving said second servo means with respect to said first servo means for positioning said copy film in registration with said photographic transparency.

Claim 11

The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cushion means includes: a. a slidable platform; b. an air bag affixed to one facet of said platform, said air bag being in register with said platen; and c. means for sliding said platform, said air bag being urged into and out of contiguity with said platen in response to the slidable movement of said platform, said copy film and negative being pressed against said platen when said sliding means is energized, said copy film and negative being out of contact with one another when said sliding means is de-energized.

Claim 12

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing original negatives on copy film, said system comprising: a. a base; b. a lamp affixed to said base; c. an exposure platen affixed to said base in register with said lamp; d. first servo means operatively connected to said base for advancing and positioning said negative with respect to said platen; e. second servo means operatively connected to said base for advancing and positioning said copy film with respect to said platen; f. cushion means operatively connected to said base for pressing said negative and copy film against said platen when energized, said negative and copy film being positioned between said platen and cushion means; g. vacuum means operatively connected to said negative and copy film, said vacuum means maintaining tension on the negative and copy film; h. sequencer means electrically communicating with said lamp, first and second servo means, cushion means and vacuum means for controlling the sequence of operation of the system; i. chip identification means for generating light images representing an identification code, said chip identification means being electrically connected to said sequencer; and j. a plurality of light pipes, one end of each of said light pipes optically communicating with said chip identification means, the other end of said light pipes being in register with said exposure platen, said light images being conveyed to said copy film via said light pipes; k. said cushion means being energized when the negative and copy film are positioned on said platen, said cushion means being deenergized when either said negative or copy are in motion, said cushion means being responsive to signals as at the output of said sequence.

Claim 13

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing original negatives on copy film, said system comprising: a. a base; b. a lamp affixed to said base; c. an exposure platen affixed to said base in register with said lamp; d. first servo means operatively connected to said base for advancing and positioning said negative with respect to said platen; e. second servo means operatively connected to said base for advancing and positioning said copy film with respect to said platen; f. cushion means operatively connected to said base for pressing said negative and copy film against said platen when energized, said negative and copy film being positioned between said platen and cushion means; g. vacuum means operatively connected to said negative and copy film, said vacuum means maintaining tension on the negative and copy film; h. sequencer means electrically communicating with said lamp, first and second servo means, cushion means and vacuum means for controlling the sequence of operation of the system; i. chip identification means for generating light images representing an identification code, said chip identification means being electrically connected to said sequencer; and j. a plurality of light pipes, one end of each of said light pipes optically communicating with said chip identification means, the other end of said light pipes being in register with said exposure platen, said light images being conveyed to said copy film via said light pipes; k. said cushion means being energized when the negative and copy film are positioned on said platen, said cushion means being deenergized when either said negative or copy are in motion, said cushion means being responsive to signals as at the output of said sequence.

Claim 14

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing a photographic transparency on copy film, said system comprising: a. an exposure platen; b. first servo means engagingly connected to said photographic transparency for selectively advancing said photographic transparency across said platen; c. second servo means engagingly connected to said copy film for selectively advancing said copy film across said platen; d. vacuum well means disposed on opposite sides of said platen means, said vacuum well means operating to provide a substantially constant tension on said photographic transparency and copy film, said photographic transparency and copy film disposed in a path in said vacuum well means, said path defining a dancer loop; e. bearing means engaging and disengaging said photographic transparency and copy film for bearing said photographic transparency and copy film against said platen; and f. exposure means in registration with said photographic transparency and copy film for making an exposure; and g. control means electrically connected to said first servo means, second servo means, bearing means and exposure means for control thereof.

Claim 15

A high resolution photographic printing system for reproducing a photographic transparency on copy film, said system comprising: a. an exposure platen; b. first servo means engagingly connected to said photographic transparency for selectively advancing said photographic transparency across said platen; c. second servo means engagingly connected to said copy film for selectively advancing said copy film across said platen; d. vacuum well means disposed on opposite sides of said platen means, said vacuum well means operating to provide a substantially constant tension on said photographic transparency and copy film, said photographic transparency and copy film disposed in a path in said vacuum well means, said path defining a dancer loop; e. bearing means engaging and disengaging said photographic transparency and copy film for bearing said photographic transparency and copy film against said platen; and f. exposure means in registration with said photographic transparency and copy film for making an exposure; and g. control means electrically connected to said first servo means, second servo means, bearing means and exposure means for control thereof.

Claim 16

The system as claimed in claim 11 including sensor means operatively connected to said vacuum well means for sensing the position of said photographic transparency and copy film in said vacuum means.