Apparatus for advancing unprintable negatives through photographic printers

Claim 2

Apparatus for performing an operation relative to a section of an elongated medium located in an operating station, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting a first predetermined condition of each section of the medium and for generating a first signal in response to the detected first condition; b. means for detecting a second predetermined condition of each section of the medium and for generating a second signal in response to the detected second condition; c. means for repetitively advancing each section of the elongated medium to the operating station; d. means responsive to the advancement of each section to the operating station and to the generation of the first signal for performing the operation relative to the section of the elongated medium advanced to the operating station; e. means responsive to the advancement of each section of the elongated medium to the operating station and to the presence of the second signal for continuing the advancement of the section through the operating station; and f. means responsive to the advancement of all sections of said elongated medium through the operating station in the presence of the second signal for performing the operation relative to at least one section of the elongated medium.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated medium comprises a plurality of strips having leading, intermediate and trailing sections, wherein the strips are attached together at each end of the leading and trailing sections of adjacent strips, and wherein said means responsive to the advancement of the elongated medium in the presence of the second signal further comprises means responsive to the advancement of the leading and all intermediate sections of the strip through the operating station in the presence of the second signal for advancing the trailing section of the strip into the operating station and performing the operation relative to the trailing section of the strip.

Claim 4

means for detecting the attached trailing ends of successive photographic original filmstrips as the trailing original of a respective photographic original filmstrip is advanced to the exposure station and generating a fourth signal in response thereto;

Claim 5

means for detecting the attached trailing ends of successive photographic original filmstrips as the trailing original of a respective photographic original filmstrip is advanced to the exposure station and generating a fourth signal in response thereto;

Claim 6

means for detecting the attached trailing ends of successive photographic original filmstrips as the trailing original of a respective photographic original filmstrip is advanced to the exposure station and generating a fourth signal in response thereto;

Claim 7

means for detecting the attached trailing ends of successive photographic original filmstrips as the trailing original of a respective photographic original filmstrip is advanced to the exposure station and generating a fourth signal in response thereto;

Claim 8

means disposable in first and second states in response to the first and third signals, respectively; and

Claim 9

means disposable in first and second states in response to the first and third signals, respectively; and

Claim 10

means disposable in first and second states in response to the first and third signals, respectively; and

Claim 11

means disposable in first and second states in response to the first and third signals, respectively; and

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated medium comprises a plurality of strips having leading, intermediate and trailing sections, wherein the strips are attached together at each end of the leading and trailing sections of adjacent strips, and wherein said means responsive to the advancement of the elongated medium in the presence of the second signal further comprises: a. means for detecting the attached ends of the strips and generating third signals in response thereto; and b. means responsive to the advancement of the leading and all intermediate sections of the strip through the operating station in the presence of the second signal and responsive to the third signal for advancing the trailing section of the strip into the operating station and performing the operation relative to the trailing section of the strip.

Claim 13

Apparatus for printing at least one original of a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals that are unsuitable for printing by exposure to a source of radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. first means for detecting the radiation transmittance level of each photographic original and for generating an unprintable original signal in response to a predetermined radiation transmittance level that indicates that the original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print; and b. second means responsive to the unprintable original signal being generated by said first means with respect to every photographic original of the photographic original filmstrip for printing at least one photographic original unsuitable for producing an acceptable prinT.

Claim 14

Apparatus for printing at least one original of a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals that are unsuitable for printing by exposure to a source of radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. first means for detecting the radiation transmittance level of each photographic original and for generating an unprintable original signal in response to a predetermined radiation transmittance level that indicates that the original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print; and b. second means responsive to the unprintable original signal being generated by said first means with respect to every photographic original of the photographic original filmstrip for printing at least one photographic original unsuitable for producing an acceptable prinT.

Claim 15

means responsive to the fourth signal and the disposition of said second means in said second state for printing the trailing original advanced to the Exposure station.

Claim 16

means responsive to the fourth signal and the disposition of said second means in said second state for printing the trailing original advanced to the Exposure station.

Claim 17

means responsive to the fourth signal and the disposition of said second means in said second state for printing the trailing original advanced to the exposure station.

Claim 18

means responsive to the fourth signal and the disposition of said second means in said second state for printing the trailing original advanced to the exposure station.

Claim 19

In a photographic printer, wherein each original of the photographic original filmstrip may be printed in an exposure station of the printer, apparatus for printing at least one original in a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting printable originals of a photographic original filmstrip that are suitable for producing an acceptable print and printing the detected printable originals in the exposure station of the printer; b. means for detecting originals of a photographic original filmstrip that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for preventing the printing of the detected unsuitable originals in the exposure station of the printer; and c. means responsive to the absence of a printable original in a photographic original filmstrip for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print.

Claim 20

In a photographic printer, wherein each original of the photographic original filmstrip may be printed in an exposure station of the printer, apparatus for printing at least one original in a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting printable originals of a photographic original filmstrip that are suitable for producing an acceptable print and printing the detected printable originals in the exposure station of the printer; b. means for detecting originals of a photographic original filmstrip that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for preventing the printing of the detected unsuitable originals in the exposure station of the printer; and c. means responsive to the absence of a printable original in a photographic original filmstrip for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print.

Claim 21

In a photographic printer, wherein developed photographic original filmstrips are attached together at leading and trailing ends thereof and each original of the photographic original filmstrips may be successively printed on photosensitive print material in the exposure station of the printer, apparatus for printing at least one original in a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals detected as unsuitable for producing an acceptable print, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting a first condition of each original indicating that such original is suitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a first signal in response to the detected first condition; b. means for detecting a second condition of each original indicating that such original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a second signal in response to the detected second condition; c. means for successively advancing each original of the photographic original filmstrips to the exposure station of the printer; d. means responsive to the advancement of each original to the exposure station and to the generation of the first signal with respect to the advanced original for printing the advanced original; e. means responsive to the advancement of each original to the exposure station and to the generation of the second signal with respect to the advanced original for preventing the printing of the original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for activating said advancing means; and f. means responsive to the advancement of every original in a photographic original filmstrip through the exposure station of the printer in the absence of the first signal for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print.

Claim 22

In a photographic printer, wherein developed photographic original filmstrips are attached together at leading and trailing ends thereof and each original of the photographic original filmstrips may be successively printed on photosensitive print material in the exposure station of the printer, apparatus for printing at least one original in a photographic original filmstrip comprising originals detected as unsuitable for producing an acceptable print, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting a first condition of each original indicating that such original is suitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a first signal in response to the detected first condition; b. means for detecting a second condition of each original indicating that such original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a second signal in response to the detected second condition; c. means for successively advancing each original of the photographic original filmstrips to the exposure station of the printer; d. means responsive to the advancement of each original to the exposure station and to the generation of the first signal with respect to the advanced original for printing the advanced original; e. means responsive to the advancement of each original to the exposure station and to the generation of the second signal with respect to the advanced original for preventing the printing of the original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for activating said advancing means; and f. means responsive to the advancement of every original in a photographic original filmstrip through the exposure station of the printer in the absence of the first signal for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. the originals that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print comprise over-exposed or fogged or under-exposed or blank photographic originals; b. the photographic original filmstrips comprise leading, intermediate and trailing originals; and c. said means for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable pring further comprises:

Claim 24

In a photographic printer, wherein developed photographic original filmstrips comprising leading, intermediate and trailing originals are attached together at leading and trailing ends thereof by splices at each end adjacent to leading and trailing originals of respective filmstrips, apparatus for printing, in an exposure station of the printer, at least one original in a filmstrip wherein all of the leading, intermediate and trailing, originals are unsuitable for producing acceptable prints, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting a first condition of each original indicating that such original is suitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a first signal in response to the detected first condition; b. means for detecting a second condition of each original indicating that such original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a second signal in response to the detected second condition; c. means for advancing each original and the splices attaching successive filmstrips to the exposure station of the printer; d. means located with respect to the exposure station of the printer for detecting splices upon the advancement of the trailing original into the printing station and for generating a third signal in response to the detected splice; e. means responsive to the advancement of a splice into the exposure station and to the third signal for advancing the spliced ends of successive photographic original filmstrips, through the exposure station, without printing the splice; f. means responsive to the advancement of each original into the exposure station and to the first signal for printing the advanced original; g. means responsive to the advancement of each original into the exposure station and to the second signal for preventing the printing of the advanced original; and h. means responsive to the advancement of the leading and all intermediate originals through the exposure station of the printer in the presence of the second signal and responsive to the third signal for printing the trailing original in the exposure station.

Claim 25

In a photographic printer, wherein developed photographic original filmstrips comprising leading, intermediate and trailing originals are attached together at leading and trailing ends thereof by splices at each end adjacent to leading and trailing originals of respective filmstrips, apparatus for printing, in an exposure station of the printer, at least one original in a filmstrip wherein all of the leading, intermediate and trailing, originals are unsuitable for producing acceptable prints, said apparatus comprising: a. means for detecting a first condition of each original indicating that such original is suitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a first signal in response to the detected first condition; b. means for detecting a second condition of each original indicating that such original is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print and for generating a second signal in response to the detected second condition; c. means for advancing each original and the splices attaching successive filmstrips to the exposure station of the printer; d. means located with respect to the exposure station of the printer for detecting splices upon the advancement of the trailing original into the printing station and for generating a third signal in response to the detected splice; e. means responsive to the advancement of a splice into the exposure station and to the third signal for advancing the spliced ends of successive photographic original filmstrips, through the exposure station, without printing the splice; f. means responsive to the advancement of each original into the exposure station and to the first signal for printing the advanced original; g. means responsive to the advancement of each original into the exposure station and to the second signal for preventing the printing of the advanced original; and h. means responsive to the advancement of the leading and all intermediate originals through the exposure station of the printer in the presence of the second signal and responsive to the third signal for printing the trailing original in the exposure station.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a. the originals that are unsuitable for producing an acceptable print comprise over-exposed or fogged or under-exposed or blank photographic originals; b. the photographic original filmstrips comprise leading, intermediate and trailing originals; and c. said means for printing at least one original that is unsuitable for producing an acceptable print further comprises:

Claim 31

In a photographic printing process wherein developed photographic original filmstrips, consisting of leading, intermediate and trailing originals, are attached by splices and intermittently advanced through an exposure station of a photographic printer, a method of advancing under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged, photographic originals through said exposure station, said method comprising the steps of: a. controlling the exposure of printable photographic originals in said exposure station in accordance with the exposure level of the photographic originals; b. advancing, without printing under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged photographic originals through said exposure station of said photographic printer; and c. exposing at least one photographic original frame in a photographic original filmstrip comprising under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged photographic originals.

Claim 32

In a photographic printing process wherein developed photographic original filmstrips, consisting of leading, intermediate and trailing originals, are attached by splices and intermittently advanced through an exposure station of a photographic printer, a method of advancing under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged, photographic originals through said exposure station, said method comprising the steps of: a. controlling the exposure of printable photographic originals in said exposure station in accordance with the exposure level of the photographic originals; b. advancing, without printing under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged photographic originals through said exposure station of said photographic printer; and c. exposing at least one photographic original frame in a photographic original filmstrip comprising under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged photographic originals.

Claim 33

In the method of claim 12 the step of exposing the trailing photographic original in a photographic original filmstrip comprising under-exposed or blank and over-exposed or fogged photographic originals.

Claim 34

In a photographic printer, apparatus for preventing the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals; c. means for providing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for providing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprinTable original signal when the levels of the first and second signals exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the level of the first and second signals; and g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signals for preventing the printing of said photographic original.

Claim 35

In a photographic printer, apparatus for preventing the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals; c. means for providing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for providing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprinTable original signal when the levels of the first and second signals exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the level of the first and second signals; and g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signals for preventing the printing of said photographic original.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first reference signal providing means further comprises means for varying the maximum level of the first reference signal and said second reference signal providing means further comprises means for varying the minimum level of the second reference signal.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first and second photosensitive means further comprises: a. first and second photosensitive elements each having first and second terminals, said first terminals being commonly connected to a first voltage source, first and second resistance elements, each respectively connecting said second terminal to a second voltage source, each of said photosensitive elements responding to radiation transmitted by each respective area of said photographic original to produce the first signal and the second signal at the respective second terminals of said first and second photosensitive elements; b. first means connected to said second terminals of said first and second photosensitive elements and responsive to the first and second signals for producing a first output signal having a level representative of the maximum level of the first and second signals; and c. second means connected to said second terminals of said first and second elements and responsive to the first and second signals for producing a second output signal having a level representative of the minimum level of the first and second signals.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first unprintable original signal producing means is responsive to the first output signal and the first reference signal and wherein said second unprintable original signal producing means is responsive to the second output signal and the second reference signal.

Claim 39

In a photographic printer, wherein successive photographic original filmstrips are attached together by splices, apparatus for preventing the exposure of said splices and of unprintable photographic originals exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through the photographic originals; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals having levels dependent upon the radiation intensities transmitted by said first and second areas; c. means for providing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for providing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprintable original signal when the levels of the first and second signals exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the levels of the first and second signals; g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signal for preventing the printing of said photographic original; h. third photosensitive means located with respect to said raDiation transmitting means and said photographic original filmstrip for producing a splice signal when a splice attaching successive photographic original filmstrips prevents the transmission of radiation through said photographic original filmstrip and upon said second photosensitive means; and i. means responsive to said splice signal for preventing the printing of the splice areas of said attached successive photographic original filmstrips.

Claim 40

In a photographic printer, wherein successive photographic original filmstrips are attached together by splices, apparatus for preventing the exposure of said splices and of unprintable photographic originals exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through the photographic originals; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals having levels dependent upon the radiation intensities transmitted by said first and second areas; c. means for providing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for providing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprintable original signal when the levels of the first and second signals exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the levels of the first and second signals; g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signal for preventing the printing of said photographic original; h. third photosensitive means located with respect to said raDiation transmitting means and said photographic original filmstrip for producing a splice signal when a splice attaching successive photographic original filmstrips prevents the transmission of radiation through said photographic original filmstrip and upon said second photosensitive means; and i. means responsive to said splice signal for preventing the printing of the splice areas of said attached successive photographic original filmstrips.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said third photosensitive means is responsive to a predetermined radiation spectrum of the radiation transmitting means and wherein said splice comprises means for preventing the transmission of said predetermined spectrum of radiation to said third radiation sensitive means.

Claim 42

In a photographic printer, apparatus for controlling the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an imbalance in density modulation between first and second areas of the photographic original and for preventing the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation in both the first and the second areas, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals having levels dependent upon the density modulation of each respective area of said photographic original; c. means for producing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for producing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprintable original signal when the levels of both the first and the second signal exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the levels of both the first and the second signal; g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signal for preventing the printing of said photographic original; and h. means responsive to the absence of the first and second unprintable original signals and responsive to an imbalance in the amplitudes of the first and second signals for producing an exposure correction signal.

Claim 43

In a photographic printer, apparatus for controlling the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an imbalance in density modulation between first and second areas of the photographic original and for preventing the exposure of a photographic original exhibiting an excessively high or excessively low transmittance to radiation in both the first and the second areas, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals having levels dependent upon the density modulation of each respective area of said photographic original; c. means for producing a first reference signal having a maximum level indicative of the maximum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; d. means for producing a second reference signal having a minimum level indicative of the minimum transmittance of a photographic original that can be successfully printed; e. means responsive to the first reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a first unprintable original signal when the levels of both the first and the second signal exceed the maximum level of the first reference signal; f. means responsive to the second reference signal and the first and second signals for producing a second unprintable original signal when said minimum level of the second reference signal exceeds the levels of both the first and the second signal; g. means responsive to the first and second unprintable original signal for preventing the printing of said photographic original; and h. means responsive to the absence of the first and second unprintable original signals and responsive to an imbalance in the amplitudes of the first and second signals for producing an exposure correction signal.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the exposure correction signal producing means further comprises: a. first means for producing a first correction signal when the level of the first signal exceeds the level of the second signal; b. second means for producing a second correction signal when the level of the second signal exceeds the level of the first signal; and c. third means for producing a third correction signal when the levels of the first and second signals are approximately equal.

Claim 45

In a photographic printer, apparatus for providing an exposure correction signal for a photographic original exhibiting an imbalance in density modulation in first and second areas of the photographic original, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals each having a level dependent upon the density modulation of each respective area of said photographic original; c. means responsive to the amplitude of said first and said second signal for providing an unprintable photograpHic original signal when said levels indicate that both the first and second areas of the photographic original are unprintable; d. means responsive to the unprintable photographic original signal for preventing the exposure of said photographic original in said photographic printer; and e. means operative in the absence of an unprintable photographic original signal and responsive to the levels of said first and second signals for providing an exposure correction signal dependent upon the degree of imbalance in the levels of the first and second signals.

Claim 46

In a photographic printer, apparatus for providing an exposure correction signal for a photographic original exhibiting an imbalance in density modulation in first and second areas of the photographic original, said apparatus comprising: a. means for directing radiation through said photographic original; b. first and second photosensitive means responsive to the intensity of radiation transmitted by first and second respective areas of said photographic original for producing first and second signals each having a level dependent upon the density modulation of each respective area of said photographic original; c. means responsive to the amplitude of said first and said second signal for providing an unprintable photograpHic original signal when said levels indicate that both the first and second areas of the photographic original are unprintable; d. means responsive to the unprintable photographic original signal for preventing the exposure of said photographic original in said photographic printer; and e. means operative in the absence of an unprintable photographic original signal and responsive to the levels of said first and second signals for providing an exposure correction signal dependent upon the degree of imbalance in the levels of the first and second signals.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said exposure correction signal providing means further comprises: a. first means for producing a first exposure correction signal when the level of the first signal exceeds the level of the second signal; b. second means for producing a second exposure correction signal when the level of the second signal exceeds the level of the first signal; and c. third means for producing a third exposure correction signal when the levels of the first and second signals are approximately equal.