Photographic printing apparatus and method for reproducing an original having separate major areas of respectively different densities

Claim 2

In apparatus for producing on a photosensitive medium a print of an original having at least two separate majOr areas of respectively difference densities, the improvement comprising: a. means for transmitting light from the original to the photosensitive medium; b. first means for polarizing only the light transmitted from the lower density area of the original to the medium; c. second means for polarizing the light transmitted from the entire area of the original to the medium; and d. means for moving one of said polarizing means relative to the other of said polarizing means to attenuate the intensity of the light transmitted from the lower density area of the original without affecting any substantial attenuation of the light from the high density area of the original to allow production of a satisfactory print of the entire area with a single exposure.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the two separate major areas of respectively differing densities of the original comprise a portrait area and a data area.

Claim 4

In apparatus including an exposure station, means spaced from the exposure station for supporting an image bearing member having two separate major areas of respectively different densities, and means for projecting light from the image bearing member to form an image at said exposure station, the improvement comprising: a. first polarizing means located between said exposure station and said supporting means for polarizing light passing only from the lower density area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station; b. second polarizing means located between said exposure station and said supporting means for polarizing light passing from the entire area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station; and c. means for providing relative movement between said first polarizing means and said second polarizing means to attenuate the intensity of the light transmitted from the lower density area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station by an amount sufficient to allow formation of an image at said exposure station representative of the major image areas which image is satisfactorily printable with a single expose.

Claim 5

In apparatus including an exposure station, means spaced from the exposure station for supporting an image bearing member having two separate major areas of respectively different densities, and means for projecting light from the image bearing member to form an image at said exposure station, the improvement comprising: a. first polarizing means located between said exposure station and said supporting means for polarizing light passing only from the lower density area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station; b. second polarizing means located between said exposure station and said supporting means for polarizing light passing from the entire area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station; and c. means for providing relative movement between said first polarizing means and said second polarizing means to attenuate the intensity of the light transmitted from the lower density area of the supported image bearing member to said exposure station by an amount sufficient to allow formation of an image at said exposure station representative of the major image areas which image is satisfactorily printable with a single expose.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said first polarizing means comprises a sheet of polarizing material corresponding in size and shape to the lower density area of the image bearing member and positioned in close proximity thereto.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second polarizing means comprises a rotatable disc of polarizing material.

Claim 8

In contact printing apparatus including an exposure station adapted to receive a photosensitive medium, means adjacent said exposure station for supporting a film transparency containing an image having two separate major areas of respectively different densities, and means for transmitting light through the film transparency to form an image at said exposure station, the improvement comprising: a. first polarizing means located between said light projecting means and said film transparency supporting means for polarizing light passing only through the lower density area of the film transparency to said exposure station; b. second polarizing means located between said light projecting means and said film transparency supporting means for polarizing light passing through the entire area of the film transparency to said exposure station; and c. means for moving said second polarizing means relative to said first polarizing means to attenuate the intensity of the light transmitted through the lower density area of the film transparency by an amount sufficient to allow formation of an image at said exposure station representative of the entire image area which is satisfactorily printable with a single exposure.

Claim 9

In contact printing apparatus including an exposure station adapted to receive a photosensitive medium, means adjacent said exposure station for supporting a film transparency containing an image having two separate major areas of respectively different densities, and means for transmitting light through the film transparency to form an image at said exposure station, the improvement comprising: a. first polarizing means located between said light projecting means and said film transparency supporting means for polarizing light passing only through the lower density area of the film transparency to said exposure station; b. second polarizing means located between said light projecting means and said film transparency supporting means for polarizing light passing through the entire area of the film transparency to said exposure station; and c. means for moving said second polarizing means relative to said first polarizing means to attenuate the intensity of the light transmitted through the lower density area of the film transparency by an amount sufficient to allow formation of an image at said exposure station representative of the entire image area which is satisfactorily printable with a single exposure.

Claim 10

The contact printing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said first polarizing means comprises a sheet of polarizing material corresponding in size and shape to the lower density area of the film transparency and positioned in close proximity thereto.

Claim 11

The contact printing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said second polarizing means comprises a rotatable disc of polarizing material.