Adjustable width punch marking apparatus for photographic printer

Claim 1

In a photographic printer in which a photographic print paper strip is transported along a paper path and is exposed to light from a photographic film original at a print mask location, and in which print mask means located at the print mask location defines first and second transverse masking edges of an exposure area, adjustable indicia producing apparatus for providing indicia at selected locations of the print paper and being adjustable to accommodate print paper strips of different widths, the adjustable indicia producing apparatus comprising: guide means positioned proximate the print mask location and defining a guide path transverse to the paper path and parallel to the first transverse masking edge; first and second carriage means movable along the guide path on opposite sides, respectively, of a center line of the paper path slidably supported by the guide means; carriage positioning means for moving the first and second carriage means along the guide path essentially symmetrically and simultaneously about the center line of the paper path; and first indicia producing means carried by the first carriage means for providing indicia at selected longitudinal positions as the print paper is advanced along the paper path, the first indicia producing means having a position transverse to the paper path which is adjustable by movement of the first carriage means to accommodate print paper strips of different widths.