Printer with traversing lens and printing method

Claim 1

A printer for projecting images from the frames of a filmstrip onto photographic print paper movable along a longitudinal path, which comprises: (a) a light source; (b) a filmstrip carrier defining a filmstrip path along which said filmstrip is advanced; (c) a print paper support defining a printing plane for said print paper and a longitudinal path along which said print paper is movable; (d) a lens assembly including: (1) a lens turret having a rotational axis extending in a direction perpendicular to said print paper and filmstrip paths; (2) a plurality of lenses mounted in radially-spaced relation with respect to said turret rotational axis, each said lens having an optical axis parallel to said lens turret rotational axis; (3) means for rotating said turret about its rotational axis; and (4) means for shifting said turret transversely with respect to said print paper path; and (e) a mask assembly including: (1) a pair of opposed, longitudinally movable masking blades; (2) means for longitudinally moving said longitudinally movable masking blades; (3) a pair of opposed, independently transversely movable masking blades; (4) means for transversely moving said transversely movable masking blades; (5) a printing aperture defined by said opposed pair of masking blades; and (6) said mask assembly being mounted over said print paper support with said print paper being adapted for positioning between said print paper support and said mask assembly.

Claim 3

A method of making multiple prints of a photographic image, which comprises the steps of: (a) defining a first print paper area with a printing aperture formed by a mask assembly; (b) projecting light from a light source through exposed film and a lens mounted on a turret onto said first print area; (c) differentially transversely shifting a transversely opposed pair of masking blades whereby the transverse dimension of said printing aperture changes and said printing aperture shifts transversely with respect to said print paper; (d) defining a second print paper area with said printing aperture formed by said mask assembly; (e) simultaneously longitudinally shifting a second pair of longitudinally opposed masking blades towards or away from each other whereby the longitudinal dimension of said printing aperture is decreased or increased; (f) projecting light from said light source through said exposed film and said lens onto said second print paper area; (g) longitudinally shifting said print paper; (h) shifting said filmstrip; (i) rotating said lens turret from a first position whereat said image is projected through a first lens to a second position whereat said image is projected through a second lens; and (j) automatically adjusting the size of said printing aperture by moving said opposed pairs of masking plates in response to rotation of said turret.

Claim 4

A method of making multiple prints of a photographic image, which comprises the steps of: (a) defining a first print paper area with a printing aperture formed by a mask assembly; (b) projecting light from a light source through exposed film and a lens mounted on a turret onto said first print area; (c) differentially transversely shifting a transversely opposed pair of masking blades whereby the transverse dimension of said printing aperture changes and said printing aperture shifts transversely with respect to said print paper; (d) defining a second print paper area with said printing aperture formed by said mask assembly; (e) simultaneously longitudinally shifting a second pair of longitudinally opposed masking blades towards or away from each other whereby the longitudinal dimension of said printing aperture is decreased or increased; (f) projecting light from said light source through said exposed film and said lens onto said second print paper area; (g) longitudinally shifting said print paper; (h) shifting said filmstrip; (i) rotating said lens turret from a first position whereat said image is projected through a first lens to a second position whereat said image is projected through a second lens; and (j) automatically adjusting the size of said printing aperture by moving said opposed pairs of masking plates in response to rotation of said turret.