US4881090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for identifying negatives in photographic laboratories
Assignee: Fotolabo SA
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Filing: 1988-09-13
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Granted: 1989-11-14
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Expires: 2008-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for identifying negatives in photographic laboratories, characterized in that in the finishing station (1), after a tab (5) has been applied to the continuous strip of negatives (7) but before inserting the tabbed strip cut into portions into its envelope, order identification data are printed on the tab in synchronism with the cutting operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Roberto Signoretto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D15/00; G03D15/001; G03D15/005; G03D15/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of correlating negatives and order envelopes in a finishing station of a photographic laboratory, comprising steps of passing a continuous web of negatives into said finishing station, affixing a continuous web along one edge of said web, cutting said web into strips, each strip remaining attached to a corresponding length of said tab, marking order identification data on said tab in synchronization with the cutting step, and inserting each of said strips pertaining to a particular order into an envelope for that order.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of correlating negatives and order envelopes in a finishing station of a photographic laboratory, comprising steps of passing a continuous web of negatives into said finishing station, affixing a continuous web along one edge of said web, cutting said web into strips, each strip remaining attached to a corresponding length of said tab, marking order identification data on said tab in synchronization with the cutting step, and inserting each of said strips pertaining to a particular order into an envelope for that order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the tab is imprinted prior to the cutting step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said laboratory includes a photographic printing station upstream of said finishing station, and said method comprising a further step of generating signals in a printing station, in correspondence only with those negatives actually printed, and feeding said signals to the finishing station for controlling the marking step so as to mark the tab in positions corresponding with the actually printed frames, and also on prints corresponding to said frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein, during the marking step, frame identification data is printed on the tab in addition to the order identification data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein said identification data is marked on the back of each print, corresponding to the data printed on said tab.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein the data printed on tab is progressive numbering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 1, comprising a further step of marking said order identification data onto the envelope into which said prints and corresponding strips are placed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein said envelope marking step further comprises printing said data directly on said envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein said envelope marking step comprises printing said data on a self-adhesive label for application to the corresponding envelope.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for correlating negatives and order envelopes in photographic laboratories, comprising a printing station through which a continuous web of negatives is passed, a finishing station downstream of the printing station, said finishing station comprising means for applying a tab along one edge of said web, and also a first printer for reproducing frame identification data onto said tab, and a microprocessor for controlling said first printer, said microprocessor also being connected to said printing station.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus for correlating negatives and order envelopes in photographic laboratories, comprising a printing station through which a continuous web of negatives is passed, a finishing station downstream of the printing station, said finishing station comprising means for applying a tab along one edge of said web, and also a first printer for reproducing frame identification data onto said tab, and a microprocessor for controlling said first printer, said microprocessor also being connected to said printing station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 10, further comprising a cutter for severing said web into separate negative strips, said first printer being upstream of said cutter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 10, further comprising, in the finishing station, a second printer, controlled by said microprocessor, for imprinting on said web markings related to those imprinted by the first printer on the tab in positions corresponding with the frames actually printed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 12, wherein said second printer is upstream of the cutter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 12, wherein the second printer is arranged to print on the back of the strip of prints.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 10, wherein said finishing station comprises a third printer controlled by the microprocessor for imprinting order identification data on envelopes which are to contain the prints and negative strips of various orders.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 15, wherein the third printer is arranged to print directly on the envelopes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the third printer is arranged to print on self-adhesive labels to be automatically applied to the envelopes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |