Optical system for use with a viewfinder

Claim 2

A photographic film carrier attached to a photographic printer for defining a film exposing window in which frames of a negative film are placed to expose each frame to create a latent image on a photographic paper, said photographic film carrier comprising: a film viewing window, formed close to said film exposing window in said photographic film carrier, for allowing an operator to inspect each said frame positioned therein for exposure; and looping means, disposed between said film viewing window and film exposing window, for forming a loop in said negative film between said film viewing window and said film exposing window, said looping means comprising: a guide plate; a pair of rollers, disposed adjacent to each of said film viewing window and film exposing window, for forming a loop in said negative film above said guide plate; a movable guide plate, disposed on said guide plate, for guiding a leading end of said negative film to said pair of rollers provided in association with said film viewing window, said movable guide plate then being swung up for forming a space above said guide plate wherein a loop is formed; and control means for controlling rotation of said pairs of rollers provided in association with said film viewing window and film exposing window.

Claim 3

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 1, and further comprising first and second film forwarding means provided separately with said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively, for positioning each said frame in said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively.

Claim 4

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 2, wherein said film exposing window, said film viewing window and said looping means are all provided integrally with said photographic film carrier.

Claim 5

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 3, and further comprising turning means for supporting said photographic film carrier for rotational movement through 90° about an axis passing through a center of said film exposing window, so as to direct said film viewing window toward said operator.

Claim 6

A photographic film carrier attached to a photographic printer for defining a film exposing window in which frames of a negative film are placed to expose each frame to create a latent image on a photographic paper, said photographic film carrier comprising: a film viewing window, formed close to said film exposing window in said photographic film carrier, for allowing an operator to inspect each said frame positioned therein for exposure; looping means, disposed between said film viewing window and film exposing window, for forming a loop in said negative film between said film viewing window and said film exposing window; first and second frame sensors disposed close to, and on upstream sides of, said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively, for detecting a front edge of each said frame, said first and second frame sensors having the same structure and operation; first and second film forwarding means provided separately with said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively, for automatically positioning each said frame in position in said film viewing window and said film exposing window based on respective outputs from said first and second frame sensors, said first and second film forwarding means having the same structure operation; input means for inputting correction data for each of said frames forwarded by said first film forwarding means in position in said film viewing window based on visual inspection of each of said frames by said operator; position correcting means for correcting a position of each of said frames in said film viewing window according to said data input through said input means; and second positioning means for storing said data from said input means and correcting said position of each of said frames in said film exposure window according to said date and an output from said second frame sensor.

Claim 7

A photographic film carrier attached to a photographic printer for defining a film exposing window in which frames of a negative film are placed to expose each frame to create a latent image on a photographic paper, said photographic film carrier comprising: a film viewing window, formed close to said film exposing window in said photographic film carrier, for allowing an operator to inspect each said frame positioned therein for exposure; looping means, disposed between said film viewing window and film exposing window, for forming a loop in said negative film between said film viewing window and said film exposing window; first and second frame sensors disposed close to, and on upstream sides of, said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively, for detecting a front edge of each said frame, said first and second frame sensors having the same structure and operation; first and second film forwarding means provided separately with said film viewing window and film exposing window, respectively, for automatically positioning each said frame in position in said film viewing window and said film exposing window based on respective outputs from said first and second frame sensors, said first and second film forwarding means having the same structure operation; input means for inputting correction data for each of said frames forwarded by said first film forwarding means in position in said film viewing window based on visual inspection of each of said frames by said operator; position correcting means for correcting a position of each of said frames in said film viewing window according to said data input through said input means; and second positioning means for storing said data from said input means and correcting said position of each of said frames in said film exposure window according to said date and an output from said second frame sensor.

Claim 8

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 1, wherein said film viewing window has an opening having a size sufficient to inspect simultaneously two frames therethrough.

Claim 9

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 6, wherein said photographic printer includes a light source and a diffusion plate near said film viewing window for diffusing and directing light from said light source to said negative film placed in said film viewing window.

Claim 10

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 2, wherein said film viewing window has an opening having a size sufficient to inspect simultaneously two frames therethrough.

Claim 11

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 8 wherein said photographic printer includes a light source and a diffusion plate near said film viewing window for diffusing and directing light from said light source to said negative film placed in said film viewing window.

Claim 12

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 3, wherein said film viewing window has an opening having a size sufficient to inspect simultaneously two frames therethrough.

Claim 13

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 10 wherein said photographic printer includes a light source and a diffusion plate near said film viewing window for diffusing and directing light from said light source to said negative film placed in said film viewing window.

Claim 14

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 4, wherein said film viewing window has an opening having a size sufficient to inspect simultaneously two frames therethrough.

Claim 15

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 12, wherein said photographic printer includes a light source and a diffusion plate near said film viewing window for diffusing and directing light from said light source to said negative film placed in said film viewing window.

Claim 16

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 5, wherein said film viewing window has an opening having a size sufficient to inspect simultaneously two frames therethrough.

Claim 17

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 14, wherein said photographic printer includes a light source and a diffusion plate near said film viewing window for diffusing and directing light from said light source to said negative film placed in said film viewing window.

Claim 18

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 15, wherein said looping means comprises: a guide plate; a pair of rollers, disposed adjacent to each of said film viewing window and film exposing window, for forming a loop in said negative film above said guide plate; a movable guide plate, disposed on said guide plate, for guiding a leading end of said negative film to said pair of rollers provided in association with said film viewing window, said movable guide plate then being swung up for forming a space above said guide plate wherein a loop is formed; and control means for controlling rotation of said pairs of rollers provided in association with said film viewing window and film exposing window.

Claim 19

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 5, wherein each said frame sensor comprises at least four light receiving elements arranged separately perpendicular to a direction in which said negative film is forwarded for providing voltage outputs, respectively, maximum and minimum voltage outputs V max and V min being drawn among said voltage outputs so as to obtain a voltage difference therebetween for detecting a front edge of each said frame based on changes of said minimum voltage output V min and said voltage difference.

Claim 20

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 17, wherein said light receiving elements are about 2.4 mm long and 0.2 mm wide.

Claim 21

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 5, wherein said turning means comprises a base positioned relative to said printer, a turntable attached to said photographic and mounted on said base for rotational movement, and a click stop means, disposed between said base and turntable, for locating said turntable in two positions separated by approximately 90°.

Claim 22

A photographic film carrier as defined in claim 19, wherein said click stop means comprises a plurality of positioning balls received in a semispherical recess formed in said base, and a plurality of recesses, formed in said turntable, for receiving said positioning balls when said turntable turns 90° relative to said base.