US5072254A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic printer assembly
Assignee: PROSHOTS Inc
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Filing: 1991-01-25
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Granted: 1991-12-10
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Expires: 2011-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A spool assembly for use in a printer assembly which allows substantially the entire web of photographic paper to be exposed in the printing process. The printer assembly includes a web, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web, and a drive means operative to systematically convey the web of photographic paper through the printer. Extender strips of non-photographic material are attached to the ends of the web of photographic paper to allow the end of the web proximate the respective extender strip to be positioned within the printer for exposure purposes. The spool assembly includes a spool formed of a plastic material and a retaining clip mounted thereon to engage the related extender strip. The spool is adapted to maintain the paper in a rolled configuration and are preferably constructed with a central portion of reduced diameter which contains a retaining clip. This arrangement provides a convenient assembly operative to expose substantially the entire length of photographic paper.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray Hicks
- 👤 Rick Israel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/58; G03B27/587
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A printer assembly of the type having a web of photographic paper, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web of photographic paper, and a drive means to systematically convey the web of photographic paper through the printer, characterized in that an extender strip of non-photographic material is attached to one end of the web of photographic paper and said drive means is operative in cooperation with said extender strip to position the portion of the web of photographic paper proximate said one end in said printer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A printer assembly of the type having a web of photographic paper, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web of photographic paper, and a drive means to systematically convey the web of photographic paper through the printer, characterized in that an extender strip of non-photographic material is attached to one end of the web of photographic paper and said drive means is operative in cooperation with said extender strip to position the portion of the web of photographic paper proximate said one end in said printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein a first extender strip is attached to the leading edge of the photographic paper web and a second extender strip is attached to the trailing edge of the photographic paper web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a take-up spool operative to maintain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration after being exposed in the printer; and the extender strip is attached to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper and has a length at least as long as the delivery path defined within the printer assembly between the exit of the printer and the take-up spool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a feed spool operative to maintain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration prior to being exposed in the printer; and the extender strip is attached to the trailing edge of the web of photographic paper and has a length at least as long as the feed path defined within the printer assembly between the feed spool and the entrance to the printer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive means includes a spool assembly including a substantially cylindrical, tubular spool operative to retain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration, and a retaining clip secured to the exterior of the spool between the ends of the spool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said tubular spool is formed from a substantially rigid plastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said retaining clip opens in a direction normal to the spool axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said retaining clip comprises a unitary piece of spring steel formed in a substantially U-shaped configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said spool comprises three coaxially aligned portions including a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion, said first and second end portions have a fixed diameter, and said middle portion has a diameter less than the diameter of said end portions; and said retaining clip is disposed on the exterior of said middle portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
The assembly of claim 5, wherein said drive means further includes at least one roller operative to direct the photographic paper web along a feed path extending from said tubular spool to the printer; said extender strip is attached to the leading edge of the photographic paper web; and said printer assembly further includes a moveable guide means disposed proximate said feed path and adapted to move between an operative position along said feed path for use in orienting the extender strip on said web in relation to said drive means and an inoperative position removed from said feed path so as not to interfere with the operation of the printer assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The assembly of claim 10, wherein said guide means comprises a guide plate mounted for pivotable movement between said operative and inoperative positions, and a pair of side members extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of said guide plate so as to be positioned on either side of said extender strip when said extender strip passes over said guide plate in said operative position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein said extender strip is mylar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A printer assembly of the type having a printer operative to systematically expose photographic images on portions of a web of photographic paper and a drive means operative to convey the web of photographic paper through the printer and including at least one substantially cylindrical, tubular spool retaining the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration, characterized in that the spool is formed from a plastic material and includes a retaining clip disposed on the exterior of the spool between the ends of the spool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A printer assembly of the type having a printer operative to systematically expose photographic images on portions of a web of photographic paper and a drive means operative to convey the web of photographic paper through the printer and including at least one substantially cylindrical, tubular spool retaining the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration, characterized in that the spool is formed from a plastic material and includes a retaining clip disposed on the exterior of the spool between the ends of the spool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 13, wherein said retaining clip opens in a direction normal to the spool axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 13, wherein said retaining clip comprises a unitary piece of spring steel formed into a substantially U-shaped configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 13, wherein said spool comprises three coaxially aligned portions including a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion, said first and second end portions having a specific diameter, and said middle portion has a diameter less than the diameter of said end portions; and said retaining clip is disposed on the exterior of said middle portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
154 words
A printer assembly of the type having a web of photographic paper, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web of photographic paper, a feed spool operative to retain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration, and a drive means to systematically convey the web of photographic paper to the printer along a feed path extending from the feed spool to the printer, characterized in that: an extender strip of non-photographic material is attached to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper; and said printer assembly further includes a moveable guide means disposed proximate said feed path and adapted to move between an operative position along said feed path for use in orienting the extender strip on said web in relation to said drive means and an inoperative position removed from said feed path so as not to interfere with the operation of the printer assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
154 words
A printer assembly of the type having a web of photographic paper, a printer operative to expose photographic images on portions of the web of photographic paper, a feed spool operative to retain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration, and a drive means to systematically convey the web of photographic paper to the printer along a feed path extending from the feed spool to the printer, characterized in that: an extender strip of non-photographic material is attached to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper; and said printer assembly further includes a moveable guide means disposed proximate said feed path and adapted to move between an operative position along said feed path for use in orienting the extender strip on said web in relation to said drive means and an inoperative position removed from said feed path so as not to interfere with the operation of the printer assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
137 words
A photographic printer assembly comprising: a web of photographic paper; a printer operative to expose photographic images on said web of photographic paper; a tubular plastic feed spool operative to retain the web of unexposed photographic paper in a rolled configuration; a drive roller positioned along a feed path extending from the feed spool to the entrance to the printer and operative to direct the web of photographic paper along said feed path; an extender strip formed of non-photographic material connected to the leading edge of said web of photographic paper; and a pivotable guide disposed proximate the feed path and adapted to pivot between an operative position along said feed path for use in orienting the extender strip on said web in relation to said feed path and an inoperative position removed from said feed path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
137 words
A photographic printer assembly comprising: a web of photographic paper; a printer operative to expose photographic images on said web of photographic paper; a tubular plastic feed spool operative to retain the web of unexposed photographic paper in a rolled configuration; a drive roller positioned along a feed path extending from the feed spool to the entrance to the printer and operative to direct the web of photographic paper along said feed path; an extender strip formed of non-photographic material connected to the leading edge of said web of photographic paper; and a pivotable guide disposed proximate the feed path and adapted to pivot between an operative position along said feed path for use in orienting the extender strip on said web in relation to said feed path and an inoperative position removed from said feed path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of claim 18, wherein said feed spool includes a retaining clip secured to the exterior of the spool between the ends of the spool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein said retaining clip opens in a direction normal to the spool axis.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein said retaining clip comprises a unitary piece of spring steel formed in a substantially U-shaped configuration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 19, wherein said spool comprises three coaxially aligned portions including a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion, said first and second end portions have a fixed diameter, and said middle portion has a diameter less than the diameter of said end portions; and said retaining clip is disposed on the exterior of said middle portion.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of exposing a web of photographic paper in a printer assembly of the type including a printer and a drive system operative to convey the web of photographic paper through the printer, characterized in that the method includes the step of attaching an extender strip of nonphotographic material to one end of the photographic paper web, said extender strip having a sufficient length so as to cooperate with the drive system to position the portion of the photographic paper web proximate that end of the web for use in the printer.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of exposing a web of photographic paper in a printer assembly of the type including a printer and a drive system operative to convey the web of photographic paper through the printer, characterized in that the method includes the step of attaching an extender strip of nonphotographic material to one end of the photographic paper web, said extender strip having a sufficient length so as to cooperate with the drive system to position the portion of the photographic paper web proximate that end of the web for use in the printer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 23, further characterized in that a first extender strip is attached to the leading edge of the photographic paper web and a second extender strip is attached to the trailing edge of the photographic paper web.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the method further includes the steps of: providing a feed spool in the drive system which is operative to retain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration prior to being exposed by the printer; and attaching an extender strip to the trailing edge of the web of photographic paper which has a length at least as long as the feed path defined within the printer assembly between the feed spool and the entrance to the printer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the method further includes the steps of: providing a take-up spool in the drive system which is operative to retain the web of photographic paper in a rolled configuration after being exposed by the printer; and attaching an extender strip to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper which has a length at least as long as the delivery path defined within the printer assembly between the take-up spool and the exit of the printer.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of exposing a web of photographic paper in a printer assembly of the type including a feed spool, a take up spool, and a printer, and defining a feed path extending from the feed spool to the entrance to the printer and a delivery path extending from the exit of the printer to the take up spool, said method comprising the steps of: providing a web of photographic paper; attaching a leading extender strip to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper having a length at least as long as the delivery path, and attaching a trailing extender strip to the trailing edge of the web of photographic paper having a length at least as long as the feed path, to form a photographic paper assembly; winding the photographic paper assembly on the feed spool; unwinding the photographic paper assembly from the feed spool and attaching the leading end of the leading extender strip to the take up spool so as to position the leading edge of the photographic paper proximate the printer; and incrementally advancing the photographic paper through the printer assembly to sequentially expose portions of the photographic paper to film in the printer until the trailing edge of the photographic paper is positioned proximate the printer and the trailing extender strip extends from the printer to the feed spool.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of exposing a web of photographic paper in a printer assembly of the type including a feed spool, a take up spool, and a printer, and defining a feed path extending from the feed spool to the entrance to the printer and a delivery path extending from the exit of the printer to the take up spool, said method comprising the steps of: providing a web of photographic paper; attaching a leading extender strip to the leading edge of the web of photographic paper having a length at least as long as the delivery path, and attaching a trailing extender strip to the trailing edge of the web of photographic paper having a length at least as long as the feed path, to form a photographic paper assembly; winding the photographic paper assembly on the feed spool; unwinding the photographic paper assembly from the feed spool and attaching the leading end of the leading extender strip to the take up spool so as to position the leading edge of the photographic paper proximate the printer; and incrementally advancing the photographic paper through the printer assembly to sequentially expose portions of the photographic paper to film in the printer until the trailing edge of the photographic paper is positioned proximate the printer and the trailing extender strip extends from the printer to the feed spool.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5006887A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |