Film drive system for photographic printers

Claim 1

A film drive mechanism for transporting reels of photographic negative film through a photographic equipment, such as a printer or a color analyzer which comprises: a. A first bracket and a second bracket, said second bracket being removably affixed to said equipment in at least one pre-determined spatial relationship to said equipment and said first and second brackets being mounted to an inner frame which is slidably affixed to an outer frame, thereby allowing linear sliding motion between said inner and outer frames; and b. A film feed spool mounted on said first bracket, and disposed so as to permit the transport across said drive mechanism of a continuous roll of negative film; c. A film receiving spool mounted on said second bracket, and disposed so as to accept the fed end of said continuous roll of film; d. A metering roller mounted on said first bracket, and disposed and adapted for metering a designated portion of said negative film between said first and second spools; e. At least one film guide roller located between said feed spool and said metering roller; f. Drive means for said metering roller for selectively positioning a single negative frame located on a reel of negative film in a pre-determined position between said feed and receiving spools; g. Tensioning means for applying a pre-determined tension to the portion of said film disposed between said first and second spools during said transport.