US5107296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photographic paper transporting apparatus and method for photographic printer
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1991-04-11
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Granted: 1992-04-21
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Expires: 2011-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for transporting a photographic paper having an epicyclic gear clutch mechanism for transmitting the rotation of a motor selectively to a magazine and a pair of nip rollers. In auto-loading of the photographic paper, the nip rollers are rotated by the motor to feed the leading end of the photographic paper to the exposure station. If a magazine is exchanged before the whole photographic paper is used, the photographic paper is cut at a position upstream of the last picture frame. In the first paper winding operation, the rotation of the motor is transmitted via the epicyclic gear clutch mechanism to the magazine to wind the unprinted portion of the photographic paper into the magazine. When the leading end of the photographic paper is returned back near the tip rollers, the epicyclic gear clutch mechanism is coupled to the nip rollers. In a second paper winding operation, the nip rollers are rotated reversely until the photographic paper detaches from the nip rollers. According to a preferred embodiment, the rotation of the motor is stopped when the leading end of the photographic paper nears the nip rollers. Immediately thereafter, the epicyclic gear clutch mechanism is coupled to the nip rollers to prevent the photographic paper roll from being rotated by the inertia. When the nip rollers are moved to the nip release position, the leading end of the photographic paper is released from the nip state, thereby allowing the magazine to be unloaded from the magazine chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshio Ozawa
- 👤 Takashi Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:20
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/462; G03B27/52; G03B27/58; G03B27/587; G03B27/588; B; B65; B65H; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/41; B65H2301/415; B65H2301/4152; B65H2301/41524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by coupling a motor to a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine to rotate said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; after said cutting step, moving said photographic paper back into said magazine; winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction, after releasing the coupling of said motor to said nip rollers and coupling said motor to said winding shaft; and moving said photographic paper forcibly into said magazine until said paper leading end detaches from said nip rollers, by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction, after releasing the coupling of said motor to said winding shaft and after coupling said motor to said nip rollers when the leading end of said unprinted portion nears said nip rollers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by coupling a motor to a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine to rotate said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; after said cutting step, moving said photographic paper back into said magazine; winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction, after releasing the coupling of said motor to said nip rollers and coupling said motor to said winding shaft; and moving said photographic paper forcibly into said magazine until said paper leading end detaches from said nip rollers, by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction, after releasing the coupling of said motor to said winding shaft and after coupling said motor to said nip rollers when the leading end of said unprinted portion nears said nip rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said coupling of said motor selectively to said nip rollers and said winding shaft is performed by providing a clutch mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of providing a sensor near said nip rollers for detecting the leading end of said photographic paper, and, in response to a detection signal of said sensor, actuating said clutch mechanism to release said motor from said winding shaft and couple said motor to said nip rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of providing a shutter mechanism disposed at a photographic paper outlet of said magazine, said shutter mechanism being closed to nip said photographic paper when said magazine is unloaded from a magazine chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of moving said nip rollers to a nip release position after said photographic paper has been wound, said moving step being prepared for setting a next magazine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said photographic printer includes a printer section having said exposure station and a processing section for developing said photographic paper after said photographic paper is subjected to printing.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by coupling a motor to a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine to rotate said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; after said cutting step, moving said photographic paper back into said magazine; winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction, after releasing a coupling of said motor to said nip rollers and coupling said motor to said winding shaft; and terminating the winding operation of said photographic paper such that a leading end portion of said photographic paper is nipped by said nip rollers, by stopping the rotation of said motor when said paper leading end of said unprinted portion moves back near said nip rollers.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by coupling a motor to a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine to rotate said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; after said cutting step, moving said photographic paper back into said magazine; winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction, after releasing a coupling of said motor to said nip rollers and coupling said motor to said winding shaft; and terminating the winding operation of said photographic paper such that a leading end portion of said photographic paper is nipped by said nip rollers, by stopping the rotation of said motor when said paper leading end of said unprinted portion moves back near said nip rollers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of coupling said motor to said nip rollers immediately after said motor is stopped, so as to prevent said winding shaft from being rotated by inertia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of releasing a nipping of said leading end by said nip rollers after said photographic paper has been wound.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said coupling of nip rollers and said winding shaft selectively is performed by providing a clutch mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of providing a sensor for detecting the leading end of said photographic paper is disposed near at said nip rollers, and, in response to a detection signal of said sensor, actuating said clutch mechanism to release said motor from said winding shaft and couple said motor to said nip rollers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a shutter mechanism disposed at a photographic paper outlet of said magazine, said shutter mechanism being closed to nip said photographic paper when said magazine is unloaded from a magazine chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said photographic printer includes a printer section having said exposure station and a processing section for developing said photographic paper after said photographic paper is subjected to printing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by rotating a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine in a first direction in a state nipping said photographic paper, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; and moving said photographic paper back into said magazine, said moving step including the steps of: A) cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; B) winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction after freeing said nip rollers; C) stopping the rotation of said winding shaft when a leading end of said unprinted portion comes near said nip rollers; and D) forcibly moving said photographic paper into said magazine until said paper leading end detaches from said nip rollers, by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction after freeing said winding shaft.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by rotating a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine in a first direction in a state nipping said photographic paper, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; and moving said photographic paper back into said magazine, said moving step including the steps of: A) cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; B) winding an unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction after freeing said nip rollers; C) stopping the rotation of said winding shaft when a leading end of said unprinted portion comes near said nip rollers; and D) forcibly moving said photographic paper into said magazine until said paper leading end detaches from said nip rollers, by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction after freeing said winding shaft.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by rotating a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine in a first direction in a state nipping said photographic paper, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; and moving said photographic paper back into said magazine, said moving step including the steps of: A) cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; B) winding a unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction after freeing said nip rollers; C) freeing said winding shaft when a leading end of said unprinted portion returns to a position near said nip rollers; D) terminating the winding of said photographic paper by stopping the rotation of said winding shaft caused by inertia with load applied to said nip rollers, the leading end portion of said photographic paper being nipped by said nip rollers; and E) releasing the nipping of said photographic paper by said nip rollers after said photographic paper has been wound.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, comprising the following steps: pulling photographic paper out of a magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, by rotating a pair of nip rollers disposed near said magazine in a first direction in a state nipping said photographic paper, when feeding said photographic paper to an exposure station; and moving said photographic paper back into said magazine, said moving step including the steps of: A) cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper; B) winding a unprinted portion of said photographic paper, obtained by said cutting step, about said winding shaft, by rotating said winding shaft in a winding direction after freeing said nip rollers; C) freeing said winding shaft when a leading end of said unprinted portion returns to a position near said nip rollers; D) terminating the winding of said photographic paper by stopping the rotation of said winding shaft caused by inertia with load applied to said nip rollers, the leading end portion of said photographic paper being nipped by said nip rollers; and E) releasing the nipping of said photographic paper by said nip rollers after said photographic paper has been wound.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, said apparatus having a pair of nip rollers disposed rotatably near a magazine chamber and a motor for rotating said nip rollers, said apparatus feeding a photographic paper to an exposure station by rotating said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, and by pulling said photographic paper out of said magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, said apparatus comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said motor selectively to said nip rollers and said winding shaft; cutting means for cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper, prior to moving said photographic paper back to said magazine; and controlling means for controlling said motor and said transmitting means, said controlling means moving said photographic paper back into said magazine by coupling said motor to said winding shaft to rotate said winding shaft, by coupling said motor to said nip rollers when the leading end of an unprinted portion of said photographic paper obtained by said cutting means nears said nip rollers, and by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction until said leading end of said photographic paper moves away from said nip rollers.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, said apparatus having a pair of nip rollers disposed rotatably near a magazine chamber and a motor for rotating said nip rollers, said apparatus feeding a photographic paper to an exposure station by rotating said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, and by pulling said photographic paper out of said magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, said apparatus comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said motor selectively to said nip rollers and said winding shaft; cutting means for cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper, prior to moving said photographic paper back to said magazine; and controlling means for controlling said motor and said transmitting means, said controlling means moving said photographic paper back into said magazine by coupling said motor to said winding shaft to rotate said winding shaft, by coupling said motor to said nip rollers when the leading end of an unprinted portion of said photographic paper obtained by said cutting means nears said nip rollers, and by rotating said nip rollers in a second direction until said leading end of said photographic paper moves away from said nip rollers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said transmitting means comprises: a sun gear rotated by said motor; an epicyclic gear meshing with said sun gear; a first gear fixedly mounted on said winding shaft; a second gear fixedly mounted on said nip rollers; a lever for rotatably supporting said epicyclic gear, said lever swinging about said sun gear to bring said epicyclic gear in mesh selectively with said first and second gears; and means for swinging said lever.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said lever swinging means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor, disposed near said nip rollers, for detecting the leading end of said photographic paper, wherein, in response to a detection signal of said sensor, said solenoid is actuated to release said motor from said winding shaft and couple said motor to said nip rollers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said magazine includes a shutter mechanism disposed at a photographic paper outlet thereof, said shutter mechanism being closed to nip said photographic paper when said magazine is unloaded from a magazine chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for moving said nip rollers to a nip release position after said photographic paper has been wound, said nip rollers moving means being prepared for setting a next magazine.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, said apparatus having a pair of nip rollers rotatably disposed near a magazine chamber and a motor for rotating said nip rollers, said apparatus feeding a photographic paper to an exposure station by rotating said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, and by pulling said photographic paper out of said magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, said apparatus comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said motor selectively to said nip rollers and said winding shaft; cutting means for cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper, prior to moving said photographic paper back to said magazine; and controlling means for controlling said motor and said transmitting means, said controlling means moving said photographic paper back into said magazine by coupling said motor to said winding shaft to rotate said winding shaft, by stopping said motor when the leading end of an unprinted portion of said photographic paper obtained by said cutting means nears said nip rollers, and by coupling said motor to said nip rollers to stop the rotation of said winding shaft by inertia such that winding said photographic paper is terminated under the condition that the photographic paper end portion is nipped by said nip rollers.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for transporting a photographic paper for a photographic printer, said apparatus having a pair of nip rollers rotatably disposed near a magazine chamber and a motor for rotating said nip rollers, said apparatus feeding a photographic paper to an exposure station by rotating said nip rollers nipping said photographic paper in a first direction, and by pulling said photographic paper out of said magazine, said photographic paper being coiled on a winding shaft of said magazine, said apparatus comprising: transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said motor selectively to said nip rollers and said winding shaft; cutting means for cutting said photographic paper at a position upstream of a printed portion of said photographic paper, prior to moving said photographic paper back to said magazine; and controlling means for controlling said motor and said transmitting means, said controlling means moving said photographic paper back into said magazine by coupling said motor to said winding shaft to rotate said winding shaft, by stopping said motor when the leading end of an unprinted portion of said photographic paper obtained by said cutting means nears said nip rollers, and by coupling said motor to said nip rollers to stop the rotation of said winding shaft by inertia such that winding said photographic paper is terminated under the condition that the photographic paper end portion is nipped by said nip rollers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising means for releasing the nipping of the leading end of said photographic paper by said nip rollers after said photographic paper has been wound.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said transmitting means comprises: a sun gear which is rotated by said motor; an epicyclic gear meshing with said sun gear; a first gear fixedly mounted on said winding shaft; a second gear fixedly mounted on said nip rollers; a lever for rotatably supporting said epicyclic gear, said lever swinging about said sun gear to bring said epicyclic gear in mesh selectively with said first and second gears; and means for swinging said lever.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said lever swinging means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a sensor, disposed near said nip rollers, for detecting the leading end of said photographic paper, wherein, in response to a detection signal of said sensor, said lever swinging means is actuated to release said motor from said winding shaft and couple said motor to said nip rollers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said magazine includes a shutter mechanism disposed at a photographic paper outlet thereof, said shutter mechanism being closed to nip said photographic paper when said magazine is dismounted from a magazine chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3500734A
Cited
US4819024A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-21 | 1995-10-21 | 1996-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-21 | 1999-10-21 | 2000-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-21 | 2003-10-21 | 2004-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |