Photographic processing system

Claim 1

A system for handling a roll of photographic film upon an order of a customer, the film including an information recording layer and a plurality of photographed frames, comprising: input means for recording on the information recording layer of the roll of film a customer code that identifies the customer and a printing specification; processing means for developing the film, for printing an image of each photographed frame on a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification of the customer, for printing all images of the plurality of photographed frames on an index-print sheet, and for printing the customer code on the index-print sheet; means for storing a plurality of the rolls of developed film, wherein each roll of developed film retains the customer code on its information recording layer and is stored as a roll of developed film without being divided into smaller film strips; means for storing a plurality of the index-print sheets, each stored index-print sheet corresponding to a different one of the stored film rolls; and inspection/verification means for reading the customer code and the printing specification from a selected one of the rolls of developed film to identify the customer, the inspection/verification means controlling the processing means to reprint an image from a frame of the selected roll of film onto a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification.

Claim 2

A system for handling a roll of photographic film upon an order of a customer, the film including an information recording layer and a plurality of photographed frames, comprising: input means for recording on the information recording layer of the roll of film a customer code that identifies the customer and a printing specification; processing means for developing the film, for printing an image of each photographed frame on a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification of the customer, for printing all images of the plurality of photographed frames on an index-print sheet, and for printing the customer code on the index-print sheet; means for storing a plurality of the rolls of developed film, wherein each roll of developed film retains the customer code on its information recording layer and is stored as a roll of developed film without being divided into smaller film strips; means for storing a plurality of the index-print sheets, each stored index-print sheet corresponding to a different one of the stored film rolls; and inspection/verification means for reading the customer code and the printing specification from a selected one of the rolls of developed film to identify the customer, the inspection/verification means controlling the processing means to reprint an image from a frame of the selected roll of film onto a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification.

Claim 9

A method of handling a roll of photographic film upon an order of a customer, the film including an information recording layer and a plurality of photographed frames, comprising the steps of: inputting a customer code that identifies the customer and a printing specification for recording on the information recording layer of the film; developing the film; printing an image of each photographed frame on a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification of the customer; printing all images of the plurality of photographed frames on an index-print sheet; printing the customer code on the index-print sheet; storing a plurality of rolls of developed film wherein each roll of developed film retains the customer code on its information recording layer and is stored as a roll of developed film without being divided into smaller film strips; reading the customer code and the printing specification from a selected one of the rolls of developed film, to identify the customer; and reprinting an image from a frame of the selected roll of developed film onto a photographic paper in accordance with printing specification read from the selected roll of developed film.

Claim 10

A method of handling a roll of photographic film upon an order of a customer, the film including an information recording layer and a plurality of photographed frames, comprising the steps of: inputting a customer code that identifies the customer and a printing specification for recording on the information recording layer of the film; developing the film; printing an image of each photographed frame on a photographic paper in accordance with the printing specification of the customer; printing all images of the plurality of photographed frames on an index-print sheet; printing the customer code on the index-print sheet; storing a plurality of rolls of developed film wherein each roll of developed film retains the customer code on its information recording layer and is stored as a roll of developed film without being divided into smaller film strips; reading the customer code and the printing specification from a selected one of the rolls of developed film, to identify the customer; and reprinting an image from a frame of the selected roll of developed film onto a photographic paper in accordance with printing specification read from the selected roll of developed film.