US6181409B1 — System for backprinting photographic media

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of providing information on a back side of a developed photographic medium having an image carrying layer on a front side, the method comprising the steps of: reading a machine readable code on the developed image carrying layer on the front side of the photographic medium; and printing information on the back side of the developed photographic medium with a printer, based on the machine readable code; wherein a plurality of photographic images are present on the photographic medium and at least part of the machine readable code is written on the photosensitive layer as separate code segments adjacent respective photographic images, and the machine readable code includes printer instructions which are received by the printer, that instruct the printer as to the location on the back side of the developed photographic medium where the printer is to print the information.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 143 words

A method of providing information on a back side of a developed photographic medium having an image carrying layer on a front side, the method comprising the steps of: reading a machine readable code on the developed image carrying layer on the front side of the photographic medium; and printing information on the back side of the developed photographic medium with a printer, based on the machine readable code; wherein a plurality of photographic images are present on the photographic medium and at least part of the machine readable code is written on the photosensitive layer as separate code segments adjacent respective photographic images, and the machine readable code includes printer instructions which are received by the printer, that instruct the printer as to the location on the back side of the developed photographic medium where the printer is to print the information.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the information is printed on the back side of the developed photographic medium opposite each of a plurality of the photographic images.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein the information is printed on the back side at a position which is not opposite the code printed on the front side, the method additionally comprising, after the code has been read, cutting one or more regions of the developed photographic medium which carry the machine readable code from the remainder of the developed photographic medium.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of providing information on a back side of a photographic medium having a photosensitive layer on a front side, the method comprising the steps of: using a modulated light source to write a photographic image on the photosensitive layer; using a modulated light source to write machine readable code on the photosensitive layer; developing the photographic medium; reading the machine readable code on the front side of the developed photographic medium; and printing information on the back side of the developed photographic medium with a printer, such that a content of the information which is to be printed is determined from the machine readable code; wherein the machine readable code includes printer instructions which are received by the printer, which instruct the printer as to the location on the back side of the photographic medium where the printer is to print the information.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of providing information on a back side of a photographic medium having a photosensitive layer on a front side, the method comprising the steps of: using a modulated light source to write a photographic image on the photosensitive layer; using a modulated light source to write machine readable code on the photosensitive layer; developing the photographic medium; reading the machine readable code on the front side of the developed photographic medium; and printing information on the back side of the developed photographic medium with a printer, such that a content of the information which is to be printed is determined from the machine readable code; wherein the machine readable code includes printer instructions which are received by the printer, which instruct the printer as to the location on the back side of the photographic medium where the printer is to print the information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of photographic images are written on the photographic medium as a customer order, and wherein information is printed on the back side of the developed photographic medium opposite each of the photographic images.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 5 wherein at least part of the machine readable code is written on the photosensitive layer as separate code segments adjacent respective photographic images.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method according to claim 4 wherein the information is printed on the back side at a position which is not opposite the code on the front side, the method additionally comprising, after the code has been read, cutting one or more regions of the developed photographic medium which carry the machine readable code from the remainder of the developed photographic medium.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 4 wherein the same modulated light source is used to write both the photographic image and the machine readable code on the photosensitive layer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method according to claim 4 wherein a plurality of photographic images are written on the photosensitive layer and wherein the machine readable code includes cutting instructions, the method additionally comprising receiving the cutting instructions at a cutter and separating the developed images with the cutter at locations based on the received cutting instructions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method according to claim 4 wherein the information printed on the back side includes human readable characters.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 4 additionally comprising using a modulated light source to write human readable characters on the front side of the photographic medium prior to development.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 42 words

A method according to claim 11 wherein the photographic medium has two opposed parallel straight line side edges, and wherein the machine readable code and human readable characters are spaced apart along a line parallel with or orthogonal to the side edges.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 115 words

An apparatus for providing information on a back side of a developed photographic medium having an image carrying layer and a plurality of photographic images on a front side, the apparatus comprising: a reader to read machine readable code in the developed imaging carrying layer on the front side of the photographic medium; a printer communicating with the reader so as to print information on the back side of the developed photographic medium which is at least partly based on the machine readable code and a processor communicating with the reader and the printer and which causes the printer to print on one or more locations on the back side based on the read code.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 115 words

An apparatus for providing information on a back side of a developed photographic medium having an image carrying layer and a plurality of photographic images on a front side, the apparatus comprising: a reader to read machine readable code in the developed imaging carrying layer on the front side of the photographic medium; a printer communicating with the reader so as to print information on the back side of the developed photographic medium which is at least partly based on the machine readable code and a processor communicating with the reader and the printer and which causes the printer to print on one or more locations on the back side based on the read code.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 53 words

An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor further communicates with the reader and the printer and which, in response to a predetermined code in the code by the reader, causes the printer to print the information on the back side of the developed photographic medium opposite each of the photographic image.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

An apparatus according to claim 13 additionally comprising a driver to move the photographic medium past the reader in a first direction, and wherein the reader is positioned to read machine readable codes at most positions across the photographic media as it is moved past the reader.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus according to claim 13 additionally comprising a cutter, said processor communicating with the reader, the printer and the cutter, wherein, after the code has been read, the processor causes the cutter to separate one or more regions of the developed photographic medium which carry the machine readable code from the remainder of the developed photographic medium.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said processor further communicates with the reader and the printer and which, in response to a predetermined code in the code read by the reader, causes the cutter to separate a plurality of developed images at locations based on the code read by the reader.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 161 words

An apparatus for providing information on a back side of a photographic medium having a photosensitive layer on a front side, the apparatus comprising: a modulated light source to write a photographic image on the photosensitive layer; a modulated light source to write machine readable code on the photosensitive layer; a developer to chemically develop the photographic medium; a reader to read the machine readable code on the front side of the developed photographic medium; a printer communicating with the reader so as to print information on the back side of the developed photographic medium such that a content of the information which is to be printed is determined from the machine readable code; and a processor communicating with the reader and the printer and which, in response to a predetermined code in the code read by the reader, causes the printer to print the information on the back side of the developed photographic medium opposite each of the photographic images.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 161 words

An apparatus for providing information on a back side of a photographic medium having a photosensitive layer on a front side, the apparatus comprising: a modulated light source to write a photographic image on the photosensitive layer; a modulated light source to write machine readable code on the photosensitive layer; a developer to chemically develop the photographic medium; a reader to read the machine readable code on the front side of the developed photographic medium; a printer communicating with the reader so as to print information on the back side of the developed photographic medium such that a content of the information which is to be printed is determined from the machine readable code; and a processor communicating with the reader and the printer and which, in response to a predetermined code in the code read by the reader, causes the printer to print the information on the back side of the developed photographic medium opposite each of the photographic images.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 additionally comprising a driver to move the photographic medium past the reader in a first direction, and wherein the reader is positioned to read the machine readable code at most positions across the photographic media as it is moved past the reader.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 additionally comprising a cutter, said processor communicating with the reader, the printer and the cutter, wherein, after the code has been read, the processor causes the cutter to separate one or more regions of the developed photographic medium which carry the machine readable code from the remainder of the developed photographic medium.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein a single modulated light source writes both the photographic image and the machine readable code on the photosensitive layer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said processor communicates with the reader and the printer and causes the printer to print on one or more locations on the back side based on the read code.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 50 words

An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said processor communicates with the reader and the printer and, in response to a predetermined code in the code read by the reader, causes the cutter to separate a plurality of developed images at locations based on the code read by the reader.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-01-30	2004-07-31	2005-01-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-01-30	2008-07-31	2009-01-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-01-30	2012-07-31	2013-01-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for backprinting photographic media

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