Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Detailed holder for original
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-03-27
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Detailed holder for original
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208409
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to mini-labs for film processing and, more specifically, to a film deck for feeding and returning developed photographic films of various types from an insertion station to a processing station of a mini-lab.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are numerous prior art disclosures that pertain to insertion devices for film decks and mini-labs. Among these prior art devices is European patent application 0 770 917 A1, which shows a device for the processing of photographic films within a film insertion station that is designed such that both an APS (Advanced Photo System) film and a 35 mm film can be processed. To that end, European patent application 0 770 917 A1 illustrates film edge guides designed as setting means, which are adjustable to the respective film width by two actuating rods connected to a motor. To prevent incorrect insertions, extensive scanning means are needed to set the film transport and setting means to the film type inserted, such as APS film or 35 mm film. Furthermore, it is necessary to use so-called copy plates for setting a copier (mini-lab) to the film size currently being processed and for which the device is used. This makes the overall design of the device complicated and also prone to wear and faults because of the incorporation of setting and scanning means.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be readily apparent that there remains a need in the art for a design that educes the resulting complexity of the resulting device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a film deck for feeding and returning developed films of various type, in particular for APS films and 35 mm films, from an insertion station to a processing station of a mini-lab, and that avoids the above drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, a simple design that dispenses with moving setting and scanning means is to ensure rapid and reliable adjustment of the film deck to the various film types to be processed.
This object is attained by a film deck having the features of claim
1
. By a complete exchange only of the first film deck carrier plate having film-specific processing and transport means, it is advantageously achieved that rapid and reliable feeding of films of various sizes is possible, in particular of APS films and 35 mm films, to a processing station of a mini-lab. Hence a simple adjustment of the film feed to the copying station of the mini-lab is achieved. Since the film deck in accordance with the invention is matched only to a certain film size in each case, an incorrect insertion of films, for example due to a mix-up, is ruled out even for incompletely trained employees of the mini-lab. In addition, wear and tear on the equipment is markedly minimized as a result of dispensing with setting means that set the device to the film type that is to be processed. A simplified design is also achieved by the stationary connection to the mini-lab of a second carrier plate having all the means for actively driving the film. With this version of the film deck, it is not necessary to close down the entire mini-lab in the event of a failure of the film-specific means arranged on the carrier plate.
The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5673104 (1997-09-01), Rottner
patent: 5767943 (1998-06-01), Oberhardt et al.
patent: 0 770 917 A1 (1997-05-01), None
Eastman Kodak Company
Rutledge D.
Watkins Peyton C.
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