Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Identifying – composing – or selecting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-07-31
Brown, Glenn W. (Department: 2858)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Identifying, composing, or selecting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268901
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a scanning device for the essentially point by point photoelectric scanning of a photographic film or a comparable transparent object, as well as a photographic copier equipped with such a scanning device, especially a mini lab adapted for the processing of individual films.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Photographic copiers of today are equipped almost exclusively with a so-called scanner which allows the picture by picture photoelectric scanning of the images on a film to be copied with a more or less high resolution, whereby different optical arrangements are used. The digital electric scanning signals produced by the scanner which represent the picture information are in classical optical copiers (printers) analysed for exposure control or correction. In modern, so-called digital copiers, the scanning signals are used after suitable processing for the control of a digital print-producing arrangement, for example, a colour printer or a digital exposure arrangement. A satisfactory picture quality can thereby naturally only be achieved with relatively high resolution scanners and print-producing arrangements.
A high resolution photoelectric scanning also requires a high mechanical precision of the scanning device. In order to avoid positioning errors during the scanning of a film, the film must be very exactly guided at least in the region of the scanning site. This is only possible if the guide elements provided therefor in the scanning device are exactly adjusted to the dimensions (width) of the film. Upon change of the film format, the guide elements must be correspondingly re-adjusted, which means either a separate scanning arrangement must be provided for each film format, or the scanning arrangement must be correspondingly refitted upon each change of the film format. However, this would be very cumbersome, since in the practical application, especially with a mini lab, frequently changing film formats must be expected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By means of the present invention, a scanning device of the type known in the art is to be improved such that it can process films of different format without cumbersome refitting.
The solution to the object underlying the invention results from the features of the scanning device in accordance with the invention including a transport arrangement for transporting a film along a transport path, a guide arrangement for mechanical guiding and positioning of the film in a scanning zone, an illuminating arrangement for exposing the film located in the scanning zone to measuring light, a photoelectric converter arrangement for converting the measuring light transmitted by the film into corresponding signals and with optical means for directing the transmitted measuring light to the converter arrangement.
According to a main aspect of the invention, the scanning device is further equipped with a multiple platform for two or more film formats. The moveable platform is thereby provided with two or more arrangements of guide elements, respectively for one film format, which arrangements are selectively inserted into the transport path of the film depending on the film format so that each film format is always respectively exactly guided by the correct guide elements adjusted to its format and positioning errors during scanning are avoided. The ultimate selection of the individual arrangements of guide elements is thereby preferably fully automatic according to a further important aspect of the invention, whereby the film width is determined at a suitable point along the transport path of the film, for example, by way of a light barrier arrangement or another sensor and the moveable platform is correspondingly adjusted by way of a drive. Of course, an adjustment by hand is also possible. Alternatively, several film platforms can be provided for selective insertion into the transport path.
Further beneficial and especially embodiments of the scanning device in accordance with the invention are described in the dependent claims.
The scanning device in accordance with the invention is especially suited for use in a digital photographic copier. A further object of the present invention is therefore to provide a copier equipped with such a scanning device, especially a digital copier, especially a mini lab adapted for the processing of individual films.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4092067 (1978-05-01), Grossmann
patent: 4252436 (1981-02-01), Kogane
patent: 4647190 (1987-03-01), Nitsch et al.
patent: 5184227 (1993-02-01), Foley
patent: 5307114 (1994-04-01), Nitsch et al.
patent: 5444514 (1995-08-01), Negoro et al.
patent: 5767943 (1998-06-01), Oberhardt et al.
patent: 5822045 (1998-10-01), Erck
Brown Glenn W.
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Gretag Imaging AG
Leroux E P
LandOfFree
Photoelectric scanning device and copier equipped therewith does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Photoelectric scanning device and copier equipped therewith, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photoelectric scanning device and copier equipped therewith will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2510294