Paper delivery system for photographic printer

A photographic paper sheet supply system for a photographic printer having a cassette containing a supply roll of said paper and means for delivering said paper along a paper path extending between fixed and movable blades of a cut-off knife, said supply system comprising:

• a. a platen arranged for moving a cut-off sheet of said paper from said knife to an image plane on an optical axis of said printer for imaging said cut-off sheet;
• b. a hood arranged opposite said fixed knife blade, and light locks arranged between said hood and said cassette, and between said fixed knife blade and said cassette when said cassette is in a delivery position;
• c. a movable portion of a labyrinth light lock arranged on said movable knife blade;
• d. a fixed portion of said labyrinth light lock arranged around said paper path adjacent said movable knife blade so that when said cut-off knife is closed, said labyrinth light lock is closed to block light from a supply side of said cut-off knife;
• and
• e. a shutter for said printer being opened for imaging said cut-off sheet only when said cut-off knife and said labyrinth light lock are closed.

A method of advancing, cutting off, and delivering a sheet of photographic paper to a printer, said method comprising:

• a. advancing a web of said paper along a paper path from a supply cassette through a cut-off knife arranged at an entry to said printer;
• b. shuttering said printer to block light from a printing region of said printer while said cut-off knife is open;
• c. arranging a light-shielding hood on said printer adjacent a movable blade of said cut-off knife;
• d. light locking said cassette to a fixed blade of said cut-off knife and to said hood when said cassette is in a delivery position;
• e. arranging a movable portion of a labyrinth light seal on said movable knife blade, and a fixed portion of said labyrinth light seal around said paper path so that when said knife blade is closed, said labyrinth light seal blocks printer light from a supply side of said cut-off knife;
• and
• f. closing said movable knife blade to cut off said sheet and close said labyrinth light seal, and while said movable knife blade and said labyrinth seal are closed, advancing said cut-off sheet to said printing region and opening a shutter of said printer to image said sheet.