Automated print and development apparatus for three dimentional and conventional photographs

Abstract

Handling of emulsion surfaces of both 3D and conventional photographs in the cases of development and drying processes is made possible by the following providing apparatus including a mechanism for selection of emulsion surface or selective reversal of the photographic paper. The difference in the processing time of 3D and conventional photography is dealt with by switching photographic paper conveying routes in the development section when processed such as development, bleach fixing and stabilizing processes take place. Printing of 3D photography is dealt with by making movable either both an exposure station and a lens or just the lens alone. Furthermore, switching is provided between respective lenses for conventional and 3D photographic printing. A suction type exposure station may be used, and may employ a mechanism to control an adhesive force applied to a photographic paper in the conventional and 3D photography. Processing of 3D photography is improved by incorporating a mechanism to allocate photographic papers into more than two lanes. The automated print and development apparatus of the present invention, which is equipped with the above features, is thus an apparatus that has the ability to perform 3D photographic processing in addition to having the functions of a conventional mini-lab, which processes conventional photographs and has the ability to handle a variety of photographic papers and films.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.