Method of and apparatus for the production of photographic proofs

A copying method, comprising the steps of conveying a plurality of coherent masters along a first path in a first direction;

• conveying an image-recording medium along a second path in a second direction counter to said first direction;
• and making a plurality of proofs corresponding to said plurality of coherent masters, said paths passing through a printing location, and the making step including printing images of said masters on said image-recording medium so that said images have the same relative orientations as said masters, said printing being performed at said location during the conveying steps.

A copying apparatus, comprising first means for positioning masters having identifying characters associated therewith in a first zone of a predetermined location;

• second means for positioning portions of an image-recording medium in a second zone of said location;
• and means at said location for printing in said second zone images of masters and identifying characters in said first zone such that the images of the masters have the same orientations as the masters and the images of the characters have the same orientations as the characters.

A copying apparatus, comprising first means for positioning masters in a first zone of a predetermined location, said first means including means for conveying a plurality of coherent masters along a first path in a predetermined direction, and said first path passing through said first zone;

• second means for positioning portions of an image-recording medium in a second zone of said location, said second means including means for conveying the image-recording medium along a second path in said direction, and said second path passing through said second zone;
• and means at said location for printing in said second zone images of masters in said first zone such that the images have the same orientations as the masters, said printing means constituting part of a means for making proofs of the masters on the image-recording medium.

A copying apparatus, comprising first means for positioning masters having identifying characters associated therewith in a first zone of a predetermined location;

• second means for positioning portions of an image recording medium in a second zone of said location;
• and means at said location for printing in said second zone images of masters and identifying characters in said first zone, said printing means constituting part of a means for making proofs of the masters on the image-recording medium, and said first means, second means and printing means permitting the images of the masters to have the same relative orientations as the masters and the images of the identifying characters to have the same relative orientations as the identifying characters.

A copying apparatus, comprising first means for positioning masters in a first zone of a predetermined location, said first means including first conveying means for conveying a plurality of coherent masters along a first path, and said first path passing through said first zone;

• second means for positioning portions of an image-recording medium in a second zone of said location, said second means including second conveying means for conveying the image-recording medium along a second path, and said second path passing through said second zone, at least one of said conveying means being reversible;
• and means at said location for printing in said second zone images of masters in said first zone, said printing means constituting part of a means for making proofs of the masters on the image-recording medium, and said first means, second means and printing means permitting the images to have the same relative orientations as the masters.