Conveyor system for collating photographic prints and negatives

A photographic collating system having a negative film outlet for discharging negative films used to print images on a printing paper in an exposing section, and a print outlet for cutting the printing paper printed and developed to predetermined lengths, and discharging the cut printing paper as prints, the negative film discharged and the prints discharged and having the images of the negative film being combined and collated, said system comprising:

• a negative film intake station for receiving said negative films from said negative film outlet;
• a print intake station for receiving said prints from said print outlet;
• a collating station for collating said negative films and said prints;
• and
• a conveyor mechanism extending through said negative film intake station, said pint intake station and said collating station, said conveyor mechanism comprising
• trays for loading said negative films at said negative film intake station and said prints at said print intake station, wherein said trays thereafter stop at said collating station for collating said negative films and said prints;
• a guide circuit defining a transport passage of said trays;
• tray-drive means divided into a plurality of drive units along said guide circuit, said tray-drive means including a first drive unit in engagement with said trays by means of a link mechanism;
• and
• a stopper unit for stopping each of said trays in a predetermined position thereby forming a storage line for successively storing said trays, through contact between a preceding one of said trays stopped by said stopper unit and a following one of this tray.