Apparatus and method for processing images using a reciprocating easel
AssigneeApplied Graphics Technologies, Inc.
InventorScott Brownstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for processing images such as photographs or magazine pages. The computer-driven apparatus includes a reciprocating easel which moves along railings under an image capture device such as a camera. Vacuum pickers pick up images which have been processed and drop them into image drop bins under computer control, thus freeing the human operator from moving images. Vacuum compartments on the reciprocating easel hold images securely in place while they are photographed but release them when they are not being photographed. A bar code scanner system may be used to track images and correlate the images with film frames in the camera. Translucent panels within the easel allow transparencies to be processed by illuminating the images from beneath the easel.
Claims24
An image processing system comprising:
- a frame;
- a device mount for holding an image capture device above the frame;
- a vacuum picker disposed above the frame;
- an easel horizontally movable along the frame between a first position under the device mount and a second position under the vacuum picker;
- driving means for driving the easel between the first position and the second position under computer control;
- picker controlling means for controlling the vacuum picker to pick up an image placed on the easel;
- and
- a computer coupled to the driving means and the picker controlling means, for causing the driving means to drive the easel from the first position to the second position after an image capture operation, and for causing the vacuum picker to pick up an image when the easel is in the second position.
An image processing system, comprising:
- a frame;
- a left vacuum picker attached to the frame and disposed above a left side of the frame;
- a right vacuum picker attached to the frame and disposed above a right side of the frame;
- a reciprocating easel mounted above the frame and having a left image area and a right image area, the reciprocating easel being movable between a first position wherein the right image area is beneath the right vacuum picker and a second position wherein the left image area is beneath the left vacuum picker;
- and
- a piston, coupled to the reciprocating easel, which drives the reciprocating easel back and forth between the first position and the second position.
A method of processing a set of images using a computer, comprising the steps of:
- (1) placing a first image on a first side of a reciprocating easel;
- (2) under control of the computer, firing an image capture device to capture a representation of the first image;
- (3) under control of the computer, moving the reciprocating easel to a position such that the first image is beneath a first vacuum controlled picker;
- (4) placing a second image on a second half of the reciprocating easel;
- (5) under control of the computer, picking up the first image using the first vacuum controlled picker;
- and
- (6) under control of the computer, firing the image capture device to capture a representation of the second image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.