US 6,211,943 B1Granted

Apparatus and method for improving print quality of high speed package printer

AssigneeLifetouch Portrait Studios, Inc.

InventorsE. John Adolphi, Gerald A. Jensen, Michael Breckenridge, Todd Kuester, John Lawson, Patrick J. Galloway

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Abstract

An apparatus and method relating to the print quality of a high speed package printer that produces photographs of varying size from film negatives. The high speed package printer includes a diffusion plate and a diffusion plate cleaner, and a film cleaner to remove dust and unwanted particles from the diffusion plate and film, thereby increasing the quality of prints from the printer. The apparatus increases print quality by having a plate that diffuses light from a light source shining on the photographic paper, and by automatically cleaning the diffusion plate with a brush during the time between exposures and while the photographic paper and photographic film are advancing. The apparatus also increases print quality with a film cleaning arrangement that includes applying an electrostatic charge to the film, brushing the surface of the film, vacuuming the surface of the film and using sticky rollers to remove any dust or other particles during the advancement of the film to the light source and during the time between exposures.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for improving the print quality of a photographic printer comprising:

a film supply spool and a film take up spool, the spools having a means for rotating such that a film having negatives thereon can be selectively bi-directionally translated between the spools,
a light source for projecting light through the negatives on the film,
a diffusion plate between the light source and the negatives for diffusing the light before it passes through the negative on the film,
a paper supply spool and a paper take up spool, the spools having a means for rotating such that photographic paper is translated between the spools,
a lens between the film and the photographic paper for focusing the light from the negatives on the photographic paper,
a means for cleaning the diffusion plate by relative translation of a cleaning implement on the surface of the diffusion plate to remove dust and other particles from the diffusion plate, and
an electrostatic charging means for applying an electrostatic charge to said film such that the charge is on both sides of the film and repels dust, dirt and other objects on the film to make it easier to remove therefrom, then engaging,
a first brush for cleaning a first side of the film and a second brush for cleaning a second side of the film, said brushes sandwiching the film for removing dust, dirt and other objects therefrom,
a vacuum on both sides of the film for removing dust dirt and other objects from the film,
a first air jet tube having apertures therein and a second air jet tube having apertures therein, the tubes and their apertures on opposite sides of the film for applying a jet of air on the film surfaces to loosen dust, dirt and other objects from the film such that the vacuum can remove the dust, dirt and other objects from the area and the film can be used to print pictures from a clean negative.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/306,578Filed 6 May 1999 · division
Priority: 16 Sep 1997
Granted: 3 Apr 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G03B 27/48
For automatic sequential copying of different originals, e.g. enlargers, roll film printers: with original in the form of a film strip moving…
G03B 27/40
By mechanical connections, e.g. by cam, by linkage: adapted for use with lenses of different focal length
G03B 27/44
Projection printing apparatus, e.g. enlarger, copying camera: for multiple copying of the same original at the same time
G03B 27/462
For automatic sequential copying of different originals, e.g. enlargers, roll film printers: in enlargers, e.g. roll film printers