Abstract:
The invention relates to a film deck ( 100 ) for feeding and returning developed photographic films of various types from an insertion station ( 3, 12 ) to a processing station (BA) of a mini-lab (ML); with the film deck being intended in particular for APS films and 35 mm films. A rapid and reliable adjustment of the film deck to the various film types to be processed is achieved by providing a first carrier plate ( 10 ) with means for film insertion ( 3, 12 ) film guidance ( 2 ), film transport ( 4 ) and film-specific processing ( 5, 6, 7 ) of the various film types, and a second carrier plate ( 20 ) with means ( 22, 23, 24, 25 ) for active film drive of the various film types for transporting them from the insertion device ( 10 ) to the processing station (BA), and means ( 11, 22 ) for connecting and detaching the first carrier plate ( 10 ) to/from the second carrier plate ( 20 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to mini-labs for film processing and, more specifically, to a film deck for feeding and returning developed photographic films of various types from an insertion station to a processing station of a mini-lab. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are numerous prior art disclosures that pertain to insertion devices for film decks and mini-labs. Among these prior art devices is European patent application 0 770 917 A1, which shows a device for the processing of photographic films within a film insertion station that is designed such that both an APS (Advanced Photo System) film and a 35 mm film can be processed. To that end, European patent application 0 770 917 A1 illustrates film edge guides designed as setting means, which are adjustable to the respective film width by two actuating rods connected to a motor. To prevent incorrect insertions, extensive scanning means are needed to set the film transport and setting means to the film type inserted, such as APS film or 35 mm film. Furthermore, it is necessary to use so-called copy plates for setting a copier (mini-lab) to the film size currently being processed and for which the device is used. This makes the overall design of the device complicated and also prone to wear and faults because of the incorporation of setting and scanning means. 
     From the foregoing discussion, it should be readily apparent that there remains a need in the art for a design that educes the resulting complexity of the resulting device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object underlying the present invention is therefore to provide a film deck for feeding and returning developed films of various type, in particular for APS films and 35 mm films, from an insertion station to a processing station of a mini-lab, and that avoids the above drawbacks of the prior art. In particular, a simple design that dispenses with moving setting and scanning means is to ensure rapid and reliable adjustment of the film deck to the various film types to be processed. 
     This object is attained by a film deck having the features of claim  1 . By a complete exchange only of the first film deck carrier plate having film-specific processing and transport means, it is advantageously achieved that rapid and reliable feeding of films of various sizes is possible, in particular of APS films and 35 mm films, to a processing station of a mini-lab. Hence a simple adjustment of the film feed to the copying station of the mini-lab is achieved. Since the film deck in accordance with the invention is matched only to a certain film size in each case, an incorrect insertion of films, for example due to a mix-up, is ruled out even for incompletely trained employees of the mini-lab. In addition, wear and tear on the equipment is markedly minimized as a result of dispensing with setting means that set the device to the film type that is to be processed. A simplified design is also achieved by the stationary connection to the mini-lab of a second carrier plate having all the means for actively driving the film. With this version of the film deck, it is not necessary to close down the entire mini-lab in the event of a failure of the film-specific means arranged on the carrier plate. 
     The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the film deck in accordance with the invention for APS films, 
     FIG. 2 shows a view of a first carrier plate of the film deck for APS films in accordance with FIG. 1 from above, 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of the first carrier plate according to FIG. 2 from below, 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the film deck in accordance with the invention for 35 mm films, 
     FIG. 5 shows a view of the first carrier plate of the film deck for 35 mm films in accordance with FIG. 4 from above, 
     FIG. 6 shows a view of the first carrier plate in accordance with FIG. 5 from below, and 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second carrier plate of the film deck. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a perspective view of the film deck in accordance with the invention for APS films, the film deck  100 , identified as  1001  for APS films ( 1002  for 35 mm films) is formed from a first carrier plate,  101  for the case of APS films (first carrier plate  102  for the case of 35 mm films) and from a second carrier plate  20 . The first carrier plate  101  for APS films has means for the film insertion  3  from where the film cs conveyed into a guide  2  of the carrier plate matched to the film width until the film is further conveyed to underneath a PCB sensor  5  for scanning of the DX code and perforation of a film. Arresting device  7  secures the film and an MOF (magnetic of film) unit  6  is provided for scanning the magnetic tracks contained on APS film. 
     The second carrier plate  20  is connected to the mini-lab by connecting means  28  in a stationary manner, not shown, so that feeding of the developed photographic film to the processing station BA (copying window) is enabled. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, which shows a view of a first carrier plate of the film deck for APS films in accordance with FIG. 1 from above, the first carrier plate  101  for APS films has means for the film insertion  3  that substantially comprise a film cartridge receptacle  32 . The film cartridge receptacle  32  comprises a stationary film cartridge holder with drive and transmission block  321  and a movable film cartridge holder  322  that is movable by a sliding part  323  in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG.  2 . The holder  322  has a support pin for supporting the film spool (not identified), a pushbutton  35  for status inquiry of whether the film cartridge contains an already developed film or an undeveloped one, and a support pin that engages in the hollow shaft of the film cartridge shutter. By means of a stepping motor  22  that drives, via a transmission block  36 , a shaft  33  for opening and closing the film cartridge shutter and a shaft  34  for driving the film spool, the film  1  (not shown) can be wound forward out of the film cartridge  31  or back. The film is passed over a film guide  37  designed as a guide plate into a guide  2  of the carrier plate matched to the film width until a first passively driven film drive roller pair  41  grips the film, conveys it further to underneath a PCB sensor  5  for scanning of the DX code and perforation, and to underneath an MOF (magnetic of film) unit  6  for scanning the film magnetic tracks, until a second passively driven film transport roller pair  42  grips the film in order to convey it further to underneath a projection opening  71  of a film arresting device  7 . Individual sensors  61  and  66  are provided for scanning the magnetic tracks of the film form a part of the PCB sensor unit  5 . The film arresting device  7  serves mainly for holding the film flat so that a correct copying operation can be performed. To do so, an arresting plate  72  is provided that is connected to a holder  722  via a hinge  721 . For holding the film flat in the projection opening  71 , the arresting plate  72  is pressed together with the film against a film support surface  77  with its projection opening  8  by means of an anchor plate  73  that is actuatable by applying current to the solenoid  75  (not shown) via an anchor pin  74  engaging in the solenoid  75 . The elastic hold-downs  76  also serve to assist a flat film position. The solenoid  75  as an active element is here not arranged on the first carrier plate  101 , as is made clear by FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     FIG. 3, which shows a view of the first carrier plate  101  according to FIG. 2 as seen from below, shows openings  271  and  272 , within which actively driven film transport roller pairs  251  and  252  (FIG. 7) are pressed by their spring-loaded bearings against the film  1  and passively driven film by transport roller pairs  41  and  42 . Likewise, the individual sensors  61  and  66  for scanning of the film magnetic tracks are shown which form a part of the PCB sensor unit  5  which also comprises IR transmitter/receiver diodes. As a result, all film-specific means for film insertion, film guidance, film transport and film processing are arranged on the first carrier plate  101 . The carrier plate  101  further shows three holes  11  arranged at intervals of 120° and into which engage fixing pins  21  of the second carrier plate  20 . Film cartridge  31  and transmission block  321  and a movable film cartridge holder  322  are also illustrated from the view seen in FIG. 3 as well as the rear side of anchor plate  73 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, which shows a perspective view of the film deck in accordance with the invention for 35 mm films, the first carrier plate  102  for a 35 mm film has specific means for insertion, film guidance, film transport and processing of these films. Unlike carrier plate  101 , only the film guide  2  of the carrier plate  102  is functionally set to the film width of 35 mm that is to be processed. The MOF unit is also dispensed with, since this film type is without magnetic tracks. The mode of operation of the film arresting device is similar to that with carrier plate  101 . A film is inserted via the insertion opening  12  for this film type either directly from the film outlet of a film developing machine (not shown) or separately by hand. 
     FIG. 5 shows a view of the first carrier plate of the film deck for 35 mm films in accordance with FIG.  4 . The film is passed over a first passively driven film drive roller pair  41  grips the film  1 , conveys it further to underneath a PCB sensor  5  for scanning of the DX code and perforation until a second passively driven film transport roller pair  42  grips the film in order to convey it further to underneath a projection opening  71  of a film arresting device  7 . The device  7  serves mainly for holding the film flat so that a correct copying operation can be performed. To do so, an arresting plate  72  is provided that is connected to a holder  722  via a hinge  721 . For holding the film flat in the projection opening  71 , the arresting plate  72  is pressed together with the film against a film support surface  77  with its projection opening  8  by means of an anchor plate  73  that is actuatable by applying current to the solenoid  75  (not shown) via an anchor pin  74  engaging in the solenoid  75 . The elastic hold-downs  76  also serve to assist a flat film position. The solenoid  75  as an active element is here not arranged on the first carrier plate  102 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a view of the first carrier plate in accordance with FIG. 5 from below, which shows openings  271  and  272 , which engage actively driven film transport roller pairs  251  and  252  (FIG. 7) that are pressed by their spring-loaded bearings against the film  1  and the passively driven film transport roller pairs  41  and  42 , and the PCB sensor unit  5  comprising IR transmitter/receiver diodes. As a result, all film-specific means for film insertion, film guidance, film transport and film processing are arranged on the first carrier plate  101 . The carrier plate  101  further shows three holes  11  arranged at intervals of 120° and into which engage fixing pins  21  of the second carrier plate  20 . 
     In respect of the holes  11  of the carrier plates  101  and  102 , the film guides  2 , the film drive rollers  41 ,  42 , the PCB sensor unit and the film arresting device  7  are arranged identically on both carrier plates. 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second carrier plate  20  of the film deck, wherein, an arrangement similar to the first carrier plates  101  and  102 , the second carrier plate  20  has three fixing pins  21  at intervals of 120°, so that here too a precisely fitting connection between the carrier plates can be made. The weight of the first carrier plate, which is made of steel, is sufficient for a secure connection. By simply changing the carrier plates  10  therefore, a rapid changeover of the film deck to another film type can be achieved. 
     The second carrier plate  20  of the film deck  100  has all the means for active film drive, such as a stepping motor  22  that drives a first film transport roller pair  251  via a drive shaft  23  and transmission  231 , and a second transport roller pair  252  via a gear wheel carrying a toothed belt  24 . The transport rollers of the first and second pairs  251  and  252  are designed in a width that assures dependable transport of the different film types. The transmission designed as a frictional gear  231  also connects to the transmission  36 , via which the drive shaft  34  of the film spool is actuated. The copying operation can be performed through the projection opening  8  by the mini-lab (not shown). The solenoid  75  for actuating the film arresting device  7  is also arranged on the carrier plate. The stepping motor  22  is connected by means of a plug connector  221  to a control unit, not shown, of the mini-lab. 
     The foregoing description details the best mode known to the inventor of practicing the invention. Various variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, accordingly the scope of the invention should be measured by the appended claims. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 100  
                 Film deck, general 
               
               
                 1001  
                 Film deck/carrier plates for APS films 
               
               
                 BA 
                 Processing station 
               
               
                 101  
                 First carrier plate for APS films 
               
               
                 102  
                 First carrier plate for 35 mm films 
               
               
                  1 
                 Developed film 
               
               
                  2 
                 Film guide of carrier plate 
               
               
                  3 
                 Means for film insertion 
               
               
                 31 
                 Film cartridge 
               
               
                 32 
                 Film cartridge receptacle 
               
               
                 321  
                 Film cartridge holder with drive and transmission block 
               
               
                 322  
                 Movable film cartridge holder 
               
               
                 323  
                 Sliding part 
               
               
                 33 
                 Shaft for opening and closing the film cartridge shutter 
               
               
                 34 
                 Shaft for driving the film spool 
               
               
                 35 
                 Button 
               
               
                 36 
                 Transmission block 
               
               
                 37 
                 Film guide 
               
               
                  4 
                 Passive (driven) drive roller pair 
               
               
                 41 
                 First drive roller pair 
               
               
                 42 
                 Second drive roller pair 
               
               
                 41 
                 Bearings of drive roller pairs 
               
               
                  5 
                 PCB sensor unit 
               
               
                  6 
                 MOF unit 
               
               
                 61/62 
                 Magnetic heads 
               
               
                  7 
                 Film arresting device 
               
               
                 71 
                 Projection opening 
               
               
                 72 
                 Arresting plate 
               
               
                 721  
                 Hinge 
               
               
                 722  
                 Holder 
               
               
                 73 
                 Anchor plate 
               
               
                 74 
                 Anchor pin 
               
               
                 75 
                 Solenoid 
               
               
                 76 
                 Hold-down 
               
               
                 77 
                 Film support surface 
               
               
                  8 
                 Projection opening 
               
               
                 11 
                 Holes 
               
               
                 1002  
                 Film deck/carrier plates for 35 mm films 
               
               
                 12 
                 Film insertion opening 
               
               
                 20 
                 Second carrier plate 
               
               
                 21 
                 Fixing pins 
               
               
                 22 
                 Stepping motor 
               
               
                 221  
                 Electrical plug connector 
               
               
                 23 
                 Drive shaft 
               
               
                 231  
                 Transmission 
               
               
                 24 
                 Toothed belt 
               
               
                 25 
                 Active (driving) drive roller pair 
               
               
                 251  
                 First active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 252  
                 Second active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 261  
                 Bearing element for first active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 262  
                 Bearing element for second active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 271  
                 Openings for receiving the first active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 272  
                 Openings for receiving the second active drive roller pair 
               
               
                 28 
                 Connecting means