Photosensitive material processing apparatus

A photosensitive material processing apparatus which performs, with high accuracy, the positioning of a negative table, an optical system supporting member, a guide member for photographic paper, a conveying member, a development portion, a drying portion and a cutting portion relative to each other on a base member by means of positioning members. As a result, a high quality image can be reliably obtained and the photographic paper can be accurately conveyed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing 
apparatus which exposes an image on a negative film onto a photographic 
paper and which is suitable for use in a device such as a 
printer-processor. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In a photosensitive material processing apparatus, a printer-processor is 
sometimes referred to as a "mini-laboratory" and is installed in a photo 
processing shop or the like. An exposure portion which exposes an image 
recorded on a negative film is integrated with a processor portion which 
develops an exposed photographic paper. This elongated photographic paper 
can be automatically conveyed and processed within the exposure portion 
and the processor portion after inserting the photographic paper in the 
printer-processor. In the exposure portion of this printer-processor, an 
image of the negative film is enlarged to a given size and is printed onto 
the photographic paper. The photographic paper is sequentially carried to 
the processor portion wherein the photographic paper is developed, and is 
finished as a photographic print. 
The elongated photographic paper is wound in roll-form and accommodated in 
a magazine which prevents light from entering. The photographic paper is 
sequentially pulled out of the magazine each time the photographic paper 
is exposed or the like. 
The photographic paper which is pulled out of the magazine by a 
predetermined length is held and conveyed by a conveying roller, and an 
image is simultaneously exposed onto the photographic paper. In addition, 
the photographic paper is developed, fixed, and washed in water in the 
processor portion, and is thereafter dried. 
In this conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, the 
elongated photographic paper, which is wound in roll-form, is conveyed 
from the magazine by a conveying roller, and at the same time, is 
processed. Accordingly, in order-to properly process the photographic 
paper and obtain a high-quality image, an optical axis of the negative 
film and the center of the photographic paper must be aligned with each 
other. At the same time, the photographic paper must be properly conveyed 
without moving in a zigzag manner or the like. For this reason, it is 
necessary to determine with high accuracy the positional relationship 
between an optical system supporting member for supporting a negative 
film, a lens and the like, and the photographic paper. Further, it is also 
necessary to position with high accuracy not only the conveying member for 
conveying the photographic paper within the printer-processor, but also a 
development portion or the like, next to the carrier member. 
Since respective positions of the optical system supporting member, an 
exposure stage which guides the photographic paper, the conveying member, 
and the development portion and the like are separately adjusted, 
alignment of these members is difficult. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the aforementioned problems, it is an object of the present 
invention to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus which, 
in order to maintain the quality of an image and at the same time reliably 
convey a photographic paper, is capable of effecting a mutual positioning 
of each member with high accuracy when each member is mounted to the 
apparatus. 
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
photosensitive material processing apparatus which exposes an image on a 
negative film onto a photographic paper, comprising: a base member to 
which a plurality of positioning means is mounted, said plurality of 
positioning means comprising a first positioning means, a second 
positioning means and a third positioning means, of which respective 
positions are controlled with respect to each other; a negative table 
mounted to said base member via said first positioning means so as to be 
positioned with respect to said base member and supporting the negative 
film; at least one optical system supporting member mounted to said base 
member via said second positioning means so as to be positioned with 
respect to said base member and supporting optical system components which 
guide an exposure light beam for exposing the image on the negative film; 
and a guide member for a photographic paper, which is mounted to said base 
member via said third positioning means so as to be positioned with 
respect to said base member and guides the photographic paper during an 
exposure process. 
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
photosensitive material processing apparatus which exposes an image on a 
negative film onto an elongated photographic paper and simultaneously 
develops, dries and cuts the photographic paper in that order, comprising: 
a base member; a conveying member which conveys the photographic paper and 
which is positioned with respect to said base member via at least one 
first positioning member mounted to said base member; a development 
portion which develops an exposed photographic paper and which is 
positioned with respect to said conveying member via at least one second 
positioning member mounted to said conveying member; a drying portion 
which dries the developed photographic paper and which is positioned with 
respect to said development portion via at least one third positioning 
member mounted to said development portion; and a cutting portion which 
cuts the elongated photographic paper and which is positioned with respect 
to said drying portion via at least one fourth positioning member mounted 
to said drying portion. 
According to the first aspect of the present invention as constructed 
above, a plurality of positioning means, of which respective positions are 
controlled with respect to each other, is mounted to the base member. The 
negative table supporting the negative film is mounted to the base member 
via the first positioning means, and the optical system supports member, 
which supporting the optical system component by which an exposure light 
beam for exposing the image is guided, is mounted to the base member via 
the second positioning means. And further, the guide member for the 
photographic paper, which guides the photographic paper during an exposure 
process, is mounted to the base member via the third positioning means. 
Accordingly, when an image on the negative film is exposed onto the 
photographic paper, the negative film, the optical system components such 
as a lens and a mirror, and the photographic paper are respectively 
disposed such that each position is controlled, and the positioning 
accuracy between these members is enhanced. 
According to the second aspect of the present invention as constructed 
above, the conveying member for conveying the photographic paper is 
mounted to the base member via at least one positioning member for 
position-controlling, and the conveying member is positioned with respect 
to the base member. The development portion for developing the exposed 
photographic paper is mounted and positioned with respect to the conveying 
member via at least one positioning member mounted to the conveying 
member. The drying portion for drying the developed photographic paper is 
mounted and positioned with respect to the development portion via at 
least one positioning member mounted to the development portion. The 
cutting portion for cutting the elongated photographic paper is mounted 
and positioned with respect to the drying portion via at least one 
positioning member mounted to the drying portion. 
Accordingly, when the image on the negative film is exposed to the 
elongated photographic paper, and simultaneously, the photographic paper 
is developed, dried, and cut in that order, the base member, the conveying 
member, the development portion, the drying portion and the cutting 
portion are sequentially positioned by means of the respective positioning 
members which connect these members to each other, and the elongated 
photographic paper can be properly conveyed. 
As described above, the photosensitive material processing apparatus 
according to the present invention has the excellent effects of being 
capable of positioning, with high accuracy, each member of the apparatus 
with respect to each other when the respective members are mounted to the 
apparatus, so as to maintain the quality of an image and simultaneously to 
reliably convey the photographic paper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 14, a first embodiment of a 
photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present 
invention will be described below. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a printer-processor 10, to which the present embodiment 
is applied. First, an overall structure of the printer-processor 10 will 
be described. 
The printer-processor 10 is externally covered with a casing 12. A work 
table 14 projects from the casing 12 toward the left side in FIG. 1. A 
negative carrier 18 in which a negative film 18 is set is mounted to the 
upper surface of the working table 14. Further, a light source portion 36 
is disposed under the working table 14. The light source portion 38 has a 
light source 38. A light beam emitted from the light source 38 passes 
through a filter portion 40 and a diffusion cylinder 42, so as to reach 
the negative film 16 set on the negative carrier 18. The filter portion 40 
comprises three filters, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). Each 
filter is adapted so as to move into or out of the optical axis of the 
light beam. 
An arm 44 disposed above the working table 14 is provided with an optical 
system 46. The optical system 46 comprises a lens 48, a shutter 50 and a 
reflecting mirror 51. The lens 48 and the shutter 50 are disposed in the 
optical axis of the light beam. The light beam transmitted through the 
negative film 16 passes through the lens 48 and the shutter 50 and is 
deflected by the reflecting mirror 51 at an angle of substantially 
90.degree., so that an image on the negative film 16 is directed onto-a 
photographic paper 54 set in an exposure chamber 52. 
Further, the optical system 46 is provided with a densitometer 56 such as a 
CCD for measuring the density of the negative film 16. The densitometer 56 
is connected to an unillustrated controller. Based upon data measured by 
the densitometer 56 and data inputted from keys by an operator, an 
exposure correction value during exposure is determined. 
An exposure portion 58 comprises the light source portion 36, the optical 
system 46, and the exposure chamber 52, so as to perform a printing 
process. 
A magazine-mounting portion 60 is disposed at a corner portion of an upper 
right-hand portion of the exposure chamber 52. A paper magazine 64 
accommodating an elongated photographic paper 54 wound round a reel 62 in 
layer form is mounted to the magazine-mounting portion 60. 
A pair of conveying rollers 66 is disposed in the vicinity of the 
magazine-mounting portion 60 and holds the photographic paper 54 
therebetween so as to convey the photographic paper 54 horizontally to the 
exposure chamber 52. The photographic paper 54 is wound around a roller 67 
in front of the arm 44 so that the direction thereof is changed by 
90.degree. so as to be oriented downward. It should be noted that, between 
the rollers 66 and the roller 67, a first stock portion 69 is disposed 
which guides and stocks the photographic paper in a substantially U-shaped 
configuration. 
At a downstream side of the direction of guiding the photographic paper 54 
by the roller 67, an exposure stage 94 is disposed. The exposure stage 94 
is provided with a variable mask (not shown) which is connected to an 
unillustrated controller so as to be opened or closed. For this reason, 
the controller causes the variable mask to be changed in dimensions of 
length and width of a mask portion in accordance with the size and the 
kind of print, e.g., the existence of a white frame. 
Rollers 68A, 68B and 68C are disposed under an exposure position of the 
exposure chamber 52. Within the exposure chamber 52, the photographic 
paper 54 onto which an image of the negative film 16 is printed changes 
direction by substantially 90.degree. and is conveyed to a color 
development portion 74 of a processor portion 72 adjacent to the exposure 
chamber 52. 
At a downstream side of the roller 68A, a cutter 71 is disposed. The cutter 
71 is used for cutting a trailing end of the photographic paper 54 after 
an exposing process has been finished, thereby allowing the remaining 
portion of the photographic paper 54 in the exposure chamber 52 to be 
re-wound by the paper magazine 64. 
Meanwhile, a second stock portion 78 which guides and stocks the printed 
photographic paper 54 in a substantially U-shaped configuration is 
disposed between the roller 68A and the roller 68B. The second stock 
portion 73 cancels the difference in operating time between the exposure 
portion 58 which stocks and prints the photographic paper 54, and the 
processor portion 7Z which performs the processes of development, fixation 
and washing in water. 
The color development portion 74 develops the photographic paper 54 by 
immersing the photographic paper 54 in developer. The developed 
photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a bleach-fix portion 76 adjacent to 
the color development portion 74. The photographic paper.54 is immersed in 
fixer for fixation in the bleach-fix portion 76. The fixed photographic 
paper 54 is carried to a rinse portion 78 adjacent to the bleach-fix 
portion 76. The photographic paper 54 is immersed in washing water in the 
rinse portion 78 for washing in water. 
The washed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to a drying portion 80 
adjacent to the rinse portion 78. The drying portion 80 winds the 
photographic paper 54 around a roller so as to be exposed to hot-air for 
drying. The dried photographic paper 54 is nipped by an unillustrated pair 
of rollers and is removed from the drying portion 80. A cutter portion 84 
is disposed downstream from the drying portion 80. The cutter portion 84 
comprises a cut mark sensor 86 for detecting a cut mark provided on the 
photographic paper 54, and a cutter 88 for cutting the photographic paper 
54. The cutter portion 84 cuts the photographic paper 54 at every image 
frame, and ejects the image frames out of the casing 12 of the 
printer-processor 10. 
The cut portions of the photographic paper 54 are then sorted by a sorter 
portion 108. 
Meanwhile, within the casing 12, a frame 150 is provided as shown in FIG. 
2, which forms the structure of the printer-processor 10. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the frame 150 has a substantially L-shaped 
configuration when seen from a side surface thereof and has a rectangular 
shape with a vertical direction thereof being made longer when seen from a 
front side. The frame 150 is constructed such that the conveying rollers 
66, 67 and the like are mounted in an internal cavity of the frame 150. 
At a front side 150A of the frame 150, an opening portion 152 (see FIG. 1) 
is formed such that a base member 160 which is made of for example 
aluminum alloy so as to be formed into a substantially rectangular shape 
by molding or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, is inserted 
into and mounted to the opening portion 152. Guide pieces 154, 156, 158, 
which respectively guide and mount a base member 160, project from an 
upper portion, a right-hand lower portion and a left-hand lower portion of 
the opening portion 152. A plurality of threaded holes 151 is formed in 
the frame 150. Further, the guide piece 158 also has a threaded hole 
formed therein, and the base member 160 has hole portions 161 
corresponding to the threaded holes 151 and 158. When a bolt (not shown) 
is screwed into each of the threaded holes 151 and 158 via the hole 
portions 161, the base member 160 is fixed to the frame 150. 
A pair of opening portions 162, 164 are formed in the base member 160 so as 
to be respectively disposed at upper and lower portions of the base member 
160. An exposure light beam passes through the opening portion 162. 
Further, each pair of guide pins 166, 168, 170 (the respective front-side 
pins of these pairs of guide pins which can be seen in FIG. 3 are 
indicated) is disposed and embedded in the base member 160 at the 
left-side surface thereof in FIG. 3 from an upper portion to a lower 
portion of the base member. These guide pins are disposed such that the 
mutual positional relationship thereof is accurately controlled. Each 
guide pin 166 is engaged with a hole portion (not shown) which is formed 
in a mirror-supporting table 122 for supporting the reflecting mirror 51 
as an optical system component and corresponds to one of the guide pins 
166. In addition, each guide pin 168 is engaged with a hole portion (not 
shown) which is formed in a lens table 124 on which the lens 48 as an 
optical system component is mounted and corresponds to one of the guide 
pins 168. Each guide pin 170 is engaged with a hole portion (not shown) 
which is formed in the working table 14 on which the negative film 16 is 
mounted and corresponds to one of the guide pins 170. 
Meanwhile, each pair of guide pins 172, 174, 176 (the respective front-side 
pins of these pairs of guide pins 172, 174, 176 which can be seen in FIG. 
3 are indicated) is respectively disposed and embedded in the base member 
160 at the upper, middle and lower portions thereof on the right-side 
surface of the base member 160 in FIG. 3. Each pair of guide pins 172, 
174, 176 is disposed such that the positional relationship of these guide 
pins 172, 174, 176 with respect to the left-side guide pins 166, 168, 170 
and the mutual positional relationship of the guide pins 172, 174, 176 are 
accurately controlled. Each pair of guide pins 172, 174, 176 are adapted 
so as to extend toward an inner side of the frame 150 when the base member 
160 is inserted into and mounted to the frame 150. 
Among these pairs of guide pins 172, 174, and 176 extending toward an inner 
side of the frame 150, the guide pins 172 and 174 are engaged with hole 
portions (not shown) which are formed on the exposure stage 94 serving as 
a guide member for a photographic paper and corresponding to the guide 
pins 172 and 174, respectively. As a result, the exposure stage 94 is 
accurately positioned via the base member 160 with respect to the working 
table 14 serving as a negative table, a lens table 124 serving as an 
optical system supporting member, and a mirror supporting table 122. 
Accordingly, it is possible not only to arrange the reflecting mirror 51, 
the lens 48 and the negative film 16 on a straight line so that these 
members are in a state of not being inclined toward each other, but also 
to position the exposure stage 94 so that it is of not offset and inclined 
with respect to an optical axis from these members. 
The guide pins 170 serve as first guide pins, the guide pins 166, 168 serve 
as second guide pins, and the guide pins 172, 174 serve as third guide 
pins. 
At an upper portion of the frame 150 before the exposure stage 94 is 
mounted to the frame 150, a guide plate 182 from which guide pins 180 
project is fixed to the frame 150 by means of a screw or the like, such 
that the positional relationship between the guide plate 182 and the guide 
pins 172 is controlled by a jig 190 in which each pair of hole portions 
192 is respectively formed at upper and lower portions thereof (see FIG. 
5). In other words, lower hole portions 192 of the jig 190 are engaged 
with the guide pins 172, and simultaneously, upper hole portions 192 are 
engaged with the guide pins 180, so that the positions of the guide pins 
180 with respect to the guide pins 172 are controlled. 
Further, the guide pin 195 is mounted via an L-shaped bracket 194 to the 
frame 150 by means of a screw or the like. However, as illustrated in FIG. 
6, a jig 198 having a base end portion and a leading end portion both of 
which are bent with hole portions 198A, 198B formed therein, is used, so 
that the positional relationship between the guide pin 180 and the guide 
pin 196 can be accurately controlled (see FIG. 7). Namely, the hole 
portions 198A formed at the base end portion of the jig 198 engage the 
guide pins 172 formed in the base member 160, respectively, and 
simultaneously, the guide pin 196 is inserted into the hole portion 198B 
formed at the leading end portion of the jig 198, so that the guide pin 
196 can be positioned with respect to the base member 160. 
For this reason, between these guide pins 180 and 196, a supply portion 112 
which comprises rollers 66, 67, and the like (see FIG. 1) is accurately 
positioned with respect to the base member 160, such that the position of 
the supply portion 112 is controlled by the guide pins 180 and 196. Then, 
a magazine table 130 is mounted by means of an unillustrated jig based on 
the guide pin 196, and the height of the magazine table 130 (see FIG. 1) 
at a top surface thereof can be suitably determined with respect to the 
supply portion 112. 
Further, a bracket 202 is positioned at the base member 160 in the 
following manner: as illustrated in FIG. 8, a pair of guide pins 176 
extends from a lower portion of the base member 160 and holds the bracket 
202 having recessed portions 202A which correspond to the pair of guide 
pins 176, respectively, and further, cap pins 206, of which each outer 
diameter is larger than that of the guide pin 176 and which have each hole 
portion (not shown) with which the guide pin 176 is tightly engaged, are 
respectively mounted to the guide pins 176 by screwing a bolt 207. As a 
result, positioning of the bracket 202 with respect to the base member 160 
can be performed in a state in which the bracket 202 is disposed between 
the base member 160 and the cap pin 206. It should be noted that the guide 
pin 176 has a threaded hole (not shown) at a leading end thereof, and the 
cap pin 206 has a hole portion 206A corresponding to the threaded hole of 
the guide pin 176. 
Further, a conveying base 210 is formed into a rectangular shape and has a 
right-angled bent portion 211 on each side of the base. The bent portion 
211 located at a base end 210A of the conveying base 210 is provided with 
a round hole 211A and an oblong hole glib formed therein. The cap pins 206 
engage the round hole 211A and the oblong hole 211B, respectively, so that 
the base end 210A of the conveying base 210 is mounted to the base member 
160. 
At another side end 210B of the conveying base 210, a guide pin 214 is 
mounted to a back face 150B of the frame 150, (see FIG. 9) such that the 
position of the guide pin 214 is accurately controlled by a jig 218 with 
respect to hole portions 211C formed in the conveying base 210. 
A jig 218 having each pair of pins 220 respectively at upper and lower 
portions thereof, is mounted to a rectangular plate 212 which is 
constructed such that the guide pin 214 for connection with the processor 
portion 72 is embedded in the center of the plate 212 and a pair of round 
holes 216 are formed at a lower portion thereof (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Then, 
the guide pin 214 is inserted into an oblong hole 225 which is formed at 
the back face 150B of the frame 150 such that the guide pin 214 is loosely 
engaged with the oblong hole 225. And simultaneously, the lower pins 220 
of the jig 218 are respectively inserted into the hole portions 211C of 
the conveying base 210. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a jig 236 for 
positioning the frame 150 from the bottom surface of the frame 150 is 
brought into contact with a lower side of the guide pin 214, and the 
position of the guide pin 214 and the vertically-directional position of 
the leading end of the conveying base 210 which connects the guide pin 214 
via the jig 236 are respectively determined. In this state, an 
unillustrated bolt is inserted into each oblong hole 224 and each threaded 
hole 237 formed at the back fact 150B so as to screw the plate 212 to the 
frame 150. And simultaneously, the conveying base 210 is screwed to the 
frame 150 by means of the threaded holes 238 formed in the bent portions 
211 of the conveying base 210. After that, the bracket 202, the cap pin 
206, the jigs 218, 236, and the like are removed from the frame 150. 
Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, a pair of guide pins 230 are 
embedded in the upper surface of the conveying base 210 at a proximal base 
end of the conveying base 210, while a pair of guide pins 232 are embedded 
therein at a proximal leading end of the conveying base 210. Accordingly, 
each pair of guide pins 230, 232 are respectively positioned with respect 
to the base member 160 via the conveying base 210, the cap pins 206, the 
guide pins 176 and the like. The pair of guide pins 230 are respectively 
adapted so as to engage a recess (not shown) formed in a main drive 
portion 114 comprised of a roller 68A. The pair of guide pins 232 are 
respectively adapted so as to engage a recess (not shown) formed in a 
delivery portion 116 comprised of rollers 68B, 68C and the like. 
From the foregoing, the supply portion 112 serving as a member for 
conveying, the conveying base 210, the main drive portion 114, the 
delivery portion 116, and the like are accurately positioned with respect 
to the base member 160 by means of the guide pins 172, 176, 230, 232, and 
the like. 
A hole portion (not shown) formed in the processor portion 72 is engaged 
with the guide pin 214 mounted to the plate 212, so that the position of 
the processor portion 72 in a vertical direction and a transverse 
direction of the processor portion 72 is controlled with respect to the 
exposure portion 58. 
Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 11 through FIG. 14, a pair of guide pins 
242 extending upward are fixed to an upper surface of a rack-receiving 
portion 240 which forms an outside frame of the processor portion 72 
serving as a development portion and accommodates a processing tank 
inside. Further, an opening portion 246 through which the photographic 
paper 54 passes is formed at a rear end surface of the rack-receiving 
portion 240, and a pair of guide pins 244 are fixed so as to extend in the 
left-to-right direction, i.e., in the direction of Y-axis. The pair of 
guide pins 244 engages a pair of hole portions 249, respectively, which 
are formed in the frame plate 248 as illustrated in FIG. 12, thereby 
causing the positional relationship in the direction of the Y-axis between 
the rack-receiving portion 240 and the frame plate 248 to be controlled. 
Further, a leading end of the guide pin 244 passing through the frame plate 
248 engages one of a pair of oblong holes 252 formed in a front-side bent 
piece 250A of a drying box 250 which serves as an outside frame of the 
drying portion 80 for drying the photographic paper. Next, in the case of 
mounting the drying box 250, the drying box 250 is fixed to the base table 
256 by screwing an L-shaped metallic fixture 258, so that the position of 
the drying box 250 in a vertical direction, i.e., the direction of the 
Z-axis, is controlled. 
An upper-side bent piece 250B is formed at an upper portion of the drying 
box 250. An oblong hole 254 of which the longitudinal direction is 
parallel to the front-to-back direction of the printer-processor 10, i.e., 
the direction of the X-axis, is formed in the upper-side bent piece 250B. 
The guide pin 260 is mounted to the rack-receiving portion 240 so that one 
end of the guide pin 260 extends in the front-to-back direction of the 
printer-processor 10. The guide pin 260 is used to engage a squeeze rack 
240A (see FIG. 18) for squeezing off water which has adhered to the 
photographic paper 54. A guide pin 262 which is longer than the guide pin 
260 and is positioned just under the guide pin 260 is mounted to the frame 
plate 248 so as to extend in the front-to-back direction of the 
printer-processor 10. 
A drying rack 264 having a conveying roller, a guide, a drier and the like 
(none of is shown) inside which are mounted to the drying box 250. In this 
case, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the guide pins 260 and 262 are 
respectively inserted into a round hole 290 and an oblong hole 292 both of 
which are formed in the drying rack 264, so that the position of the 
drying rack 264 in a vertical direction and a left-to-right direction is 
controlled with respect to the rack-receiving portion 240. 
Further, a guide pin 266 extending in a vertical direction is fixed to an 
upper surface of the drying rack 264. An engaged member 280 having a 
U-shaped groove 282 which corresponds to the guide pin 266 is mounted to a 
bottom surface of a top plate 270. The U-shaped groove 282 which is 
integral with the top plate 270 is engaged with the guide pin 266, so as 
to cover the drying rack 264 at an upper side thereof. A pair of oblong 
holes 272 each corresponding to the guide pins 242 is formed in the top 
plate 270, and, a pair of guide pins 276 are formed so as to correspond to 
the pair of oblong holes 254. Accordingly, when the top plate 270 is 
mounted on the drying rack 264, the guide pin 266 engages the U-shaped 
groove 282 and the oblong holes 254 engages the guide pins 276, so that 
the position of the top plate 270 in the left-to-right direction is 
controlled. Further, when the guide pins 242 engage the oblong holes 272, 
the position of the top plate 270 in the front-to-back direction is 
controlled. 
On the upper surface of the top plate 270, a pair of guide pins 284 
extending in a vertical direction engage hole portions (not shown) formed 
in a cutter portion 84 for cutting the photographic paper, and the pins 
284 control the position of the cutter portion 84 with respect to the top 
plate 270. For this reason, when the cutter portion 84 is mounted on and 
fixed to the top plate 270, the cutter portion 84 can be accurately 
positioned with respect to the rack-receiving portion 240 via these guide 
pins 266, 242, 276, oblong holes 272, 254, the U-shaped groove 282 and the 
like. 
As explained above, the conveying base 210, the processor portion 72, the 
drying rack 264, and the cutter portion 84, all of which are sequentially 
mounted to the base member 160, are positioned with high accuracy, and 
during conveying the photographic paper 54, a zigzag-line movement of the 
photographic paper 54, jamming of papers, and the like are prevented. 
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. 
First, a normal printing procedure of the printer-processor 10 will be 
explained in the following. 
The photographic paper 54 is previously carried to the exposure chamber 52 
and then is positioned. When the printing process is started, the negative 
carrier 18 is driven to position the negative film 16, and the light 
source 38 is turned on. LATD (Large Area Transmittance Density) of the 
negative film 16 is measured by the densitometer 56. According to the 
measured data and the manual input data, the exposure correction is set 
and an exposure (exposure time) is calculated, whereby an optimal exposure 
condition can be provided. The respective filters C, M, and Y positioned 
on the optical axis are moved according to the exposure condition. 
Next, the shutter 50 is opened. The opened shutter 50 allows a light beam 
emitted from the light source 38 to pass through the filter portion 40 and 
the negative film 16 into the exposure chamber 52. The printing process is 
started to print an image on the negative film 16 onto the photographic 
paper 54 positioned in the exposure chamber 52, and the shutter 50 is 
closed after the predetermined exposure time. Finally, a cut mark is 
provided on the photographic paper 54 and one image frame of the negative 
film 16 is conveyed. In the operation described above, one image frame of 
the negative film 16 has been completely printed. The above operation is 
repeated to move the photographic paper 54 so as to carry printed portions 
thereof to the processor portion 72 in order. 
The photographic paper 54 which is conveyed to the processor portion 72 is 
further conveyed to the color development portion 74 wherein the 
photographic paper 54 is immersed in developer for development. The 
developed photographic paper 54 is then conveyed to a bleach-fix portion 
76 for fixing. Thereafter, the fixed photographic paper 54 is conveyed to 
the rinse portion 78 so as to be washed in water. Having been washed with 
water, the photographic paper 54 is conveyed to the drying portion 80 for 
a drying process. 
A cut mark is detected on the dried photographic paper 54 in the cutter 
portion 84 so that the photographic paper 54 is cut at each image frame 
and then is sorted by the sorter portion 108. 
Prior to the aforementioned process, an operator places the paper magazine 
64, wherein the photographic paper 54 is accommodated, on the magazine 
table 130 so that the paper magazine 64 is mounted at a predetermined 
position. Then, the elongated photographic paper 54 is sequentially 
conveyed from the paper magazine 64 into the printer-processor 10. 
Further, during the aforementioned process, respective positions of the 
following members are controlled. 
Namely, the working table 14 for supporting the negative film 16 engages 
the guide pins 170. The lens 48, through which an exposure light beam for 
exposing an image on the negative film 16 passes, is supported by the lens 
table 134, and the lens table 124 and the mirror-supporting table 122 for 
supporting the reflecting mirror 51 engage the guide pins 166, 168, 
respectively. The exposure stage 94 which guides the photographic paper 54 
during exposure engages the guide pins 172, 174. In this manner, the 
aforementioned members are respectively mounted to the base member 160. 
Accordingly, when an image on the negative film 16 is exposed to the 
photographic paper 54, each position of the negative film 16, the lens 48, 
the reflecting mirror 51 and the photographic paper 54 is controlled via a 
plurality of guide pins 166, 168, 170, 172, 174 projecting from the base 
member 160. As a result, positioning accuracy of these members improves 
and an image of the negative film 16 can be properly exposed onto the 
photographic paper 54. 
Meanwhile, the supply portion 112 for conveying the photographic paper 54 
engages the guide pins 180, 196 which gives positioning accuracy based on 
the guide pins 172 which project from the base member 160 so as to effect 
position-controlling. Further, the conveying base 210, which is engaged 
with the guide pins 176 such that the position of the conveying base 210 
is controlled, is mounted to the base member 160, and the main drive 
portion 114 and the delivery portion 116 both of which convey the 
photographic paper 54 are mounted to the base member 160 via each pair of 
guide pins 230 and 232, respectively. 
The processor portion 72 in which the exposed photographic paper 54 is 
developed engages the guide pin 214 projecting from and positioned by the 
conveying base 210, so that the processor portion 72 is mounted to the 
conveying base 210. The drying rack 264 which comprises the drying portion 
80 for drying the developed photographic paper 54 engages the guide pins 
260, 262 projecting from the rack-receiving portion 240 which forms the 
processor portion 72, so that the drying portion 80 is mounted to the 
processor portion 72. The cutter portion 84 for cutting the elongated 
photographic paper 54 is engaged, via the top plate 270, with the guide 
pin 266 projecting from the drying rack 264, so that the cutter portion 84 
is mounted to the drying portion 80. 
Accordingly, when an image on the negative film 16 is exposed onto the 
elongated photographic paper 54, and simultaneously, the photographic 
paper 54 is developed, dried and cut in sequence, the base member 160, the 
conveying base 210, the supply portion 112, the main drive portion 114, 
the delivery portion 116, the processor portion 72, the drying portion 80 
and the cutter portion 84 are sequentially positioned by means of the 
guide pins 170, 172, 174, 176, 180, 196, 214, 230, 232, 260, 262, 266 and 
the like, which respectively connect the aforementioned members. This 
results in the positional relationship between these members being set 
with high accuracy and the elongated photographic paper 54 being properly 
carried. 
As a result, at the time of assembling the printer-processor 10, or when 
cleaning the inside of the printer-processor 10, it is possible to mount 
each member to each other only by engaging guide pins with hole portions. 
Accordingly, these members can be positioned with high accuracy, and 
simultaneously, these members can be easily mounted to each other. 
Meanwhile, when the guide pins 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176 or the like are 
embedded in the base member 160, hole portions, which are positioned with 
high accuracy, are previously formed by a machine tool such as a milling 
machine, and the guide pins are driven into these hole portions. This 
improves the mutual positioning accuracy of the guide pins.