Photographic paper reserver mechanism

A photographic paper reserver mechanism disposed between a printing unit and a development unit and adapted for absorbing the difference between the processing speeds of the printing unit and the development unit. This photographic paper reserver mechanism is provided with a flap which is movable between a first position at which the flap guides the leading end of the photographic paper supplied from the first roller so that this leading end is received by the second roller and a second position at which the flap allows the photographic paper received by said second roller to be bent and suspended between the first and second rollers, and at least one guide arm which forms, between itself and the flap, a path through which the photographic paper is transported to the second roller when the flap is in the first position, and which is interposed between the first and second rollers so as to prevent the photographic paper from moving straight to the second roller when the flap is in the second position. The photographic paper can be guided from the first roller to the second roller while being positively curved and suspended.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a photographic paper reserver mechanism disposed 
between a printing unit and a development unit in a photographic paper 
reserver and adapted for guiding photographic paper. 
2. Related Art 
A type of photography printing and developing apparatus is known in which a 
printing unit for printing photographic paper with an image of a film and 
a development unit for developing the photographic paper that has been 
printed with the image are connected to each other. 
This type of photography printing and developing device is provided with a 
photographic paper reserver for absorbing the difference between the 
processing speeds of these units, that is, the difference between the 
speed at which photographic paper is transported through one of these 
units and the speed at which the paper is transported through the other 
unit. This photographic paper reserver is provided with a first guide 
roller positioned at the side of the printing unit and a second guide 
roller positioned at the side of the development unit. An intermediate 
portion of the photographic paper is curved and suspended between these 
rollers. The difference between the photographic-paper transportation 
speeds of the printing and development units is thereby absorbed, enabling 
the photographic paper to be supplied smoothly. 
However, it would be possible that an intermediate portion of the 
photographic paper supplied from the first guide roller is not smoothly 
curved and suspended in a desired direction so that it is folded doubly or 
triply when it is pinched by or wound around the second guide roller. 
To cope with this problem, a type of reserver has been proposed which has 
an auxiliary roller which is disposed in the vicinity of the second guide 
roller and which rotates in the opposite direction relative to the second 
guide roller. In this photographic-paper reserver provided with the 
auxiliary roller, there is such a merit that, even though an intermediate 
portion of the photographic paper is not smoothly curved and suspended in 
the desired manner, it is prevented from being folded doubly or triply. 
However, the photographic-paper reserver of the construction using the 
auxiliary roller necessitates an additional driving device for driving the 
auxiliary roller, thereby making the reserver structure totally 
complicated. Moreover, there would be a possibility of damage of the 
photographic paper due to the rotation of the auxiliary roller in the 
opposite direction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been achieved in consideration of these facts, 
and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic paper 
reserver mechanism of a simple construction capable of guiding the 
photographic paper while smoothly curving and suspending the paper, 
enabling the printing and development processing to be performed smoothly. 
To this end, the present invention provides a photographic paper reserver 
mechanism for absorbing the difference between the photographic-paper 
processing speeds of a printing unit and a development unit, comprising: a 
first roller means supplied with photographic paper processed by the 
printing unit; a second roller means for receiving the photographic paper 
supplied from the first roller means and guiding the photographic paper to 
the development unit; a flap movable between a first position at which the 
flap guides the leading end of the photographic paper supplied from the 
first roller means to the second roller and a second position at which the 
flap retreats from the first position so as to enable the photographic 
paper received by the second roller means to be bent and suspended between 
the first and second roller means; and at least one guide arm forming, 
between itself and the flap, a path through which the photographic paper 
is transported to the second roller means when the flap is in the first 
position, and the guide arm being interposed between the first and second 
roller means so as to prevent the photographic paper from moving straight 
from the first roller means to the second roller means when the flap is in 
the second position. 
In the photographic paper reserver mechanism of this construction, the flap 
is moved to a position at which it is stretched between the first and 
second guide roller means when the leading end of the photographic paper 
is introduced from the printing unit to the development unit. At this 
time, the guide arm forms between itself and the flap a path through which 
the photographic paper is supplied from the first guide roller means to 
the second guide roller means. 
After the leading end of the photographic paper has been introduced to the 
second guide roller means, the flap moves and retreats from the second 
guide roller means so that a space is formed below the first and second 
guide roller means. In this space, an intermediate portion of the 
photographic paper that is intermittently supplied from the printing unit 
at a comparatively high speed is curved and suspended and is then guided 
to the second guide roller means. At the same time, the guide arm is 
interposed between the first and second guide roller means so as to 
prevent the intermediate portion of the photographic paper from being 
directly introduced from the first guide roller means to the second guide 
roller means without being suspended in a suitable manner. Therefore, the 
intermediate portion of the photographic paper can be positively curved 
and suspended before it is guided and transported to the second guide 
roller means and the development unit. 
Thus, the present invention ensures, with a simple construction, that the 
printing process and the development process can be performed smoothly by 
curving and suspending intermediate portions of the photographic paper in 
a suitable manner without folding them doubly or triply.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows in section a photographic paper reserver mechanism in 
accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows in section the 
entire construction of a photography printing and developing apparatus 10 
to which the photographic paper reserver mechanism in accordance with the 
present invention is applied. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the photography printing and developing apparatus 10 
is constituted by a printing unit 12 and a development unit 14. A paper 
magazine 16 which accommodates a roll of photographic paper 18 is disposed 
in the printing unit 12. The photographic paper 18 which has been drawn 
out of the paper magazine 16 is successively guided and transported to a 
printing section 20. In the printing section 20 are disposed an optical 
system 22 and a light source 24 for printing images of a negative film 
onto the photographic paper 18. In this case, the printing paper 18 is 
transported in such a manner that it is alternately stopped and moved in 
accordance with printing operation performed every frame of the images. 
After printing, the photographic paper 18 is supplied to a 
photographic-paper reserver 26 and is, after passing through the 
photographic-paper reserver 26, supplied to the development unit 14. 
The development unit 14 is provided with a development vessel 28, a 
bleaching and fixing vessel 30, and a washing vessel 32. These vessels are 
processing baths containing processing liquids and used to develop the 
photographic paper 18 after exposure. 
A drying chamber 38 is disposed at the side of the washing vessel 32. After 
development, the photographic paper 18 is dried in the drying chamber 38, 
and is taken out after passing through a cutter unit 40. Since the 
photographic paper 18 is continuously developed in the development unit 
14, the speed at which the photographic paper 18 is transported 
therethrough is constant. 
The intermittent transportation of the photographic paper 18 through the 
printing unit 12 is absorbed by the photographic paper reserver 26, 
thereby enabling the photographic paper 18 to be continuously transported 
to the development unit 14. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the photographic paper reserver 26 is provided with a 
first guide roller 42 disposed at the side of the printing unit 12, a pair 
of driving rollers 43 disposed at the side of the development unit 14, and 
a second guide roller 44 disposed in the vicinity of the driving rollers 
43 between the driving rollers 43 and the first guide roller 42. The first 
guide roller 42 and the driving rollers 43 are rotated when driven by a 
driving device (not shown). 
A base end 46A of a flap 46 is supported at the axial direction opposite 
ends of the first guide roller 42 coaxially therewith. The flap 46 is a 
guide plate adapted for guiding the photographic paper 18 from the first 
guide roller 42 to the second guide roller 44. The flap 46 is pivotally 
movable about the base end 46A between a first position at which it is 
stretched between the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44 (as 
indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1) and a second position at which its 
top end 46B is distanced from the second guide roller 42 (as indicated by 
the double-dashed chain line in FIG. 1). The flap 46 is stretched between 
the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44 in the initial state in which 
the leading end of the photographic paper 18 is supplied from the printing 
unit 12 and starts to enter this section. After the leading end of the 
photographic paper 18 has completely passed over the second guide roller 
44, the flap 46 rotates about the base end 46A so that the top end 46B 
moves downward away from the second guide roller 44. In this distanced 
state, a space in which the photographic paper can be curved and suspended 
is formed between the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44. 
The flap 46 has free rollers 48 disposed in three rows arranged in the 
direction in which the photographic paper 18 is transported. Each free 
roller 48 is axially supported on the flap 46 in such a manner that it is 
freely rotatable and a part of the roller 48 protrudes beyond the upper 
surface of the flap 46. While the flap 46 is being stretched between the 
first and second guide rollers 42 and 44 after it has rotated to this 
position, the roller 48 contacts the lower surface of the photographic 
paper 18 that is moving thereover, thereby smoothly guiding the paper. A 
guide cover 50 is disposed above the first guide roller 42 and the flap 46 
in such a manner that it faces the first guide roller 42 and the flap 46. 
A gap which is formed between the guide cover 50 and the flap 46 when the 
flap 46 is stretched between the first guide roller 42 and the second 
guide roller 44 serves as a path for the photographic paper 18. 
The guide cover 50 is constituted by a central plate 51 and side plates 53 
disposed on the opposite sides of the central plate 51. Shaft-support 
projections 54 and 55 are formed on the upper surfaces of the central 
plate 51 and the side plates 53 so that their center axes are aligned with 
each other. Support shafts 56 are supported by the shaft-support 
projections 54 and 55 so that they extend in the direction perpendicular 
to that in which the photographic paper 18 is transported. Engagement 
screws 57 which are screwed into the shaft-support projections 55 press 
the support shafts 56 so as to fix the support shafts 56 to the 
shaft-support projections 55. Therefore, if the engagement between the 
projections 55 and the support shafts 56 is released by loosening the 
engagement screws 57, the side plates 53 can slide in the widthwise 
direction of the cover 50 (the axial direction of the support shaft 56) so 
as to change the entire width of the guide cover 50 in accordance with the 
width of the photographic paper 18. 
A curl-prevention roller 58 is rotatably supported on each support shaft 56 
at an intermediate portion thereof. A rectangular through hole 60 is 
formed in the central plate 51 in a position corresponding to each 
curl-prevention roller 58, a lower portion of the curl-prevention roller 
58 is fitted into the through hole 60, the lower end of this portion 
slightly protruding downward beyond the lower surface of the central plate 
51. Therefore, when the photographic paper 18 enters the path formed 
between the flap 46 and the guide cover 50, it is pinched between the free 
rollers 48 attached to the flap 46 and the curl-prevention rollers 58 
attached to the guide cover 50 so that it can be transported in a 
flattened state without any curling. 
In this case, the dimensions of parts of this section may be determined so 
as to enable the photographic paper 18 to be curled in the opposite 
direction so that the widthwise central portion of the photographic paper 
is slightly projected downward relative to both side portions. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, cut-out portions 62 are formed in the side plates 
53 in the vicinity of the far ends of the second guide roller 44. A 
cut-and-raised projection 64 is formed at the rear end of each cut-out 
portion 62 (at the side of the second guide roller 44) so that it projects 
upward from the side plate 53. Each projection 64 has a through hole 66. A 
guide arm 68 is disposed in each cut-out portion 62. 
Each guide arm 68 has a base plate portion 70 and an upper plate portion 72 
which projects perpendicularly from the base plate portion 70 so that it 
has an L-shaped cross-section. A lug 74 extends parallel to the base plate 
portion 70 from a rear end portion of the upper plate portion 72. A 
through hole 76 is formed in the lug 74 at the center thereof, and another 
through hole 76 is formed in the base plate portion 70 that faces the lug 
74. These though holes are coaxial with each other. Each guide arm 68 is 
rotatably supported in the cut-out portion 62 by a pin 78 which passes 
through the through holes 76 and the through hole 66 formed in the 
projection 64. 
One end of a guide piece 80 is fixed to an inner front-end portion of the 
base plate portion 70 of each guide arm 68. The guide piece 80 is bent at 
its intermediate portion. The other end of the guide piece 80 extends to 
an inner central position of the guide arm 68 so that it can contact and 
guide the moving photographic paper 18. A torsion spring 82 is axially 
supported by the pin 78 between the guide arm 68 and the side plate 53, 
thereby constantly urging the guide arm 68 in the direction in which the 
guide arm 68 projects downward through the cut-out portion 62. That is, 
when the flap 46 rotates to the position at which it is stretched between 
the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44, the top end 46B of the flap 
46 is brought into contact with lower surfaces of the base plate portions 
70 of the guide arms 68 so as to upwardly move the guide arms 68 against 
the urging force of the torsion coil springs 82. When the flap 46 rotates 
in the opposite direction so that the top end 46B is moved apart from the 
second guide roller 44, the guide arms 68 are moved downward by the urging 
force of the torsion coil springs 82. 
In this case, when the guide arms 68 are in the upper positions, the path 
through which the photographic paper 18 passes is formed between the flap 
46 and the guide pieces 80 of the guide arms 68. When the guide arms 68 
are in the lower positions, the guide arms 68 are interposed between the 
first and second guide rollers 42 and 44 so that they cover the outer 
periphery of the second guide roller 44 over a quarter of the outer 
periphery thereof, thereby preventing the photographic paper 18 from 
moving straight form the first guide roller 42 over the second guide 
roller 44. Therefore, when the guide arm 68 are in the lower positions, 
the photographic paper 18 is suspended from the first guide roller 42 
while bending at a large curvature and is thereafter wound around the 
second guide roller 44. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a mechanism for driving the flap 46 includes a motor 90 
which makes the flap 46 rotate and move between the first and second 
positions, a sensor 92 having light emitting and receiving elements and 
adapted for detecting the leading end of the photographic paper, a main 
switch 94 for starting the photography printing and developing apparatus 
10, and a controller for controlling the motor 90 on the basis of signals 
supplied form the sensor 92 and the main switch 94. 
Next, the operation in accordance with this embodiment will be described 
below. When the main switch 94 of the photography printing and developing 
apparatus 10 is turned on, the flap 46 is moved from the second position 
to the first position by the rotation of the motor 90 in the normal 
direction. The photographic paper 18 is printed with an image in the 
printing section 20 of the printing unit 12, and is thereafter led, by its 
leading end, to the development unit 14 through the photographic paper 
reserver 26. 
The photographic paper 18 is transported from the printing unit 12 to the 
reserver 26 in an intermittent manner each time it is printed with an 
image. In the photographic paper reserver 26, the photographic paper 18 is 
transported by being introduced into the gap between the first guide 
roller 42 and the guide cover 50. In this state, as described above, the 
flap 46 is being stretched between the first and second guide rollers 42 
and 44 after it has rotated about the base end 46A, and the guide arms 68 
are in the upper positions after they have been rotated upward against the 
urging force of the torsion coil springs 82 by the flap 46 that contacts 
the lower ends of the base plate portions 70 of the guide arms 68. 
The leading end of the photographic paper 18 which has passed over the 
first guide roller 42 is transported while being pinched between the free 
rollers 48 on the flap 46 and the curl-prevention rollers 58 on the guide 
cover 50. Even if a leading end portion of the photographic paper 18 tends 
to curve in the widthwise direction and have a lengthwise gutter-like 
shape, it is prevented from being deformed by the curl-prevention roller 
58 when brought into contact with this roller, so that it restores the 
flatness before it is guided to the top end 46B of the flap 46. 
Since the path through which the photographic paper 18 is transported is 
formed between the top end 46B and the guide pieces 80, the leading end of 
the photographic paper 18 is guided by the end 468 and is introduced via 
the second guide roller 44 into the nip between the driving rollers 43 
which are driven previously. Therefore, the photographic paper 18 is free 
from a kind of deformation or bending which might be caused when it 
contacts the peripheral surface of the driving roller 43 at its widthwise 
intermediate portion if it is curved and have a gutter-like section. 
When the leading end of the photographic paper 18 passes over the second 
guide roller 44 and is pinched completely by the driving rollers 43, in 
other words, when it is detected by the sensor 92, the operation of 
driving the driving rollers 43 is temporarily stopped, and the rotation of 
the motor 90 is reversed so that the flap 46 rotates about the base end 
46A and moves downward and the top end 46B is moved away from the second 
guide roller 44. At the same time, the guide arms 68, which have been 
pushed upward by the flap 46 in contact with the base plate portions 70, 
is moved downward by the urging force of the torsion coil springs 82. 
After the printing operation has further proceeded so that an intermediate 
portion of the photographic paper 18 is introduced into the reserver via 
the first guide roller 42, the upper surface of the photographic paper 18 
is pressed so that it is depressed downward as the guide arms 68 rotates 
and moves downward. Simultaneously, the guide piece 80 forms a guide path 
through which the suspended photographic paper 18 can be guided in front 
of the second guide roller relative to the direction of transportation, 
thereby enabling the intermediate portion of the photographic paper 18 to 
be wound around the second guide roller 44. 
After the flap 46 has been moved away from the second guide roller 44 to 
the vertically suspended position, the guide arms 68 are interposed 
between the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44, and a space is 
formed therebelow. Therefore, the intermediate portion of the photographic 
paper 18 that has passed over the first guide roller 42 is bent downward 
by its weight while being wound around the second guide roller 44, so that 
it is suspended from the first and second guide rollers 42 and 44. Since 
any curling of the photographic paper 18 has been eliminated by the 
curl-prevention rollers 58, the photographic paper 18 is smoothly bent and 
suspended. If there is a certain degree of curling, an unnecessary bending 
force is locally exerted on the photographic paper 18 when the 
photographic paper 18 is bent downward and suspended, so that the 
photographic paper 18 may be damaged. 
If, when the photographic paper 18 is introduced in the reserver via the 
first guide roller 42, the intermediate portion of the photographic paper 
18 is not suitably curved and suspended due to its stiffness so that it 
tends to be folded doubly when transported over the second guide roller 
44, it is obstructed by the guide arms 68 so that it can be positively 
curved and suspended. The photographic paper advances while maintaining 
the suspended form, and is introduced in front of the second guide roller 
44 relative to the transporting direction via the bending guide path 
formed by the guide pieces 80 of the guide arms. Therefore, there is no 
possibility of the photographic paper 18 being folded doubly or triply, 
and the photographic paper 18 can be smoothly and positively guided to the 
second guide roller 44 in conformity with the shape of the guide pieces 
80. 
After the length of the suspended portion has reached a predetermined 
value, the operation of driving the driving rollers 43 is started, and the 
photographic paper 18 successively and continuously undergoes the 
development process. As the photographic paper 18 is supplied to the 
development unit 14 after it has been bent and suspended by the 
photographic paper reserver 26, the difference between the transportation 
speeds of the printing unit 12 and the development unit 14 is absorbed. 
Therefore, the photographic paper 18 can be introduced into the 
development unit 14 at a constant speed, thereby enabling processing steps 
in the development unit 14 to be conducted smoothly. 
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the controller 96. 
If, in Step 100, the main switch 94 is turned on, the motor 90 rotates in 
the normal direction for a predetermined period of time and is thereafter 
switched off in Step 102, thereby rotating and moving the flap 43 from the 
second position to the first position. After printing, the photographic 
paper 18 is led by its leading end to the reserver 25 while the flap 43 is 
in the first position, and is pinched and driven by the driving rollers 43 
in the reserver so that it is transported to the development unit 14. At 
this time, in Step 104, the leading end of the photographic paper 18 is 
detected by the sensor 92, and, in Step 106, the motor 90 rotates in the 
opposite direction for a predetermined time and is switched off so that 
the flap 46 is moved from the first position to the second position. The 
processing exerted on the photographic paper 18 proceeds while the flap 46 
is in the second position. That is, the flap 46 is not rotated until the 
main switch is turned on in order to start the next processing.