Patent GB-1044631-A (GB)
Title: Photographic printer
IPC: G03B27/44
Filed: 1963-03-12
Abstract: 1,044,631. Photographic printing apparatus. EASTMAN KODAK CO. March 12, 1963 [March 12, 1962], No. 9810/63. Heading G2A. An optical unit comprising one or more beam splitters is mounted between the projection and exposure stations of a printing apparatus, each beam splitter having a lens or lenses to provide a plurality of images at the exposure station; the units are interchangeable so as to vary the number and/or size of the images. As shown in Fig. 1, the lightsensitive material 28 is fed from a supply reel 118, through a printing station 30, to a take-up reel 124. Light from a source 24 passes through the negative 22 into an optical multiplier unit 26, where it is split up to form various groups of images of different sizes, as in Fig. 15. The unit 26 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2, and diagrammatically in Fig. 4. A semi-transparent mirror 86 reflects part of the light through a lens 90 to a mirror 94, thence through an aperture 96 in a baffle 98, to form a single large image (left-hand end of Fig. 15). The remainder of the light passes through mirror 86, and reaches a further semi-transparent mirror 100. Part is transmitted directly, and passes through a cluster of four lenses 112 and an aperture 116 in baffle 98 to form a group of four smaller images (centre of Fig. 15). The rest of the light is reflected from mirror 100 to a further mirror 102, and thence through a cluster of nine lenses 106 and an aperture 110 in baffle 98, to form a group of nine still smaller images (right-hand end of Fig. 15). A mask 29 is provided having apertures corresponding to the various image sizes. The apertures 96, 110, and 116 may be closed by electromagnetically operated shutter blades 34. A differently constructed optical multiplier unit, Figs. (not shown) 3 and 5, gives the arrangement of prints of Fig. 16 (not shown). The multiplier units can be interchangeably mounted in the printer 18. Provision is made for varying the magnification, and the lenses are properly focused and colour balanced. The film transport is controlled by a transport roller 126 mounted on a shaft 128 having a rigidly attached ratchet 134. This is driven through a clutch mechanism from a chain-driven sprocket 136. Ratchet 134 has teeth 140 engageable by a dog 142 controlled by a solenoid L15, which thus controls the length of print material advance. Sprocket 136 is also connected, via another clutch mechanism on its other face, with another ratchet 146. This, like ratchet 134, is controlled by a dog 166 actuated by a solenoid L13. Ratchet 146 drives, via a pulley 156 and belt 154, a shaft 148, which is connected by gearing to a programming drum 178. Dogs 142 and 166 can inter-engage, so that energizing solenoid L13 causes both of them to retract, thus permitting film advance and driving of the drum 178. Energizing solenoid L15 retracts dog 142, so allowing film advance only. The programming drum has a perforated periphery, into which clips 192 can be inserted in any desired arrangement. As the drum rotates, these actuate micro-switches in electrical circuits which control the complete sequence of operations automatically. By re-arranging the clips 192, by having different drums 178, and different gear ratios between drum 178 and shaft 148, different sizes and groupings of prints may be obtained.