Patent ID: 7006264

Claim:
An image scanner for scanning picture frames photographed on photographic film comprising: a film advancing device for advancing a web of said photographic film in a film advancing direction from a reel of a film supply device through a film passageway to a film wind-up device; a film table disposed on said film passageway and movable along said film passageway while carrying said photographic film thereon; a light permeable window formed through said film table, said light permeable window having a size that covers a scanning area to scan within each of the picture frames; a frame positioning device for positioning the picture frames individually in said light permeable window; a light projection device for projecting light toward said photographic film through said light permeable window; a linear image sensor disposed across said film passageway from said light projection device, for obtaining an image signal from an optical image that is formed through an image-forming lens from light passing through the picture frame as positioned in said light permeable window; a film table conveying device for conveying said film table along said film passageway back and forth between an initial position and a terminal position after one of the picture frames is positioned and fixed to said light permeable window, to let said image sensor scan the positioned picture frame line by line; and a loop former for forming a first loop of said photographic film between said film supply device and said film table and a second loop of said photographic film between said film table and said film wind-up device, wherein the first loop and the second loop are formed during automatic movement of the film by the loop former.