Automatic self-service installation for printing photographs stored in digital form

• US 20030128343A1
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KIS Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: KIS Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Benis, Franck, Crasnianski, Serge
• Granted Patent: US 6,707,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 355/40
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/53 for automatically delivering a finished picture after a signal causing exposure has been given, e.g. by pushing a button, by inserting a coin
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/32 Projection printing apparatus, e.g. enlarger, copying camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/001 Counting; Classifying; Marking

Abstract

An automatic self-service installation for printing photographs stored in digital form includes a digital medium reader for reading and retrieving digital data from stored image(s) which a user wishes to restore on a paper print. A central processing unit manages the installation and permits interaction with a user. An interacting device, actuatable by the user allows user selection of image(s) within the digital medium for printing, and production of the image(s) on paper medium. An exposure system for the selected image(s) is associated with a facility for storing and moving a photosensitive paper. A chemical treatment unit includes developing baths and a facility for automatic transfer of developed photosensitive paper into the baths. The installation also includes a facility for drying paper print(s) obtained after printing and a receptacle for storing and permitting removal of the produced print(s).

Claims

1. An automatic self-service installation available to users for printing photographs stored in digital form within a digital medium, characterized in that it comprises:

at least one reader (9, 10) of the digital medium on which the digital photos to be printed are stored, which reader is intended to read and to extract the digital data corresponding to the stored image or images which the user wishes to restore on a paper print;

a central processing unit (14), intended on the one hand, to manage the operation of the installation, and on the other hand, to cater for interaction with the user;

a facility for interaction (8, 11, 12) between the central processing unit (14) and the user, capable of being actuated by the latter, and intended to allow the latter to select within the digital medium inserted into the reader, the image or images of which he wishes to obtain a paper print, then to bring about its (their) production on paper medium;

an exposure system (16) for the selected digital image or images, which is associated with a facility for storing and for moving a photosensitive paper;

a chemical treatment unit (17), consisting of a plurality of juxtaposed baths, and furnished with a facility for automatic transfer of the developed photosensitive paper (32) into the various baths;

a facility for drying the snap or snaps thus obtained after printing;

finally a receptacle (6) for storing and for removing the snaps produced.

2. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the facility for interaction (8, 11, 12), is furthermore intended to allow the carrying out of a reprocessing, or even of a reformatting of said image or images selected by the user.

3. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a payment or prepayment facility (13), intended to permit, after remittance by any means of the sum required, the production of the actual print or prints, said payment or prepayment facility being linked directly to the central processing unit (14).

4. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the facility for interaction consists of an assembly made up of a screen (8), keyboard (11) and mouse or equivalent system (12), or of a touch screen, making it possible to cater for real interaction between the installation and the user, and in particular, to permit the latter to view on said screen, the image or images to be restored, possibly reworked or reformatted, prior to its/their printing.

5. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the exposure system 16, comprises:

a light source (20), on the optical path of which is positioned a transparent LCD liquid crystal screen (30), at the level of which are displayed the images to be restored;

a shutter (23) intended to shut off on request the incident light beam emanating from the light source (20);

a projection and magnifying objective (31) situated between the LCD screen (30) and the photosensitive paper (32) to be developed;

a linear polarizer (29) situated between the light source (20) and the LCD screen (30).

6. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the exposure system (16) furthermore comprises a plate with parallel faces which is interposed on the optical axis (33) between the LCD screen (30) and the projection and magnifying objective (31), this plate being of constant thickness of between 1 and 2 mm, and centered at the level of said optical axis, and being rotatable, and inclined by an angle of 1 to 2°

with respect to the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the plate.

7. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is furnished with a scanner, linked to the central unit (14), and suitable for allowing the digitization of analogue photos or data.

8. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is furnished with a connection to the Internet network, such as to allow the user:

on the one hand, to convey directly to said installation the images whose printing he wishes to obtain from a defined site;

on the other hand, to deliver the images stored on a digital card inserted at the level of the appropriate reader (9, 10), the image or images of his choice to the e-mail address or to the site of his choice.

9. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a dispenser of sleeves, which are available within a receptacle (19) and within which the snaps produced can be stored, after printing.

10. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is integral with an order dispenser, consisting of software integrated into the central unit (14), and intended to allocate an order number to each user upon the initiation of the prints, as well as a confidential code, the latter being entered by the user into the central unit (14) by means of a keyboard (35), so as to allow the recovery of his print or prints.

11. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the LCD screen (36) is associated with the keyboard (35), so as to allow the viewing by the user of the entering of the confidential code, and to bring about, as necessary, by way of the keyboard (35) a correction (12).

12. The automatic self-service installation for printing photographs as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it furthermore comprises a dispenser of blank digital cards, said cards being available at the level of receptacle-slots (18).