Method and apparatus for photofinishing a photosensitive media and/or ordering of imaging products

• US 6,412,990 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Stoffel, James C., McIntyre, Dale F., Manico, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLEDGE, DELLA J
• Application Number:
  US09/452,006
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 396/604, 396/605, 396/599, 396/639, 355/40, 355/41, 355/77, 355/27-29, 705/14
• US Class Current: 396/599
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/32 Projection printing apparatus, e.g. enlarger, copying camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 15/005 Order systems, e.g. printsorter
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 5/06 Applicator pads, rollers or strips

Abstract

A method and apparatus for developing an unprocessed photosensitive media and providing a visual receipt of the images developed. The apparatus includes a mechanism for moving a strip of photosensitive media along a processing path; a mechanism for applying a coating of a developing solution on the photosensitive media so as to develop any exposed image presented on the photosensitive media; a scanner for scanning the photosensitive media after the images have been developed so as to provide a digital record of the images; an order mechanism for allowing a consumer to place a photofinishing order; and a printing mechanism for printing a customer order receipt of the photofinishing order.

Claims

1. An apparatus for developing an unprocessed photosensitive media and providing a visual receipt of the images developed, comprising:

a mechanism for moving a strip of photosensitive media along a processing path;

a mechanism for applying a coating of a developing solution on said photosensitive media so as to develop any exposed image presented on said photosensitive media;

a scanner for scanning said photosensitive media after said images have been developed so as to provide a digital record of said images;

an order mechanism for allowing a consumer to place a photofinishing order; and

a printing mechanism for printing a customer receipt of said photofinishing order, said receipt having a copy of each of said images, and selection means that can be machine read for allowing customer to create a photofinishing order with respect to said images on said receipt and providing a record of the photofinishing order for the customer; and

an order scanner for scanning said receipt automatically reading said order provided thereon.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receipt includes a customer ID and any customer printing instructions regarding any of the images provided thereon.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receipt further includes information regarding the cost of extending further processing of said images.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for selection means comprises at least one selection box associated with each of said images for receiving indicia capable of being scanned.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a display screen.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said order mechanism comprises one of the following:

a touch-screen, a keyboard, a computer mouse.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a communication device for electronically transmitting said digital record file to a remote photofinishing device for fulfilling said photofinishing order.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a communication device for electronically transmitting said digital record file and the selections obtained from scanning said receipt to a remote photofinishing device for fulfilling said customer photofinishing order.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receipt includes a unique customer order number which can be used to remotely place a photofinishing order with respect to said image scanned.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receipt includes a unique customer order number which can be used for determining the status of said photofinishing order.

11. A method for developing an unprocessed photosensitive media and providing a receipt containing a visual representation of the images to be developed, comprising the steps of:

moving a strip of photosensitive media along a processing path;

applying a coating of a solution on said photosensitive media so as to develop any exposed image presented on said photosensitive media;

scanning said photosensitive media after said images have been developed so as to provide a digital record of said images; and

printing a customer photofinishing selection and order receipt of said images in said digital record, said receipt having a copy of each of said images and having means for selecting a photofinishing order with respect to said images thereon that can be machine read, said receipt providing a record of the photofinishing order; and

scanning said receipts so as to obtain said order.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said selection means comprises at least one selection box for receiving an indicia.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein said selection means comprises a selection box associated with each of said images for receiving an indicia.

14. An apparatus for developing and printing a strip of unprocessed film provided in a film cartridge, said cartridge having a cartridge ID for identifying the type of film processing required for said film, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said apparatus comprising:

a mechanism for holding said cartridge;

a reading mechanism for reading the cartridge ID when said cartridge is placed in said mechanism for holding said cartridge;

a mechanism for moving said film out of and/or back into said film cartridge along a processing path;

a mechanism for applying a coating of a processing solution on said film if the film processing for said cartridge ID read by said reading mechanism is appropriate for said processing solution; and

a scanner for scanning images after development of said latent images on said photosensitive media so as to obtain a digital record of said images.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said scanner is positioned between said mechanism for applying a coating of a processing solution and said thrust cartridge, said scanner obtaining images from said photosensitive media during return of said film into said cartridge.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a data entry device for entering a photofinishing order for the images on said film.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said film further comprises a magnetic layer capable of recording a customer photofinishing order information.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a magnetic writer for writing on said magnetic layer, if said processing solution is not appropriate for said film having said cartridge ID read by said reading mechanism, then said film is not subject to said processing solution and the customer photofinishing order is recorded on said magnetic layer by said magnetic writer for reading by a different photofinishing device for fulfilling the photofinishing order in accordance with said customer photofinishing order information recorded on said magnetic layer.

19. A method for developing and printing a strip of unprocessed film provided in a film cartridge, said cartridge having a cartridge ID for identifying the type of film processing required for said film, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

reading the cartridge ID when said cartridge is placed in said holding mechanism;

moving said film out of said film cartridge along a processing path;

applying a coating of a processing solution on said film if the film processing for said cartridge ID read by said reading mechanism is appropriate for said processing solution, said processing solution being different than a processing solution that was originally designed to process said film;

scanning said film after development of said latent images on said film so as to obtain a digital record of said images; and

modifying digital record of said images so as to compensate for using said processing solution different from which the processing solution originally designed to process said film.

20. An apparatus for developing and printing a strip of unprocessed film provided in a thrust film cartridge, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said apparatus comprising:

a retaining mechanism for receiving said thrust cartridge, said retaining mechanism being designed such that the thrust film cartridge is loaded into said retaining mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the direction the film is thrust out of said thrust film cartridge, said film only having a portion exposed;

a mechanism for thrusting said film out of and/or back into said thrust film cartridge along a processing path while said thrust cartridge is positioned in said retaining mechanism;

a mechanism for applying a coating of a processing solution only on the exposed portion of said film; and

a scanner for scanning images after development of said latent images on said photosensitive media so as to obtain a digital record of said images.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said mechanism for applying a coating of a processing solution comprises a donor web extending along said processing path and is in co-axial alignment with said film strip when it is thrust out of said thrust cartridge.

22. A method for developing and printing a strip of processed film provided in a thrust film cartridge, said film having at least exposed undeveloped image thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a retaining mechanism for receiving said thrust cartridge, said retaining mechanism being designed such that the thrust film cartridge is loaded into said retaining mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the direction the film is thrust out of said thrust film cartridge, said film only having a portion exposed;

thrusting said film out of and/or back into said thrust film cartridge along a processing path while said thrust cartridge is positioned in said retaining mechanism;

applying a coating of a processing solution only on the exposed portion of said film; and

a scanner for scanning images after development of said latent images on said photosensitive media so as to obtain a digital record of said images.

23. A method for developing and printing a strip of unprocessed film provided in a film cartridge, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

moving said film out of said film cartridge along a processing path;

determining the type of processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed;

applying a coating of a processing solution different from said processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed;

scanning said film after development of said latent images on said film so as to obtain a digital record of said images; and

modifying digital record of said images so as to compensate for using said processing solution different from which the processing solution originally designed to process said film.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said determining the type of processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed comprises the step of reading the cartridge ID in which said film is provided.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein said determining the type of processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed comprises the step of reading a cartridge ID from said cartridge in which said film is provided.

26. A method for developing and printing a strip of unprocessed film provided in a film cartridge, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

determining the type of processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed;

processing said film using a processing solution different from said processing solution for which said film was originally designed to be processed;

scanning said film after development of said latent images on said film so as to obtain a digital record of said images; and

modifying digital record of said images so as to compensate for using said processing solution different from which the processing solution originally designed to process said film.

27. An apparatus for developing and printing an unprocessed photosensitive media having a latent image thereon, comprising:

a processing section for processing said film with a processing solution, said processing solution being different than the processing solution for which said film was designed to be processed with;

a scanner for scanning said photosensitive media after development of said photosensitive media so as to obtain a digital record of said images; and

a digital processing device for modifying said digital record so as to compensate for using said processing solution different from which the processing solution originally designed to process said film.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said digital processing device comprises a computer having an algorithm for modifying said digital record.

29. A method for printing a strip of processed film provided in a film cartridge, said film having at least one latent image thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

moving said film out of said film cartridge along a processing path;

determining that said film was previously processed; and

scanning said film so as to obtain a digital record of said images.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of:

determining the type of film.

31. A method according to claim 30 modifying digital record of said images so as to compensate for the type of film that was processed.

32. A method according to claim 30 further comprising the steps of:

determining that the film was processed using a processing solution different form the processing solution originally designed to be processed said film; and

modifying said digital record of said images so as to compensate for using said processing solution different from which the processing solution originally designed to process said film.