Film carrier and film handling device using same

• US 6,631,244 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Suginaga, Osami
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US09/848,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 355/75, 355/41, 355/40, 355/72, 355/74, 358/506, 396/512, 396/311
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/6271 in enlargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00273 with apparatus for handling photographic material
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00708 Size or dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0405 Different formats, e.g. A3 and A4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/121 Feeding arrangements transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0408 Scanning film strips or rolls

Abstract

A film handling apparatus having a carrier, wherein the carrier is provided with a film size sensor disposed near a film entrance opening, a transport path capable of changing a transport width while maintaining a constant center position, a mask provided with opening opposite a film and designed for use with various sizes of film and a controller for changing the transport path width and selecting the mask opening in accordance with the film size detected by the film size sensor.

Claims

1. A film carrier comprising:

a body having a film entrance opening;

a film size sensor disposed near the film entrance opening;

a transport path capable of changing a transport path width while maintaining a constant center position; and

a controller for changing the transport path width in accordance with the film size detected by the film size sensor.

2. A film carrier according to claim 1, wherein the transport path provides two guide bars positioned in parallel, each guide bar is arranged in contact with a force applying member relative to a cam positioned on the outside of the transport path and connected by a link mechanism at equal spacing.

3. A film carrier according to claim 1 further comprising:

a mask provided with opening opposite the film in the transport path, wherein the opening is designed for use with various sizes of film; and

the controller selects the mask opening in accordance with the film size detected by the film size sensor.

4. A film carrier according to claim 3, wherein the body provides an exit opening of the light transmitted through the mask having a multilateral shape to include all openings of the mask.

5. A film handling apparatus comprising:

a body having a film entrance opening;

a film size sensor disposed near the film entrance opening;

a transport path capable of changing a transport path width while maintaining a constant center position;

an illumination unit emitting light to the film positioned in the transport path; and

a controller for changing the transport path width in accordance with the film size detected by the film size sensor.

6. A film handling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transport path provides two guide bars positioned in parallel, each guide bar is arranged in contact with a force applying member relative to a cam positioned on the outside of the transport path and connected by a link mechanism at equal spacing.

7. A film handling apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

a mask provided with an opening opposite the film in the transport path, wherein the opening is designed for use with various sizes of film; and

the controller selects the mask opening in accordance with the film size detected by the film size sensor.

8. A film carrier according to claim 7, wherein the body provides an exit opening of the light transmitted through the mask having a multilateral shape to include all openings of the mask.