CA2101936A1 - Method for automatically packaging photographic prints and apparatus for implementing the method - Google Patents
Method for automatically packaging photographic prints and apparatus for implementing the methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA2101936A1 CA2101936A1 CA002101936A CA2101936A CA2101936A1 CA 2101936 A1 CA2101936 A1 CA 2101936A1 CA 002101936 A CA002101936 A CA 002101936A CA 2101936 A CA2101936 A CA 2101936A CA 2101936 A1 CA2101936 A1 CA 2101936A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- prints
- pack
- sub
- box
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
- G03D15/001—Counting; Classifying; Marking
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03D15/00—Apparatus for treating processed material
- G03D15/10—Mounting, e.g. of processed material in a frame
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
- Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
- Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
Abstract
A method for automatically packaging photographic prints, characterised by: separating the pack of prints (6) relative to each order into two print sub-packs, turning each print (6) of one sub-pack over with respect to the corresponding print of the other sub-pack, coupling each overturned print with the corresponding unturned print to form a pair of prints in which the surface containing the photographic image is facing outwards, simultaneously inserting the two prints of each pair into the same pocket (8) of a continuous web (4) formed from two sheets of transparent material joined together along one edge and comprising a plurality of equidistant transverse joining lines (10) defining a succession of pockets, after this insertion, advancing said web (4) through a distance equal to the distance between the axes of the pockets (8), inserting the next pair of prints (6) into the next pocket (8) of the continuous web (4), and transversely cutting the pocket web in accordance with the type of packaging required for that order.
Description
9 3 ~
Thls invention relates to an automatic photographic prints packaging apparatus and a method using the apparatus.
Photographic prints are currently transferred from the photographic laboratory to the retailer in suitable paper envelopes, in which the prints are simply grouped together to form a pack.
When the retailer r~turns the prints to the customer he oft~n provides the customer with a holder comprising transparent pockets into which the customer inserts the individual prints, which can hence be preserved without .~ danger of damage.
There is currently no apparatus able to automatically insert prints into the holder pockets, it therefore being impossible to do this in the photographic laboratory because of the very large number of prints handled daily. It ~ therefore follows that in their transLer from the laboratory i~ to the retailer and from the retailer to the customer the :, :
prints are subject to ~he risk of damage, this risk being also pre~ent during the insertion by the customer, ~ho may not~be able to manage thLs wi~h sufficient care.
~ GB-A-2.203.382 discloses a photograph assembly ;~ arrange~ents in which a pair of back to back prints are ~ inserted in a plastic ~il~.
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2t~1n35 US-A-4.0~3.118 discloses an apparatus for introducing ..
sections of photographic films into envelopes which are to be ; mailed to, shipped to or picked up by customers or dealers.
`: An object o~ the invPnt.ion is ta provide an automatic apparatus able to pachaging photographic prints into the transparent pockets of a holder, by which the prints can be :
: preserved without any time limit.
.
-` A further object of the inv~ntion is to provide an ` apparatus which is able to effect this insertion in dif~erent ~: .
ways, ie which enables the prints to be in~erted in an . .
ordered manner into the holder poc~ets independently of , whether the holder i5 0~ concertina type, book type or in the .. , form of multiple shPets for an album.
.,j .
~ A ~urther object of the invention is to provide an d . .
apparatus which combines considerable reliabiIity with a high speed of operation, able ko withstand the intense operating rate of a:photosraphic laboratory.
~"G~ ~ . All these objects are: achieved according to the : ~ .
invention~through an automatic photographic print packaging ~ 20 apparatus prints as described in claim 1. ~.
.~ The invention also foresees a method of automatic ';.' packaging as described in claim 20.
~ ; ~ Two pre~erred e~bodiments of the present invention are .
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further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view o~ the apparatus according to the invention; -`-. S . :' ~:
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WO9~ 04~ 21~ PCT/EP92/00329 ~ ; ~
` Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an inserted for inserting the prints into the boxes of the rotary magazine;
Figure 3 is a schematic partial cross-section through the apparatus on the line III-III of figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a further embodiment in the same view as . .
-; figure 1.
As can be seen from the figures the apparatus according .to the invention comprisPs a struct~lre 2, which can be : lO ideaIly divided into two parts, one relative to the feed of a :..
packaging web 4 and the other relative to the feed of the prints 6 and their insertion into the pockets 8 of said web.
The web 4 is formed from a sheet of transparent plastics material folded along its longitudinal central line and : lS comprising a~ plurality of pairs of~;transverse joining lines 10 which define packets. The transverse joining lines lO~can consist for example of welding and gluing lines along the two folded halves of the plastics sheet, the pockets hence being closed :on three sides and open on the fourth side, this .,'20 coinciding with that edge of the web opposite the ~olded :i edge. The :transverse joining lines 10 do not extend throughout the~ entire :width of the web but terminate at certain distance~ from~ that longitudinal edge opposite the 21~1 ~a5 W092~1~04~ PCT/EP92/00329 folded edge, to hence define two free flaps which can be opened out to facilitate the opening of the pocket for inserting the prints, as will be apparent hereinafter. A
reading mark 12 is provided between the two joining lines of s each pair.
The web 4 is wound to form a reel supported on the ~`` structUre 2 by two shoulders 14, which also delimit a table 16 for the advancement of the web, which unwinds from said reel. Along the table 16 there are provided idle rollers 18 ~o the purpose of which is to maintain the web adhering to the table, and rubber-coated rollers 20 driven by a suitable ~' motor (not ~isible on the drawings) for driving the web 4 a, towards the end o~ the table 16, at which a transverse cutter ,,. :
22 is provided.
Along t~le advancement table 16 there is also provided a reader~ 21 for~the marks 12, a pair of wideners 23 being provided~in~ proximity to the~ edge corresponding to the two widenable flaps of the web 4 in order to space said flaps apart during the insertion stage.
To the side of the advancement table 16 there is provided within the structure 2 a æone for sorting the prints and~introducing them into~the pockets of the web 4.~This zone ~ -comprises an endless; conveyor 24~for the packs of prints 6, WO92/15044 2 ~ J 3 ~ Pcr/EPg2/oo329 consisting of a suc~ession of compartments 26, each essentiially in the form of a tray with raised edges which is ~, hinged to the adjacent trays and secured to a pair of chains . ~
. 28, for its movement parallel to the advancement table 16 of the packaying web 4~
The two chains 28 extend between deviation sprockets 30, one of which is motorized. .. :
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Between the endless conveyor 2~ and the advancement table 16 for the web 4 there is provided a rotary magazine indicated overall by 32. This comprisas a cylindrical body 34 S~ of diameter approximately equal to the length of each compartement 26, measured along the longitudina1 axis of the conveyor 24, and a plurality of fins 36 extending radially - from said cylindrical:body 34 to define a plurality of radial `i'~ :~ 15 boxes 38. Alternat1vely, a maga2ine having its radial fins supported not by a cylindrical body but by an endlass belt or chain extending between deviation rollers could be provided.
. ..
In all cases, taking account of the maximum number of prints ;.
.'. constituting each order, the preferred number of radial boxes 20 is forty.
. . .
;~ The axial length of each fin 36 is slightly greater than the~length~of the~ prints 6, whereas the width of each fin 36 is just greater than:one half the width of the prints 6, so 21~ 93~ .-WO92/l504~ PCT/EP92/00329 .
..~
that when a print is housed in a corresponding box 38, just- less than one half of it projects r~dially outwards.
As the diameter of the cylindrical body 34 of the rotary magazine 32 is equal to the length of each compartment 26 as stated, and as the endless conveyor 24 has its upper rectilinear portion in the diametrical plane of said rotary magazine, when a comp~rtment 26 faces the cylindrical body 34 .. the two adjacent compartments face the two diametxically ~ .
~ opposite horizontal boxes 38', 38". ;~
10 At these two adjacent compartments, which in relation to :` : the operating cycle of the apparatus will be known as the first loading compartment 26' and the second loading compartment 26", there are fixed to the structure 2 two `? roller inserters indi~cated overall by 40' and 4~0". Each :15 roller inserter comprises a pair of coaxial rubber-coated . :
` ;~?~ rollers 42~, 42" :clos:e~to the rotary magazine 32 and constantly~ coupled~to an~:electric motor, not visible on the drawings,: for their rotation. The rollers 42', 42" are : mounted on the same shaft 44, on which the rollers of the ,., ~
20 other inserter are moun~ed so that all the rubber coated ~: rollers can be dri~en by the same motor. :
At ~each inserter 4~0',40" there is fixed onto the shaft 44~a: pùlley 46',46"j~ which~ Via a belt 4a',48" transmits ~; W092/15~44 ~ 1 ~1 n ~ ~ PCT/EP92/0~329 ~`~
rotation to a second rubber-coated pulley 50',50" spaced . further from the rotary magazine 32. This second rubber-: coated pull~lr ~0'~50" is mounted on an arm 52',52" hinged to the shaft 44, so that rotary motion is transmitted from the pulley 46',46" to the roller 50',50" independently of the angular position of the arm 5~',52" relative to the shaft 44.
The arm 52',52" is connected by a rod 54/,5411 to an overlying electromaynet 56',56" which depending on whether it ~` is enargized or not energized maintains the rubber-coated roller 50',50" either raised or`resting on the pack of prints 6 positioned in the underlying compartment 26',26".
: In a po~ition aligned with the second inserter 40'1 there ~, is provided a pusher for pushing the prints 6 from the box 38 ~;~ of the rotary magazine 32 into the pockets 8 of the packaging I5 web 4.
This pusher comprlses a vertical pln 68 mounted on a bracket 70 to which:;a~cable 72 i5 fixed and~lies parallel to the axis of the magazine 32 between two pulleys 74,74', one ;i of which is motorized. The vertical pin 68 is secured to the 20 ~racket 70 via two inclined slots 82, which result in the pin .~.
undergoing slight vertical movem~t before being dragged in a horizontal direotion by the cable ~72. The inclination of these:slots is:chosen:so that the movement of the pin towards ~ " :
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WV92/1504~ PCT/EP92/00329 ' the packaging web takes place with the pin raised, whereas the opposite movement towards the compartmentalized conveyor takes place with the pin lowered.
In the illustrated embodiment the apparatus according to the invention also comprises a sorting accessory 58 for the prints 6, for particular packaging requirements which will be described hereinafter. The accessory 58, which is applied to the structure 2 in a pos1tion overlying the ;.......................................................................... :.
~ ndless conveyor 24, consists substantially of a tray 60 for lO containing a pack of ;prints 6, and a pair of rubber-coated , rollers 62 rotating constantly in opposite direction and ~, . .
-i mounted on arms 64 which enable them to be brought into , ......................................................................... .
contact with or spaced ~rom the top print of the pack of . prints contained in the tray 60.
Guides 66~are provided on both sides of the tray 60 to accompany~he prints~6 ;into the underlying compartments of the endless conveyor in~ the manne~ described hereinafter, ~1 a~ter they have been extracted one by one from said tray 60.
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The apparatus according to the invention also comprises 20 a microprocessor which controls the entire working cycle and operates the variou;s actuators on the basis of stored logic a~nd external signal~s~re~celved from various sensors which in themselves do not form part~of the invention but are re~erred ' ,Z ~
wv 92/15044 2 ~ O 1~ PCT/EP92/00329 to as and when required in the following description of operation.
For a better understanding of the operation of the apparatus according to the inYentiOn the three dif~erent packaging methods for achieving concertina-type packaging, book-type packaging and packaging in the form of removable sheets for albums will be described separately.
Concertina-type packaging:
To achieve this type of packaging, which does not require the ~, , ~ 10 use of the sorting accessory 58, the operator ~irstly sets ;~ the chosen operating mode via the keyboard 76, and then ;:~ places the pack of~ prints 6 relative to each order on a compartment 26 or the endless conveyor 24, and u~ing the ~` keyboard sets the total number of prints to be inserted into 15 the packaging web 4. This number can be read from the pricing label present ~on the~processing~ envelope from which the pack ~ of prints 6 has~been~extracted, but could also be machine~
;Y~ read ;usi~ng~ a conventioDall reader not forming part of the d'i: ~ inventionO : ' ~ 2~0 In the meantime, the packagin~ web 4, the initial part , . .
~; of which has been unwound from the reel, presents a pocket 8 aligned~with the~ second~compartment 26" of the conveyor 24 ;and~with the fa~c~ing box~38" of the magazine 32, and has its ; 'j .
2 1 ~
W092/1504~ PCT/EP92tO0329 flaps widened because of the presence of the widener 23. The correct positioning of the pocket 8 is ensured by the reader 21 rPading a mark 12 on the web.
In this state, which can be defined as the waiting 5 state, the rubber-coated roller 50',50i' o~ both inserters . :.
40',40" is raised and the vertical pin 68 of the pusher is .-: .
~lowered into a position removed from the web 4.
`;When the apparatus is activated, either by the operator or automatically on termination of the preceding packaging :
10 cycle, the compartment 26 containing the pack o~ prints 6 to .-~be inserted is brought into the position 26', in which the -~first inserter 40' lies. Here, a sensor halts the conveyor 24 and starts an automatic sequence comprising activation of .,the electromagnet 56' causing the rotating rubber-coated ~`15 roller 50' to descend onto the pack of prints 6, the ij . , withdrawal of the top print from the pack and its transfer below the rub~ber-coated roller 42', the raising of the rubber-coated roller 50' to prevent withdrawing` the next .:
q .~
i~print, the introduction of the print 6 into the facing radial box 38' of the rotary magazine 32 by ~he rubber-coated .,, . : .
: rollers 42', the advancement of said magazine through one ~ step and~ the new~descent~of the rubber-coated roller SO' to "~ ;: :repeat the :cycle on:th~e next;print, and so on until one half .. . . .
WO ~2/1~044 2 ~ ~ ~ n, ~ PCr/Y~P92/00329 .; . .
., ;of the prints forming the pack have been transferred into the suc~essive boxes 38 of the rotary magaZine 32. For example, if the pack is formed from eighteen prints, the first nine, ie thP 1st, 2nd, .... and 9th are housed in the nine boxes of the rotary magazine 32.
On termination of this first stage a command is fed to .~the conveyor 24 to cause it to advance through two positions., .~ so that the:compartment containi~g the remaining prints 6 of ~that order assume the position 26", and at the same time a :~10 command is fed to the rotary magazine 32 to cause it to :.:,advance through an angle equal to the complement to 180 with ~reference to the 1st print, so that on termination of this .$~complementary rotation the free box immediately preceding ;~that occupied by the: 1st print is in a position facing the lS compartment 26". The list print, which ~has undergone a rotation of 180~now finds itself~ overturned: with respect ~to its orig:inal~position:, ie with respect to the prints which :~
are st~ill contained ln the compartment 26".
At this~point the second inserter 40" is caused to start ~:;:20 a new automatic sequence comprising the descent of the ~ y -:~y ~rubber~coated rollèr 50" onto the pack of prints for ithdrawing~the :lOth~print, lts introduction below the ~ :
~3~ru~ber-coated rollers 42":, the raising of the rubber-coated 2~01~
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roller 50", the introduction of the 10th print into the radial box 38" adjacent to that occupied by the 1st (overturned) print, the operation of the motorized pulley 74 for driving the cable 72, the raising of the pin 68, its horizontal advancement towards the packaying web 4, the introduction of the 1st ~overturned~ and 10th prints into the ~ : ,.
~ facing pocket 8 of said web 4, the descent of the pin 68, its . . .
; rekurn travel to the initial position, the advansement of the packaging web 4 through one step, the advancement of the Q ~o rotary magazine 32 through one step, the descent of the , . . .
rubber-coated roller 50" for introducing the 11th print into the radial box which has just been freed of the 1st print, and the continuation of the aforedescribed automatic r sequence, which leads to the introduction of tha 2nd .. . .
~ 15 (overturned) print and 11th print into the next pocket 8 of ,, : .
~ the:web 4.
J ~
During this~ stage any arching of the prints can be overcome by the presence of a longitudinal roller 78 which : cause~ the two prints.to adhere to the surface along which ' !~ , 20 they advance towards the facing pocket 8.
On terminatlon of the packaging cycle, ie after the 9th overturned)~prlnt and 18th pr~lnt have been inserted into the ninth pocket of the web 4j the~syst~em operatinq logic, which WO92/1504~ 21~1 n 3 ~!~ PCT/EP92/00329 already knows the total number of prints to be packaged, causes the web 4 to advance idly to the cutter 22, which ' 3 separates this packaged web portion from the remaining part ; of the web to be packaged.
Hence on termination of the packaging cycle a web portion 4 is obtained in which the first pocket is occupied ~:' by the 1st and 10th prints, the second by the 2nd and 1lth prints and so on until the ninth which is occupied by the 9th and l&th prints. The two prints are mutually reversed, ie -, .
; lO both the photographic images face outwards and are hence visible through the side walls of the corresponding pocket, and in addition are arranged so that after viewing the prints ~J
from one side of the ~ontinuous web port:ion 4, is is necessary only to turn the web round to view from the other 15~ side. For this purpose if an:arrow 80 1S prlnted on the free flaps~:of the pockets:~8:to~indicate the direction of unwinding of~the~web: from; the~:reel, this same a~row indicates: the direction in Which; the pockets have to be turned round to : view the photographs in the sequence in which they have been 20 taken.
It should à;1so be noted that the apparatus of the invsntion~ha~s:been~;describsd;with~reference to an operating sequence in~ which ~ for~ reasons of simplicity it has been .3~
2 1 ~
`WO9~/15041 PCT/EP92/00329 :" ' assumed that the various stages follow each other; in reality however the operating sequence can comprise superimposed stagies to reduce the average time of each packaging cycle. :
For example during the insertion of the pairs of prints into the web pockets, the rotary magazine can be located with the prints pertaining to another order, and in addition the web 4 can be advanced simultaneously with the return stroke of the pin 68 and the trans~er of a print from~the compartment 26"
to the underlying radial box 38" of the rotary ~agazine 32.
Book-type packaging:
To achieve this type of packaging, the sorting accessory 58 ~ .
:~has to ~e used, this being positioned above the conveyor 24. ;
The operator places the pack of prints to be book-packaged on the~tray 60 of the sorter 58 and uses the keyboard to set the lS total number of prints to be handled, as in the preceding case~
On starting the:packaging cycle, the two counter- :
j.h rotating rubber-coated rollers 62 are alternately caused to descend onto the pack of prints, to withdraw them one by one `i20 and place them on the two compartments 26 of the endless ~?~ ~convey~or 24, they~being spaced~apart by one compartment. The :endless conveyor~: 24:is then made to advance until the compartment containing the odd p~ints rèaches: the position WO92/15044 21 Q 1 ~ 3 ~ PCT/EP92/00329 ~ ' '.
. 26" and the compartment containing the even prints reaches the position 25~. At this point the conveyor 24 is halted and the following stages are effected in automatic sequence:
- dssc~nt of the rubber-coated roller 50' of the ~irst inserter 40' for transferring the 2nd print into the facing radial box 38' of the rotary magazine 32 in the aforesaid manner, rotation of the rotary magazine through 180~ until the first .; free box preceding the box occupied by the 2nd print is in -. - :.
~ ~ront of the compartment 26", descent of the rubber-coated :,. :, .
~ 10 roller ~0" of the second inserter 40" for transferring the .
., .
1st print into said free box, operating the pusher for .. .. .
. simultaneously transferring the 1st and 2nd (overturned) .. ; print into the facing pocket 8 of the web 4, advancing the .~., ~ .:
;~ web, opera~ing the cutter 2 for séparating the various ~ :
.,, ;! 15 pockets 8 and so ~on~Again in this case operating stages can be~superimposed ~to reduce the average time for each type of packaging. ~ ; ~
In all cases, on termination of the packaging cycle a ., ~ , plurality o~ separate pockets 8 is obtained, which can all be 20 joined to~ether along a transverse edge to obtain a book in : which~:the various pockets can be turned one by one to allow ..
the:~prints 6 to ~be~ viewed in the order in which they were taken.
21~ c~ -WO92/1504~ PCT/~Pg2/00329 It should be noted that in this described example, as illustrated on the drawings, the prints are ove~turned about an axis parallel to a major side, the prints being inserted ;into the pockets of the continuous web parallel to this major ~`5 side. The result is that the continuous web is arranged with :^ its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the overturning axis `of the prints, the formation of the book package requiring : .
the various pockets to be joined toyether along a ma~or side, :ie along a side perpendicular to the longitudinal web axis for correct viewing of the prints.
Other embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention are possible, in particular those in which the ,:., .. ~ prints can be overturned about an axis parallel to ~a minor :
;~ .' ~mside instead of a ~ajor side, and/or in which the pocket-``r ~15 formed web has its longitudinal axis parallel to the major side instead of the minor ~ide of the pockets, and/or the .
pocket-formed web has its longitudinal axis parallel instead 9 ~of perpendicular to the pocket overturning axis. In this :
latter case, the pusher 68 for pushing the pairs of prints 20 into the pockets must move perpendicular instead of prallel .
to said overturning axis.
Packaging as sheets for albums.
To achieve this type of packaging the sorting: accessory 58 .~ ~
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W092~1s04~ PCT/EP92/00329 - .
~; has to be used, the operator placing the pack of prints to be packaged on its tray 60 with the image facing downwards and the last photograph at the bottom. He then stqrts the packaging cycle by setting on the keyboard the total number of photographs to be handled and the number of pockets which each album sheet has to contain.
In the first stage of the packaging cycle the sorter 58 divides the pack of prints 6 into two sub parks in which ~; groups of N prints are deposlted alternately, where N is the -~ 10 number of pockets of each sheet. In prac'ice, the two extractor rollers 62 are alternately caused to descend N
times onto the pack o~ prints, to transfer the first group of , N prints into the underlying left compartment 26 of the .~ . . .
endless conveyor 24, a second group of N prints into the ' ~ 15 underlying right compartment, a third group of N prints into the; left compartment~ and so on, until~ the pack has been con~umed. The~ extra~ctor is then advanced until the two compartments 26 wlth the two sub-packs of prints are positioned in front of the rotary magazine 32, in the 20 positions 26' and 26".
The two sub-packs are then treated in accordance with the~already~ de~cr~ibed~concertina;pacXaging method but with .i the following differences:
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wos2t1so4~ PCT/EP92/00329 - the cutter is periodically made to cut the web of pockets into portions of N pockets, forming th~ album sheets;
- the system logic, which has alreay memorized the number of prints to be handled and which knows that a multiple m of 2N prints will be housed in m completely filled sheets whereas the remaining prints will be house in another only partly filled sheet, causes this residual number of prints ~, to be inserted into the initial pockets of the continuous ``~ web, and then advances the web to obtain the first sheet, even if this is only partly filled.
.~ . .
.;.~ This incompletely fillad sheet will r~quire subsequent , ~, manual positioning of the prints in the various pockets, but ~ this represents only a slight drawback as this type of print .~ preservation is generally used for prints which have been :
previously subjected to selection,~with the rejection of some i~ of th~m, so that their~manual handling is in any case invevitable.~ :
.:~
In the embodiment schematically illustrated in fiyure ~, ;~ ~ the basic principles~ of the present invention remain ; 20 unchanged, wher~as the endless conveyor is replaced by the print sorter:58, which is necessarily present and feeds two trays~ 80~,ao"~which face the two horizontal boxes 38',38" of the rotary magazine 32 and are provided with two roller - W092/15044 2 :t ~1.9 ~ 'i PCT/EP92/00329 - 21 ~
inserters 40',40". Here, the axis of rotation of the magazine 32 and hence the overturning ~xis of the prints 6 is parallel to the minor side of the prints, the prints being inserted into the pockets 8 of the web 4 in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. For this reason, the in~erter 68 feeding the prints 6 from the boxes of the rotaxy magazine 32 to the facing pocket 8 of the web 4 moves perpendicular to the axis of said rotary magazine, its drive cable 72 being indicated schematically by a sashed line in figure 4~
In this embodiment, the boxes 8 are closed on the side . opposite the print insertion side, so that the closure wall . also forms a stop for halting the prints in a position ,~l projecting from the respective boxes and acts as guide for `: them during their insertion into the pockets of the web 4.
., : From the aforegoing it is apparent that the method for packaging photographic prints~ and the apparatus for implementing it are particularly advantageous and in : particular~
they allow packaging to be achieved automatically with high : 20 production rates (more than 1500 prints/hour), -.they s.ubstantlally reduce the cost of conventional book- .
type packaging,~
they offer a considerable advantage for the customer, who 2 ~ 5 ' 22 - .
.' ' '.
is able to immediately view the prints as soon as they are .' receive from the retailer, - they eliminate any risk of damage to the prints~ .:
- they respect the sequence in which the photographs have been taken, which besides being an advantage for the ` customer is also advantageous to the photographic .
laboratory tchnician who can more easily quality-control .~
the prlnts and more easily identify those negatives which `~` have to be reprinted.
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Thls invention relates to an automatic photographic prints packaging apparatus and a method using the apparatus.
Photographic prints are currently transferred from the photographic laboratory to the retailer in suitable paper envelopes, in which the prints are simply grouped together to form a pack.
When the retailer r~turns the prints to the customer he oft~n provides the customer with a holder comprising transparent pockets into which the customer inserts the individual prints, which can hence be preserved without .~ danger of damage.
There is currently no apparatus able to automatically insert prints into the holder pockets, it therefore being impossible to do this in the photographic laboratory because of the very large number of prints handled daily. It ~ therefore follows that in their transLer from the laboratory i~ to the retailer and from the retailer to the customer the :, :
prints are subject to ~he risk of damage, this risk being also pre~ent during the insertion by the customer, ~ho may not~be able to manage thLs wi~h sufficient care.
~ GB-A-2.203.382 discloses a photograph assembly ;~ arrange~ents in which a pair of back to back prints are ~ inserted in a plastic ~il~.
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æsr3T~ S~
f~
1 ` ~ ~ ' ' . ', ~
2t~1n35 US-A-4.0~3.118 discloses an apparatus for introducing ..
sections of photographic films into envelopes which are to be ; mailed to, shipped to or picked up by customers or dealers.
`: An object o~ the invPnt.ion is ta provide an automatic apparatus able to pachaging photographic prints into the transparent pockets of a holder, by which the prints can be :
: preserved without any time limit.
.
-` A further object of the inv~ntion is to provide an ` apparatus which is able to effect this insertion in dif~erent ~: .
ways, ie which enables the prints to be in~erted in an . .
ordered manner into the holder poc~ets independently of , whether the holder i5 0~ concertina type, book type or in the .. , form of multiple shPets for an album.
.,j .
~ A ~urther object of the invention is to provide an d . .
apparatus which combines considerable reliabiIity with a high speed of operation, able ko withstand the intense operating rate of a:photosraphic laboratory.
~"G~ ~ . All these objects are: achieved according to the : ~ .
invention~through an automatic photographic print packaging ~ 20 apparatus prints as described in claim 1. ~.
.~ The invention also foresees a method of automatic ';.' packaging as described in claim 20.
~ ; ~ Two pre~erred e~bodiments of the present invention are .
, ! .
S ~ : ; : , ' SUBSl~ITUT~ S~E~
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21 ~1 9~,~
further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view o~ the apparatus according to the invention; -`-. S . :' ~:
,,, 10 :
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-~ 15 .
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WO9~ 04~ 21~ PCT/EP92/00329 ~ ; ~
` Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an inserted for inserting the prints into the boxes of the rotary magazine;
Figure 3 is a schematic partial cross-section through the apparatus on the line III-III of figure 2; and Figure 4 shows a further embodiment in the same view as . .
-; figure 1.
As can be seen from the figures the apparatus according .to the invention comprisPs a struct~lre 2, which can be : lO ideaIly divided into two parts, one relative to the feed of a :..
packaging web 4 and the other relative to the feed of the prints 6 and their insertion into the pockets 8 of said web.
The web 4 is formed from a sheet of transparent plastics material folded along its longitudinal central line and : lS comprising a~ plurality of pairs of~;transverse joining lines 10 which define packets. The transverse joining lines lO~can consist for example of welding and gluing lines along the two folded halves of the plastics sheet, the pockets hence being closed :on three sides and open on the fourth side, this .,'20 coinciding with that edge of the web opposite the ~olded :i edge. The :transverse joining lines 10 do not extend throughout the~ entire :width of the web but terminate at certain distance~ from~ that longitudinal edge opposite the 21~1 ~a5 W092~1~04~ PCT/EP92/00329 folded edge, to hence define two free flaps which can be opened out to facilitate the opening of the pocket for inserting the prints, as will be apparent hereinafter. A
reading mark 12 is provided between the two joining lines of s each pair.
The web 4 is wound to form a reel supported on the ~`` structUre 2 by two shoulders 14, which also delimit a table 16 for the advancement of the web, which unwinds from said reel. Along the table 16 there are provided idle rollers 18 ~o the purpose of which is to maintain the web adhering to the table, and rubber-coated rollers 20 driven by a suitable ~' motor (not ~isible on the drawings) for driving the web 4 a, towards the end o~ the table 16, at which a transverse cutter ,,. :
22 is provided.
Along t~le advancement table 16 there is also provided a reader~ 21 for~the marks 12, a pair of wideners 23 being provided~in~ proximity to the~ edge corresponding to the two widenable flaps of the web 4 in order to space said flaps apart during the insertion stage.
To the side of the advancement table 16 there is provided within the structure 2 a æone for sorting the prints and~introducing them into~the pockets of the web 4.~This zone ~ -comprises an endless; conveyor 24~for the packs of prints 6, WO92/15044 2 ~ J 3 ~ Pcr/EPg2/oo329 consisting of a suc~ession of compartments 26, each essentiially in the form of a tray with raised edges which is ~, hinged to the adjacent trays and secured to a pair of chains . ~
. 28, for its movement parallel to the advancement table 16 of the packaying web 4~
The two chains 28 extend between deviation sprockets 30, one of which is motorized. .. :
:`:
Between the endless conveyor 2~ and the advancement table 16 for the web 4 there is provided a rotary magazine indicated overall by 32. This comprisas a cylindrical body 34 S~ of diameter approximately equal to the length of each compartement 26, measured along the longitudina1 axis of the conveyor 24, and a plurality of fins 36 extending radially - from said cylindrical:body 34 to define a plurality of radial `i'~ :~ 15 boxes 38. Alternat1vely, a maga2ine having its radial fins supported not by a cylindrical body but by an endlass belt or chain extending between deviation rollers could be provided.
. ..
In all cases, taking account of the maximum number of prints ;.
.'. constituting each order, the preferred number of radial boxes 20 is forty.
. . .
;~ The axial length of each fin 36 is slightly greater than the~length~of the~ prints 6, whereas the width of each fin 36 is just greater than:one half the width of the prints 6, so 21~ 93~ .-WO92/l504~ PCT/EP92/00329 .
..~
that when a print is housed in a corresponding box 38, just- less than one half of it projects r~dially outwards.
As the diameter of the cylindrical body 34 of the rotary magazine 32 is equal to the length of each compartment 26 as stated, and as the endless conveyor 24 has its upper rectilinear portion in the diametrical plane of said rotary magazine, when a comp~rtment 26 faces the cylindrical body 34 .. the two adjacent compartments face the two diametxically ~ .
~ opposite horizontal boxes 38', 38". ;~
10 At these two adjacent compartments, which in relation to :` : the operating cycle of the apparatus will be known as the first loading compartment 26' and the second loading compartment 26", there are fixed to the structure 2 two `? roller inserters indi~cated overall by 40' and 4~0". Each :15 roller inserter comprises a pair of coaxial rubber-coated . :
` ;~?~ rollers 42~, 42" :clos:e~to the rotary magazine 32 and constantly~ coupled~to an~:electric motor, not visible on the drawings,: for their rotation. The rollers 42', 42" are : mounted on the same shaft 44, on which the rollers of the ,., ~
20 other inserter are moun~ed so that all the rubber coated ~: rollers can be dri~en by the same motor. :
At ~each inserter 4~0',40" there is fixed onto the shaft 44~a: pùlley 46',46"j~ which~ Via a belt 4a',48" transmits ~; W092/15~44 ~ 1 ~1 n ~ ~ PCT/EP92/0~329 ~`~
rotation to a second rubber-coated pulley 50',50" spaced . further from the rotary magazine 32. This second rubber-: coated pull~lr ~0'~50" is mounted on an arm 52',52" hinged to the shaft 44, so that rotary motion is transmitted from the pulley 46',46" to the roller 50',50" independently of the angular position of the arm 5~',52" relative to the shaft 44.
The arm 52',52" is connected by a rod 54/,5411 to an overlying electromaynet 56',56" which depending on whether it ~` is enargized or not energized maintains the rubber-coated roller 50',50" either raised or`resting on the pack of prints 6 positioned in the underlying compartment 26',26".
: In a po~ition aligned with the second inserter 40'1 there ~, is provided a pusher for pushing the prints 6 from the box 38 ~;~ of the rotary magazine 32 into the pockets 8 of the packaging I5 web 4.
This pusher comprlses a vertical pln 68 mounted on a bracket 70 to which:;a~cable 72 i5 fixed and~lies parallel to the axis of the magazine 32 between two pulleys 74,74', one ;i of which is motorized. The vertical pin 68 is secured to the 20 ~racket 70 via two inclined slots 82, which result in the pin .~.
undergoing slight vertical movem~t before being dragged in a horizontal direotion by the cable ~72. The inclination of these:slots is:chosen:so that the movement of the pin towards ~ " :
: ?-.. . ` ' ' . ~
2~ti ~3~
WV92/1504~ PCT/EP92/00329 ' the packaging web takes place with the pin raised, whereas the opposite movement towards the compartmentalized conveyor takes place with the pin lowered.
In the illustrated embodiment the apparatus according to the invention also comprises a sorting accessory 58 for the prints 6, for particular packaging requirements which will be described hereinafter. The accessory 58, which is applied to the structure 2 in a pos1tion overlying the ;.......................................................................... :.
~ ndless conveyor 24, consists substantially of a tray 60 for lO containing a pack of ;prints 6, and a pair of rubber-coated , rollers 62 rotating constantly in opposite direction and ~, . .
-i mounted on arms 64 which enable them to be brought into , ......................................................................... .
contact with or spaced ~rom the top print of the pack of . prints contained in the tray 60.
Guides 66~are provided on both sides of the tray 60 to accompany~he prints~6 ;into the underlying compartments of the endless conveyor in~ the manne~ described hereinafter, ~1 a~ter they have been extracted one by one from said tray 60.
,~ : . .
The apparatus according to the invention also comprises 20 a microprocessor which controls the entire working cycle and operates the variou;s actuators on the basis of stored logic a~nd external signal~s~re~celved from various sensors which in themselves do not form part~of the invention but are re~erred ' ,Z ~
wv 92/15044 2 ~ O 1~ PCT/EP92/00329 to as and when required in the following description of operation.
For a better understanding of the operation of the apparatus according to the inYentiOn the three dif~erent packaging methods for achieving concertina-type packaging, book-type packaging and packaging in the form of removable sheets for albums will be described separately.
Concertina-type packaging:
To achieve this type of packaging, which does not require the ~, , ~ 10 use of the sorting accessory 58, the operator ~irstly sets ;~ the chosen operating mode via the keyboard 76, and then ;:~ places the pack of~ prints 6 relative to each order on a compartment 26 or the endless conveyor 24, and u~ing the ~` keyboard sets the total number of prints to be inserted into 15 the packaging web 4. This number can be read from the pricing label present ~on the~processing~ envelope from which the pack ~ of prints 6 has~been~extracted, but could also be machine~
;Y~ read ;usi~ng~ a conventioDall reader not forming part of the d'i: ~ inventionO : ' ~ 2~0 In the meantime, the packagin~ web 4, the initial part , . .
~; of which has been unwound from the reel, presents a pocket 8 aligned~with the~ second~compartment 26" of the conveyor 24 ;and~with the fa~c~ing box~38" of the magazine 32, and has its ; 'j .
2 1 ~
W092/1504~ PCT/EP92tO0329 flaps widened because of the presence of the widener 23. The correct positioning of the pocket 8 is ensured by the reader 21 rPading a mark 12 on the web.
In this state, which can be defined as the waiting 5 state, the rubber-coated roller 50',50i' o~ both inserters . :.
40',40" is raised and the vertical pin 68 of the pusher is .-: .
~lowered into a position removed from the web 4.
`;When the apparatus is activated, either by the operator or automatically on termination of the preceding packaging :
10 cycle, the compartment 26 containing the pack o~ prints 6 to .-~be inserted is brought into the position 26', in which the -~first inserter 40' lies. Here, a sensor halts the conveyor 24 and starts an automatic sequence comprising activation of .,the electromagnet 56' causing the rotating rubber-coated ~`15 roller 50' to descend onto the pack of prints 6, the ij . , withdrawal of the top print from the pack and its transfer below the rub~ber-coated roller 42', the raising of the rubber-coated roller 50' to prevent withdrawing` the next .:
q .~
i~print, the introduction of the print 6 into the facing radial box 38' of the rotary magazine 32 by ~he rubber-coated .,, . : .
: rollers 42', the advancement of said magazine through one ~ step and~ the new~descent~of the rubber-coated roller SO' to "~ ;: :repeat the :cycle on:th~e next;print, and so on until one half .. . . .
WO ~2/1~044 2 ~ ~ ~ n, ~ PCr/Y~P92/00329 .; . .
., ;of the prints forming the pack have been transferred into the suc~essive boxes 38 of the rotary magaZine 32. For example, if the pack is formed from eighteen prints, the first nine, ie thP 1st, 2nd, .... and 9th are housed in the nine boxes of the rotary magazine 32.
On termination of this first stage a command is fed to .~the conveyor 24 to cause it to advance through two positions., .~ so that the:compartment containi~g the remaining prints 6 of ~that order assume the position 26", and at the same time a :~10 command is fed to the rotary magazine 32 to cause it to :.:,advance through an angle equal to the complement to 180 with ~reference to the 1st print, so that on termination of this .$~complementary rotation the free box immediately preceding ;~that occupied by the: 1st print is in a position facing the lS compartment 26". The list print, which ~has undergone a rotation of 180~now finds itself~ overturned: with respect ~to its orig:inal~position:, ie with respect to the prints which :~
are st~ill contained ln the compartment 26".
At this~point the second inserter 40" is caused to start ~:;:20 a new automatic sequence comprising the descent of the ~ y -:~y ~rubber~coated rollèr 50" onto the pack of prints for ithdrawing~the :lOth~print, lts introduction below the ~ :
~3~ru~ber-coated rollers 42":, the raising of the rubber-coated 2~01~
: - 14 -.
roller 50", the introduction of the 10th print into the radial box 38" adjacent to that occupied by the 1st (overturned) print, the operation of the motorized pulley 74 for driving the cable 72, the raising of the pin 68, its horizontal advancement towards the packaying web 4, the introduction of the 1st ~overturned~ and 10th prints into the ~ : ,.
~ facing pocket 8 of said web 4, the descent of the pin 68, its . . .
; rekurn travel to the initial position, the advansement of the packaging web 4 through one step, the advancement of the Q ~o rotary magazine 32 through one step, the descent of the , . . .
rubber-coated roller 50" for introducing the 11th print into the radial box which has just been freed of the 1st print, and the continuation of the aforedescribed automatic r sequence, which leads to the introduction of tha 2nd .. . .
~ 15 (overturned) print and 11th print into the next pocket 8 of ,, : .
~ the:web 4.
J ~
During this~ stage any arching of the prints can be overcome by the presence of a longitudinal roller 78 which : cause~ the two prints.to adhere to the surface along which ' !~ , 20 they advance towards the facing pocket 8.
On terminatlon of the packaging cycle, ie after the 9th overturned)~prlnt and 18th pr~lnt have been inserted into the ninth pocket of the web 4j the~syst~em operatinq logic, which WO92/1504~ 21~1 n 3 ~!~ PCT/EP92/00329 already knows the total number of prints to be packaged, causes the web 4 to advance idly to the cutter 22, which ' 3 separates this packaged web portion from the remaining part ; of the web to be packaged.
Hence on termination of the packaging cycle a web portion 4 is obtained in which the first pocket is occupied ~:' by the 1st and 10th prints, the second by the 2nd and 1lth prints and so on until the ninth which is occupied by the 9th and l&th prints. The two prints are mutually reversed, ie -, .
; lO both the photographic images face outwards and are hence visible through the side walls of the corresponding pocket, and in addition are arranged so that after viewing the prints ~J
from one side of the ~ontinuous web port:ion 4, is is necessary only to turn the web round to view from the other 15~ side. For this purpose if an:arrow 80 1S prlnted on the free flaps~:of the pockets:~8:to~indicate the direction of unwinding of~the~web: from; the~:reel, this same a~row indicates: the direction in Which; the pockets have to be turned round to : view the photographs in the sequence in which they have been 20 taken.
It should à;1so be noted that the apparatus of the invsntion~ha~s:been~;describsd;with~reference to an operating sequence in~ which ~ for~ reasons of simplicity it has been .3~
2 1 ~
`WO9~/15041 PCT/EP92/00329 :" ' assumed that the various stages follow each other; in reality however the operating sequence can comprise superimposed stagies to reduce the average time of each packaging cycle. :
For example during the insertion of the pairs of prints into the web pockets, the rotary magazine can be located with the prints pertaining to another order, and in addition the web 4 can be advanced simultaneously with the return stroke of the pin 68 and the trans~er of a print from~the compartment 26"
to the underlying radial box 38" of the rotary ~agazine 32.
Book-type packaging:
To achieve this type of packaging, the sorting accessory 58 ~ .
:~has to ~e used, this being positioned above the conveyor 24. ;
The operator places the pack of prints to be book-packaged on the~tray 60 of the sorter 58 and uses the keyboard to set the lS total number of prints to be handled, as in the preceding case~
On starting the:packaging cycle, the two counter- :
j.h rotating rubber-coated rollers 62 are alternately caused to descend onto the pack of prints, to withdraw them one by one `i20 and place them on the two compartments 26 of the endless ~?~ ~convey~or 24, they~being spaced~apart by one compartment. The :endless conveyor~: 24:is then made to advance until the compartment containing the odd p~ints rèaches: the position WO92/15044 21 Q 1 ~ 3 ~ PCT/EP92/00329 ~ ' '.
. 26" and the compartment containing the even prints reaches the position 25~. At this point the conveyor 24 is halted and the following stages are effected in automatic sequence:
- dssc~nt of the rubber-coated roller 50' of the ~irst inserter 40' for transferring the 2nd print into the facing radial box 38' of the rotary magazine 32 in the aforesaid manner, rotation of the rotary magazine through 180~ until the first .; free box preceding the box occupied by the 2nd print is in -. - :.
~ ~ront of the compartment 26", descent of the rubber-coated :,. :, .
~ 10 roller ~0" of the second inserter 40" for transferring the .
., .
1st print into said free box, operating the pusher for .. .. .
. simultaneously transferring the 1st and 2nd (overturned) .. ; print into the facing pocket 8 of the web 4, advancing the .~., ~ .:
;~ web, opera~ing the cutter 2 for séparating the various ~ :
.,, ;! 15 pockets 8 and so ~on~Again in this case operating stages can be~superimposed ~to reduce the average time for each type of packaging. ~ ; ~
In all cases, on termination of the packaging cycle a ., ~ , plurality o~ separate pockets 8 is obtained, which can all be 20 joined to~ether along a transverse edge to obtain a book in : which~:the various pockets can be turned one by one to allow ..
the:~prints 6 to ~be~ viewed in the order in which they were taken.
21~ c~ -WO92/1504~ PCT/~Pg2/00329 It should be noted that in this described example, as illustrated on the drawings, the prints are ove~turned about an axis parallel to a major side, the prints being inserted ;into the pockets of the continuous web parallel to this major ~`5 side. The result is that the continuous web is arranged with :^ its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the overturning axis `of the prints, the formation of the book package requiring : .
the various pockets to be joined toyether along a ma~or side, :ie along a side perpendicular to the longitudinal web axis for correct viewing of the prints.
Other embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention are possible, in particular those in which the ,:., .. ~ prints can be overturned about an axis parallel to ~a minor :
;~ .' ~mside instead of a ~ajor side, and/or in which the pocket-``r ~15 formed web has its longitudinal axis parallel to the major side instead of the minor ~ide of the pockets, and/or the .
pocket-formed web has its longitudinal axis parallel instead 9 ~of perpendicular to the pocket overturning axis. In this :
latter case, the pusher 68 for pushing the pairs of prints 20 into the pockets must move perpendicular instead of prallel .
to said overturning axis.
Packaging as sheets for albums.
To achieve this type of packaging the sorting: accessory 58 .~ ~
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, .. , . ,.,. ;~ ' ' ' :: . r' ': : , ': . ,.. , : , i . : . . :;
2~a~3~
W092~1s04~ PCT/EP92/00329 - .
~; has to be used, the operator placing the pack of prints to be packaged on its tray 60 with the image facing downwards and the last photograph at the bottom. He then stqrts the packaging cycle by setting on the keyboard the total number of photographs to be handled and the number of pockets which each album sheet has to contain.
In the first stage of the packaging cycle the sorter 58 divides the pack of prints 6 into two sub parks in which ~; groups of N prints are deposlted alternately, where N is the -~ 10 number of pockets of each sheet. In prac'ice, the two extractor rollers 62 are alternately caused to descend N
times onto the pack o~ prints, to transfer the first group of , N prints into the underlying left compartment 26 of the .~ . . .
endless conveyor 24, a second group of N prints into the ' ~ 15 underlying right compartment, a third group of N prints into the; left compartment~ and so on, until~ the pack has been con~umed. The~ extra~ctor is then advanced until the two compartments 26 wlth the two sub-packs of prints are positioned in front of the rotary magazine 32, in the 20 positions 26' and 26".
The two sub-packs are then treated in accordance with the~already~ de~cr~ibed~concertina;pacXaging method but with .i the following differences:
.~ : -.
21~1 9~,f`~
wos2t1so4~ PCT/EP92/00329 - the cutter is periodically made to cut the web of pockets into portions of N pockets, forming th~ album sheets;
- the system logic, which has alreay memorized the number of prints to be handled and which knows that a multiple m of 2N prints will be housed in m completely filled sheets whereas the remaining prints will be house in another only partly filled sheet, causes this residual number of prints ~, to be inserted into the initial pockets of the continuous ``~ web, and then advances the web to obtain the first sheet, even if this is only partly filled.
.~ . .
.;.~ This incompletely fillad sheet will r~quire subsequent , ~, manual positioning of the prints in the various pockets, but ~ this represents only a slight drawback as this type of print .~ preservation is generally used for prints which have been :
previously subjected to selection,~with the rejection of some i~ of th~m, so that their~manual handling is in any case invevitable.~ :
.:~
In the embodiment schematically illustrated in fiyure ~, ;~ ~ the basic principles~ of the present invention remain ; 20 unchanged, wher~as the endless conveyor is replaced by the print sorter:58, which is necessarily present and feeds two trays~ 80~,ao"~which face the two horizontal boxes 38',38" of the rotary magazine 32 and are provided with two roller - W092/15044 2 :t ~1.9 ~ 'i PCT/EP92/00329 - 21 ~
inserters 40',40". Here, the axis of rotation of the magazine 32 and hence the overturning ~xis of the prints 6 is parallel to the minor side of the prints, the prints being inserted into the pockets 8 of the web 4 in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. For this reason, the in~erter 68 feeding the prints 6 from the boxes of the rotaxy magazine 32 to the facing pocket 8 of the web 4 moves perpendicular to the axis of said rotary magazine, its drive cable 72 being indicated schematically by a sashed line in figure 4~
In this embodiment, the boxes 8 are closed on the side . opposite the print insertion side, so that the closure wall . also forms a stop for halting the prints in a position ,~l projecting from the respective boxes and acts as guide for `: them during their insertion into the pockets of the web 4.
., : From the aforegoing it is apparent that the method for packaging photographic prints~ and the apparatus for implementing it are particularly advantageous and in : particular~
they allow packaging to be achieved automatically with high : 20 production rates (more than 1500 prints/hour), -.they s.ubstantlally reduce the cost of conventional book- .
type packaging,~
they offer a considerable advantage for the customer, who 2 ~ 5 ' 22 - .
.' ' '.
is able to immediately view the prints as soon as they are .' receive from the retailer, - they eliminate any risk of damage to the prints~ .:
- they respect the sequence in which the photographs have been taken, which besides being an advantage for the ` customer is also advantageous to the photographic .
laboratory tchnician who can more easily quality-control .~
the prlnts and more easily identify those negatives which `~` have to be reprinted.
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Claims (34)
1. An automatic photographic print packaging apparatus for packaging prints of orders comprising:
- a continuous reel of a web (4) formed from two superimposed transparent sheets joined together along a longitudinal edge and comprising equidistant transverse welds (10) defining pockets (8) open at the other longitudinal edge of said web, and a plurality of reading marks (12) spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the axes of said pockets, - a reader (21) for said marks, - means (16,14) for supporting said reel and for unwinding said web in portion equal to the distance between the axes of said pockets, - a transverse cutter (22) for said web, - a rotary magazine (32) with a horizontal axis, comprising a cylindrical body (34) and a plurality of fins (36) extending radially from said body to define a plurality of radial boxes (38), the magazine being rotatable in angular steps corresponding to the angular width of each box, - means (24,58) for dividing the pack of prints of each order into a respective sub-pack for positioning in front of those two boxes (38',38") of the magazine lying diametrically opposite in the same horizontal plane, - a pair of inserters (40',40";50',50") situated in a position corresponding to that of said two boxes (38',38") and actuable on the top print of each sub-pack to transfer it into the facing box of the magazine, - means effective to rotate said rotary magazine stepwise such that one of said pair of inserters inserts each-print in one of the sub-packs into a respective radial box, to advance an angle equal to the complement with respect to 180° of the angle of the first of the prints of the one sub-pack inserted resulting in a free box adjacent to that occupied by the first print facing the other sub-pack, stepwise such that the other inserter inserts each print in the other sub-pack into a respective radial box beginning with said free box, - an insertion member (68) positioned at the downstream horizontal box, with reference to the direction of rotation of said magazine, effective to act on the print contained in said box and on the print contained in the adjacent box, to transfer them simultaneously back to back into that one pocket (8) of said web (4) positioned with its ends open in front of said downstream horizontal box.
- a continuous reel of a web (4) formed from two superimposed transparent sheets joined together along a longitudinal edge and comprising equidistant transverse welds (10) defining pockets (8) open at the other longitudinal edge of said web, and a plurality of reading marks (12) spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the axes of said pockets, - a reader (21) for said marks, - means (16,14) for supporting said reel and for unwinding said web in portion equal to the distance between the axes of said pockets, - a transverse cutter (22) for said web, - a rotary magazine (32) with a horizontal axis, comprising a cylindrical body (34) and a plurality of fins (36) extending radially from said body to define a plurality of radial boxes (38), the magazine being rotatable in angular steps corresponding to the angular width of each box, - means (24,58) for dividing the pack of prints of each order into a respective sub-pack for positioning in front of those two boxes (38',38") of the magazine lying diametrically opposite in the same horizontal plane, - a pair of inserters (40',40";50',50") situated in a position corresponding to that of said two boxes (38',38") and actuable on the top print of each sub-pack to transfer it into the facing box of the magazine, - means effective to rotate said rotary magazine stepwise such that one of said pair of inserters inserts each-print in one of the sub-packs into a respective radial box, to advance an angle equal to the complement with respect to 180° of the angle of the first of the prints of the one sub-pack inserted resulting in a free box adjacent to that occupied by the first print facing the other sub-pack, stepwise such that the other inserter inserts each print in the other sub-pack into a respective radial box beginning with said free box, - an insertion member (68) positioned at the downstream horizontal box, with reference to the direction of rotation of said magazine, effective to act on the print contained in said box and on the print contained in the adjacent box, to transfer them simultaneously back to back into that one pocket (8) of said web (4) positioned with its ends open in front of said downstream horizontal box.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each weld consists of pairs of transverse joining lines (10), the cutter (22) being positioned to effect a transverse cut between the two lines of said pairs.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the welds (10) have a length less than the height of the continuous web and terminate in a position withdrawn from the free longitudinal edge thereof.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the two sheets from which the continuous web is formed are of unequal heights.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that reading marks (12) are positioned between the two transverse joining lines (10) of each weld.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the continuous web contains a plurality of printed arrows (80) in regions not obscured by the presence of the prints, to indicate the direction of unwinding of the web from the reel.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the axis of rotation of the rotary magazine (32) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the continuous web (4).
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the axis of rotation of the rotary magazine (32) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the continuous web (4).
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising between the continuous web (4) and the rotary magazine (32), in a position corresponding with its downstream horizontal box, a pair of wideners (23) for the free edges of each pocket (8) of said web.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each inserter (40',40") comprises a first roller (50' ,50") for withdrawing the top print of each sub-pack, and at least one pair of second rollers (42',42") for receiving the print withdrawn by the first roller and transferring it into the facing radial box of the rotary magazine.
11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the rollers of each inserter (40',40") are constantly connected to a member for their rotation, the single roller (50',50") which withdraws the top print of each sub-pack being mounted on a support (54',54") movable between a lower position in which said roller is in contact with the underlying sub-pack and an upper non-contact position.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising an endless conveyor (24) comprising compartments (26,26',26") in which print sub-packs are placed, the dimension of the rotary magazine being such that when a compartment (26') faces the horizontal box upstream thereof, another compartment (26") faces the horizontal box downstream thereof.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterised by comprising a print pre-sorting member (58) comprising a tray (60) for containing the pack of prints of a given order, and a pair of withdrawal rollers (62) mounted on supports (64) which can be driven to lower the relative roller onto the pack of prints in order to withdraw the top print and transfer it to the outside of said tray into a position which is different for the two rollers, the sequence in which these supports are driven being determined by the chosen type of packaging.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the two inserters (40',40") are situated in a position overlying the compartmentalized conveyor (24), in correspondence with the two horizontal boxes of the rotary magazine.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that two inserters are situated at the two exits of the print pre-sorter (58).
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each radial box (33) of the rotary magazine (32) has at least on dimension less than the corresponding dimension of the prints (6), the insertion member for inserting the pairs of prints (6) into the web pockets consisting of a pusher (68) acting on that print portion projecting from the respective radial box.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the print pusher consists of a substantially vertical pin (68) movable parallel to the adjacent horizontal box edge and interfering with the projecting print portion contained in said box and with the print portion contained in the adjacent box.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that the insertion member consists of a vertical pin fixed, via a bracket (70), to a horizontal cable (72) for moving said pin, said bracket comprising an inclined slot which causes said pin to rise axially before being moved horizontally towards the pocket (8) of the web (4) and to descend before being moved horizontally in the opposite direction.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterised by comprising a pair of counter-rotating rollers acting on that print portion (6) projecting from the two adjacent boxes (38) of the rotary magazine (32) to bring their edges together before they are simultaneously inserted into the pocket (8) of the web (4).
20. A method of automatic photographic print packaging using the apparatus of claim 1 for packaging print of orders comprising:
- using said means (24,58) to divide the pack of prints of each order into a respective sub-pack and positioning the sub-packs in front of those two boxes (26',26") of the magazine lying diametrically opposite in the same horizontal plane, - rotating said rotary magazine stepwise and using one of said pair of inserters to insert each print in one of the sub-packs into a respective radial box, to advance an angle equal to the complement with respect to 180° of the angle of the first of the prints of the one sub-pack inserted resulting in a free box adjacent to that occupied by the first print facing the other sub-pack, stepwise and using the other inserter to insert each print in the other sub-pack into a respective radial box beginning with said free box, - using said insertion member (68) positioned at the downstream horixontal box, with reference to the direction of rotation of said magazine, to act on the print contained in said box and on the print contained in the adjacent box, to transfer them simultaneously back to back into that one pocket (8) of said web (4) positioned with its ends open in front of said downstream horizontal box.
- using said means (24,58) to divide the pack of prints of each order into a respective sub-pack and positioning the sub-packs in front of those two boxes (26',26") of the magazine lying diametrically opposite in the same horizontal plane, - rotating said rotary magazine stepwise and using one of said pair of inserters to insert each print in one of the sub-packs into a respective radial box, to advance an angle equal to the complement with respect to 180° of the angle of the first of the prints of the one sub-pack inserted resulting in a free box adjacent to that occupied by the first print facing the other sub-pack, stepwise and using the other inserter to insert each print in the other sub-pack into a respective radial box beginning with said free box, - using said insertion member (68) positioned at the downstream horixontal box, with reference to the direction of rotation of said magazine, to act on the print contained in said box and on the print contained in the adjacent box, to transfer them simultaneously back to back into that one pocket (8) of said web (4) positioned with its ends open in front of said downstream horizontal box.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the first half of the pack of prints (6) is loaded onto a print overturning member (32) and the other half is transferred to the exit of said overturning member for the purpose of coupling each overturned print with an unturned print.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised by initially dividing the pack of prints (6) into two sub-packs, one containing the odd prints and one containing the even prints, then positioning one of the two sub-packs at the entry of an overturning member, then coupling each unturned print with the corresponding overturned print, then inserting the resultant pair of prints into the same pocket (8) of the continuous web (4) and cutting said web to individually separate the thus filled pockets.
23. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised by:
- initially dividing the pack of prints (6) into two sub-packs in which groups formed from a predetermined number N
of prints are deposited alternately, - positioning one of the sub-packs at the entry of an overturning member (32) and the other sub-pack at the exit of said overturning member, - coupling each overturned print with the corresponding unturend print, - coupling each overturned print with the corresponding unturned print, - inserting the various pairs of prints obtained in this manner into successive pockets (8) of the continuous web (4), and - cutting said web into portions each comprising N prints.
- initially dividing the pack of prints (6) into two sub-packs in which groups formed from a predetermined number N
of prints are deposited alternately, - positioning one of the sub-packs at the entry of an overturning member (32) and the other sub-pack at the exit of said overturning member, - coupling each overturned print with the corresponding unturend print, - coupling each overturned print with the corresponding unturned print, - inserting the various pairs of prints obtained in this manner into successive pockets (8) of the continuous web (4), and - cutting said web into portions each comprising N prints.
24. A method as claimed in claim 21, characterised by placing each pack of prints (6) into a compartment (26) of a compartmentalized conveyor and then operating said conveyor to position said compartment firstly at the entry of the overturning member (32) for loading the first half of the pack of prints thereon, and then to position said compartment at the exit of said overturning member for coupling an overturned print of the first half of the pack of prints with the corresponding unturned print of the second half of the pack of prints.
25. A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, characterised by initially dividing the pack of prints into the two sub-packs, which are placed in two separate compartments of a compartmentalized conveyor (24), and then operating said conveyor to position the compartment containing one sub-pack at the entry of the overturning member and the compartment containing the other sub-pack at the exit of said overturning member.
26. A method as claimed in claim 21, characterised by:
- inserting the prints of the first half of the pack of prints into separate adjacent radial boxes of a rotary magazine (32), - rotating said magazine to position that free box adjacent to the box occupied by the first print in a position suitable for receiving the first print of the second half of the pack which in the meantime has been positioned at the exit of said magazine, - inserting the two prints housed in two adjacent boxes of said magazine into the same pocket (8) of the continuous web (4), - advancing said magazine through one step, to position that box freed of the print of the first half of the pack in a position suitable to receive the second print of the second half of the pack, - then inserting the two corresponding prints of the pack halves into the next pocket of the continuous web, which in the meantime has been advanced through one step, and - repeating these operations for all the prints of the two pack halves.
- inserting the prints of the first half of the pack of prints into separate adjacent radial boxes of a rotary magazine (32), - rotating said magazine to position that free box adjacent to the box occupied by the first print in a position suitable for receiving the first print of the second half of the pack which in the meantime has been positioned at the exit of said magazine, - inserting the two prints housed in two adjacent boxes of said magazine into the same pocket (8) of the continuous web (4), - advancing said magazine through one step, to position that box freed of the print of the first half of the pack in a position suitable to receive the second print of the second half of the pack, - then inserting the two corresponding prints of the pack halves into the next pocket of the continuous web, which in the meantime has been advanced through one step, and - repeating these operations for all the prints of the two pack halves.
27. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised by overturning the prints of one sub-pack about an axis parallel to the major side of the prints.
28. A method as claimed in claim 20, characterised by overturning the prints of one sub-pack about an axis parallel to the minor side of the prints.
29. A method a claimed in claim 20, characterised by inserting the successive pairs of prints into the corresponding pockets (8) of the continuous web (4) by advancing them parallel to the major side of the prints.
30. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by inserting the successive pairs of prints into the corresponding pockets of the continuous web by advancing them parallel to the minor side of the prints.
31. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by inserting the two prints of each pair into the corresponding pocket (8) of the continuous web (4) by simultaneously pushing said prints at the edge opposite that by which they are inserted into said pocket.
32. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that during the insertion of the two prints of each pair into the corresponding pocket of the continuous web the corresponding edges of the two prints are forced together.
33. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by advancing the continuous web (4) provided with pockets (8) in a direction perpendicular to the overturning axis of the prints of a sub-pack.
34. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised by advancing the continuous web (4) provided with pockets (8) in a direction parallel to the overturning axis of the prints of a sub-pack.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT91VE000009U IT225888Y1 (en) | 1991-02-21 | 1991-02-21 | TRANSPARENT POCKET PACKAGING FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS |
| ITVE91U000009 | 1991-02-21 | ||
| ITVE91A000062 | 1991-11-22 | ||
| ITVE910062A IT1253444B (en) | 1991-11-22 | 1991-11-22 | Method for the automatic packing of photographic prints and the equipment used with this method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2101936A1 true CA2101936A1 (en) | 1992-08-22 |
Family
ID=26332564
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002101936A Abandoned CA2101936A1 (en) | 1991-02-21 | 1992-02-17 | Method for automatically packaging photographic prints and apparatus for implementing the method |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0572459A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH06504632A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU1239492A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2101936A1 (en) |
| IE (1) | IE920544A1 (en) |
| PT (1) | PT100146A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992015044A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1297239B1 (en) * | 1996-09-27 | 1999-08-09 | Siral Srl | AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PHOTOS, PRINTS AND SIMILAR |
| US7016059B1 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 2006-03-21 | Shutterfly, Inc. | Printing images in an optimized manner |
| DE10058489A1 (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2002-05-29 | Eastman Kodak Co | Device for packaging photographic images |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2553612C3 (en) * | 1975-11-28 | 1982-02-18 | Agfa-Gevaert Ag, 5090 Leverkusen | Method and device for bagging film sections |
| EP0228536B2 (en) * | 1985-11-11 | 1997-03-12 | Tecnodia S.P.A. | Container for slides and a method for automatically packaging the slides in the container |
| DE3627955A1 (en) * | 1986-08-18 | 1988-03-03 | Johannes Loersch | ARCHIVABLE STORAGE BAG FOR FILM MATERIAL AND POCKET DEVICE THEREFOR |
| ZA881017B (en) * | 1987-02-26 | 1988-08-11 | Hyman Goldberg Dr | Photograph assembly arrangement |
| IT1220179B (en) * | 1987-11-06 | 1990-06-06 | Photo Eng Int | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY INTRODUCING PACKAGES OF NEGATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRINTS IN POCKET BAGS |
-
1992
- 1992-02-17 JP JP4504151A patent/JPH06504632A/en active Pending
- 1992-02-17 CA CA002101936A patent/CA2101936A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-02-17 WO PCT/EP1992/000329 patent/WO1992015044A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-02-17 EP EP19920904615 patent/EP0572459A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-02-17 AU AU12394/92A patent/AU1239492A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-02-20 PT PT10014692A patent/PT100146A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1992-02-21 IE IE920544A patent/IE920544A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH06504632A (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| IE920544A1 (en) | 1992-08-26 |
| EP0572459A1 (en) | 1993-12-08 |
| PT100146A (en) | 1994-04-29 |
| AU1239492A (en) | 1992-09-15 |
| WO1992015044A3 (en) | 1993-01-21 |
| WO1992015044A2 (en) | 1992-09-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 19950819 |