GB2036988A

GB2036988A - Combined exposure and development apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2036988A
Application number: GB7937304A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd
Current assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1978-10-27
Filing date: 1979-10-26
Publication date: 1980-07-02
Also published as: JPS5565635U; DE2943170A1; GB2036988B

Abstract

Film from roll FS is exposed in exposure section 1 and passed into store section 2 where its leading end is stopped (by stopping rotation of rollers 10) at detector 11 and loop 14 built up until exposure is complete. Film cutter 3 is then operated and the cut film passed (by restarting rollers 10) to developer section 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Camera processor This invention relates to a camera processor in which photographing, developing, fixing, washing and drying steps are combined together in a single system, and more particularly to a camera processor in which a film is continuously processed in a processing section independently of a photographing section.

In conventional processors, a long roll of film is used and exposure of one part of the film and processing of another part of the exposed film are simultaneously conducted. In the photographing section, the film is intermittently fed and sometimes stopped for a long time. On the other hand, in the processing section the exposed film should be fed at a constant speed in order to obtain uniformly processed images.

In a conventional camera processor, a stock loop is formed between the photographing section and the processing section to accomodate the difference in the film feeding speed between the photographing section and the processing section.

However, even with this arrangement, the film must be cut apart when the film is stopped for such a long time that the loop is fully consumed.

Otherwise, the processing of the exposed film would be made uneven. This is disadventageous in that the film must be cut apart halfway even if it is preferred to photograph a series of information in one length of film.

When a combined developing and fixing bath is used in the processing section, the film feeding speed in the processing section may be varied provided that the film is not completely stopped.

Thus, in a camera processor disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication 47 (1972)-19072, the film feeding speed in the processing section is lowered when the size of the film loop has become smaller than a predetermined size in order to accommodate a long stoppage of the film in the photographing section. Even with this arrangement, however, the time of the stoppage of the film transfer in the photographing section cannot be very long since the film cannot be.

completely stopped in the processing section.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a camera processor in which a long stoppage of the film in the photographing section may be permitted without affecting the quality of the images obtained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera processor which enables a series of information to be photographed within a single length of film without cutting the film.

According to the invention, there is provided a camera processor comprising a photographing section for exposing film supplied from a roll to imagewise light, a processing section for processing the exposed part of the film, a film stock section provided between the photographing section and the processing section for storing the exposed part of the film, and a cutter provided between the photographing section and the film stock section for cutting the roll film, the arrangement being such that in use said exposed part of the film is guided into and stored in the stock section, said cutter cuts the roll film at a position adjacent to the rear end of the exposed part thereof, and the stored exposed part of the film is fed to the processing section after said cutter has cut the film.

Thus, in the camera processor of the present invention, photographing may be stopped for a long time without affecting the quality of the images obtained.

Further, in the camera processor of the present invention a set of information can be photographed within a single length of the film even if photographing is stopped for a long time during photographing of the set of information.

Accordingly, it is not necessary to edit the developed film afterwards. Further, the developed images can easily be observed successively through a reader since images recorded on one length of film are developed under the same condition.

The sole figure of the accompanying drawing schematically shows an embodiment of a camera processor in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in the single figure, a camera processor comprises a photographing section 1 for photographically recording various kinds of information on a roll film F, a stock section 2 for storing an exposed part of the roll film F, and a processing section 4 for processing the exposed part of the film F. A film cutter 3 is disposed between the photographing section 1 and the stock section 2.

In the photographing section 1, the film F wound around a supply spool FS is fed out therefrom by means of a capstan roller 6 and exposed to imagewise light from an original (not shown) through a lens 8 and a mirror 7.

An exposed part of the film F is delivered to the stock section 2 by means of a pair of driving rollers 9 disposed adjacent to the outlet la of the photographing section 1.

The stock section 2 includes a film stock chamber 13 having an opening 1 3a. Downstream of the opening 1 3a are disposed a pair of driving rollers 1 0. Further between the driving rollers 10 and the processing section 4 is disposed a leading end detecting means 11 to detect the leading end of the film F. The driving rollers 10 are controlled by a driving means 12.

The exposed part of the film F is delivered to the stock section 2 by means of the driving rollers 9 and is transferred through the driving rollers 10 until the leading end thereof reaches the leading end detecting means 11. When the leading end detecting means 11 detects the leading end of the film F, the driving rollers 10 are stopped and thus the leading end of the film F is further fed to the film stock section 2 as the photographing is further continued, the intermediate portion of the film F is urged into the film stock chamber 1 3 from the opening 1 3a thereof forming a loop 14 therein and is stored therein until the driving rollers 10 are driven again. The stock chamber 1 3 is dimensioned to contain a substantially long film, e.g. of 3 to 5 metres.

When the photographing of a series of information to be recorded within one length of film is completed, the film cutter 3 is operated to cut the film F at a position adjacent to the rear end of the exposed part of the film. In response to operation of the film cutter 3, said driving means 12 drives the driving rollers 10 to transfer the separated exposed part of the film to the processing section 4. The exposed part of the film can be transferred through the processing section 4 at a constant speed independently of the transfer speed in the photographing section 1, since it has been separated from the rest of the film F. Said driving rollers 10 are stopped when the leading end or cut end of the rest of the roll film F reaches the leading end detecting means 11.

The film processed in the processing section 4 is received by a tray 5.

Claims

1. A camera processor comprising a photograhphing section for exposing a film supplied from a roll to imagewise light, a processing section for processing the exposed part of the film, a film stock section provided between the photographing section and the processing section for storing the exposed part of the film, and a cutter provided between the photographing section and the film stock section for cutting the roll film, the arrangement being such that in use said exposed part of the film is guided into and stored in the stock section, said cutter cuts the roll film at a position adjacent to the rear end of the exposed part thereof, and the stored exposed part of the film is fed to the processing section after said cutter has cut the film.

2. A camera processor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said film stock section comprises a film stock chamber, a driving roller means disposed downstream of the film stock chamber for feeding the exposed part of the film to the processing section, a detecting means disposed downstream of the driving roller means for detecting the leading end of the film fed by the driving roller means, and a controlling means for stopping the driving roller means upon detection of the leading end of the exposed part of the film by said detecting means and starting the driving roller means upon ciitting of film by said cutter.

3. A camera processor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.