Apparatus and method for processing images using a reciprocating easel
US6064469A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B27/6235
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided for processing images such as photographs or magazine pages. The computer-driven apparatus includes a reciprocating easel which moves along railings under an image capture device such as a camera. Vacuum pickers pick up images which have been processed and drop them into image drop bins under computer control, thus freeing the human operator from moving images. Vacuum compartments on the reciprocating easel hold images securely in place while they are photographed but release them when they are not being photographed. A bar code scanner system may be used to track images and correlate the images with film frames in the camera. Translucent panels within the easel allow transparencies to be processed by illuminating the images from beneath the easel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.