Stand alone photofinishing apparatus

Abstract

A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus. The apparatus includes a film receiving section for receiving and holding a film cartridge containing an undeveloped filmstrip therein from a customer, the filmstrip having at least one image. A customer order data entry station is provided for entering an order selection. The apparatus further includes a developing section for developing the filmstrip comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing of the filmstrip, a scanner for scanning the developed filmstrip so as to obtain a digital record of the at least one image developed on the filmstrip, a printing section for dry printing the at least one image on the developed filmstrip using the digital record so as to produce at least one print, and a delivery section for returning the at least one print and the developed filmstrip to the customer. Alternatively, instead of the image to be printed being obtained by scanning a film, the image may be obtained through an input port designed for receiving a digital record from a variety of sources of least one image.

I claim:  
     
       1. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus comprising: 
       a film receiving device for holding a film cartridge containing an undeveloped filmstrip therein from a customer, said filmstrip having at least one image;  
       a customer order data entry station for entering an order selection;  
       a payment means for accepting payment from the customer;  
       developing section for developing said filmstrip, said developing section for developing comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing of said filmstrip;  
       a scanner for digitally scanning the developed filmstrip so as to obtain a digital record of the at least one image developed on said filmstrip;  
       a print section for dry printing the at least one image on said developed filmstrip using the digital record so as to produce at least one print; and  
       a storage and/or delivery section for returning the at least one print and said developed filmstrip to the customer.  
     
     
       2. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       3. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a touch sensitive CRT screen. 
     
     
       4. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said payment means comprises a credit card reader. 
     
     
       5. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for digitally scanning the developed filmstrip comprises a CCD array. 
     
     
       6. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a filtering unit for filtering unwanted particles and/or ions. 
     
     
       7. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a distillation unit for reusing some of the waste liquid from said at least one processing tank. 
     
     
       8. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the customer order is delivered upon proper presentation of ID. 
     
     
       9. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein said ID comprises a credit card that was used initially to place the order. 
     
     
       10. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus comprising: 
       a film receiving station for receiving and holding a film cartridge containing an undeveloped filmstrip provided by a customer, said filmstrip having at least one image;  
       a customer order data entry station for entering an order selection;  
       payment means for accepting payment from the customer;  
       a developing section for developing said filmstrip, said developing section for developing comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing of said filmstrip, said means for developing comprising a replenishment system which includes means for supplying replenishment processing solution to said at least one processing tank and means for receiving the overflow of processing solution from said at least one processing tank, distillation means for recovering distilled water from said overflow processing solution and means for using the distilled water in the replenishment system;  
       a scanner for scanning the developed filmstrip so as to obtain a digital record of the at least one image developed on said filmstrip;  
       a print section for dry printing the at least one image on said developed filmstrip using the digital record so as to produce at least one print; and  
       a storage and/or delivery section for returning the at least one print and said developed filmstrip to the customer.  
     
     
       11. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       12. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a touch sensitive CRT screen. 
     
     
       13. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said payment means comprises a credit card reader. 
     
     
       14. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said means for digitally scanning the developed filmstrip comprises a CCD array. 
     
     
       15. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a filtering unit for filtering unwanted particles and/or ions. 
     
     
       16. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a distillation unit for reusing some of the waste liquid from said at least one processing tank. 
     
     
       17. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing system comprising: 
       a customer order data entry system for obtaining customer order information regarding the printing of images from a digital record supplied by a customer, said filmstrip having at least one image ;  
       a payment mechanism for accepting payment from the customer in response to the customer order entry information provided by the customer;  
       an input port for receiving a digital record from the customer which is representative of images to be printed by the apparatus  system;  
       a printing section for dry printing the image using the digital record supplied by the customer so as to obtain a hard copy of at least one print of the  at least one image; and  
       a delivery section for delivering of the at least one print to the customer.  
     
     
       18. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus  system according to  claim 17  wherein said digital record is supplied by any one of the following devices: photo CD, digital scanning, floppy disk, modem. 
     
     
       19. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus  system according to  claim 18  wherein said customer order data entry station  system comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       20. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus  system according to  claim 18  wherein said customer order data entry station  system comprises a touch sensitive CRT screen. 
     
     
       21. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus  system according to  claim 18  wherein said payment means  mechanism comprises a credit card reader. 
     
     
       22. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said means for digitally scanning the developed filmstrip comprises a CCD array. 
     
     
       23. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a filtering unit for filtering unwanted particles and/or ions. 
     
     
       24. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a distillation unit for reusing some of the waste liquid from said at least one processing tank. 
     
     
       25. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus comprising: 
       a film receiving section for receiving and holding a film cartridge containing an undeveloped filmstrip therein from a customer, said filmstrip having at least one image;  
       a customer order data entry station for entering an order selection;  
       a developing section for developing said filmstrip, said developing section for developing comprising at least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing of said filmstrip;  
       a scanner for scanning the developed filmstrip so as to obtain a digital record of the at least one image developed on said filmstrip;  
       a printing section for dry printing the at least one image on said developed filmstrip using the digital record so as to produce at least one print; and  
       a delivery section for returning the at least one print and said developed filmstrip to the customer.  
     
     
       26. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       27. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said customer order data entry station comprises a touch sensitive CRT screen. 
     
     
       28. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said payment means comprises a credit card reader. 
     
     
       29. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said means for digitally scanning the developed filmstrip comprises a CCD array. 
     
     
       30. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a filtering unit for filtering unwanted particles and/or ions. 
     
     
       31. A stand alone customer operated photofinishing apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein said means for developing said filmstrip further comprises a recirculation system having a distillation unit for reusing some of the waste liquid from said at least one processing tank.