(57) A print cutter suitable for use in order finishing station or as a stand-alone unit
includes a reel mount for accepting a reel of photographic prints (10) formed in a
continuous web. An automatic threader threads the leading end of the web (36) through
a loop guide (46) into the first set of drive rollers. A leading end sensor (70) senses
the leading end of the web as it is automatically threaded through the loop guide
to stop the threading process when the leading end of the web reaches the feed rollers.
The same sensor is utilized to monitor the size of the loop of the print web present
in the loop guide and to feed additional prints from the reel into the loop guide
as required to maintain predetermined loop size. An accurate measure of print length
is maintained by feeding the prints to the cutter using a roller pair including a
nondeformable roller (76) engaged with the undersurface of the prints and a deformable
roller (74) engaging the upper surface of the prints. The nondeformable (76) roller
is driven by a stepper motor (80). A decurling roller is provided which is pressed
into contact with the upper surface of the prints after they have been cut to reverse
bend the prints and remove the curl that is inherent in the prints due to their position
on the circular reel. The decurler roll (80) is adjustable to change the degree of
reverse bend applied to the prints to accommodate varying amounts of curl. A diverter
bar (88) is swingably mounted on the print cutter adjacent the print exit to allow
good prints to be deposited directly into a print tray, while makeover prints are
held up above the good prints so that at the end of an order, the makeover prints
are present at the top of the print stack.
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