Method For Cutting Out Individual Pictures From A Multiple Image Picture

Abstract

A cutting device for cutting out individual rectangular pictures from a multiple image picture, which pictures are utilized for I.D. cards, credit cards, badges or the like.

Description

A prior art camera for producing the aforesaid multiple image picture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,685. For most applications, a human being is photographed by this type of a camera which results in four pictures, each having a rectangular format. The rectangular multiple image picture is inserted into a cutting device which generally is of a type which punches out the individual pictures one at a time.

These prior art devices include a vertically oriented movable rectangular die member or ram (i.e., having its major dimension or length vertically oriented) so that the individual picture of the subject photographed is initially inserted right side up and the major dimension or length of the individual picture is vertically oriented. This procedure produces a problem relating to continual readjustment which will be discussed hereinafter in connection with a detailed description of the operation of an embodiment of the present invention. In order to properly center the individual picture with respect to the vertically oriented male die member, devices have been designed which vertically translate the individual picture until the image of the subject is properly centered in the vertical with respect to the die-cutting device. However, these prior art devices for making an initial vertical adjustment often require vertical readjustment during the die cutting of a given multiple image picture, are relatively complex and occasionally make it difficult to support the picture in an exact vertical orientation; that is, the device for supporting the bottom edge of the card does not always maintain the bottom card edge parallel with the horizontally oriented die cutter edges.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a horizontally rather than a vertically oriented rectangular die cutter is provided for cutting out individual pictures from a horizontally oriented multiple image picture. An adjustable elongated cantilevered support member supports the lower edge of the picture and is designed so that the bottom edge of the picture is always maintained parallel to the horizontally oriented cutting edges of the die cutter.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention together with inspection of the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a movable cutting ram 1, slideable within frame portion 2, moves to the left and punches out an individual picture from multiple image picture 8 which is positioned within cavity 7. Handle 6 drives ram 1 to the left until the ram is contained within cavity 4, positioned within frame member 3. The releasing of handle 6 causes ram 1 to move to the right and the cutting cycle is completed. As shown in FIG. 1, horizontally oriented multiple image picture 8 is inserted into cavity 7 so that its lower edge rests on the upper edge of elongated support member 9. Since the female die member, including cavity 4, is open with respect to the front of the die cutter, the position of the individual picture 16 with respect to the die cutter may be viewed by the operator. If the subject is not properly centered with respect to the die cutter, the operator changes the vertical position of elongated support member 9 until the subject 16 is properly positioned in a vertical direction (i.e., centerline 20 bisects female die cavity 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1). Picture 8 is then positioned in the horizontal direction to complete centering of subject 16 with respect to die cavity 4. The means for adjusting the vertical position of the subject 16 includes a screw member which comprises a knob 13, cylindrical flange 15, and threaded portion 14, together with an elongated member 11 which has an elongated aperture 12 therein which is coupled in turn to cantilevered member 9. When knob 13 is rotated clockwise, the left-hand edge of flange 15, best shown in FIG. 1, presses against member 11, tightly pressing member 11 against the side of the die cutter. The operator adjusts the vertical position of multiple image picture 8 to center the subject 16 with respect to the die cutter by turning knob 13 counterclockwise which enables the vertically oriented elongated member 11 to be moved vertically until the image 16 is centered with respect to the die cutter as shown in FIG. 1. After being properly positioned, the knob is rotated clockwise so that elongated member 11 is firmly clamped against the side of the die cutter as illustrated in FIG. 1. Owing to the flattening of the elongated member 11 against the side of the die cutter, the proper vertical positioning of image 16 is assured while the lower edge of picture 8 is always maintained parallel to the horizontally oriented first and second cutting edges of the die cutter. Unlike prior art devices, this adjustment may be effected in a positive manner and may be carried out quickly and accurately.

The aforesaid prior art multiple image camera produces pictures wherein the centerline 20 running through a reference point, such as the tip of the subject's nose, is displaced asymmetrically the same distance from the centerline 21 of multiple image picture 8, as the centerline 22 is displaced from centerline 21. In other words, the aforesaid multiple image cameras produce lateral separation from centerline 21 of the four images which is asymmetrically identical for each image. Thus, once the elongated support means 9 is adjusted to cause centerline 20 to evenly bisect the rectangular female die member 4 as illustrated in FIG. 1 all, that is required to cut out the second individual picture 17 is to move multiple image picture 8 to the right until the picture is horizontally centered. After the cutting out of the second individual picture 17, the multiple image picture 8 is rotated 180.degree. and the punching out of individual pictures 18 and 19 is carried out as before without readjustment of support means 9. Thus, it should be apparent that with the improved die cutter of the present invention, only one vertical adjustment of the multiple image picture support means is necessary to cut out all four pictures and all subsequent arrays of four pictures. This is possible, because the aforesaid lateral separation of a given reference point associated with the vertically oriented subject photographed from the centerline of the multiple image picture is at all times identical for each of the four pictures, owing to the configuration of the optics of the above-mentioned multiple image camera. With prior art die-cutting devices, the rectangular die cutting ram was vertically oriented so that its longest dimension was perpendicular to the supporting member 9 rather than parallel therewith as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when all four images were substantially identical, a single adjustment of the multiple image picture support means was sufficient to properly cut out the lower two images of the multiple image picture where the picture 8 was oriented vertically rather than horizontally as shown. However, when the multiple image picture 8 was rotated 180.degree. so that the upper two images were viewed through the female die-cutting member, the subject was often not properly centered, since the center of the subject (e.g., his nose) is often not half way between the upper and lower edges of the vertically oriented die cutter. In those instances when the images are of different persons, some individuals are short and others are tall in the film frame quadrant, so that the vertical position of the tip of each subject's nose may be centered in the photographed image. Thus, upon 180.degree. rotation of the multiple image picture 8 with respect to the vertically oriented rectangular die cutter, the support member within the die cutter had to be constantly repositioned to properly vertically orient images of a given subject. With the horizontally oriented die cutter of the present invention, this second operation is eliminated. This is important when thousands of multiple image pictures are die cut by a single operator as a great deal of time is saved.

Another advantage accruing through use of the present invention is that the camera tripod need not be continually raised and lowered to vertically center subjects having different heights because of the ease in making the horizontal adjustment during die cutting as previously discussed.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that the term "horizontally oriented cutting device" means that the longer dimension of the cutting device is parallel to the support surface of the elongated support member 9, which in turn is generally perpendicular to gravitational force vectors .

Claims

I claim:

1. A method of die cutting a plurality of substantially identical rectangular images out of a multiple image photograph which includes a plurality of said rectangular images each having opposed first and second sides longer than opposed third and fourth sides, said multiple images having first and second centerlines displaced at substantially equal distances from a third centerline running through the middle of the multiple image picture, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a substantially rectangular die cutter having opposed first and second edges longer than opposed third and fourth edges;

b. inserting said multiple image picture into said die cutter to position the first and second longer sides of said rectangular images substantially parallel with said longer first and second edges of said die cutter;

c. adjusting the position of said multiple image picture in a first direction substantially perpendicular with said longer first and second edges of said die cutter until said first centerline lies about half way between said longer first and second edges of said die cutter;

d. further adjusting the position of a given multiple image picture in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction to properly frame a given multiple image within said die cutter;

e. die cutting said last named given multiple image picture and;

f. die cutting the remaining multiple images without repeating step C.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step C is performed by adjusting a picture support member associated with said die cutter and thereafter affixing the position of said support member with respect to said die cutter to provide for subsequent cutting of the remaining multiple images without the need for further adjustment of said support member.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said adjustment is performed in a direction parallel to the shorter third and fourth edges of said die cutter.