Photographic order matching method and apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the foregoing objects the invention contemplates an apparatus in which corresponding identifying codes are provided on an order envelope and undeveloped film prior to processing of the film.
Means are also included to provide the same identifying code on prints made from the film after development.
Reading means are provided to read the identifying code from each of the three elements of the photofinishing order.
A comparison means is provided which receives as its input the signals representative of the codes read from the three parts of the order and which provides as its output an alarm signal if any one of the codes does not match the others and which provides an error signal if any one of the codes cannot read.
In accordance with the error analysis method, each item to be matched is assigned a particular identifying code.
After the items have gone through whatever processing is necessary the identifying code is read from each of the items, a check is made to see that the code has been read, and if not an error signal is generated.
The error signal increments an error counter and the error counter contents is compared with a predetermined maximum error number.
If the number in the error counter matches the predetermined number, an alarm signal is generated and the processing operation is stopped until corrective action can be taken by doing a manual check of the parts of the order to make sure that they do match and possibly taking steps to repair any faulty equipment that may be causing the nonread situation.
If the number in the error counter does not equal or exceed the predetermined maximum number of errors allowed, the order processing continues and the identification codes read from the parts of the order that can be read are compared to see if they match.
If there is a mismatch between any two codes, then an alarm again is set and the processing is shut down until corrective action can be taken.
If all the numbers match, then processing continues with reading of the identifying codes from the next set of order components