Patents Represented by Attorney Charles E. Snee, III
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Patent number: 6058954Abstract: It is known to supply solution to a process and to collect effluent therefrom using `bag-in-box` arrangement each having a predetermined volume. However, if the process must be supplied with greater volumes of solution, the use of larger `bag-in-box` arrangements is limited by weight restrictions that an operator can handle. Described herein is a method of using a number of `bag-in-box` arrangements coupled together to provide a larger volume of replenisher solution to a process and to collect of effluent therefrom than would be the case if only a single `bag-in-box` arrangement is used. An automatic changeover system can be utilised which allows the process to be supplied with a greater volume of solution than that which corresponds to the legal weight limit without having to empty the supply `bag-in-box` arrangements into a large replenisher tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1996Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward Charles Glover, Anthony Earle, Christopher Barrie Rider
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Patent number: 6040776Abstract: Described herein is an alarm system for use with a `bag-in-box` arrangement (10) which is used to collect effluent from a processing apparatus (20). The alarm system comprises a chamber (50) located between the processing apparatus (20) and the `bag-in-box` arrangement (10) which includes a level sensor (52) which indicates that the `bag-in-box` arrangement (10) has been overfilled by a predetermined amount and is ready for changing.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1996Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Edward Charles Glover, Martyn Stuart Glover
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Patent number: 5978016Abstract: A convenient and practical apparatus for transporting digital images for display is achieved by incorporating an internally fixed base camera memory into an electronic or hybrid camera. Specifically, a camera includes a digital imaging system (16, 70) for generating a first digital image of first resolution in response to an exposure signal, a first storage memory (124) for receiving and storing the first digital image generated by the digital imaging system, a fixed memory or a removable memory interface connector (130) for receiving a removable memory device, and a processor (120) for controlling the transfer of the first digital image from the first storage memory to the fixed memory or removable memory interface connector for subsequent storage in a removable memory device, when a removable memory device is coupled to the removable memory interface connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Richard W. Lourette, Peter Fellegara, Michael E. Miller, Linda M. Antos
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Patent number: 5978607Abstract: A photographic, digital or video camera (10) includes a housing (12); optionally at least one sensor (18, 20, 25, 30, 36, 39, 40, 50) supported by the housing for detecting a condition of the camera or of a scene to be captured by the camera, or both, and for producing a signal; a viewfinder (38) supported by the housing, the viewfinder including a holographic element 64, 90); a source (68) of light having a wavelength of a color to be displayed in the viewfinder; a collimator (70) for receiving a beam from the source and producing an output beam; an optical system (72-80) to horizontally and vertically raster scan the output beam across the holographic element; and a controller (44) for operating the optical system and modulating the output beam in response to the signal, thereby to cause scanned images to be produced by interaction between the output beam and the holographic element, the scanned images displaying information related to use of the camera.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1997Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul Teremy, Arnold W. Lungershausen
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Patent number: 5959723Abstract: Apparatus (10) for scanning photographic film includes a scan gate (14, 16, 18, 26-30) having a film track (14) to guide a filmstrip (50) longitudinally in a direction of travel, a film guide surface (26) in the film track, and an elongated scan aperture (28) through the guide surface, the scan aperture being extended transverse to the film track; an image scanning device (18) positioned opposite the scan aperture, the scanning device including a housing (20) with a window (36), the housing enclosing an elongated array (44)of sensors faced through the window toward the film track opposite the scan aperture, the array of sensors having a length (L) and being spaced from the film guide surface; the scanning device further having a transparent cover (42) between the sensors and the film guide surface; the array and the cover being extended transversely to the film track, whereby a passage (48) for a filmstrip (50) is defined between the cover and the film guide surface; a conduit (78, 80)for delivering pressurizType: GrantFiled: October 28, 1996Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Bruce E. Rottner, James A. Schmieder
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Patent number: 5941395Abstract: Used single use camera bodies (10) and miscellaneous loose parts (130, 132, 134) are dumped into a receiver conveyor (72) from which they move to a metering conveyor (88) which delivers them to a series of vibratory grid separators (106, 108, 110) having grid bars (124) separated by slots (126) configured such that each camera body can be positioned with at least one lengthwise corner (148-154) located in the slot and the center of gravity (156) of the camera body positioned above the slot. Camera bodies are thus conveyed lengthwise along the vibratory grid separators to enable loose parts to fall more readily through the slots. Camera bodies are then separated by types at a plurality of sorting stations (186).Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1996Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jon Juhani Aho, Alan Victor VanDeMoere
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Patent number: 5937220Abstract: A camera metering mechanism discriminates between 1) adjacent perforations in a set, which trigger said metering mechanism to interrupt the film advance, and 2) adjacent perforations between sets, which do not trigger the interruption. The mechanism uses a difference in spacing between the perforations, which alternates between a first distance within a set and a second longer distance between sets. The mechanism is triggered to interrupt film advance when the space between detected perforations is less than a predetermined distance. If the space exceeds the predetermined distance, then film advance continues until the next successive perforation. According to more specific features, the perforation detector initiates electrical transitions at the leading and trailing edges of the perforations, and film distances are a determined from the time difference between selected transitions.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1997Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Clay Allen Dunsmore, David Stanley Madziarz, Joel Sherwood Lawther
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Patent number: 5933657Abstract: A method for forming a film scroll and assembling the film scroll into a non-lighttight camera body begins in a darkroom by winding a filmstrip into a film feed roll from a filmstrip source, such as a stockroll onto a winding quill after attaching a formed leading portion thereto. According to the present invention, an outer end of the film feed roll is attached to a film spool of a film cartridge to form a prewound scroll and cartridge assembly for loading into respective chambers of the non-lighttight camera body section. A cover is then fixed to the camera body section to make the camera lighttight.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1996Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Joseph Albert Watkins, James Edmund Fredell, Duane Blair Kirk
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Patent number: 5897232Abstract: A photographic camera (10) includes a film supply chamber (14); a film takeup chamber (16) and a film exposure gate (18) positioned between the chambers. The gate defines a maximum exposed image width (W) in a direction of film travel between the chambers and a maximum exposed image height (H) in a direction transverse to the direction of film travel. A plurality of mask members (24, 26) extend transverse to the direction of travel, each mask member being configured for masking only a portion of the maximum exposed image width. There is no mask in the camera configured for masking a portion of the maximum exposed image height. A mechanism (88-94) moves the mask members toward or away from a center of the exposure gate to reduce or increase only a final exposed image width (W.sub.e), without masking the maximum exposed image height. As a result, the final width of the exposed image indicates a required enlargement of exposed image to produce a pseudo telephoto print.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1996Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley Ward Stephenson, Paul Teremy
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Patent number: 5875365Abstract: A photographic camera (10) includes a supply chamber (14) for receiving a cartridge (16) enclosing a photographic filmstrip (18) wound on a supply spool (92); a rotatable member (90) disposed in the supply chamber for being coupled to rotate a supply spool of a cartridge installed in the supply chamber; a takeup chamber (20); a takeup spool (22) in the takeup chamber for winding a filmstrip drawn in a first direction from a cartridge in the supply chamber; a head (102) positioned between the supply and takeup chambers for at least one of reading and recording data on a filmstrip; a first drive system (24, 50-78) for rotating the takeup spool to draw a filmstrip from a cartridge in the first direction and wind a filmstrip onto the takeup spool; a second drive system (24, 50-68, 80-88) for rotating the rotatable member to rotate a supply spool to draw a filmstrip in a second, opposite direction from the takeup spool and wind a filmstrip onto a supply spool in a cartridge; and a brake mechanism (118, 118a, 118b,Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul L. Taillie, Thomas J. Quattrini, Robert L. Kuhn, Jr., Robert D. Huot
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Patent number: 5872619Abstract: Apparatus (118) for printing photographs from a processed photographic filmstrip having images having different widths measured longitudinally of the filmstrip and having heights measured transversely of the filmstrip, using a photographic printer having a zoom lens (122) and a printing mask (130) to provide printed images having a selected print width and a selected print height, the apparatus including a device (134, 136) for measuring the width of an image on the processed filmstrip; a device (124, 136) for adjusting magnification of the zoom lens in proportion to the measured width so that the width of a projected image matches the selected print width at the printing mask; and a device (120) for projecting the image on the processed filmstrip through the adjusted zoom lens to expose a photographic medium (128) at the printing mask to produce on the medium an image having the selected print width and selected print height. A corresponding method is taught.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Stanley Ward Stephenson, Paul Teremy
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Patent number: 5865084Abstract: A cassette (10) for photosensitive web material includes a hollow housing (12) having a peripheral wall (16); an exit slit (42) extending through the peripheral wall; a device (20), located within the housing, for rotatably supporting a roll (22, 24) of web material; a mechanism (32, 38), located within the housing, for engaging a lead end (26) of a web material to drive the web material through the exit slit; a knife blade (134, 136) having a cutting edge (138) extended at an acute angle to the exit slit; a recess (132) for slidably mounting the blade for movement between a first position in which the exit slit is open, and a second position in which both the web material has been cut by the cutting edge and the exit slit has been closed by the blade to prevent entry of light into the housing through the exit slit; and a knife bed (142, 144) fixedly mounted on the housing, the blade being in sliding engagement with the knife bed, whereby the blade and the knife bed cooperate to scissor the web material as thType: GrantFiled: February 27, 1996Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Charles Robertson, Bradley Stephen Bush, Eric Peschan Hochreiter
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Patent number: 5862413Abstract: A single-use camera includes an external housing (290, 292), within the housing a camera frame (100) having an exposure opening (102), a first chamber (104) on one side of the exposure opening for receiving a light-tight film cartridge (18) enclosing a filmstrip (36); and a second chamber (108) on an opposite side of the exposure opening for receiving a scroll (268) formed from a filmstrip, and a separate retainer cap (80; 210-216; 220-234) located in the second chamber for engaging an end of the scroll to prevent clock-springing of the scroll.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Mark August Stiehl, Jude Anthony SanGregory
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Patent number: 5854954Abstract: Apparatus (10) for using light-sensitive web material includes a cassette chamber (12) which is closed by a closure (20) when a cassette (18) of the material has been installed. A single sensor (30, 32; 50-64) is provided to detect that the cassette is present, properly oriented and filled with the right material and that the closure is properly closed.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1996Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Jeffrey Charles Robertson
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Patent number: 5850246Abstract: A thermal printer (10) includes a rotatable platen (34) having opposite shaft ends (122); a print head (30) extended parallel to the platen; a mounting bracket (76, 78, 84, 86) for supporting the print head adjacent the platen; an elongated beam spring (104) with opposite ends (106, 108); a fulcrum member (100, 102) extended from the mounting bracket to engage the beam spring between the ends; and cams (132-140) for engaging the opposite ends to deflect the beam spring and press the print head into engagement with the platen to define a nip for a dye donor web (31) and a receiver sheet (22).Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Daniel Charles Maslanka, Vlade Josif Kordovich
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Patent number: 5845166Abstract: A hybrid camera that includes imaging mode selector (23) for selecting at least one of a film mode of operation and a hybrid mode of operation; a removable memory interface connection (130) for receiving a removable memory device; digital imaging system (16, 70) for generating a digital image representative of an imaged subject scene in each of the film mode and hybrid mode of operation; a working memory (124) for storing the digital image generated by the digital imaging means as a working image; a photographic imaging system (14, 60) for imaging the subject scene onto a photographic film to generate a photographic film image corresponding to the digital image in the film mode and the hybrid mode of operation; and a control processor (68, 72) for generating a film mode digital image and a hybrid mode digital image from the working image, respectively, in the film mode and hybrid mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Peter Fellegara, Robert L. Kuhn, Jr.
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Patent number: 5845168Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber. An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Inventors: Wayne Edward Stiehler, Robert Louis Kuhn, Jr., Thomas Samuel Albrecht
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Patent number: 5841460Abstract: A thermal printer (10) is useful for printing onto a receiver sheet (22, 24, 26) having a leading edge and a trailing edge and includes an elongated rotatable platen (34); an elongated thermal print head (30) positioned parallel to the platen; a closed loop pathway (12, 14, 16) for recirculating the receiver sheet in a printing direction from the platen and back to the platen, the platen being positioned for rotation in the printing direction with at least a portion of the platen in the pathway to engage the receiver sheet or a dye donor web (31); a supply roll (28) of dye donor web positioned upstream of the print head; a mechanism (76-112, 132-142) for moving the print head into the pathway opposite the platen to press the print head into engagement with the dye donor web, the dye donor web into engagement with the receiver sheet, and the receiver sheet into engagement with the platen; a mechanism (180-188) for rotating the platen in the printing direction to move either the dye donor web or both the dye doType: GrantFiled: April 30, 1996Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Daniel Charles Maslanka, Terrence Lee Fisher, Vlade Josif Kordovich
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Patent number: 5838357Abstract: A thermal printer (10) is useful for printing onto a receiver sheet (22, 24, 26) and includes an elongated rotatable platen (34); an elongated thermal print head (30) positioned parallel to the platen; a supply roll (28) of dye donor web (31) positioned upstream of the print head; a mechanism (76-112, 132-142) for pressing the print head into engagement with the dye donor web and, in an absence of a receiver sheet, for pressing the dye donor web into engagement with the platen; and a mechanism (180-188) for rotating the platen, while the print head is pressing the dye donor web against the platen, to move the dye donor web between the print head and the platen.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Daniel Charles Maslanka, Vlade Josif Kordovich, Terrence Lee Fisher
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Patent number: 5835810Abstract: Apparatus for automatically moving a film cartridge completely into a cartridge loading chamber includes means for automatically sensing that the cartridge has been partially inserted into the chamber and means for automatically moving the film cartridge fully into the cartridge chamber upon the sensing means sensing that the cartridge has been partially inserted into the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1996Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Joel Sherwood Lawther, Robert James Stanchus