Patents by Inventor John S. Lercher

John S. Lercher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5460780
    Abstract: A combination is provided of a reaction vessel and apparatus for processing it. Preferably, the latter features a temperature control device comprising two surfaces to contact a reaction vessel sandwiched between them, a heater element being disposed on one side of one of the surfaces, a cavity being provided at the heater element, and pressure means for delivering cooling gas to the cavity and the heater element and for removing the air after it has cooled the heater element. Most preferably, there is further included means for providing relative movement between the control device and a reaction vessel so sandwiched between the two surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventors: Mark J. Devaney, Jr., Jeffrey A. Wellman, John S. Lercher
  • Patent number: 5379087
    Abstract: A processor for processing a photosensitive material. The processor having a housing chamber. At least one modular wall structure is provided for dividing the housing chamber into a plurality of fluid processing chambers. A modular processing device is placed may be placed in at least one of the plurality of fluid processing chambers for circulating a processing fluid placed in said fluid processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Devaney, John S. Lercher, Lee F. Frank, Paul W. Wagner, Jeffrey L. Helfer
  • Patent number: 5313242
    Abstract: An improved thru-wall structure useful for apparatus for processing photosensitive material for separating adjacent chambers filled with processing fluids. The wall structure having first and second wall portions and a pair of sidewall portions which define a passage opening. A pair of parallel contacting rollers are placed into the opening. The rollers have a compliant sublayer which elastically deforms in an radial direction and a outer layer made from a material having a low coefficient of friction to allow the rollers to be easily rotatably driven and providing a fluid seal between the rollers. The rollers are placed within the sidewalls by engaging the roller ends into an opening provided in each sidewall which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the combined rollers so as to provide a tight liquid seal at the roller end-sidewall interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Devaney, Jr., John S. Lercher
  • Patent number: 5089233
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring liquid from one chamber to another in successive chambers of a chemical reaction pack comprising a support surface and pressure applicators. Temperature control elements are also provided to heat and cool the liquid contained within the chemical reaction pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark J. DeVaney, Jr., John S. Lercher, Jeffrey A. Wellman
  • Patent number: 4798705
    Abstract: There is disclosed an analyzer comprising a dispensing station and detecting means for detecting either a colorimetric or a potentiometric change in a test element. A pipette support is provided to assist in the liquid dispensing, such support being movably connected to the analyzer to permit the pipette support to be moved from an inoperative position to an operative position, and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Raymond F. Jakubowicz, John S. Lercher
  • Patent number: 4248564
    Abstract: An opening method and apparatus for opening a frangible cartridge containing a disk of exposed film, makes use of a punch and die assembly for punching the film disk out of the cartridge. Opposed wall members of the cartridge, between which the film disk is located, are punched away from the remainder of the cartridge along with the film disk. In this way, the wall members shield the film disk from any fragments which may be produced during cartridge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ralph Gentile, John S. Lercher